Albany State finishes perfect in '04, gets first round bye to playoffs
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
A botched point-after atttempt by arch-rival Fort Valley State in the final minute of the game enabled SIAC champ Albany State to earn a come-from-behind 20-19 win and finish the regular season with a perfect 10-0 mark as they head into postseason NCAA Div. II play.
The Golden Rams received a first round bye to the playoffs by virtue of being the top seed in the Southeast Region and will play the winner of the first round game between Arkansas Tech and Catawba.
Down 13-0 early and 13-3 at the half, the Golden Rams scored three times in the second half, the final TD giving them a 20-13 lead on a 23-yard pass from QB Uyl Joyner to RB Dontreal Williams with 9:45 left.
In its final possession, FVSU drove 39 yards in five plays and scored with just 58 seconds left when Adam Bailey caught a three-yard pass from FVSU QB Willie Copeland, cutting the lead to 20-19. But after a bad snap past holder Antonio Hughes, placekicker Andrew Jacas' extra point attempt failed. Hughes ran for the ball, but ASU's Demetrie McCray got to it first for the ASU recovery. The Wildcats ended their 2004 campaign at 7-4 and 4-4 in the SIAC.
The Golden Rams were led by Joyner, who finished the night with 193 passing yards, completing 11 of 20 passes for one touchdown. Joyner also ran for 36 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. Antonio Atkins rushed for 60 yards on 16 carries for the Golden Rams.
Copeland was 14 for 24 and passed for 145 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 34 yards on nine carries and had one touchdown.
The Golden Rams finished with their first unbeaten regular season since 1997 and with the longest winning streak in Division II with 18 straight wins.
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.