The Alabama State University Hornets defeated the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University Bulldogs for the third consecutive season. The Hornets managed to win the 83rd annual Magic City Classic by a score of 27-19 on Oct. 26 at the Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Hornets quarterback Kareem Keye threw for 131 yards with two touchdowns. Running back Daquon Kincey led the rushing attack with 100 yards and 5.6 yards per carry. Wide receiver Asa Gregg caught four passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
The Hornet defense, one of the best in the SWAC (SouthWestern Atlantic Conference), was a force to be reckoned with. Safety Amon Scarbrough recorded eight tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and one forced fumble. Freshman Ta’Shaun Sims had a pick-six. Safety Keane Lewis had four tackles and an interception.
Bulldogs quarterback Xavier Lankford threw for 207 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Lankford also led the team in rushing with 29 yards. Wide receiver Keenan Hambrick caught 5 balls for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Both teams went three and out on their first possession. Hostzclaw burst through a wide-open gap in the defense for a 10—yard gain.
Keye found Gregg, who outran the defense 31 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
The Bulldogs converted a third and seven when Lankford Jr. connected with wide receiver Deion Nelson Jr., who dove to catch the ball. The Bulldogs punted the ball after Lankford Jr. pass on third and four fell incomplete
Kincey rushed for seven yards on the first down. His next carry would go for 26 yards. Keye would dump the ball off to tight end Derick Harden, who took it for a 20-yard gain.
On third and eight, Keyes’s pass to Hostzclaw came up short and the Hornets opted to kick a field goal. The Hornets were up 10-0.
The Bulldog offense struggled to move the ball. On third down, defensive end Maurice Lapierre dragged Lankford Jr. down for the sack
In the second quarter, Lankford Jr. picked up a first down with his legs.
The Bulldogs went for it on fourth down but the wide-open pass was dropped by wide receiver Jacolby Hewitt.
Gregg caught a pass from Keye for a 12-yard gain. The Hornets punted the ball after two incompletions from Keye.
Lankford Jr. escaped pressure and ran for the first down. Lankford Jr.’s run was short on third down. On fourth and one. Lankford fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Hornets defensive tackle Janil Brown.
Keye found Harden wide open for a TD with 2:50 to go until halftime, giving the Hornets a 17-0 advantage.
Bulldog backup quarterback Cornelius Brown came into the game to replace Lankford Jr..
Brown connected with Hambrick for 26 yards with 33 seconds left.
Hornet cornerback James Burgress broke up a pass intended for Nelson Jr.
Brown was stopped short by Amon Scarbourgh on third and one. With two seconds left until halftime, the Bulldogs kicked a field goal to make the score 17-3 at the halftime break.
Brown’s pass was intercepted by Keane Lewis, who returned it 45 yards.
The Hornets kicked a 33-yard field goal after Keye was sacked by Bulldog defensive back Marvin Smith. The Hornets remained on top 20-3 with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Brown completed a 33-yard pass to wide receiver Dequandrion Welch down the sideline. Brown was once again intercepted, this time by safety Ta’Shaun Simms who took it back to the house for an 80-yard touchdown.
The Hornets went up 27-3 with one quarter remaining to be played. The Bulldogs responded with a touchdown as Lankford Jr. threw a 65-yard deep ball to Hambrick. The two-point conversion was good as wide receiver Donivan Wright caught the short pass.
With 9:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs cut into the lead 27-11. The Bulldogs still had hope and Hambrick scored a 35-yard touchdown. Lankford Jr. kept the ball on the two-point conversion and muscled his way into the endzone.
The Bulldogs cut into the deficit 27-19 with 2:32 left to play. Hornets defensive back Amon Scarbrough put the game on ice when he intercepted Lankford Jr.’s pass.
