By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
(Horace Holloman, Summer Intern)
With an 8-3 finish last season, Head Football Coach Donald Pittman and the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) are well aware of the tart taste that college football sometimes generates. For the Wildcats, their pallet for an appearance in post-season play last year was turned sour with losses to Albany State University and St. Augustine's College to close the season. Narrowly missing a play-off birth, the Wildcats endured an off-season pondering the eternal football question of what the year might have been like with a play-off appearance.
As the team now turns its attention to the 2011 season, the same sensation of making the play-offs has returned to the taste buds of the Wildcats. However, in order to satisfy their appetite for NCAA post-season play, they will have to overcome what is arguably one of the toughest schedules in NCAA Division II football. In addition to the more intense conference challenges brought on by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) adopting an East/West divisional format, the 2011 journey pits FVSU against the co-defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Champions Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Bethune-Cookman University (BCU). The schedule also features a match-up with regional opponent Delta State University of the Gulf South Conference. The Statesmen finished last season with a record of 11-4 and became the first unranked team in history to play for the NCAA Division II Championship.
The theme for the Wildcats in 2011 is “It's all about synergy!” In order for FVSU to savor the thrill of a conference title and post-season play this season, they will need the synergy between offense and defense that made them the nation's best defense in division II football and among the conference leaders in most offensive categories.
OFFENSE:
Offensively, the Wildcats finished second in the SIAC in scoring offense last year with 29.4 points per game and had the number three passing offense racking up 173.1 yards per game. While on a seven-game win streak last season, the Wildcats trounced opponents by an average of 25.4 points per game.
This season, leadership at the quarterback position appears to be in the hands of a pair of freshmen. 6'7, 215lbs Cameron Pearson and Jonte Davis (5'8, 107lbs) will contend for the starting role. Pearson, a Dallas, Texas native, played at Madison High School. Davis, from East Point, Georgia, was the signal caller for Tri-Cities High School.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback, he will have plenty of passing options. The duo of tight end Tony Davis and wide receiver Demario Barber will be the primary “go to” targets. Davis racked up 611 receiving yards and 55.5 yards per game ands was also selected 2010 First Team All-Conference. Barber finished with 328 yards and averaged 9.8 yards per catch for the season. He also finished eighth in the SIAC in receptions with 31 catches.
A solid running game should contribute to the synergy of the Wildcat offensive attack. Last season, the Wildcats averaged 128 rushing yards per game and tied for third in the SIAC with the most rushing touchdowns (21). The run-game will feature running back and Warner Robins native Brandon Anderson. Listed at 6'0, 215lbs, Anderson was sidelined with an injury last year and only played in three games. In those three games Anderson averaged 3.3 yards a carry. Also competing for a top position is Madison High School (Dallas, TX) graduate Eric Horsley.
Either on the ground or through the air, the success of FVSU's offense will hinge upon the performance of the offensive line. With the departure of First Team All-Conference right guard Trevon Williams, and team inspirational leader, center Bobby Young, the strength of the offensive line will rest on the shoulders of returners Trevor Shaw (Right Tackle) and Willie Brezial (Left Tackle).
DEFENSE:
The stifling defense of the Wildcats in 2010 earned them top honors in the nation. The Wildcats only gave up 3.7 yards per play and just 215 yards per game. Teams averaged just 76 yards per game rushing against FVSU and the defensive unit sacked opposing quarterbacks 35 times totaling over 259 yards lost; third best in the SIAC.
With the loss of defensive lineman Narada Williams, Jason Thompson, and Andrew Griffin to graduation, significant gaps will need to be filled to replace the trio's 10 sacks out of the team's total of 35 last year. This season, defensive end Emanuel Williams should fill some of that void. Williams was third on the team in sacks (4) and also compiled 27 solo tackles. Incoming freshman Jonathan Adams (6'4, 280lbs) should be an immediate “impact player” on the defensive line.
The linebacking core will miss the on-field contribution of Courtney Daniel who finished third on the team with 57 total tackles. However, Reginald Goodrum returns and will look to build on his 71 tackles, 15 tackles for losses, and two forced fumbles from last season.
The FVSU Wildcats will have a strong group of defensive backs as Ricky Johnson, Dejuan Williams, and Dominique Patterson will continue to wreak havoc against opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks. Johnson, a First Team All-Conference Selection in 2010 finished second in the SIAC with 85 total tackles. He earned SIAC Player of the Week honors for his effort against the Thorobreds of Kentucky State University last year when he finished the game with 12 tackles, two sacks and a pass play broken up.
Second Team All-Conference defensive back Dejuan Williams will return to the Wildcats lineup. Williams can play shut down defense as he tied for 6th in the SIAC with 10 passes broken up. Joining him in the secondary will be Second Team All-Conference and interception return specialist Dominique Patterson. Patterson had three interceptions last season and all three were returned for touchdowns. With a +13 turnover margin, second in the SIAC, the defense will create many problems for offensive coordinators.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Wildcats special teams features the best kicking duo in the SIAC in Justin Rosenbaum and Marquette King. Rosenbaum lead the SIAC with nine field goals made and went 9-17 on the season in field goal attempts. Rosenbaum is also the number one scoring kicker in the SIAC with 67 points. He converted a near perfect 40-41 extra point attempts. In addition to his accuracy Rosenbaum has a strong leg. He set the FVSU school record in 2010 for the longest field goal made (47 yards).
Marquette King is also a valuable asset on special teams. King finished fourth in the SIAC averaging 39.7 yards per punt on 54 punts totaling in 2144 yards. King also pinned opponents in their own red zone with 17 punts inside the 20 yard line and had only three touchbacks.
Barber also provides the Wildcats with a solid punt return game. Last season he finished first in the SIAC in punt returns with 393 yards and averaged 15.7 yards a return. Barber was also selected as a First Team All-Conference punt returner.
As the campaign for the 2011 SIAC Football Championship and NCAA post-season play gets underway, there's little question that the Wildcats of FVSU have the individual and unit talent to contend for each. The difference will be whether they have enough synergy to bring forth the unified, collective effort that is necessary to reach both goals.
-Wildcats Athletics-
