BOX SCORE PRAIRIE VIEW – Between the formidable defense and the impressive play of the offense, the Panthers pulled together one heck of a performance, to hold onto the Durley-Nicks Trophy another year in the 40-23 37th Labor Day Classic win over the Tigers of Texas Southern Saturday night.

How it Happened: 
After an hour and a half weather delay the two teams took the field for both teams season opener, and coach Bubba McDowell's debut as the new head football coach of the Prairie View A&M University Panthers.

TSU opened the game on a kickoff return for a touchdown, but the score was negated due to a penalty. Despite the early setback, TSU shook off a pair of early penalties on its opening drive as they took a 7-0 lead with 12:47 left.
 
The Panthers answered with a scoring drive of its own, on their opening possession to tie the contest as sophomore running back  Ja'den Stewart rushed in from the four yard line. TSU's next drive ended with a blocked punt by junior defensive back Bryce Turner which set up PV's next touchdown as redshirt- junior quarterback Trazon Connley scored from 13 yards out for a 14-7 lead after the PAT.
 
TSU answered in the second quarter on a recovered fumble at the PVAMU's 15 yard line to score.  This would be the second tie of the game, but Prairie View A&M University closed out the second quarter with 10 unanswered points as junior running back Ahmad Antoine "AA" scored a touchdown from the six yard line and later with seven seconds left in the quarter a 42 yard field goal by redshirt-freshman Carlos Villagomez to take a 24-14 lead into the half.
 
The second half opened up as both teams traded punts, and Connley turned the tables for the Panthers scoring from 70 yards to advance the Panthers lead to 31-14 following the PAT. Stewart scored his second TD of the night after red-shirt quarterback Chris Herron set up a one yard run for Stewart on a 30 yard run with 9:20 remaining in the quarter as the Panthers upped their lead 37-14.

A TSU pick-six for 48 yards with 3:35 left in the third, would possible put the Tigers back in the game as TSU trailed 37-20.  TSU's Richard Garcia's 39-yard field goal would be the final score for the Tigers as it was up to the Panther defense to hold Texas Southern off the final quarter of the night.  PV's offense kicked a final field goal with 1:18 left in the game to solidify the 40-23 win.

Connley, had a career-best two touchdown runs in the game, tallying 130 rushing yards on nine carries. 

Next Up:
Prairie View A&M will head over to Abilene Christian for a contest on Sept. 10 with a 7 p.m. kick off at Anthony Field Wildcat Stadium.

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