MONTGOMERY (Interstat) — Armond Parker threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score and Florida A&M held off Alabama State 28-27 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at ASU Football Stadium. The announced attendance was 16,994. Florida A&M improved to 2-4. Alabama State dropped to 3-3.

Parker, a 6-foot-0, 176-pound quarterback from Locust Grove, Georgia, completed 13 of 20 passes for 290 yards with three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He also ran nine times for 49 yards. Armand Burris was his top target, catching four passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns while adding one tackle. Burris, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound receiver, scored on catches of 88 and 89 yards. Corey Petty added three receptions for 37 yards. Tamez Young caught two passes for seven yards. Kieren Jackson had one reception for four yards and two kickoff returns for 29 yards. Jamar Taylor had one catch for four yards. Tian Wynche had one catch for three yards. Chase Gillespie carried twice for three yards. Guiseann Mirtil had two tackles. The Rattlers also got a 22-yard kickoff return from Caleb McKenzie.

Florida A&M’s defense got a game-high 10 tackles from Denzel Johnson. Justin Bostic added seven tackles. Brian Burton and Anthony Baxter each recorded five tackles. Antonio Camon, David Okechuwku, Adeon Farmer and Simion Hines each made four tackles. Caleb McKenzie had four tackles to go with his kickoff return. Omari Kinsler, Mazio Randall, Andre Powell Jr., Gabriel Caison and Roderick Ambroise-McFadden each tallied three tackles. Isaiah Morrison, Dion Villiers and Mirtil each finished with two tackles. Caden Brown, Terrell James, Johnny Hutton III, Adrien Medine, Xavier Perkins, Michael Marshall, Mikeal Gachelin, Daylyn Diston and Dante Howell each had one tackle. Howell also recorded an interception. Bobby Engstler punted three times for 127 yards.

Alabama State was led by Aaron Frye, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 107 yards and ran 11 times for 76 yards. Mitchell Robinson Jr. paced the Hornets’ defense with nine tackles and one quarterback hurry. Corey Lucius added five tackles. Rashad Watson had four tackles. Thad Parson, TMarrion Phillips, Zion Crawford and Zaquan Patterson each made three tackles. Crawford intercepted a pass, and Patterson recorded a sack. Quinten Beamon, Montel Campbell and Jaylan Jarrett each had two tackles. Jordan Brown and Israel Tate each caught a 20-yard pass. Kareem Keye had two receptions for 34 yards. DJ Brown also appeared in the game for the Hornets.

The game’s key plays started in the first quarter when a 50-yard field-goal attempt was no good and blocked by Thad Parson. Parker later broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run, and Gabriel Caison made the extra point. In the second quarter, Andrew Abu-Akel missed a 45-yard field goal for Alabama State before making a 24-yarder. Parker then connected with Jamal Hailey on a 19-yard touchdown pass, and Caison’s kick was good. Alabama State answered in the third quarter when J. Hostzclaw scored on a 1-yard run, and Abu-Akel added the extra point. Abu-Akel made a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Florida A&M responded when Parker hit Burris for an 88-yard touchdown, though the extra-point attempt failed. Parker and Burris linked again for an 89-yard score, and Tamez Young completed a successful pass attempt on the two-point conversion. Alabama State’s final chance ended when Abu-Akel’s 47-yard field-goal attempt was no good and blocked by I. Davis.

The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for Florida A&M. The Rattlers had opened the season with a win over Albany State before falling to South Carolina State, Miami, Tennessee State and Alabama A&M. Alabama State had won three of its first five games, including a 41-15 win over Mississippi Valley State, a 34-0 win over Lane and a 30-17 win at Southern. The Hornets lost to Bethune-Cookman and Troy before Saturday’s setback.

Florida A&M returns to action at Jackson State. The Rattlers then host Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Southern, Mississippi Valley State and Bethune-Cookman later in the season, with a trip to Alcorn State also on the schedule. Alabama State next plays at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Hornets then host Alabama A&M, Texas Southern, Jackson State, Prairie View and Tuskegee.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Alabama State 70, Florida A&M 20. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Alabama State with a 90.5 percent probability to win. Florida A&M had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +14.5. The total score of 55 went under the over/under line of 48.5.