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Final Game Book

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama State fell 21-7 to rival Alabama A&M Saturday afternoon at Legion Field in the 68th annual State Farm Magic City Classic presented by Coca Cola.

Bulldogs quarterback Deaunte Mason threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns in helping A&M (5-3, 2-2 SWAC) to its fifth consecutive win at the Magic City Classic. ASU's Nick Andrews tallied 135 all-purpose yards for the Hornets, who slipped to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in league play.

“We just could never get in a good groove on offense,” said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow. “Our defense did well to keep their receivers in front of them on the short passes, but we just weren't able to hold them to short possessions. It is another game that we have to look at the tape and continue to work to get better. We still have some important games left and we will get back to work and focus on improving.”

Alabama A&M got started early scoring on its first play of the game. Mason connected with Thomas Harris for a 57-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead just 18 seconds into the game. Harris finished the day with seven catches for 157 yards and two scores.

Later in the first quarter, ASU mounted its own scoring drive going 64 yards in six plays with the drive capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Speight to Andrews. Speight was 10-of-24 for 99 yards on the day with a touchdown and an interception.

The Bulldogs were primed to extend their lead at the end of the opening quarter, but Jeremy Licea's 28-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Donovan Masline with 16 seconds left in the period to keep the score knotted, 7-7.

Mason and Harris would hook up again in the second quarter for a 22-yard touchdown that gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead. The score culminated an eight-play, 75-yard march for A&M that included five completions for Mason.

A 30-yard kickoff return by Andrews and a 28-yard screen pass to Tim Clark quickly put the Hornets into scoring range. However, Jake King's 48-yard field goal attempt into the wind fell just short as it caromed off the crossbar. ASU's Justin Wright snared an interception off a deflected pass to thwart A&M's closing drive of the half.

The two squads traded punts to start the third quarter before the Bulldogs secured the final points of the game after a quick kick by the Hornets deep in their own territory. A&M finished off a 40-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Ulysses Banks to take a 21-7 advantage. Banks, the SWAC's leading rusher with an average of 101 yards per game, gained 67 yards on 18 carries for the game.

ASU tried to answer on its next possession, moving the ball to the A&M 27-yard line. Unfortunately, King's 44-yard field goal attempt slipped wide left in the final scoring threat by either team.

Defenses dominated a fourth quarter that featured two punts, a turnover on downs and an interception by the Bulldogs' Julius Pruitt.

Speight was ASU's leading rusher with 40 yards while Andrews led the team with four receptions and 52 yards. Senior linebacker Adrian Hardy paced the Hornets defense with 12 tackles followed by 11 from Rechard Johnson.

Alabama State next visits Jackson State Nov. 7 in the final road game of the season.

GAME NOTES:
*The Hornets dropped their fifth straight Magic City Classic. A&M leads 35-30-3 all-time in the game.
*ASU's defense held SWAC leading rusher Ulysses Banks, who averaged 101 ypg, to 67 yards. The ASU defense has still not allowed an opposing rusher to gain 100 yards.
*Nick Andrews and Darius Mathis have both caught a pass in every game this season for ASU.