By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Alabama A&M fell just short in its Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opener, dropping a 41-34 thriller to Bethune-Cookman on Saturday afternoon at Larry Kelly Field in Daytona Stadium.
The Bulldogs (3-2 overall, 0-1 SWAC) battled to the end but surrendered a go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute left, sealing the Wildcats’ (2-3, 1-0) victory.
Alabama A&M struck first with a career-high 45-yard field goal by David Faulk. Bethune-Cookman quickly answered with a 79-yard touchdown pass, setting the tone for a game filled with big plays. The Bulldogs responded when Kolton Nero punched in a 2-yard run, and later quarterback Eric Handley connected with Franck Pierre on a 72-yard bomb to briefly retake the lead.
By halftime, however, Bethune-Cookman had surged ahead 27-17, capitalizing on turnovers. A&M kept clawing back, with Handley tossing two more touchdown passes — including a 32-yarder to Pierre and a 1-yard strike to Travaunta Abner — before Faulk tied the game at 34 with a short field goal in the fourth.
Bethune-Cookman’s Alihaja Scott Jr. delivered the dagger on a 26-yard run down the sideline with 1:07 remaining. The Bulldogs had one final chance, reaching the Wildcats’ 25-yard line, but Handley’s last-second heave to the end zone was batted away.
Handley finished 27-of-40 for 355 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Pierre led all receivers with 156 yards and two scores, while Abner added 102 yards and a touchdown. The Bulldogs amassed 480 total yards but gave up 516.
Alabama A&M now turns its attention to the Gulf Coast Challenge in Mobile, where they will face Jackson State on Oct. 4 in a pivotal SWAC East showdown.