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Alabama State University Athletics

Jacory Merritt vs PV
David Campbell
24
Winner Prairie View A&M PVA&M 2-2 , 2-0
15
Alabama State ALST 2-2 , 0-1
Winner
Prairie View A&M PVA&M
2-2 , 2-0
24
Final
15
Alabama State ALST
2-2 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
PVA&M Prairie View A&M 7 7 3 7 24
ALST Alabama State 6 0 3 6 15

Game Recap: Football |

Alabama State Falls In SWAC Opener To Prairie View

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State Hornets (2-2) fell to the Prairie View Panthers (2-2) 25-15 in their SWAC opener Saturday night at New ASU Stadium. 
 
THE BASICS
Score:  Prairie View 25 | Alabama State 15
Records: Hornets (2-2) | Panthers (2-2)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022
Location: ASU Stadium | Montgomery, Ala.
Series: Alabama State leads the series 27-10-1
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • PV A&M found the endzone first on a Trazon Connley 16-yard rush to score with 8:14 left in the first quarter to put the Panthers ahead 7-0. 
  • Dematrius Davis connected with La'Vonte Shenault on a 19-yard touchdown pass to cut PV's lead to one at 7-6 with two minutes left in the first. 
  • Trazon Connley tallied his second score of the game on a two-yard scamper to extend the Panthers advantage to 14-6 midway through the second quarter. 
  • Nathaniel Eichner put one through the uprights from 31 yards out to cut ASU's deficit to five (14-9) with six minutes gone off the clock in the third. 
  • Luis Reyes netted a 46-yard field goal for PV with six minutes left in the third to push the Panthers out in front 17-9. 
  • Ja'Won Howell rushed for a three-yard score to bring ASU within two (17-15) with 10 minutes left to play in the fourth.
  • Trazon Connley fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to Chris Herron followed by a PAT to put the Panthers ahead 25-15. 

RECAP: The Alabama State Hornets (2-2) fell to the Prairie View Panthers (2-2) 25-15 in their SWAC opener Saturday night at New ASU Stadium. The Hornets kept the game close but could not pull away as they recorded four turnovers and never led in the game.

The Panthers marched down the field in their first drive, and quarterback Trazon Connely found paydirt on a 16-yard keeper. The Hornets did not waste any time responding as running back Jacory Merritt led the way splitting the Panther defense. Merritt set the Hornets up in favorable field position, and quarterback Dematrius Davis found La'Vontae Shenault for a 19-yard touchdown. The score stayed at 7-6 after the Panthers blocked the PAT.

In the second quarter, both teams found themselves with missed opportunities to score to start the quarter. Prairie View made their way down the field, but Luis Reyes missed the 38-yard field goal. With the ball in their hands, the Hornets drove down the field and made their way to the Prairie View 12-yard line. At the 12, the Hornets would fumble with the Panthers recovering and setting up shop in Hornets territory. Conneely scored his second touchdown of the day on a two-yard rush that extended their lead to 14-6.

Coming out of the half, both teams tried to get their footing as momentum swung back and forth. Alabama State made a field goal from 31 to cut the lead down to 14-9. In the following position, the Panthers responded with a field goal of their own from the 46 as the lead grew to 17-9.

After a rushing touchdown from Santo Dunn was called back after holding the Hornets entered the fourth quarter in desperation mode. On 4th and goal, the Hornets failed to convert on fourth down. With the Panthers moving the ball and milking clock they attempted a 37-yard field goal to go up two possession. Hornets Adrian Maddox blocked the field goal to excite the sideline and bench in crunch time. 

At the Panthers' 17-yard line Davis threw his third interception to Logan Jackson. Immediately Connely made the same mistake and threw an interception to Cail Jackson to keep hope alive for the Hornets. Alabama State would cut the lead down to two, 17-15, after a three-yard rush by Jason Howell. However, the Hornets failed to tie the game after not converting the two-point conversion.

After holding the Panther's offense, the Hornets got the ball back with six minutes left. Alabama State ran the ball three-straight times, gaining 25 yards and a hair short of midfield. However, in the next play, Davis was sacked and fumbled to give the ball back to Prairie View. The Panthers put the nail in the coffin when Connely connected with Chris Herron for a 20-yard touchdown to seal the game 25-15.

Davis finished the game going 13-for-23 for 173 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Merritt concluded his night with 152 yards on 18 carries, averaging 8.4 yards per attempt.

The Hornets will look to bounce back next week when they head to Houston to face the Texas Southern Tigers (1-3) on October 1st at 6:00 PM CT.
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