Albany State routs Fort Valley State 49-0 in Fountain City Classic
Cameron Watts returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, then ran back an interception 53 yards for another before Albany State’s offense took the field.
Game photos by Darrell Roaden, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Forty-seven seconds into the Fountain City Classic, Albany State led 14-0. Its offense had yet to take the field.
Cameron Watts had been busy.
Watts returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. Three Fort Valley State snaps later, he intercepted a pass and ran it back 53 yards for another, sending Albany State toward a 49-0 win Saturday before 21,347 fans.
The Golden Rams won the Classic for the fourth straight year and the eighth time in nine meetings. They finished 5-5 in David Bowser’s first season as head coach, extending the program’s streak of seasons without a losing record to 25.
“That gave us momentum,” Bowser said of Watts’ two touchdowns. “We were able to run the ball, which is something we needed to do.”
Albany State’s Evan Wynn breaks up the pass attempt by Fort valley State’s Don Morgan to Solomon Burney in the first quarter of the game during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia,
Albany State’s Jayden Threatts on a 1st and 10 play on the 18-yard line takes the handoff cutting up the middle of the defense in the first half of the game during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia,
Albany State’s Jayden Threatts on a 1st and 10 play on the 18-yard line tackled by multiple Fort Valley defenders in the first half of the game during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia,
Albany State’s Bryce Council takes the handoff cutting up field through the defense in the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Fort valley’s DeZavion Holman tackles Albany State’s Bryce Council after a short gain on the play in the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Albany State’s Roderick McCrary returns the opening kickoff of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Fort Valley State’s Micheal Cabellero takes the hand off from Morgan Jones in the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Fort Valley State’s Micheal Cabellero takes the hand and is might at the line of scrimmage for no gain on the play in the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Fort valley State’s Don Morgan drops back to past and not finding an open receiver pulls the ball down and attempts to run up field in the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Fort valley State’s Don Morgan drops back to past and not find an open receiver pulls the ball down and attempts to run up field in the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Albany’s Cameron Watts reacts to a tipped ball and takes the interception in to the endzone during the first half against Fort Valley State in the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Albany’s Cameron Watts makes the extra point in the first quarter of the game against Fort Valley State in the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Fort Valley States’ Don Hudson Jr. pass on a third down is incomplete forcing a punt in the first quarter of the game against Albany State during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Albany’s Cameron Watts signals a fair catch as Fort Valley State’s Chris Brown moves in to tackle him during the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Fort Valley States’ Donte Curry Jr. calls for a fair catch in the first quarter of the game against Albany during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Fort Valley States’ Donte Curry Jr. calls for a fair catch in the first quarter of the game against Albany during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Fort Valley States’ Don Hudson Jr. with Solomon Burney providing escort that’s off up field early in the first quarter of the game against Albany State during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Fort Valley States’ Don Hudson Jr. drops back into the pocket looking for an open receiver in the first quarter of the game against Albany State during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
During the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia, Fort Valley State’s Micheal Cabellero took the handoff in the backfield and was tackled by the Albany State defense after gaining one yard.
During the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia, Fort Valley State’s Don Hudson Jr. kept the ball on a third-down play. Albany State’s defense tackled him short of the first down.
During the first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia, Fort Valley State’s Don Hudson Jr. kept the ball on a third-down play. Albany State’s defense tackled him short of the first down.
Fort Valley State’s Head Coach Marlon Watson on the sidelines during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Albany State’s Roderick McCrary makes a touchdown pass in the end zone during the closing minutes of the first half against Fort Valley State in the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Albany State’s Roderick McCrary races past the Fort Valley bench for a 95-yard touch down run in the second quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Albany’s Cameron Watts reacts to a tipped ball and takes the interception in to the endzone during the first half against Fort Valley State in the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.
Albany State’s Jeffery “JD” Davis passes in the pocket picking up a first down in first quarter of the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia,
Albany State’s Head Coach David Bowser on the field to check on an injured Fort Valley player during the 36th annual Fountain City Classic on November 7, 2026, at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia
Midway through the second quarter, Fort Valley State pinned Albany State at its own 5-yard line. Roderick McCrary took the next handoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
“I think our biggest thing was our offensive line,” Bowser said. “We had them all back today.”
Injuries had kept the five starters from playing together since the Savannah State game. With all five back, Albany State rushed for 246 yards and allowed no sacks. McCrary finished with 110 yards and two touchdowns on six carries, and Jayden Threatts added 58 yards on eight carries.
The Golden Rams could put together a long drive, too. Jeffery Davis capped an 85-yard march with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jaquan Graham, sending Albany State into halftime ahead 28-0. Davis completed 10 of 13 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. McCrary added a 9-yard scoring run in the third quarter, and Sincere Rodriguez finished the scoring with a 22-yard run in the fourth.
Albany State’s defense kept the shutout intact with eight sacks and three interceptions. Ian Rembert had two sacks, Rontavion Scott led the team with eight tackles, and Evan Wynn picked off a pass. The Wildcats managed 207 yards and came away empty on all three trips inside the 20.
“Our defense played lights out,” Bowser said. “They are the best defense in the conference and they showed it today.”
Watts earned the Classic’s MVP award in his final game as a Golden Ram. He finished with four tackles and 181 yards on three returns. The last of those came on Fort Valley State’s third snap after halftime, when he picked off another pass and ran it back to the Wildcats’ 2.
This time, Watts left the last two yards to the offense. Davis found Avery Hall on the next snap.
Joe Whitfield is the sports editor for the Albany Herald. He graduated from the Henry Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia. He is an avid Georgia Bulldog fan and passionate about local sports in Albany. He has two daughters and seven grandchildren.
Albany State heads to the SIAC volleyball tournament with 15 straight wins and a chance to get another crack at the only team that beat it in conference play.
