Replacement starter quarterback Te’Sean Smoot was in his bag Saturday afternoon for the Hornets. The redshirt junior threw four touchdowns to four receivers to lead Alabama State in a 44-13 rout of division-mate Arkansas Pine Bluff.
Anybody who turned away from the HBCU Go broadcast after the first quarter missed all of the action. Pine Bluff took the opening drive 75 yards on six plays for a touchdown. Quarterback Garrison David picked up 47 yards on one play. His pass to D’Avery Robinson picked up 32 yards, and the referees tacked on another 15 for getting hit after the throw. Jaylen Jennings accounted for 20 yards on three carries from his running back spot. David capped the drive with a 3-yard burst into the end zone.
After two lengthy drives, Bama State still trailed through the first 29 minutes. No one saw that coming, especially with QB1 and the SWAC’s fourth-ranked passer, Christian Peters, sidelined with a shoulder injury. The same kind of injury that sidelined Bama State QB1 Andrew Body. Smoot performed remarkably in Body’s place.
Andrew Abu-Akel salvaged ASU’s first two drives after they stalled inside the red zone. Abu-Akel split the uprights from 24 and 33 yards. Maybe not so surprising was the patience with which the Hornets’ offense continued to play. “Some coaches when its not working – or the run is not working – now they want to throw it three times for incompletions and that’s three-and-out,” said ASU Head Coach Eddie Robinson, Jr. “So just loved the way the coaches were being patient and understanding that you got players on the field and you have to allow them to make plays. It’s gonna happen.”
Seven minutes after the second field goal went through the uprights, Marcus Harris, II exploded for a 50-yard touchdown on the Hornets’ only fourth-and-one conversion attempt.
Boots on the Ground – Halftime Performance
UAPB responded with a long drive into Hornets territory. A pass interference penalty in the end zone gave the Golden Lions a free pass into the red zone. It looked like UAPB was going to retake the lead on a two-yard scamper by Jennings. The score was nullified by a flag on wide receiver Kareem Burke for tackling Bama State safety Ta’Shaun Sims at the one. The Golden Lions were unable to punch it in and settled for a 26-yard field goal attempt to pull within three. Trey Glymph’s attempt never looked good off his foot, sailing like a Phil Niekro knuckleball (Google it) left of the upright.
Bama State outscored UAPB 28-6 the rest of the way. The balanced attack (271 passing and 203 yards rushing) created opportunities that Smoot was able to exploit. With running backs Jahbari Kuykendall, Harris II, and Jamarie Hostzclaw combining to rush for 152 yards on the ground, Smoot used the play action to move the ball through the air. He spread the wealth around. Eleven receivers caught 20 of his 28 passing attempts, including four over 25 yards.
Impact Players
UAPB
FR QB Garrison Davis – 13-20-86-0, 48 yards rushing on 13 carries and 1 TD
R-Freshman WR D’Avery Robinson – led all receivers in yards 7 rec. 63 yards, 32 yard catch
Junior DT Vaughn Highland – 6 solo tackles, 1 TFL. A space eater with above-average lateral movement, shed blocks to make tackles across the line of scrimmage
Junior LB Danarius Hillard – 5 tackles, 4 solo, 1 TFL, 1 QB hurry
Junior LB Derron Moore – led defense with 7 tackles, 4 solo, 1 pass break-up
Bama State
Senior SS Deontre Morris – 6 solo tackles. Two of Morris’ tackles shut down a potential scoring drive.
Junior QB Te’Sean Smoot – 20-28-0, 4 TDs, 4 carries for 24 yards, 0 sacks
Senior WR Dylan Djete – 5 rec. 71 yards, made the clutch reception when the Hornets needed it most
Freshman WR Jalen Jones – 4 rec. 70 yards
Redshirt Freshman K Andrew Abu-Akel – 3 field goals -24 yards, 33 yards, 43 yards