Albany, Ga. — In front of a raucous home crowd of 3,547 fans at the Albany State University Coliseum, the Albany State Golden Rams fought off a determined Savannah State team to secure a thrilling 21-18 victory on Senior Day. With the win, the Golden Rams improve to 8-1 overall and 7-0 in SIAC play, officially clinching the No. 1 seed and the right to host the 2025 SIAC Football Championship Game.

The win marks the first time since 2019 that Albany State will host the title game, and the program's ninth championship appearance since 2011  the most of any team in the conference. Miles College follows with seven appearances over that span.

Albany State set the tone early behind the leadership of quarterback Isaiah Knowles, who punched in a one-yard rushing touchdown midway through the first quarter to give the Golden Rams a 7-0 lead. Knowles continued his sharp play into the second quarter, connecting with Roderick McCrary on a 12-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0. Savannah State managed a 35-yard field goal late in the half, but Albany State carried a 14-3 advantage into the locker room after controlling both sides of the ball outgaining the Tigers and forcing multiple turnovers in the opening half.

The second half saw both defenses rise to the occasion. Savannah State cut the lead to 14-10 early in the third quarter before Knowles answered again, finding Omari Stewart for a 23-yard touchdown strike that extended ASU's lead to 21-10. The Tigers refused to back down, capitalizing on a short field in the fourth quarter to trim the deficit to 21-18 after a five-yard touchdown run by David Gardner, Jr. and a successful two-point conversion. From that point forward, the Golden Rams' defense clamped down to preserve the victory.

Led by standout performances from Tyrell Gainey and Aydin Henningham, Albany State's defense rose to the occasion when it mattered most. Gainey intercepted two key passes, including a game-sealing pick in the final minute, while Henningham and Zelly Aldridge combined for multiple sacks that kept Savannah State's offense in check.

The Golden Rams' defense recorded 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, and three interceptions while holding Savannah State to just 24 rushing yards on the afternoon. Knowles finished the game completing 18 of 30 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding a rushing score. McCrary contributed 91 total yards and a receiving touchdown, while Stewart led all receivers with 74 yards and a touchdown. With the win, Albany State solidifies its place atop the SIAC standings and earns the right to host the 2025 SIAC Football Championship Game. The opponent will be determined following next week's conference results.

Before the championship showdown, the Golden Rams will turn their attention to the 35th Fountain City Classic, where they'll face longtime rival Fort Valley State on Saturday, November 8 at 2 PM in Columbus, Georgia. The Golden Rams look to carry their momentum into the rivalry game and continue their pursuit of a conference title and postseason glory.

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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.