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ASU Golden Rams release 2012 football schedule

– March 22, 2012Posted in: Sports

 
Written by Edythe Bradley

 

The Albany State University Golden Rams have unveiled their football schedule for the 2012 season, ASU Athletics Director Richard H. Williams and head coach Mike White announced Thursday afternoon. Highlighting the 10-game slate are three classic games and three games against non-conference opponents, including match-ups against two teams that made appearances in the 2011 NCAA Division II football playoffs.

“Albany State has set a very rigorous, action-packed schedule that will both challenge the Golden Rams on the gridiron and one that will offer our fans much excitement,” said Dr. Williams. “Our Golden Rams are ready to deliver great football action this season.”

The Golden Rams, who finished their 2011 season at 8-4, will kick off the season on Sept. 1 at home against the North Greenville University Crusaders in the Dr. Joseph Wintroph Holley Memorial Game, ASU’s first home game each season which honors ASU founder and first president, at the Albany State University Coliseum. North Greenville, an affiliate with the South Atlantic Conference, went 11-3 last season and advanced to the third round of the 2011 NCAA Division II playoffs. The Crusaders beat ASU 63-14 in the first round of the playoffs last season.

The Golden Rams will hit the road to Wingate, N.C. to take on the Wingate University Bulldogs the following weekend. At 2-0 against the Bulldogs, the Golden Rams will play for the first time at Wingate’s Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on Sept. 8. Albany State defeated the Bulldogs 49-28 in regular season play in 2011, and won 30-28 in second-round action of the 2010 NCAA football playoffs. WIngate was 5-6 overall last season.

Week three of ASU’s schedule will have the Golden Rams on the road for a return trip to North Carolina. The Golden Rams will face CIAA runner-up Elizabeth City State University in their first-ever meeting on Sept. 15. The Vikings finished the 2011 season at 8-4, including a 44-0 loss to California University-PA in the opening round of the NCAA playoffs.

Albany State will open SIAC play at home in the ASU Coliseum on Sept. 22 against the Miles College Golden Bears, who finished the 2011 season at 7-5. The Golden Rams defeated the Golden Bears 34-27 in regular-season play, but lost to Miles 17-20 in the first-ever SIAC football championship game. The Miles game is the first of three West Division crossover games.

Another long road trip is scheduled for Sept. 29, as the Golden Rams travel to Frankfort, Ky. to face the Kentucky State University Thorobreds. Albany State defeated the SIAC West Division opponents 59-31 last season in both teams’ first appearances in the 28th Annual Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.

The 2012 Music City Classic will feature the Golden Rams against the Lane College Dragons. The 100 Black Men of Macon-Middle Georgia will sponsor the game at Henderson Stadium in Macon, Ga.on Oct. 6. The Golden Rams look to avenge a 24-26 upset loss to the West Division Dragons. The game will count as a home game for the Golden Rams.

The Golden Rams will face the first of SIAC East Division opponents on Oct. 13 as they face the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College at B.T. Harvey Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. Albany State defeated Morehouse 25-15 in the 2011 contest. Albany State will celebrate Homecoming 2012 and honor senior student-athletes when the Golden Rams play the Clark Atlanta University Panthers on Oct. 20. ASU beat CAU 19-13 in 2011.

Albany State will play in its third classic of the 2012 season on Oct. 27. The Golden Rams and the Benedict College Tigers will face off in the Augusta City Classic at Lucy Laney School Stadium in Augusta, Ga.

Two of the biggest rivals in the SIAC, Albany State and Fort Valley State University will close their regular seasons in the 23rd Annual Fountain City Classic on Nov. 3 at the A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ga. The Golden Rams defeated the Wildcats 38-29 in the 2011 classic game. The FCC is touted as one of the biggest and best HBCU football classics.

The winners of the East and West divisions will play for the 2012 SIAC championship title on Nov. 10 in Atlanta, Ga.

 

2012 Golden Rams Football Schedule

Date          Opponent                                        Site                                   Time

9/1            North Greenville Univ.                    Albany, GA                       7:00 p.m.

                 Dr. Joseph Winthrop Holley Memorial Game c

 

                     9/8            Wingate Univ.                                 Wingate, NC                     TBA

 

                      9/15          Elizabeth City State Univ.               Elizabeth City, NC            TBAValdosta

 

9/22           Miles College *                               Albany, GA                       7:00 p.m.

 

                      9/29          Kentucky State Univ. *                    Frankfort, KY                   TBA

 

                      10/6          Lane College *                                Albany, GA                       7:00 p.m.

 

10/13         Morehouse College *                      Atlanta, GA                      TBA

 

                      10/20         Clark Atlanta Univ. *                       Albany, GA                       2:00 p.m.

                 Homecoming 2012 & Senior Day

 

10/27         Benedict College *                          Columbia, SC                   TBA

 

                      11/3          Fort Valley State Univ. *                 Columbus, GA                  2:00 p.m.

                       23rd Annual Fountain City Classic

 

                      11/10         SIAC Championship Game             Atlanta, GA                      TBA

 

 

 

 

* – SIAC Games           ^ CST

 

 

 

 

Mike White, Head Coach

Assistant Coaches: Rickey Alexander, Uyl Joyner, Kenyan Conner, Dan Land, Anthony Kelly, Lawrence Livingston                                                                                                                                William Chunn, Bokowski Daniels, Christopher Henderson, Demetrie McCray

 

 

Dr. Everette J. Freeman, President

Dr. Richard H. Williams, Director of Athletics (Interim)

Stephanie Harrison-Dyer, Assistant Director of Athletics

Edythe Y. Bradley, Sports Information Director

229-430-4673  •  edythe.bradley@asurams.edu

 

 

 

 

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Tags: 2012 football schedule, Albany State University, ASU Golden Rams, college football
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ASU’s Gaskins named Division II national defensive player of the year

– December 26, 2011Posted in: Sports

 

 

Written by Edythe Bradley

 

Albany State University linebacker Jamarkus Gaskins has picked up more post-season honors. Gaskins highlights the Daktronics All-America team, which was announced by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America. In addition to first-team honors, Gaskins earned the Ron Lenz Division II National Defensive Player of the Year honor after being named the Super Region Two and SIAC Defensive Player of the Year. He was the lone representative from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) to be named to the team.

The 6-2, 200-pound senior from Tifton, Ga., had 73 tackles (42 solo) to help lead Albany State to an appearance in the NCAA playoffs. Gaskins, who led the ASU “Dirty Blue” defense with 11 sacks, notched with 17.5 tackles for losses of 75 yards in 12 games for the Rams. He also had five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries for 67 yards, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Gaskins was selected to play in the Third Annual HBCU All-Star Bowl, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.

Mars Hill College running back Jonas Randolph was named the Ron Lenz Division II National Offensive Player of the Year.

The Ron Lenz National Player of the Year awards were named for long-time South Dakota State sports information director Ron Lenz in 2008. Lenz was instrumental in the foundation of the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America program.

The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. The team is voted on by the NCAA Division II members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA), with the online nomination and voting process powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM.

###

 

2011 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Football Teams

First Team Offense
TE – David Cannon, Central Missouri, Jr., 6-2, 240, St. Louis, MO
OL – Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State, Sr., 6-3, 320, Tracy, CA
OL – Joe Long, Wayne State (Mich.), Sr., 6-6, 308, Lapeer, MI
OL – Rod Williams, Northwest Missouri, Jr., 6-5, 300, Grandview, MO
OL – Garth Heikkinen, Minnesota-Duluth, Jr., 6-4, 305, Duluth, MN
OL – Darrell Leopold, Delta State (Miss.), Sr., 6-2, 305, Laurel, MS
WR – Trey McVay Northeastern State, Sr., 5-9, 188, Muskogee, OK
WR – Thomas Mayo, California (Pa.), Sr., 6-2, 200, Reston, VA
QB – Dane Simoneau, Washburn (Kan.), Sr., 6-3, 227, Salina, KS
RB – Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill (N.C.), Sr., 5-10, 185, Daleville, AL
RB – Joe Glendening, Hillsdale (Mich.), Jr., 5-10, 188, East Grand Rapids, MI
RS – John Brown Pittsburg State (Kan.), So., 5-11, 170, Homestead, FL
PK – Greg Zuerlein, Missouri Western, Sr., 6-0, 190, Lincoln, NE

 

First Team Defense

DL – David Bass, Missouri Western, Jr., 6-5, 260, St. Louis, MO
DL – Connor Wright, Colorado Mesa, Sr., 6-1, 250, Wheat Ridge, CO
DL – Jonas Celian, West Virginia Wesleyan, Jr., 6-1, 210, North Lauderdale, FL
LB – Jamarkus Gaskins, Albany State (GA), Sr., 6-2, 220, Tifton, GA

LB – Marcus Dowtin, North Alabama, Sr., 6-2, 225, Upper Marlboro, MD
LB – Nate Dreiling, Pittsburg State (KS), So., 6-4, 228, Hutchinson, KS
LB – Alex Whitehill, Fort Hays State (KS), Sr., 6-3, 220, McPherson, KS
S – Clarence Laster, Southwestern Oklahoma, Sr., 6-0, 190, Hemet, CA
S – Brody Scheff, Bemidji State, Sr., 6-0, 206, Waconia, MN
CB – Arthur Hobbs, Nebraska-Kearney, Sr., 5-11, 190, San Diego, CA
CB – Elijah Davis, Shepherd (WV), Sr., 5-8, 192, Silver Spring, MD
P – Taylor Accardi, Colorado Mines, Jr., 6-2, 205, Littleton, CO

 

Second Team Offense
TE – Brian Leonhardt, Bemidji State (MN), Jr., 6-5, 253, Blaine, MN
OL – Kyle Thornton, North Alabama, Sr. 6-4, 345, Dallas, TX
OL – Cody Johnson, Northwest Missouri, Sr., 6-2, 290, Jasper, MO
OL – Tyler Hendrickson, Concordia-St. Paul (MN), Sr., 6-8, 318, St. Paul, MN
OL – Stephen Goodin, Nebraska-Kearney, Sr., 6-6, 310, Hastings, NE
OL – Chandler Rearden, Lenoir-Rhyne (NC), Sr., 6-1, 265, Greenwood, SC
WR – Trevor Kennedy, Mercyhurst (PA), Sr., 6-0, 200, Akron, OH
WR – Troy Burrell, Wayne State (MI), Sr., 5-10, 182, Port Huron, MI
QB – Adam Neugebauer, West Virginia Wesleyan, Sr., 6-2, 210, Pittsburgh, PA.
RB – Jonathan Woodson, Texas A&M-Kingsvllle, Jr., 5-10, 185, Missouri City, TX
RB – Travis Daniels, North Carolina-Pembroke, Sr., 5-10, 205, Washington, NC
RS – Deonte Gist, Tusculum (TN), Sr., 5-9, 175, Wellford, SC
PK – Kyle Major, Colorado State-Pueblo, Sr., 6-3, 230, Littleton, CO

 

Second Team Defense
DL – Aston Whiteside, Abilene Christian, Sr., 6-0, 285, Vernon, TX
DL – Todd Storm, Michigan Tech, Sr., 6-0, 250, Calumet, MI
DL – Randy Colling, Gannon (PA), Sr., 6-5, 320, Arcade, NY
LB – Jordan Campbell, New Mexico Highlands, Jr., 6-0, 230, Corona, CA
LB – Lee Meisner, Colorado State-Pueblo, Sr., 6-0, 240, Sterling, CO
LB – Jeremy Aguilar, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Jr., 6-1, 235, Los Angeles, CA
LB – Chad Kilgore, Northwest Missouri, Sr., 6-1, 230, Orrick, MO
S – Jeremy Jones, Wayne State (MI), Sr., 5-10, 189, Grand Rapids, MI
S – Bryce Peila, Western Oregon, Jr., 6-1, 200, Central Point, OR
CB – Dominique Davenport, Delta State (MS), Sr., 5-10, 180, Baldwyn, MS
CB – Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama, Sr., 5-10, 185, Pahokee, FL
P – Ethan Kosjer, Fort Hays State (KS), Sr., 6-3, 195, Douglass, KS

 

Tags: asu, college football, Rams
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Four ASU Golden Rams invited to play in All-Star game

– December 9, 2011Posted in: Press Releases, Sports

 

 

Written by Edythe Bradley

 

Four Albany State University Golden Rams senior football players have been invited to play in a national black college all-star game.

Linebacker Jamarkus Gaskins, defensive back Rashad McRae and defensive lineman Antorio Wells of the Golden Rams “Dirty Blue” defense, and quarterback Stanley Jennings of the “Gold Rush” offense were selected to play in the Third Annual HBCU All-Star Bowl, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 18. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. The HBCU Bowl is the nation’s only post-season football game that showcases the top FCS and Division II HBCU football talent.

The Golden Rams star athletes, who are among the top 120 draft-eligible seniors from the HBCU football conferences selected to participate in the HBCU Bowl, will play on the West Team with other SIAC and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) players. They will face the East Team and compete against senior players from the Mid-eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The East leads the series 2-0.

A 6-2, 200-pound senior from Tifton, Ga., Gaskins, who is the 2011 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Super Region Two Defensive Player of the Year and SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, recorded 73 tackles (42 solo), with 17.5 for a loss of 75 yards in 12 games for the Rams. He led the team and the SIAC with 11 sacks and is ranked 20th in the nation in the category. He also had five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries for 67 yards, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

The SIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Jennings passed for 2,662 yards, completing 169-of-344 passes for 24 touchdowns. The 6-2, 250-pound senior from Marietta, Ga., also rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns.

McRae, a 5-10, 195 pound senior from Douglas, Ga., was second on the team with 85 tackles (53 solo) with 10.5 tackles for losses. Named to the Super Region Two second team, McRae also had nine pass breakups, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and a sack for the Rams.

A 6-2, 300-pound senior from Rome, Ga., Wells recorded 32 tackles (18 solo) with 10 tackles for losses, eight quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Wells was named to the All-SIAC second team.

Other SIAC players selected to play in the bowl game include DeMario Pippen and Wayne Williams of Tuskegee University; Ricky Johnson, Tony Davis, Demario Barber, Marquette King, Courtney Daniels and Bobby Young of Fort Valley State University; and Darrius Williams, Jarvis Canty, Derrick Hector and Chigbo Annunoby of Morehouse College. Hardcourt Farquharson, Kiece Crite and Darel Strong of Clark Atlanta University; Kyle Hurt of Lane College; Jarrel Noland and Jesse Mitchell of Kentucky State University, and DeQuan Starling of Benedict College were also invited to participate.

For the first time in the game’s history, professional coaching staffs will take the sidelines to lead the all-star bowl teams. Canadian League coaches Chris Jones, defensive coordinator and assistant director of player personnel/football operations for the Calgary Stampeders, will coach the West Team, while Montreal Alouettes’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Tim Tibesar will lead the East Team.

Bowl week kicks off with a one day official combine administered by National Football Scouting of Indianapolis, Ind. on December 13, 2011 and continues throughout the week. In addition to the combine, the bowl week schedule includes practices and player interviews with NFL, CFL, UFL and Arena Football teams. The week also includes community visits by the players, a life skills session, financial adviser seminar and a weekend of entertainment and events.

The game will be broadcast live on the Classic Sports Radio Network, with the pregame show starting at 2:30 p.m., and online at www.classicsportsradio.com. Donal Ware will handle play-by-play duties, while Eric Curry will handle color analyst duties. The game can be heard on ASU’s campus radio station, WASU-FM 92.7.

General admission tickets for the game are $20 at the gate. Fans may also visit www.ticketmastercom to purchase tickets. A portion of the proceeds from the game will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

For more information about the all-star game, visit http://www.hbcubowl.com.

 

Tags: All-Star, asu, college football, Rams
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ASU star named Region defensive player of the year

– December 7, 2011Posted in: Sports

 

 

Written by Edythe Bradley

 

Albany State University linebacker Jamarkus Gaskins has been named to the 2011 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Super Region Two Football Team and selected as the region’s Defensive Player of the Year. Gaskins helped the Rams to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the football playoffs.

The 6-2, 200-pound senior from Tifton, Ga., who is also the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, was the top vote-getter at the linebacker position. A key anchor of the Golden Rams’ “Dirty Blue” defense, Gaskins recorded 73 tackles (42 solo), with 17.5 for a loss of 75 yards in 12 games for the Rams. He led the team and the SIAC with 11 sacks and is ranked 20th in the nation in the category. He also had five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries for 67 yards, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Two other Golden Rams, running back Nathan Hoyte and defensive back Rashad McRae, were named to the second team. Hoyte, a  5-10, 195-pound junior from Waldorf, Md., rushed for 774 yards on 165 carries for seven touchdowns for the Golden Rams. He averaged 64.5 yards per game. A 5-10, 195 pound senior from Douglas, Ga., McRae was second on the team with 85 tackles (53 solo) with 10.5 tackles for losses. He also had nine pass breakups, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and a sack for the Rams. McRae joined Gaskins on the 2011 All-SIAC Football Team, while Hoyte was named to the second team.

Other SIAC players named to the second team were offensive lineman Marlon Jones and running back David Carter of Morehouse College; offensive lineman Jessie Mitchell, return specialist Keith Massey and linebacker JacQuan Persley of Kentucky State University; linebacker Cory Jones and safety Tyren Futch of Lane College; and defensive lineman Darel Strong of Clark Atlanta University.

Jonas Randolph, a senior running back at Mars Hill College, was selected as the region’s Offensive Player of the Year.

The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. The team is voted on by the NCAA Division II members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA), with the online nomination and voting process powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM.

###

Photo cutline: ASU’s Jamarkus Gaskins, Super Region Two Defensive Player of the Year, attempts a sack of Miles quarterback David Thomas during SIAC championship game

 

***

2011 Daktronics NCAA Division II

All-Super Region Two Football Team

 

First Team

TE – Josh Crumpton, Mars Hill

WR – Deonte Gist, Tusculum #+

WR – Rashaad Carter, Tusculum +

OL – Chandler Rearden, Lenoir-Rhyne #+

OL – Kyle Thornton, North Alabama #+

OL – Tyler Hodgson, Mars Hill

OL – Jamie Dixon, North Alabama

OL – Darrell Leopold, Delta State

QB – Micah Davis, Delta State

RB – Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill $^#+

RB – Travis Daniels, UNC Pembroke

RS – Deonte Gist, Tusculum

K – Colin Corpe, Lenoir-Rhyne

 

DL – Zeke Andrews, Carson-Newman !+

DL – Robbie Mayers, Delta State +

DL – Terrence Smith, Tusculum %

LB – Apollo Stretch, Newberry +

LB – Jamarkus Gaskins, Albany State +

LB – Marcus Dowtin, North Alabama

LB – Ixavier Triplett, Delta State %
CB – Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama +

CB – Dominique Davenport, Delta State

S – Harrison Dreiling, Valdosta State +

S – Michael Green, Lenoir-Rhyne

P – Andrew Jones, Delta State

 

Offensive POTY: Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill

Defensive POTY: Jamarkus Gaskins, Albany State

 

Second Team

TE – Dex Hopkins, Delta State

WR – Mo Milliam, North Alabama

WR – Chris Bowden, Wingate

OL – Mike Arndt, Wingate %

OL – Lamar Young, Delta State

OL – Marlon Jones, Morehouse

OL – Ryan Schraeder, Valdosta State

OL – Kendall Hunter, Delta State

OL – Jessie Mitchell, Kentucky State

OL – Chase Gamble, Newberry

QB – Willy Korn, North Greenville

RB – David Carter, Morehouse

RB – Nate Inman, Carson-Newman %

RB – Nathan Hoyte, Albany State

RS – Keith Massey, Kentucky State

K – Taylor Baskett, UNC Pembroke

 

DL – Mark Hoskins, Delta State

DL – Darel Strong, Clark Atlanta

DL – Kevin Johnson, Mars Hill

LB – Fred Williams, UNC Pembroke

LB – Cory Jones, Lane

LB – Demetrius Green, Lenoir-Rhyne

LB – JacQuan Persley, Kentucky State

CB – Marvin James, Mars Hill

CB – Dwight Tillman, Delta State

S – Rashad McCrae, Albany State

S – Tyren Futch, Lane

P – Michael Schuster, North Alabama

 

+ – Top vote-getter

$ – 2008 First Team Selection

! – 2008 Second Team Selection

^ – 2009 First Team Selection

# – 2010 First Team Selection

% – 2010 Second Team Selection

 

 

 

Tags: asu, college football, Rams
0

First-ever SIAC Championship Banquet

– November 16, 2011Posted in: Press Releases

Albany State University Head Football Coach James “Mike” White and Miles College Head Football Coach Reginald Ruffin are among the coaches and officials who participated in the first SIAC championship banquet in Atlanta. Miles College earned the 2011 SIAC Football Championship by beating ASU 20-17 on Nov. 12 at Panther Stadium at Clark Atlanta University.

 

ASU running back Nathan Hoyte accepts the Golden Rams Most Valuable Player award from SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore.

Photograph by: reginald.christian@asurams.edu

 

 

Albany State coach Mike White and Miles coach Reginald Ruffin pose with members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes during the SIAC Championship Awards Banquet on Nov. 11.

Photograph by: reginald.christian@asurams.edu

 

Tags: asu, college football, MVP, SIAC
0

Rams get berth in NCAA football playoffs

– November 16, 2011Posted in: Sports

 

Special to the Journal

 

They’re in! Albany State University football fans will get another chance to see their favorite team in gridiron action, as the Golden Rams received a berth in the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs. The Golden Rams (8-3) moved to No. 6 and will travel to Tigerville, SC to face the No. 3 North Greenville University Crusaders (9-2) on Saturday, Nov. 19. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Younts Stadium on the NGU campus. The NCAA Division II Football Committee announced the field of 24 teams chosen to participate in the championship series on Sunday afternoon.

“The Golden Rams are very excited about the opportunity to extend our 2011 season. Two great teams will be in action for a shot at the national championship title on Saturday,” said Albany State Athletics Director Dr. Richard H. Williams. “The Ram Nation is ready for a great game!”

Tickets for the game are $15 for adults and $5 for K-12 and ASU students with valid school identification. All tickets for ASU fans will be sold at the gate on game day. No tickets will be sold in the Albany, Ga. area, Dr. Williams said.

The other Super Region Two first-round game features the No. 5 North Alabama Lions (8-2) against the No. 4 West Alabama Tigers (8-3). The No. 1 Delta State Statesmen and No. 2 Mars Hill Lions received first-round byes. The winner of the Albany State – North Greenville game will advance to the second round and play Mars Hill on Nov. 26 at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium in Mars Hill, NC at 12 p.m., while the winner of the North Alabama – West Alabama game will face Delta State in Cleveland, MS.

The game marks ASU’s 13th overall appearance in the playoffs and the eighth consecutive appearance under head coach Mike White.

The 2011 championship game, which will be played Dec. 17, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala., will mark 26 consecutive years that North Alabama has hosted the Division II title game. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

 

Tags: asu, college football, football, Golden Rams
0

ASU beats Fort Valley State, clinches East Division title

– November 9, 2011Posted in: Sports


Special to the Journal

Freshman running back Adrian Alexander rushed 110 yards on six carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Albany State University Golden Rams to a 38-29 come-from-behind victory over the Fort Valley State University Wildcats in the 22nd Annual Fountain City Classic on Saturday. A standing-room-only crowd of 21,953 cheering fans witnessed as the Golden Rams clinched the SIAC’s first East Division championship. The Golden Rams will face Miles College in the inaugural SIAC title game on Nov. 12.

Fort Valley State outscored the Golden Rams 14-10 in the first half. Albany State emerged in the second half and scored 13 unanswered points to finish the regular season at 8-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play. The Wildcats drop to 2-8 and 2-5 in the SIAC.

The Wildcats scored the game’s first points late in the first quarter on a fumble recovery. On Albany State’s second possession of the game, quarterback Stanley Jennings fumbled the ball and Wildcat defensive back Calvin Jackson scooped up the ball and ran 10 yards to score with 5:52 on the clock. Justin Rosenbaum’s PAT gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.

Fort Valley State scored again and took a 14-0 lead on its first possession in the second quarter. Quarterback Antonio Henton completed a 46-yard pass to Terrell Walker to set up the three-play scoring drive. Aaron Courtney rushed one yard at 12:29 to score for the Wildcats. Later in the quarter, the Rams went 29 yards on four plays to score after senior defensive lineman Justin Blash recovered a fumble by Travis Richmond. Alexander scored his first touchdown, rushing from 12 yards out, and Tory Torstenson’s PAT cut the Wildcats’ lead to 14-7 with 5:56 on the clock. The Rams marched 77 yards on 12 plays on their final possession of the quarter, and sophomore kicker Brandon Hamilton booted 22-yard field as time expired to score for Albany State. The Wildcats led 14-10 at the half.

It was all Albany State in the second half. On their second possession of the third quarter, the Golden Rams went 80 yards on two plays to take the 17-14 lead. Alexander raced 69 yards to the Wildcat end zone, scoring his second touchdown with 10:59 on the clock. On the ensuing drive, Fort Valley went three-and-out and freshman linebackers A.J.Cunningham and Tyrone Davis blocked and recovered a Fort Valley punt. Jennings connected with sophomore tight end Darius Nelson on a four-yard pass to score, but Torstenson’s PAT was blocked, giving the Rams a 23-14 lead.

With just 10 seconds off the clock in the fourth quarter, Hamilton kicked another 22-yard field goal to make the score 26-14. Fort Valley put points on the scoreboard when Henton and Walker connected on a 6-yard pass and Rosenbaum’s PAT cut ASU’s lead to 26-21. Later in the quarter, junior receiver Ronnie Tubbs caught a 24-yard pass from Jennings at 3:11. Alexander scored his third touchdown of the afternoon on a 15-yard run to seal the 38-21 win for the Rams with two minutes remaining in the game. The Wildcats, however, would not go away. Christopher Slaughter caught a 6-yard pass from Henton, and the two-point conversion from Henton to Joshua Harris was good, but it was much too late.

Jennings completed 12-of-25 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, and led the Golden Rams to 362 total offensive yards. Tubbs caught five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Henton threw for 118 yards, completing 10-of-21 passes, for two touchdowns. Travis Richmond rushed for 104 yard on 15 carries and Aaron carried the ball 13 times for 61 yards, including the touchdown run. Walker had 80 yards on four receptions.

Blash led the “Dirty Blue” defense with eight tackles (five solo), forced and recovered a fumble, and assisted on a sack. Senior defensive back Jamarkus Gaskins recorded six tackles, recovered a fumble, broke up a pass and had a sack, while junior defensive back Matthew Taylor add six tackles. Daniels led the Wildcats with 19 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Ricky Johnson recorded eight tackles and a forced fumble.

The Golden Rams will face Miles College in the inaugural SIAC Football Championship game on Nov. 12. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Panther Stadium at Clark Atlanta University.

 

Tags: asu, college football, Golden Rams
0

Rams claim Homecoming victory

– November 2, 2011Posted in: Sports

Junior receiver Ronnie Tubbs caught two touchdown passes to lead the No. 22 Albany State University Golden Rams to a 37-13 Homecoming victory over the Benedict College Tigers Saturday at the ASU Coliseum. The Rams improve to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in SIAC action, while the Tigers drop to 2-7 on the season and 1-5 in the conference.

After an interception on their opening drive at the Benedict 1, the Albany State “Dirty Blue” defense held the Tigers, forcing a punt to sophomore receiver Orion Ponder. Ponder scored on the 53-yard return and senior Tory Torstenson’s kick gave the Rams a 7-0 early lead. Later in the quarter, senior defensive lineman Antorio Wells sacked Johnny Carson at their 24 yard line and forced a fumble. Junior linebacker Demonte Queen recovered the fumble to set up a scoring drive for the Golden Rams. Sophomore Brandon Hamilton booted a 40-yard field goal to up ASU’s lead to 10-3.

The Rams scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter, including a 9-yard touchdown rush by junior running back Luther Edwards on a 6-play, 53-yard drive with 8:27 on the clock. Senior quarterback Stanley Jennings connected with Tubbs on passes of 21 and 12 yards and the Golden Rams cruised to a 31-0 halftime lead.

The Tigers put points on the board after scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter. Benedict’s Kendariss Brown recovered Ponder’s fumble on the punt return to set up the 1-play scoring drive. Thomas McBride rushed from 10 yards out to score, but Andy Polanco missed the PAT to make the score 31-6 with 8:17 on the clock. Later in the quarter, ASU freshman running back Adrian Alexander fumbled at the Benedict 47, and Anthony Davis returned the ball 53 yards to score for the Tigers. Palanco’s good PAT cut ASU’s lead to 31-13 with 3:09 on the clock.

Late in the fourth quarter, Junior running back Nathan Hoyte rushed for 52 yards on four plays, including a 1-yard touchdown run to seal the victory for the Golden Rams. Hoyte led ASU rushers with 118 yards on 10 carries with a long rush of 40 yards.

Jennings passed for 277 yards, completing 19-of-34, while Carson passed for 63 yards and completed 11-of-63 passes. He was sacked three times. Jordan Kelly led the Tiger receivers with 44 yards on four catches, while McBride led rushers with 17 yards on six carries, including the touchdown run.

The ASU “Dirty Blue” defense, led by senior linebackers Bruce Ryles with 10 total tackles (three solo), held the Tigers to just 76 yards of total offense, including 63 passing and nine rushing yards. Queen added eight tackles, with three for a loss of nine yards, while senior defensive back Jamarkus Gaskins recorded six tackles, a sack, and broke up a pass for the Rams. Dequan Starling and Jamaa Massaline led the Tiger defense with eight tackles each.

The Golden Rams will travel to Columbus, Ga., to take on the Fort Valley State University Wildcats in the 22nd Annual Fountain City Classic at the A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

 

ASU’s Nathan Hoyte rushes for a touchdown to seal the 37-13 Homecoming victory for the Golden Rams Photo by Eric Tabor

Tags: asu, ASU Homecoming, college football, Rams
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Albany State’s Jennings is nominee for national football honor

– November 2, 2011Posted in: Sports

Albany State University Golden Ram Stanley Jennings is a nominee for the national football fan poll award, presented by The Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN). Jennings was selected as one of four nominees for HSRN’s Division II National Player of the Week award after leading the Golden Rams to an impressive 37-13 Homecoming victory over the Benedict College Tigers on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the ASU Coliseum.

The senior quarterback from Marietta, Ga., threw for 277 yards and completed 19-of-34 passes, including two touchdown passes for 21 and 12 yards. Jennings led the Golden Rams to 465 yards of total offense, including 188 rushing yards.

HSRN honors the top-performances on the gridiron for Division I FCS and Div. II each week. To add to the excitement, fans across the country can be a part of the action by casting votes for the player they think had the top performance in HBCU football.  Fans can cast their votes for Jennings by visiting www.HSRN.com. Voting will be available on the HSRN.com home page (Fan Poll) until Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 12 p.m. EST (11 a.m. CST).

In addtion to the Albany State star quarterback, other Division II nominees this week are Jerrel Noland, quarterback at Kentucky State University; Brian Richards, a wide receiver at St. Augustine’s; and Colon Bailey, a running back at Fayetteville State University.

Tags: asu, college football, Golden Rams, Stanley Jennings
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Rams Edge Clark

– October 26, 2011Posted in: Sports

 

Albany State University sophomore kicker Brandon Hamilton nailed four field goals to lead the Golden Rams to a 19-13 victory over the Clark Atlanta University Panthers on Saturday in the second annual Rumble in the Swamp Classic at Memorial Stadium in Waycross, Ga.

More than 7,500 fans watched as the Golden Rams, who clinched first place in the East Division in last week’s win over Morehouse College, move closer to the division championship and an appearance in the inaugural SIAC championship title game on Nov. 12.

The win improves No. 25 ASU to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in SIAC play, while the Panthers drop to 2-6 overall and 1-4.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Golden Ram and Panthers exchanged field goals in the second and third quarters. Early in the second quarter, Hamilton kicked a 21-yard field to put three points on the scoreboard for the Golden Rams, capping an eight-play, 63-yard drive. Clark Atlanta answered with a field goal, a 40-yarder by Kenuel Lawrence with 9:20 on the clock to tie the game 3-3. Later in the quarter, the Rams drove 44 yards on eight plays to set up Hamilton’s second field goal from 35 yards to increase ASU’s lead to 6-3. With less than a minute before halftime, Hamilton nailed his third field goal, a 37-yarder, capping a five-play, 38-yard drive.
Clark Atlanta marched eight plays on 54 yards and picked up the only points in the third quarter on Lawrence’s 30-yard field goal, closing ASU’s lead to 9-6. On the ensuing kickoff, Adrian Alexander returned the ball 60 yards to the Clark Atlanta 33 yard line to set up a scoring drive for the Rams with 2:45 on the clock. Eight plays and 33 yards later, the Golden Rams increased their lead to 16-6 when senior quarterback Stanley Jennings connected with junior tight end Cessel Taylor on a 5-yard pass and Tory Torstenson’s PAT with 13:55 on the clock in the fourth quarter.
With 5:23 on the clock, Hamilton booted his fourth field goal from 28 yards out after a six-play, 65-yard drive, sealing the victory for the Golden Rams. But Clark Atlanta wouldn’t give up and marched 65 yards on three plays to score on a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyree Williams to Darrin McPherson with 4:40 on the clock.
In addition to his game- and career-high four field goals, Hamilton had six kicks for 359 yards, an average of 59.8 yards per kick. Jennings, who led the Golden Rams to 367 total offensive yards, completed 12-of-32 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Luther Edwards led ASU rushers with 52 yards on nine carries, and Orion Ponder caught five passes for 109 yards for the Golden Rams.
Williams passed for 134 yards, completing 6-of-21 passes, while Bryan Mann completed 9-of-24 for 88 yards. Rashad Lewis rushed for 22 yards on nine carriers, and McPherson had 105 yards on five receptions.
The Golden Rams’ “Dirty Blue” defense, led by senior defensive back Rashad McRae, held the Panthers to 243 total offensive yards, including 21 rushing yards. McRae recorded eight tackles (five solo), with two tackles for losses. Freshman linebacker Larry Whitfield added eight tackles, while senior defensive back Jamarkus Gaskins had five tackles, a sack and a half, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. Kiece Crite led the Panthers’ defense with 12 tackles (six solo) and Ricky Moore added eight.
The Golden Rams will celebrate homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 29, against the Benedict College Tigers. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at the ASU Coliseum.

Tags: asu, college football, Rams
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