Wildcats Aim to Continue Strong Start, Battle Yellow Jackets Saturday

9/14/2022 2:57:00 PM

By: Chris Myers

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats return to a national audience Saturday afternoon. Fort Valley State aims to continue its strong start when Allen University comes to Wildcat Stadium.

The Wildcats and Yellow Jackets both come off solid performances from a week ago and prepare for their second meeting of the series renewal in front of a ESPN+ audience in the 2 p.m. kick-off.
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Allen University at FVSU
Sat., Sept. 17, 2 p.m., Wildcat Stadium
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FVSU Stats
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FVSU vs. Allen – 10^th Meeting; 2^nd Year in Series Renewal
     It was 60 years in the making, but the FVSU and Allen football series was renewed last September 25^th. The Wildcats put 30 points on the scoreboard over the final 21:44 of the game on their way to their series win, 56-20, last fall over the Yellow Jackets.
     Overall, Allen continues to hold the series lead 6-1-2 with all but last year's meeting coming between 1954-61.
1954 – Allen 20, FVSU 14
1955 – Allen 12, FVSU 0
1956 – Allen 6, FVSU 6
1957 – Allen 7, FVSU 0
1958 – Allen 7, FVSU 6
1959 – Allen 6, FVSU 6
1960 – Allen 30, FVSU 0
1961 – Allen 19, FVSU 9
2021 – FVSU 56, Allen 20

Wildcats Seek First 3-0 Start in 18 Years
     After claiming a hard-fought win last Saturday over Kentucky State, FVSU now can set its sights on recording its third win in as many games for the first time in 18 years.
     The Wildcats started the 2004 campaign at 3-0 after victories over Morehouse College (57-12), Winston-Salem State (21-19) and Lane College (30-8). In fact, FVSU went on to begin that season 6-0. It was the second year in a row for the program to begin with a 3-0 record after having accomplished it the previous fall as well.

FVSU Looks for First 2-0 Home Start Since 2015
     Following the home-opening victory a week ago, FVSU can equal its best home game start in seven seasons. This weekend the Wildcats seek their first 2-0 home schedule start since 2015 – win over Lane (50-38) on 9/12/15 and two weeks later a win over Benedict College (33-3) on 9/26/15.
     FVSU finished 2021 at 2-2 for its home schedule.
     The Wildcats also can improve upon its 3-1 mark playing upon the still new Wildcat Stadium field turf playing surface.

Wildcats Jump to No. 6 in HBCU D2 Coaches Poll
          With its strong start, FVSU is starting to make it way up the HBCU D2 Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW. The Wildcats moved up four spots, the biggest jump by any team, to No. 6 after being at No. 10 following Week 1.

2022 HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
Week 2
(Records through September 12, 2022)

No.     Team                                       W-L     Pts.      Last Week
1.         Virginia Union (13)                 2-0       179      4
2.         Albany State (3)                      1-1       146      2
3.         Bowie State (3)                       1-1       139      1
4.         Benedict                                  2-0       136      6
5.         Fayetteville State                    1-1       110      3
6.         Fort Valley State                     2-0       99        10
7.         West Virginia State                 1-1       64        5
8.         Savannah State                       1-1       50        NR
9.         Virginia State                          1-1       40        NR
10.       Lane                                        0-2       18        9

Others receiving votes: Miles (0-2) 17, Morehouse (0-2) 14, Central State (1-1) 12, Lincoln (Pa.) (1-1) 10, Shaw (0-2) 9, Allen (0-1) 7, Kentucky State (0-2) 4, Clark Atlanta (1-1) 4, Chowan (0-2) 3, Livingstone (1-1) 3, Bluefield State (1-1) 2, Winston-Salem State (0-2) 1.

(1st place votes in parentheses)

Wilson & Wildcat Defense Amidst NCAA D2 Leaders
FVSU running back Emanuel Wilson and the Wildcat defensive unit are among the NCAA Division II leaders after two weeks of the season. Wilson rates 5th in both Rush Yards (335) and Rush Yards per Game (167.5 yds/gm). The FVSU defense also ranks 5th in Scoring Defense at 6.5 points per game, while 11th in Total Defense (189.5 yards per game).

Wildcats Pull Away from Yellow Jackets in Last Meeting
     In the renewing of the series after 60 years last fall, FVSU pulled away with 30 unanswered points in the final 21:44 of the game for the 56-20 win over Allen last Sept. 25^th in Blythewood, S.C.
     Leading 26-20 midway through the third quarter, Tyler Moore blocked the Allen punt at the home 3-yardline and FVSU scooped it up in the endzone for the touchdown to start the FVSU second-half roll.
      On the ensuing possession's first play, Zaquan Baldwin ran down the Yellow Jackets quarterback for the sack and fumble, which teammate Stacy Ivey recovered at the home 30-yardline. FVSU quarterback Tyrell Jackson connected with Kevin Epps down the right sideline for 29 yards on the first play and Emmanuel Wilson plunged in for the final yard and the Wildcats quickly were on top 41-20 with 5:44 left in the third frame.
     FVSU added two more scores in the first 4:19 of fourth quarter to put the contest out of reach, 56-20, with a Jackson to Pimienta 30-yard pass and Marlon Fleming rush for two yards.
     FVSU totaled 483 yards of total offense for its highest output of the four 2021 contests.
Farmer & Williams Receive SIAC Weekly Honors
     For the second week in a row, the Wildcats performances were recognized by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. FVSU defensive end Adeon Farmer and kicker/punter Rodney Williams, Jr., received SIAC Newcomer Player and Special Teams Player of the Week award.
      In what turned out to be a low-scoring affair, FVSU (2-0) posted a 9-7 home victory over Kentucky State last Saturday afternoon. The two Wildcats, Farmer and Williams, played key roles in the victory.
     On defense, Farmer, a freshman from Lake City, Fla., led FVSU with 10 tackles and one for a loss. The defensive end and the Wildcat defense improved upon their first week performance of 209 total offensive yards allowed and permitted the Thorobreds to 170 yards on 47 plays and only one score for the second win in a row.
      For Special Teams, Williams came through when it counted most. After missing a first-half field goal attempt, the Covington, Ga., product connected on what would be the game-deciding points on a 28-yard kick to give the home team a 9-0 lead with 11:32 remaining in the third quarter. He also added a 37.3-yard average on three punts and 59.7 yards on three kick-offs for the day.

Wildcats Defense Holds, Prevails over Thorobreds
     The Wildcats did what they had to do for victory last Saturday afternoon. Fort Valley State's defense showed up and held the Kentucky State attack in check and prevailed with a 9-7 gridiron win.
     On 4^th-and-15 from their own 42-yardline, the Thorobreds QB Jonathan Jerry scrambled out of the pocket into open field only to have the Wildcats' Tim Alderman hunt him down three yards short to turn over the ball with 1:35 left. FVSU took three knees and sealed the tight win.
     The Blue & Gold defense improved upon its 209 yards allowed last weekend with only 170 given up Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats defenders held the Thorobreds triple option to 124 yards on 40 carries for only 3.1 yards per rush, while they gave up only 46 yards through the air.
    Following a scoreless first quarter, FVSU continued what would be over a nine-minute scoring drive into the second frame. On 4^th-and-goal, quarterback Kelvin Durham slipped into the endzone behind center Emanuel Boone for the touchdown at 9:58 left in the half.
      The FVSU recorded a key goal line stand to end the first half. After a 23-yard pass took the ball to the home 8-yardline, KSU only moved the ball five yards to set up 4^th down with five seconds left. Dontrell Childs was stuffed by FVSU linebacker Ethan Manns after a yard gain to keep it 6-0 FVSU.
     The Wildcats took the opening second-half possession 64 yards on seven plays for the key points of the game. Coming after the KSU defense held on 3^rd-and-8, FVSU freshman kicker Rodney Williams, Jr., connected on a 28-yard field goal at 11:32 in the third quarter to make it 9-0.
     Following a 71-yard return on the ensuing kick-off, Thorobred RB Shaquan Oliver rumbled in from four yards five plays later to pull the visitors to with two points, 9-7, at 9:00 left in the third.
     Neither offense was able to put any more points on the board for the final 24 minutes with the Alderman stop on the long KSU 4^th down QB run sealed the home win.
     Head coach Shawn Gibbs claimed his second win in as many games at the helm, including his first home victory.
     Linebacker Adeon Farmer paced the FVSU defense with 10 total tackles and one for a loss. Tyler Moore added nine stops with a tackle for loss, while Dialo Mosley had nine as well. Christian Maddox and defensive tackle Caleb Thomas recorded seven tackles apiece, while Alderman contributed four tackles, two for a loss of 13 yards and a quarterback hurry.
      The FVSU offense did not post big number, but balanced final totals. Of the 270 yards of total offense, quarterback Kelvin Durham connected on 15 of 22 for 170 yards and ran for another 17 yards on five rushes, including the team's lone touchdown. Running back Emanuel Wilson had tougher sledding with only 73 yards on 23 rushes. Cordell Pimienta and Corintheus Edmonds led the wide receiving corps with five catches for 43 yards and three for 65 yards.

Allen Led Johnson C. Smith When Game Suspended
     Allen University's home opener against rival Johnson C. Smith Univ. was called off at halftime due to a severe lightning storm in the area.
     The Yellow Jackets were leading 27-20 at halftime after scoring two touchdowns late in the second quarter to take the lead. However, since the game did not reach the fourth quarter it will be considered a no-contest and the stats will not count.
     The start of the game was delayed 90 minutes until kickoff around 7:30 PM and was later delayed near the end of the first quarter as well due to lightning.
     Allen did drop its first contest of the season at Newberry, 40-6, on Sept. 3.
     The Yellow Jackets were led by sophomore receiver/kick returner Jamal Jones who ran a 100-yard kick back for a touchdown in the third quarter to put the Jackets on the board. He also rushed for 13 yards and caught 5 passes for 40 yards on the night while totaling 130 return yards.
     Newberry jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter ending two five-play drives with scores while Allen also forced a Newberry fumble at the goal line as well. NC added another touchdown in the second quarter to take a 21-0 halftime edge.
     Newberry would then, unfortunately, increase their lead in the third quarter before Jones ran the ensuing kick back to give Allen some momentum. Allen sophomore QB David Wright then threw a would-be touchdown pass near the end of the fourth quarter to sophomore WR Jayden Horace, but the scoring play was called back due to an ineligible man down field. Wright finished the night throwing for 157 yards on 16 of 32 passing while sophomore RB Beau Herrington rushed for 70 yards on 10 carries including a nice 40-yard scamper at one point as well. Freshman WR Armone Harris also led the receiving corp. with 87 yards on 5 receptions.
     Defensively, Allen was led by sophomore DB Justin Eaton's 7 total tackles while he and senior linebacker Gary Burrage tallied 5 solo tackles each. Sophomore DB Reginald Jones also had a big game recording two interceptions, a pass breakup and 4 tackles while senior DE Kerry Thompson recorded a sack and 3 tackles.
Wildcats Travel to the Mountain State Next Weekend
     The Wildcats travel to the Mountain State next weekend. FVSU makes it way north to Bluefield, W.Va., and battles Bluefield State next Saturday, Sept. 24, in a 1 p.m. contest.

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Wildcats Aim to Continue Strong Start, Battle Yellow Jackets Saturday