COLUMBUS, GA- Running back Jarvis Small rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns to take Most Valuable Player honor and lead the Albany State Golden Rams to a 32-21 win over archrival Fort Valley State in the 25th Annual Fountain City Classic. With the victory, ASU finishes the regular season with a 7-2 overall record and a perfect 7-0 in the SIAC. The Wildcats finish the year at 6-4, 4-3.
The Golden Rams now lead the series in the rivalry 34-28-3 in 65 meetings. They also hold a 19-6 edge since the two teams began playing in the FCC, which started in 1989.
After Albany State's first possession in the first quarter failed to produce any points, Fort Valley used one play to score a 67-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. The Golden Rams would answer with an 11-play, 56-yard drive in 5:41 that ended with a 43-yard field goal by kicker Stefan Whitehead. ASU trailed 7-3 at the 5:27 mark.
Three minutes later, Small gave Albany State a 10-7 advantage with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. Zachary Gayden-Holley made the PAT, and the drive went for four plays and 45 yards in 1:52.
With 10:25 remaining before halftime, Small scored again to cap an 11-play, 70-yard drive that used 5:28. The Golden Rams led 17-7 at that moment. The Wildcats responded with a 43-yard touchdown to make the score 17-14, which would stand at intermission. Albany State had an opportunity to score on a fourth and one before halftime, but Small was stopped short of the goal line.
In the third period, Albany State's Emmauel Brown forced and recovered an FVSU fumble on the kickoff to give the Golden Rams the possession. ASU could not get the ball in the end zone, but Whitehead connected on a 44-yard field goal with 13:33 left to give his team a 20-14 lead.
At the 5:10 mark, Fort Valley State regained the lead at 21-20 after a 1-yard score. ASU responded with an 8-play, 80-yard drive in 3:52 that was capped by Frank Rivers 22-yard pass to Quadrey Simmons. The Golden Rams led 26-21 after the two-point conversion failed.
Early in the fourth quarter, Gayden-Holley hit a 33-yard field goal to give the Golden Rams a 29-21 lead with 9:27 left in the game. During the next Wildcat drive, Larry Whitfield forced a fumble that was recovered by Calvin Harris to give Albany State another opportunity to increase its lead. Gayden-Holley did just that, connecting on another 33-yard field goal with 4:32 remaining in the game to give ASU a commanding 32-21 lead and secure victory.
Rivers was 20-34 for 253 yards and a touchdown. Leonard Walker caught four of those passes for 79 yards.
Defensively, Tavarius Washington led the Golden Rams with eight tackles and a sack. Keionten Miller added seven tackles, Nick Scott had six tackles and Jamal Abd Al-Qadir recorded five tackles, two forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Albany State returns to action on Saturday, November 15th when they face the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers in the 2014 SIAC Championship game. Tuskegee won the SIAC West Division title when they defeated Miles College 48-33 on Saturday. The Golden Tigers defeated the Golden Rams 20-12 in their initial meeting this season.
The SIAC championship will be played in Montgomery, Alabama at the Cramton Bowl. Game time is set for 8 p.m. central time.
