Terrance Wolfolk

Wildcats Set to Battle No. 22 Golden Rams in 31st Annual Fountain City Classic

11/4/2021 3:27:00 PM

By: Chris Myers

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The 76^th version of the Blue-and-Gold Rivalry will be renewed Saturday afternoon. Fort Valley State is set to battle rival No. 22 Albany State in the 31^st Annual Fountain City Classic.
      The task can't get any bigger for the Wildcats as they aim to be a big stumbling block for the Golden Rams and their six-game win streak. The city of Columbus, Ga., and it's A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium Stadium in a 2 p.m. kick-off.
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No. 22 Albany State vs. FVSU
Sat., Nov. 6, 2 p.m.
Columbus, Ga.
A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium
Watch Live on ESPN+
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SIAC East Rivalry Head into Weekend off Opposite Results
     The two rivals go into the final weekend of the regular season off two opposite results.
      FVSU comes off a tough afternoon where it fell behind early and could not capture the lead the rest of the day in a 24-6 loss to Savannah State. No. 22 Albany State scored the game-winning points with just under 10 minutes left in a close 14-10 win over Morehouse College.

Series Tied After 75 Meetings
     For the 76th time, FVSU and Albany State meet on the gridiron. After the Wildcats held a solid advantage in the series, the Golden Rams have tied the series, 36-36-3, by winning the last three contests and eight of the last 10. FVSU's last victory came in the 2016 season via a 21-17 final.
      Last 10 Scores:
      2019 – ASU 42, FVSU 6
      2018 – ASU 40, FVSU 6
      2017 – ASU 34, FVSU 9
      2016 – FVSU 21, ASU 17
      2015 – ASU 21, FVSU 17
      2014 – ASU 32, FVSU 21
      2013 – ASU 19, FVSU 10
      2012 – FVSU 38, ASU 20
      2011 – ASU 38, FVSU 29
      2010 – ASU 12, FVSU 7

Golden Rams Special Teams Lead Big 2^nd Half in 2019
     A close rivalry at the halftime quickly turned against the Wildcats in the early moments of the second 30 minutes. Albany State blocked a second punt for a touchdown and added two more scores in the opening 7:23 of the third quarter to take control and eventual 42-6 victory over Fort Valley State in the 30^th Annual Fountain City Classic.
      The Wildcats' Marlon Fleming plunged into the end zone from a yard out with 22 seconds left in the first half to pull within 7-6. The FVSU momentum heading into the intermission did not continue into the third quarter.
      The Golden Rams' Malachi Brown blocked his second Wildcats punt after FVSU fell a yard short of the first down sticks and his teammate recovered in the end zone for the touchdown. On FVSU's third play on the ensuing possession, ASU forced a fumble and scored on its first offensive play and the FVSU nightmare third quarter was on. Albany State added two more touchdowns on its next two times with the ball for a 35-6 margin, which FVSU could not recover.

Wildcats Fall Behind Early, Comeback Falls Short vs. Tigers
     Savannah State found pay dirt on the football game's opening drive and held off Fort Valley State, 24-6, in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
     In an nine-minute opening drive, the visiting Tigers (7-2/5-1 SIAC East) methodically worked their way down the field until quarterback D'Vonn Gibbons dove into the end zone from three yards out for the 7-0 lead to cap a 13-play, 72-yard drive. Late in the second frame, Savannah State picked off passes in back-to-back FVSU (5-4/3-2 SIAC East) possessions and converted both into scores of one-yard and five yards on a combined four plays for a 21-0 margin the home team would not be able to recover.
     Despite being outscored by 18 points, FVSU was narrowly outgained, 211-190, in a more defensive contest. The two SIAC foes combined for only 103 yards passing with the defenses posting seven sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
     Running back Emanuel Wilson was the game's lone star. The SIAC top rusher ran for 130 yards on only 17 carries for a 7.6-yard per carry average with his 15-yard scoring run. It was Wilson's third outing of 130-plus yards in six games.
     The senior defensive end Wildcat tandem of Antonio Golden and Jahseari Patterson combined for 19 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and four quarterback hurries. The SIAC tackles for loss leader, Golden, recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks of his 11 stops. Patterson had his season-high of eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a half sack. Tyler Moore, who also forced a fumble, and Michael Hicks Jr. added seven and six tackles.
     After being stopped on the visitor 49-yardline to open the second half, FVSU took advantage of its short punt hitting a Savannah State player and gained possession back on the SSU 27-yardline. Wilson took care of all 27 yards with a 12-yard first carry and never stopped churning his legs for the final 15 yards into the end zone to cut the deficit to 21-6 at 10:40 in the third quarter.
     The Wildcats, though, were unable to make another appearance in Tigers territory for the final 28 minutes to get any closer. Freshman Tim Alderman posted his best game of the season with five tackles, four of them for loss and a pair of sacks. Antonio Golden, Noah Waller and Zaquan Baldwin completed the sack recorders.

Albany State Scores Game-Winner in 4^th in Tight Contest at Morehouse
     Albany State was able to hold on in the late moments in a 14-10 win at Morehouse College last weekend.
      The Golden Rams went ahead on a Marcuis Fulks 5-yd TD run, 14-7, with 9:53 left in the game. Following a 33-yd field goal to cut it to 14-10 at 3:53, the Maroon Tigers intercepted the Golden Rams on the ensuing possession. Morehouse drove to the ASU 21-yard line, but its 4^th-and-5 pass fell incomplete to end the game.

FVSU vs. ASU, Rates Among SIAC Best
FVSU vs. ASU          FVSU                     ASU
Scoring Offense       5th (25.0 ppg)         4^th (25.2 ppg)
Scoring Defense      6^th (21.2 ppg)          1st (5.2 ppg)
Total Offense            8^th (331.3 yds/gm) 7^th (346.0 yds/gm)
Total Defense           4^th (304.74 yds/gm) 1st (202.1 yds/gm)
Rush Offense           10^th (120.2 yds/gm) 5th (159.9 yds/gm)
Rush Defense          2nd (100.2 yds/gm)    1st (93.2 yds/gm)
Pass Offense            4^th (211.1 yds/gm)    6^th (186.1 yds/gm)
Pass Defense           9^th (204.4 yds/gm)    1^st (108.9 yds/gm)

With 9 games played, FVSU rates among best in the SIAC in various stat categories:
     Offense:
1^st – Rushing - Emanuel Wilson (121.2 – 6 gms*)
1^st – Scoring – Emanuel Wilson (7.3 ppg)
2^nd – Passing – Tyrell Jackson (203.0 yds/gm)
3rd – All-Purpose – Emanuel Wilson (133.0 yds/gm)
3^rd – Total Offense – Tyrell Jackson (192.2 yds/gm)
Defense:
      1^st – Tackles for Loss – Antonio Golden (17.5/1.94 per gm)
      1st – Sacks – Antonio Golden (8.0/0.89/gm)
      3^rd – Sacks – Zaquan Baldwin (0.72/gm

-Wildcats-

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Wildcats Set to Battle No. 22 Golden Rams in 31st Annual Fountain City Classic