Football 9/24/2026 11:20:00 AM Chris Myers

Rams Welcome Thorobreds to ‘Family Weekend’ Gold Day

ALBANY, Ga. – The Conference road proved to be a successful one the last two weekends and the Golden Rams aim to continue the run Saturday afternoon. Albany State takes to the ASU Coliseum blue field for the first time this fall as it welcomes Kentucky State for 'Family Weekend.'

ASU faces its stiffest test against the highly-rated Kentucky State program. The Rams and Thorobreds kick off the first action in Albany at 1 p.m. It can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on the ASU Radio Network on WZBN 105.5 FM.

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Kentucky State at Albany State

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SIAC Season Week #3
Kentucky State (3-1/2-0 SIAC) vs. ASU (2-2/2-0 SIAC)
     It will be Saturday's biggest matchup across the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and HBCU Coaches D2 Poll rankings.
     With only a loss to FCS Southern, Kentucky State received three first-place HBCU Coaches first place votes this week and sits firmly at No. 2, while ASU moved from Not Ranked to No. 9 this week.
     The Thorobreds took care of their rival Marauders of Central State (41-14) in Week 0. Southern prevailed in the second contest (34-15) before Kentucky State has back-to-back wins over Clark Atlanta (30-3) and Saginaw Valley State (21-17).
     The Golden Rams have moved back onto the tracks the last two weeks after their rocky start. ASU fell to FCS Florida A&M (20-7) and defending CIAA champion Johnson C. Smith (27-7) the opening two contests, before it rebounded in SIAC play at both Savannah State (49-17) and Allen (32-28).

    Teams Won a Combined 19-Straight SIAC Games
     ASU and Kentucky State, in fact, have won a combined 19 SIAC games in a row. Both Saturday foes have started 2-0 in the league while each of their SIAC dates back further.
     The Golden Rams ran its SIAC run to 11 wins in a row. With the 2-0 start this fall, ASU combined it with 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.
     The Thorobreds meet the last team to prevail over them this week. KSU's last defeat within a SIAC contest came last Sept. 6 when it hosted ASU by a 49-21 final. KSU ran off it final six league games with wins last year and started with the Central State and Clark Atlanta victories this season for the current 8-game win streak.

Bowser Aims for First Win in ASU Coliseum
     After his team posted a 'W' in each of the last two weeks, ASU Head Coach David Bowser aims for his first victory leading the Golden Rams on the Coliseum's blue carpet.
     Bowser's friend and colleague, Felton Huggins Jr. is in his fourth year leading KSU. Huggins took the Thorobreds to its best ever 9-3 season in 2025 and first ever NCAA DII playoff appearance.

28th Meeting between Rams & Thorobreds
     For the fourth year in a row, ASU and KSU will meet during the regular season after not meeting for the 12 prior campaigns. The Golden Rams holds a 20-7 series advantage and have claimed the last 12 meetings dating back to 2004.
     ASU won last Sept.6 in Frankfort, Ky., by a 49-21 margin over KSU. In fact, ASU won the 2024 matchup in Albany (Sept. 28 of 2024) by the same 49-21 final tally. The Golden Rams won in 2023, 33-27, as the final of the current consecutive games between the teams.
     Kentucky State won 3 of 4 series games between 2000 and 2003. KSU last won (19-13) in 2003 and in 2002 (30-27). ASU won 23-13 in 2001 with KSU taking the 2000 meeting by a touchdown (20-13).

Rams 3-Touchdown Finish Overtakes Thorobreds Late
     The final score didn't show the close contest throughout the day last September 6 in Frankfort. Leading 28-21 after three quarters, ASU scored the final three touchdowns in the last 13:57 and all in a 9:57 span of time for the final 49-21 margin.
     Each team found the end zone once in the first frame, before the Golden Rams posted back-to-back touchdowns in three minutes for a 21-7 advantage on a pair of passes (15 and 3 yards). KSU answered with a one-yard scoring plunge at 6:35. Both team added one final score before half in the last two minutes.
     ASU outgained KSU on the day (475 to 308 yards).

Rams Middle-Scores Decide 2024 Meeting
     Trailing 14-13 midway through the second quarter, ASU ended the first half with the go-ahead touchdown, before it added two more scores in the first six minutes of the second half on the way to a 49-21 final in Albany over Kentucky State.

Big First-Half Plays Takes Rams over Yellow Jackets

     COLUMBIA, S.C. – In a contest delayed by nearly an hour due to weather, the two gridiron foes produced plenty of offensive lightning and 60 combined points once the game was underway. Trailing midway through the opening quarter, Albany State turned to the big play four times resulting in three-straight touchdowns, an important defensive stop and the lead it held for the final 36-plus minutes in a 32-28 football victory over Allen University.

After the Yellow Jackets found the end zone on each of its opening two possessions, the Golden Rams pulled four big-play cards out of their deck. Quarterback Jeffery Davis connected with Exavior Sherrod from 45 yards for the touchdown to pull within a point, 14-13, at 1:45 in the first frame. On the ensuing home drive, Allen made it to the ASU 3-yard line where Rontavion Scott picked off a pass in the end zone and returned it 75 yards.

Midway through the second quarter, Jayden Threatts found plenty of daylight on the right side and raced 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Forcing another Allen punt on the next drive, Cameron Watts caught the punt, refused to be wrapped up and bounced off the tackle, before he raced down the right sideline with teammates escorting him to the end zone for the 69-yard touchdown and 26-14 lead. ASU's Jonathan Rodriguez booted a pair of second-half field goals and sealed the win.

"I'm proud of our football team because we started slow and we allowed them to drive down the field and score on us (early). We have to clean up some things on special teams with our kick-off return defense, but we got our own kick returns going. Our offense was very efficient as we ran the ball well and our passing eventually opened up," explained ASU Head Coach David Bowser.

With the win, ASU evens its mark to 2-2 on the year and recorded its 11^th-straight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory and now 2-0 in the league this year. The win also evened the all-time series against Allen (2-2/1-1 SIAC) at 4-4-2 and third-straight year winning the match up.

"Pleased overall (with the game and our effort), but we have a lot to clean up before we play next week," noted Bowser. "We will enjoy the win for 24 hours and then pick it back up and move on to the next phase."

Carrying the load for the offense, Threatts, a redshirt freshman, posted his biggest day of his career with 228 yards on 19 carries for a 12.0-yard per carry average and the 80-yard touchdown – all while not losing a single yard. He accounted for 228 of the team's 271 yards on the ground. Roderick McCrary added 46 yards on 12 tries and pulled in a team-high 5 passes for 46 receiving yards.

"I have been telling everyone Threatts is special and he's showing it every week when he goes out there," said Bowser.

Jeffery Davis completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 193 yards and two scores without an interception. Sherrod had one of the completions for a 45-yard touchdown, while Omarion Dupree had the first scoring strike from 14 yards of the day and two for 35 yards. Duke Timmons pulled in four passes for 33 yards and Jaquan Graham had one for 24 yards.

ASU outgained Allen by 120 yards (465 to 345) on only seven more offensive plays. The Rams' balance finished as 271 rushing and 193 passing yards.

The reining SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week, Watts made his case for repeat of the honor with his 69-yard punt return touchdown. The senior defensive back returned one kick off 16 yards and posted two tackles on defense to round out the night.

"He's a defensive guy when he gets the ball in his hands as he knows what to do with it. I'm very proud of him tonight as he played well. He has the ability to be elusive (which he showed on the punt return) and that is big," said Bowser.

Linebacker Jimmy Dawson paced the Rams' defense with 6 tackles and one for a loss. Ricky McCrary chipped in five stops. Kyle Williams and Avery Hall teamed with the lone ASU sack. Scott picked off the key first-half pass and returned it 75 yards to go with a pair of tackles.

After giving up 115 yards on the first two home possessions, the ASU defense allowed only 156 yards the last 51 minutes of play.

The foot of kicker Jonathan Rodriguez was all the Golden Rams needed to stay ahead in the second half. The redshirt freshman capped a 55-yard drive with a 35-yard field goal early in the third (10:02) for an 8-point ASU lead, 29-21. His second one, a 19-yard chip shot, pushed the Ram lead to double figures, 32-21, with 7:17 remaining.

Kentucky St. Holds Off Saginaw Valley
(courtesy of KSU Athletic Comms)

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Cam Tucker caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Denim Johnson on fourth down with 6:29 remaining, and Kentucky State's defense delivered a game-sealing stand to secure a 21-17 win over Saginaw Valley State on Saturday at Alumni Stadium.

The win improved Kentucky State to 3-1 overall while maintaining its 2-0 record in SIAC play.

Just seconds into the Cardinals' opening drive, Saginaw Valley completed a 63-yard pass, but its scoring opportunity ended when Lawrence McConnell forced a fumble that Ke'Ron Blankumsee recovered at the Kentucky State 5-yard line.

The Cardinals took the lead on a 58-yard punt return for a touchdown, making it 7-0 with 12:28 remaining in the first quarter.

Kentucky State answered when Johnson connected with Darius Cyprian for a 46-yard completion, placing the Thorobreds at the Saginaw Valley 34-yard line. On the same drive, Johnson completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Tucker on third-and-9. Leland Gantz converted the extra point to tie the game 7-7 with 9:24 remaining in the first quarter.

In the final moments of the first quarter, Gantz flipped the field with a 72-yard punt that pinned Saginaw Valley at its 1-yard line. On the Cardinals' ensuing possession, Lensley Dieujuste intercepted a pass with 14:48 remaining in the second quarter and returned it 17 yards to the Cardinals' 31. The Thorobreds' scoring opportunity ended when a 26-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.

Late in the second quarter, another Thorobreds scoring drive came to an end when Juan Gainous fumbled at the Cardinals' 6-yard line.

The Kentucky State defense continued to stifle Saginaw Valley, forcing the Cardinals to miss a 31-yard field goal as time expired to keep the game tied 7-7 at halftime.

On the Thorobreds' opening drive of the third quarter, Johnson scored on a 6-yard rush to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive and give Kentucky State a 14-7 lead with 11:38 remaining.
With 2:45 remaining in the third quarter, Saginaw Valley tied the game 14-14 on a 12-yard touchdown pass.

On the first play of Saginaw Valley's next possession, Blankumsee intercepted a pass at the Cardinals' 48-yard line. Saginaw Valley responded by intercepting Kentucky State in the end zone, resulting in a touchback.

Saginaw Valley took a 17-14 lead on a 31-yard field goal with 9:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Facing fourth-and-8 at the Cardinals' 35-yard line, Johnson found Tucker for a 35-yard touchdown, giving the Thorobreds a 21-17 lead with 6:29 remaining.

The Thorobreds' defense stepped up in the final moments as Kendrick Curry forced a fourth-and-long with a 5-yard sack. Frank Walker followed with an 8-yard sack on fourth down to help Kentucky State secure the 21-17 victory.

Kentucky State finished with 384 yards of total offense, averaging 6.1 yards per play. The Thorobreds passed for 291 yards, with Gainous contributing 91 yards on 4-of-6 passing. Tucker led the receiving corps with a game-high 122 yards on six catches and accounted for both of Kentucky State's receiving touchdowns.

Johnson completed 12 of 27 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns while adding 26 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Kentucky State forced three turnovers and registered four sacks totaling 35 yards in losses. Blankumsee and Dieujuste each recorded an interception, while Blankumsee also recovered a fumble.

Curry led the defense with seven tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Jordan Diggins added a 15-yard sack, while Mike Jones and Walker also reached the quarterback. McConnell recorded six tackles and forced a fumble.

Gantz averaged 48.8 yards on five punts, including a 72-yard punt that pinned Saginaw Valley at its 1-yard line late in the first quarter. He also converted all three extra-point attempts.

Rams Off Next Weekend
The Rams will have it one idle week to start the month of October. ASU will return to action for its 'Homecoming' contest against Lane College in a 2 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 10.

-GoldenRams-

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Players Mentioned

#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

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

#46 Jonathan Rodriguez: K/P; 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

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

#7 Ricky McCrary: DB; 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore

#5 Omarion Dupree: TE; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#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

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

#46 Jonathan Rodriguez
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: K/P

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

#7 Ricky McCrary
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DB

#5 Omarion Dupree
: 6' 2"; Senior
: TE