ATLANTA – The 2022 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff between Howard University and Alabama State left fans and players on pins and needles due to the unpredictable weather delays throughout the game.
This was the 2nd meeting on the field between Alabama State and Howard University. The ASU Hornets previously defeated the HU Bisons with a 27-12 win in 2004. Eighteen years later, Alabama State defeated Howard University yet again with a 23-13 win.
In the first quarter, HU received the opening kick-off, and the offense stalled, which led to Howard kicking a 43-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead over Alabama. The real excitement began when Alabama State got their first turnover of the game, when ASU DB- Adrian Maddox intercepted HU QB-Quinton Williams’s pass and took over the ball at the 43-yard line. RB-JaWon Howell put ASU on the board with the first down on 4th and 2nd to score the first touchdown of the season with a 3-point lead over HU 6-3.
The second quarter brought just as much excitement to the 20,000-plus fans who came to watch the game when ASU QB-Damatrius Davis threw the ball to WR- Isaiah Scott for an 11-yard touchdown to give the ASU Hornets a 13-3 lead over HU Bisons. Just when we thought Howard was falling behind by 10 points, Dylan West kicked a 28-yard field goal which was good until he missed the chance to gain an additional 3 points with a 30-yard field goal right before half time which left Alabama with a 7-point lead over Howard 13-6. To end the second quarter, HU’s safety Kenny Gollop led his team with five tackles ASU’s CB- Keenan Issac led his team with seven tackles, and safety Adrian Maddox had four tackles plus his interception during the first quarter.
The third quarter didn’t disappoint as ASU’s QB – Dematrius Davis threw a 61-yard pass to WR Isaiah Scott. RB- Jacory Merritt ended the play by running 21 yards to score a touchdown bringing ASU to a 20-6 lead ending the third quarter. The Bisons started turning up the heat during the fourth quarter when LB- Terrance Hollon intercepted a pass from the Hornets QB-Demaritus Davis. Fans were definitely going crazy, and who could blame them? This game sets the tone for HBCU college football for the rest of the year, and HU’s WR Richie Ilarraza made sure to let us know that he is all about setting the tone as he tied a MEAC/SWAC Challenge record with his seventh catch of the evening in the fourth quarter.
During the fourth quarter HU’s RB- Jarett Hunter, glided down the sideline for a 5-yard touchdown. This put HU on the board for their first touchdown of the night, bringing the score to 20 – 13, ASU was still leading by 7 points, but with 9 minutes left in the game, it was enough time for either team to pull through and end the night with a win.
But just when you thought Howard had a chance to tie the game, Alabama made a 29-yard field goal to make the 2022 MEAC/SWAC Challenge a two-possession game bringing the score to 23 – 13 with less than 4 minutes remaining in the game.
Alabama State ended the evening defeating Howard University 23-13, winning the 2022 MEAC/SWAC Challenge. ASU’s coach Eddie Robinson Jr. won his first debut game as a head coach, and with tonight’s win, ASU became the first SWAC program to win the MEAC/SWAC Challenge since Prairie View A&M in 2018.
Written by Branden Waters
