MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama State celebrated Homecoming in style on Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 52–35 win over Bethune-Cookman before a crowd of 24,736 on Saturday at ASU Stadium.

The Hornets (4–1, 2–0 SWAC) put on an offensive show from the start, racking up 559 yards of total offense behind a balanced attack that saw five different players score rushing touchdowns.

Quarterback Andrew Body directed the high-powered offense, completing 11 of 16 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 95 yards. Running back Karl Ligon led the ground game with 59 yards and two scores, while Jahbari Kuykendall, Marcus Harris II, and Jamarie Hostzclaw each added rushing touchdowns.

After falling behind 7–0 just 12 seconds into the game on an 85-yard Bethune-Cookman touchdown pass, Alabama State responded with 17 unanswered points in the opening quarter. Body connected with Derick Harden on a 13-yard touchdown, Andrew Abu-Akel nailed a 40-yard field goal, and Hostzclaw capped a four-play, 70-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring run to make it 17–7.

The Hornets stretched the lead to 24–7 early in the second quarter when Ligon powered in from two yards out following a fumble recovery by Ta'Shaun Sims. Bethune-Cookman (2–4, 1–1 SWAC) cut the deficit to 24–14, but Body answered immediately, finding Jalen Jones for a 30-yard touchdown strike just 20 seconds later to send ASU to halftime ahead 31–14.

Alabama State kept rolling in the third, with Ligon adding his second touchdown on a two-yard run and Kuykendall sprinting 48 yards for another score as the Hornets built a 45–21 lead. Harris capped the scoring for ASU with a one-yard run early in the fourth.

In total, Alabama State rushed for 388 yards, averaging 9.7 yards per carry. Harrell led all receivers with 68 yards on three catches, while Jones added 63 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Hornets were led by Drake Johnson and Ta'Shaun Sims, who each tallied eight tackles. Deonte Morris added an interception return of 18 yards, and Brekien Harold recorded a sack and forced fumble.

Bethune-Cookman finished with 569 total yards, led by quarterback Timmy McClain, who threw for 266 yards and two scores while rushing for two more.

The win marked Alabama State's fourth straight Homecoming victory and its second consecutive SWAC win to open conference play.

Alabama State returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Jackson State for a key SWAC East Division matchup.