Albany State football holds on for 33-27 win at Kentucky State

FRANKFORT, Ky — Albany State quarterback Isaiah Knowles threw four touchdown passes and the Golden Rams held off a fierce comeback from the Kentucky State Thoroughbreds Saturday afternoon to claim their third straight victory by a 33-27 final.

The win keeps the Golden Rams (3-2, 2-0) unbeaten in SIAC play.

Knowles finished the day with 208 yards passing, completing 14 of 19 passes. He also picked up 77 yards rushing on seven attempts. Frederick Gaines led Albany State on the ground with 96 yards on 18 carries.

Albany State put 20 points on the board in the first quarter and it began when Knowles connected with redshirt freshman Javion Jackson for a 41-yard pass play to cap an 8-play, 65-yard drive.

The Golden Ram “Dirty Blue” defense came onto the field and scored two plays later. Former Lee County star Anthony Harvey and teammate Ronald Robinson combined to sack Kentucky State quarterback Denim Johnson for a three-yard loss and force a fumble. Defensive lineman Jalen Pugh picked up the fumble and rambled 23 yards for another Golden Rams touchdown. The Rams attempted a two-point conversion that was not good but three minutes had not ticked off the clock and ASU led 13-0.

After the Thoroughbreds scored on a field goal, Knowles and the Rams drove the field again. ASU Head Coach Quinn Gray gave the go-ahead for a fourth and four play at the nine-yard line when it looked as though the drive was stalled. Knowles hit Ralph Lovett for a nine-yard touchdown pass and Eli Mashburn’s extra point kick put the Rams up 20-3.

Albany State’s next possession didn’t start well. Knowles was sacked on the first play and then a penalty moved the ball back another five yards. But then Knowles hit three straight passes to move the ball down the field. He connected with Devon Dorsey for 15 yards, Rashad Jordan for six yards, and Xavier Herndon for another seven yards. After a Gaines rush for seven yards, Knowles hit Jackson for another touchdown pass — this one a 35-yard strike to push Albany State’s lead to 27-10. KSU added a field goal to make it 27-13 at the half.

Knowles put the Rams ahead 33-13 in the third quarter with a 17-yard pass to William McDonald that completed a 12-play, 71-yard drive that took almost six minutes off the clock.

The fourth quarter is when KSU and quarterback Denim Johnson came alive. He led a seven-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Markel Cotton. On KSU’s next possession, Johnson broke loose for a 77-yard touchdown run that put the Thoroughbreds within striking range at 33-27 and still eight minutes on the clock.

The Albany State defense was able to keep the Thoroughbreds from scoring again and the Golden Rams ran out the clock to save the win.

Kentucky State piled up 432 offensive yards and 22 first downs compared to Albany State’s 366 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Golden Ram defense sacked Johnson four times during the game to help Albany State overcome that deficit. Albany State’s offense went for a first down on fourth down four times and converted all four attempts.

Jalen Mitchell, a senior from Jacksonville, led the ASU defense with 11 tackles, including two tackles for a loss. Ronald Robinson, a sophomore from McDonough, followed with seven tackles.

The Golden Rams will play in Albany this coming Saturday for Homecoming against Central State University (1-4), Kickoff is planned for 4 p.m.

Reginald Christian/Albany State UniversityJoeWhitfield[email protected]