MOBILE, Ala. | Led by an impressive defensive effort that held the Grambling State University ground attack to 62 rushing yards, Alabama State Univeristy knocked off the Tigers 17-6 in the 2023 Port City Classic on Saturday at Ladd Peebles Stadium.

THE BASICS
Score: Alabama State 17  |  Grambling State 6
Records: Hornets (5-3, 4-2 SWAC) | Tigers (4-5, 3-3 SWAC)
Date: Saturday, Nov. , 2023 | Kickoff: 2:32 PM
Location: Legion Feld | Birmingham, Ala.
Series: Grambling State leads the series 27-15
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Damon Stewart led Alabama State's passing attack with 95 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and one interception.

Marcus Harris II totaled 75 yards to lead the Hornets' ground attack in the game, picking up 4.2 yards per carry along the way. Ja'Won Howell also tacked on 40 yards on the ground.

Kisean Johnson pulled in seven catches for 64 yards and two scores.

Amon Scarbrough showed out for the Alabama State defense, recording two interceptions and one recovered fumble. Terrell Lightfoot Jr added 1.0 TFL and one sack and Treqwan Thomas had three tackles, 1.0 TFL, and one sack in the win.

The Hornets won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing three turnovers while coughing the ball up one time, with Alabama State turning those takeaways into seven points. Alabama State converted on 46.7 percent of third-down attempts on the day.

Defensively, Alabama State held up fairly well against the Grambling offensive attack, holding the Tigers to 259 total yards. The Hornets defense disrupted the Grambling passing game on the way to pulling down two interceptions and breaking up five Tigers passes.

Alabama State got on the scoreboard first and jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the first drive of the game.Another Hornets score then extended the lead to 14-0.

Alabama State then added a field goal with 14:55 left in the fourth quarter to make it a 17-0 lead. Alabama State didn't score again in the game and Grambling added six more points to finish off the scoring.

• Alabama State outgained Grambling 261-259, including a 167-62 advantage on the ground.
• Alabama State won the turnover battle 3-1 after intercepting two passes and recovering one fumble.
• The Hornets scored first with 8:58 left in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
• Alabama State had their highest scoring quarter in the second period, when they put up seven points.
• Alabama State converted 7 of 15 third downs while Grambling was successful on 2 of 8.
• The Hornets didn't allow a sack in the contest.
• Alabama State won the time of possession battle 35:21 to 24:39.
• Alabama State got off to a hot start in the contest, putting 17 unanswered points on the board before Grambling could respond.
• Stewart completed 75% of his passes on the day, going 12-for-16.
• Myles Crawley led the Tigers passing attack, completing 21 of his 31 attempts for 197 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.
• Chance Williams led the Grambling rushing attack with 57 yards.
• Alabama State has won the last two meetings against the Tigers.
• The first half points equaled the most first points in first half by the Hornets this season.
• The #SWARMAS1 defense did not allow a point in a half for the third time this season.
• Grambling's fourth quarter touchdown broke a string of five straight shutout quarters by the Hornets' defense.
• The Hornets' 165 yards rushing is the second most rushing yards this season.
• Grambling's 65 yards rushing is the third fewest yards rushing allowed by the ASU defense.
• This was Alabama State's first game in Mobile, Ala., since a 34-24 loss to Southern University (11.14.2009) in the Gulf Coast Classic.
• Alabama State's won its fourth straight game and is the first four-game win streak since 2014.

Up Next: Alabama State travels to take on Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. in Itta Bena, Miss.