Andrew Body delivers in his return as the Hornets erase a halftime deficit, score 17 unanswered second-half points, and shut out Marshall Faulk’s Southern Jaguars after intermission to open the 2026 season with a statement victory.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State entered the inaugural Birmingham Football Classic looking for an early indication of what the 2026 season might hold.
By the end of Saturday afternoon at Legion Field, the Hornets had provided one.
Alabama State overcame a four-point halftime deficit and completely shut down Southern in the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points after intermission to secure a 30-17 season-opening victory before 31,287 fans.
For head coach Eddie Robinson Jr., the neutral-site win gave Alabama State a 1-0 start and an early boost for a program with championship aspirations.
For quarterback Andrew Body, it marked an impressive return to competition.
And for Alabama State's defense, the final 30 minutes offered an emphatic answer after Southern controlled portions of the first half.
The Jaguars entered halftime leading 17-13.
They never scored again.

