TROY, Ala. | Alabama State University football battled back in the second half, but Troy University used a strong rushing attack and a pair of explosive plays to pull away for a 34-17 victory over the Hornets Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Hornets, who entered the contest with a 2-0 record, finished with 221 yards of total offense, including 116 rushing yards and 105 passing yards. Troy generated 427 total yards, controlling the game on the ground with 226 rushing yards while adding 201 yards through the air.
Alabama State quarterback
Andrew Body completed 13 of 24 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown while also rushing 12 times for 13 yards.
Jamarie Hostzclaw led the Hornets on the ground with 80 yards on 12 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown run.
Aaron Frye added 17 rushing yards on three carries.
Troy quarterback Goose Crowder completed 14 of 29 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown. Troy's Jaheim Merriweather was the game's leading rusher, finishing with 127 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Wide receiver TK Keyes caught five passes for 119 yards and one touchdown, including a 73-yard scoring reception.
Troy struck first on its opening possession, needing only three plays to travel 90 yards. Crowder connected with Keyes for a 73-yard touchdown with 13:25 remaining in the first quarter, giving the Trojans a 7-0 advantage.
Alabama State answered immediately. The Hornets marched 81 yards in six plays, with Hostzclaw providing the big play. Hostzclaw broke through the Troy defense and raced 50 yards for a touchdown with 10:51 left in the opening period.
Andrew Abu-Akel added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.
Troy responded with another explosive play. Merriweather took a handoff 69 yards for a touchdown with 5:56 remaining in the quarter, putting Troy back in front, 14-7.
The Trojans finished the opening quarter with 196 yards of total offense compared with 73 for Alabama State. Troy rushed for 96 yards in the period and added 100 passing yards.
Troy added to its advantage early in the second quarter when Ethan Head connected on a 24-yard field goal with 11:52 remaining, extending the lead to 17-7.
Alabama State's offense moved the ball but struggled to sustain drives. Body was sacked by Keno Jones midway through the quarter, with the play resulting in a fumble that Alabama State recovered.
Troy eventually extended its lead with another long scoring drive. Merriweather capped a 10-play, 61-yard possession with a 6-yard touchdown run at the 3:41 mark of the second quarter. The score gave Troy a 24-7 advantage.
The Trojans added another touchdown just before halftime. After recovering an Alabama State fumble at the Hornets' 42-yard line, Troy needed only four plays to reach the end zone. Merriweather scored his third touchdown of the afternoon on a 1-yard run with 15 seconds remaining in the half.
Troy took a 31-7 lead into halftime.
Despite the deficit, Alabama State's defense continued to compete. The Hornets recorded 32 solo tackles and 40 assists for 72 total tackles.
Rashad Watson led Alabama State with nine tackles, while
Ta'Shaun Sims and
Mitchell Robinson Jr. each recorded eight. Sims also recorded a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Alabama State came out of halftime with renewed energy and produced its strongest quarter of the afternoon.
The Hornets defense forced Troy into a turnover on downs on the Trojans' opening possession of the second half, with
Brekien Harold stopping Crowder on fourth-and-1 at the Troy 34-yard line.
Alabama State immediately capitalized.
Hostzclaw opened the possession with a 15-yard run before Body connected with
John Austin on a 19-yard touchdown pass. Abu-Akel's extra point cut the Troy advantage to 31-14 with 11:33 remaining in the third quarter.
The Hornets' defense forced another turnover on downs on Troy's next possession, and Alabama State moved into scoring range again.
After reaching the Troy 20-yard line, Abu-Akel drilled a 37-yard field goal with 8:41 left in the quarter, trimming the deficit to 31-17.
Alabama State outgained Troy 89-67 in the third quarter and held a 61-19 advantage in passing yards during the period. Body completed five of nine passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in the quarter.
Troy, however, answered with a long drive that consumed 3:33. Head converted a 47-yard field goal with five minutes remaining to push the lead back to 34-17.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, but Alabama State continued to battle.
The Hornets put together multiple possessions that moved into Troy territory, including a late drive that began at the Troy 46-yard line with 1:48 remaining. Alabama State reached the Troy 13 but was unable to convert on fourth down, ending its final scoring opportunity.
Troy ran out the clock following the turnover on downs to secure the 34-17 victory.
The Hornets rushed 34 times for 116 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per carry. Hostzclaw accounted for 80 yards and a touchdown, with his 50-yard scoring run representing Alabama State's longest play from scrimmage.
Body's 105 passing yards were distributed among eight receivers.
Nehemiah Hixon and Austin each caught two passes, with Hixon finishing with 24 receiving yards and Austin recording 23 yards and the Hornets' lone receiving touchdown.
Franck Pierre had one reception for 27 yards, while
Kareem Keye caught two passes for 19 yards.
Defensively, Watson led the Hornets with nine tackles, including six assists. Sims and Robinson each finished with eight tackles.
Zion Crawford recorded five tackles and three pass breakups, while the Hornets totaled seven pass breakups.
Rashawn Watson recorded Alabama State's lone sack, dropping Crowder for a 10-yard loss. The Hornets finished with one sack for 10 yards and two tackles for loss.
Troy's defense recorded three sacks for 18 yards. Keno Jones led the Trojans with six tackles and 1½ sacks, while Donnie Smith added five tackles and one sack.
The Hornets were also hurt by turnovers, losing one of two fumbles. Troy did not lose its lone fumble. Alabama State and Troy each failed to record an interception.
Alabama State finished 4-for-14 on third-down attempts and 0-for-2 on fourth down. Troy converted 3 of 14 third downs but was 3-for-5 on fourth down.
Troy also held a 32:55-27:05 advantage in time of possession.
With the loss, Alabama State falls to 2-1 on the season. The Hornets will look to bounce back in their next contest.
