Albany State whips Savannah State for Bowser’s first win, 49-17

SAVANNAH — David Bowser did not have to sweat out his first victory as Albany State’s head coach.

By the opening seconds of the fourth quarter Saturday night, his Golden Rams had scored five touchdowns, Savannah State had scored none and the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Albany State dominated from beginning to end, building a 35-point lead before rolling to a 49-17 victory at Theodore “Ted” Wright Stadium.

After opening Bowser’s first season with back-to-back losses, the Golden Rams found plenty to celebrate in Savannah. They earned their first victory, won their Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener and turned in their most complete performance of the young season.

Albany State improved to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the SIAC. Savannah State fell to 0-2 and 0-1.

Quarterback Jeffrey “JD” Davis provided a steady hand, completing 18 of 21 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. The Golden Rams piled up 435 yards, moved the chains on 10 of 14 third downs and controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes.

They also made sure Savannah State never established a running game.

The Tigers managed only 19 yards on 21 carries, leaving their offense in difficult down-and-distance situations for much of the night.

Jayden Threatts did the early scoring for Albany State. He powered into the end zone from a yard out for the game’s first touchdown, then broke loose for a 14-yard score early in the second quarter.

That gave the Golden Rams a 14-0 halftime lead. Davis made sure it grew quickly after the break.

He found Cardrece Mobley for a 15-yard touchdown less than four minutes into the third quarter. Albany State later put together the kind of drive that can drain the life from a home crowd — 11 plays, 79 yards and more than seven minutes off the clock.

Davis finished it with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Exavior Sherrod with three seconds left in the quarter.

Then the Golden Rams landed another blow before the fourth quarter was even 15 seconds old.

Cameron Watts intercepted Savannah State quarterback Rashawn Truell on the Tigers’ next snap and returned it for a touchdown. Suddenly, a competitive conference road game had become a 35-0 rout.

Savannah State finally got on the board with Joshua Woodley’s 41-yard field goal, but Albany State answered with another long drive. Backup quarterback Vinson Berry connected with Sincere Rodriguez for an 8-yard touchdown to finish a 12-play, 77-yard march.

The Tigers showed some late life when Truell hit Trenton Rhodes for a 68-yard touchdown. It lasted all of 20 seconds.

On Albany State’s next snap, Kamran “Kam” Ward raced 76 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 49-10. Ward carried only three times but finished with a team-high 90 rushing yards.

Savannah State added a touchdown in the closing minutes, long after Bowser’s first Albany State victory had been secured.

Edward Louis Jr. led the Golden Rams’ receivers with three catches for 69 yards. Mobley, Sherrod and Rodriguez each caught touchdown passes, and Jonathan Rodriguez made all seven of his extra-point attempts.

Albany State finished with 24 first downs to Savannah State’s 13 and punted only once. The Tigers converted just three of 11 third-down opportunities.

The Golden Rams will try to build on Bowser’s breakthrough Saturday when they play Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. It will be Albany State’s fourth consecutive road game before the Golden Rams finally return to Albany for their Sept. 26 home opener against Kentucky State.