SWAC Football News, Notes and Awards: Division races too close to call

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We are back with another look at what happened in the SWAC this past week. Teams are closing in on division titles while others are playing for next year. Let’s take a closer look.

Grambling St (5-4, 3-2) won their fifth consecutive game with a 19-16 win over Alcorn St. (6-3, 4-1) In the win, Grambling St. head coach, Broderick Fobbs, got his 50th career win. It was a close contest throughout with both teams playing strong defensively. The game finished in regulation with the score tied at 16-16. In the overtime, K Miguel Mendez hit a 45-yard field goal to give the Tigers the 19-16 lead. Then, it was the defense that came through as they stopped the Braves from scoring to get the win. It was the first conference loss for Alcorn St. For his performance, Mendez was awarded the Specialist of the Week award. Alcorn St LB, Soloman Muhammad, was named Defensive Player of the Week in the SWAC on the strength of his 14 tackles, two for loss, and a sack.

It was an uphill climb all game long for Alabama A&M (6-4, 3-2) as they trailed for most of the game against Jackson St. (4-6, 3-2). With the win, AAMU sets up a big contest next week against Alcorn St. The winner of this game will put themselves in the driver’s seat to be Eastern Conference champion. AAMU QB, Aqeel Glass led his team to its fifth fourth quarter come from behind victory going 25-40 for 410 yards and four touchdowns. That earned him SWAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He also set the new AAMU single-season record for touchdown passes with 29 and passing yards in a season. He now has 3,064 yards through the air this year. AAMU Sr. RB, Jordan Bentley, went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the year with 132 yards on 25 carries. Newcomer of the Week goes to Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim as he finished with a season-high 210 receiving yards on nine catches. He added two touchdowns receiving as well.

As far as teams playing for next year, Texas Southern (0-10, 0-6) lost their 10th game in a row this year in a close 27-21 loss to Alabama St. (5-4, 4-2) on Senior Day. They had to fight back from a 27-7 deficit and almost pulled off the huge comeback. Once again turnovers hurt the Tigers as they gave the ball up four times and could only manage 110 yards on the ground.

Stay with NGSC Sports for continued coverage of SWAC football all the way to the end of the season.