Chico is the man: AAMU Senior has his day in win over Texas Southern

NORMAL, Alabama -- It was Senior Day for the Bulldogs and the  upperclassmen all did their part in helping lead Alabama A&M to a resounding 38-7 season-ending win over Texas Southern.

Brandon Eldemire rushed for 102 yards, had a kickoff return for 24 yards and scored a touchdown; Anthony Lanier had 6 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks; Corey Johnson had assists on two tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss and David Dagrin had a key tackle as the Bulldogs dominated on both sides of the ball.

The Bulldogs rushed for 238 yards and had 259 yards passing while giving up just 156 yards rushing and 146 yards through the air.

Some underclassmen also put in their contributions.

De'Angelo Ballard was 15-of-22 for 251 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had 69 yards rushing and a touchdown for 320 yards.

Octayvious Miles had just one kickoff return, but it was for 11 yards, giving him 1,002 for the season.

Damion May had 8 yards passing but, used as a slot receiver, he also had 17 yards rushing on five carries.

DeVon Johnson had 93 all-purpose yards.

Devonte Simon had an interception return for 34 yards and a fumble return for 84 yards.

Nick Carden punted just once for the first time this season and it was for 38 yards.

The Bulldogs, finishing 3-6 in the SWAC and 3-8 overall, took the opening kickoff and drove 77 yards in 7 plays, capped by Ballard's 37-yard touchdown pass to Ladarion Heath.

Early in the second quarter, Devonte Simon intercepted a pass at the  A&M 15 and returned it to the Bulldogs 49. Seven plays later, Harvey Harris scored on a 29-yard run and a Cesar Ramon-Diaz point-after made it 14-0 with 11:24 left in the half.

After a Texas Southern touchdown, the Bulldogs made it 17-7 on Ramon-Diaz's 20-yard field goal with 40 seconds to go.

After a Ballard 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter ran the score to 24-7 the defense took over with a big play at the one-minute mark of the quarter.

Texas Southern had a first and goal at the A&M 2-yard-line when Brad Woodard fumbled and Simon returned it 84 yards to the Tigers 12 yard-line. On second down, Ballard connected with Jonathan Dorsey for a 12-yard TD pass and a 31-7 lead.

The Bulldogs wrapped up the scoring when Eldemire scored on a two-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION