Box Score
September 16, 2017

ALBANY, GA- North Greenville University handed the #16 ranked Albany State University Golden Rams their first loss of the year with a 35-27 victory Saturday night at ASU Coliseum.

With Saturday night's result both teams find themselves at 2-1 overall on the young season.

The Crusaders did most of their damage  on the ground, rolling up 266 yards behind two 100-yard rushers. Ashton Heard had 17 carries for 134 yards and a 31 yard rushing touchdown while teammate Tracy Scott found the end zone twice with TDs from 25 and 31 yards out. Scott finished the night with 119 yards rushing at 9.9 yards per carry.

The Crusaders ran 20 fewer plays (56) than the Golden Rams for 378 yards of total offense to 503 yards of offense for the home team. NGU was 3-3 in red zone chances and made their way into the end zone in each quarter of play.

ASU took the game's opening drive 11 plays, 69 yards and Gabriel Ballinas hit a field goal from 25 yards out for an early 3-0 advantage. However their (only) lead was short lived when NGU took the ensuing possession 55 yards in just 5 plays and with Scott's first TD, the visitors jumped in front 7-3. Matt Gravely capped a 9-play, 57 yard drive with a 19 yard field goal with 7 seconds left in the opening quarter for a 10-3 advantage.

The game's biggest momentum swing came when the Crusaders capitalized on a muffed ASU punt and recovered the ball at the Golden Rams' 33 yard line. Two plays, later Scott danced back into the end zone for another score and symbolic of ASU's luck on Saturday, the blocked extra point attempt was scooped up by Jordan Helms. Helms powered his way across the goal line for a two-point conversion and an 18-6 Crusader lead.

North Greenville added a touchdown and a field goal in the third quarter to negate the Golden Rams' first touchdown of the game, an 8-yard running score by Chancellor Johnson.

At the start of the fourth, ASU trailed 28-13 until a 6 yard TD run by McKinley Habersham; the extra point was blocked along with any momentum the Golden Rams had hoped to build when NGU QB Will Hunter connected on his first passing score, a 7-yard touchdown to Demajiay Rooks with 9:08 to go.

Albany State added touchdown reception by Chris Sparks with 1:07 left for the final point spread.

The Golden Rams will hit the road for two straight weeks starting with the University of West Georgia on Saturday, September 23^rd in Carrollton, GA. Game time is scheduled for 2pm.