Wildcats Score Final Two Touchdowns, Harris Sack Seals Win Over Panthers

Wildcats Score Final Two Touchdowns, Harris Sack Seals Win Over Panthers

Courtesy of Fort Valley State Athletics

ATLANTA, Ga. – It took a team effort in the final quarter for the Wildcats to extend their winning streak Saturday afternoon. With 10 minutes left, the Fort Valley State offense found the end zone twice for the lead, before Demetrius Harris' sack fumble and his own recovery sealed the comeback, 34-27, victory over Clark Atlanta.
 
The Panthers (0-8/0-4 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East), suddenly, jumped in front when their defense produced a 36-yard fumble return score off a sack with 12:55 left. Two possessions later, Demontay Jones lofted a long 38-yard pass down the right side pulled in by Joseph Ross to the home eight-yard line, before Marlon Fleming burst in for the tying score on the next play. Jones led the game-winning drive on the ensuing time with the ball until he hit Shemar Bridges on an outside shoulder 4-yard pass with 1:10 showing for the 34-27 Wildcats (6-2/4-0 SIAC East) advantage.
 
On the fourth CAU play in the final minute, Harris hit the Panthers quarterback for the sack fumble and recovered the football as well to seal the Wildcats win.
 
With the win, FVSU extended its longest winning streak in over a dozen years to six games and stayed perfect in the SIAC in four conference games.
 
The Wildcats offense churned out 363 yards of total offense, including 387 through the air. The FVSU defense held CAU to 249 yards and only 33 on the ground.
 
Slade Jarman was 12 for 13 on the day for 220 yards and a touchdown, before Jones took over with a line of 18 of 30 for 167 yards and a score with one interception.
 
QA Walker raced 59 yards for a second quarter touchdown catch of his four receptions for 121 yards. Bridges added eight grabs for 91 yards and the 4-yard game-winning score. Ross had five catches for 79 yards and the key 38-yard reception.
 
Defensively, Harris' lone sack of the day was the biggest one coming with 20 seconds left to go with four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and the fumble recovery. Majeste Hansberry recorded his fifth double-figure tackle outing with 10, while Noah Waller and Antonio Golden had sacks of their own.
 
FVSU continues on the road next Saturday evening, Nov. 2, in a 5 p.m. game at Savannah State.


 
 
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