BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The
Clark Atlanta University football team traveled west to take on the 12th-ranked Valdosta State Blazers in the inaugural Week Zero Labor Day Classic at the historic Legion Field. The Panthers fell short 31-28 in the season opener after failing to connect on a 48-yard field goal attempt with 1:40 left in regulation that would've tied the game.
THE BASICS
Score: Clark Atlanta - 28 | Valdosta State - 31
Records: Panthers 0-1 | Blazers 1-0
Date: August 30, 2025
Location: Birmingham, Ala | Legion Field
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Clark Atlanta Panthers
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Valdosta State struck first with a three-yard rushing touchdown by Corey Reddick Jr. after his 30-yard scamper put the Blazers in scoring position with 11:50 to play in the first quarter.
- Clark Atlanta responded with an extensive 14-play 67-yard scoring drive capped off by a three-yard rush by Jalen Samuels to even the score at seven apiece midway through the first frame.
- The Blazers found paydirt once again with 5:28 left in the second quarter on another Corey Reddick Jr. rushing touchdown from 10 yards out to put Valdosta State back in front 14-7.
- Zy McDonald threw his first touchdown in a CAU uniform after finding David Martin for a 21-yard strike to even the score at 14 all just as the first half expired.
- The Panthers elected to receive the second-half kickoff and marched down the field to take the lead on a 22-yard touchdown pass from McDonald to Darren Stephens, giving Clark Atlanta a 21-14 edge over Valdosta State at the 9:22 mark in the third quarter.
- VSU's Eric Watts evened the score at 21 apiece by capping off a six-play 89-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown with 6:39 left in the third.
- Canaan Johnson hauled in a 47-yard catch to set the Panthers up in the red zone before McDonald rushed in for a touchdown to put the Panthers back in front 28-21 with 4:14 left to play in the third frame.
- The Blazers responded with a nine-play 75-yard scoring drive to knot the score at 28 just as time expired in the third quarter.
- The Panthers' defense held stout, forcing the Blazers to kick a 24-yard field goal to take a 31-28 edge with eight minutes left to play in regulation.
- Clark Atlanta was able to get the ball into plus territory, but couldn't connect on a 48-yard field goal with 1:40 left to play, securing the win for Valdosta State.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- McDonald made the most of his CAU debut, registering 234 passing yards on 14-of-30 completions with three total touchdowns. He threw two and rushed one in for a score.
- McDonald was able to distribute the ball efficiently, completing passes to seven different receivers on the day.
- David Martin and Stephens each hauled in a receiving touchdown, while Armone Harris led the wideouts in receiving yards with 65 yards on four catches.
- Alan Riggins led the rushing attack with 59 yards on 14 attempts out of the backfield.
- The Panthers' offense charted 355 yards of total offense compared to Valdosta State's 423 yards of offense.
- On the defensive end, three Panthers registered eight tackles, including Carter Mason, Kurtis Waye, and Jaiden Cleveland.
- Mason tallied the lone solo sack for Clark Atlanta, while Bralynn Morris and Waye each combined for a sack.
- Eric Searcy snagged an interception for the Panthers to go along with his six total tackles in the game.
UP NEXT
Clark Atlanta looks to bounce back next Saturday, September 6, as they play host to Florida Memorial at 3 p.m. for the home opener inside Panther Stadium.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
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