FORT VALLEY, Ga. – For the second time in as many weeks, the Wildcats ready to take on another Tigers squad. Fort Valley State heads to northeast part of Florida to Jacksonville for a clash against Edward Waters University.

For the first road game of the year, the Wildcats play in the afternoon. FVSU will be in Jacksonville, Fla., against Edward Waters in a 4 p.m. kick-off.

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FVSU (2-2)/2-1 SIAC) at Edward Waters (1-2/1-1 SIAC)
Sat., Oct. 5, 4 p.m.
Nathaniel Glover Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
Tickets
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Live Stats
FVSU Stats
EWU Stats
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Wildcats-Tigers Meet in Florida for 1st Time in 62 Years

     The renewal of the gridiron series between Edward Waters and FVSU took place last Sept. 16 in Fort Valley. It was the two SIAC members meeting since 2009 since they were the only two 2022 East Division members to not play each other.

For the first time in 62 years, FVSU takes on EWU in Jacksonville. The two last met in Florida in a Tigers 8-6 win during the 1962 season.
     In both program's histories, FVSU and EWU have only met seven times since 1947. The Wildcats have won the first two and last three meetings with the Tigers prevailed in the middle two contests.
     FVSU leads series 5-2:
     2023 - @FVSU 34, EWU 31
     2009 – FVSU 32, EWU 13 (N)
     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

FVSU Game 5 Seek Second Win in a Row

The fifth game of the season over the last five years have been productive. FVSU posted a win over Allen (49-21) last year and won games against Benedict (24-14) in 2021 and Florida Tech (33-29) in 2019. Benedict did prevail in the fifth game for 2022 (45-13).

Gibbs Extends Rebound Victories

In his third year at the helm, FVSU head coach Shawn Gibbs and his Wildcats have been able to 'right the ship' after a loss under his guidance.

It was the second time in 2024, FVSU posted a home shut out after falling short the prior weekend. The Wildcats improved their streak to 7-0 with Gibbs as they defeated Savannah State last Sunday by a 30-0 final.

Gibbs after a FVSU loss:

2022:
W, 32-17 vs. Central State
W, 31-21 vs. Albany State
2023:
W, 40-17 vs. Clark Atlanta
W, 31-3 vs. Morehouse
W, 23-10 vs. Johnson C. Smith
2024:
W, 42-0 vs. Kentucky State
W, 30-0 vs. Savannah State

FVSU Moves up to No. 6 in HBCU D2 Coaches Poll

HBCU D2 Football Coaches Poll: 
BOXTOROW.com

D2 Football Coaches Poll: Top three steady

The top three teams remained the same in the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW which was released on Tuesday.

The Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls retained their No. 1 ranking and remained the only team which has won every game it has played in. The Clark Atlanta Panthers are right on the Rams' heels, receiving five first place votes and remaining undefeated. The only loss of the season for the Winston Salem State Rams was to FBS opponent North Carolina A&T in overtime and since then, the Rams have won three-straight.

Both No. 4 Virginia Union and No. 5 Virginia State each picked up victories Saturday and climbed back into the top five.

In its third year, the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll is administered by BOXTOROW, and is voted on by the HBCU NCAA Division II coaches.

2024 HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
Week 5
(Records through September 29, 2024)

Others receiving: Albany State (2-2) 40, Benedict (2-2) 9, Tuskegee (1-3) 5, Elizabeth City State (2-2) 4, Livingstone (3-2) 4, Savannah State (1-3) 1,  Bluefield Sate (1-3) 1.

(1st place votes in parentheses)

2023 Meeting: Wildcats Score Game-Winner Quick, Hold off Tigers in Final Seconds

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats made enough plays in the final 92 seconds to claim the 'W.' Kelvin Durham engineered a 3-play scoring drive covering 64 yards to push Fort Valley State back on top before holding off a game Edward Waters foe saw the final pass to the end zone fall incomplete for the 34-31 home victory.
 
The Tigers answered a Wildcat field goal by driving 68 yards to stun the Wildcat Stadium crowd for a go-ahead touchdown, 31-27, with only 1:37 left to play. But, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Durham had his own quick-strike magic. After two-straight connections to Corintheus Edmonds covered 46 yards, Durham drilled Fralon Warren over the middle from 18 yards as FVSU retook the lead, 34-31.
 
With 51 seconds, Edward Waters took over on its 41-yardline. The Tigers moved the pigskin to the home 40-yardline, but a Wildcat penalty moved the ball to the 25-yardline with only three seconds left. Quarterback Jyron Russell, who finished with 368 yards passing and 385 yards of total offense, fired to the endzone only to see the pass fall incomplete to end the game with 24 combined fourth-quarter points.
 
Leading the home offense, Durham completed 17 of 30 passes for 252 yards with three scores to one interception. Edmonds accounted for 99 of those yards on four grabs with the night's opening score of nine yards. Warren also had four receptions to cover 34 yards and the game-winning score. Za'tarious Anderson had one catch for 43 yards, while Gentry Sparks pulled in three passes for 38 yards.  Brandon Marshall broke a tackle behind the line, darted through the line and broke off a 43-yard touchdown and Kentrelle Williams added a 10-yard touchdown catch and 35 yards rushing.
 
Dylan Stokes paced the FVSU defense with seven tackles and a breakup. Malik Harp recorded two tackles for loss of his six stops and Marquis Hood posted a sack.  

Edward Waters outgained FVSU for the game, 477-338, but threw two interceptions to the home team's one.
 
FVSU started the night fast as it drove 65 yards on 12 plays on the game's first possession when Durham hit Edmonds from nine yards away. Edward Waters took its first lead five minutes later after it converted a two-point conversion after a score, 8-7. Daniel Gibbs edged FVSU ahead with the first of two field goals coming from 25 yards for a 10-8 tally after 15 minutes.
 
Williams caught the 10-yard scoring strike with under five minutes gone in the second frame and the Tigers booted a short field goal for a 17-11 halftime score.
 
Marshall's tough 43-yard scoring run gave FVSU the largest lead of the night at 24-11.
 

FVSU Last Weekend: Wildcats Dominate Second Half, Blank Tigers

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats corrected the first-half mistakes and tightened the ship in the final 30 minutes. Fort Valley State dominated the second half and blanked Savannah State, 30-0, in the rescheduled and location moved football game on Sunday afternoon.

After fumbling twice and not taking advantage of an interception in the opening two quarters, the Wildcats played near flawless second-half football. The BlueDeath Defense held the Tigers to two first downs on the opening drive of the third quarter and one in the fourth, allowed only 75 yards, sacked the quarterback six times and forced four punts. The FVSU offense found the end zone four times and amassed 258 yards in a 27-0 second half performance.

Leading 3-0 after Daniel Gibbs booted a 44-yard field goal as time ran out of the first half, Brandon Marshall capped FVSU late third-quarter drives with scoring runs of four and seven yards for separation on the scoreboard, 16-0. The home defense spearheaded it from there.

With the victory, FVSU improves to 7-0 under head coach Shawn Gibbs after a loss. The Wildcats evened its season mark to 2-2 and 2-1 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. It is also the second win in a row over Savannah State (1-3/1-2 SIAC) and second home shut out after doing the same to Kentucky State (42-0) two weeks ago.

The Wildcat defense held the Tiger offense to 163 yards on the day on 52 plays. The unit held its second foe to negative rushing yards at -7 yards on 26 carries. The home defense also held Savannah State to 1 for 12 on third down, forced three turnovers and sacked the quarterback eight times for 40 yards.

Leading the defense was freshman K.J. Spence, who had five tackles, one for a loss, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass. Tre'vyon Webb was also in on five stops, while DeMarcus Harris had four tackles and three quarterback hurries.

Josh Burney recorded his biggest day as a Wildcat on the defensive line with 2.5 sacks of his three tackles. Alphonso Harris added 1.5 sacks of his own with one hurry. Adeon Farmer took down three ball carriers with a sack and three hurries, while D.J. Wilson chipped in three tackles with one for a loss. Kentrell Lawson posted a sack of his own, broke up a pass and had two tackles.

Omarion LaRoach and Janorris Robertson rounded out the big sack day with one apiece. Cedric Hillsman contributed a tackle for loss and two tackles. Dray Duncan picked off the Tiger pass.

The FVSU offense produced 436 yards on 68 plays from scrimmage. The unit ran for 141 yards on 41 carries and covered 295 yards on 20 completions.

On the offense, Kelvin Durham had an efficient day directing the attack as he was 20 for 26 passing for 295 yards and a touchdown. Jamie Hampton pulled in three of those passes for 93 yards and Dejuan Bell had three for 30 yards with five punt returns for 49 yards. Alex Henton caught two passes for 33 yards with his first FVSU score of 15 yards.

In three quarters, Marshall rumbled for 69 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns, while he caught five balls for 73 yards. Triston Morgan ran five times for 41 yards. Jamal Sanders rushed for 29 yards and had two catches for 21 yards.

Leading 10-0 later in the third quarter, Burney sacked the Savannah State quarterback on both first and third down and helped force a quick possession. FVSU took advantage of taking over on the SSU 39-yardline as Durham hit Marshall for 32 yards on a pass before Marshall ran left for a six-yard score on the next play for the 16-0 lead.

EWU Last Weekend: Tuskegee Scores Final 24 Points, Overtakes Edward Waters

JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Edward Waters owned the second quarter, but it could not maintain the advantage in the second half. Tuskegee scored the only 24 points of the final 30 minutes and took away the 27-13 victory over Edward Waters.

Former FVSU running back Kentrelle Williams led the Tigers running game with 50 yards on four carries. Keith Moore threw for 172 yards on 11 of 18 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions. Widmyer Garcon and Dartrell Rolle led the EWU defense with nine and eight tackles and a combined three tackles for loss.

Wildcats vs. Tigers

Homecoming in The Valley Next Saturday

The Wildcats call for all alumni, family and friends to head to Fort Valley next weekend as it will be Homecoming in 'The Valley.' FVSU hosts Allen University in a 2 p.m. kick-off at Wildcat Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12.

-Wildcats-