NORMAL, Ala. --Â A 24-point deficit early in the third quarter did not deter Miles on Saturday against Alabama A&M in the Louis Crews Classic. The Golden Bears (0-2) continued to fight and still were within shouting distance in the fourth quarter before the comeback ran out of steam in a 38-23 defeat against the Division I Bulldogs (1-1).
Quarterback
Brinley Vandiver threw for 208 yards and ran for 66 yards and two touchdowns. The first score came after a weather delay of more than an hour in the first quarter. His 8-yard scamper ended with a dive into the end zone that cut the Golden Bears deficit to 14-7. But Alabama A&M was able to move the ball at will in the first half, racking up more than 300 yards in offense with four scoring drives of more than 70 yards in taking a 24-7 lead into halftime.
When the Bulldogs looked to deliver the knockout blow when they scored on their first possession of the third quarter, it did not look as if Miles was going to come up off the mat. But the Golden Bears responded with some spirited play on both sides of the ball.
Vandiver finished an 11-play, 75-yard drive with another touchdown run - this one from from four yards - to get Miles back in the scoring column. The Bulldogs, again, got back in the end zone. But the Golden Bears with a 9-play, 75-yard that culminated with a 3-yard touchdown run by
Roderick Thomas to draw to within 38-21 early in the fourth quarter.
The Golden Bears caught a break when Alabama A&M mishandled the ensuing kickoff and had to start their drive at their own 1-yard line. On the next play, the defense crashed into the backfield and got a safety when
Donsha Gaither and
Kingston Lowe took down Byron Perrillat for a safety to make it a two-score game with 13:14 to go.
Miles would start with the ball on their own 30 and drove deep into Bulldogs territory, converting two fourth downs on the way to the Alabama A&M 15. But facing fourth-and-long, the Golden Bears could not convert again with just less than seven minutes to go and turned the ball over on downs, ending the last credible scoring opportunity,
Edward Osley had nine catches for 64 yards and
Jaiden Jones had four grabs for 36 yards.
Antonio White, Jr. had a team-high eight tackles and
Kingston Lowe added seven tackles while splitting a sack with Christian Kelly (five tackles).
The Golden Bears will play their home opener next Saturday when they host Edward Waters in the Prince Hall Americanism Football Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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