Panthers top rival in Labor Day Classic
PRAIRIE VIEW — Making his head coaching debut at Prairie View A&M after spending the past 11 seasons as an assistant for the Panthers, Bubba McDowell was hopeful his first game leading the program would result with a victory in the Labor Day Classic.
Clarence McKinney was also looking to notch his initial win in the rivalry. The Texas Southern coach had fallen short against the Panthers in each of his first three seasons guiding the Tigers.
When the final whistle blew, it was McDowell doing the celebrating with his team. Quarterback Trazon Connley ran for a pair of scores, as did Ja’den Stewart, propelling Prairie View past SWAC rival TSU 40-23 on Saturday night at Panther Stadium.
“A lot of people counted us out because we got a new coach and he’s never been in this position,” Panthers defensive end Kevin Victorian said. “We just picked up where we left off last season. We wanted to get that first one for him and prove the doubters wrong.”
Connley’s 70-yard third-quarter touchdown gave the Panthers breathing room. In the first half, Connley scored on a 13yard keeper.
Connley cramped up and was taken out of the game early in the fourth quarter with the Panthers holding a comfortable advantage.
Isaiah Hamilton went 45 yards for a late thirdquarter pick-six, the second of his two interceptions. But the Tigers couldn’t match the Panthers’ productivity.
Sticking with the run game behind a big offensive line, the Panthers didn’t need to air it out. Stewart picked up most of the carries and eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark. He was elated to leave the field knowing he helped contribute to McDowell’s victory.
“Giving him the win for the first time, that’s the ultimate goal, and we’re going to keep going up,” Stewart said.
Despite TSU scoring first, the Panthers were never seriously threatened. So McDowell could relax a little once the game was underway. Trying to get rest the night before wasn’t as easy.
“I’m just so excited,” McDowell said. “Not just for me but for the kids. They did what they were taught to do, asked to do. Just play football.”
Prairie View won last year’s game 40-17. TSU leads the series 44-33-1.
For the second straight year, the classic featured a pair of quarterbacks who were starting their first Labor Day Classic — Connley and TSU’s Andrew Body.
Body directed the Tigers to a touchdown on the game’s opening drive. He gave the Panthers problems.
“He’s a great quarterback. He moves a lot,” Victorian said.
Prairie View, which reached the SWAC Championship Game last year, took the lead for good on a 7-yard run by Ahmad Antoine to make it 21-14 with 6:30 left in the second quarter.