WILDCATS GET FIRST WIN UNDER PITTMAN
In their quest to give Donald Pittman his first win his first win as Head Coach of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Football, the second time proved to be the charm for the Wildcats. Saturday's 36-13 win over the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College was the first win for Pittman and the first win of the 2009 season for the FVSU Wildcats.
Played at B.T. Harvey Stadium, on the Morehouse campus, the Wildcats fought off a feisty challenge from the Maroon Tigers. In a game in which the outcome was not truly determined until the fourth quarter, the Wildcats secured the win by posting 21 unanswered points in the final period.
The Maroon Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the second quarter when placekicker Ian Mullen connected on a 28-yard field goal. The Wildcats would respond in that same quarter with an eight play, 47 yard drive ending with a 2-yard touchdown run by Richard Willis. Justin Rosenbaum converted the extra point attempt and the Wildcats claimed a 7-3 lead. It was a lead that the Wildcats would never relinquish.
Just before halftime, however, the Maroon Tigers were able to narrow the Wildcat lead to just three points. Flirting with what was possibly a Morehouse College and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) record, Ian Mullen drilled a 53-yard field goal with no time remaining on clock. At the intermission, the Wildcats led, 7-6.
In the third quarter, the Wildcats struck first when quarterback Nathaniel Samas tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver An'thon Harris. After the touchdown, the Wildcats elected to go for a two-point conversion instead of kicking the extra point. For Coach Pittman and the Wildcats, the decision paid dividends. Fullback LaBrandon Hudson got the two points on a run play. The two-point conversion was significant because the 15-6 score would force the Maroon Tigers to score at least twice in order to win the game.
A few minutes later, the Maroon Tigers got one of those scores. With 3:14 remaining in the third quarter, Morehouse quarterback William Brack threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Achille Hendje. Combined with Mullen's extra point conversion, the Maroon Tigers cut the Wildcat lead to 15-13.
The fourth quarter would belong to the Wildcats. At the 13:44 mark, Samas threw his second touchdown of the game when he connected with freshman wide receiver Aubrey Davis on a 9-yard pass. Rosenbaum was accurate on the point-after conversion and the Wildcats extended their lead to 22-13.
It was with 2:48 remaining in the game when the outcome was really determined. After a Maroon Tiger fumble on a punt return at their own 19 yard line, the Wildcats pounced on the opportunity. One play later, junior running back Brandon Anderson covered the 19 yard distance to score for FVSU. Rosenbaum's converted extra point put the Wildcats ahead, 29-13.
With limited time remaining, the Maroon Tigers were forced into a passing game to try to make up the 16 point deficit. The airways were kind to Morehouse. The Wildcats got the final score of the game when senior defensive back Ricky Johnson intercepted a Morehouse pass and returned it 30 yards for a Wildcat touchdown. Rosenbaum, who was 4 of 4 in extra point attempts, converted and the Wildcats won, 36-13.
The win was the first of the 2009 season for FVSU and the first for Wildcat Coach, Donald Pittman. The Wildcats are now 1-1 overall and 1-1 in SIAC play. FVSU is on the road next week when they meet the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University in a SIAC contest. Kick-Off is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CST).
Wildcats Statistical Highlights
Total Offense: 297 yards (98 yards rushing, 199 yards passing)
First Downs: 19
Red Zone Score-Chances: 3 of 4
Key Individual Performances
Quarterback Nathaniel Samas: 15/27 for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns
Running Back Richard Willis: 53 yards rushing with 1 touchdown. Also had 7 receptions for 51 yards
Wide Receiver An'thon Harris: 5 catches for 51 yards with 1 touchdown
Tight Ends Rodriquez Render & Jerel Hall: Render had 5 receptions for 24 yards and Jerel Hall contributed 3 catches for 22 yards
Kicker Justin Rosenbaum: 4 of 4 in extra point conversions
Punter Marquette King: 7 punts with a 38.9 yard average and placed 4 punts inside of the 20 yard line. Longest punt was 49 yards.
Linebacker Trent Newton: 8 Tackles
Defensive Backs Dionte Dinkins and Ricky Johnson: Dinkins finished with 3 tackles, 1 interception, 2 pass break ups, 1 blocked punt.
Johnson had five tackles and returned a 30-yard interception for a touchdown.
