MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The Alabama State University football team had their three-game winning streak snapped by 11th-ranked, and defending HBCU national champion, Grambling State University 24-7 Saturday afternoon at ASU Stadium in conference play.
 
Ezra Gray led the Hornets offensively with 44 yards on the ground on 11 carries, while Alex Anderson added 38 yards on 12 carries for the Hornets who finished with 132 yards rushing. Darryl Pearson, Jr. finished the day with 95 yards passing, with 73 of those going to Willis White – a season-high in yards.
 
Defensively, Kurron Ramsey led Alabama State with seven tackles; while the Hornets recorded five sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Myles Thomas finished the night with two sacks and three tackles, while also recovering a fumble.
 
Alabama State (3-6, 3-3 SWAC) started quick with Gray returning the opening kickoff 64 yards to set the Hornets up deep in Grambling State territory early in the contest. However, the drive stalled at the Grambling State 28, setting up a 45-yard field goal attempt by Hunter Hanson, which was subsequently blocked by Marchael Jackson.
 
The Hornets had another opportunity to get on the board after Grambling State fumbled a punt return, which was recovered by Thomas at the Tigers' 16-yard line. However, just like the first drive, Grambling State was able to get through the line and block a 46-yard attempt from Hanson.
 
Grambling State (9-1, 6-0 SWAC) took the first lead of the game following a Pearson interception that was returned to the one-yard line, where Martez Carter punched it in for a 7-0 Tigers lead at the end of the first quarter. Grambling State was able to build on the lead with 35 seconds left to play in the first half when Devante Kincade found Calief Samon from seven yards out for a 14-0 lead.
 
After Alabama State's drive stalled in the third quarter, Trevor Vincent punted the ball deep into Grambling State territory which eventually died at the Tigers' 18. The punt covered 75 yards, a new career long for Vincent. However, Grambling State converted on a Marc Orozco 41-yard field goal on the subsequent drive that gave the Tigers a 17-0 lead with 8:40 to play in third.
 
Grambling State would add another score before the Hornets got on the board late in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard pass from Pearson to Gray, trimming the deficit to 24-7 with 5:09 to play.
 
Alabama State's defense held Grambling State to just 168 yards rushing and 321 total offense, their second lowest in the nine-game winning streak.
 
Alabama State returns to action next weekend on the road at Mississippi Valley State University, with kick set for 1 pm.
 
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