Sports

‘Cats fans pour out for finale

• The Wildcats came into Saturday with a four-game winning streak and fans answered with a record-crowd of 6,409 as the Wildcats went on to win their fifth game in a row.

Derek Barichello

ALBANY — It’s all starting to come together.

First, the South Georgia Wildcats went on a winning streak, running off five consecutive victories after Saturday night’s 55-34 romp of Oklahoma City. Then, Wildcats’ fans responded by packing the Albany Civic Center with the largest home attendance in the last two years with a count of 6,409.

“I felt like I was in an atmosphere like a couple of weeks ago in Spokane,” Wildcats coach Derek Stingley said of his team’s 57-55 win in front of a sold out crowd of 10,550. “But now I was the home team and we were taking advantage of the energy. The energy was outstanding. If we do get a home playoff game, since now we are in it, I would love to see the same type of crowd.”

In order to guarantee as many as two home games, the Wildcats (10-4) need to win the South Division to capture the No. 2 seed, which with a 59-47 Florida loss on Saturday, the Wildcats now control their own destiny.

And if the Wildcats are able to keep up their winning ways, Saturday’s enthusiasm - which featured fans doing the wave, loud music and frenzied cheering - only expects to grow.

“I’m hoping they have home field or can at least play another game here,” said Isaac Jackson, who has attended every home game and sat in the upper deck Saturday with a group of friends. “I want to keep watching these guys.

It’s so exciting to be able to follow a good football team in my hometown.”

Possibly the greatest reward the Wildcats’ recent success has brought is to those who have followed the team since its incarnation four seasons ago.

“I remember two years ago when they only won (three) games,” Fitzgerald resident Gil Waldron said. “It’s been easier to sit here and watch a winning team.”

However, the excitement was not limited to the most devout Wildcats' followers.

“I know they’re good this year, so I was looking forward to finally seeing them,” said Cordele resident Adam Sumner, who attended his first Wildcats game and sat in the upper deck. “I hope they have a home playoff game, then I’m coming back. This is fun.”

To some in the upper deck, the exciting season has been the difference between watching a few games and attending them all.

“I’m more likely to come when they’re doing good,” Albany resident Summer Snapp said. “Most of the time I come with friends but it’s just a lot more enjoyable when they’re winning.”

With a re-energized fan base, the Wildcats, who already are one of the hottest teams in the af2, there is no telling just how far they can take this season. 

“It’s not even our ninth man, its our lifeline,” Wildcats linebacker and Albany State product Alvin Ray Jackson said. “They keep us going. They push us. For a crowd like this to show up like it did tonight it motivates us to have some more home games and give them what they want.”

And the fans' message was clear on Saturday; they want more.

More Sports>>