BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University football team turned the ball over four times and nearly rallied from a big deficit as Alabama State won the 83^rd Annual McDonald's Magic City Classic, 27-19, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Saturday at Legion Field.
 
"We didn't play very well in the first half," Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor said. "We just sputtered. We didn't make plays, we didn't line up right, we didn't make throws, we didn't block anybody, so I got to take the blame for that. We thought we had turned a corner, playing hard and playing smart for four quarters (second half of Jackson State and Bethune-Cookman), and then come out and play the way that we did in the first half."
 
Alabama State (5-3 overall, 2-1 SWAC), which scored 13 of its 17 points off turnovers, led 17-3 at the half, but nearly let the lead slip away for an interception, along with a big third-down conversion sealed the victory and gave the Hornets their third straight victory in the series. 
 
A 32-yard Ajai Harrell punt return set up the first score of the game as Alabama State took advantage of a short field.
 
The Hornets started at the AAMU 42 and just two plays after the punt return, Kareem Keye connected with Asa Gregg on a slant for 31 yards as Alabama State took a 7-0 advantage with 10:11 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
ASU forced Alabama A&M to punt on its next possession and the Hornets capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive with a 35-yard field goal Brandon Gilliam as Alabama State extended its lead to 10-0 with 2:47 left.
 
Alabama State took advantage of the first AAMU turnover, going 28 yards in six plays as Derek Harden hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Keye as the Hornets stretched the margin to 17-0 with 2:50 remaining in the first half. 
 
The Bulldogs (3-4, 1-2) responded with a two-minute drive as Cornelious Brown IV connected with DeQuadrion Welch for 30 yards and Victor Barbosa capped an 8-play, 61-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal with two seconds left in the period, closing the gap to 17-3.
 
Alabama A&M put together a solid drive on its second series of the third quarter, but Brown was picked off by Keane Lewis, returning the ball to the Bulldogs 45 to halt a potential scoring drive.
 
The Hornets capitalized off the turnover, the second time in the game. Driving inside the red zone, Marvin Smith sacked Keye as Alabama State got a 33-yard field goal by Gilliam, pushing the advantage to 20-3 with 3:16 remaining in the period.
 
Alabama State continued to cash in on miscues as Lankford was picked off by Terrell Lightfoot Jr., who went 70 yards for the pick six score as the Hornets extended the lead to 27-3 with 1:01 left in the third.
 
The Bulldogs got into the endzone midway through the final quarter as Lankford found Keenan Hambrick streaking down the left sideline for the 65-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion, Lankford to Donivan Wright was good as Alabama A&M trimmed the deficit to 27-11 with 9:52 remaining.
 
Alabama A&M continued to rally, capping a 6-play, 65-yard drive as Lankford found Hambrick again, a 31-yard touchdown pass, and scored on a two-point conversion as the Bulldogs closed the gap to 27-19 with 5:03 remaining.
 
The Hornets were forced to punt on their next possession and Welch returned the kick 19 yards to the ASU 47. However, after an incompletion, Lankford was picked off by Anon Scarbrough with 2:32 left.
 
The Bulldogs stopped ASU on first and second down. Right after the two-minute timeout, on third-and-9 from the ASU 22, Daquon Kincey broke free for 61 yards as Alabama State ran out the clock to pick up the victory.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Alabama A&M finished with 370 total yards of offense, including 309 through the air
• The Bulldogs recorded 14 first downs
• Xavier Lankford went 13 of 26 passing for 207 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions
• Lankford led the ground game with 27 yards on nine carries
• DJ Nelson caught six passes for 53 yards
• Keenan Hambrick registered a game-high 139 yards on five catches, with two touchdowns
• Jamarion Ellis paced the defense with 14 total tackles, including 12 assisted
• Cortez Andrews and Marvin Smith each added 11 total tackles
• Alabama State finished with 335 total yards, including 204 on the ground
• The Hornets registered 16 first downs
• Kareem Keye went 14 of 20 passing for 131 yards and two scores
• Daquon Kincey rushed 18 times for 156 yards
• Asa Greg added four catches for 75 yards
• Anon Scarbrough led the defense with eight tackles, including six solo stops

 
NEWS & NOTES

• This was the 89^th meeting all-time between the two programs and the 83^rd McDonald's Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola
• Alabama State trimmed the series margin to 44-42-3 all-time
• The Hornets have now won three straight in the series, the first time the program has achieved that feat since winning six consecutive Magic City Classics from 1990-1995
• Alabama A&M is 0-4 this season when an opponent scores first
• The Bulldogs played two quarterbacks – Xavier Lankford (started) and Cornelious Brown IV
• Alabama A&M had four games this season of more than 450 yards, but was held to 370 against Alabama State
• The Hornets controlled the time of possession, holding the ball for just over 33 minutes
• AAMU wide receiver Keenan Hambrick had five catches and needs 10 more to reach 100 for his collegiate career
• DJ Nelson caught six passes for 53 yards, surpassing 500 career yards in his collegiate career

 
UP NEXT  
Alabama A&M returns home for Senior Day and Heroes Appreciation Day as the Bulldogs welcome Southern to Louis Crews Stadium next Saturday (Nov. 2). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and streamed on HBCU GO.
 
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