All good things must come to an end.
Unfortunately for the Albany State Golden Rams that axiom would apply to their 2021 football season, as it ended in a 23-7 defeat at the hands of the Wolves of the University of West Georgia in the opening round of the NCAA Playoffs.
Things seemed to get off to a swimmingly good start for Albany State, as Golden Rams took the opening kickoff and proceeded to embark on a 12-play, 60 yard drive and seemed to be poised to come away with some points. However on a 2nd and 5 play from the UWG 24-yard line, Isaiah McCray would cough up the football and the fumble was recovered by Mike Miller who took it 76 yards to the house to put the Wolves up 7-0.
The turnover bug bit the Golden Rams on their very next drive, a 9 play, 64 yard march that was haled when Dionte Bonneau was picked off in the end zone by Ka Satterwhite.
The Golden Rams’ first two offensive possessions resulted in 21 plays for 128 yards and no points to show for it.
West Georgia built their lead to 14-0 following a 7-play, 80 yard march that concluded in a Jace Jordan 2-yard touchdown run.
The Wolves advantage would be pushed to 20-0 when Tyray Devezin found pay dirt from 7 yards out; the extra point was unsuccessful.
A 25-yard field goal from 25 Omar Cervantes would bring the lead to 23-0.
Albany State finally put points on the board completing a 10 play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Bonneau to Kristian Grant to pull the Rams within sixteen at 23-7.
The Golden Rams were able to out up 154 yards on the ground but only 133 through the air on sub-50% completion rate. The two turnovers not only killed potential scoring drives but were turned into 14 points by UWG. The ASU defense allowed only 16 points ( the other 7 came from the fumble in the first quarter) but gave up 323 yards of offense , which was the most they surrendered this season.
For the Wolves they advance to hit the road take on #1 Valdosta State in the next round. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm EST.
