CINCINNATI (AP) _ Bobby Townsend passed for 298 yards in the second half and threw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes to lead Howard over Bethune-Cookman 31-27 Saturday in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Townsend, who finished 18 of 39 for 396 yards, led the Bison (1-2, 1-1) back from a 17-point deficit with scoring passes of 73 yards to Jevonte Philpot and 16 and 35 yards to Elijah Thurmon.

Quarterback Pa'Tel Troutman gave Bethune-Cookman (2-1, 1-1) a 10-3 lead with a 24-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, and Jeremy Thomas added runs of 26 and 1 yard to put the Wildcats ahead 27-10 with 8:51 to go.

Townsend hooked up with Philpot 33 seconds later to make it 27-17. Thurman caught a 16-yard TD pass with 4:26 remaining, then the go-ahead score from 35 yards out with 31 seconds to go.

Thurman led all receivers with 202 yards on 11 catches.

Troutman rushed 17 times for 131 yards and Thomas added 102 yards on 16 carries as Bethune-Cookman gained 297 yards on the ground.

The game was played as part of the first River Front Jamboree.