Alabama A&M tops Alabama State 27-10 in Magic City Classic

From aamusports.com:

 

BIRMINGHAM — Nathaniel Dell has a new nickname.

Just like the national convenience store chain, these days, Dell’s Alabama A&M football teammates are calling him “7-Eleven.”

Well, apparently the first location Dell has staked out is off Arkadelphia Road at Birmingham’s Legion Field, and the grand opening was the 77th Magic City Classic.

Dell put together a breakout performance as Alabama A&M topped longtime rival Alabama State 27-10 Saturday afternoon in a SWAC East contest.
“Like my teammates say, just like 7-Eleven, I’m always open,” Dell said.

In the Magic City Classic, that statement was true.

Dell, a freshman from Daytona Beach, Fla., caught six passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns.

“Our guy is a playmaker,” Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass. “Get the ball in his hands, and more times than not, he’s going have a chance to break a big play.”

Alabama State (2-5, 1-2 in SWAC) learned that lesson the hard way.

Dell flashed his speed and athleticism early in the second quarter when slipped behind Alabama State’s secondary and caught a pass in the end zone for a 56-yard touchdown.

The freshman, who only was playing in his third collegiate game because of an injury, struck again in the fourth quarter when he caught a short pass from Glass and sprinted 81 yards down the sideline for a touchdown that stretched the Alabama A&M (4-4, 3-2) lead to ten.

“To have a game like this, on a stage likes this, that’s what it’s all about,” Dell said. “These are the kind of games you sign up for.”

Alabama A&M never trailed.

After Alabama State’s Talesin Farmer rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7 apiece, the Bulldogs responded in the third quarter with a 56-yard rushing touchdown from Jordan Bentley.

Bentley led Alabama A&M with 91 rushing yards on eight carries.

A few minutes later, Dell delivered his second receiving touchdown, and then Alabama A&M leaned on its power running game to run the clock down.

Glass threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Burke in the final minutes.

Glass finished with 322 passing yards and three touchdowns, completing 17 of 30 attempts with no interceptions.

“Since the day I got here, the one thing I’ve heard more than anyone else is just how important the Classic is,” first-year Alabama A&M coach Connell Maynor said. “This game is a big deal, so to see our players celebrate this victory tonight is huge. I’m proud for our team.”

Alabama A&M held Alabama State to 313 yards while forcing two turnovers. Rhomel Fieldsintercepted a pass, while Dylan Hamilton led the team with 10 tackles.

Dell was selected as the game’s offensive MVP, and Hamilton was the defensive MVP.

“As a senior, with this being my last Classic, I definitely wanted to go out on a high note,” Hamilton said. “I’d say we definitely did that. Celebrating a big win like this is what it’s all about.”

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