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Albany State defeats Arkansas Tech, advances
to NCAA quarterfinals
November 20, 2004
Uyl Joyner threw for 126 yards and two touchdowns and Vaeontray Hughes ran for
110 yards and a touchdown to lead the #2 Albany State University Golden Rams
to a 42-24 romp over the #15 Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys in the second
round of the 2004 NCAA Division II playoffs, held in Albany, Ga.
Arkansas Tech got on the scoreboard first when Mark Ewersnann kicked a 31-yard field goal. The Golden Rams, who recorded their 19th consecutive victory and the 11th this season, would not allow the Wonder Boys to score again until the third quarter.
ASU's Dontreal Williams ran five yards into the end zone on a six-play, 67-yard drive to give the Golden Rams a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter. ASU's strong safety William Felton intercepted a pass by Wonder Boys quarterback Jason Campbell and returned the ball 51 yards to Tech's 22 yard line, setting up a Golden Rams scoring drive. One play later, Alvin Ray Jackson caught a 22-yard pass from Joyner to increase the lead. Adrian Arango's PAT made the score 14-3.
The Golden Rams exploded in the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns, starting with a Joyner keeper on a one-yard rush on a 13-play, 75-yard drive. On Arkansas Tech's second possession, Campbell, who passed for 233 yards, found Chris Johnson on a 15-yard pass. Campbell tried the play again, but this time he hit Felton, who returned the ball 63 yards for the touchdown, giving the Golden Rams a 28-3 lead. On ASU's next possession, Arango kicked a 39-yard punt to Zach Watson, who returned the ball 29 yards to the Albany 34 yard line and fumbled. ASU's Marcus Jefferson recovered the fumble, setting up a three-play, 66-yard scoring drive. With 28 seconds before the half, Joyner connected with Jackson with a 38-yard pass to give Albany State a 35-3 lead.
The Wonder Boys, after driving 90 yards on 11 plays, scored in the middle of the third when Jason Campbell connected with R.J. Vanhook on a 16-yard pass for a 35-10 score. Less that two minutes later, Vanhook rushed 15 yards into the ASU end zone to close the gap to 35-17 on a two-play, 51-yard drive.
Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Hughes, who led the Golden Rams in rushing with 110 yards on 18 carries, raced 25 yards to the Tech end zone on a seven-play, 63-yard drive to increase ASU's lead to 42-17.
Felton intercepted another Campbell pass in the middle of the fourth quarter, returned the ball 40 yards to the Golden Rams' 40 yard line and pitched the ball to Jermaine Collins, who was forced out of bounds. A personal foul penalty against Arkansas Tech marched the Rams to Tech's 24 yard line. After three rushing efforts, Arango's 36-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Wonder Boy Cedric Cursh and Zach Noel recovered the ball, setting up a final scoring drive for Tech. With 1:27 on the clock, the Wonder Boys scored again when Chris Gunter caught a 17-yard pass from Mike Edgeworth, who threw for 22 yards.
Arango had eight punts for 243 yards, with a long punt of 39 yards and one inside the 20 yard line. He was six for six on PATs.
The Golden Rams racked up 363 total offensive yards, including 237 rushing and 126 passing yards. On the other side of the ball, the Golden Rams, who are currently nationally ranked fourth in scoring defense and fifth in total defense, gave up 458 total offensive yards, including 203 rushing yards, to the Wonder Boys. Free safety Chris Henderson led ASU defense with 11 tackles (nine solos), an interception and defended five passes. Felton intercepted three passes for 154 yards, defended three passes and recorded nine tackles, (seven solos) for the night. Walter Curry recorded nine tackles (three solos), with two and a half for a loss of 20 yards, a sack and two quarterback hurries.
The Golden Rams have a 19-game winning streak, the longest currently winning streak in Division II, and are the only undefeated black college team in the nation.
Albany State will face the Valdosta State Blazers on Nov. 27 for the Southeast Region championship in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II. The winner of that game will advance to the semifinals on Dec. 4. The Division II championship game will be Dec. 11 in Florence, Ala., at Braly Memorial Stadium at the University of North Alabama.
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