PVAMU vs. TSU in the Labor Day Classic on Saturday, September 3
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (September 6, 2022) – Between the formidable defense and the impressive play of the offense, the Prairie View A&M University Panthers pulled together one heck of a performance to hold onto the Durley-Nicks Trophy another year in the 40-23 37th Labor Day Classic win over the Tigers of Texas Southern University Saturday night.
How it Happened:
After an hour and a half weather delay, the two teams took the field for both team’s season opener and coach Bubba McDowell‘s debut as the new head football coach of the Panthers.
TSU opened the game on a kickoff return for a touchdown, but the score was negated due to a penalty. Despite the early setback, TSU shook off a pair of early penalties on its opening drive as they took a 7-0 lead with 12:47 left.
The Panthers answered with a scoring drive on its opening possession to tie the contest as sophomore running back Ja’den Stewart rushed in from the four yard line. TSU’s next drive ended with a blocked punt by junior defensive back Bryce Turner which set up PVAMU’s next touchdown as a redshirt-junior quarterback Trazon Connley scored from 13 yards out for a 14-7 lead after the PAT.
TSU answered in the second quarter on a recovered fumble at the PVAMU’s 15 yard line to score. This would be the second tie of the game, but PVAMU closed out the second quarter with ten unanswered points as junior running back Ahmad Antoine “AA” scored a touchdown from the six yard line and later, with seven seconds left in the quarter, a 42-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Carlos Villagomez to take a 24-14 lead into the half.
The second half opened up as both teams traded punts, and Connley turned the tables for the Panthers scoring from 70 yards to advance the team’s lead to 31-14 following the PAT. Stewart scored his second TD of the night after redshirt quarterback Chris Herron set up a one-yard run for Stewart on a 30-yard run with 9:20 remaining in the quarter as the Panthers upped their lead 37-14.
A TSU pick-six for 48 yards with 3:35 left in the third would possibly put the Tigers back in the game as TSU trailed 37-20. TSU’s Richard Garcia’s 39-yard field goal would be the final score for the Tigers as it was up to the Panther defense to hold Texas Southern off the final quarter of the night. PVAMU’s offense kicked a final field goal with 1:18 left in the game to solidify the 40-23 win.
Connley had a career-best two touchdown runs in the game, tallying 130 rushing yards on nine carries.
Next Up:
Prairie View A&M will head over to Abilene Christian for a contest on Sept. 10 with a 7 p.m. kick-off at Anthony Field Wildcat Stadium.
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This story originally appeared on pvpanthers.com.
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