Blythewood, South Carolina-Entering Saturday's AME Football Classic matchup against rival Allen, Edward Waters was riding a five game winning streak and an eight game winning streak over the Yellow Jackets. Unfortunately for the Purple & Orange, both streaks were snapped with a tough 59-21 loss as Allen defeated the Tigers for the first time on the gridiron since 1949 and dropping the "Bishop's Trophy" to the Yellow Jackets for the first time since the incarnation of the Classic in 2019.

Edward Waters (5-4, 5-3 SIAC) struggled defensively throughout the contest, surrendering 524 yards to Allen (7-2, 5-2 SIAC) with 326 yards given up through the air to the SIAC's top ranked passing offense. Third down proved to be quite problematic for the Tigers as well as the Yellow Jackets converted 10 of 14 chances in the contest. Allen got the scoring started first, scoring on a 43-yard passing touchdown on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. After an EWU three-and-out on their first series, Allen once again took to the skies with a 26-yard passing TD to double up the lead to 14-0. 

The Tigers finally got on the scoreboard at the 13:28 mark of the second quarter when Jyron Russell hooked up with Arsiah McCorker for a 27-yard TD to cut the lead in half at 14-7. The Yellow Jackets quickly responded on their next drive on a five-yard passing TD to push the lead back to 14 points with 9:27 remaining in the second. Allen pushed their lead to three scores at the 6:09 mark of the second on a 33-yard touchdown run to take a 28-7 lead. Edward Waters got back to within 14 points with 2:00 remaining in the quarter on a Nathan Rembert 16-yard TD reception to make it a 28-14 contest. Just before halftime, Allen connected on a 27-yard field goal to take a 28-17 lead at halftime.

On the Tigers first possession of the third quarter, the offense drove down to the Allen five yard line, but were turned away by the Yellow Jacket defense. Allen made EWU pay as they scored on their first drive of the half with another long touchdown pass, this one of 45 yards to push their advantage to 38-14 with 8:32 remaining in the third. As the third quarter expired, Allen again scored on a 23-yard touchdown run to take a commanding 45-14 lead. 

The Yellow Jackets started the fourth quarter with another touchdown run of 20 yards to effectively put the contest away at 52-14 with 13:23 remaining in the game. Edward Waters was able to score a touchdown with 10:37 left in the contest on a Yanez Rogers 53-yard touchdown reception to make it a 52-14 ballgame. However, the day would belong to the Yellow Jackets as they capped off the contest with an 18-yard TD pass to earn a 59-21 victory. 

The 59 points that the Tigers surrendered in the contest were the most given up to the Yellow Jackets in series history, eclipsing the 56 points Allen scored in their last victory over EWU in 1949.

Edward Waters put up 405 yards of total offense in the contest with 265 coming through the air and 140 on the ground. Jyron Russell finished the contest 17-35 passing for 241 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Johntarrious Thomas led the Tigers ground efforts with 63 yards on nine carries, while Yanez Rogers was EWU's leading pass catcher with 74 yards on four receptions and a touchdown. Defensively, James Gary led EWU with 10 tackles in the contest.

Edward Waters will conclude the 2023 campaign and honor their senior class on Saturday, November 4th at 6:00pm against the Dragons from Virginia University of Lynchburg at Nathaniel Glover Community Field & Stadium.

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