Under the dark Houston sky in Reliant Stadium, the Prairie View A&M Panthers rallied together to take the come-from-behind victory from Southern University, 24-23.
In what is being coveted as “the best game of the year” by the student body, the Panthers now move to 7-1.
Southern received first possession after Prairie View won the toss and deferred until the second half. Southern moved the ball seven yards and then punted off back into the hands of Prairie View. The Panthers started at their own 27 and ended in a 27-yard field goal from Pedro Ventura, taking the go ahead lead, 3-0 at the 8:21 mark.
With 3:25 left in the first quarter, Southern started on their 11-yard line, and moved the chains to Prairie View’s 19-yard line to tie the score with a Josh Duran 31-yard field goal.
In the second quarter, on Prairie View’s ensuing drive Ventura missed a 29-yard field goal attempt that instantly gave Southern momentum. Southern used that momentum to march downfield and score on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Bryant Lee to Juamorr Stewart, changing the score, 10-3. Southern’s fierce attack didn’t stop there as on the Panthers’ next possession, Mark Spivey’s pass was intercepted and Southern’s drive once again began. With 4:01 left on the clock, Southern struck again with a six-yard pass from Lee to Del Roberts, taking the score to 17-3. For the duration of the half the Panthers could not get anything going, taking it into halftime with a turnover on downs and an interception.
At the start of the third quarter, Prairie View and Southern both took gambles on fourth downs, and both of them had the same result, turnovers on downs. As soon as the Panthers received their second possession of the half, Spivey threw his third interception of the game. The Panthers’ defense quickly retaliated as Zach East picked off Lee’s pass and from 20 yards out, took it in for the score, cutting the deficit, 17-10. Southern answered on a six-play and 59-yard drive, but missed the extra point, making the score 23-10.
Prairie View went three and out, as so did Southern. Prairie View saw light at the end of the tunnel as their five-play, 66-yard drive ended with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Spivey to Gabe Ediae, closing the gap to 23-17.
The Panthers’ defense remained tight throughout the game, forcing three and outs for Southern for the rest of the contest. Momentum increased as the Prairie View fans got into the game.
Prairie View struck again and took the lead for the first time since the first quarter. From a drive that started on their own 12-yard line, the Panthers ran 15 plays for 88 yards to make the score 24-23 on a seven-yard rush from Spivey. Prairie View fans got on their feet as East unleashed a hit on Southern’s Lee that sent a chill through everyone’s spine. Southern’s last chance attempts for a score were spoiled as the Panthers eventually ran out the clock.
In front of 19,000 plus fans, Prairie View avenged their loss as Southern amassed 438 yards of total offense to the Panthers 303. On 25 carries Donald Babers rushed for 116 yards, and Spivey was 18-33 for 203 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Zach East had 13 tackles while Gary Hicks and Edward Moore had seven tackles apiece.
“My faith, my teammates, and my coaches motivated me not to give up. Everybody just tried to keep my head up and into the game until I eventually got into a groove,” said Spivey.
The Panthers are now tied for second in the west as they go into a bye week, and will hit the road Nov. 8 to face Alabama A&M.