Albany State 21, Kentucky State 7

September 9, 2006

Nick Kyles caught two touchdown passes for 116 yards to lead the Albany State University Golden Rams 21-7 victory over the Kentucky State University Thorobreds.

The Golden picked up their first win and conference victory of the season.

After going scoreless for most of the first half, ASU quarterback Kisan Flakes hit Kyles with an 80-yard pass on a one-play drive to give Golden Rams a 6-0 lead after Matthew Hawthorne’s PAT failed, with just 58 seconds in the half.

The Golden Rams added six more points with 3:46 on the clock in the third quarter when ASU quarterback Terrance Ransom connected with Kyles on 36-yard pass on a nine-play, 87-yard drive to up the Rams’ lead.

Ransom’s two-point conversion pass to Kyles failed, making the score 12-0 in the Ram’s favor.

Ransom passed for 142 yards, completing nine of 16 passes, while Flakes completed four of six with an interception for 131 yards. Ram quarterbacks amassed 273 passing yards, averaging 21 yards per completion.

The ‘Breds answered early in the fourth quarter when Roni Robinson rushed five yards in the Rams’ endzone on an 11-play, 67-yard drive. Zach Harrison’s PAT made the score 12-7. Robinson rushed for 106 yards on 20 carries.

The Golden Rams scored two more points on a safety with five minutes on the clock and, with 1:56 left in the game, Gary Neavins ran five yards for the touchdown and Hawthorne’s PAT gave the Rams a 21-7 final score. Neavins rushed for 52 yards on eight carries with a long of 16 yards.

The Rams’ offensive line, led by center Michael Livingston and left tackle Clarence Bailey, allowed 356 offensive yards on 55 plays, averaging 6.5 yards per play.

But it was the Golden Rams “Dirty Blue” defense that stole the show. Defensive lineman Alton Pettway proved why he was the 2005 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year after recording four-and-a-half sacks for 39 yards, a quarterback hurry and forcing a fumble. Pettway had 11 tackles, with eight solos, and five for a loss of 42 yards.

Pettway and the “Dirty Blue” defense, including Eric Crosby, who also recorded 11 tackles and a sack for six yards, gave up 149 yards to the Thorobreds, allowing 45 total rushing and 104 passing yards.

Roderick Cummings added nine tackles.

Courtney Reed led the ‘Breds defense with eight solo tackles and a pass breakup.

The Golden Rams, now 1-2 and 1-0 in conference play, will host the Stillman College Tigers on Thursday, Sept. 14, in an SIAC showdown. The game will be telecast live on CSTV. The Thorobreds (1-2, 0-1) will travel to Atlanta, Ga., to take on the Morehouse College Tigers on Sept. 16.