Prairie View A&M Dominates Texas Southern 52-14 in Labor Day Classic Behind Explosive Start

PRAIRIE VIEW — Last year’s Labor Day Classic came down to the final play. On Sunday at Panther Stadium, Prairie View’s Jahbari Kuykendall returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, instantly shifting momentum and igniting both sidelines.

That sequence encapsulated the Texas Southern–Prairie View A&M rivalry: high-stakes, high-energy football from the opening whistle. While the 2023 edition ended on a walk-off touchdown, Sunday’s nationally televised matchup on ESPN2 was never in doubt. The Panthers (1-1) erupted for a 52-14 rout of the Tigers (1-1).

Prairie View led 17-7 at halftime before blowing the game open with a 28-0 third quarter. Quarterback Tevin Carter orchestrated the offense with four passing touchdowns — two to Travon Jones — and added a rushing score under second-year head coach Tremaine Jackson.

Play was halted roughly an hour after kickoff due to lightning, forcing a 57-minute delay with the Panthers ahead 17-0 and 12:35 remaining in the second quarter. The interruption did little to slow Prairie View’s surge.

Kuykendall, a junior from Westside, provided the early spark. He fielded the kick at his own 10, cut left, and followed a convoy of blockers into the end zone. On the ensuing offensive drive, Carter connected with Damien McDaniel for a 24-yard strike. Ethan Eddings’ 37-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the first quarter made it 17-0.

The third quarter belonged entirely to the Panthers. Carter hit Chase Bingmon on a 54-yard wheel route out of the backfield, then found a wide-open Jones for a 39-yard score, pushing the lead to 38-7.

Defense and special teams complemented the offensive outburst. Linebacker Tyler Morehead recovered a fumble deep in Panther territory late in the first half, and defensive end Dorian Gates added another takeaway. Corey Thompson Jr. and Rondell Carter excelled on kickoff coverage.

Texas Southern’s Cam’Ron McCoy scored on a 17-yard run and flashed elusiveness with a 35-yard gain, though he didn’t complete a pass until midway through the second quarter. Athean Renfro Jr. paced the Tigers’ ground attack with 85 yards.

Texas Southern holds a 45-36-1 all-time series lead, but Prairie View has claimed 19 of the last 23 meetings. The Panthers prevailed 22-21 last season on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Peters to Rodny Ojo as time expired — Jackson’s first victory at the helm.

Both programs hit the road this Saturday for FBS tests: Texas Southern visits UTEP, while Prairie View travels to Baylor.

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