THE MATCH UP: The Fort Valley State University Wildcats (1-3) will take on the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University (0-3) in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest.
THE LOGISTICS: Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium on the campus of Fort Valley State University. The game is designated as “Military Appreciation Day” and will feature tributes to the men and women who make up the Armed Services of the United States of America.
ON THE AIR: FVSU will air the game live via the Wildcats Sports Network:
On Radio (WFVS 104.3 FM in Fort Valley)
On Television (In Fort Valley, Com South Channel 10; Com South Channel 100 for the rest of the Com South coverage area)
Internet ( FVSU website at www.fvsu.edu.)
Award winning play-by-play announcer Charles Ward and color analyst Mark Lassiter will provide the live coverage along with sideline reports by Phil Walker.
LAST TIME OUT:
FVSU 40, Benedict College 23
Wildcats beat Benedict for first win of the season
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.
Tuskegee University 9, Stillman College 13
WHAT'S AT STATE: This game pits two members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in a conference contest.
· After securing their first win of the season last week, a win by the Wildcats would tightens things considerably in the East Region of the SIAC. Currently fourth in the division, the Wildcats could make a significant jump in the standings with a victory.
· For one of the few times in the history of the Golden Tigers Football, the program finds itself winless after three games. A win would snap a historic lull for Tuskegee.
THE SERIES HISTORY: The series between FVSU and Tuskegee University dates back to 1952. This is the 47th meeting between the teams and Tuskegee leads the series 24-20-2.
LAST MEETING:
Wildcats "MUFLY" with 26-0 Blowout of Tuskegee
By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
As the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) prepared to host the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University on Saturday, the only blemish to the crystal clear evening in Fort Valley, Ga. was the heavy scent of revenge in the air. After all, six years had elapsed since the Wildcats had beaten Tuskegee and a quick survey of history showed that FVSU had won against the Golden Tigers just three times over the last 16 years.
All of that changed on Saturday night!
With the game designated as “Blue Out Day,” the FVSU coaching staff thought the idea of all Wildcat supporters wearing blue at the game would inspire the team. In search of even more momentum, almost two weeks earlier the team went a step further with the printing and distribution to its fan base of blue t-shirts with the acronym “MUFLY” stenciled on the front. The acronym stood for “Make Up for Last Year” and was a bold statement that the Wildcats intended to avenge last year's 22-15 loss to Tuskegee.
Both efforts to inspire the team appear to have worked. With the 26-0 shellacking of Tuskegee, the Wildcats made up for last year's loss and sent the Golden Tigers back to Tuskegee with a serious case of the blues.
The game's opening kick off set the tone for what Tuskegee's night would be like offensively. The Wildcat defense held the Golden Tigers to the three play minimum and a punt. And after the FVSU offense took over, they showed the Tuskegee defense what was ahead for them on the evening.
Starting their initial drive with 13:16 remaining in the first quarter, FVSU mounted a 14 play, 63 yard drive which consumed 6:43 of game clock. The drive ended when junior running back scored on a four yard run to give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead (the extra point attempt failed).
As it turns out, six points is all the Wildcats would need to defeat Tuskegee. However, with almost 54 minutes of football left, there would be more Wildcat scoring. And the second FVSU score came at the beginning of the second quarter.
After an 11 play, 43 yard Wildcat drive stalled, Marquette King punted to Tuskegee. The lofty, 45 yard punt gave FVSU's Ricky Johnson plenty of time to get down field for punt coverage. As Tuskegee's Christian Newsome bobbled the punt, Johnson applied the hit to force the ball loose and Johnson recovered the fumble at the Golden Tiger 12 yard line.
Three plays later, FVSU extended its lead to 12-0 after Aaron Courtney scored on a one yard touchdown run.
With over 12 minutes left in the quarter, Tuskegee would touch the ball on offense just twice before halftime. After the Wildcat touchdown, the Golden Tigers went on offense with 12:46 remaining. Less than two minutes later, they were forced to punt the football back to the Wildcats.
FVSU took over on offense with 11:02 before halftime. 17 plays and 90 yards later, the Wildcat offense had taken another 9:31 off the clock and built its lead to 19-0 after quarterback Eugene Smith threw an 18 yard touchdown pass to Demario Barber (Justin Rosenbaum converted the extra point).
With a 19 point lead just before halftime, the Wildcat defense preserved the shutout when they stopped Tuskegee on four plays from the FVSU 15 yard line. The FVSU defensive stand brought nearly all of the 8,769 fans to their feet in delight and appreciation.
In a second half that looked much like the first, the Wildcat defense shut down Tuskegee. For the game, FVSU held the Golden Tigers to just 92 yards in total offense. The Wildcat defense allowed only 33 rushing yards and 59 yards in passing.
In addition to the tenacious play of the Wildcat defense, the FVSU offense also played a part in the dismal play of Tuskegee. The Wildcat offense dominated time of possession by controlling the ball for 41:46 of the 60 minute game.
In fact, that time of possession dominance was evidenced in the game's last possession. FVSU started the last drive of the contest with 8:56 remaining. They held the ball on a drive that lasted for 8:35. The 13 play, 92 yard drive produced the Wildcat's final margin of victory (26-0) when Tony Reid scored on a one yard run and Justin Rosenbaum added the extra point.
The Wildcat offense produced a total of 382 yards for the game. Of the186 yards in rushing, juniors Aaron Courtney and Tony Reid ran for 71 yards each.
Quarterback Eugene Smith completed 75% of his passes with a 21 of 28 performance. He threw for a total of 196 yards and connected with eight different receivers for completions. Demario Barber and Tony Davis led all receivers with multiple catches with five receptions each. Tony Reid had four catches while Ricardo Lockette finished with three.
Defensively, Courtney Daniel and Ricky Johnson led the Wildcats in tackles. Both finished with seven tackles. Daniel had one sack while Johnson forced the fumble and had the recovery leading to the first half touchdown.
THE COACHING MATCH -UP: Fort Valley State University Head Coach Donald Pittman is in his third season at FVSU. The Wildcats are 16-10 under Pittman and last year's team represented the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in the Pioneer Bowl.
Tuskegee University Head Coach Willie Slater is in his sixth season. His has led the Golden Tigers to four SIAC Championships (2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009). Slater has been named SIAC Coach of the Year three times (2007, 2008, and 2009). His undefeated 2007 squad was crowned HBCU National Champions.
FVSU FOOTBALL TRIVIA: While FVSU Punter Marquette King's punt of 76 yards against Clark Atlanta University on September 17th of this season was his personal best, it was three yards shy of the FVSU record for the longest punt. David Monds still holds the FVSU record with his 79 yard punt against Alabama State University in 1985.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WILDCATS?: Interviews with the Head Football Coach Donald Pittman and key players can be arranged through the Office of Sports Information by calling (478) 825-6437.
For the latest on Fort Valley State University Athletics visit the website at http://www.fvsusports.com. or contact the FVSU Office of Sports Information at (478)-825-6437 or by e-mail at wardc@fvsu.edu.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Wildcats will travel to Frankfort, KY to meet the Thorobreds of Kentucky State University at 1:30 p.m. in Alumni Stadium.
The Golden Tigers are on the road as well when they travel to Columbus, Georgia for the 76th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic. Kick-off for one of the longest running classics in college football is 1 p.m. in McClung Memorial Stadium.
GAME TICKET INFORMATION: For ticket information for FVSU Football, please visit www.wildcatticketoffice.com. or call the FVSU Cashier's Office at 478-825-6433.
