NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Patrick Smith, Tom Smith and Telvin Hooks scored fourth-quarter touchdowns on Sunday night, helping Tennessee State rally past Alabama State 24-14 in the season opener for both teams.
The Tigers trailed by 11 going into the fourth quarter before Patrick Smith caught Oshay Ackerman-Carter's 19-yard TD pass with 14:22 to go.
Latrelle Lee forced an Alabama State fumble three plays later and Javon Brandon recovered for Tennessee State on the Hornets 36. Tom Smith's 12-yard TD run gave the Tigers a 17-14 lead with 12:01 left.
Brandon recovered another Alabama State fumble on the next drive, and Hooks scored an insurance touchdown on a 5-yard run with 6:15 to play.
Daniel Duhart was 20-of-25 passing for 225 yards for the Hornets including an 82-yard TD pass to Josh Davis in the first quarter. Duhart ran for another score midway through the third that gave Alabama State a 14-3 lead.
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