SAVANNAH, Ga. – Chris Mitchell threw a pair of touchdowns passes, including the game winner to Devin Dominguez early in the fourth quarter as Alabama State rallied for a 20- 17 road victory over Savannah State Saturday night at Ted Wright Stadium.
Mitchell was 17 of 31 passing for 227 yards en route to earning offensive MVP honors and leading the Hornets their second win of the season. Nick Andrews collected a career-high nine catches for 124 yards to pace the ASU receiving corps.
The Hornets will face off with the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in the 12th Annual Chicago Football Classic on Sept. 26 at Soldier Field. The Hornets defense allowed just 84 yards rushing and only 286 yards total while forcing the Tigers into a 3- for-14 performance on third down conversions.
“Our goal was to come down here and get a win so we could return to Montgomery with a 2-0 record,” said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow.
“We knew that Savannah State would be fired up to play in their first home game of the year. We struggled some in the first half but I thought the guys really turned things up in the second half. I thought our defense continues to build confidence and was again able to make some big stops. It also was great to see our offense put together a drive and make plays on the final scoring drive. We continue to get better and that is exciting.”
Both teams struggled to find continuity in the first quarter. Late in the period, Savannah State scored its first touchdown on a 19-yard pass from Kurvin Curry to Deron Talley with 4:39 on the clock. The Tigers had the ball third and goal at the four before three consecutive penalties pushed them back to the 19 setting up the scoring play.
Alabama State answered on the next possession, driving the length of the field to secure a 39-yard Jake King field goal on the first play of the second quarter that trimmed the ASU deficit to 7-3.
Senior linebacker Adrian Hardy collected his third interception of the season on SSU’s next drive, giving the ball back to the Hornets on Savannah State’s 10-yard line. ASU capitalized on the turnover as Mitchell found Darius Mathis for a 21-yard touchdown pass and a 10-7 lead.
The Tigers scored the next 10 points of the second quarter to regain the lead, 17-10. Curry capped an eight-play drive with a four-yard touchdown scamper. SSU also got an 18-yard field goal from Derek Williams following an ASU fumble deep in its own territory. The Hornets defense stopped Savannah six times inside the five to force the field goal.
ASU closed the first half scoring as King split the uprights on a 32-yard field goal with 1:34 left. Savannah State held a 17-13 advantage at the half.
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