Jackson State claims East with win over A&M

• By The Associated Press
• Published: Nov 16, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:40 a.m.

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JACKSON, Miss. — Darius Bolela ran for 147 yards and a touchdown, and Marcus Benard recovered a fumble in the end zone as Jackson State claimed its second straight Southwestern Athletic Conference East title with a 37-21 victory over Alabama A&M on Saturday.

Jackson State (6-4 5-1) won its fifth straight game and will play for its second consecutive title.

Benard’s recovery in the end zone with 8:44 left in the third quarter helped Jackson State take a 27-21 lead after falling behind 21-20 at the half.

Bolela’s 2-yard scoring run stretched the lead to 34-21 with 12:02 left in the game.

Luther Edwards also ran for two scores as Jackson State rushed for 260 yards.

Alabama A&M (4-7, 3-3) was held to 32 yards in the second half.

Kevin Atkins had touchdown passes of 33 yards to Rashad Johnson and 11 yards to Nate Baxter in the first half for Alabama A&M.

ARK.-PINE BLUFF 34, MVSU 0: In Pine Bluff, Ark., Martell Mallett rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns to help Arkansas-Pine Bluff blank Mississippi Valley.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-9, 1-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) played well, despite having 10 players suspended for the game after they missed a 10 p.m. curfew last week.

Mississippi Valley (3-7, 1-5) rushed for only 56 yards against the Golden Lions, whose defense also snatched away three interceptions from the Delta Devils.

Mallett scored first for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, going into the end zone off a 5-yard run early in the first quarter. Mickey Dean rushed for a 28-yard touchdown to start the second quarter. Mallett followed that with a 1-yard touchdown run with only 10 seconds left in the half.

Golden Lions kicker Carlos Reyes added six points to the scoreboard with a 26-yard field goal late in the third quarter and a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth. Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Jonathan Moore connected with Danny Evans on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 7:13 left for the game’s final score.

The Golden Lions rushed for 248 yards in the win. Moore completed six of his 14 passes for 117 yards and one interception.