ASU Stadium

Alabama State’s 41-15 win over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday was exactly what a conference opener against a struggling opponent should be: controlled early, never in doubt after halftime, and closed with authority. The Hornets move to 3-1 (1-0 SWAC). The harder question is what this game proved and what it didn’t.

The freshman looked like he belonged

Aaron Frye, in his first career start, set the tone early with a 34-yard touchdown pass to DJ Hicks and a 6-yard TD run to get the Hornets up 14-0 in the first quarter. What stood out was not flash but steadiness. Frye added a second rushing score, a 9-yard keeper, right after Valley had cut into the lead in the fourth quarter.

The Black Swarm is this team’s identity

If Frye is the story, the defense is the foundation. Mississippi Valley State managed just 2.6 yards per rush and 3.9 yards per play. Early takeaways gave the offense short fields and allowed the Hornets to build their lead before the visitors found any rhythm.

The win also extended the Hornets’ home streak to nine straight at ASU Stadium, a stadium record dating to November 2024. They have now beaten Valley five straight times and have won the last 12 meetings in Montgomery.

The fine print coaches will circle

For all the dominance in the per-play numbers, Valley scored both of its touchdowns on big plays. Josh Brown found Caleb Brownlow for 31 yards in the second quarter, and Brownlow later broke a 76-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Against a 1-4 team that has won one SWAC game in its last 10, those lapses cost nothing. Against Bethune-Cookman or Florida A&M, one missed tackle at the second level can swing a game.

Now the real SWAC test begins

Alabama State will play its first conference road game in Daytona Beach to face Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 3 p.m. Central before facing Florida A&M on Oct. 10 at ASU Stadium for homecoming.