HOUSTON, Texas | Alabama State University used a pair of explosive fourth-quarter touchdowns and a strong second-half performance to secure a 34-31 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday afternoon at W.W. Thorne Stadium.
Quarterback Aaron Frye accounted for four touchdowns, including two scoring plays of 76 yards, as the Hornets overcame a halftime deficit and held off a late Texas Southern rally to earn the Southwestern Athletic Conference victory.
Alabama State improved to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in SWAC play, while Texas Southern fell to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in conference action.
The Hornets finished with 486 yards of total offense, including 277 rushing yards and 209 passing yards. Alabama State averaged 8.7 yards per play and recorded 21 first downs. The rushing attack produced three touchdowns, while the passing game added two more.
Frye led the offensive effort, completing 13 of 17 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also rushed for 162 yards on 14 carries, averaging 11.6 yards per attempt, and scored once on the ground.
Running back Jareese Howard added 68 rushing yards on 12 carries and a touchdown, while Jamarie Hostzclaw contributed 27 yards on eight attempts and another score. TJ Ramsey added 25 rushing yards on four carries.
Israel Tate led the receiving corps with three catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. Randall King finished with one reception for 76 yards and a touchdown, while DJ Hicks caught six passes for 34 yards. John Austin added two receptions for 22 yards.
First Half
Texas Southern struck first after putting together a 13-play, 93-yard opening drive that consumed 8:05. The Tigers capped the possession with an 11-yard touchdown reception by Roriyon Richardson from quarterback Cam'Ron McCoy with 4:11 remaining in the opening quarter.
Alabama State answered immediately.
Following the kickoff, the Hornets needed just one play to even the score. Frye connected with King on a 76-yard touchdown pass with 3:52 remaining in the first quarter. Andrew Abu-Akel added the extra point to tie the contest at 7-7.
The Hornets' defense continued working to slow the Texas Southern offense, and Alabama State linebacker Zach Williams came up with a significant play in the second quarter. Williams intercepted McCoy and returned the ball 15 yards, giving the Hornets possession.
However, Alabama State was unable to capitalize on the turnover, and Texas Southern regained possession after blocking a Trevor Bywater punt late in the half.
The Tigers took advantage of the opportunity, needing just three plays to cover 27 yards. McCoy found Richardson for a 26-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give Texas Southern a 14-7 advantage heading into halftime.
Third Quarter
Alabama State came out of the locker room with renewed momentum and quickly changed the direction of the game.
The Hornets opened the second half with a defensive takeaway when Payton Lewis forced a fumble on the Texas Southern kickoff return. Dillyn Blakey recovered the loose ball at the Tigers' 31-yard line to give Alabama State excellent field position.
The Hornets converted the opportunity into points five plays later. After Frye connected with Tate for a 20-yard completion to move the ball inside the 5-yard line, Howard finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 12:18 mark. Abu-Akel's extra point tied the game at 14-14.
The Alabama State defense followed with another important stop, forcing Texas Southern to punt after Jace McDonald recorded a 12-yard sack of McCoy.
The Hornets then put together their longest sustained scoring drive of the afternoon, marching 99 yards in 12 plays while consuming 6:36 off the clock.
Frye helped lead the possession with his ability to extend plays with his legs and distribute the football through the air. Howard contributed a key 22-yard run, while Tate added another 20-yard reception to keep the drive moving.
Hostzclaw capped the 99-yard march with a 2-yard touchdown run with 3:08 remaining in the third quarter. Abu-Akel converted the extra point, giving Alabama State its first lead of the afternoon at 21-14.
The Hornets controlled the third quarter, outscoring Texas Southern 14-0 and holding the Tigers to just 17 yards of total offense during the period.
Fourth Quarter
Texas Southern responded early in the fourth quarter, putting together a 10-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown run by McCoy at the 13:34 mark. The extra point tied the game at 21-21.
The Tigers continued their momentum on the next possession, moving 58 yards in seven plays before Miguel Arana connected on a 39-yard field goal with 9:13 remaining to give Texas Southern a 24-21 advantage.
Alabama State answered with one of the biggest plays of the afternoon.
Following a 22-yard kickoff return by Hicks, the Hornets took possession at their own 24-yard line. Frye broke through the Texas Southern defense on the first play of the drive, racing 76 yards for a touchdown with 8:44 remaining. Abu-Akel added the extra point, putting Alabama State back in front, 28-24.
After the Hornets' defense forced a three-and-out and Texas Southern punted, Alabama State took over at the Tigers' 47-yard line.
Frye connected with Hicks for a 7-yard completion before adding a 5-yard run to move the Hornets closer to the end zone. On the next play, Frye found Tate downfield for a 35-yard touchdown reception with 5:13 remaining.
The extra-point attempt was blocked, but Alabama State had extended its advantage to 34-24.
Texas Southern refused to go away quietly. The Tigers put together a five-play, 50-yard drive, capped by a 16-yard touchdown reception by Kordell Rodgers from McCoy with 3:12 remaining. Arana's extra point cut the Hornets' lead to 34-31.
With the game on the line, Alabama State's offense responded by putting together a critical eight-play, 44-yard drive that consumed the final 3:09 of the contest.
Howard opened the possession with a 13-yard run, and Frye followed with a 14-yard gain to move the Hornets across midfield. Howard added another 9-yard run, while Hostzclaw and the Alabama State offensive line helped keep the chains moving.
Howard eventually converted a key third-down opportunity with a 2-yard run to the Texas Southern 37-yard line, allowing Alabama State to maintain possession and run out the clock.
The Hornets secured the 34-31 victory.
Defensive Highlights
Alabama State's defense finished with 60 total tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Azariel Todd led the Hornets with 10 total tackles, including six solo stops and four assisted tackles. Mitchell Robinson Jr. finished with nine tackles, while Zaquan Patterson added eight.
Zach Williams recorded the team's interception, returning it 15 yards, and also contributed two pass breakups. Zion Crawford added two pass breakups, while Myles Richardson recorded two tackles for loss for six yards.
McDonald finished with a 12-yard sack, and Jaylan Jarrett added a tackle for loss. Payton Lewis forced the fumble that was recovered by Blakey in the third quarter, helping Alabama State establish momentum coming out of halftime.
The Hornets limited Texas Southern to 317 total yards, including 113 passing yards on 10-of-20 passing. Alabama State also held the Tigers to five conversions on 12 third-down attempts and forced two turnovers.
Team Leaders and Statistics
Frye's 371 yards of total offense led all players, as he accounted for 162 rushing yards and 209 passing yards. The Hornets finished with 277 yards on the ground, averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
Alabama State also recorded 13 completions on 17 passing attempts, did not throw an interception and produced 21 first downs. The Hornets converted four of nine third-down opportunities and scored on both of their trips to the red zone.
On special teams, Nehemiah Hixon led Alabama State with 63 kickoff return yards on two returns, including a long of 36 yards. Hicks added 46 kickoff return yards on two attempts.
Despite committing 12 penalties for 104 yards, Alabama State overcame the setbacks with its explosive offensive production and timely defensive plays.
The Hornets finished the afternoon with 28:01 of possession and scored 27 second-half points to complete the comeback victory.
Alabama State returns home to host Jackson State University on Saturday at 2 p.m. inside ASU Stadium.
