title image Albany State Athletics
Courtesy of Albany State Athletics
15
FVU
20
Winner ASU
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FVU | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| ASU | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
The Albany State Golden Rams capped off their season with a thrilling victory over their rival, the Fort Valley State Wildcats, in the 34th annual Fountain City Classic. In a game packed with intense back-and-forth action, Albany State ultimately prevailed, ending their season on a high note in front of a roaring crowd.
The Wildcats struck first midway through the first quarter with a 43-yard field goal by Daniel Gibbs, giving them an early 3-0 lead. However, the Golden Rams responded with a methodical 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Isaiah Knowles to Kristian Grant. After a successful PAT by Kyle Wright, Albany State took the lead, 7-3.
Fort Valley reclaimed the lead early in the second quarter. Quarterback Kelvin Durham orchestrated an 80-yard drive, connecting with Dejuan Bell for a 26-yard touchdown, pushing the Wildcats ahead, 10-7. The Golden Rams were quick to answer as Knowles found Xavier Herndon deep for a 40-yard touchdown, swinging the lead back to Albany State, 14-10.
Just before halftime, Fort Valley narrowed the gap with a 20-yard field goal by Gibbs, bringing the score to 14-13. With mere seconds left in the half, Albany State’s defense made a game-changing play. Robert Floyd intercepted a pass and returned it to the end zone, pushing the score to 20-13. However, Fort Valley quickly responded with a stunning 97-yard PAT return by Dray Duncan, giving the Wildcats a boost before the half ended at 20-15 in favor of Albany State.
The second half saw both teams’ defenses tightening up, but the Golden Rams were able to hold onto their lead, thwarting Fort Valley’s final efforts to retake control of the game.
With this win, Albany State closes their season on a high note, leaving the Fountain City Classic with a memorable victory over their storied rivals. The Golden Rams’ combination of big plays and defensive resilience proved to be the difference-maker, ending their season with a hard-fought and well-earned triumph.
Team Statistics
| Game Stats | FVU | ASU |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 399 | 236 |
| Pass Yards | 331 | 163 |
| Rushing Yards | 68 | 73 |
| Penalty Yards | 8-58 | 8-80 |
| 1st Downs | 19 | 15 |
| 3rd Downs | 7-14 | 5-13 |
| 4th Downs | 0-2 | 1-1 |
| TOP | 31:19 | 28:41 |
| 1ST QUARTER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 08:11 – FVU – Gibbs,Daniel 43 yd field goal 7 plays, 46 yards, TOP 03:55 | 3 | 0 | |
 03:43 – ASU – Grant,Kristian 23 yd pass from Knowles,Isaiah (Wright,Kyle kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:28 | 3 | 7 | |
| 2ND QUARTER | |||
| 13:05 – FVU – Bell,Dejuan 26 yd pass from Durham,Kelvin (Gibbs,Daniel kick) 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:29 | 10 | 7 | |
| 10:01 – ASU – Herndon,Xavier 40 yd pass from Knowles,Isaiah (Wright,Kyle kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:59 | 10 | 14 | |
| 02:49 – FVU – Gibbs,Daniel 20 yd field goal 8 plays, 61 yards, TOP 03:55 | 13 | 14 | |
| 00:11 – ASU – Floyd,Robert 0 yd interception ( kick) | 13 | 20 | |
| 00:11 – FVU – Duncan,Dray 97 yd PAT return | 15 | 20 | |
