If you blinked during Week 5, you missed something. Grambling State and Alcorn State turned Homecoming at the Hole into a track meet, trading punches for 122 points before the Tigers delivered the knockout with 19 seconds left. Jackson State, down 11 in the fourth quarter and soaked by the rain in Mobile, ripped off 14 points in 78 seconds of game clock to keep its perfect season alive.

The upsets came in waves. The Citadel walked into Orangeburg and stunned nationally ranked, previously unbeaten South Carolina State on the final play, and Mississippi Valley State climbed out of a 24-0 hole to shock Prairie View A&M.

Saturday also had a cruel side. North Carolina A&T had Bryant beat by nine with 2:18 to go and watched it all come apart, and Norfolk State’s furious comeback at Robert Morris ended with a 52-yard field goal fading away as the clock hit zero. Buckle up. Here is how every game played out.

Grambling State Outlasts Alcorn State 63-59 in a Homecoming Classic

Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium got its money’s worth on Homecoming. Grambling State and Alcorn State traded haymakers for four quarters, piled up 1,165 yards of total offense between them, and the Tigers walked off with a 63-59 win after scoring the game’s final 21 points.

It looked like a Grambling State runaway early. Jacobe Robinson threw touchdown passes of 54 and 8 yards to Tyson George, D’Shaun Ford and Ashton Frye ran for scores, and the Tigers led 28-21 at the half. Kingston Jones then returned the second-half kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to make it 35-21.

Alcorn State answered with one of the wildest stretches of the season. Jaylon Tolbert hit Damien Jones for touchdowns of 13 and 62 yards, Kenyon Bowyer added a field goal, and Ernest Temple, Jamarr Ebron and Fredrick Robertson all found the end zone early in the fourth quarter. In all, the Braves scored 38 of 45 points, and when Robertson plunged in from 2 yards out with 10:18 left, Alcorn State led 59-42.

Grambling State never blinked. Frye found Nae’Saan Dickerson for a 15-yard touchdown with 6:11 left, and on Alcorn State’s next possession Jon Horton stripped Tolbert and Marcellius Johnson recovered at the Alcorn 25. Ford punched it in from a yard out with 3:20 remaining to cut the deficit to three.

After a quick Alcorn three-and-out, Frye went to work from his own 24 with 2:19 left. He hit Jordan Bride for 51 yards, converted a 3rd-and-20 with a 24-yard strike to Bride, and found George in the end zone from 11 yards out with 19 seconds remaining. George’s third touchdown of the day completed the comeback, and Grambling State’s defense closed it out on Alcorn State’s final possession.

Frye threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 61 yards and two more scores. Robinson added 167 passing yards and two touchdowns, Bride caught seven passes for 108 yards, and Jamarion Parker ran for 98 yards on just six carries. Horton was everywhere on defense, finishing with 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Tolbert was spectacular in defeat, throwing for 411 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. Jones caught four passes for 140 yards and two scores, Ebron had 121 yards and two touchdowns on just three catches, and Robertson ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Grambling State improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in SWAC play, while Alcorn State suffers its first conference loss and falls to 3-3 and 2-1.

Jackson State Rallies in the Rain to Stay Unbeaten

Alabama A&M had Jackson State right where it wanted it. Cornelious Brown IV hit Jaylan Bean for a 70-yard touchdown on the first play of a drive with 8:22 left in the Gulf Coast Challenge, and the Bulldogs led 28-17 in a steady rain at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Then the Tigers flipped the game in 78 seconds of game clock. Li’Darious Pryor broke a 29-yard touchdown run with 7:00 left to make it 28-24. On Alabama A&M’s very next snap, Brown fumbled, and Micah Gay recovered at the Bulldogs’ 28. Three plays later, Jared Lockhart found Kobe Paul for a 17-yard touchdown with 5:42 remaining, and Jackson State had its first lead since the first quarter.

The Jackson State defense forced a three-and-out, and the offense took over at its own 15 with 4:36 to go and never gave the ball back. Lockhart converted a 3rd and 4 with a 13-yard pass to Nate Rembert and later picked up a key first down on a 3rd and 4 keeper, and the Tigers ran out the clock to win 31-28.

Jackson State scored 21 points in the fourth quarter after managing just 10 through three, and the ground game carried the load. The Tigers ran for 236 yards, led by Nate Blount IV (88 yards) and Pryor (72 yards and a touchdown). Rembert caught seven passes for 108 yards, and Lockhart threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

Brown threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns for Alabama A&M, including 67-yard strikes to Jordan Chambers-Smith and 14 yards to Jarel Williams. Jackson State improves to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in SWAC play and extends its winning streak in the series to six games. Alabama A&M falls to 4-2 and 1-1.

Norfolk State’s Late Rally Comes Up Just Short at Robert Morris

Norfolk State did nearly everything right in the second half at Joe Walton Stadium and still walked away with a 33-31 loss.

The Spartans trailed 27-10 in the third quarter, in part because a 55-yard field goal try late in the first half turned into a 100-yard return touchdown by Tahseen Howard with 49 seconds left before halftime. Norfolk State then rallied behind freshman quarterback DaJean Golmond, who caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from receiver Brevin Caldwell on a trick play and threw touchdown passes to Kiron Benjamin and Paul Billups II. Billups’ 3-yard catch with 3:27 left gave the Spartans a 31-27 lead.

Robert Morris answered in 1:56. Carson Haggard hit Jaqai Carter for 48 yards on second down, then found him again from 10 yards out with 1:25 left. The Colonials missed the extra point for the second time, leaving the door open at 33-31.

Norfolk State marched from its own 26 and kept the drive alive when Jalyn Daniels caught an 18-yard pass on 4th and 10 to reach the Robert Morris 35. Robert Morris called a timeout with four seconds left to ice Marco Peery, and his 52-yard attempt hit the crossbar as time expired.

Golmond completed 27 of 45 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns, and Norfolk State outgained the Colonials 491 to 366. Elyjah Mitchell led the receivers with 81 yards. Carter was the difference for Robert Morris, catching nine passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Norfolk State falls to 3-3.

North Carolina A&T’s Late Lead Unravels at Bryant

For nearly the entire game, North Carolina A&T looked like it was carrying its Rhode Island momentum straight into Smithfield, Rhode Island. Kevin White threw first-quarter touchdown passes to Michael Carlock-Williams and Amonte Jones for a 14-0 lead; Asher Holland made three field goals; and when White found Carlock-Williams for a 68-yard touchdown on 3rd and 5 with 2:18 left, the Aggies led 30-21.

What followed was a collapse in every phase. Bryant went 75 yards in 13 plays, helped by a 15-yard pass interference penalty, and Brennan Myer hit Kendrick Agenor for a 5-yard touchdown on 4th and 5 with 39 seconds left. Bryant then recovered an onside kick at midfield.

Myer moved the Bulldogs into range, hitting Jose Leon for 20 yards on 3rd and 10 to the A&T 8, and Nicholas Stoyanovich knocked through a 25-yard field goal with two seconds left to give Bryant a 31-30 lead. North Carolina A&T’s last gasp ended when J.T. Smith fumbled after a 15-yard catch, and Bryant’s Duke Bradley recovered.

Penalties hurt all night, and especially late. The Aggies were flagged five times for 50 yards in the fourth quarter alone, including a personal foul that extended an earlier Bryant touchdown drive. White finished 12 of 18 for 181 yards, 63 rushing yards, and three touchdowns. Carlock-Williams caught two passes for 73 yards and two scores. Leon caught eight passes for 96 yards for Bryant, which improves to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in CAA play. North Carolina A&T falls to 1-5 and 1-2.

The Citadel Stuns South Carolina State on the Final Play

South Carolina State’s unbeaten season ended in stunning fashion at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, where The Citadel won 34-31 on Evan Kiely’s 31-yard field goal as time expired.

The nation’s top run defense had no answer for Gavin Garcia. The Kent State transfer ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, caught a touchdown pass, and the Citadel piled up 244 rushing yards against a South Carolina State defense that had allowed 57.8 a game. Quentin Hayes added a 55-yard touchdown pass to Damir Abdullah as the visitors built a 31-17 lead late in the third quarter.

South Carolina State fought back. Mason Pickett-Hicks caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Keely Watson, and Josh Shaw ran in from 6 yards out with 8:16 left to tie it at 31. But after a punt pinned The Citadel at its own 2 with 2:23 left, Garcia broke a 44-yard run on 3rd and 1, Nick Billoups hit Michael Lorino for 34 yards, and Kiely did the rest.

Watson threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns, and Pickett-Hicks ran for 90 yards and a score. South Carolina State falls to 5-1.

Morgan State Rallies Past Villanova

Morgan State went on the road and won a thriller of its own, beating Villanova 38-35 on a late Cameron Edge touchdown run. Cameron Edge Throws for 444 Yards as Morgan State Rallies Past Villanova 38-35 has the full story of the Bears’ comeback.

Mississippi Valley State Erases a 24 Point Deficit

Prairie View A&M led 24-0 midway through the second quarter at Rice-Totten Stadium. Mississippi Valley State won 28-27.

Josh Brown drove the comeback, scoring on 9, 13, and 62-yard runs, with the last pulling the Delta Devils within 24-21 early in the fourth quarter. After an Ethan Eddins field goal pushed Prairie View A&M back ahead 27-21, Brown hit Caleb Brownlow for a 35-yard touchdown with 2:11 left. The defense sealed it when Will Hawkins stopped Tevin Carter short on 4th and 2 at the Mississippi Valley State 43 with just over a minute remaining.

Brown ran for 101 yards and threw for 144 more, and Brownlow caught four passes for 92 yards. Carter ran for 94 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers, who were held to 62 passing yards. Mississippi Valley State picks up its first SWAC win and snaps a three-game losing streak in the series, improving to 2-4 and 1-1. Prairie View A&M falls to 2-4 and 2-1.

Rashon Brown Runs Wild as Bethune-Cookman Beats Alabama State

Bethune-Cookman finally got Alabama State. Rashon Brown carried 31 times for 260 yards and a touchdown, and the Wildcats ran for 337 yards in a 16-10 win at Daytona Stadium, their first victory over the Hornets since joining the SWAC.

Aiden Lanier kicked three field goals, and Brown’s 12-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Wildcats a 13-3 lead. Jamarie Hostzclaw scored on a 2-yard run to cut the deficit to six with 11:50 left, but the Hornets could not find the end zone again. Aaron Frye completed 12 of 20 passes for 93 yards for Alabama State, which falls to 3-2 and 1-1. Bethune-Cookman improves to 3-2 and opens SWAC play 1-0.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Spoils Southern’s Homecoming

Southern had 21,890 fans at A.W. Mumford Stadium and a 10-7 lead after one quarter. Arkansas-Pine Bluff then scored the next 41 points and left Baton Rouge with a 41-10 win.

Garrison Davis put on a show. The Golden Lions quarterback completed 15 of 22 passes for 154 yards and four touchdowns, two to D’Avery Robinson, and ran for 92 yards on eight carries. Demetric Whitlock Jr. caught eight passes for 94 yards and a score, and UAPB ran for 299 yards at 9.6 yards a carry.

The turning point came early in the third quarter with UAPB up 20-10. Michael Williams II intercepted a halfback pass and returned it 63 yards to the UAPB 7, but two plays later Raylen Spratt picked off Wyatt McCauley in the end zone. Arkansas-Pine Bluff then marched 92 yards in nine plays, capped by Davis’ 30-yard strike to Robinson, and Jaylen Jennings and Bryce Robinson added touchdowns to put it away.

Trey Holly ran for 114 yards on 23 carries for Southern, and Daejawn Smith caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from McCauley on the opening drive. Jalen Williams averaged 55.7 yards on three kickoff returns for UAPB, and Du’Wayne Paulhill led the defense with nine tackles. Arkansas-Pine Bluff improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in SWAC play, while Southern falls to 2-4 and 0-2.

Howard Takes the Battle of the Real HU Again

Howard made it two straight in the 101st Battle of the Real HU, beating Hampton 27-13 in front of 15,389 at Audi Field. Hampton struck first on a Brett Starling field goal, but the Bison answered with back-to-back touchdown drives of 52 and 75 yards, with Travis Kerney and Eden James each punching in 2-yard runs.

Hampton pulled within 14-10 when Xavier Brookins hit Nare Means for a 32-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. Matt Conord answered with a 25-yard field goal as the half expired and added a 39-yarder in the third quarter. After Starling’s second field goal cut it to 20-13, Ja’Shawn Scroggins needed just three plays to put it away, finding Billy Roberson II for a 52-yard touchdown with 9:59 left.

Scroggins was efficient all afternoon, completing 23 of 34 passes for 267 yards and running for 64 more, and Howard held the ball for 34:36. Semaj Pierre caught seven passes, and Se’Quan Osborne led the receivers with 64 yards. The defense was the real story, though. The Bison sacked Hampton quarterbacks six times; Aidan Foster had 1.5 sacks, and Rodney Roane Jr. stripped Brookins on a fourth-quarter sack that Israel Lucas recovered. Hampton finished with just 36 rushing yards on 27 carries.

Cam Sturdifen and Cole Smith each had eight tackles for Hampton, and Temond Marcus added three tackles for loss. Howard improves to 2-3, and Hampton falls to 1-5.

Western Illinois Rallies Past Tennessee State

Tennessee State’s OVC opener looked in hand. Daylin Lee hit Cam Bulluck for touchdowns of 25 and 2 yards and ran one in himself from 4 yards out, and the Tigers carried a 21-10 lead into the fourth quarter at Hanson Field.

Western Illinois then scored the final 18 points. Ronan Culkin’s 30-yard field goal made it 21-13, and less than a minute later Jake Kruger picked off Lee and returned it for a touchdown. Kennedy McGill ran in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21. With 52 seconds left, McGill broke a 16-yard touchdown run to finish an eight-play, 55-yard drive and win it 28-21.

McGill was a problem all day, running for 188 yards on 16 carries and throwing for 241 more, including a 33-yard touchdown to Ihson Jackson-Anderson. Lee threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns but threw two interceptions. Bulluck caught five passes for 54 yards, Brock Montgomery led Tennessee State with 75 receiving yards, and Brenton Paul ran for 62 yards. Joshua Reese made 10 tackles, and Rymen Mosley intercepted McGill. Tennessee State falls to 1-4.

Campbell Holds Off North Carolina Central

North Carolina Central came out swinging against No. 18/24 Campbell. Nelson Layne ran for touchdowns of 16 and 3 yards, and the Eagles led 14-7 midway through the first quarter in the rain at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Campbell answered with 24 straight points, with two touchdown runs from Devon Thomas, another from JJ Cowan, and a 41-yard field goal; Thomas’ second score made it 31-14 early in the second quarter.

The Eagles refused to fold. Cobey Thompkins threw a 23-yard touchdown pass before halftime, Riley Daniels hit a 47-yard field goal, and Zion Dobson broke a 62-yard touchdown run on the first play of a drive to tie it at 31 midway through the third quarter. Campbell regained the lead for good when Kamden Sixkiller capped an 11-play, 56-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass with 7:28 left, and NC Central could not answer.

Campbell ran for 262 yards, led by Cowan’s 139 on 14 carries, but was flagged 11 times for 129 yards. Layne threw for 129 yards and ran for 59 with two touchdowns, and Dobson ran for 80. NC Central falls to 2-4.

Albany Shuts Down Delaware State

Delaware State’s offense never found its footing in a 28-3 loss at Albany. The Hornets finished with 192 total yards and just 29 rushing yards, converted 2 of 13 third downs, were sacked six times, and used three quarterbacks.

Albany got on the board after Shawan Lewis intercepted Ui Ale at the Delaware State 21, and Aidan Semo threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Rahshan La Mons five plays later. Patrick Fisher-Butler answered with a 45-yard field goal to make it 7-3, but that was all the Hornets could muster. La Mons added a 2-yard touchdown run before halftime, Joey Koch scored from 3 yards out late in the third quarter, and Semo found BJ Norman for a 12-yard touchdown early in the fourth.

Koch ran for 77 yards for the Great Danes, and linebacker Dillon Dunathan led the defense with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. For Delaware State, Carl Nesmith had two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, and Lucas Campizta made 10 tackles. The Hornets fall to 3-3.

Florida Atlantic Pulls Away From Texas Southern

Texas Southern held the ball for more than 42 minutes in Boca Raton and still lost 66-10, because Florida Atlantic needed almost no time to score. Leonard Farrow returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, and after Miguel Arana’s 44-yard field goal, Farrow took the next kickoff back 92 yards. Wilky Denaud added a 31-yard fumble return touchdown, and the Owls led 28-3 after one quarter.

Caden Veltkamp completed 13 of 16 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns, three of them to Kelby Valsin, who finished with 126 receiving yards. Florida Atlantic piled up 453 yards on just 53 plays, averaging 8.5 yards per snap.

Athean Renfro ran for 101 yards and an 11-yard touchdown for Texas Southern, which ran 72 plays to Florida Atlantic’s 53. Cam’Ron McCoy threw for 158 yards, and Roriyon Richardson caught six passes for 61 yards. Texas Southern falls to 1-4.