By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
In Saturday's football match up between the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) and the Falcons of Saint Augustine's College in the 12th annual Pioneer Bowl, the season finale proved bitter sweet for the Wildcats. The sweet was found in the fact that Saturday was the first appearance for FVSU in the inter-conference clash between teams from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The bitter was found in the fact the Wildcats lost to the Falcons, 20-9.
Played in Columbus, Georgia's A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, the game featured teams with identical 8-2 records. It was also the first time that the Falcons represented the CIAA in the bowl. And after a slow first half take off, the Falcons soared in the second half to claim the win.
The game's first score did not take place until near the end of the first quarter. With neither team able to generate much offense in the early stages of the contest, the Wildcats, as they have on several occasions throughout the season, found solace in it's defense to get the game's first score. It came with a 1:10 remaining in the first quarter. After Saint Augustine's quarterback Joaquin Green fumbled on a run at the FVSU 35 yard line, senior FVSU linebacker Courtney Daniel scooped up the loose ball and returned it a for 65 yard touchdown. With the added extra point by kicker Justin Rosenbaum, the Wildcats took a 7-0 lead that would last until twenty-one second remaining in the first half.
After mounting a five play, 65 yard drive which took only 1:03, the Falcons cut into the Wildcat lead when reserve quarterback Teddy Bacote threw a touchdown pass to tight end Jone' Harris to make it a 7-6 FVSU lead. However, with the possibility of the game being tied hinging on the converted extra point, the Falcons actually surrendered more points to the Wildcats. A surging Dominique Patterson managed to block the Falcons extra point kick which was recovered by linebacker Reginald Goodrum who returned it for a Wildcat score. So, instead of the Falcons cutting the Wildcat lead on the extra point attempt, they wound up giving FVSU two additional points who now took a 9-6 lead into the game's intermission.
For the Wildcats, that's when the scoring stopped and the Falcons were able to take flight for the win. With 12:05 left in the third quarter, the Falcons took their first lead of the game. The score came on a 73-yard pass from quarterback Joaquin Green to freshman Jermaine Jones. While the two point conversion attempt after the touchdown failed, Saint Augustine's had its' first lead of the game, 12-9.
That lead would be extended to the game's eventual winning margin of 20-9 after the Falcons mounted a definitive, 10-play, 80 yard drive with 9:26 remaining in the game. Again, it was the combination of reserve quarterback Bacote and Harris who hooked up on a 31 yard touchdown throw and catch. Although the Falcons extra point attempt failed, the Falcons had secured more than enough points to come away with a 20-9 win.
The Falcons conclude their season with a 9-2 record while the loss by the Wildcats drops them to 8-3. FVSU's Ricky Johnson was named defensive player of the game while Falcon's Jone' Harris received dual honors as offensive player of the game and most valuable player.
-Wildcats Athletics-
