The Alabama State Hornets held on to beat Southern 31-30 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Alabama State (7-3 overall, 7-2 SWAC) remains in a virtual tie for the Eastern Division lead with Jackson State, a 35-21 winner over Alabama A&M. Jackson State (6-4, 6-2) plays at Alcorn State next Saturday. A loss by  JSU clinches the East for the Hornets, while a Tigers win would clinch the division for Jackson State.

Despite allowing a touchdown with 20 seconds to play, Alabama State forced an incompletion on the two-point conversion pass to preserve the win.

“We’re happy with it,” coach Reggie Barlow said. “Whenever you can come on the road and play a really good team, you’ll take the victory. Southern is a good team. They fought like all get out, but our guys withstood the test, and we’ll take the victory.”  read more…