FAIRFIELD, Ala. -- Albany State captured the 2021 SIAC Football Championship game title with a 31-0 win over Miles at Sloan-Alumni Stadium on Saturday evening.
ASU (9-1) recorded its 11th championship game title since 1990 and its first since 2013.
The Golden Rams boast the top defense in the nation - coined the "Dirty Blue" - locked up its sixth shutout of the season while holding its opponent scoreless for a consecutive week and giving up a total of 19 points since Week 3.
The win snaps back-to-back losses to Miles in the championship game. During the regular season, the Golden Rams defeated the Golden Bears, 31-3, in Week 5.
ASU racked up five sacks in the first half and finished with six for the game to complement 11 tackle-for-loss. The defense held a potent Miles run-game to 15 rushing yards and 132 total offensive yards.
Stephan Pierre led all players with seven tackles. Derek Davis and Jalen Pugh tied a game high 1.5 sacks apiece.
ASU finished with 342 yards of total offense with Marcuis Faulks, Isaiah McCray, and Kam Ward scoring touchdowns on the ground.
Fulks finished with a game high 75 yards on seven carries (10.7). McCray added 69 yards with nine attempts (7.7) to help the offense produce a balance attack that included 162 rushing yards and 180 yards passing.
Dionte Bonneau completed 8-of-13 pass attempts for one touchdown and two interceptions. Bonneau connected with Tyree Taylor in the third quarter to give ASU a 24-0 advantage after leading 17-0 at the break.
MC (6-5) forced three turnovers - two interceptions and a forced fumble - that fostered opportunities to close the gap but could not find the endzone.
Claude Newell spotlighted the Golden Bears connecting 11-of-28 pass attempts for 117 yards. Marcus Lodge led the field with three receptions for 39 yards.
Rodney Coleman and Andrew Glover each registered interceptions. Coleman also recorded a forced fumble to complement three tackles.
Jamarius Brown and N'Ktavious Floyd led the Golden Bears in tackles with each registering 4.5 apiece.
ASU will now wait to see who it will face in the NCAA tournament.
The 2021 DII football selection show and bracket announcement is Sunday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. ET.
This will be the first DII national championship game played since December 2019. Albany State will host University of West Georgia in the first round of the NCAA DII Football Championship.
Here's how to watch the
selection show.
When: 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 14
Where:
Live here on NCAA.com