FORT VALLEY, Ga. – After a week off, the Wildcats are set to return to action. Fort Valley State aims for success this weekend when Kentucky State comes to middle Georgia.

For the first time in as far back as can be found accurately, the Wildcats have their second home game starting a gridiron season in The Valley. FVSU welcomes Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference fellow member Kentucky State in a 1:05 p.m. kick-off for the Community/Family Day at Wildcat Stadium.

--------------

Kentucky State (0-2) vs. FVSU (0-1)
Sat., Sept. 14, 1 p.m.
Wildcat Stadium
(A Cashless facility)
Tickets/Parking/Tailgating
HBCUGo
FVSU Stats
KSU Stats
--------------

FVSU Aims to Keep Trends Going Under Gibbs

After falling in the season opener on the final day of August, FVSU and head coach Shawn Gibbs aims to keep Game 2 trends going for the program.

For the program and Wildcat coach, FVSU has won its last two second games of the year. Last season, FVSU claimed a 40-17 road win at Clark Atlanta and in 2022 the Wildcats held on for a low-scoring 9-7 win over the Thorobreds of KSU.

FVSU last Game 2 defeat came on Sept. 11 of 2021 by a 34-7 final score at Florida A&M.

Gibbs Looks for 6^th Rebound Victory

In the beginnings of his third year at the helm, FVSU head coach Shawn Gibbs looks to guide his team to a rebound win on Saturday.
Over his first five Wildcat defeats, Gibbs' teams have won the following game. He will take the 5-0 mark in games after a loss to the test against Kentucky State.

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

Wildcats vs. Thorobreds for Third Year in a Row

After taking six years from playing, FVSU-Kentucky State renewed their gridiron series for the third year in a row this Saturday.
Saturday will be the 35^th meeting between the two SIAC members. The Wildcats have won over 70-percent of the first 34 contests with 24 victories in them. FVSU has also won 9 of the last 12, including the last two with a 31-9 win in Frankfort a year ago.

FVSU leads series 24-10 and 4-1 in the last five played in Fort Valley.
Last 12 Scores:
2023 – FVSU 31, @KSU 9
2022 – @FVSU 9, KSU 7
2016 – FVSU 33, KSU 30 (N) – SIAC Champ
2016 – KSU 26, @FVSU 10
2015 – FVSU 35, @KSU 10
2014 – @FVSU 36, KSU 21
2013 - @KSU 17, FVSU 11
2012 - @FVSU 36, KSU 6
2011 - @KSU 25, FVSU 24
2010 – FVSU 14, @KSU 12
2009 - @FVSU 20, KSU 13
2008 – FVSU 59, @KSU 21

HBCU D2 Poll: Virginia Union on top; Shaw undefeated, enters poll

boxtorow.com

Virginia Union played FCS opponent Hampton and despite falling still remains No. 1 in the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW. The Panthers received a majority of the first place votes.

No. 2 Fayetteville State moved up one spot after a come-from-behind victory over rival UNC Pembroke. It was the Broncos first game of the season. No. 3 Johnson C. Smith also moved up a spot and remained undefeated after defeating Morehouse. The Golden Bulls are tied with Virginia State who fell to FCS opponent Norfolk State. No. 5 Clark Atlanta also remained undefeated, downing Allen and moving up one spot from last week.

The biggest jump was made by Shaw who moved to 2-0 on the season after its come-from-behind victory at previously ranked Albany State. The Golden Rams dropped out of this week's poll. Winston-Salem State also was able to sneak into the poll for the first time this year at No. 9 even though it fell to North Carolina A&T in overtime.

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 2
(Records through September 7, 2024)

Others receiving: Albany State (0-2) 21, West Virginia State (1-0) 19, Bowie State (0-1) 17, Tuskegee (0-2) 17, Savannah State (0-1) 5, Lane (0-1) 4, Edward Waters (1-1) 3, Allen (0-1) 2, Livingstone (1-1) 2, Elizabeth City State (1-1) 1.

(1st place votes in parentheses)

Wildcats Final Pass Fails Incomplete in Endzone, Panthers Hold on

FVSU After an early two-score lead, Fort Valley State saw Clark Atlanta turn the tide and passed its way to a 45-42 football upset on Saturday afternoon.

Following a final CAU punt, FVSU took over with under 20 seconds. On the final play, Durham lofted the 'hail marry' pass into the right corner of the endzone which was almost caught before it hit the turf ending the day.

In the opening 6:47 of the contest, FVSU took advantage of good field position and saw Kelvin Durham hit Za'Tavious Anderson for the opening points and Brandon Marshall run in the second touchdown for a 14-0 lead. Clark Atlanta gained its footing and turned the game into a back-and-forth afternoon the rest of the way. In fact, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest was not decided until the final play's battle in the right corner of the endzone saw the Wildcat pass eventually hit the turf and gave the Panthers the tight win.

It was FVSU's second season opening loss decided upon in the final play in a row. In the 2023 first contest, the Wildcats fell one-yard short of the endzone on the final rushing play as Tuskegee edge the 35-31 final.

Kentucky State Suffers Second Tough Outcome

For the second week in a row of the early season, Kentucky State had a tough outcome against a quality foe. After facing the HBCU D2's top-rated team in Virginia Union in the opening weekend (69-7), Kentucky State faced Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Ala., and fell by a 49-7 final.

(Courtesy of KSU Athletic Comms) - Despite standout performances from Deshun Tisdale, who recorded two interceptions, and Trevon Pope, who led both teams with six solo tackles, Kentucky State football fell to Alabama A&M, 49-7, on Saturday night.

  On defense Trevon Pope led the Thorobreds with 11 tackles that included six solo and five assisted. Tisdale recorded two interceptions along with six tackles.
  Quarterback Jaun Gainious completed 16 passes for a total of 144 yards with a long of 40 yards and one touchdown pass. Kane Anderson had six receptions for 74 yards.

  Kentucky State's Gainious connected with Kale Anderson on a 40-yard pass, moving the Thorobreds to the Alabama A&M 30-yard line. After a short completion to Grant Denicola, Gainious found Anderson again to put Kentucky State in the red zone. The Thorobreds capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Hale, putting their first seven points on the board.

  Tisdale grabbed his second interception of the night at 3:37, but the Bulldogs quickly answered by picking off Gainious on the very next play. The Bulldogs would go on to defeat the Thorobreds 49-7.
 

Wildcats Travels to Mississippi Next Saturday

The Wildcats are scheduled to play their first road contest of the 2024 season next weekend. FVSU travels to take on a South Region power Delta State on Saturday evening, Sept. 21. Kick is set for 6 p.m. CST/7 p.m. EST.



 

-Wildcats-