With everything on the line, the play was drawn up to find the end zone.
However, what Alabama State had hoped would be a game-winning drive instead ended in heartbreak when a split-second effort by the Jackson State defense turned into a highlight-reel stop.
Alabama State got the ball down to the 2-yard line with a 20-yard pass to Dylan Djete with one second left on the clock, but ultimately fell short of the goal line after quarterback Andrew Body’s pitch to running back Jamarie Hostzclaw didn’t find the end zone after JSU linebacker Ashton Taylor knocked him out of bounds.
The Tigers took the contest 38-34 on Saturday in what was a classic SWAC battle.
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“We designed it to score a touchdown, obviously,” said Hornets head coach Eddie Robinson Jr about the play call. “Their defensive end made a terrific play taking away the read for Andrew Body, and then their linebacker — I forgot his number — just took a perfect angle. He laid out and made the kind of goal-line tackle every linebacker dreams of.”
The Hornets came within inches of a go-ahead score, but the defense stretched the play wide and met Holtzclaw just shy of the pylon.
“I thought it was a great call,” Robinson said. “We didn’t execute it perfectly, but you’ve got to tip your hat. Two of their guys made great plays. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.”
The stop effectively sealed the game, leaving Alabama State yards away from what would have been a statement win over the best team in HBCU football.
