Wildcats Welcome Tigers in 2022 Homecoming ‘Battle of Unbeatens’

9/28/2022 1:31:00 PM

By: Chris Myers

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – There is more than Hurricane Ian coming to Middle Georgia, but the biggest regular season matchup in many years will happen in The Valley! The storm on the Wildcat Stadium turf will have two of the top four teams in the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll and lone pair of unbeaten Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference programs when Fort Valley State hosts Benedict College on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats and Tigers both come off challenges from a week ago and prepare for their 32^nd meeting of the series in front of what will now be a national ESPN+ audience in the 2 p.m. kick-off.
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Benedict College at FVSU
Sat., Oct. 1, 2 p.m.
Tickets
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Live Stats
FVSU Stats
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FVSU vs. Benedict – 32nd Meeting
     It has been a progressively close series in the past three of four meetings between the two SIAC East rivals. Saturday will be the first meeting of the series in Fort Valley since 2017.
     Overall, FVSU holds a 24-7 advantage over Benedict on the gridiron for the series.
      Last season in Columbia, S.C., FVSU won a hard-fought victory, 24-14, over Benedict. The Wildcats have won the last two meetings and the last five played at Wildcat Stadium dating back to the 2008 campaign.
      The last 13 series contests, six have been decided by 10 points or less with only four having a margin of more than two scores.
     Last 13 scores (2008-21):
2008 – @FVSU 22, BC 6
2009 - @BC 28, FVSU 20
2010 - @FVSU 41, BC 13
2011 – FVSU 40, @BC 23
2012 - @FVSU 33, BC 10
2013 – FVSU 35, BC 30 (N)
2014 – FVSU 33, @BC 30
2015 - @FVSU 33, BC 3
2016 - @BC 28, FVSU 14
2017 - @FVSU 31, BC 28 OT
2018 - @BC 28, FVSU 20
2019 – FVSU 50, BC 16 (N)
2021 – FVSU 24, @BC 14

Last FVSU-Benedict Series Meeting at Wildcat Stadium
     In just over five years ago, the Wildcats and Tigers last played on the then natural grass surface of Wildcat Stadium.
      On Sept. 23, 2017, FVSU scores three touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 21-0 at half, Benedict rallied with one third-frame score and two more in the fourth with the last coming at 4:58 left to force overtime tied at 21.
      In overtime, the Tigers scored first on a 15-yard run, before the Wildcats answered with a 9-yard pass.
      In the second overtime, Juan Serna booted a 33-yard field goal to give FVSU a 31-28 lead. The home defense came up with the big play on the second Benedict play forcing a fumble and recovering it to end the contest.

Homecoming in The Valley Notes
     It's 2022 Homecoming in The Valley. FVSU has seen a high-level of success during its annual Homecoming game and it looks to continue it this weekend.
     The Wildcats are 12-1 (.923) during Homecoming since 2008. The program's lone loss came when nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne shook off FVSU's upset bid late for a 30-22 win.
      Saturday will be the third time in the last 14 years Benedict College will be the FVSU Homecoming foe. The Wildcats claimed the last two in the 2010 (41-13) and 2008 (22-6) matchups.
      Homecoming Scores since 2008:
      2008 – FVSU 22, BC 6
      2009 – FVSU 20, Kentucky State 13
      2010 – FVSU 41, BC 13
      2011 – FVSU 52, Stillman 3
      2012 – FVSU 38, Concordia College 12
      2013 – FVSU 52, Concordia-Selma 19
      2014 – FVSU 23, Paine College 10
      2015 – FVSU 35, Morehouse College 3
      2016 – FVSU 30, Central State 28
      2017 – FVSU 52, Morehouse College 7
      2018 – Lenoir-Rhyne 30, FVSU 22
      2019 – FVSU 37, Morehouse College 21
      2021 – FVSU 40, Clark Atlanta 7

FVSU Looks for More Success on Home Field Turf
     Following having to play the home opener down the road at Peach County High School, FVSU has now won four of its first five games played on the new field turf playing surface at Wildcat Stadium.
   The Wildcats defeated both Central State (35-14) and Clark Atlanta (40-7) before Savannah State prevailed, 24-6, last season. FVSU has won its first two home 2021 contests over Kentucky State (9-7) and Allen (29-27)..

Wildcats Maintain No. 4 Spot in HBCU D2 Coaches Poll
          With its strong start, FVSU has made its way up the HBCU D2 Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW and for the second week in a row are No. 4. The Wildcats face their highest rated opponent in No. 3-rated Tigers of Benedict College Saturday.

2022 HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
Week 4
(Records through September 24, 2022)

No.	Team	W-L	Pts	Last Week
1	Virginia Union (18)	4-0	207	1
2	Albany State (3)	3-1	172	2
3	Benedict	4-0	165	3
4	Fort Valley State	4-0	142	4
5	Virginia State	3-1	120	6
6	Bowie State	2-2	92	7
7	Fayetteville State	2-2	81	5
8	Shaw	2-2	72	9
9	Lane	2-2	36	10
10	Savannah State	1-2	21	NR

Others receiving votes: West Virginia State (2-2) 17, Tuskegee (2-2) 11, Chowan (2-2) 6, Lincoln (Pa.) (2-2) 5, Bluefield State (2-2) 5, Johnson C. Smith (0-3) 1, Miles (1-3) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)

Wildcats Handle Tigers in Last Meeting
     In Columbia, S.C. last Oct. 2, the game started slowly, but the Wildcats were all business on that Saturday afternoon. Fort Valley State took a late-second quarter lead and never gave it up over the final 33-plus minutes on the way for the 24-14 win at Benedict College.
     Between Tyler Moore kick-starting the FVSU defensive efforts and Emmanuel Wilson's rushing, the Wildcats controlled the play most of the day. Moore swiped a Tigers' pass and returned it 40 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 1:09 remaining in the first frame. Wilson found the end zone for the second and third Wildcats scores from three and two yards as part of his 122 rushing yards on 27 carries to pace the offense.

Williams, Jr. Boots Way to SIAC Weekly Honor
For After first earning the award two weeks ago, the first-year placekicker/punter repeated the feat with an even better day. The Covington, Ga., native connected on 3-of-3 field goal attempts of 29, 26 and his longest of 35 yards on the final play of the first half to give FVSU a 23-21 lead it would not give up. Williams also made all five of his point after attempt kicks for a total of 14 points on the day to help the Wildcats improve to a perfect 4-0 record after the final seconds ticked away of the 44-27 victory at Bluefield State Saturday afternoon.
     Williams did not stop with his placekicking duties. The freshman Wildcat recorded a 45.7-yard per punt average on three punts with a long of 63 yards which flipped the field as he placed the ball inside the home 20-yardline. He also posted a 57.4-yard average on eight kick-offs covering 459 yards.

Wildcats Weather Early Big Blue Storm, Outplay Down Stretch for Win
     For only the second time in program history, the Wildcats played in West Virginia and held strong down the stretch. Fort Valley State weathered the Bluefield State first-half storm and outplayed the home team in the final half for the 44-27 win.
     FVSU was able to use the two-straight possessions to turn the tide of the game. Following a Big Blue 84-yard scoring drive to go ahead with 22 seconds in the first half, the Wildcats quarterback Kelvin Durham fired a 52-yard hookup with Corintheus Edmonds on the first play to the home 35-yardline with six seconds in the half. Rodney Williams then booted a 35-yard field goal as time expired and FVSU rode the momentum out of the half for a 67-yard scoring drive with three big plays – two passing completions to Edmonds (20 yards) and Fralon Warren (11 yards) along with Hakeem Ellington's 25-yard jet sweep – capped by Emanuel Wilson's 3-yard touchdown for a 30-21 lead three minutes into the second half.
     Other than a Bluefield State block of a punt later in the third frame that resulted in an 18-yard touchdown drive, FVSU outplayed its host over the final 30 minutes. The Wildcat defense held the Big Blue to 129 yards and only the 18-yard scoring drive over 37 plays while it recorded three sacks and four tackles for loss over that time frame.
      Despite Bluefield State having the advantage in time of possession (30:43 to 29:17) and number of offensive plays (83 to 61), FVSU outgained the host team, 407 to 356. The Wildcats passed for 215 yards and rushed for another 192.
     The FVSU special teams were big on Saturday to highlight the performances. Kicker/punter Williams went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts with boots of 29, 26 and the 35-yarder to end the half. The freshman was also 5-for-5 on point after attempts. He averaged 45.7 yards on three punts, including a 63-yarder, and a kick-off touchback. Kick returner Justin Harris brought back four kick-offs for 125 yards with a long 58-yarder to setup Williams' second field goal. Ellington also had two punt returns for 38 yards.
      On offense, Emanuel Wilson was able to get back on track. The running back rushed 21 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Wilson raced for a long carry of 46 yards and registered 96 of his yards in the second half, while he caught two passes for 16 yards.
     Durham completed 13 of 21 passes for 215 yards and 26-yard scoring strike to Warren, who had three catches for 53 yards. Edmonds led the receiving corps with 109 yards on three grabs and Jaren Lawson added three of his own for 26 yards.
     Defensively, Kentrell Lawson paced the FVSU defense with eight tackles and a solo sack for seven yards. Jaylen Brown added seven tackles. 2.5 for loss and a seven-yard sack. Tim Alderman continued his top play at defensive end with five tackles, three tackles for loss of 18 yards and both his sacks in the second half. Tyler Moore chipped in five stops along with sacks by Will Riggins and Adeon Farmer.

Tigers Pull Away from Thorobreds
     The Benedict College Tigers remained undefeated by outscoring Kentucky State 26-7 in the second half and defeated the Thorobreds 40-14 last Saturday night.
     The Tigers broke away from a 21-14 game at the end of the third quarter by scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to improve to 4-0 on the season.
     Benedict was able to break open the game in the second half with some big plays, including a 45-yard pass from Eric Phoenix to Reginald Harden, which set up a 23-yard touchdown run by Noah Zaire Scotland as Benedict broke a 14-14 tie to take the lead for good.
     Scotland finished with 91 yards rushing on 12 carries and one touchdown.
      The Thorobreds, with their ball-control triple option offense, held on to the ball for a good part of the game. Kentucky State finished with a time of possession of more than 38 minutes, while Benedict managed just 21:48. The Thorobreds finished with 227 yards rushing on 52 attempts.
     But Benedict dominated the fourth quarter, holding the ball for 8:28 and out-gaining Kentucky State 148 yards to 12 yards in the final quarter.

Wildcats vs. Tigers – SIAC Ranks
     FVSU                                 Category                                BC
       3^rd (25.8 ppg)                    Scoring Offense                     1^st (32.5 ppg)
       5^th (16.5 ppg)                   Scoring Defense                     1^st (8.5 ppg)

       3^rd (371.5 yds/gm)           Total Offense                          2^nd (380.5 yds/gm)
       4^th (164.8 yds/gm)           Rush Offense                         6^th (164.8 yds/gm)
       5^th (192.5 yds/gm)           Pass Offense                          3^rd (215.8 yds/gm)

     2^nd (276.2 yds/gm)           Total Defense                         2^nd (380.5 yds/gm)
       1^st (76.8 yds/gm)              Rush Defense                         5^th (150.5 yds/gm)
       8^th (199.5 yds/gm)           Pass Defense                         1^st (52.5 yds/gm)

       5^th (+2)                             Turnover Margin                     2^nd (+7)

Individuals
Rushing
1^st - Emanuel Wilson (FVSU) -- 135.5 yds/gm
2^nd – Zaire Scotland (BC) --   78.2 yds/gm
Passing
4^th – Kelvin Durham (FVSU) -- 192.5 yds/gm
7^th – Eric Phoenix (BC) -- 140.5 yds/gm
Pass Efficiency
3^rd – Phoenix (BC) -- 154.8
6^th – Durham (FVSU) -- 143.3
Receiving Yards/Game
3^rd – Corintheus Edmonds (FVSU) -- 84.8 yds/gm
6^th – Reginal Harden (BC) -- 70.7 yds/gm
8^th – Fralon Warren (FVSU) -- 58.2 yds/gm
Total Offense
4^th – Durham (FVSU) -- 213.0 yds/gm
7^th – Phoenix (BC) -- 140.8 yds/gm
Scoring TDs
1^st – Wilson (FVSU) -- 7.5 ppg
Scoring Kicking
1^st – Rodney Williams (FVSU) -- 6.2 ppg
Sacks
1^st – Denelius Loober (BC) -- 1.25 sks/gm
2^nd – Tim Alderman (FVSU) -- 1.00 sks/gm
6^th – Jayd Broughton (BC) -- 0.50 sks/gm
Tackles for Loss
2^nd – Loober (BC) -- 7.0
5^th – Alderman (FVSU) -- 6.5

Wildcats Travel to the Ohio Against Marauders Next Weekend
     The Wildcats travel north for the second time in three weeks next weekend. FVSU will be the Homecoming opponent for Central State next Saturday, Oct. 8, in a 1 p.m. contest.

-Wildcats-

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Wildcats Welcome Tigers in 2022 Homecoming ‘Battle of Unbeatens’