MONTGOMERY, Ala. | A week removed from playing the defending HBCU national champion, Alabama State hits the road for the final time this weekend as they travel to Itta Bena (Miss.) to face Mississippi Valley State.
 
Kick is set for 1 pm at Rice-Totten Stadium, and can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network beginning with the pregame show at 12:30 pm.
 
Alabama State (3-6. 3-3 SWAC) had their three-game winning streak snapped last week by Grambling State, and can finish no worse than second place in the conference's East Division with Jackson State's victory over Alabama A&M last weekend. The Hornets have now won three of their last four games, with just two games remaining in the 2017 season.
 
Ezra Gray led Alabama State, in a week in which they played without their starting right tackle and middle linebacker, with 140 all-purpose in the loss. The sophomore returned the opening kickoff 64 yards to set up the Hornets early, and then caught a 10-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for the Hornets only score. Willis White set a season-high with 73 yards receiving on four catches, while Kurron Ramsey led the Alabama State defense with eight tackles.
 
Defensively, Alabama State ranks second in scoring defense (20.6), right behind Grambling at 19.2 points per game. They are also 28th in the same category in FCS, while also ranking in the top 40 in several categories this season. The Hornets defense is 16th in defensive touchdowns, 25th in first downs allowed, 15th in passing yards allowed, 27th in red zone defense and 22nd in team passing efficiency defense.
 
Malik Bridgers leads the defense with 42 total tackles, while Treyon Garnett has added 37. Joshua Hill and Darron Johnson each have 36 through nine games this season. Ricky Haley leads the Hornets with four sacks, while Ishmael Aurismond has three and Devin Santana two; while Ronnie Scott and Hill each have two interceptions on the season.
 
Offensively, George Golden leads the team in rushing with 325 yards; while Gray has added 265 and Darryl Pearson, Jr. 253 yards. Pearson has also thrown for 402 yards, while White leads the team with 21 receptions for 252 yards.
 
Alabama State is looking for their fourth straight victory on the road this season, and eighth consecutive victory over Mississippi Valley State.
 
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