Alabama A&M University brought the Magic City Classic trophy back to Huntsville after defeating rival Alabama State University 31-28 on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Legion Field in Birmingham.
The victory ended the Bulldogs’ four-game losing streak in the rivalry and marked their first win over the Hornets since 2021. The result also kept Alabama A&M at the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East standings.
Bulldogs deliver strong offensive performance
Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV led Alabama A&M’s offense, completing 22 of 35 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Kolton Nero added another scoring threat with 81 rushing yards and a touchdown on just six carries. The Bulldogs finished with 420 total offensive yards, outperforming Alabama State’s 344.
Defense helps secure the rivalry victory
Linebacker DJ Barber led Alabama A&M defensively with 13 tackles, helping the Bulldogs hold off the Hornets in the closely contested matchup.
The 31-28 final score gave Alabama A&M its first Magic City Classic victory since 2021 and returned the rivalry trophy to Huntsville.
Alabama A&M prepares for Prairie View A&M
The Bulldogs improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in SWAC play following the win.
Alabama A&M will next face Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. as the Bulldogs continue their push in the SWAC East standings.
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