By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
It was homecoming 2011 for the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) on Saturday (October 22nd) as they hosted the Tigers of Stillman College (SC) on the FVSU campus. Outside of Wildcat Stadium, the mood was as festive, relaxed, and inviting as any annual gathering of alumni, family and friends could be. Inside the Stadium was altogether different!
The Wildcats entered their homecoming game in desperate need of a win. At 1-6 overall and 1-3 in conference play, Saturday was not the time for a Wildcat loss in front of a crowd of over 10,400 FVSU supporters. Yet, that possibility loomed rather large because they were hosting a Tiger team that was ranked number one in the West Division of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) coming into the game with a 6-1 mark and an undefeated conference record of 4-0.
Much to the delight of the partisan crowd, the Wildcats made it a homecoming to remember with a 52-3 pasting of the Tigers. While limiting SC to just 118 yards of total offense, FVSU posted a total of 346 yards to claim their second win of the season.
The scoring barrage started for FVSU early in the first quarter. With 12:11 remaining in the opening quarter, the Wildcats logged their first score of the game on a 33 yard touchdown pass from Cameron Pearson to Christopher Slaughter. The touchdown catch and extra point by Justin Rosenbaum was the punctuation mark of an eight play, 71 yard drive and was a forecast of things to come.
With a 7-0 lead and momentum squarely behind them, FVSU reeled off three successive scores to take a 24-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats got scores on a Bernard Goodrum fumble recovery that he returned 33 yards for a touchdown with 11:54 left in the quarter; approximately two minutes later, another score came on a 53 yard pass from Pearson to DeMario Barber; and the third score game off the foot of Rosenbaum who made a 52 yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the quarter.
The field goal by Rosenbaum was the second time this season that he had converted a field goal from a distance of over 50 yards. He finished the game with a perfect performance by making six of six extra point attempts and nailing his only field goal attempt.
The Tigers got their only score of the game in the second quarter when placekicker Ronnie Partridge hit a 28 yard field goal. The 24-3 margin would be as close as SC would get to the Wildcats.
After a rousing halftime performance by both bands, the Wildcats scored three, third quarter touchdowns to eliminate any doubt about the outcome of their homecoming game. The first came on a four yard by Travis Richmond. The freshman running back finished the game with 90 yards rushing and caught four passes for 42 yards.
The second touchdown was the result of Pearson and Slaughter connecting, once again. This time the touchdown pass covered 24 yards. Slaughter finished the game with three receptions (two for touchdowns) for 64 yards. Pearson concluded his first FVSU homecoming game with 14 completions on 21 attempts for 200 yards and three touchdown passes.
The third came with just 25 seconds left in the quarter on a run by Aaron Courtney. The senior from Gainesville, Florida scored his final FVSU homecoming game touchdown on a three yard run. Rosenbaum kicked the extra point after all three touchdowns and the Wildcats held a 45-3 lead with one quarter left to play.
The game's final score was perhaps the most exciting of all. Already with a touchdown reception, Barber electrified the crowd when he returned a Tiger punt 85 yards for his second touchdown of the game. The senior from Ashburn, Georgia used his final FVSU homecoming appearance to log three receptions for 73 yards; three punt returns for 185 yards; and one kick return for 21 yards. For the game he was responsible for 279 all purpose yards.
In the Wildcats 52-3 win, senior Ricky Johnson led the defensive effort with a total of 12 tackles and one interception. Fellow senior Emanuel Williams finished with eight tackles, and two sacks.
Now at 2-6 overall and 2-3 in SIAC play, the Wildcats will play their final home game of the 2011 season next Saturday, October 29th at 6 p.m. when they host the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College in Wildcat Stadium. The game has been dubbed Senior Day and all FVSU senior players will be recognized prior to the start of the game.
For ticket information, visit www.wildcatticketoffice.com.
-Wildcats Athletics-
