The Alabama State football team has the matchup they want, even if they had to watch Bethune-Cookman take a very early lead first.
The Hornets overcame a long bomb on the game’s first play to roll past the Wildcats 52-35, improving to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in SWAC East play.
Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s Hornet Homecoming W.
The Hornets’ offensive hive was buzzing
While the redemption story of quarterback Andrew Body is arguably the top headline in the SWAC, Body has plenty of help and Saturday was no exception.
Bama State punished BCU on the ground with 388 yards split between six different ball carriers. The leader was Juhbari Kuykendall, who alertly kept his balance through a Wildcat tackle attempt and scampered 48 yards for a touchdown that opened up a 45-14 advantage. Kuykendall totaled 106 yards rushing on just eight carries.
Receivers Jalen Jones and Ajai Harrell kept made some big plays and tight end Derick Harden caught a 13-yard TD pass from Body to tie the game at 7. It was the last time the Wildcats were anywhere close to the Hornets.
Bend, but don’t break
Alabama State had an uncharacteristic generous defensive performance, surrendering 569 total yards to the Wildcats, but those yards proved to be empty calories thanks to the Hornets’ offensive output.
Credit must go to Bethune-Cookman reserve quarterback Timmy McClain, who filled in admirably after starter Cam Ransom was injured on a sack and fumble in the second quarter. McClain completed 25 of 34 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score as well.
Before Ransom was hurt, he fired an 85-yard touchdown pass to Maleek Huggins on the first play of the game to give the Wildcats (2-4, 1-1 SWAC East) a short-lived 7-0 lead.
Bethune-Cookman’s offense is still one to be reckoned with. Alabama State just had a little more gas in the tank.
On The Road to Atlanta?
With Jackson State’s 57-24 win over Alabama A&M, the only two SWAC East teams without a blemish will meet next Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. This is what Eddie Robinson Jr. and the Alabama State program have been angling for – a clear shot at JSU with a healthy and deep team.
Get your popcorn ready for that one, folks.
