Howard quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins had a career-high in passing yards to lead the Bison to a 31-24 win over Alabama A&M in a thrilling nationally televised MEAC/SWAC Challenge game before 17,320 fans on Saturday at Center Parc Stadium.

“Our guys, they persevered,” Howard coach Ted White said. “I’m definitely proud of these guys…we have a special team.”

White, a former intern with the Atlanta Falcons and Howard QB legend, made his head coaching debut. He breathed life into his quarterback, who completed 19 of 36 passes (53%) for 315 yards and three touchdowns. Scroggins, a graduate student from Las Vegas, finished with a quarterback rating of 153.8 and named MVP of the game.

“He has ice in his veins,” White said. “He plays it the right way.”

Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelius “Quad” Brown IV, who started his career at Georgia State,  rallied his team for a late lead, 24-23, with 7:49 to play.

Behind the Scroggins and big defensive stop, the Bison prevailed to improve to 1-0, while the Bulldogs dropped to 0-1 in the Week 0 game.

Brown was at Georgia State from 2019 to 21 and led the Panthers to a Bowl win over Western Kentucky in 2020. After losing the job in 2021, he moved on to Tennessee Martin before landing at Alabama A&M.

With the game on the line, Scroggins tossed a 51-yard touchdown pass over the middle to wide receiver Se’Quan Osborne with 2:36 to play.

“So, it was an RPO play,” Scroggins said. “They gave us a Cover-0 look. It was in slow motion to be honest with you. I saw a press (coverage signal). He ran a slant route and after that it was just something you don’t think about. It’s something that just happens.”

This was a battle of two teams trying to rebound from down seasons. Alabama A&M went 4-8 last season, while Howard was 5-7 under former coach Larry Scott. He left to become Auburn’s tight ends coach.

Sam Shade, the former Alabama star and NFL defensive back, is his second at Alabama A&M.

“The first thing is starting fast,” Shade said. “We didn’t start fast. We started slow.”

Howard led 23-14 after kicker Liam Allen IV made a 31-yard field goal with 1:52 left in the third quarter.

Alabama A&M cobbled together a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Brown scored on a 3-yard run to make it 23-21 with 13:10.

Howard stumbled on the ensuing kickoff and had a three-out. The Bulldogs were back in business at the Bison 47 with 11:34 left.

Brown drove the Bulldogs for a 32-yard field goal by David Faulk to give them their first lead of the game, 24-23 with 7:49 to play.

Then things got crazy.

After Howard’s TD, the Bulldogs were on the move but the Bison forced a fumble at the 21-yard with :27 left. Linebacker Aidan Foster knocked the ball off of Bulldog wide receiver Mehki Maddox. The fumble was recovered by Rodney Roane to secure the victory.

“It was just a play that had to be made,” Foster said. “Time was running down. That was a post player right there. I’m not letting anybody get behind me. He threw the ball to (Maddox) and it was just me and him.”

Howard scored on their first three drives to take a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and led 20-14 at halftime.

Scroggins tossed a yard touchdown pass to freshman Andrew Cooper. Allen added field goals of 25 and 26 yards.

The Bulldogs finally went on the move when Imari Conley picked up 43 yards on a reverse. Brown then tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jarel Williams in the back of the end zone with 8:31 to play in the second quarter.

Howard answered with a 10- play, 68-yard touchdown drive. Scroggins tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to  Nathanial Clark to make it 20-7 with 4:23 left in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs, aided by penalties, marched right back down the field Brown hit Conley on a nice crossing route for a 14-yard touchdown pass to make it 20-14 with 2:13 to play.

North Carolina Central beat Southern 31-14 last season to claim the challenge trophy for the MEAC. SWAC schools had won the previous three meetings.

The series was launched in 2005 and was held in Birmingham at Legion Field for three seasons. In 2008, it was moved to Orlando. In 2016, it went to campus sites for two seasons and was moved to Atlanta in 2018.

Howard is set to host Richmond on Sept. 5 before playing at Indiana, the defending FBS National Champions, on Sept. 12.

Alabama A&M is set to host Miles College on Sept. 5 and Tennessee State on Sept. 12.

“Yeah, this is my third time playing in this game,” said White, who got emotional about hugging family members after the game. “I had a chance in 2011 when I was coaching at Southern University, playing in Orlando. I got a chance in 2018 to play when I coached at Prairie View (A&M) against North Carolina Central.

“Getting an opportunity to come back with my alma mater and get the win, not only represent for Howard University, but represent for the conference. We feel like the MEAC is one of the best conferences in the country.”

White enjoyed his time with the Falcons

White, Howard’s all-time passing leader from Baton Rouge, La., was with the Falcons under Bobby Petrino and Mike Smith in 2008.

“They were very important,” White told BowTieSports.com about the internships. “Not only the one with the Atlanta Falcons when Bobby Petrino was the head coach. Hue Jackson was the offensive coordinator.”

He also worked under quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and with offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey the following season, Matt Ryan’s rookie season.