PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — In a classic SWAC thriller that swung with every possession, Prairie View A&M delivered one of its most spirited performances of the season — yet came up just short. Despite explosive outings from quarterback Cameron Peters and running back Chase Bingmon, the Panthers fell 31–28 to Alabama State on Saturday afternoon at Panther Stadium.
The loss drops Prairie View A&M to 6–3 overall (4–1 SWAC) and halts its run atop the West Division standings, while Alabama State improves to 6–2 (4–1 SWAC) and strengthens its position in a tight East Division title race.
Electric Start, Heartbreak Finish
Prairie View couldn’t have scripted a better start. Behind Peters’ tempo control and Bingmon’s burst in the open field, the Panthers opened the game with 14 unanswered points, sending the home crowd into a frenzy as they asserted early dominance over a Hornets team fighting for championship positioning.
Even after Alabama State cut the deficit to 14–7, Prairie View responded immediately, extending the lead to 21–7 with 12:33 left in the second quarter. At that point, the Panthers’ offense looked unstoppable, and momentum appeared firmly in their grasp.
But Alabama State — battle-tested, resilient, and led by one of the SWAC’s most dynamic units — stormed back. The Hornets scored 24 straight points, flipping a double-digit deficit into a 31–21 lead, forcing Prairie View into chase mode late.
Still, the Panthers refused to fold. Peters marched the offense down the field to cut the lead to 31–28, keeping hopes alive. But in the final minutes, Alabama State’s defense stood tall, and Prairie View was unable to produce one final scoring drive as the Hornets escaped with the narrow victory.
Standout Performances for Prairie View A&M
Despite the loss, several Panthers delivered big-time efforts:
-
Cameron Peters — 189 passing yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs, plus 106 rushing yards
-
Chase Bingmon — 118 rushing yards and 1 TD
-
Rodny Ojo — 3 receptions, 60 yards, 2 TDs
-
Jyzaiah Rockwell — 6 receptions, 55 yards
Peters’ dual-threat brilliance kept Prairie View competitive all afternoon, but the four interceptions ultimately swung the pressure back toward a defense that spent long stretches on the field.
Still, Prairie View’s offensive versatility shined:
-
437 total yards (248 rushing, 189 passing)
-
9-of-16 conversions on 3rd down
-
3-of-3 on 4th down
-
30:29 time of possession
-
5.5 yards per carry
It was an effort worthy of victory — but one small mistake at a time, the Hornets found ways to seize momentum.
Defensive Fight, But Turnovers Cost PVAMU
Prairie View’s defense delivered gritty moments — and held Alabama State to 334 total yards, including just 121 passing — but couldn’t withstand repeated short-field situations after Panthers turnovers.
Kamren Amao led the defensive charge with 13 tackles, while the Panthers also forced a fumble and converted it into seven points.
A Game of Inches, A Season Still Alive
For Prairie View, Saturday was a lesson in margins. They ran the football effectively, dominated possession, made clutch fourth-down conversions, and jumped out to a commanding lead — yet turnovers and a second-quarter lapse turned the tide.
Even in defeat, however, Prairie View proved it can compete at a championship level — and with the season still in reach, the Panthers remain firmly in the postseason picture.
There are no moral victories in November, but there are measuring sticks. And Prairie View showed it has the talent and toughness to be in every fight down the stretch.
Next week, the Panthers look to regroup and reassert themselves as contenders — because in the SWAC, the road to December is never smooth, and the margins between heartbreak and glory are razor-thin.
