Alabama State University Athletics

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University football team got things started early on defense and had additional big plays from both sides to combat both the opposition and the elements arriving from the incoming storm, but it couldn't weather the Florida A&M Rattlers on Friday, as they escaped with a 28-27 victory in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play at ASU Stadium.

The Hornets (3-3, 1-2 SWAC), now owners of a .500 record on the season, had some strong individual performances and spurts of action throughout Friday's contest. However, as it looked to finish things off in the key moments, the advantage shifted to the visiting Rattlers (2-4, 1-1 SWAC), who won for the third straight game at ASU Stadium and the first time against a conference opponent this season.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

A blocked field goal attempt returned for an Alabama State touchdown was the first points of the game, as a 50-yard attempt crossed paths with defensive tackle Thad Parson, and defensive back Zion Crawford returned it 91 yards to the house for a score. The Rattlers, who were making a strong charge down the field in the first drive, capitalized on a similar push on its second attempt, as the quarterback kept the ball on a run and found his way into the end zone to knot the game at seven apiece.

Alabama State, undeterred and ready to respond, came out for its first offensive drive and gave FAMU a number of different looks, allowing it to steadily drive downfield and attempt a kick on the first play of the second period, only for the try to sail wide left to keep it an even game.

The Black Swarm defense held firm on the visitors' first offensive drive of the period, stopping them at the 50-yard line and forcing a punt after six plays. The ensuing drive saw more varied looks, including one that helped tight end Jordan Brown pick up a 20-yard gain and lead tailback Jamarie Hostzclaw scamper for another 26 yards to reach the doorstep of the red zone. The offense, heavily reliant on a rushing attack that averaged over six yards a carry to that point in the quarter, was stopped up inside the ten, forcing a short Andrew Abu-Akel field goal to give ASU a 10-7 edge at the end of a nearly nine-minute drive.

It was another stand around midfield, forcing the Rattlers to a three-and-out to get a final first-half opportunity with two minutes to play. The offense was once again slowly moving downfield, running the ball on three consecutive plays before an interception gave FAMU the ball inside the 20-yard line. The Rattlers capitalized with a touchdown pass on the next play to quickly take back the lead before heading into the break.

The Hornets kept its offense grounded with a steady rotation of Hostzclaw, change-of-pace back TJ Ramsey and quarterback Aaron Frye, the latter of whom picked up 17, 10 and 12 yards on the ground to set up a Hostzclaw carry from the edge of the goal line to give the Black and Gold a three-point edge with seven and a half minutes to play in the third.

As the rain started to arrive from the incoming hurricane, freshman hybrid hornet Omari Russell read the eyes of FAMU quarterback Armond Parker perfectly, jumping in front of the pass at the 45-yard line and jogging the other way to pad the Alabama State lead one minute after its first score of the half. A similar play happened the following drive, as defensive back Zion Crawford took the ball away on a fourth-and-1 to give the home team another chance to strike from midfield as the game entered the final period.

Alabama State pushed the ball into field goal range on the ensuing plays, and Abu-Akel converted a 32-yard field goal to give ASU a 27-14 lead. The Rattlers quickly answered, as a Parker pass sailed into a receiver's arms at the 46-yard line, and he ran untouched to the end zone to bring the game within a score, although the ensuing extra point attempt was blocked by Nehemiah Hixon.

After a Hornets drive stalled out after eight plays, another FAMU long ball was uncorked and taken to the end zone for an 89-yard score, and a two-point conversion that followed put the visitors up, 28-27. As Bama State looked to respond, it reached a fourth-and-one, where Frye, despite a strong effort to get the conversion, was marked inches short for a turnover on downs.

Florida A&M looked to put the game away with a strong rushing attack, but the ASU defense locked things down and combined to push the Rattlers back nine yards to force a three-and-out as the Hornets offense looked to end the game in the final two minutes.

Unfortunately for Alabama State, Hostzclaw gave the ball away on a fumble, ending the drive not long after it started at the ASU 15-yard line with a minute and a half remaining. The defense came up with a stand in the red zone to give the ASU offense another chance, and after 20-plus-yard catches by receivers Israel Tate and Kareem Keye, a 47-yard field goal kick sailed into the mitts of the Rattlers' line as time expired.
 

NOTABLE NOTES

The contest marked the first Friday game since an under-the-lights meeting with Southern University in February 2021, the time change a result of the pandemic-adjusted 2020 campaign. It was also the first game with a morning kickoff time since a meeting with 25th-ranked Auburn in September 2021.

Defensive end Kanye Varner, a Jackson State transfer and former three-year Hornet from 2022-24, as well as defensive tackle Detrick Jones, a 2025 ASU player and former three-year student-athlete with the Mississippi State Delta Devils, returned to the field after being granted a fifth year of eligibility, made possible thanks to a number of court rulings surrounding the NCAA's Five-for-Five model. Each took the field against the Rattlers, with the latter recording a tackle on the day.

Hostzclaw's big day was the first 100-yard rushing day of the season for an Alabama State player, while his stellar performance was the best individual game by an ASU tailback since he had 135 yards against the Rattlers last September. The triple-digit yardage performance gives him five career performances in the midst of his third year in The Gump.