MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The Alabama State University football team (6-3, 4-2 SWAC) welcomes Florida A&M University (7-2, 5-1 SWAC) on Saturday, Nov. 12, at New ASU Stadium. The game will be aired on WSFA 12.2 (Bounce TV) and on WVAS FM (wvasfm.org) with kickoff slated for 2 p.m.
 
The key SWAC matchup has a second-place SWAC East position on the line as FAMU comes to town for ASU's Academy Sports Military Appreciation Day presented by Cricket Wireless and the Hall of Fame.
 
Both teams are hot! The Hornets are riding a three-game winning streak, including their first Magic City Classic win since 2017. The Rattlers are also rolling with momentum as they have a seven-game win streak and haven't lost since Sept. 4 in the Orange Blossom Classic to Jackson State.
 
Alabama State has done well with getting the offense rolling in the past two weeks. Starting quarterback Demetrius Davis had a day as he went 12-15 for 171 yards, a touchdown through the air and 59 yards rushing, and two touchdowns on the ground.
 
Running back Santo Dunn was the team-leading rusher with 63 yards as the team eclipsed 210 yards for the first time in the season. Dunn was also named the SWAC Specialist of the Week with 137 combined return yards, including a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown.
 
The Rattlers boast a productive offense as well. Florida A&M is second in the SWAC in passing offense averaging 256.8 yards per game and 17 touchdowns thanks to quarterback Jeremy Moussa. Moussa is also second in SWAC in passing yards with 2,225. In addition, wideout Xavier Smith stands atop the SWAC in receiving and leads all categories with nine touchdowns, 69 receptions, and 803 yards.
 
The trenches will be a point of emphasis for the Hornets as linemen Demaurez Bellamy and Brandon Gaddy will have to maintain the strong front seven. The Hornet defense is third in rushing and fourth in defensive efficiency. FAMU enters the matchup with the worst rushing offense in the SWAC, averaging 3.1 yards per carry and 100.9 yards per game.
 
The secondary will no doubt be tested, and defensive backs Irshaad Davis, Adrian Maddox, and Stefon Young-Rolle must be ready.
 
The Hornets have not beaten the Rattlers since they joined the SWAC, and Saturday will be the first meeting in Montgomery. Alabama State has already eclipsed their win total from last year, but a statement win against the red-hot Rattlers late in the season would add to the phenomenal first year of head coach Eddie Robinson.
 
ALABAMA STATE HORNET NOTES
ASU SPORTS HALL OF FAME: Alabama State inducts its first Athletics Hall of Fame Class since 2000, enshrining 17 on Friday, Nov. 11 in a ceremony held at the Dunn-Oliver Academe. The 2022 induction class features seven football inductees and the 1991 national championship football team. Brad Baxter, Darnell Kennedy, Reggie Barlow, Reginald Brown, Rickey Jones, Tarvaris Jackson Eddie Robinson Jr. (Distinguished Sportsman), and The 1991 Alabama State football team will be honored.
 
SWAC HALL OF FAME: The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced that Alabama State's Rickey Jones will be inducted into the 2022 SWAC Hall of Fame Class which is set for Friday, December 16th, 2022. The enshrinement ceremony is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. EST at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Ga. Jones played for the Hornets' football team from 1988-1991 as the team won the SWAC title in 1991. In addition, the Hornets won the Black College National Championship in the first Heritage Bowl in 1991. He is Alabama State's all-time passing leader and all-time leader in total offense. Throughout his collegiate career, he earned MVP of the Turkey Day Classic (1988, 1989, and 1990); MVP of the Steel City Classic (1991), and MVP of the Black College National Championship (1991). In addition, he was named to the 1990 and 1991 All-SWAC Second Team. Jones was drafted by the LA Rams in 1992 in the eighth round and later played for the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL from 1995-95. The Eskimos won a Grey Cup Championship in his debut season.
 
REMEMBERING AWYSUM HARRIS: The Hornets are wearing an AH sticker on their helmets and a framed #50 jersey and helmet will be displayed in his locker throughout the 2022 season in remembrance of a sophomore linebacker (#50). Awysum Harris of Decatur, Ala. The jersey will also accompany the team and rest on the defensive bench during each game.
 
HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS: The Hornets' defense has shined in the second half this season, yielding 139.6 total yards and 8.7 points per game in the second half. ASU has limited opponents to 79.2 yards passing, 60.3 yards rushing, and 30 percent on third downs (16-of-53) after making halftime adjustments. The second half was no different as the ASU defense held Bethune-Cookman to 36 yards rushing and 84 passing yards in the second half. 
 
LAST TIME vs. FAMU (10.2.2021): Alabama State fell behind early in their road Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest at Bragg Memorial Stadium and couldn't recover, falling to Florida A&M 28-0. Despite falling to Florida A&M, the Hornets were able to move the ball as they picked up 17 first downs. The Hornets were held to just 197 yards of total offense (98 rushing / 99 passing). Florida A&M gained just 293 yards of total offense (141 rushing / 152 passing). Alabama State used three quarterbacks in the contest with Joe Owens, Jr. proving to be the most successful with 82 yards on 7-of-12 passing. 
 
Alabama State and Florida A&M meet for the 39th time and for the second time as SWAC foes with the Hornets holding a 19-17-2 lead in the series. This is the first meeting in Montgomery, Ala., since 2003 when the Hornets took a 38-22 win. FAMU has won the last two meetings both in Tallahassee, Fla.
 
HORNET TRENDS: The Hornets are 4-0 when leading at the half, 6-0 when scoring 20 plus points, and 5-0 when allowing less than 19 points in a game in 2022. ASU is 3-0 when leading after three quarters and 5-1 when making at least one field goal in a game.
 
IN THE RED: The Hornets have scored 6 of the last seven trips inside the red zone, three field goals, and three touchdowns over the last two games. ASU has cashed in points on 9-of-13 trips (6 TD and 3 FG) over the last four games and 19-for-30 (68 percent) on the season.
 
PACING THE SWAC: Colton "Bubba" Adams and Irshaad Davis rank among the top tacklers in the SWAC.  Adams has posted double-digit tackles four times this season with a season-high 18 against Jackson State. Adams leads the SWAC and ranks 6th in the FCS stats with 9.8 tackles per game. The Wetumpka, Ala., native leads the SWAC with 90 tackles while his 39 solo tackles rank 3rd. Davis has 31 solo tackles and 51 total tackles, ranking 11th and 8th in the conference.
 
WE TOO SHALL PASS: Dematrius Davis completed 12-of-15 passes for 171 yards with one touchdown and a season-best 80 percent completion rate. Davis did not throw an interception while rushing eight times for 42 yards and two touchdowns. The Hornets are 3rd in the SWAC with a 59.1 completion percentage. Davis' 59.1 completion rate ranks 5th in the league,  ranking 3rd in passing yards per game (120.9) and pass efficiency (135.8). The Houston, Texas, native is 9th in total offense (137.6) and 4th in yards per pass attempt (7.4).
 
TOP TARGETS: Alabama State quarterbacks have spread the wealth with 20 different receivers posting receptions in 2022. Despite losing second-leading receiver LaVontae Shanault to a knee injury against Jackson State (10.8), top targets Jeremiah Hixon, Isaiah Scott, and Kisean Johnson have picked up the receiving load. Johnson averages a SWAC-best 17.6 yards per catch (31st FCS) while also ranking 3rd in yards per reception, 8th in receiving yards per game (47.9) and 9th in receptions (29). Johnson's 53-yard reception against MVSU is the 11th longest pass play in the SWAC this season. Hixon is 6th with four TD receptions, 9th in receptions per game (3.2), and 12th in receiving yards (329). 

STINGY STINGING D: The Hornets #SWARMAS1 is one of the top units in the SWAC, ranking 3rd in rush defense (130.7 ypg.) and total defense (318.4 ypg.). ASU is 4th in pass yards per game (187.8/18th FCS),  and third-down defense (34.5 percent) and 5th in completion percentage defense (59.1 percent).