Albany State drops opener to Wingate University, 30-7
[email protected]
By Joe Whitfield
Sports Editor
WINGATE, NC — Things didn’t start well for Albany State Friday night in North Carolina against the Wingate University Bulldogs and the Golden Rams were never able to recover as Wingate beat Albany State 30-7 in their season-opening match-up.
The Golden Rams took the opening kickoff and started at their own 11-yard line. Before the first play, the Rams were flagged for a penalty and then fumbled on the first play and Wingate recovered. It took Wingate two plays to score, but less than a minute was off the clock and the Bulldogs were up 7-0.
Wingate added another touchdown on their next possession and needed just five plays to move 69 yards against the Rams’ defense. Wingate’s Wilson Alexander scored on a 23-yard run and with less than four minutes into the game, the Bulldogs led 14-0.
The Golden Ram defense stood up and allowed only a field goal in the second quarter to put the halftime score at 17-0 but the Bulldogs struck quickly in the third quarter with a 62-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Noah Bell to wide receiver Tremel Jones.
Bell hit Matt Flanders for a 25-yard touchdown pass at the end of the third quarter to make the score 30-0.
The Golden Rams finally got points on the board late in the fourth quarter when transfer quarterback Isaiah Knowles connected with Frederick Gaines for a 12-yard touchdown pass to cap an 80-yard, 11-play drive. The point-after kick from Eli Mashburn put the final point on the board.
The Rams lost three fumbles during the game and the quarterback suffered three sacks. The Golden Rams put up 178 yards of passing but could manage just 74 on the ground.
Defensively, Ahman Ross and Randy Fillingame led the Golden Rams with 9 total tackles each. Fillingame also had a sack for the Golden Rams. Derrick Drayton finished with 2 tackles for a loss. Jalen Mitchell recorded the game’s lone interception.
The Golden Rams will host their home season-opener Saturday at the Albany State Coliseum when the Valdosta State Blazers come to town. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Author
Related Articles
Baldwin’s leadoff homer is one-of-a-kind
A catcher hitting in the leadoff position in the lineup is rare. What’s even rarer?
Good Good loses Callaway deal, steps back from PGA event over offensive video
Callaway Golf Company severed ties with Good Good Golf after backlash over a video meant to promote a driver co-branded by the two companies, Sports Business Journal reported Thursday.
Judge’s order prohibits SEC from blocking pro athletes’ return
A group of 41 athletes can’t be blocked by the NCAA, the Southeastern Conference or SEC commissioner Greg Sankey from going back to college for one more season thanks to a restraining order signed Thursday by District Court Judge Martin Hoffman in Dallas.
