It seemed fitting for the moment, and for the day in fact.
Alabama A&M had knocked on the door constantly of adding a bit of drama to the 83rd edition of the Magic City Classic.
After making it a 27-19 ballgame late in the 4th quarter, Bulldogs quarterback Xavier Lankford dropped back, let a pass rip through the middle, only to find the hands of a white jersey, not a maroon one.
Amon Scarbrough‘s interception sealed Alabama State’s third-straight victory over their longtime rivals, 27-19 at Legion Field in Birmingham on Saturday.
With both teams needing a win to keep pace with SWAC west division-leading Jackson State, Alabama State (4-3, 3-1) gave Adamsville native and Minor High School alum Kareem Keye his first-ever start.
While Keye had seen time under center this season, most recently vs. Mississippi Valley State, his first-ever start on one of the biggest stages in HBCU football, is much different.
Keye took full advantage of the moment, and the Bulldogs (3-4, 1-2) defense. The Offensive MVP of the Magic City Classic threw for 131 yards on 14 completions and two touchdowns. The first of those scores was a 31-yard strike to Asa Gregg to open up the scoring for the Hornets.
Gregg led ASU in receiving with four catches for 75 yards, and one score. Receiver Derick Harden added two receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown.
Through three quarters, it looked like there would be very little drama but as the 4th quarter began, the A&M offense began to start clicking. After bouncing between quarterbacks Cornelious Brown and Xavier Lankford, Lankford regained control of the offense with two touchdown passes in the final stanza.
Lankford connected on 65 and 31-yard touchdowns to Keenan Hambrick to revive the competitive phase to the Magic City Classic. Lankford finished the game with 207 yards passing and two touchdowns.
However, it was an interception in the 3rd quarter that proved to be the backbreaker for the Bulldogs.
Defensive MVP Ta‘Shaun Sims intercepted Lankford’s pass and returned it 86 yards to make the score 27-3 Hornets following the extra point.
Up next for Alabama State is Alcorn State in Mobile at Ladd Peebles Stadium on Nov. 2, and Alabama A&M hosts Southern.
