MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Alabama State head football coach Brian Jenkins and his Hornets are making their final preparations for the last football game of the 2016 season when it hosts Miles College on Thursday for homecoming and to rekindle the Turkey Day Classic tradition at ASU Stadium with a 3:02 p.m. scheduled kick off.
Alabama State (3-7) will look toward continued success against the Golden Bears, whom it defeated 26-7 in last year’s Turkey Day Classic.
The Hornets were able to hold Miles to just 176 total yards of offense and force two turnovers in last season’s meeting.
Kourtney Berry thrived at linebacker as he shared the team lead in tackles with 10.
Alabama State chewed up 287 yards on the ground.
Returning senior Khalid Thomas ran for 78 yards and a touchdown as well.
ASU will aim to tighten their discipline as it committed a season-high 16 penalties for 216 yards in their last game, a 21-0 defeat at the SWAC’s top team Grambling State on Nov. 12.
The Golden Bears (5-4) are coming off a 13-10 loss to Tuskegee at Legion Field, in which it gave up the winning touchdown with 1:12 remaining in the fourth quarter on a two-yard touchdown run.
“We have to protect the football,” said ASU head football coach Brian Jenkins.
“We have to be a disciplined team. They’re [Miles is a disciplined team. They’re going to throw everything at us. They’re going to line the box and be ready to try to stuff our run. We have to capitalize on the opportunities when they present themselves. When there were opportunities there, we have not got it done. You think about the Grambling game where we were on the 1-yard line and we didn’t score. That’s been our season.”
The Hornets have lost four games this season by seven points or fewer including three games by four points or fewer.
“It’s a very testing and trying season, “ Jenkins said.
“It’s had a lot of ups and downs I don’t know how our season could have got any worse. We lost four games by seven or fewer points. We’ve had personal issues with our families’ health. But I have total confidence that this program can get it done, but there are some areas where we need to have it corrected. But, I’m not going to make any excuses. It’s just been a faith-testing season to the coaches and the players. Through it all, you’ve got to find thALAe good. We’ve been able to teach these guys how to preserve and not let life beat you down.”
ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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