Wildcats Kick-Off 2022 Against Golden Tigers in 2nd Red Tails Classic

8/31/2022 10:53:00 PM

By: Chris Myers

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The beginning of a new season and new era starts Sunday night on a national stage. In the second Red Tails Classic, Fort Valley State kicks-off its 2022 football campaign and begins the new head coach Shawn Gibbs era against Tuskegee University.

As was the inaugural contest, FVSU and Tuskegee will battle on the Cramton Bowl field in Montgomery, Ala. The kick-off is set for 6 p.m. CST/7 p.m. EST and will be again televised nationally on ESPNU.

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Wildcats Runaway Golden Tigers in 2021 Red Tails Classic
     The Wildcats defense made its presence felt early and set the tone with a goal line stand on its first defense on the night. Fort Valley State used a stifling defense and coming-together offense as the night went along and posted a 30-0 shutout of Tuskegee University in the Inaugural Red Tails Classic Sunday night.
      Following an opening FVSU turnover on the fourth play of the game, the Blue and Gold defense manned up for the first time of what would be many on the evening. After the Golden Tigers drove 35 yards to the goal line, the Wildcats duo of Tyler Moore and Deon Andrews wrestled the ball carrier to the ground shy of the endzone.
      The two rivals stayed in a defensive battle until Moore recovered a Tuskegee fumble three minutes into the second frame of the scoreless contest. Eight plays later, Andre Labat connected on the first of three field goals coming from 42 yards for a 3-0 FVSU lead. The graduate kicker added a second field goal to make it 6-0 at half.
      The Wildcats defense, though, dominated out of the half. Andrews scooped up a Golden Tigers quarterback fumble on the first possession of the third frame. Tyrell Jackson found Jhi'Marre Brown from six yards only six plays later for the night's first touchdown.
      Zaquan Baldwin hit the Tuskegee quarterback and Jaylen Brown grabbed the fumble on the next possession. Six plays again was the magic number when Jackson lofted a scoring pass to the right corner for Shemar Bridges and a 20-0 advantage.
      The trio of Tuskegee turnovers was capped when Moore blitzed off the left corner to jar free the ball into the waiting hands of Zach Anderson, who raced straight up the field 60 yards for the third FVSU score in 12 minutes of the third frame and 27-0 dominating lead.
    Labat added a 19-yard chip shot third field goal with 3:19 remaining for the 30-0 final score.
      The FVSU stifling defense allowed only 103 yards of total offense. In fact, Tuskegee had negative rushing yards until its final possession and ended with four total. The Wildcats registered seven sacks coving 47 yards, 12 tackles for loss 58 yards, forced four fumbles, recovered four fumbles and picked off one pass.
      On the defensive line, Antonio Golden and Jahseari Patterson combed for 13 tackles, four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Matt Bush downed five ball carriers from his middle linebacker spot. Moore paced the FVSU secondary with seven stops to go with his sack and strip and combined tackle with Andrews on the opening goal line stop. Christian Maddox snatched the lone FVSU interception.

FVSU Looks for Another Victory in Series vs. Tuskegee
     The two Sunday opponents maybe Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference members, but the foes meet for the second year in a row after a three-year hiatus of the series this Labor Day Weekend.
   Despite only being 126 miles between the two campuses, Tuskegee and Fort Valley State have not been regular opponents on the gridiron.
   Sunday will mark the second contest since Nov. 13, 2018 when the two take the Cramton Bowl gridiron. In that contest, FVSU opened an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter only to see Tuskegee score the next 17 points - a second-frame touchdown and 10 more points in the third quarter. FVSU added a second field goal in the last third, but it pulled no closer in the 17-6 final.
   Overall, Tuskegee holds a 17-7 lead in series history. The Golden Tigers have claimed the eight of the last nine matchups, including a tight 13-6 win the 2017 SIAC title contest.
   FVSU's last two series victories came in shutout fashion. The Wildcats posted a 26-0 victory on Oct. 16, 2010, in Wildcat Stadium. In last year's Red Tails Classic, FVSU stymied Tuskegee for another shutout, 30-0.

Wildcats Picked 5^th in East of SIAC Presason Poll, Land 7 All-Conference Players
            After With FVSU rated fifth, defending SIAC and East Division champion Albany State was selected to repeat in the East. Benedict College, Savannah State and Morehouse round out the four teams ahead of FVSU, while Edward Waters, Clark Atlanta and Allen sit sixth through eighth. In the West Division, Miles College leads the five teams followed by Lane College, Tuskegee, Kentucky State and Central State.

Gibbs will have seven All-SIAC Preseason players to lead his first club with four on the First Team of offensive linemen Emanuel Boone and Waylin Bell, running back Emanuel Wilson and defensive back Tyler Moore. The Wildcats have the defensive tandem of lineman Tim Alderman and defensive back Christian Maddox are Second Team honorees along with punt returner Hakeem Ellington.

Wildcats Seek Third Opening Win in Row
     Before the opening win for the '2020' season back on March 27 at Shorter University, the FVSU football team had a tough streak starting campaigns. The Wildcats made it a winning streak with the 30-0 shutout of Tuskegee in the 2021 Red Tails Classic.
      Prior to the past two opening victories, the Wildcats last season-opening victory came nine years back on Sept. 1, 2012, in a 31-23 win at Delta State.

Boone Leads Way for FVSU Offense
          Two-time All-SIAC First Team center Boone will anchor the FVSU offensive line again in his senior season. He will team with Bell, a 2021 Second Team selection, and two other returning linemen in Taj Faust and Aundre Turner to be the foundation of the attack.
The veteran line will block for the SIAC's top running back of 2021, Wilson. The redshirt junior rumbled for 119.3 yards per game, 835 yards on 147 attempts, in seven games at a 5.7-yard per carry clip and seven touchdowns. He rushed for over a 100-yards in five of those games – 27 rushes for 164 yards vs. Central State, 23 att. for 161 yards vs. Clark Atlanta, 17 att. for 130 yards vs. Savannah State, 27 carries for 122 yards vs. Benedict and finished the season as the lone 100-yard rusher of the regular season against Albany State with 108 yards on 26 rushes.
            Backup running back Kentrelle Williams, who ran for 214 yards on 57 attempts, and a group of wide receivers will round out the FVSU offensive skill positions players with redshirt sophomore quarterback Kelvin Durham heading to camp with the starting edge over a group of others.
            "We have high expectations for everyone, but we have to come together as a cohesive until and play efficient," explained Gibbs. "I am excited about it as we are going to focus on individual growth."

Moore, Maddox and Alderman Pace the Wildcats Defense
            Returning All-SIAC Second Team, Moore, and Maddox will be joined by senior Deon Andrews as the basis for the defensive secondary. Moore led the Wildcats with 57 tackles (5.7 per game) a year ago to go with 7.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, five breakups, a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and three blocked kicks. Moore earned SIAC Defensive Player of the Week with his opening week performance versus Tuskegee and added SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week with a season-high 11 tackles and the key blocked punt at Allen University.
Maddox registered 26 tackles to go with three interceptions and six pass breakups in his first Wildcats season. Andrews added 21 stops, two pickoffs and four breakups.
True sophomore Alderman will be counted upon to become a bigger presence in his second year. He will be joined by sophomore Kamron Rutledge, junior Caleb Thomas and Lenoir-Rhyne transfer Solomon Riggins. Alderman produced 28 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks and five quarterback hurries last fall. Rutledge had 16 tackles and six tackles for loss, while Thomas contributed 22 tackles and a sack. Riggins finished with two tackles for loss and a sack at Lenoir-Rhyne.
            "I expect to play good defense. We have decent speed and I plan on building on the unit into the fall," said Gibbs of his defense.

Wildcats vs. Thorobreds Battle in HBCU Scenic City Classic
            The Wildcats are scheduled to play their second of four Classic contests in Week 2. FVSU will take on Kentucky State in the HBCU Scenic City Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. The kick time is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11.

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Wildcats Kick-Off 2022 Against Golden Tigers in 2nd Red Tails Classic