MONTGOMERY, Ala. | It's been just 140 days since Alabama State walked off the turf in Birmingham (Ala.) to close out the unprecedented spring 2021 season.

They will get to put that behind them Saturday night when they open the 2021 fall season against Miles inside ASU Stadium for the annual Labor Day Classic. Kick is set for 5 pm as the Hornets celebrate 120 years of football

GAME INFORMATION
Kick: 5:00 pm
Site: Montgomery, Ala. / ASU Stadium
Watch Live
Listen Live
Live Stats
Game Notes (.pdf)
Know Before You Go (.pdf)

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
Watch: Bounce 12.2 / Hornet Sports Network
Listen: WVAS 90.7 FM / WZXD 94.1 FM / WZXD 950 AM / WKXN 95.7 FM / WZXN 102.7 FM / WZXK 96.7 FM / WZXD 920 AM / WXKD 106.3 FM / Hornet Sports Network
 
THE SERIES
Series Record: Alabama State leads 24-0-1
Last Meeting: Alabama State defeated Miles, 53-20
First Meeting: 1921, tied 14-14
 
PREGAME FESTIVITIES

• The Sting Shop opens at 10 am (closes at 3 pm) – September 3
• Block Party begins at 12 noon
• Hornet Walk takes place at 2:50 pm (Harris Way)
• Gates open at 3:00 pm
• Gameday parking is $15

 
GAME NOTES

• Alabama State took the field just 140 days ago in the unprecedented spring season in the Magic City Classic, the quickest turnaround from a season-ending contest to a season-opener.
• The Hornets are 46-65-6 in season openers, with their last win coming against Tuskegee – another SIAC school – back in 2018.
• Alabama State returns a wealth of talent on the offensive side of the football including All-SWAC and BOXTOROW All-American running back Ezra Gray (Lynn Haven, Fla.). He finished the year with 465 yards on 84 carries and three touchdowns, including a best of 195 yards and three touchdowns against Jackson State.
• Ryan Nettles (Evergreen, Ala.) returns under center for the second consecutive year. The SWAC Freshman of the Year, and a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, Nettles finished the year with 917 yards passing on 85-of-144 passing and eight touchdowns. He will look to Jeremiah Hixon (Monroeville, Ala.) and Terrance Ellis (Stockbridge, Ga.) to deliver passes to this season, with Hixon recording 13 receptions (234 yards) and Ellis 12 (77 yards). He will also look to Wallace Corker (Stockbridge, Ga.) recorded six receptions last season and two touchdowns.
• The Hornets will look to replace Michael Jefferson and Jahod Booker out wide, and will look to a pair of freshmen in Keron Jones (Oxon Hill, Md.) and Kisean Johnson (Birmingham, Ala.).
• The offensive line, one of the youngest in the country last season, return everyone and will have a few new faces this season. They are led by BOXTOROW All-American Travon Taylor (Miami, Fla.) and Charlie Maxwell (Florence, Ala.).
• Defensively, Alabama State is fresh for the fall 2021 season after five games this spring and are led by the front seven including All-SWAC and BOXTOROW All-Americans Christian Clark (Cleveland, Ohio) and Andrew Ogletree (Columbus, Ga.). Clark was fourth on the team in tackles last season and continues to be a run stopper for the Hornets, while Ogletree led the team in tackles for loss and was near the top in sacks.
• They are deep on the defensive front and include guys like Cameron Rampersaud (Kissimmee, Fla.), Brandon Gaddy (Virginia Beach, Va.), KJ Stokes (Millbrook, Ala.) and Romello Tarver (Montgomery, Ala.).
• The linebacking corps are led by Colton Adams (Wetumpka, Ala.) and Nicholas Terry (Youngstown, Ohio) with Adams 18 tackles in just a pair of games. Meanwhile, Terry finished 10 tackles in the spring. Jake Howard (Prattville, Ala.) and Devonte Webster (Columbus, Ga.) provide depth for the Hornets.
• The defensive backs for Alabama State are rich with talent led AFCA All-American Irshaad Davis (Opa Locka, Fla.) who led the team in tackles in the spring with 41. He is joined in the back by Naytron Culpepper (Miami, Fla.), Alondras Strong (Hazel Green, Ala.), Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Ala.) – returning after missing much of the spring, and Jacksonville State transfer Jacquez Payton (Georgiana, Ala.).
• On special teams, Alabama State will turn to a pair of All-Americans in punter Aubrey Grace (Pike Road, Ala.) and Luke Barnes (Mesa, Ariz.). They will look to placekickers Hunter Hanson (Montgomery, Ala.) and Cosmin Diaconu (Prattville, Ala.) to put points on the board this season.

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