FORT VALLEY, Ga. – For the second time this season, the Wildcats look to rebound from a tough result. Fort Valley State heads to the east coast of Georgia this weekend for a battle against Savannah State.
For the second week in a row, the Wildcats go under the lights. FVSU will be in Savannah, Ga., against rival Savannah State in a 6 p.m. kick-off.
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FVSU (1-2)/1-0 SIAC) at Savannah State (1-2/1-1 SIAC)
Sat., Sept. 28, 6 p.m.
Ted Wright Stadium
Tickets
ESPN+
Live Stats
FVSU Stats
Savannah State Stats
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FVSU vs. Savannah State -- 55th Meeting
With Saturday's kick-off, it will be the 55th time FVSU and Savannah State has met on the football field.
The Wildcats have recorded 36 victories with three ties in the first 54 meetings for a .694 winning percentage.
After returning to the SIAC five years ago, the Wildcats claimed their first victory over the Tigers of the four meetings of the series -- 2019 in Savannah with a 53-24 final, 24-6 in 2021 at Fort Valley, 2022 in Macon the Tigers won 28-24 before the Wildcats won at home by a 38-24 final.
The Wildcats have gone 9-5 in the last 14 contests of the series. FVSU had won five of the last six outcomes before SSU's return to the league.
Last 14 Scores:
2023 – @FVSU 38, SSU 24
2022 – SSU 28, FVSU 24 (@Macon)
2021 – SSU 24, @FVSU 6
2019 – @SSU 53, FVSU 24
2014 – FVSU 42, @SSU 28
2013 – @SSU 27, FVSU 20
2010 – FVSU 41, SSU 10 (at Macon)
2007 – FVSU 33, SSU 2
2002 – FVSU 25, SSU 6
2001 – FVSU 35, SSU 0
2000 – SSU 37, FVSU 13
1999 – FVSU 35, SSU 25
1998 – FVSU 28, SSU 10
1997 – FVSU 12, SSU 3
FVSU Game 4 Season Streak
The fourth game of the season over the last four seasons have been successes. FVSU has put a 'W' in the win column in each of the last four Game 4 editions.
Under Coach Gibbs, FVSU is 2-0 the last two years with wins over Kentucky State (31-9) in 2023 and Bluefield State (44-27) in 2022.
The four games started in 2021 (at Allen University – 56-20) and 2019 (vs. Benedict – 50-16). The last Game 4 defeat came at Benedict in 2018 by a 28-20 final score.
Gibbs Looks to Extend Rebound Victories Going
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 will be the second time in 2024, FVSU aims to have a rebound victory. The Wildcats improved their streak to 6-0 with Gibbs as they defeated the Thorobreds of Kentucky State two weeks ago by a 42-0 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
FVSU Stays at No. 8 in HBCU D2 Coaches Poll
HBCU D2 Football Coaches Poll:
BOXTOROW.com
There are a few teams that are in unfamiliar territory at the top of the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW.
For the first time ever, the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls are No. 1 in the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW. The Golden Bulls received all but three first place votes. Those three first place votes went to the No. 2 Clark Atlanta Panthers, who like the Golden Bulls, are also undefeated.
JCSU and CAU are not the only two schools with unfamiliarity at the top of the poll. No. 3 Winston-Salem State and No. 4 Shaw each received their highest rankings ever. The Rams moved up four spots from last week, while Shaw moved up two spots. Both teams won each of its games last week. Fayetteville State remained at No. 5.
Previous No. 1 Virginia Union lost to JCSU and fell from the top spot to No. 6. Virginia State fell to WSSU and fell four spots to No. 7.
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 4
(Records through September 21, 2024)
|
No.
|
Team
|
W-L
|
Pts
|
Last Week
|
|
1
|
Johnson C. Smith (18)
|
4-0
|
217
|
2
|
|
2
|
Clark Atlanta (3)
|
3-0-1
|
198
|
4
|
|
3
|
Winston-Salem State
|
3-1
|
148
|
7
|
|
4
|
Shaw
|
3-1
|
131
|
6
|
|
5
|
Fayetteville State
|
2-1
|
130
|
5
|
|
6
|
Virginia Union
|
1-2
|
115
|
1
|
|
7
|
Virginia State
|
1-2
|
70
|
3
|
|
8
|
Fort Valley State
|
1-2
|
61
|
8
|
|
9
|
Miles
|
1-2
|
52
|
9
|
|
10
|
West Virginia State
|
2-1
|
22
|
NR
|
Others receiving: Albany State (0-2) 14, Elizabeth City State (2-2) 13, Savannah State (1-2) 8, Bowie State (1-2) 7, Benedict (1-2) 6, Edward Waters (1-3) 3, Tuskegee (0-3) 3, Livingstone (2-2) 3, Lane (1-2) 2, Central State (1-3) 2.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2023 Meeting: Wildcats Bust Out of Half, Marshall Long Run Seals Victory Over Tigers
FORT VALLEY, Ga. – Fort Valley State busted out of the intermission with two touchdowns in the first 4:01 to set the tone, before Brandon Marshall busted a long 56-yard scoring run to seal the victory in a 38-24 football win over Savannah State.
Trailing 17-10 at half, the Tigers' quarterback Jadon Adams coughed up the pigskin on a Jaydn Walker hit where DeMarcus Harris scooped up loose ball and rumbled in from nine yards on the first snap of the third quarter to tie the game. Following an immediate three-and-out by the visitors, Kelvin Durham fired a strike over the middle to Za'Tarious Anderson from 24 yards for FVSU's first lead of the game, 24-17, at 10:59 in the third frame.
Savannah State rebounded for a strong 72-yard scoring drive on its next possession to even the score at 24. Marshall, though, had the answer of the night and repeated what has become a weekly result with the FVSU running back of long scoring runs. From the home 44-yardline, Marshall, again, busted tackles until seeing daylight on the left sideline and outraced a handful of defenders into the endzone for the 56-yard run for what would be the game-winning points, 31-24, with 2:13 in the third quarter.
Midway through the final quarter, Marshall busted into the Savannah State secondary and had his knee hit at the visitors one-yardline. Freshman Triston Morgan sidestepped a grabbling Tiger tackler and slide into the end zone for his first career touchdown to seal the home win, 38-24, with 7:43 remaining.
On the night, Marshall accounted for 219 yards of FVSU's 377 yards of total offense. The graduate running back carried 28 times for 187 yards (6.7-yard per carry) and the 56-yard score. He also pulled in two passes for another 32 yards.
Durham connected on 11 of 21 passes for 137 yards with two touchdown passes to Anderson of 33 and 24 yards with one interception and ran one time for 28 yards. Anderson pulled in his two scoring catches for 57 yards. Corintheus Edmonds pulled in four passes for 36 yards.
After allowing 188 yards in the first two quarters, the FVSU defense cut the amount almost in half to 107 yards. The Wildcat unit allowed only 59 rushing yards on 29 attempts and recorded 13 tackles for loss, two interceptions, the key forced fumble and 11 quarterback hurries.
Malik Harp paced the home defense with nine tackles, two for loss, and one hurry. Cedric Hillsman added seven tackles, two for loss and three hurries, while Darnell Stephens posted seven stops, one for loss and a breakup. Jamal Janvier and Justin Harris picked off passes.
After Durham scampered 28 yards on a scramble to the SSU 28-yardline on the second play of the game, the FVSU quarterback saw his first pass picked off by a jumping Savannah State player and returned 31 yards. The Wildcat turnover was turned into a touchdown six plays later.
FVSU answered on its next possession with a Daniel Gibbs season-long 41-yard field goal. The Tigers, though, drove 60 yards for a second score to go ahead, 14-3, with 2:02 in the opening 15 minutes.
Behind 17-3, Durham quickly drove his FVSU offense 65 yards on six plays before he found Anderson in the left corner from 33 yards to make it 17-10 and take momentum into the half.
Last Weekend: No. 24 Statesmen Escapes Wildcats Upset Bid
CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Wildcats led for three quarters and clawed their way until the last play Saturday night. Fort Valley State showed its prowess and pushed No. 24 Delta State to the limit before the home team escaped with a 27-24 football victory.
After FVSU tied the game with four minutes left, Delta State quickly drove 73 yards five plays to the visiting 5-yardline. The Wildcat defense stiffened and held the Statesman to a 22-yard field goal with 1:16 remaining. FVSU took over for one last chance to retie the contest, but it fell short ending the upset bid.
The late tie and potential Wildcat comeback was setup by the special teams. With the fourth quarter ticking away down behind a touchdown, the Wildcat special teams blocked a punt for the second week in a row this time by Triston Morgan and Brandon Marshall pushed his way into the end zone six plays later from a yard out for a 24-24 tie with 4:07 left.
On the night, Delta State (3-1) outgained FVSU, 413 to 293 yards. The Wildcats (1-2) had one more tackle for loss, six to five, and both blocked one kick – the Statesmen a field goal and the visitors a punt.
Marshall led the offensive effort with 28 touches of the football for 135 total yards and two scores. He rushed for 70 yards on 24 totes with the one-yard plunge and grabbed four passes for 65 yards, including a 28-yard scoring pass.
Kelvin Durham connected on 16 of 34 pass attempts for 217 yards with two touchdowns and one interception on the desperation pass on the game's final play.
Za'Tarious Anderson, who had a 15-yard touchdown catch as the game's first points, and Jamie Hampton both pulled in four passes for 65 yards apiece. DeJuan Bell added two passes for 20 yards.
Defensively, the Wildcat defense spread out the stats. Kentrell Lawson paced the effort with eight tackles with one for a loss. Jaquan Jackson posted six stops and Jaydn Walker had five with a tackle for loss. The other four FVSU tackles for loss belonged to Kamari Blankumsee, Josh Burney, Cedric Hillsman and Marquis Hood.
Delta State's quarterback Cole Kirk passed 39 times and completed 24 of them for 241 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats started fast and set the game's tone on the first possession of the game. On the second offensive play, Durham hit Hampton for a 42-yard strike to the home 15-yardline. Durham faked a pass and fired it to a diving Anderson in the endzone from 15 yards away and a 7-0 lead only one-minute into the night.
Delta State answered with an equally impressive first drive. The Statesmen drove 62 yards and tied it at 7-7.
FVSU retook the advantage in the early second quarter when Daniel Gibbs booted a 36-yard field goal and a 10-7 score at 13:26.
After back-to-back Marshall runs of 23 and 18 yards, Durham found his running back down the right sideline and he raced the rest of the 28 yards for the second FVSU touchdown and 17-7 lead at 6:12.
Delta State chipped in a 26-yard field goal with 27 seconds before the half for a 17-10 intermission score.
Last Weekend: Savannah State 4th Quarter Overtakes Tuskegee
TUSKEGEE, Ala – Savannah State scored two touchdowns over a 1:26 span and overtook host Tuskegee University, 20-16, last Saturday.
Tuskegee led 10-6 at half and increased it to 16-6 with another scored in the third frame. Savannah State, then, saw Shamarcus Poole plunge in from two yards out at 8:44 and Jhaydon Sullivan threw a 20-yard strike for the game-winning score with 7:18 left.
Sullivan completed 12 of 19 passes for 178 yards and two scores. Gary Davis led the Tigers with 10 tackles.
Wildcats vs. Tigers
FVSU Category SSU
36.0 ppg Scoring Offense 11.0 ppg
24.0 ppg Scoring Defense 22.7 ppg
356.0 yds/gm Total Offense 172.7 yds/gm
113.7 yds/gm Rush Offense 52.0 yds/gm
242.3 yds/gm Pass Offense 120.7 yds/gm
338.0 yds/gm Total Defense 386.4 yds/gm
71.0 yds/gm Rush Defense 145.7 yds/gm
267.0 yds/gm Pass Defense 240.7 yds/gm)
FVSU travels to Florida Next Saturday
The Wildcats complete their 3-game road swing next weekend. FVSU travels to Jacksonville, Fla., where it takes on Edward Waters on Oct. 6. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+
-Wildcats-
