ATLANTA (Interstat) — Howard built a 20-14 halftime lead and held off Alabama A&M for a 31-24 victory Saturday at Center Parc Stadium.

The Bison scored 10 points in the first quarter and 10 in the second, then added a third-quarter field goal and fourth-quarter touchdown to improve to 1-0. Alabama A&M fell to 0-1 despite scoring 14 points in the second quarter and 10 in the fourth.

Cornelious Brown IV completed 25 of 41 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing score for Howard. Jarel Williams caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, and Imari Conely scored a touchdown while accounting for 82 yards from scrimmage and 39 return yards.

Ja’Shawn Scroggins of Alabama A&M threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns on 19-of-36 passing, adding 49 rushing yards. Nathanial Clark caught six passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Jeremiah Hudson-Davis recorded 12 tackles and two quarterback hurries, and Nikolas Barnes had seven tackles and a sack for Howard.