By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times
Mississippi Valley State's defense had Alabama A&M's explosive offense stuck in neutral Saturday night. The Delta Devils held quarterback Kelcy Luke and company in check throughout the first half and forced the Bulldogs to punt on their first possession of the second half.
A&M's defense, which set up the Bulldogs' first touchdown and was terrific throughout much of the game, took it upon itself to turn the game around.
Defensive tackle Whitney Garrett sacked MVSU quarterback Paul Roberts, forced him to fumble and inside linebacker Carlton Rice, a former Johnson High star, picked it up and rambled 47 yards for a touchdown. Not only did Rice's touchdown ignite the fans, it ignited A&M's offense.
Luke found tailback Ulysses Banks with a 70-yard touchdown and Banks scored again from 15 yards out to cap a 21-point explosion over an eight-minute span in the third quarter and the Bulldogs went on to clobber the Delta Devils 45-14 before an announced crowd of 4,466.
"That play woke us up," said A&M coach Anthony Jones, referring to Rice's fumble return for a touchdown. "It was a heads-up play Rice made by outhustling their guy to the ball and picking it up and getting in for the touchdown.
"After that, we made big play after big play and they couldn't answer."
MVSU coach Willie Totten agreed with Jones that Rice's fumble return turned the game around, but he disagreed with the call.
"That played turned the game around, but it wasn't a fumble," Totten said. "It was an incomplete pass. That play was very questionable. After that, momentum swung their way."
The win lifted A&M to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. It is the first time the Bulldogs have been 3-0 since 1966 when they were 8-0 before losing to Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic.
It is also the first time an A&M team has opened the season with three straight 40-plus point games.
"I've never seen them with that much firepower," Totten said. "They've got a good football team. A&M looks like they can repeat."
MVSU fell to 1-2 and 1-2.
Jeremy Licea's 25-yard field goal, his first one of the season, gave A&M a 10-0 lead with 2:29 before intermission, but MVSU answered when Johey Hargrett scored from 7 yards out to pull the Delta Devils to within 10-7 at halftime.
After forcing A&M to punt on its first possession of the third quarter, MVSU took over on its own 46. The Delta Devils moved to a first down at the Bulldogs' 42 before disaster struck.
Garrett separated Roberts from the ball and Rice picked it up and headed for the end zone.
"I didn't realize I had knocked it loose," Garrett said. "I got up and saw Rice running toward the end zone and I started running."
Added Rice: "I think it was a pass behind the line of scrimmage. I saw the ball and I scooped it up and scored the way they teach us."
Rice's touchdown woke up A&M's offense.
"Rice made a great play," Luke said. "The defense played hard the whole game. Hats off to them. They sparked us."
Luke found Banks on a screen pass on A&M's next possession and he raced 70 yards for a touchdown. to make it 24-7.
"I gave the linebacker a move and I got a great block from (wide receiver) Rashad Johnson and got in for the touchdown," Banks said.
Banks scored on a 15-yard run on A&M's next possession. The touchdown was set up when Luke found Thomas Harris for a 63-yard gain. Harris finished with four catches for 137 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Three of Harris' catches came in the second half for 124 yards.
"We regrouped after halftime and Coach Jones made some great adjustments and we went out there and started clicking," said Luke, who was 16-of-29 for 276 yards and three touchdowns and two sacks, including 8-of-11 for 220 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.
In addition to his 70-yard touchdown reception, Banks rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries as the Bulldogs finished with 499 yards in total offense, including 333 in the second half.
Mississippi Valley State's defense had Alabama A&M's explosive offense stuck in neutral Saturday night. The Delta Devils held quarterback Kelcy Luke and company in check throughout the first half and forced the Bulldogs to punt on their first possession of the second half.
A&M's defense, which set up the Bulldogs' first touchdown and was terrific throughout much of the game, took it upon itself to turn the game around.
Defensive tackle Whitney Garrett sacked MVSU quarterback Paul Roberts, forced him to fumble and inside linebacker Carlton Rice, a former Johnson High star, picked it up and rambled 47 yards for a touchdown. Not only did Rice's touchdown ignite the fans, it ignited A&M's offense.
Luke found tailback Ulysses Banks with a 70-yard touchdown and Banks scored again from 15 yards out to cap a 21-point explosion over an eight-minute span in the third quarter and the Bulldogs went on to clobber the Delta Devils 45-14 before an announced crowd of 4,466.
"That play woke us up," said A&M coach Anthony Jones, referring to Rice's fumble return for a touchdown. "It was a heads-up play Rice made by outhustling their guy to the ball and picking it up and getting in for the touchdown.
"After that, we made big play after big play and they couldn't answer."
MVSU coach Willie Totten agreed with Jones that Rice's fumble return turned the game around, but he disagreed with the call.
"That played turned the game around, but it wasn't a fumble," Totten said. "It was an incomplete pass. That play was very questionable. After that, momentum swung their way."
The win lifted A&M to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. It is the first time the Bulldogs have been 3-0 since 1966 when they were 8-0 before losing to Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic.
It is also the first time an A&M team has opened the season with three straight 40-plus point games.
"I've never seen them with that much firepower," Totten said. "They've got a good football team. A&M looks like they can repeat."
MVSU fell to 1-2 and 1-2.
Jeremy Licea's 25-yard field goal, his first one of the season, gave A&M a 10-0 lead with 2:29 before intermission, but MVSU answered when Johey Hargrett scored from 7 yards out to pull the Delta Devils to within 10-7 at halftime.
After forcing A&M to punt on its first possession of the third quarter, MVSU took over on its own 46. The Delta Devils moved to a first down at the Bulldogs' 42 before disaster struck.
Garrett separated Roberts from the ball and Rice picked it up and headed for the end zone.
"I didn't realize I had knocked it loose," Garrett said. "I got up and saw Rice running toward the end zone and I started running."
Added Rice: "I think it was a pass behind the line of scrimmage. I saw the ball and I scooped it up and scored the way they teach us."
Rice's touchdown woke up A&M's offense.
"Rice made a great play," Luke said. "The defense played hard the whole game. Hats off to them. They sparked us."
Luke found Banks on a screen pass on A&M's next possession and he raced 70 yards for a touchdown. to make it 24-7.
"I gave the linebacker a move and I got a great block from (wide receiver) Rashad Johnson and got in for the touchdown," Banks said.
Banks scored on a 15-yard run on A&M's next possession. The touchdown was set up when Luke found Thomas Harris for a 63-yard gain. Harris finished with four catches for 137 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Three of Harris' catches came in the second half for 124 yards.
"We regrouped after halftime and Coach Jones made some great adjustments and we went out there and started clicking," said Luke, who was 16-of-29 for 276 yards and three touchdowns and two sacks, including 8-of-11 for 220 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.
In addition to his 70-yard touchdown reception, Banks rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries as the Bulldogs finished with 499 yards in total offense, including 333 in the second half.
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