HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half surge propelled Alabama A&M to a decisive 45-25 victory over Mississippi Valley State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at Louis Crews Stadium.

The Bulldogs, now 3-3 overall, shook off a sluggish start by erupting for 21 points in the third quarter to turn a competitive game into a comfortable win. The Delta Devils, still seeking their first victory, fell to 0-4 on the season.

Mississippi Valley State opened the game with surprising efficiency, capitalizing on an early Alabama A&M turnover to seize the initial momentum. On the Bulldogs’ second possession, quarterback Eric Handley’s pass was intercepted by defensive back Kobe Byrd, giving the Delta Devils prime field position at the AAMU 36-yard line. The drive stalled, but kicker Marko Jovisic connected on a 45-yard field goal to put the visitors on the board first.

The Delta Devils extended their lead on their next possession, engineering a methodical 11-play, 74-yard drive. Quarterback Josh Brown capped the series with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Brownlow, giving Mississippi Valley State a 9-0 advantage after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

Alabama A&M responded immediately, with Handley orchestrating a 75-yard scoring drive. He found receiver Jordan Chambers-Smith for a 12-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 9-7 late in the first quarter.

Mississippi Valley State answered right back, marching 66 yards on the ensuing possession. Running back Norman Taylor finished the drive with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone, pushing the Delta Devils’ lead to 16-7 early in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs then began to find their rhythm. A sustained drive deep into MVSU territory was finished by running back Maurice Edwards IV, who powered in for a 4-yard touchdown, making the score 16-14. Alabama A&M then took its first lead of the game just before halftime, as kicker David Faulk booted a field goal to send the Bulldogs into the locker room with a narrow 17-16 advantage.

Any hope for a Delta Devil upset was extinguished in a third-quarter onslaught from the home team. Alabama A&M’s offense operated with precision, scoring touchdowns on three consecutive possessions.

Handley started the barrage with a 16-yard touchdown strike to Franck Pierre. Edwards IV then added his second rushing touchdown of the day from 4 yards out. The Bulldogs’ ground game continued to control the clock, and Ryan Morrow punched in a 3-yard score to cap the quarter, giving Alabama A&M a commanding 38-19 lead.

The Bulldogs put the game fully out of reach early in the fourth quarter when running back Kolton Nero broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 45-19.

Mississippi Valley State added a final touchdown late in the game, a 1-yard run by Natwan Webster, but the two-point conversion failed, setting the final score at 45-25.

Handley, the quarterback from Fultondale, Alabama, was efficient and effective for the Bulldogs, completing 24 of 32 pass attempts for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 20 yards on six rushes. His favorite target was Franck Pierre, who hauled in four receptions for 88 yards and a score. The Alabama A&M rushing attack was a multi-headed weapon, with Nero gaining 71 yards on just seven carries, Morrow adding 52 yards and a touchdown, and Isaiah Nwokenkwo contributing 41 yards.

For the Delta Devils, quarterback Josh Brown from Bainbridge, Georgia, provided a dual-threat spark. He passed for 123 yards and a touchdown while leading the team in rushing with 74 yards on eight attempts. Receiver Christian White was a big-play threat, catching two passes for 75 yards.

The victory moves Alabama A&M back to .500 as they look ahead to their next conference test against rival Alabama State on Oct. 25. Mississippi Valley State will continue its search for its first win of the season when it hosts Lincoln (CA) on Oct. 18.