Alabama State 38, Concordia 33

ALABAMA STATE 38, CONCORDIA 33: Hornets hold off Concordia

Alabama State got more than it bargained for Saturday night. What some thought would be a routine season opener turned into a fight for survival. Concordia College of Selma rallied from an early deficit and pulled within one score of upsetting ASU in the final minutes at Cramton Bowl. ASU's defense made a final stand at its 26 to seal a 38-33 win. "We weren't overlooking them. That wasn't the problem," ASU linebacker Adrian Hardy said. "We knew they would be ready to play and we expected it to be a fight. It was."

ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said the game was a starting point. "This game served its purpose," Barlow said. "We got to see our team under the lights and we got a look at how we would perform. We've got a long way to go." The game may have served its purpose, but not without leaving Barlow and his Hornets sweating the finals minutes. After watching a 38-14 lead disappear in the final 17 minutes, ASU needed its defense to step up.

Photo Galleries: ASU plays Concordia College

Hornets' comeback falls short

Concordia College football coach Shepherd Skanes felt the pain Saturday night. Not the pain of losing 38-33 to Alabama State University in the Cramton Bowl. The pain of not winning, however, cut to the quick. “As hard as we played tonight, it hurts,” said Skanes, whose Hornets dropped to 1-1 with the narrow defeat. “We were supposed to win.” Skanes had problems with the amount of penalties and the officiating difficulties the Hornets suffered during the game.

After having to deal with nine penalties for 74 yards in the first half, Concordia had to call attention to the time clock, which was running after an incomplete pass. “I know (the officials) did what they had to do, what they were supposed to do,” he said. “But it's not supposed to be that way.” Concordia pulled within three scores to open the fourth quarter when quarterback T'Chelpio Woods hit Calvin Cornish for a 19-yard TD pass with 9:22 to play. ASU led 38-27.

ASU Hornets Jermaine Peryear fights for yardage against Concordia defense.

Maturity RB Traylor's top trait

Rahmod Traylor is mature. To Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow, that's the most obvious character trait in his senior running back. No matter the situation, no matter the circumstances, Barlow and the rest of the ASU coaches know that Traylor will do what's expected and what's right. Every time. "He's a guy that's just always there, always steady," Barlow said. "That maturity is so important to have around a team. Having that guy you can count on to be accountable and be where he's supposed to be is a great lesson for the other players." Being where he's supposed to be has been a bit difficult for Traylor the last couple of seasons.

Woods takes Hornets to ASU

Concordia College junior quarterback T’Chelpio Woods played two years at Alabama State, but his return to Montgomery to face his former team Saturday will not be a homecoming. “I’m from Selma,” Woods said Thursday on the Hornets’ practice field. “Whether we win or lose, it’s a milestone for us, showing how far we’ve gone. They’ve got everything to lose. We’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Woods played two years at Selma High before completing his high school football at Central Christian Academy. The Hornets (1-0) of Dallas County have the momentum from last week’s season opener, when they shellacked Texas College 68-0. They will be the opponent in the season opener for the Hornets of Montgomery County. Alabama State is a larger school than Concordia, but that doesn’t concern Woods.

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