MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Greg Jenkins passed for a career-high 297 yards and three touchdowns and Nick Andrews became the all-time school leader in receiving touchdowns as Alabama State held off Alcorn State 31-23 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game Saturday night at Cramton Bowl.

Alabama State (4-1 overall, 4-0 SWAC) is the lone undefeated team in the conference, improving to 4-0 for the first time since 2005. Alcorn State (1-4, 1-4) lost its fourth game by a margin of eight points or less this season.

Tied 10-10 at halftime, the Hornets scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions to take the lead for good. Jenkins' nine-yard touchdown run gave Alabama State the lead for good at 17-10 with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter. Andrews' 16-yard touchdown catch gave the Hornets a 23-10 lead with 6:13 to play in the quarter.

After Alcorn State closed to 23-17 on an Arnold Walker three-yard touchdown run, Andrews got behind the defense on a 39-yard scoring pass with 2:17 remaining.

“These guys have been working hard since August 3^rd and they have really bought into the mindset,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “I appreciate them and our coaches. I ride them hard and I'm just happy for all of them. We'll enjoy this one and then we'll turn the page and get ready for the next one.”

Alabama State started fast with a field goal on its opening possession, but trailed 10-3 late in the first half before its' longest play of the season. Jenkins eluded Alcorn defenders in the end zone and threw a long pass to Andrews, who raced 85 yards to set up DeAndre Austin's first career touchdown on a four-yard catch to tie the score at 10-10 heading into halftime.

“I talked to them about being in the moment,” Barlow said of his halftime speech. “I thought we were a better team than what we showed in the first half. We weren't playing with any energy and emotion and I just told them to play Bama State ball the way the way that we've been playing all season. They bought into it, came out in the second half and we were able to get some things done.”

Andrews caught six passes for a career-high 185 yards and two touchdowns. His 24 career receiving touchdowns moved him past Reggie Brown and Horace Brooks, each with 23 touchdowns.

“I want to thank God that we came out with the win,” Andrews said. “I try to do as much as I can. I came out a little slow but they kept feeding me the ball and I came through in the end. It's a huge step. They were another step in the way to a SWAC Championship. We just see it as another game. Of course we lost last year but we came out on top this year.”