Wildcats Celebration Spoiled in Double Overtime
The night contained all the elements that home teams dream about when they start their football season. For the 2009 Wildcats of Fort Valley State University, the season opener included the christening of the “new” Wildcat Stadium; recognition of three special Wildcat Football Teams (the 1947, 1957, & 1972 teams); a weekend induction ceremony for the inaugural class of the Fort Valley State University Athletics Hall of Fame; and the launch of a new era of Wildcat Football under first year head coach Donald Pittman.
With such an historic backdrop, it seemed only right that the Wildcats should win the football game against the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University. After all, the last time the Wildcats had lost to the Panthers was in the early 1990's.
Unfortunately, in tonight's contest, history did not repeat itself. In a gridiron battle that took two overtime periods to determine a winner, the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University defeated the Wildcats, 30-24.
The Wildcats got the first score of the game when freshman kicker Justin Rosenbaum concluded a 52 yard drive by connecting on a 25-yard field goal. Later in the first quarter, the Wildcats scored again on a 1-yard run by senior quarterback Nathaniel Samas after an impressive 11 play, 68 yard drive. At the close of the first quarter, Fort Valley held a 9-0 lead.
Clark Atlanta got its' first score of the game in the second quarter after posting a 61 yard drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal by Joshua DuBois. The 9-3 Wildcat lead would hold until the start of the third quarter.
After Panther quarterback Mark Wright connected with wide receiver Sanford Henderson on a 15-yard touchdown pass, the Wildcats found themselves trailing for the first time in the game, 10-9. The Panther lead would not last that long, however.
In the ensuing drive that consumed 7:25, the Wildcats regained the lead after quarterback Terrance Ransom scored on a 1 yard run with 3:30 left in the third quarter. After an extremely well designed and executed two point conversion, the Wildcats led 17-10.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Panthers answered the Wildcat score with a touchdown. The CAU touchdown and extra point made it 17-17 tie.
With 6:50 remaining in the game, the Wildcats struck again with an 8-yard pass from Ransom to Richard Willis to take a 24-17 lead. Then with 2:08 remaining, the Panthers tied the score after a 1-yard touchdown run by Winston Thompson.
In the first overtime period, both teams displayed stiff defenses and allowed no points. In the second overtime session, a 10-yard touchdown pass from Wright to Mortimor Lightburn sealed the win for the Panthers, 30-24.
The Wildcats will meet the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College next Saturday at 7 p.m. (September 5, 2009) at B.T. Harvey Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
