COLUMBUS, GA – The Fort Valley State University Wildcats football team is headed to Montgomery, Ala., to play for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship for the first time since 1999, after winning the Fountain City Classic game over Albany State University 21-17. The victory clinched the SIAC Eastern Division Championship and earned the team a spot in the championship game. The Wildcats will face Kentucky State University in a re-match game, as Kentucky State defeated the Wildcats 10-26 on October 8th at Wildcats Stadium.
FVSU rushed for a net 76 yards and ASU had 77, they passed for 186 yards to ASU’s 131, while gaining over 262 total yards of offense to ASU’s 209. [easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cart=”y” identifier=”B01LWSN2IR” locale=”US” tag=”hbcusports-20″]
Freshman running back Jamari Clark led the Wildcats in rushing with 41 yards on four carries and junior running back Chauncey Jackson added 26 yards. Senior quarterback Otis Brown completed 13-of-26 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 11 yards. Junior wide receiver Bodarius Johnson led with five catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns, freshman wide receiver Alphonso Martinez added 46 yards on three catches.
Defensively, senior defensive back Brian Walker was named Fountain City Classic Defensive Player of the Game, while leading the team in tackles with nine (five solos), one and a half (6) sacks, one and a half (6) tackles for losses, two pass break ups and one quarterback hurry. Senior linebacker Ryan Bowman added nine tackles (4 solos), one (6) sack and one (6) sack. Freshman defensive back Camron Young had one interception and eight tackles, along with senior defensive lineman Samuel Goode eight tackles.
Jarvis Small led ASU in rushing with 80 yards on 17 carries, Caleb Edmonds completed 10-for-24 passes for 132 yards, one touchdown and one interception and Quadrey Simmons had four receptions for 82 yards. Marquez Thomas led on defense with eight tackles (6 solos) and one quarterback hurry.
ASU’s 17 points came in first half off an Edmonds touchdown pass to Treyvon Vallery, Vallery one yard run and Emilio Maldonad’s 20 yard field goal, (ASU 17 – FVSU 0).
The Wildcats started their comeback in the third quarter with 12:12 on the clock, Brown connected with Johnson on an 18 yarder, Juan Serna kick was good, (FVSU 7 – ASU 17).
Then with 14:14 in the fourth quarter, sophomore defensive back Samuel Ryan recovered an ASU fumble and returned 47 yards for the touchdown, Serna’s kick was good, FVSU 14 – ASU 17).
Brown completed FVSU’s comeback with a 39 yard touchdown pass to Johnson with 9:45 left in the game, completing a five play, 56 yard drive, Serna kick was good, (FVSU 21 – ASU 17).
Next game: FVSU travels to Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday, November 12, 2016 to play for the SIAC Championship against Kentucky State University in a 7 p.m. contest at the Cramton Bowl.
Courtesy: FVSU Athletics
