Texas Southern’s Tigers entered Saturday’s matchup at Thorne Stadium carrying a fragile momentum, having won their previous two games on the final play. However, the team’s resilience hit a wall against Alabama State, which secured a 34-31 victory to end TSU’s run of consecutive one-score battles. The Hornets (5-4, 3-3 SWAC) demonstrated superior late-game management, effectively neutralizing a desperate Tigers comeback attempt that fell three points short in the final minutes. This loss drops Texas Southern to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play, highlighting a critical gap in closing out tight contests despite strong offensive output.
Hornets seal SWAC showdown with fourth-quarter surge, snapping TSU’s one-score streak.
The decisive momentum shift occurred with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter when Alabama State’s Aaron Frye exploded for a 76-yard touchdown run, taking the lead for good. Frye’s performance was multifaceted, as he later connected with Israel Tate on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 5:13 left, providing the Hornets with a cushion that proved pivotal. In response, Texas Southern quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy kept the game alive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Kordell Rodgers with 3:12 remaining, drawing the Tigers within three points. Despite McCoy’s heroics, the Hornets successfully ran out the clock to preserve the win, marking the first time in three straight one-score games that TSU did not emerge victorious.
Statistically, Texas Southern’s offense was potent but ultimately inefficient in the closing stretch. McCoy led the charge with three touchdown passes, two of which went to Roriyon Richardson, while also rushing for 111 yards and a score. Despite this individual brilliance, the Tigers failed to convert pressure into points in the final five minutes, leaving them short of a dramatic reversal. The result underscores the importance of defensive consistency and special teams execution in SWAC matchups, as Alabama State’s ability to extend leads through big plays defined the difference between a potential upset and a season-extending loss for the Tigers.
Source: Yahoo Sports
