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Alabama State University Athletics

HIXON_BCU
24
Bethune-Cookman BCU 0-4 , 0-2
38
Winner Alabama St. ASU 2-1 , 1-0
Bethune-Cookman BCU
0-4 , 0-2
24
Final
38
Alabama St. ASU
2-1 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
BCU Bethune-Cookman 7 10 0 7 24
ASU Alabama St. 14 14 7 3 38

Game Recap: Football |

Alabama State uses strong first half to pull away from Bethune-Cookman in the conference opener

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State jumped on top of Bethune-Cookman early in the first half and pulled away for a 38-24 victory in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opener for the Hornets on Saturday night.

Alabama State (2-1, 1-0 SWAC) took an early 7-0 lead, scoring on their first drive that covered 65 yards in 12 plays. The Hornets took the lead with 10:12 to play on a 12-yard pass from Ryan Nettles (Evergreen, Ala.) to Wallace Corker (Stockbridge, Ga.). The drive was the first of three consecutive drives that led to touchdowns for Alabama State.

After Bethune-Cookman (0-4, 0-2 SWAC) tied the game with 6:22 to play in the first quarter, Alabama State took the lead on a 20-yard pass from Nettles to Jeremiah Hixon (Monroeville, Ala.) to take a 14-7 lead. They extended the lead to two touchdowns on a Jacory Merritt (Montgomery, Ala.) one-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter.

The Wildcats were able to cut the lead to 21-17 in the first half with 10 unanswered points, before Merritt went in from one yard out with 4:50 to play in the opening half that extended the lead to 28-17 heading into the locker room.

Alabama State put the game away with a two-yard touchdown from Ezra Gray (Lynn Haven, Fla.) with 6:31 to play in the third quarter, before Cosmin Diaconu (Prattville, Ala.) connected on a 30-yard field goal with 9:27 to play in the contest that extended the lead to 38-17. Bethune-Cookman added a late touchdown with 8:11 to play for the final margin.

CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
  • Hixon led Alabama State with seven receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. The total was just one catch short of a career-high that Hixon recorded against Tuskegee in 2018 (8-116).
  • Eight different receivers caught a pass on the night, with four catching three or more passes in the game. Corker recorded four receptions for 48 yards, with Keron Jones (Oxon Hill, Md.) and Tevin Sharpe (Selma, Ala.) each recorded three receptions in the win.
  • Nettles finished 23-for-41 on the night for 260 yards, including a long pass of 35 yards to Kisean Johnson (Birmingham, Ala.).
  • Alabama State outgained Bethune-Cookman 378 (111 rushing/267 passing) to 159 (12 rushing/247 passing).
  • The Hornets forced four turnovers including three fumbles, while also leading in time of possession (36:13 – 23:47). Alabama State also converted 10 of 18 third-down chances in the win.
  • The field goal from Diaconu was the first field goal converted for the Hornets since the fall 2019 season after a pair of misses earlier this season.
  • Brandon Gaddy (Virginia Beach, Va.) led Alabama State in tackles with six. He also added a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
  • Irshaad Davis (Carol City, Fla.) added a fumble recovery and an interception, while also recording five tackles.
UP NEXT
Alabama State hits the road for their first conference contest against Florida A&M next Saturday, October 2, with a 5 pm (CT) kickoff scheduled.

FOLLOW THE HORNETS
For complete coverage of Alabama State University football, follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateFB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook), @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.



 
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