By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
It was suppose to be the game in which the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) finally got things on track this season. Instead, it turned out to be a game which tossed the success of the 2011 Wildcat football campaign into serious doubt.
The 16-11 loss to the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University on Saturday night (September 17th) left the Wildcats winless in three tries this season. And after previous losses to two non-conference opponents, the loss on Saturday was the first to a conference team.
Mid-way through the first quarter, the Wildcats got the game's first score when a six play, 32 yard drive ended when quarterback Winfred McAllister scored on a two-yard run. Although the extra point attempt was blocked, the Wildcats led 6-0.
That lead would hold until the second quarter. Near the 10 minute mark CAU's Kiece Crite intercepted a McAllister pass and returned it to the one yard line. One play later, quarterback T.J. Smith scored on a run play. With the converted extra point, the Panthers took their first lead of the game, 7-6.
The Panthers added to that lead with a little over two minutes remaining before halftime. After mounting a 10-play, 53 yard drive, freshman running back Rashad Lewis scored on a four-yard run. After an attempt at the two point conversion failed, the Panther lead was 13-6.
The ensuing kick resulted in a Wildcat 4-play, 5 yard drive which stalled at the Panther 47 yard line. For most teams that would be a problem. For the Wildcats, with place-kicker Justin Rosenbaum, it was no problem at all! The FVSU record holder for the longest field broke his previous record of 48 yards with a 57 yard field goal to cut the Panther lead to 13-9.
The Panthers answered the record-setting field goal by Rosenbaum in the third quarter when Jordan Wilson capped a CAU 7-play, 41 yard drive with a 42 yard field goal which extended the Panther lead to 16-9.
Although a Wildcat safety in the fourth quarter cut the Panther lead to 16-11 that would be as close as FVSU would get. The five point margin gave the CAU its second win of the season and left Wildcat fans that traveled to Atlanta wondering when the elusive first win of the season would come for FVSU.
While all games come down to the final score, the Wildcats outpaced the Panthers in most statistical categories. FVSU had 303 yards of total offense compared to 167 yards for CAU. The Wildcats generated 132 yard on the run and 172 yard passing. CAU finished with 53 yards rushing and 114 yards passing.
In addition to Rosenbaum's record setting field goal, FVSU punter Marquette King also entered the Wildcats record book with a 76-yard punt.
The Wildcats are back in action on Thursday night September 22nd at 6 p.m. when they travel to Columbia, South Carolina to meet the Tigers of Benedict College.
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Live coverage of Thursday's game can be heard on the Wildcats Sports Network (on radio in Fort Valley on WFVS 104.3FM or via the internet at www.fvsu.edu). The game will also be televised on the CSS network.
-Wildcats Athletic-
