Wildcats Renew Series Against Tigers, Open Home Schedule Saturday Night

9/12/2023 3:56:00 PM

By: Chris Myers

      FORT VALLEY, Ga. – After getting back on track last Saturday, the Wildcats are set to come home. Fort Valley State renews its football series with Edward Waters University this Saturday night when it opens the 2023 home schedule.

For the first time in recent year, the Wildcats will take to the home turf under the lights. FVSU welcomes Edward Waters in a 6 p.m. kick-off for the Military Appreciation and Greek Day at the Wildcat Stadium friend confines.
--------------
Edward Waters vs. FVSU
Sat., Sept. 16, 6 p.m.
Wildcat Stadium
(A Cashless facility)
Tickets/Parking/Tailgating
Live Stats
No Video Stream Available
--------------

Wildcat Stadium Will Be a Cashless Facility
     In keeping with all other facilities, Wildcat Stadium will be a Cashless Facility. This means all tickets, parking and tailgating will be made online. All three can be purchased right now at: wildcatticketoffice.com.

Wildcats-Tigers Meet for 1^st Time in 15 Years
     The renewal of the gridiron series between Edward Waters and FVSU happens this Saturday. The two Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference members were the only two 2022 East Division members to not play each other.
     In both program's histories, FVSU and EWU have only met six times since 1947. The Wildcats have won the first two and last two meetings with the Tigers prevailed in the middle two contests.
     Saturday will be the first battle of now SIAC rivals since the fall of 2009.
      FVSU leads series 4-2:
     2009 – FVSU 32, EWU 13
     2007 – FVSU 35, EWU 14
     1962 – EWU 8, FVSU 6
     1961 – EWU 8, FVSU 7
      1948 – FVSU 18, EWU 0
     1947 – FVSU 21, EWU 0

Gibbs Looks to Register Double-Digit Coaching Wins
     After becoming the first FVSU head coach to reach eight wins in his inaugural year, FVSU Head Coach Shawn Gibbs looks to reach double-digits in coaching victories.
      With 8-2 last fall, his Wildcats can win for the 10^th time under his direction. In the first 12 contests, Gibbs stands at 9-3.

Wildcats Dominate Second Half, Overtake Panthers
     The third Red Tails Classic is predicted to be just as exciting as the first two in 2021 and 2022. FVSU looks to continue its success in the RTC and pull off the 'hat trick' with its third win in as many contests of the event.
      The long wait for the kick-off Saturday was worth it for Wildcat fans! Tied at halftime, Fort Valley State's Kentrelle Williams rushed untouched up the middle on the first second-half possession and started a 30-point outburst to dominate host Clark Atlanta, 40-17.
     Following Williams run, Kelvin Durham hit a wide-open Dejuan Bell cutting into the middle endzone for 14 yards eight minutes later for a two-score Wildcat lead. The FVSU scoring run continued with a CAU safety when a punt snap flew out of the back of the endzone for a 26-10 heading to the final stanza. Brandon Marshall broke numerous tackles on a 30-yard scoring jaunt to open the final quarter and Williams added a 11-yard scoring dive to seal the win and made it 40-10 with 7:35 left.
     With the win, FVSU evens its mark to 1-1 on the year. The win also gave head coach Shawn Gibbs overall record to 9-3 in his first 12 games.
     On the day, the Wildcat offense had a balanced attack with 158 rushing and 198 passing for 356 total yards. CAU finished with 263 yards. Marshall (12 for 90 yds) and Williams (10 for 77 yds) combined for 167 yards on 22 carries with three scores.
    Durham completed 18 of 26 for 198 yards and two scores. Za'tarious Anderson pulled in four passes for 72 yards. Fralon Warren grabbed four balls for 51 yards with a 20-yard touchdown, while Bell finished with four catches on 22 yards.
      The BlueDeath Defense was led by freshman Kamari Blankumsee, who registered six tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception. Malik Harp added six stops with three for loss. Landon Austin and Jaydn Walker both had six tackles. Daymon Polite and Darnell Stephens snatched interceptions as well.

Benedict Prevails over Edward Waters
     Edward Waters ran into a buzzsaw on Saturday afternoon, falling 34-0 to the defending SIAC and HBCU Division II National Champion Benedict Tigers in the SIAC opener at Glover Community Field & Stadium.
     EWU (0-2, 0-1 SIAC) could not get anything going offensively in the contest as they only mustered 69 yards of total offense against a nationally ranked Benedict (2-0, 1-0 SIAC) squad. Benedict raced out to a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, then added another field goal in the second to take a 13-0 lead into the locker room.
     Benedict added 21 more points in the second half to put the contest away and earn their second consecutive shutout of the early season.
     Jyron Russell finished 8-of-17 passing for 55 yards, had two interceptions, and was sacked four times in the contest. Greg Mango had 15 rushing yards on 10 carries, and Johnny Jones led EWU with three receptions for 17 yards.
     Kenard King, Widmyer Garçon, and Jonathan Nesbit all led Edward Waters defensively with five tackles apiece. Jia'Quinn Stinson had his best contest of his young EWU career, recording four tackles, including two for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery.

FVSU Seeks Third Wildcat Stadium Opening Win in Row
     FVSU seeks its third Wildcat Stadium home opening win in a row this Saturday. The Wildcats prevailed in its home field first game last year (9/10/22) in a 9-7 final over Kentucky State and posted a 32-14 win over Central State (10/9/21), the first game on the current field turf surface. FVSU last fell in the Stadium openers in a 38-17 decision against Miles College back on 9/7/19.

Wildcats Stay at No. 7 in HBCU D2 Coaches Poll
       After starting the year at No. 5, FVSU stayed at No. 7 for the second week in a row in the HBCU D2 Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.
       boxtorow.com
The Benedict Tigers remain unscored upon, undefeated, and No. 1 in the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW released this season. The Tigers received all but one first place vote.
The Tigers however aren't the only undefeated team in the poll. No. 2 Virginia Union, No. 3 Tuskegee, No. 4 Virginia State, No. 6 Miles, and No. 10 Allen are all undefeated.
Allen makes its first ever appearance in the top 10.
The top five teams from Week 1 remained in the top five with BC, VUU, and Tuskegee retaining the top three spots. Virginia State moved up one spot to No. 4, while Bowie State dropped a spot to No. 5.
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 2
(Records as of September 9, 2023)

No.	Team	W-L	Pts	Last Week
1	Benedict (18)	2-0	189	1
2	Virginia Union	2-0	155	2
3	Tuskegee (1)	2-0	150	3
4	Virginia State	2-0	133	5
5	Bowie State	1-1	88	4
6	Miles	2-0	87	10
7	Fort Valley State	1-1	82	7
8	West Virginia State	1-1	36	NR
9	Central State	1-1	27	8
10	Allen	2-0	23	NR

Others receiving votes: Albany State (0-2) 15, Fayetteville State (0-2) 14, Lincoln (Pa.) 9, Savannah State (1-1) 9, Bluefield State (1-1) 5, Kentucky State (1-1) 5, Winston-Salem State (0-2) 2, Elizabeth City State (1-1) 2, Johnson C. Smith (1-1) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)

Wildcats vs. Tigers – SIAC Ranks
     FVSU                                 Category                                EWU
       3rd (35.5 ppg)                  Scoring Offense                     13th (10.5 ppg)
       7th (27.0 ppg)                  Scoring Defense                     9th (36.0 ppg)

       4nd (378.0 yds/gm)         Total Offense                          11th (236.5 yds/gm)
       4th (136.0 yds/gm)          Rush Offense                         9th (73.5 yds/gm)
       5^th (242.0 yds/gm)           Pass Offense                          9^th (163.0 yds/gm)

      5th (274.5 yds/gm)           Total Defense                         11th (428.5 yds/gm)
      2nd (54.0 yds/gm)             Rush Defense                         9th (195.0 yds/gm)
      10^th (220.5 yds/gm)          Pass Defense                         12th (233.5 yds/gm)

       SIAC Individual Rankings:
Rushing
3^rd Kentrelle Williams (FVSU)             73.0 ypg
4^th Brandon Marshall (FVSU)             71.0 ypg
7^th Greg Mango (EWU)                       44.0 ypg

Passing
4^th Kelvin Durham (FVSU)                  145.0
6^th Russell (EWU)                               105.8

Receiving
3^rd Za'Tarious Anderson (FVSU)        91.5
10^th Corintheus Edmonds (FVSU)     62.5

Total Offense
4^th Kelvin Durham (FVSU)                  238.0

All-Purpose
3^rd Dejuan Bell (FVSU)                       126.0

Kick Returns
1^st Dejuan Bell (FVSU)                       40.5

Punt Returns
1^st Dejuan Bell (FVSU)                       9.8

Tackles
8^th Widmyer (EWU)                            8.0

Tackles for Loss
1^st Adeon Farmer (FVSU)                  5.5 / 2.75 per game

Sacks
2^nd Adeon Farmer (FVSU)                  1.50 per game

Wildcats Trek North for Game 4
            The Wildcats are scheduled go back on the road to start a two-game road swing next weekend. FVSU treks the long trip to Frankfort, Ky., and takes on Kentucky State in a 1 p.m. kick-off on Saturday, Sept. 23.

-Wildcats-

Print Friendly Version

FVSU Athletics

Scoreboard

Wildcats Renew Series Against Tigers, Open Home Schedule Saturday Night