Courtesy: Alabama State Athletics
The Alabama State football team lost on the final play of the game to Jackson State, 37-34, the Hornets’ final game at Cramton Bowl.
Trailing 27-20 after three quarters, Alabama State (4-3, 4-2) rallied with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. Isaiah Crowell’s four-yard scoring run on the first play of the period tied the score at 27-all.
The Hornets’ special teams came up with a big play on the next series, as Winton Steward blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt by Jackson State’s Ryan Deising. That led to a four-play, 61-yard scoring drive, keyed by a 41-yard catch by DeMario Bell. Crowell’s 11-yard TD run three plays later gave Alabama State a 34-27 lead with 10:02 remaining.
Jackson State (3-4, 3-2) fought back with a scoring drives on its final two possessions of the game. The Tigers scored 10 points in the final 3:53 of the game, with the last three points on Deising’s 39-yard field goal as time expired.
“We did some positive things,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “Offensively, we were able to get the ball, move the ball and score some points. Whenever you score 34, you want to have a chance to win. They did a good job of moving us around on defense and making plays.”
QB Greg Jenkins passed for 262 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 71 yards and another score. Crowell rushed 13 times for 64 yards and a pair of scores. T.C. McWilliams caught five passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. LBs Brandon Roberts and Leland Baker led the Hornets with 12 and nine tackles, respectively.
The Hornets scored on their second possession of the game, driving a season-long 98 yards in seven plays. Jenkins’ 38-yard run set up his six-yard scoring pass to McWilliams three plays later to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead with 10:27 to play in the first quarter.
After Jackson State scored on ensuing possessions to take a 13-7 lead after one quarter, Alabama State regained the lead on defense. LB Brandon Slater’s 23-yard interception return gave the Hornets a 14-13 lead less than two minutes into second quarter.
Alabama State scored late in the first half to extend its lead. A nine-play, 80-yard drive, sparked by key 35-yard
reception by Bell, led to Jenkins’ 20-yard scoring run with 19 seconds to play until halftime which gave the Hornets a 20-13 halftime lead.
The Hornets have an open date next week before taking on Alabama A&M in the State Farm Magic City Classic on Oct. 27 at Birmingham’s Legion Field.
