Box Score
PHOTOGALLERY
Link to HSRN Post Game Report
BIRMINGHAM – Birmingham, Alabama is known around the world as the Magic City. It hosts the number one black college football game the Magic City Classic. In the 70
th edition head coach Anthony Jones and the Alabama A&M Bulldogs defeated the number one black college football team the Hornets of Alabama State University 20-19.
The win marks six straight for the tenth year coach and his squad. It also secured Jones his eighth winning season at the helm of the Maroon & White program. Not since 2005, when the Bulldogs went to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship has A&M reeled off six victories in a row.
“It’s a great feeling to get this win,” Jones mentioned. “The players executed the game plan and the coaches did a great job preparing them.”
A&M’s defense held the Hornets, who were averaging 27.7 points per game and 303.1 yards a contest, to 19 points and 296 yards. Senior Corey Hart came up big for A&M with two sacks and three tackles for loss of 10 yards.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a Chance Wilson 19 yard field goal. A&M extended its lead when Terrance Pride took a reverse around the right side of the field and scored a 17 yard rushing touchdown his first of the season.
In the second quarter the Maroon & White built a 17-0 lead when junior running back Kaderius Lacey scored his sixth TD of the season with a 17 yard scamper.
The Hornets finally got on the scoreboard when their kicker, Bobby Wenzig, hit a 48 yard field goal. Wenzig then it a 46 yarder to bring ASU within 11 before half-time making the score 17-6.
Alabama A&M opened the third quarter with their final score of the game, a 22 yard field goal for Wilsons’ seventh on the year, to take a 14 point lead.
State then came out throwing the ball all over the field eventually scoring their first touchdown to pull within seven.
The A&M offense went cold then only producing four first downs on their next 14 plays. Alabama State once again came out throwing, the strength of their offense, and scored to pull within one 20-19. On the extra point attempt freshman Chartavious Keith made the biggest play of his young career blocking the kick to help A&M maintain a one point lead.
ASU got the ball one more time after that scoring drive but the Bulldog defense came up with their eighth stop of the game. Jones then waited until two seconds remained on the play clock before snapping the ball bleeding the clock and recording his eighth win in the Magic City Classic.
The win is Jones 70
th A&M victory and his 88
th as a head coach.
Lacey ended the game with a career high 38 carries for 189 yards and the offensive MVP trophy. Junior quarterback, Deaunte Mason, posted 67 yards rushing and a season low 47 yards passing on 8 of 13 attempts. Hart's performance earned him the defensive most valuable player award.
The win keeps the Bulldogs chances to capture the Eastern Division alive.
Their next conference opponent will be the Braves of Alcorn State University. A&M has not defeated the Braves in two straight years. The game is set for Saturday, November 5, at 2:00 p.m. in Lorman, Mississippi.
