Football 11/12/2026 12:16:00 AM Chris Myers

Golden Rams Aim for Strong Finale Against Hawks

ALBANY, Ga. – After all fans, friends and alumni went home happy last Saturday evening, the Golden Rams have been blessed with an extra game this weekend. Albany State aims for a strong added finish in a Week 11 game at Shorter University.
     ASU faces an in-state foe in a Shorter program with a deceiving record in a battle of Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Conference Carolinas teams. The Golden Rams and Hawks kick off the action at 2 p.m. It can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on the ASU Radio Network on WZBN 105.5 FM.

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Albany State at Shorter University
Game Information
Saturday, Nov. 147
1 p.m. - Rome, Ga. - Barron Stadium

Tickets
Live Stats
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SIAC Season Week #11
ASU (5-5) vs. Shorter (3-7)
     It will be an extra contest for both these teams this weekend. Starting last year, the SIAC and Conference Carolinas created the situation where the top two teams not playing in the Conference Championship games would meet for Week 11.
     The deal was struck to strengthen the potential non-Championship Game resumes and better chance to make the NCAA Division II Region 2 playoffs where the top 8 teams received invitations.
     The Golden Rams head into the additional game on its second two-game win streak of the season after they raced past rival Wildcats of Fort Valley State in the 36^th Annual Fountain City Classic by a 49-0 final. ASU started the winning run with a 21-17 win at Clark Atlanta the prior week.
     The host Hawks come off a close 23-20 road loss to the Hawks of Chowan University. Shorter has fell in five of its last six games, but it did secure a 34-14 win two weeks ago in its home finale over Barton College.
     In five previous home games this fall, Shorter is 2-3 as it started the year with a big 65-6 win over Andrew College.

    Matchup vs. Common Opponents
     ASU and Shorter both have played nationally-ranked and SIAC regular season champion Benedict College at home.
     Shorter hosted Benedict first on September 5 where it lost in a close 24-20 final.
     ASU wrapped up its home slate against Benedict on Oct. 24. The Rams fell short in a 29-8 score.

Rams Look to Extend Winning Season Streak
            Compliments of a runaway victory over its biggest rival, Albany State clinched another non-losing season as it went to 5-5 in the regular season.
     With the opportunity Saturday of a Week 11 additional game, ASU now has the chance to extend the longest run of winning seasons in all HBCU football. The Golden Rams have posted winning seasons every year since 2001 where they went 4-6 for the second season in a row. A win over Shorter gives ASU 25 seasons of winning football.

3rd Meeting between Rams & Hawks
     For the third time, ASU and Shorter will meet on the gridiron. The two Georgia institutions meet for the third time since 2021 in the Week 11 matchup.
     ASU took away the victory in each of the previous two games. On Sept. 17 of 2022, ASU doubled up Shorter in Rome, Ga., by a 42-20 final. In the previous season on Sept. 11 of 2021, the Golden Rams pulled out the 28-12 win in Albany.

Hawks Second Season in Additional Week 11
     For the second year in a row, Shorter plays in the Week 11 SIAC-Conference Carolinas match up. Saturday will be ASU's first time in the agreement since it played in the SIAC title, which it won, last fall.
     Shorter made the not so short trip to Frankfort, Ky., against Kentucky State this weekend last year. The home Thorobreds posted three quick touchdowns in the first quarter for a 21-0 lead and led 28-7 at half before the 35-7 final.

Last Meeting – ASU 42, Shorter 20 (Sept. 17, 2022)
Albany, Ga. – Albany State put two rushing touchdowns on the scoreboard in the first quarter and never trailed against Shorter in the 42-20 final.
     The Hawks cut the two-score deficit down to 21-14 at half.
     The Rams, though, added two more scores in the third and a final one midway through the fourth frame for the win.
     ASU outgained Shorter by 117 yards as the two teams combined for 918 combined total yards (517 to 401).

Watts Earns Both SIAC & D2Football Defensive Player of the Week
     For There was not anyone in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference who made a quicker game-changing impact than last Saturday. Cameron Watts won the 36^th Annual Fountain City Classic for Albany State in the opening 47 seconds and earned both the SIAC and D2Football Defensive Player of the Week awards.
      The senior Golden Ram returned the game's opening kick-off 93 yards for a touchdown and then raced back a 53-yard interception for a second score on his opponent, rival Wildcats of Fort Valley State's third offensive play for a 14-0 lead only 47 seconds into the day. The defensive back added a second interception on the third offensive play of the third quarter down to the Fort Valley 2-yard line where ASU scored on the ensuing play of what would be a 49-0 victory.
     For the day, Watts from Tyrone, Ga., who was named the Fountain City Classic MVP, finished the day with four total tackles and a pass breakup to go with his pair of key interceptions with 88 return yards. He also had 93 kick return yards for the first touchdown.
ASU Last Game: Watts Ignites Golden Rams Blitz of Wildcats in 36th Fountain City Classic

     COLUMBUS, Ga. – It will make a great story for years to come after he made a quick and lasting impression in his final time wearing a Golden Ram uniform in the biggest rivalry affair. Cameron Watts ignited Albany State by returning the 36^th annual Fountain City Classic's opening kick off 93 yards for a touchdown and then intercepted Fort Valley State's pass on its third play and returned it 53 yards for a second touchdown in the game's first 47 seconds on the way to a 49-0 runaway football victory.

The Golden Rams never let the heated-rival Wildcats recover. After Fort Valley State pinned ASU to its own 5-yard line midway through the second quarter, Rodney McCrary broke off a 95-yard sprint to the other end of the field for the score. With a 28-0 lead to start the second half, Watts made another splash play as he picked off his second Fort Valley State pass, again on the third offensive play, and ran it back to the FVSU 2-yard line and set up the sealing score one play later and the rest was history.

Needless to say, Watts earned the Fountain City Classic Most Valuable Player with his four tackles, two interceptions returned for 88 yards with the one touchdown and the kick return touchdown.

ASU also preserves its run of non-losing seasons to 25 years in a row as it improved to 5-5 for the victory. It was also the Golden Rams' fourth Fountain City Classic win in a row and eighth in nine games.

Roderick McCrary led a 246-yard ASU ground game with 110 yards on six carries with touchdowns of 95 and 9 yards. Jayden Threatts added 58 yards on eight carries and Sincere Rodriguez burst through the line for a 22-yard scoring burst for the team's final points with 10:37 left in the contest.

Quarterback Jeffery Davis connected on 10 of 13 attempts for 95 yards and two scores. Jaquan Graham pulled in four passes for 32 yards and 5-yard score with 1:53 left in the first half.

Defensively, ASU held FVSU to only 207 yards of total offense (the Golden Rams totaled 369 yards). Rontavion Scott led with eight tackles, six solo. Evan Wynn recorded five tackles, an interception to seal the shutout and forced a fumble, while Avery Hall had five stops, a sack, two tackles for loss and grabbed a 2-yard touchdown pass on offense. Ian Rembert chipped in a pair of sacks and Derrick Drayton forced a fumble.

Shorter Last Game: Football Falls to Chowan 23-20 in Regular Season Finale
(courtesy of Shorter Athletic Comms)
MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Shorter football team battled until the final whistle on Saturday afternoon but ultimately came up short in a 23-20 defeat to Chowan at Garrison Field. The loss drops the Hawks to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

The hosts came out firing, scoring on their opening two possessions to take an early 13-0 lead. After another Shorter three-and-out, Hugh Barbee III provided a much-needed spark for the Hawks, coming away with an interception inside the Chowan 25-yard line to put Shorter in prime scoring position. The Hawks capitalized on the turnover, as Jeb Walls connected with David Hill for a 17-yard touchdown reception to cut into the deficit as the opening quarter came to a close.

Shorter carried that momentum into the second quarter, as Hill broke free for a 32-yard rushing touchdown to even the score at 13-13. Both defenses settled in over the next several possessions, forcing multiple stops to keep the contest deadlocked. However, Chowan managed to break through just before halftime, finding the end zone to reclaim a 20-13 advantage heading into the break.

The Hawks struggled to find their rhythm offensively coming out of halftime, as several possessions stalled throughout the third quarter. Chowan took advantage, connecting on a 23-yard field goal midway through the period to extend its lead to 23-13. Shorter began to find its footing late in the quarter, with Hill leading the charge on several strong runs to move the Hawks into the red zone heading into the final 15 minutes.

Hill continued his impressive afternoon to open the fourth quarter, finding the end zone for the third time to bring Shorter within a field goal at 23-20. Defensively, the Hawks rose to the occasion, limiting Chowan's offensive opportunities and keeping the contest within reach. However, the hosts' defensive pressure proved difficult to overcome, as multiple sacks disrupted Shorter's attempts to put together a go-ahead drive. The Hawks regained possession with under two minutes remaining, but were unable to generate a final scoring opportunity, ultimately falling in a hard-fought 23-20 contest.

Hill delivered a standout performance for the Hawks, carrying the ball 28 times for 182 yards and two rushing touchdowns while adding a receiving score to account for all three of Shorter's touchdowns. Defensively, Andrew Waldrep led the way with six tackles, while DJ Walker and Brandon Watson each finished with five. Barbee III also made his presence felt with a key first-quarter interception.

This Week By the Numbers

                              ASU                       Shorter
Offense                  25.2 ppg                 23.8 ppg
Defense                  17.9 ppg                 23.4 ppg

Total Offense          295.9 ypg               337.3 ypg
Rushing                  131.2 ypg               135.0 ypg
Passing                  164.7 ypg               202.3 ypg

Total Defense         283.7 ypg               278.8 ypg
Rushing                  96.1 ypg                 147.4 ypg
Passing                  187.6 ypg               131.4 ypg

-GoldenRams-

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Players Mentioned

#91 Derrick Drayton: DE; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#6 Cameron Watts: CB; 5' 8"; Senior

#21 Sincere Rodriguez: RB; 5' 11"; Senior

#32 Jayden Threatts: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

#10 Evan Wynn: DB; 6' 0"; Junior

#5 Rontavion Scott: S; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#40 Ian Rembert: LB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

#0 Roderick McCrary: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#7 Jeffery Davis: QB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#18 Jaquan Graham: WR; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#91 Derrick Drayton
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: DE

#6 Cameron Watts
: 5' 8"; Senior
: CB

#21 Sincere Rodriguez
: 5' 11"; Senior
: RB

#32 Jayden Threatts
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#10 Evan Wynn
: 6' 0"; Junior
: DB

#5 Rontavion Scott
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: S

#40 Ian Rembert
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore
: LB

#0 Roderick McCrary
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#7 Jeffery Davis
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: QB

#18 Jaquan Graham
: 5' 8"; Junior
: WR