Allen University (S.C.) defeated Edward Waters University 31-28 in the 2026 AME Classic on Saturday evening at Nathaniel Glover Community Field & Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Edward Waters led 20-7 after the first quarter but fell to 6-4 overall and 5-3 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Allen improved to 4-6 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
Edward Waters starts fast
Edward Waters scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter and controlled the early stages of the game. Tavion Faulk threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Jared Lawrence before connecting with Kyron Burroughs for a 61-yard score. Johntarrious Thomas then added a 37-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 20-7 advantage with 2:14 remaining in the first quarter.
Allen answered with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Brent Upshaw Jr. to Nanders Lawrence with 21 seconds left in the period. The Yellow Jackets took their first lead before halftime when Upshaw Jr. found Demetri Simmons for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 23 seconds remaining. Allen led 21-20 at the break.
Javon Miller blocked Ethan Piel’s 32-yard field-goal attempt late in the second quarter, preserving Edward Waters’ lead at the time. Allen continued to pressure the Tigers with its rushing attack and opened the second half with an eight-play, 62-yard scoring drive. Simmons finished that possession with a 24-yard touchdown run, extending Allen’s lead to 28-20.
Fourth-quarter comeback comes up short
Edward Waters answered in the fourth quarter with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Faulk found Izaiah Jean-Baptiste for a five-yard touchdown, and the Tigers tied the game at 28-28 on a successful two-point pass to Kemauny Welch. The drive brought Edward Waters back from an eight-point deficit.
Allen responded with a nine-play drive that consumed more than five minutes and ended with Piel’s 32-yard field goal with 7:15 remaining. Edward Waters moved 84 yards on 10 plays on its next possession, highlighted by a 64-yard completion from Faulk to Jean-Baptiste. The Tigers’ potential game-tying 23-yard field-goal attempt was blocked with 3:50 left, and Allen maintained possession for the rest of the game.
Faulk leads Edward Waters offense
Faulk completed 19 of 32 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 46 yards on five carries. He accounted for 310 yards of total offense as Edward Waters scored four offensive touchdowns. Jean-Baptiste recorded six receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown, while Burroughs had two receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown.
Thomas rushed for 131 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. Tylon Williams added four receptions for 56 yards, and Edward Waters finished with 467 total yards, including 264 passing yards and 203 rushing yards. The Tigers held possession for 21:14.
Allen finished with 464 total yards, including 308 rushing yards and 156 passing yards. The Yellow Jackets converted 10 of 16 third-down attempts and held the ball for 38:46. Simmons led Allen with 204 rushing yards and one touchdown on 31 carries and also recorded a receiving touchdown.
Aykenon Rodgers led Edward Waters with 16 total tackles, including six solo tackles and 10 assists, and forced a third-quarter fumble. Trevon French recorded 13 total tackles and two pass breakups, while Travis Rackard added seven tackles and one pass breakup. Amari George recovered the fumble, and Miller supplied the Tigers’ other key special-teams play with his blocked kick.
What comes next
Edward Waters is scheduled to play at Chowan University on Nov. 14, 2026, at 1 p.m. The Tigers will enter that game at 6-4 overall and 5-3 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Edward Waters’ next game follows a loss in which the Tigers produced 467 yards of offense and erased an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit.
FSB Take
Edward Waters demonstrated substantial offensive production through Faulk’s passing, Thomas’ rushing and Jean-Baptiste’s receiving. Allen’s 308 rushing yards, 10-for-16 third-down performance and 38:46 time of possession created the sustained pressure that the Tigers could not overcome. The Nov. 14 game at Chowan University gives Edward Waters its next opportunity to turn that production into a complete finish.
Source: Original report