# 2020 Alabama State Hornets football team

The 2020 Alabama State Hornets football team represented Alabama State University as a member of the East Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by third-year head coach Donald Hill-Eley, the Hornets compiled an overall record of 3–3 with a mark of 3–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the SWAC's East Division. Alabama State played home games at New ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama.
On July 20, 2020, the SWAC announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference then formalized plans to conduct a schedule for football during the 2021 spring semester.

## Schedule

Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against Kennesaw State, Tuskegee, and Texas Tech were canceled. The SWAC released updated spring schedules on August 17.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| February 26 | 6:00 p.m. | Southern | New ASU StadiumMontgomery, AL | ESPN3 | L 21–24 | 5,654 |
| March 6 | | at Alcorn State | Casem-Spinks StadiumLorman, MS | | W 2–0 (forfeit) | |
| March 20 | 3:00 p.m. | Jackson State | New ASU StadiumMontgomery, AL | ESPN2 | W 35–28 | 5,908 |
| April 3 | 1:00 p.m. | South Carolina State* | New ASU StadiumMontgomery, AL | | L 7–14 | 4,387 |
| April 10 | 2:00 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State | New ASU StadiumMontgomery, AL | | W 42–17 | 12,345 |
| April 17 | 6:30 p.m. | vs. Alabama A&M | Legion FieldBirmingham, AL (Magic City Classic) | ESPNU | L 14–38 | 16,500 |
| *Non-conference gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Jaguars | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Hornets | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SOU −7.0 | 52 |
| Statistics | Southern | Alabama State |
| First downs | 12 | 22 |
| Total yards | 274 | 274 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 125 |
| Passing yards | 135 | 149 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 23:44 | 36:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern | Passing | Ladarius Skelton | 10/22, 135 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern | Rushing | Ladarius Skelton | 10 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern | Receiving | Gregory Perkins | 1 reception, 59 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama State | Passing | Ryan Nettles | 16/27, 149 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Alabama State | Rushing | Ezra Gray | 14 carries, 73 yards |
| Alabama State | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 5 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD |

### Jackson State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 28 |
| • Hornets | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| JSU −8.0 | 46 |
| Statistics | Jackson State | Alabama State |
| First downs | 24 | 21 |
| Total yards | 350 | 466 |
| Rushing yards | 170 | 209 |
| Passing yards | 180 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 29:56 | 30:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jackson State | Passing | Jalon Jones | 19/50, 180 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Jackson State | Rushing | Jalon Jones | 22 carries, 94 yards, 2 TDs |
| Jackson State | Receiving | Corey Reed Jr. | 8 receptions, 99 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama State | Passing | Ryan Nettles | 27/42, 257 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Alabama State | Rushing | Ezra Gray | 23 carries, 195 yards, 3 TDs |
| Alabama State | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 8 receptions, 76 yards |

### South Carolina State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bulldogs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Hornets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ALST −2.5 | 42 |
| Statistics | South Carolina State | Alabama State |
| First downs | 14 | 17 |
| Total yards | 222 | 288 |
| Rushing yards | 131 | 97 |
| Passing yards | 91 | 191 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:43 | 26:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Carolina State | Passing | Corey Fields | 4/9, 47 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| South Carolina State | Rushing | Alex James | 12 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD |
| South Carolina State | Receiving | Shaquan Davis | 3 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama State | Passing | Ryan Nettles | 20/37, 191 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Alabama State | Rushing | Ryan Nettles | 6 carries, 37 yards |
| Alabama State | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 5 receptions, 61 yards |

### Mississippi Valley State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Delta Devils | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| • Hornets | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 42 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ALST –14.5 | 40 |
| Statistics | Mississippi Valley State | Alabama State |
| First downs | 17 | 22 |
| Total yards | 315 | 466 |
| Rushing yards | 169 | 156 |
| Passing yards | 146 | 310 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:03 | 27:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mississippi Valley State | Passing | Jalani Eason | 16/28, 135 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Mississippi Valley State | Rushing | Jalani Eason | 20 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi Valley State | Receiving | Darius Williams | 2 receptions, 49 yards |
| Alabama State | Passing | Ryan Nettles | 20/34, 305 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Alabama State | Rushing | Ryan Nettles | 7 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama State | Receiving | Jeremiah Hixon | 5 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Alabama State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hornets | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • Bulldogs | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| AAMU −4.5 | 52 |
| Statistics | Alabama State | Alabama A&M |
| First downs | 20 | 24 |
| Total yards | 285 | 484 |
| Rushing yards | 181 | 112 |
| Passing yards | 104 | 372 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:12 | 28:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama State | Passing | Chris Scott | 13/28, 89 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama State | Rushing | Ezra Gray | 19 carries, 101 yards |
| Alabama State | Receiving | Jahod Booker | 5 receptions, 58 yards |
| Alabama A&M | Passing | Aqeel Glass | 25/40, 372 yards, 3 TDs |
| Alabama A&M | Rushing | Aqeel Glass | 5 carries, 45 yards |
| Alabama A&M | Receiving | Zabrian Moore | 4 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDs |