Alabama State Opens 2026 Season With 30-17 Win Over Southern
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama State opened the 2026 season by making a statement in Birmingham, pulling away from Southern in the second half for a 30-17 victory in the inaugural Birmingham Football Classic at Legion Field.
The Hornets went into halftime trailing 17-13, but whatever was said in the locker room clearly worked. Alabama State came out with more energy, played cleaner football and completely shut Southern out over the final two quarters while scoring 17 unanswered points to take control of the game. 
Southern struck first late in the opening quarter when Mike Franklin broke loose for a 29-yard touchdown run, giving the Jaguars an early 7-0 advantage. Alabama State answered with a 44-yard field goal from Andrew Abu-Akel to make it 7-3 heading into the second quarter.
The Jaguars stretched the lead to 14-3 early in the second, but Alabama State wasted no time responding. Quarterback Andrew Body connected with Randall King for a 61-yard completion that immediately flipped the field, and Jamarie Hostzclaw finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run.
Both teams added field goals before halftime, leaving Southern ahead 17-13.
The Hornets put together a seven-play, 52-yard scoring drive in the third quarter, capped by a three-yard touchdown run from Jareese Howard to take their first lead of the afternoon at 20-17. A few minutes later, Body found King for a nine-yard touchdown, pushing the Alabama State advantage to 27-17.
Abu-Akel added his third field goal of the game in the fourth quarter, this time from 31 yards, to finish the scoring at 30-17.
Body looked comfortable in his return to action and showed why he entered the season as the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown while also providing another threat with his legs. He finished without an interception and was named Offensive Player of the Game.
King emerged as his biggest weapon through the air, catching four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, including the 61-yard reception that helped spark the Hornets offense in the second quarter. Hostzclaw and T.J. Ramsey also gave Alabama State balance on the ground, combining for 96 rushing yards.
Mitchell Robinson Jr. led the Hornets with eight tackles, while Greg Mangle came away with an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter as Alabama State continued to keep the Jaguars from finding any offensive rhythm.
The numbers were fairly close overall. Alabama State finished with 351 total yards compared with Southern’s 335, while the Jaguars actually held a slight 161-159 advantage on the ground. But the Hornets made the plays that mattered most.
Alabama State finished a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone, converted its only fourth-down attempt and did not turn the football over. Southern, meanwhile, turned it over once and failed on both of its fourth-down attempts.
For Alabama State, the season opener showed two different versions of the Hornets. Starting the year 1-0 is important. Doing it by erasing a halftime deficit and shutting out another SWAC program for an entire half makes the performance even more encouraging.
Alabama State will now return home to Montgomery for its home opener against Lane College on September 5 at ASU Stadium.
