In the Spirit of the Holiday Season: Gift Wrapped and Hand Delivered

The Bulldogs of Alabama A&M (8-4) gave an early holiday gift to the Grambling State Tigers (8-4), a 16-15, Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship on Byran Nelson’s fumble returned 69 yards by Jacarde Carter for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. In the process, Dr. Cavil’s Major Division National Black College Football Mythical Championship No. 1 ranking went to another HBCU program, as well.

By Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil and Brandon Bolden
Inside the HBCU Huddle Columnists
College Sporting News

The Bulldogs jumped on the Tigers early in taking a 15-0 lead in the game.

Beginning with an 11 yard touchdown run by Kaderious Lacey on the first drive of the game that went nine plays 84 yards in 4:15, the point after touchdown was blocked -- a precursor to several donations to come throughout the game for the Bulldogs.

The Alabama A&M Bulldogs went on to score the next nine points in the game, including a Deaunte Mason pass completed to Terrance Pride for 36 yards for a touchdown on a drive that went four plays 49 yards in 1:57, the point after touchdown was missed and a Chance Wilson 34 yard field goal for a 15-0 lead. The Bulldogs left points of the scoreboard with the two extra-point attempts unsuccessful.

The Grambling State Tigers began their comeback of 16 unanswered points with a Zoltan Riazzo 27 yard field goal before the half, 15-3.

Two huge plays by the Tigers in the second half were ultimately the difference in the game.

While DJ Williams only completed four passes in 16 attempts, one of those passes was a one play drive that went for an 80-yard touchdown pass to Mario Louis in 0:12.

In the loss, Kaderious Lacey did leave one mark for the record book by setting an Alabama A&M record for rushing yards in a season with 1,152.

The Bulldogs lost the game despite only allowing the Tigers to complete four passes and outgaining them in total yardage 337-182, winning the turnover battle 3-2 and the time of possession battle 35:59-24:01.

Happy Holidays and Season Greetings to Black College Football programs from the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. While both programs have made the SCG in Birmingham, Alabama a regular destination, the outcome of the two programs is polar opposite in the game and only the Grambling State Tigers have truly made it home, i.e. “Gramblingham.”

So, it will be a long offseason for the Bulldogs (winning 20-14 in Grambling, LA to start their impressive conference run of seven of eight games, eight of 10 overall, to win the SWAC Eastern Division and eventually lose in the SCG in this fashion) falling to 1-5 in the SCG, including four losses to the Tigers. Head coach Anthony Jones also suffered his fourth loss in the championship game contest.

On the other side, this is another championship, in fact an unprecedented sixth SCG win in the 13-year history of the game for Grambling State. The Tigers are 6-1 all time in the game. It's the fourth for Doug Williams in his first season back in his second stint as the Grambling State head coach, ending the season on a seven game win streak.

TSPNSPORTS.COM & DR. CAVIL'S (HBCU) BLACK COLLEGE MAJOR DIVISION FOOTBALL FINAL TOP 10 POLL (12-12-2011) - WEEK 15

(Name Of Institution, Record In Parentheses, First-Place Votes, Total Points, Previous Week Ranking, Last
And Next Opponent)


1. #-Alabama State-----(8-3)---(3)---91----4----(Season Complete)
2. Bethune-Cookman-----(8-3)---(3)---90----5----(Season Complete)
3. &-Grambling State---(8-4)---(2)---87----6----(Season Complete)
4. Jackson State-------(9-2)---(2)---86----1----(Season Complete)
5. %-Norfolk State-----(9-3)---(2)---84----2----(Season Complete)
6. Alabama A & M-------(8-4)---------62----3----(Season Complete)
7. S. C. State---------(7-4)---------31----7----(Season Complete)
8. Hampton-------------(7-4)---------29----8----(Season Complete)
9. Florida A & M-------(7-4)---------18----9----(Season Complete)
10. Arkansas P. B.------(6-5)---------13----10---(Season Complete)

Receiving Votes: Prairie View A & M-(5-6)-6, Howard-(5-6)-3, Tennessee State-(5-6)-3, Morgan State-(5-6)-1
% = 2011 MEAC Champions
& = 2011 SWAC Champions
# = TSPN & 3C 2011 (HBCU) Black College Football Major Division National Champion
Major Division = Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)