Wildcats and Thorobreds Prepare for Saturday ‘Ground Battle’

9/8/2022 1:00:00 AM

By: Chris Myers

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The pigskin will not be traveling in the air as often Saturday as most college games these days. Fort Valley State welcomes all fans to its 2022 football home opener when Kentucky State comes to town for the first time in six years.

The Wildcats and Thorobreds prepare for a rare college ground battle on the gridiron. In the first week, the two Saturday foes, who will kick-off at 1 p.m., rushed for a combined 563 yards.

--------------
Tickets
Live Video
--------------

Ground Battle to Commence
     In the pass happy age of college football and football overall, FVSU and KSU ground their way for 563 yards on 95 carries last weekend for a 5.9 yard per attempt average. The Wildcats posted 328 yards on 37 carries (8.9 yds/att), while KSU ran for 235 yards on 58 totes.

Wildcats Seek First 2-0 Start in 15 Years
     Excluding the 2020 abbreviated season of two games played in the spring of 2021, FVSU put up two opening wins in 15 seasons. The Wildcats last started a campaign at 2-0 in back-to-back seasons of 2005 and 2006 – in both cases, they took care of Clark Atlanta to open and Morehouse College on the next week.

Gibbs Seeks to Stay Perfect
     After two decades being an assistant on the college football sidelines, first-year FVSU head coach Shawn Gibbs guided his first Wildcats team to victory, 21-6 over Tuskegee, in his inaugural game at the helm.

Wildcats and Thorobreds Meet for First Time in Six Seasons
     Most teams in the same conference play on a regular basis, but FVSU and KSU have not in recent seasons. Saturday afternoon will mark the first time the two SIAC teams have played since Oct. 8, 2016 in Fort Valley – a KSU 26-10 win and the SIAC Championship game the same season at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. - FVSU win 33-30.
      The two teams met in each year from 2008 to 2016 where FVSU claimed victories in six of the nine contests. In fact, the Wildcats won in 2015 (35-10 in Frankfort, Ky.) and the last win at home on Oct. 11, 2014 (36-21).
      The foes also met consecutively for 12 seasons from 1995-2006 with FVSU holding an 8-4 edge. Overall, the Wildcats lead the series, 22-10, for a .687 winning percentage.

Wilson & Lawson Garner SIAC Weekly Honors
     Fort Valley State running back Emanuel Wilson and linebacker Kentrell Lawson garnered Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Football Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Week awards announced on Wednesday.
      The two Wildcats were big parts of their teams defeating the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University, 21-6, in the 2^nd Annual Red Tails Classic.
      Leading 14-6, but backed up on its own 13-yardline in the early fourth quarter, Wilson took the hand off and raced straight up the middle of the field 87 yards for the game-sealing touchdown for his team. He also plunged in from three yards in the second quarter after running for 17 yards on the previous play, which gave FVSU a 14-0 lead at the time.
     For the night, Wilson fell five yards short from breaking the FVSU single-game rushing record. On only 20 carries, the redshirt junior amassed 262 yards and the two touchdowns. The Charlotte, N.C., native also pulled in two passes for 12 yards for 274 yards of total offense.
      On the other side of the ball, sophomore transfer Kentrell Lawson helped lead the FVSU defensive unit in his first game wearing the Blue & Gold. The linebacker made his presence felt with five solo and seven total tackles. The Marianna, Fla., product led the FVSU defense, which held Tuskegee to only 209 yards of offense on 61 plays. The unit's performance included seven tackles for loss of 20 yards, three sacks and an interception, while it allowed only six points.

Wildcats Repeat as Winners of the Red Tails Classic
     The Wildcats have enjoyed playing at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., to open the past two seasons. FVSU has claimed the first two editions of the Red Tails Classic against Tuskegee University after winning last Sunday night on ESPNU by a 21-6 final tally.
      FVSU recorded a 30-0 win in the 2021 version over Tuskegee. The Wildcats have now outscored the Golden Tigers, 51-6, in eight quarters of action of the Classic.

Details of FVSU Win vs. Tuskegee
     Backed up after a penalty on a punt return, the Wildcats turned to the man of the night on the first play and the rest was history. Emanuel Wilson took the hand-off and ran up the gut of the Tuskegee defense for an 87-yard touchdown and sealed the Fort Valley State victory with 11 minutes left in the game, 21-6, at the 2^nd Annual Red Tails Classic.
     On what turned out to a beautiful night at the Cramton Bowl, the Wildcats' Tyler Moore picked off the Golden Tigers' first possession. FVSU (1-0) quarterback Kelvin Durham rushed in from 10 yards less than three minutes later in his first career drive and the team in Blue & Gold never trailed.
     FVSU claimed its second Red Tails Classic over Tuskegee (0-1) in as many years. More importantly, the Wildcats win gave new head coach Shawn Gibbs his first victory leading the team of his career.
     Already at 154 yards in three quarters, the redshirt junior Wilson made his attempt to rush into FVSU single-game history. He punctuated the start of his second year at The Valley with his rumble up the middle as he watched the big Jumbotron scoreboard as he ran to make sure he would not be caught on his 87-yard scoring run. Along with the long scoring run, the running back plunged in from three yards 9:33 left in the second quarter for his other touchdown. Other than his 262 yards, five short of a school single-game record, Wilson pulled in two passes for 12 yards for 274 total yards of offense.
      The Wildcats' defensive unit was solid as well. The group allowed Tuskegee only 209 yards on 61 plays with three sacks and the Moore interception. Moore also added five tackles with two for loss on the night. Linebackers Jaylen Brown and Kentrell Lawson combined for 15 stops to lead the FVSU defense. Tim Alderman, who had two, and Bryce McGuire accounted for the three sacks.
      Tuskegee scored its only points on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 6:33 to go in the second frame. FVSU blocked the extra point attempt and led 14-6 at halftime.

Delta State Rides Early Lead over KSU
            Delta State hit a 61-yard scoring pass only 2:36 into the game last Saturday and never trailed at Kentucky State. The Statesmen added a second touchdown less than three-and-a-half minutes later to open a 13-0 lead, 26-7 intermission advantage and 33-10 final score over the Thorobreds.
            Despite the 23-point difference on the scoreboard, Delta State only outgained Kentucky State 339-307 yards for the game.
            Leading the KSU offense, running back Kendon Walker ran for 101 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown, while Christopher Coneway added 81 yards on 14 attempts.
            On defense, Darrell Dorris took down eight ball carriers, while Jaylen Johnson had his own eight tackles and an interception. Eldridge Dockery contributed five tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.

Wildcats vs. Yellow Jackets in SIAC East Opener
            The Wildcats remain at home next weekend when they play host to the Yellow Jackets of Allen University. The two SIAC East members will kick-off at 2 p.m. on the turf of Wildcat Stadium.

-Wildcats-

Print Friendly Version

FVSU Athletics

Scoreboard

Wildcats and Thorobreds Prepare for Saturday ‘Ground Battle’