Albany State defeats Shorter 42-14

The Albany State Golden Rams bounced back from their loss against FAMU last week with a 42-20 victory over, Shorter University. The 42 points the Rams scored was more than they put up in their first two games combined. ASU quarterback looked much shaper than he did last week, throwing for 246 yards and a touchdown, while running for 44 yards and another score.

The Golden Rams offense got right to work on their first offensive drive, traveling 92 yards in 6 plays getting in the end zone on a 43-yard scamper from Dionte’ Bonneau to give Albany State a 7-0 lead.The ASU Defense forced a three-and-out on the Hawks next possession, giving the ball right back to the Ram offense, and 7-plays later the Albany State lead was 14-0 when Thomas Aljhanod punched it in from 1-yard out.

The Hawks responded on their next possession when Aeneas Dennis hit Dorean Anderson on a 79-yard touchdown strike to cut the deficit in half at 14-7.

In the second quarter a 44-yard pass from Bonneau to Rashad Jordan set the Albany State offense up at the Shorter 28. Seven plays later, six of which were rushes. Bonneau ran it in from a yard out fo his second touchdown of the afternoon to put the Rams up 21-7. Again Shorter answered right back, launching a 13-play, 70 yard drive that ended on Dennis’ second touchdown pass of the day,a 16-yarder to John Dietl III to putt the Hawks within seven, 21-14.

An interception off Dennis by Malachi Brown snuffed out a Shorter drive in Albany State territory.

The teams swapped punts to open the second half. On their second offensive possession of the third quarter , Albany State put together a 6-play, 74 yard drive that pushed the Golden Ram’s advantage to 28-14 , when Bonneau found Ralph Lovett on a 23-yard touchdown pass. The lead was pushed to 21 points after the ASU defense forced a three-and-out on Shorter’s next possession, Rashad Jordan’s 41-yard punt return put the Rams offense in business at the Shorter 31-yard one. Six plays later, Marcuis Fulks, who finished with 119 yards as well, got in the end zone from 1-yard out to make the score 35-14.

Bonneau threw his third touchdown of the afternoon in the fourth quarter, a 23-yarder to AlJhanod Thomas to push the lead to 42-14.

The rums Defense was again burned by a big play from the Hawks, this time an 81-yard connection from quarterback Harold Cook to John Dickerson IV. The two-attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the core 42-20.

Next week, Shorter will host perennial Gulf Coast power Valdosta State, with kickoff scheduled for noon EST.

Albany State begins SIAC play with another road trip, this one to face the Panthers of Clark-Atlanta University; kickoff for this matchup is set at 6:00pm EST.