Albany State 24, Clark Atlanta 13

October 14, 2006

With its perch atop the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings hanging in the balance, the Albany State University offense found itself in the second half of its Homecoming showdown with Clark Atlanta University Saturday, scoring a pair of touchdowns in a 1:16 burst that carried the Rams to a 24-13 victory.

After falling behind 13-10 on a 37-yard Corey Jones-to-Gerard Latimore pass with 3:21 left in the third period, Albany State answered with a 42-yard Gary Neavins scoring run and a 15-yard Terrance Ransom-to-James Dorsey TD pass to seal its fifth consecutive victory after opening-season losses to Division II powers North Carolina Central and Valdosta State University.

“Mission accomplished,” ASU head coach Mike White said after the contest, played before more than 13,000 at the Albany Municipal Coliseum. “I’m not especially pleased with the way we gave up big plays and had to come back a couple of times, but that seems to be this team’s M.O. We had a strong second half and got things done.” Clark Atlanta linebacker Michael Porter returned a fumble by Albany State quarterback Kisan Flakes, who was making his first collegiate start after a strong showing in the Rams’ 14-0 victory over Miles College last week, 74 yards for the game’s first score, stunning the large Homecoming crowd. Albany State, meanwhile, had eight first-half drives into Panther territory but managed only a 27-yard Chad Spencer field goal and trailed at halftime 7-3.

“We played great field-position football in the first half, but we didn’t take advantage of it,” White said. “Our special teams and defense did a good job of keeping Clark backed up, and we had plenty of chances in the first half to do some damage.

“We can’t do that and hope to win the conference. We’ve got to do a better job of taking advantage of what we’re given. These remaining three teams on our schedule … you can’t let them get out like we did Clark today.” Freshman running back Neavins, who finished with 131 yards on 17 carries, put the Rams in front for the first time with a 33-yard burst at the 9:55 mark of the third period, but a blocked field goal attempt and return by Demar Baisy gave the Panthers possession at the ASU 37. Jones teamed with Latimore, who was all alone on blown Albany State coverage, to give Clark Atlanta a short-lived 13-10 lead before the Ram offense started clicking.

After picking up a pair of first downs to the Panther 42 on its next possession, Albany State opened the fourth quarter with the 42-yard burst by Neavins. Ransom pitched to the running back perfectly on an option play, and Neavins covered the distance untouched to put ASU up 17-13.

Jones fumbled on the next play after a hit by Donald Hanna, and Albany State linebacker Eric Crosby fell on the loose ball at the Panther 18. After a running played netted 3 yards, the Rams caught CAU sleeping, and Ransom passed to an uncovered Dorsey in the left corner of the end zone for the final Albany State touchdown.

Alton Pettway, who was credited with three sacks, hit Jones and forced a fumble that was recovered by Derrick Battle to stop the next Clark drive, and Ram safety Roderick Whipple intercepted a late pass to put the finishing touches on the ASU win.

“I didn’t like that there was not a lot of life on the sidelines after we fell behind; there was no sense of urgency,” White said. “Part of that has to do with our team’s confidence, but I don’t really like to play that way. You can’t fall behind against a good team and just expect to come back.” The Rams finished with their most productive offensive showing of the season, racking up 368 yards against the 2-5 (0-5 SIAC) Panthers. Ransom hit on 10 of his 15 pass attempts for 95 yards and also rushed for 71 yards on eight carries. The sophomore quarterback also had a 9-yard touchdown run nullified by a holding penalty. Clark, meanwhile, managed only 29 rushing and 183 total yards against the Albany State defense.

The Rams will put their perfect SIAC record on the line at Tuskegee University next Saturday.

“It will be another battle for first place in the conference,” White said. “Tuskegee has a high-scoring offense, so we’re going to have to be ready to play defense. Special teams will also be crucial against a team like Tuskegee, and our offense is going to have to take care of the ball and control the tempo of the game.