Box Score TUSKEGEE, AL (October 4, 2014) – Fort Valley State raced to a 7-0 first quarter lead Saturday evening over Tuskegee University in the rivalry football game at Cleve L. Abbott Stadium. The Wildcats scored another 7 in the second quarter for a 14-7 lead going to halftime and a late rally earn the Wildcats a 28-35 SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) loss in the 50th all-time meeting.
Fort Valley State overall record is now 3-2 and 2-1 in SIAC action and Tuskegee overall record to 3-2 and 2-0 in conference play. The Wildcats currently own the 25-23-2 series record over Tuskegee.
The Wildcats scored the first points of the game in the opening quarter. Quarterback
Malcolm Eady rushed two yards for the touchdown with six minutes and twenty five seconds remaining in the first quarter to give FVSU a 7-0 lead. FVSU used 9 plays for 75-yards in 4:16 in the scoring drive.
Juan Serna PAT kick was good.
After both teams stalled on the next ensuring drives, Tuskegee's Hoderick Lowe rushed for a 36-yard touchdown on first down to tie the game at 7-7 with 17 seconds left in the opening quarter. Trevor Wylie PAT kick was good. Tuskegee used 2 plays for 56-yards in 42 seconds in the scoring drive.
The Wildcats scored another 7 in the second quarter as defensive end
Niykiem Floyd sacked Tuskegee's quarterback Kevin Lacey for an 18-yard loss, Lacey fumble and Floyd recovered the ball at the FVSU's 40 and returned 60-yards for a touchdown with 35 second left in the half. Serna added the PAT kick to increase the lead to 14-7 at halftime.
Tuskegee turned the tide in the third quarter as Lowe returned Serna 54-yard kickoff from for an 89-yard touchdown. Wylie PAT kick was good for the 14-14 tie with 14:39 remaining in the third quarter.
On the next Wildcats drive, Tigers Jawell Ratliff picked-off Eady pass and returned it 42-yards for the touchdown. Wylie PAT kick was good to give the Tigers their first lead 21-14 with 13:11 left in the quarter.
FVSU's next drive went six plays and out, with the Tuskegee taking over at the 10:14 mark. Tuskegee answered with another touchdown by Lowe as he rushed 7-yards with 4:57 left. Wylie PAT kick was good as the Tigers' lead grew to 28-14.
FVSU scored first in the fourth quarter with 13:59 on the clock as quarterback
Otis Brown went up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown. Serna PAT kick was good as FVSU trimmed Tuskegee's lead to 28-21.
Serna next kickoff went 25-yards to TU's 40, but the Wildcats received a personal foul penalty, moving the ball to FVSU's 46 yard line. The Tigers' Tyree Brooks completed the Tuskegee scoring with a 4-yard run for touchdown. Wylie PAT kick was good to increase the lead to 35-21. The Tigers used 7 plays for 46-yards in 6:25 in their scoring drive.
The Wildcats started their final scoring drive with 10 minutes on the scoreboard. Brown completed a 32-yard pass to
Drelon Freeman for the touchdown. Serna PAT kick was good for a final score of 35-28. FVSU used two plays for 32-yards in 12 seconds in the scoring drive.
Brown was 5-of-14 with 85 passing yards and threw a touchdown pass for the Wildcats. He had one interception. Eady finished with 9-of-14 for 75 passing yards and two interceptions.
Brown led the Wildcats in rushing on 14 carries for 50-yards and recording a touchdown for FVSU. Eady added 12 rushes for 14-yards and one touchdown.
Tight end
Renard Williams caught five catches for 55-yards, while Freeman added two receptions for 35-yards and a touchdown.
Alexander Morgan had two catches for 20-yards.
Linebacker
LeRon Furr led the Wildcats' defense with 13 tackles (6 solo), including a half tackle-for-loss. Linebacker
Stefon Harper added 10 tackles (5 solo) with 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Defensive backs
Michael Lee and
Brian Walker each had 6 and 5 tackles, with Lee having one tackle-for-loss and one interception for 15-yards and Walker with the other interception and returned it for 22-yards.
Kevin Lacey completed 8-of-13 passes for 75-yards and had one interception for the Tigers, while Hoderick Lowe carried the ball 11 times for 55-yards and two touchdowns.
El'Malik Chinn ended the game with 13 tackles (7 solo) for Tuskegee, with one tackle-for-loss.
Tuskegee outgained FVSU 286-249 in total offensive yardage and out rushed the Wildcats 173-89. The Wildcats had 160 passing yards compared to Tuskegee's 113.
Tuskegee recorded 20 first-downs to FVSU's 11 and FVSU converted on 5-of-17 third downs to Tuskegee's 6-of-11 third down conversions.
Fort Valley State returns home next Saturday (October 11) to host Kentucky State University in another Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match-up. Kick-off from Wildcat Stadium is set for 2 p.m. KSU will be a part of Military Appreciation Day.
