Oct. 27, 2007
Final Stats
Alabama State entered the 66th Magic City Classic as a decided underdog to archrival Alabama A & M.
After all, the Bulldogs were the defending SWAC champions. They'd also won four out of the last five in the series. And, they were 6-1 on the season, and leading the eastern division with a 4-1 SWAC record. On the other hand, ASU entered the game by dropping their last three games.
Still, a stout defensive effort kept the Hornets in the game, but ASU simply couldn't generate enough offense as they fell 13-9.
"Our guys really played hard today," said an obviously disappointed Reggie Barlow, ASU's head coach. "We felt good coming into today, and they (A & M) are a very good team. But with the way our defense played, this is a game we could have won."
After neither team scored in the first quarter, the Bulldogs got it going in the second.
Jeremy Licea knocked through a 27-yard field goal to open the scoring. Four minutes later, A & M took advantage of ASU's fumbled punt at their own 17-yard line. Three plays later, Ulysses Bank slammed in from one yard out to build the lead to 10-0.
ASU needed a break to get back into the game, and got one courtesy of a punt block by Brandon Averett setting the Hornets up on the A & M's 19-yard line. Unfortunately, ASU's offense couldn't move the ball. They did pick up 10 yards thanks to a pass interference call. However, three straight incomplete passes left the Hornets with a 4th and goal on the 9.
Out trotted kicker Jeremy Fetterhoff, who had made none of his four field goal attempts this year. In front of the biggest crowd he'd ever played against, Fetterhoff promptly banged it in - making the score 10-3.
A & M took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Hornets' 36-yard line. Facing a 4th and 1, A & M went for it. ASU's defense rose up once again, as Rechard Johnson and Adrian Hardy drilled Banks behind the line of scrimmage giving ASU the ball.
Helped by a couple of Bulldog penalties, ASU's offense starting moving. Behind 21-yard reception by Peck and a key 4th down catch by Steve Briggs, the Hornets were on the 1-yard line. Peck powered in to bring ASU within one. Fetterhoff came on for the extra point, but A & M's defense broke through and block the kick, leaving the score 10-9.
Licea's 4th quarter field goal pushed the lead to 13-9.
With exactly 4 minutes left, ASU started on its own 16 yard l line. After two Peck rushes gained 16 yards and couple of incomplete passes, quarterback Chris Mitchell hit Antonio James for a 28 yard gain. Mitchell then ran 16 yards to the A & M 30. On 3rd and 9, Mitchell's pass was intercepted by Al Donaldson, clinching the game for the Bulldogs and the defensive MVP award for himself.
Kelcy Luke, the offensive MVP, was 18-30 for 151 yards, while rushing for 62 more.
The ASU defense, despite giving up 406 yards, was strong in the red zone. A & M was held to 13 points, way off their average of 36 per game. And, A & M scored on only 50% of its red zone trips, far less than their average of 95%.
"We left everything out here," Peck said. "It's disappointing that all of our fans are out here and we couldn't pull out this win for this. It's disappointing that no one can see how good our team really is"
The Hornets, now 4-4 overall and 3-4 in the conference, will face Grambling State at Cramton Bowl on Saturday at 1 p.m. The date also marks ASU Connection Day, an opportunity for high school students, parents and counselors to get an up close look at Alabama State University. For more information, contact the ASU Office of Admissions at (334) 229-4291.
