Albany State football defeats Valdosta State in playoff thriller; Benedict up next

ALBANY — On a partly cloudy Saturday afternoon at the Albany State Coliseum, with light sprinkles drifting across the field and a restless playoff crowd packed into the stands, the Golden Rams delivered the postseason moment this city has been waiting for. In a game that twisted and turned for four quarters, Albany State outlasted rival Valdosta State 35–30 to advance in the NCAA Division II playoffs — a win equal parts survival, resilience and sheer force of will.

With the victory, Albany State moves on to the second round, where the Golden Rams will face a familiar foe: SIAC rival Benedict College, next Saturday. The matchup will be the teams’ third meeting in six weeks. Albany State beat Benedict 22–16 last week in Albany to win the SIAC championship, and 31–3 in Columbia two weeks before that. This time, a national quarterfinal berth is on the line.

The Rams (11-1) extended their winning streak to nine games, but Saturday’s first-round test from Valdosta State may have been their most volatile challenge yet. Despite piling up a staggering 530 yards of offense, 31 first downs, and holding the football for more than 41 minutes, Albany State still found itself trailing deep into the second half against a Blazers team that refused to disappear.

Albany Dominates the Numbers — But Not the Scoreboard

On paper, this should have been comfortable. Albany State almost doubled Valdosta’s yardage and controlled the flow from start to finish. Yet the Blazers — who rebuilt their season from a 2–4 start to win the Gulf South title — kept punching back, delivering big plays that kept the Rams on edge and the Coliseum tense.

Quarterback Isaiah Knowles finished with 264 yards passing on 24-of-37 throws, two touchdowns, and a 21-yard keeper that sparked ASU’s comeback. Running backs Tiant Wyche (20 carries, 134 yards, TD) and Roderick McCrary (16 carries, 92 yards, TD) anchored a balanced attack that churned out 266 rushing yards.
Jamill Williams hauled in seven passes for 87 yards and two scores, while Omari Stewart added seven receptions for 80 yards.

It was needed. All of it.

A First Half That Never Stopped Swinging

After Valdosta State opened with a field goal off Knowles’ early interception, the two teams spent the next 30 minutes trading bursts of momentum.

McCrary’s 6-yard touchdown gave ASU its first lead, but freshman Shawn Paschall countered with a 53-yard breakaway. Wyche answered with a 44-yard sprint. Valdosta fired back with a 39-yard touchdown pass. Knowles hit Williams for 40 yards. And with 5:01 left in the half, Valdosta quarterback Jameson Holcomb found Armani Hayes for a 16-yard strike that sent the Blazers into the locker room ahead 23–21.

It was a half defined by fireworks — and a reminder that Albany State, despite controlling the stat sheet, had little margin for error.

A Jolt to the Sidelines — Then a Turning Point

Whatever halftime adjustments the Rams planned disappeared instantly. Paschall fielded the second-half kickoff at his own 5 and raced 95 yards untouched to give the Blazers a 30–21 lead.

ASU responded by forcing turnovers, blocking momentum, and slowly reclaiming control. A high snap resulted in a Valdosta fumble, but the Blazers blocked the ensuing ASU field goal. Moments later, Valdosta drove deep again before coughing up the football inside the 10.

Albany State seized its moment.

Knowles converted a 4th-and-1 with a determined 21-yard touchdown run, slicing the deficit to 30–28 and lighting a spark across the Coliseum late in the third quarter.

Season on the Line, Albany State Took Over

The fourth quarter belonged to the Golden Rams — their veteran line, their quarterback, their backs, and a defense that finally settled in.

Starting at their own 20, ASU strung together the type of championship-caliber drive that has defined their November. Knowles hit key third-down throws. Wyche kept the chains moving. The energy in the stadium swelled.

With 8:22 left, Knowles found Williams on a 22-yard rope to the corner of the end zone, giving ASU a 35–30 lead — its first since early in the second quarter.

From there, the Rams inflicted their will.
They never let Valdosta state touch the football again.

ASU converted three more third downs, forcing the Blazers to burn their timeouts. Wyche powered forward for a final first down at the 2-minute mark, and Knowles took the victory formation.

A Win the City Will Remember — and a Familiar Challenge Ahead

When Knowles knelt for the final time, with the sprinkles gone and the crowd standing, Albany State secured not just a playoff win — but a chance to advance deeper into December.

Up next is Benedict, again. A rivalry. A rematch. A rubber match, of sorts, despite ASU winning the first two.

And next Saturday, the stakes rise. The winner moves within one game of the national semifinals.

For now, though, Albany can savor this: a playoff classic at home, a rival turned away, and a Golden Rams team that continues to look like it belongs on the national stage.