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October 26, 1997
By Hal LamarEven Albany State head coach Hamp Smith applauded Clark AU's performance against them last Saturday. " This was the best game that Clark AU has played in 10 years, " said Smith who has a reputation of thoroughly scouting all his opponents.
ASU starting quarterback Purvis Jackson agreed. " We stepped up when we had to, but I have to give credit to CAU. They played a heckuva ballgame."
At least ASU was convinced. Some of the Panthers weren't as charitable. "We choke up to pressure everytime. Damn!, " said a CAU offensive lineman as he made his way to the dressing room.
Several players threw down helmets in disgust, ignoring the warnings of an assistant coach who reminded them that "the helmets didn't lose the game."
Truth is, a lot of those players had justification for their anger. Many of them had been there before. In 1995, the Panthers jumped on the Rams early then capitulated in the end.
And this year, the Panthers did the same thing. It certainly wasn't ASU's fault that the Panthers lost. In fact, ASU turned the ball over twice in the fourth period and put Clark Atlanta in scoring position. But they choked in the red zone and ended up attempting 2 field goals. One was blocked and the other had the distance, but was too wide.
"We knew CAU was gonna go for broke, " said Smith. "And our kids were trying to make some things happen too fast. They weren't patient. In the second half, we got patient."
They also got lax in the third period. ASU's attempt to score from the CAU 23 resulted in an end zone interception by All American Olympia Fluellen. Five plays later, quarterback Gary Catchings threw an 85 yard bomb to Charles Allen. It gave CAU a 3 point lead. "They threw that bomb on us, but sometimes that happens," said Smith.
But in football or for that matter any sport, it's not how to start but how you finish that tends to matter. And the last 7:16 of the game belonged to the Rams, who forced a CAU turnover at the 35. Jackson then got to work, getting his offense to the CAU 47 and then getting help from a pass interference call that moved the oval to the 30. Then, on the ensuing play, Jackson tugged the pigskin under his arm and ran virtually unmolested into the end zone for what turned out to be the winning score.
To CAU's credit, they refused to give up. Catchings worked the offense to the ASU 24, then attempted to go for it all on a 3rd and 20. The pass was intercepted in the end zone by strong safety Octvious Jones. ASU then ran out the last 1:53 of the game to perserve their undefeated string.
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