Alabama A&M 20, Alabama St. 17
The Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Rashad Cylar kicked four field goals and Nicholas Wells caught the go-ahead touchdown as Alabama A&M defeated Alabama State 20-17 on Saturday.
Wells caught a 48-yard TD from Johnny Keith late in the third quarter as A&M (6-3, 3-2) pulled into a tie for second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Eastern Division with the Hornets (5-3, 3-2).
Jackson State led the division with a 2-1 league record entering Saturday night's game with Grambling State.
Cylar started the scoring with a 19-yard field goal. He added field goals of 42 and 27 yards in the second quarter as the Bulldogs built a 9-7 halftime lead.
A 24-yarder by Cylar put A&M ahead 12-7, but Tarvaris Jackson gave the Hornets the lead with his second TD pass to Brandon Horace. The play covered 17 yards and gave ASU a 14-12 edge.
On the ensuing drive, Keith found Wells for the go-ahead score, and Jeremiah Bonds punched in the 2-point conversion for a 20-14 lead.
Keith was 15-of-25 for 248 yards. Wells had 74 yards receiving, and Travis Martin caught five passes for 70 yards.
Jackson led Alabama State with 218 yards on 16-of-27 passing. He and Horace also hooked up on a 23-yard TD in the first quarter. Keldrick Williams rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries.
The schools' 62nd meeting was played at Birmingham's Legion Field, about halfway between A&M's Huntsville campus and Alabama State's Montgomery campus. Alabama A&M now leads the series 30-29-3.