BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- 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, leaving the schools tied
atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Eastern Division.
Both teams now have 3-2 league records. Jackson State, which had
been in second, fell into third place at 2-2 after a 24-17 loss
Saturday night to Western Division co-leader 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 (6-3) built a 9-7 halftime lead.
A 24-yarder by Cylar put A&M ahead 12-7, but Tarvaris Jackson
gave the Hornets (5-3) 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, Johnny Keith found Wells for a 48-yard
touchdown, 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.
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index
