By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
September 23, 2011
In last night's football game against the Tigers of Benedict College (1-2), the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) absolutely had to win for a couple of reasons. First, the 0-3 Wildcats were in jeopardy of becoming one of only a few teams in the history of FVSU Football to lose their first four games of the season. And second, another loss would be a barometer to measure just how stormy the rest of the season could be for the Wildcats. Fortunately, the 40-23 win over Benedict saved the Wildcats from a certain date with history and diverted them from the path of a looming storm which could have wreaked havoc on their season.
Along with the symbolic storms which confronted the Wildcats in Thursday night's match up in Columbia, SC, the night presented two practical challenges as well. First, there was a light, yet steady rain at Benedict's Charlie Johnson Stadium throughout most of the game. The second occurred with just over nine minutes left in the first quarter when the stadium lights went out in the middle of an FVSU drive and play was halted for at least 20 minutes.
Whether the challenges were symbolic or real, the Wildcats managed to overcame them all. After the lights were restored in the first quarter, FVSU continued its 12-play, 94-yard drive which was climaxed with a 4-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Travis Richmond. It was Richmond's first score as a Wildcat but it would not be his last of the game. With Justin Rosenbaum's the extra point, FVSU took a 7-0 lead. It was a lead they would never surrender.
With just over four minutes left in the first quarter Richmond scored again. This time the touchdown run came from 43-yards away. Rosenbaum connected again on the extra point as the FVSU lead climbed to 14-0.
The second quarter started with an exchange of field goals. The Tigers got their first score of the game on a 30-yard field goal by Andy Polanco with 14:09 left in the half. That was answered by Rosenbaum with a kick from 25 yards away with 9:34 left which pushed the Wildcat lead to 17-3.
The lead blossomed after the Wildcat defense forced a Tiger punt with 4:20 left before halftime. All-SIAC punt return specialist Demario Barber returned the punt 55 yards for a touchdown to expand the FVSU lead to 24-3. That was followed by a Wildcat drive of five plays, 47 yards which was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Winfred McAllister. The converted extra point gave the Wildcats a 31-3 lead at halftime.
The third quarter started with a sack of the Benedict quarterback by FVSU's Christopher Riddles in the end zone. The two-point safety pushed the Wildcat lead to 33-3. Later in the quarter, Wildcat defensive back Dominique Patterson intercepted a Tiger pass and returned it 75 yards for another FVSU touchdown. The ensuing extra point gave the Wildcats a 40-3 lead.
The Tigers scored a touchdown to end the third and got two more touchdowns in the game's final 15 minute period. While the late touchdowns by Benedict cut the FVSU margin, the 40-23 Wildcat win was akin to sunlight breaking through on a rainy day. With the threatening skies of one of the worst starts in FVSU history no longer on the horizon, the win now allows the Wildcats to build on its 1-3 record with the idea of making history instead of becoming a part of it.
For the game, FVSU finished with 351 yards of total offense. Of the team's 270 rushing yards, Richmond finished with game-high 134 yards on 15 carries. In addition to his two touchdowns, he averaged 8.9 yards per carry.
Senior linebacker Courtney Daniel led the Wildcat defense with a game-high nine tackles (8 solo, one assist). The Eatonton, Georgia native also had three tackles for losses of 11 yards, two quarterback sacks, and recovered one fumble.
The Wildcats are back in action on Saturday, October 1st when they host the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University at 6 p.m. in Wildcat Stadium on the FVSU campus. Through the support of the Army ROTC and the Georgia National Guard, the game is designated as “Military Appreciation Day” and will feature tributes to the men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For information regarding tickets for “Military Appreciation Day,” visit www.wildcatticketoffice.com or call the FVSU Cashier's Office at 478-825-6433.
-Wildcats Athletics-
