BATON ROUGE, La. — After a huge Wildcat win at home last week Fort Valley State figured they would go into Jaguar country and get a win over Southern University. The Wildcats had several chances but could not overcome the mistakes as they dropped a game that should have been won 31-14 to the Jaguars Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
Fort Valley State is 1-3 overall and 1-0 in SIAC action while Southern improves to 2-3 overall.
The 21-7 first quarter score does not tell the tale as the Wildcats were in the game, but made to mean miscues. There is no need in crying over spilled milk but FVSU fumbled the ball on the Jaguars 1-yard line while trying to score with Southern recovering.
On the second play from scrimmage, Southern scored off a Cameron Mackey end-around run to the left side for a 62-yard touchdown; Cesar Barajas’ kick was good 7-0 (13:57). The Wildcats punted the ball after a three and out, Jaguars Danny Johnson returned the punt 68-yards for Southern’s second score; Barajas’ kick was good 14-0 (12:17).
At the 7:22 mark FVSU scored off a Southern punt from their own end zone and taken by Wildcats Lorenzo Smothers on Jaguars 42 yard line. Smothers would return ball 42-yards for the Wildcats first score; Juan Serna’s kick was good 7-14.
Then, with .44 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Austin Howard threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jamarqueza Mims to increase the score; Cesar Barajas’ kick was good 21-7.
With 10:48 left in the second quarter, FVSU’s Malcolm Garrett forced a Jaguar fumble at the Jaguar 21 and recovered by Vann Scott at the 21-yard line. Two flags later, Quarterback Slade Jarman walked into the end zone from two yards out for the second score; Serna’ kick was good 14-21 (9:38).
The two teams would go back and forth until the 8:21 mark in the third quarter as Southern’s kicker Barajas added three points on a 45-yard field goal, 24-14.
In the fourth quarter, FVSU had two missed field goals by Serna from 38-yards out and 46-yards away.
Southern completed the scoring late in the fourth on a John Lampley 28-yard run for a touchdown; Barajas’ kick was good 31-14.
On the night the Wildcats gained a total of 256-yards of total offense, 193-yards on 42 carries of that by way of the ground. Southern had 373 total yards of offense and 283-yards rushing.
Myles Graham led the Wildcats in rushing with 116-yards on 11 carries and the team’s first rushing 100-yard game this season. Chauncey Jackson followed with 44-yards. Slade Jarman completed 9-of-19 passes for 63-yards while scoring one touchdown on the ground. Smothers had four catches for 22-yards to lead FVSU. Jeremy McCants showed up and showed out with 100-yards in kickoff returns.
Defensively, David Brown added firepower to the defense by leading all tackles with 16 tackles (12 solos) and three tackle-for-loss for 8-yards. Kentron James had six tackles and one tackle-for-loss.
The Wildcats will be back on the road next week as they travel to Atlanta, GA to take on the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University at 2 p.m.
Courtesy: FVSU Athletics
