HOUSTON (Interstat) — Alabama State used timely big plays and a fourth-quarter surge to defeat Texas Southern 34-31 on Saturday in an NCAA Football Championship Division game at Shell Energy Stadium. The visiting Hornets improved to 5-4, while the home Tigers dropped to 3-6. The game was tight throughout and featured a wild closing stretch that left Texas Southern with a chance late, but Alabama State made the plays needed to secure the win.

Texas Southern struck first in the opening quarter when Cam’Ron McCoy connected with Roriyon Richardson on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Alabama State answered quickly when Aaron Frye found Randall King for a 76-yard scoring strike. McCoy later hit Richardson again, this time from 26 yards, to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead at halftime. The Hornets had trouble sustaining offense for much of the first half, but their big-play ability kept them within reach. Texas Southern had an earlier touchdown run by McCoy nullified by a holding penalty, a break that helped keep Alabama State close.

Alabama State took control after halftime. Jareese Howard capped a drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, and Jamarie Hostzclaw followed with a 2-yard scoring run to put the Hornets ahead 21-14. The Alabama State offensive line created room for Howard and Hostzclaw, while Frye kept the Texas Southern defense off balance with his arm and legs. The Tigers remained within striking distance and answered in the fourth quarter when McCoy ran 20 yards for a touchdown to tie the game.

Miguel Arana III then kicked a 39-yard field goal to give Texas Southern a 24-21 lead. Alabama State responded immediately when Frye broke free for a 76-yard touchdown run, putting the Hornets back in front 28-24. Frye later found Israel Tate on a 35-yard touchdown pass, but the extra-point attempt failed, leaving Alabama State with a 34-24 advantage. Texas Southern refused to fade. McCoy connected with Kordell Rodgers on a 16-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 34-31, but the Hornets held on from there. The Tigers’ final touchdown came with 5:07 remaining, and their defense could not get the ball back for a last scoring chance.

Frye finished with a strong all-around performance, completing 13 of 17 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 14 times for 162 yards and another score. Howard added 12 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Hostzclaw ran eight times for 27 yards and a score. King had a 76-yard touchdown catch, Tate caught three passes for 75 yards and a score, and Daionte Hicks recorded six receptions for 34 yards. TJ Ramsey added four carries for 25 yards, and John Austin caught two passes for 22 yards. Nehemiah Hixon had one reception for 2 yards and returned two kickoffs for 63 yards. Alabama State’s Andrew Abu-Akel converted extra points after the Hornets’ first four touchdowns, but the attempt after Tate’s score was unsuccessful.

McCoy powered Texas Southern with 113 passing yards and three touchdowns while adding 111 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Richardson caught two passes for 37 yards and two scores, Rodgers had two receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown, and Athean Renfro Jr. rushed 23 times for 77 yards while adding two catches for nine yards. Markel McNeal returned four kickoffs for 107 yards, and Brian Mays punted four times for 108 yards. Kaleb Tucker caught one pass for nine yards, Zyion Claville had one reception for 15 yards, and Daveon Walker added a 22-yard catch. Danny Green Jr. returned a kickoff 18 yards, and Lajuan Zaccaro also had an 18-yard kickoff return. Jordan Thompson returned one punt for eight yards.

Alabama State’s defense made enough stops late. Azariel Todd recorded 10 tackles, Mitchell Robinson Jr. added nine and Zaquan Patterson finished with eight. Jaylan Jarrett had three tackles, Zion Crawford and Myles Richardson each had three stops, and Dillyn Blakey added two. Texas Southern’s Jaquavus Hallman led the Tigers with seven tackles, while Donovan Jones and Aaron Kizzee each had six. Jordan Thompson added five tackles and a sack, and Ryan Robinson Jr. and Darius Sims each recorded five stops. MJ Hinson had three tackles, Thurman Rayborn added two, and Malachi Philen, David Kency, Jaheim Miller and Jacob Williams each chipped in two stops. Noddyn Bailey, Joel Williams, Josef Aganbi, Josh Dorsainvil, Jaydon Broomfield, Orin Gee, Garfield Lawrence and Nathan Morcom each had one tackle for the Tigers.

The win gave Alabama State a needed road result in conference play and kept the Hornets above .500 for the season. Texas Southern, which had won two straight entering the game, fell despite a productive day from McCoy and a receiving corps that made plays in key moments. Alabama State’s special teams also contributed, with Hixon returning two kickoffs for 63 yards and Hicks adding two kickoff returns for 46 yards. Jareese Howard added a 13-yard kickoff return for the Hornets.

Alabama State is scheduled to host Jackson State next, while Texas Southern is set to visit Alabama A&M. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Alabama State 52, Texas Southern 29, and its ELO system gave Alabama State a 69.7 percent probability to win.