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Wildcats Seek Repeat Over Golden Rams in 33rd Fountain City Classic

10/31/2023 3:52:00 PM

By: Chris Myers
FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats hope to have started a trend last November 5th. Fort Valley State seeks a repeat result over Albany State to make it two positive results in a row of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's best rivalry at the 33rd Annual Fountain City Classic.
 
Coming off a two successful home finishes, the Wildcats look to end the Golden Rams' winning ways to a single contest from last weekend when the Blue & Gold squads face off in a 2 p.m. kick-off at Columbus, Ga.'s A.J. McClung Stadium.
 
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FVSU vs. Albany State
Sat., Nov. 4, 2 p.m.
A.J. McClung Stadium, Columbus, Ga.
Tickets
Live Stats
FVSU Season Stats
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SIAC East Rivalry Head into Weekend in Same Direction
     The two rivals go into the final weekend of the regular season both coming off Week 9 wins.
      Neither rival team trailed in their October 28 contests. FVSU intercepted Virginia University of Lynchburg's first offensive play and turned it into a touchdown four plays later to spur what would be a 37-26 win.
     In Albany, the Golden Rams went out to a 10-0 lead and then rattled off 38-straight points after allowing the Golden Bears of Miles College a touchdown of the 48-7 final.
 
FVSU vs. Albany State – 79th Meeting
     For the 79th time, FVSU and Albany State meet on the gridiron. After the Wildcats led the series, the Golden Rams have taken the series lead, 38-37-3, by a single-game advantage compliments of their four-straight win streak which was snapped last fall and seven of nine victories.     
     Last 12 Scores:
      2022 – FVSU 31, ASU 21
      2021 – ASU 57, FVSU 0
      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

Gibbs Aims to Add Fifth Team to Multiple Victories Against
      After only 19 games at the helm, FVSU Head Coach Shawn Gibbs has secured 15 wins as a collegiate head coach (15-4 & .789).
     Gibbs' teams have currently defeated 11 different teams over the past two seasons. Saturday he can add a fifth opponent where his teams have defeated two times.
    His teams have finished 7-1 at Wildcat Stadium over the last two years.   

Series Last Meeting: Wildcats Win as Wilson Runs Over Golden Rams in 32nd Annual Fountain City Classic

     Columbus, Ga. (Nov. 5, 2022) -- The Wildcats The Wildcats taste the sweet victory over their rival this time! Emanuel Wilson ran over the Albany State defense to a tune of 221 yards and three touchdowns, including the 23-yard punctuating score with 1:47 left to seal the Fort Valley State, 31-21, victory in the 32nd Annual Fountain City Classic.
     Clinging to a 24-21 advantage, the FVSU defense broke up back-to-back ASU passes to turn the ball over on downs with 5:19 remaining at the Wildcat 32-yardline. It was Wilson time from there. The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's top running back opened the game-sealing drive with a 37-yard burst to the ASU 31-yardline. After Wilson was stopped on back-to-back attempts to get the first down, quarterback Kelvin Durham found tight end Gentry Sparks in the left flat for 10 yards and the first down to keep the ball. On the next play, Wilson cut to the right, burled over a trio of ASU defenders, and would not be denied the end zone from 23 yards for the touchdown at 1:47 left.
     With the victory, FVSU snaps a four-game losing streak in the series with its biggest rival and first win since a 21-17 victory during the 2016 meeting. The Wildcats improved to 8-2 overall for their first 8-win campaign since an 8-3 mark for the 2012 season.
     Wilson outgained the entire ASU offense, 227-208, for the Saturday afternoon. The redshirt junior recorded his second 200-plus yard game of the season after opening the year with 262 yards against SIAC West champion Tuskegee. He finished with 221 yards only 28 carries for a 7.9-yard average and the three touchdowns of three, one, and 23 yards. He also pulled in three passes for six yards.
     Durham completed 17 of 24 passes for 198 yards and a 10-yard touchdown despite not playing the majority of the second quarter after a roughing the passer call. For the season, the redshirt freshman fell six yards shy of 2,000 passing yards for the season at 1,994 yards with 16 passing scores to only four interceptions.
     Kevin Epps pulled in a game-best four passes for 46 yards, while Fralon Warren covered 76 yards on three receptions. Hakeem Ellington had the 10-yard receiving touchdown of his three passes for 40 yards. Sparks, though, ended all ASU hopes with his 10-yard late catch.
     FVSU accumulated over 400 yards of total offense at 415 yards with 207 rushing and 208 passing on 62 plays. The Wildcat defense held the Golden Ram attack to only 208 total yards, including only 86 net rushing yards.
     Strong safety Tyler Moore led the Wildcat defense with eight tackles and Dialo Mosley had seven. Tim Alderman recorded a season-high six stops with his biggest sack of the season coming on first down of ASU's last possession and he also recovered a first-half fumble.
     The Wildcats went out to a 14-0 lead in the first 17:43 of the game and never trailed the entire day. The FVSU scores came on consecutive possessions as Wilson polished off the first score from three yards to cap a nine-play, 66-yard drive for a 7-0 advantage. Durham found a diving Ellington in the back right part of the end zone less than five minutes later to finish a 7-play and 80-yard drive.
     Following Wilson's second scoring run, FVSU led 24-7, but ASU pulled a trick out of its hat in the final minute of the first half. The Golden Rams blocked the Wildcats punt and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown for the 24-14 halftime tally.
     The third frame did not see any scoring before ASU made it a field goal difference, 24-21, on a 7-yard pass with 12:58 in the final frame.
     After a short Wildcat 17-yard punt on the next stalled possession, it was the defense to step up.  FVSU held ASU to only 16 yards on six plays with back-to-back pass breakups to stop the first drive. The Wildcats held their rival to only four yards on four plays to end any further Golden Rams threat on the ASU final time with the ball. Durham took two knees and the FVSU celebration kicked off from there!

FVSU Last Week: Wildcats Interceptions Key in 'Senior Day' Win over Dragons

     FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats sent out their veteran players on a high note and the home crowd too Saturday afternoon. Fort Valley State picked off key passes to start the game and turn back the momentum in the third quarter to key the 'Senior Day' football victory over Virginia University of Lynchburg, 37-26.
     Malik Harp stepped in front of the visiting Dragons' (2-7) first offensive play for the interception. On the ensuing fourth play, FVSU quarterback Donovan Anthony found Corintheus Edmonds from five yards for the first points of the day. After cutting the margin down to 24-16, VUL was pinned down in its own end following an Elan Hall 66-yard punt. On the third offensive play, Jadyn Walker was hit in the numbers with the visitors' pass and returned it 11 yards to the VUL 11-yardline. Again, Anthony found Edmonds in the corner of the endzone on the second play from 14 yards to give FVSU (7-2) a two-score lead again, 30-16, it would never be less over the final 25:38 of the contest.
     On the day, it was not an offensive explosion on the field as the Wildcats outgained the Dragons, 257-250. The FVSU defense held VUL to 22 yards rushing, while the home team passed for a season-low 44 yards.
     Along with their interceptions, Walker and Harp led the Wildcats with 7 tackles apiece. Walker added three tackles for loss and Harp had one. Kamari Blankumsee contributed seven stops and had an impactful late quarterback sack on a blitz off the corner. Tim Alderman recorded six stops with two sacks and four tackles for loss, a pass breakup and three quarterback hurries. Cedric Hillsman and Thomas posted sacks of their own.
      Offensively, the Wildcats' 213 yards rushing was spread between Brandon Marshall (who had a seven-yard touchdown), Kentrelle Williams and Jamie Hampton with 66, 61 and 56 yards. Edmonds' lone two catches were the two scores totaling 19 yards.
      Punter Hall averaged 63.0 yards per punt on his two with 126 yards, both inside the opponents' 20-yardline and a 66-yard long.
      With 36 seconds before the half, kicker Daniel Gibbs kicked the longest field goal in recent years for FVSU. He firmly hit a 50-yarder to give FVSU a 24-9 halftime advantage.

Albany State Last Week: ASU Runs off 38-Straight Points to Pull Away from Miles College

      Albany, Ga.- The Golden Rams left no doubt what team was going to win their home finale last Saturday. After Miles College drove the opening possession with no points, Albany State answered with 10 first-quarter points and then ran off 38-straight for what would be a 48-7 final tally.
     For the day, ASU outgained Miles by a wide margin, 480-302 yards. The Golden Rams had a balanced attack withy 218 rushing and 262 passing yards.
     Quarterback Dionte Bonneau completed 15 of 29 attempts for 262 yards with three touchdowns to one interception. He also led the team in rushing with 89 yards on eight carries. Aljhanod Thomas ran 75 yards for a touchdown and finished with 74 yards total. Wideout Ralph Lovett grabbed all three of Bonneau's scoring passes of 47, 61 and 18 yards and totaled 154 yards on five catches. Devin Dorsey added four of his own for 68 yards.
     Rosendo Louis led the ASU defense with 10 tackles, while Derrick Drayton had eight.
 
FVSU Moves Up to No. 5 in HBCU D2 Coaches Poll
     After moving back up one spot to No. 6 last week, FVSU climbs up to No. 5 in the latest HBCU D2 Coaches Poll heading into the final week of the regular season.
Courtesy of boxtorow.com
The HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW is administered by BOXTOROW, and is voted on by the HBCU NCAA Division II coaches.
2023 HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
Week 9
(Records as of October 28, 2023)
No. Team W-L Pts Last Week
1 Benedict (21) 9-0 219 1
2 Virginia Union 8-1 191 2
3 Virginia State 8-1 158 5
4 Fayetteville State 7-2 140 4
5 Fort Valley Sate 7-2 134 6
6 Tuskegee (1) 7-2 111 7
7 Allen 7-2 95 8
8 Miles 6-3 65 3
9 Johnson C. Smith 6-3 43 NR
10 Albany State 5-4 24 NR
Others receiving: Edward Waters (5-4) 12, Bowie State (5-4) 11, West Virginia State (4-4) 4.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
  
Wildcats (7-2/6-1 SIAC) SIAC Ranks vs. Golden Rams (5-4/5-2 SIAC)
     FVSU                                 Category                                ASU
       3rd (33.0 ppg)                  Scoring Offense                     6th (27.2 ppg)
       4th (24.0 ppg)                  Scoring Defense                     2nd (20.1 ppg)

       8th (332.4 yds/gm)          Total Offense                          5th (351.2 yds/gm)
       2nd (149.9 yds/gm)         Rush Offense                         6th (139.2 yds/gm)
       9th (182.6 yds/gm)          Pass Offense                          6th (212. yds/gm)

       2nd (326.0 yds/gm)         Total Defense                         3rd (331.7 yds/gm)
       1st (73.0 yds/gm)             Rush Defense                         5th (136.1 yds/gm)
       12th (253.0 yds/gm)         Pass Defense                         4th (195.6 yds/gm)


 
 
 
 
 
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