Football 9/17/2026 11:53:00 AM Chris Myers

Rams Travel to Face High-Powered Yellow Jackets

ALBANY, Ga. – The Golden Rams passed their first Conference test last week and aim to equal the task this weekend. Albany State plays in its fourth different state of the season Saturday afternoon when it faces Allen University on the road in South Carolina.

ASU pits its defensive against the high-powered Allen attack in only the 10^th ever meeting between the teams. The Rams and Yellow Jackets kick off the action in Columbia, S.C., at 4 p.m. on the SIAC Network and heard on the ASU Radio Network on WZBN 105.5 FM.

SIAC Season Week #2
ASU (1-2/1-0 SIAC) vs. Allen (2-1/1-0 SIAC)
     After Saturday, one of ASU or Allen will be knocked from the SIAC unbeaten teams. The two weekend foes both posted victories in their league openers and will try to go to 2-0.
     ASU recorded its first victory last Saturday night on the east side of Georgia in going away fashion, 49-17, over Savannah State. Allen took care of Lane College by an even wider margin with a 43-7 final tally.
     ASU improved to 1-2 last week with its win after it fell to Florida A&M (20-7) and Johnson C. Smith (27-7) in the first two weeks. Allen split its first two games with a win at Livingstone (37-16) and home loss to Florida Memorial (38-31).

    Teams Won a Combined 14-Straight SIAC Games
     ASU and Allen, in fact, have won a combined 14 SIAC games in a row. The Golden Rams are 1-0 after last week, went a perfect 8-0 for the 2025 campaign and won the final league game of the 2024 season. ASU last SIAC loss came on November 2 of 2024 in a 28-26 final at Savannah State.
     Allen has won its last four Conference games – the Lane game last week and the final three SIAC games last season (Edward Waters, Morehouse and Tuskegee) with its last defeat also at Savannah State's hands (23-20) last October 11.

Bowser Earns First Golden Ram Coaching Win
     It was a celebratory feeling after his ASU team completed a 49-17 victory at Savannah State last Saturday night. Golden Ram Head Coach David Bowser earned his first program head coaching victory of his first year at the helm.

10th Meeting between Rams & Yellow Jackets
     In one of few SIAC series they don't hold a lead, the Rams aim to even the all-time series against the host Yellow Jackets.
     Allen holds a slight lead over the first nine games against ASU by a 4-3-2 standing, which started in 1934.
     The Yellow Jackets went 3-1-2 in the matchups from 1934 to 1939. In those five games, there was a total of 34 combined points scored, three shutouts and two 0-0 ties.
     With the renewing of the series the last three falls, ASU is 2-1 in those outcomes. Allen won 39-27 in 2023, before ASU won 57-17 in 2024 and then by a similar 57-14 final season.

Rams Start Strong, Defeat Yellow Jackets in 2025
     On the strong start of 14-0 in the first 10 minutes of play, Albany State rode the momentum to 57-14 home win over Allen last September 27.
     The Golden Rams extended their two-touchdown lead to 27-7 by the end of the first quarter. ASU added another pair of scores in the second frame for a commanding, 36-7, intermission score.
     The two teams combined for almost 1,000 yards of total offense at 998. ASU had 572 and Allen 426 over the 60 minutes of play.

ASU Prevails over Tigers
     On a night the coaching staff wanted to start fast, the Golden Rams wasted no time in fulfilling the plan. Albany State executed to a tune of six touchdowns scored three different ways and gave Head Coach David Bowser his inaugural Golden Ram 'W' in going away fashion, 49-17, over Savannah State.
     After scoring only a single touchdown in each of the first two contests, the Ram offense came alive with four 70-plus yard touchdown drives as part of a 435-yard offensive outburst. The ASU defense set the tone on its side of the ball as well by forcing six-straight Savannah State punt to start the night where it held the home offense to 11 yards on 20 plays in the first half.
     "I am excited tonight to play a complete game in all three phrases of the game," stressed ASU Head Coach David Bowser. "From our Wefense (new name for special teams) to our offense producing a nice early 7-play drive it scored on to our defense with our starters for the first 3-and-a-half quarters then we subbed in late for guys to get game experience."
     With the result, Bowser registers his first Golden Ram coaching victory. His squad's 49 points was the most by the program since ASU pounded Fort Valley State, 48-3, last November 7.
     "The way the crowd tonight, the fans and all the support from President Dr. (Robert) Scott, Athletic Director Dr. (Kristene) Kelly have all given me since arriving (at ASU). It was great to give everyone a win tonight against a Savannah State team, which has given us problems the last couple years in a dominating win tonight."
     ASU has now defeated Savannah State in five of the last six and two of the last three to take place in Savannah.
     "I am very pleased with our progress over the last week. Our staff and players did an outstanding job preparing for the game," wrapped up Bowser.
     After Jayden Threatts plunged in from a yard for the opening drive touchdown and rumbled in from 14 yards for the second points, Cameron Watts helped the Rams put the game firmly in his team's favor in the second half. The defensive back returned the Tiger punt starting the second half 41 yards to the home 25-yard line, which was cashed in for the third touchdown three plays later. Leading 28-0 starting the fourth frame, Watts picked off the Savannah State pass and raced 34 yards to the end zone for a 35-0 lead.
     In fact, ASU scored touchdowns on each of its four second-half possessions and gave Savannah State no way to get back into the mix. The Rams amassed 165 yards in the first 30 minutes and another 270 yards in the second half.
      Junior quarterback JD Davis was a very efficient 18 of 21 through the air for 230 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Vinson Berry added his first Ram scoring strike as part of his 5 for 8 over 61 yards in relief.
     The ASU signal callers saw seven receivers pull in multiple passes of the 23 completions. Edward Louis Jr. grabbed three for a team-high 69 yards, while Cardrece Mobley had a 15-yard TD of his three catches for 46 yards. Exavior Sherrod recorded his second scoring grab of the year from 17 yards to end the third quarter of his four catches for 34 yards. Jaquan Graham and Malachi Eaford both rounded out the three receptions players with 33 and 25 yards.
     Kamran Ward put the final ASU touchdown on the Saturday night score when he was not ruled down and kept churning until he broke free for a 76-yard score. He led all Ram rushers with 90 yards on three totes. Roderick McCrary added 30 yards on nine rushes and caught two passes for 26 yards. Bryson Seaborne chipped in 24 yards on six carries and a 22-yard catch, while Threatts had 14 yards including the two first-half scores.
     Along with his 86 yards of kick return on four attempts, Watts had three tackles with the pick 6 interception. Derrick Drayton led the line with 1.5 sacks, while Avery Hall, Jimmy Dawson, Marshall Leonard and Kyle Williams combined on the other three sacks. Rontavion Scott led the tacklers with a balanced effort with four.
Compared to the Rams' 435 yards of offense, the Tigers produced 230 yards with the majority of them coming late when the game was decided.


Allen Swams Dragons
(courtesy of Allen Athletic Comms)
     Allen University football delivered a dominant all-around performance Sunday afternoon, jumping out to a 30-0 halftime lead and cruising to a 43-7 victory over Lane College at Lane Field.
    The Yellow Jackets controlled the game from the opening possession, scoring twice in the first quarter before adding a safety and two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter. Allen's defense kept Lane off the scoreboard through the first three quarters, while the offense continued to build its advantage throughout the afternoon.
Allen finished with 366 total yards, including 200 through the air and 166 on the ground. The Yellow Jackets recorded 23 first downs and converted three of four fourth-down opportunities, while holding Lane to just 14 first downs and one-of-eight on third down.
     Quarterback Brent Upshaw Jr. completed 11 of 20 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns, while Alfredo Sotelo added 41 passing yards. Deveon Williams was a major factor in the passing game, hauling in seven receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
     Javis Floyd powered the Yellow Jackets' rushing attack, carrying the ball 24 times for 109 yards and three touchdowns. Floyd scored twice in the second quarter before adding his third touchdown early in the third quarter, helping Allen maintain control throughout the contest.
     Defensively, Allen held Lane scoreless for the first three quarters and forced three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Yellow Jackets also recorded a safety when Sekou Bangoura brought down Lane's Crishon Overton in the end zone early in the second quarter.
     Allen's defense finished with 47 total tackles and nine tackles for loss. Jayshawn Smalls and Zanias Rosemond each recorded six tackles, while Joseph King added five tackles and a tackle for loss. Evan Javis registered 1.5 tackles for loss, while Allen's secondary came up with two interceptions.
     Lane quarterback Cameron Shepherd finished with 113 passing yards and one touchdown, while John Christian III led the Dragons with 130 rushing yards on 14 carries. Antonio Welch accounted for Lane's lone touchdown, hauling in a 67-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.
Notes
• Allen improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play with Sunday's victory.
• The Yellow Jackets scored 30 unanswered points during the first half.
• Allen held Lane scoreless through the first three quarters.
• Allen recorded three rushing touchdowns, all scored by Javis Floyd.
• Floyd finished with 109 rushing yards on 24 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
• Deveon Williams recorded seven receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
• Williams also recorded an interception in the fourth quarter, returning it 0 yards for a touchdown.
• Allen's defense recorded two interceptions, a safety and nine tackles for loss.
• Allen recorded 23 first downs compared to 14 for Lane.
• The Yellow Jackets converted three of four fourth-down opportunities.

Rams Home Opener vs. Thorobreds Next Week
            The Rams make their first home appearance of the 2026 season next Saturday (Sept. 26). ASU welcomes Kentucky State to southwest Georgia for a 1 p.m. kick-off for 'Family Weekend."

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Players Mentioned

#82 Malachi Eaford: WR; 6' 3"; Sophomore

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

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

#0 Jimmy Dawson: LB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#84 Exavior Sherrod: TE; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

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

#1 Kyle Williams: DL; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#34 Kamran Ward: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

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

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

Players Mentioned

#82 Malachi Eaford
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: WR

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

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

#0 Jimmy Dawson
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: LB

#84 Exavior Sherrod
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: TE

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

#1 Kyle Williams
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: DL

#34 Kamran Ward
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: RB

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

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