MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Entering Week 0, Alabama State came off a successful year last season with a 10-2 record. The Hornets were ranked No. 4 in the 2026 Preseason Black College Football Poll. Southern University looked to get a win to start the new season.
A 30-yard pass interference penalty set up the Jaguars for the first score of the game. Mike Franklin ran for 30 yards to give Southern the lead. The Hornets followed that drive to put 3 points on the board, keeping the game close.
During the start of the second quarter, it looked like the Jaguars might have had the Hornets’ number with another score. Christian Johnson found Daejawn Smith across the middle for a 41-yard touchdown, giving Southern a 14-3 lead. ASU wasted no time answering back as Randall King reeled in a 61-yard pass from Andrew Body, closing the gap back to 4. To close out the first half, the teams kicked field goals, leaving the score 17-13.
Not much happened in the second half for Southern. The Jaguars were held to a four-and-out multiple times without making any progress on the offensive side. Hornets’ receiver Nehemiah Hixon set the team up twice for scores following a 33-yard punt return and a 43-yard punt return. The Hornets won their season opener, 30-17, at Legion Field in the inaugural Birmingham Football Classic.
ASU will prepare to take on Lane College for its first home game next week. Southern will look to regroup for its next matchup against Kentucky State University.
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