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Terrance Wolfolk

Wildcats Seek to Continue Success Over Panthers

10/4/2018 4:46:00 PM

By: Chris Myers
FORT VALLEY, Ga. – Returning to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action, the Wildcats are set to pounce. Fort Valley State seeks to continue its success against fellow SIAC East Division foe Clark Atlanta this Saturday on the gridiron.
 
Following two very opposite results last weekend, the Wildcats (1-4/1-1 SIAC East) entertain the Panthers (1-4/0-1 SIAC East) at Wildcat Stadium starting at 6 p.m. Saturday evening where it will also be Military Appreciation Day on campus.
 
While Clark Atlanta was recording its first win of the year hosting Allen University (31-6), FVSU had a tough start weather-wise and it carried over to the field. The Fort Valley State-Virginia Lynchburg contest was delayed for over 90 minutes due to lightning in the area and the Wildcats saw their first home win of 2018 delayed in a 31-14 loss to the Dragons.
 
Clear Bag Policy
While not mandated again this weekend, FVSU will continue to promote a Clear Bag Policy for its events to help with safety and security efforts for all Wildcats and visiting team fans and alumni.
Full Announcement
 
Keep Series Success Going
Over the past seven meetings in the series, FVSU has controlled the outcome in its favor. The Wildcats have prevailed the past six years, including a 41-24 decision in Atlanta a year ago. In fact, FVSU has outscored Clark Atlanta, 181-134, in the seven contests.
 
The Panthers have made their last two trips to Wildcat Stadium a one-score final. CAU took FVSU to three overtimes in the 2016 meeting with the Wildcats coming out with a 37-31 win. In 2014, Fort Valley State edged out a 19-18 win on its home field.
 
Clark Atlanta's last win in the SIAC East series came on Sept. 17 of 2011. The Panthers pulled out a 16-11 final, before the Wildcats have ran off wins in the last six matchups.
 
Wildcats Score 4 Times in Final 23 Minutes
Last Oct. 7 in Atlanta, FVSU broke open a seven-point game with two third-quarter touchdowns. Lorenzo Smothers returned a punt 86 yards with 8:34 in the frame and Slade Jarman completed a 12-yard TD pass to help the Wildcats open a 31-10 lead.
 
Clark Atlanta battled back to make it a 31-24 contest, before Juan Serna's 22-yard field goal with 1:52 left sealed the FVSU win. Nicco Whigham added a 40-yard interception return for a final touchdown at 52 seconds left to play.
 
Important SIAC East Game for Both Sides
After a week away from conference action, the CAU-FVSU game will go a long way in either keeping the winning team on Saturday night in the SIAC East title hunt, while the losing team will have a tough road to stay in the chase. FVSU enters 1-1 with a win at Miles (21-20) and a close 28-20 loss at Benedict and Clark Atlanta lost its lone league game, 24-17, to Tuskegee.
 
Benedict College and Albany State are tied atop the standings at 2-0, while Morehouse is 1-0.
 
Clark and Jordan Coming Together
Fort Valley State took until week 3 to get its running game on track. The Wildcats have averaged 112.7 yards per game rushing the last three weeks. The running backs starting to carry the load are Jamari Clark and Willie Jordan. The two backs combined for 97 yards on 22 carries for a 4.4-yard average.
On the season, the Wildcat pair have covered 227 yards on 67 attempts.
 
Wildcats Front Trio Racking Up Stops for Loss
With 17.5 tackles for loss between them, the FVSU defensive front trio of Voris Bryant, Jahseari Patterson and Niykiem Floyd are starting to rack up stops for loss. Both Bryant and Patterson check in with 6.0 apiece, while Floyd has 5.5. The three Wildcats also have 9.0 sacks to their credit.
Last Saturday, the FVSU held Virginia Lynchburg to only 217 yards of total offense. Floyd paced the defense with 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack.

Panthers Possess Balanced Attack
With an average of 257.8 yards per night, Clark Atlanta takes a balanced offensive attack into the weekend. The Panthers average 110.4 yards on the ground led by back Roger Thomas' 310 yards on 75 carries. CAU also throws for 147.4 yards with quarterback Charles Stafford having completed 65 of 132 attempts for 647 yards and four scores, but seven interceptions. Johnathan Sanders is the favorite target with 27 grabs for 255 yards.

Third Home Date of Four Awaits
In its homestand, FVSU will make it three games in a row at Wildcat Stadium when rival Tuskegee comes to town on Saturday night, Oct. 13, for a 6 p.m. contest.
 
 
-Wildcats-
 
 
 
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