Prairie View Ends Record Losing Streak

OKLAHOMA CITY - Prairie View A&M ended the longest losing football streak in NCAA history against the team that started it nine years ago.

The Panthers ended an 80-game skid last night, stopping a two-point conversion in the final minute for a 14-12 victory over Langston.

The victory, watched by a crowd of about 5,000, was the Panthers' first since Oct. 28, 1989, when they defeated Mississippi Valley 21-12. The streak started the following week with a 19-18 loss at Langston.

"It was well overdue," said Coach Greg Johnson of NCAA Division I-AA Prairie View.

Johnson left NAIA Langston two years ago to rebuild the Panther program. "There wasn't any doubt in my mind what we could do," he said. "We just had to believe and come through in the stretch."

When referees signaled that Langston's two-point try failed, Prairie View players began celebrating.

Langston tried an onside kick after its last score, but Prairie View recovered and ran out the clock.

"Tonight the score on the scoreboard validated something we always knew - this was a team of winners," Prairie View vice president Larry Raab said.