Defense shines in ASU Blue-Gold game

ALBANY— The Albany State Golden Rams capped their spring football practice with a Blue-Gold game Saturday at Hugh Mills Stadium where the defense shined for most of the game and the Blue ended up on top 14-6.

The Blue-Gold event ended the spring practices and the team will get a break before starting summer practices to get ready for the season which will open September 7th against the national champion Valdosta State Blazers.

“We have a lot to do,” Head Coach Gabe Girardina told the crowd at half time. “The stadium will be ready and it will enhance the fan experience for the games. We will have a new jumbotron scoreboard and some other improvements. They have promised me it will be ready, ” he said. The Golden Rams normally play at the ASU Coliseum on the ASU East Campus.

The first part of the game was all defense. It looked like punter Gabriel Ballinas was going to get the most work for the day along with wide receiver Chris Miller who caught all of the punts. To start the game, Ballinas and Miller were on the filed every fourth down because neither offense could move.

That changed somewhat in the second quarter when quarterback Kelias Williams took off on a nice run and also connected on two consecutive passes to move the Blue team down the field. He hit Javon Wooten for a couple of quick passes then ran the ball in himself from 11 yards out to get the first points on the board.

Later in the second quarter Williams did a quick stutter step to make a defender miss and raced down the field before being stopped inside the 10 yard line. After an interference penalty moved the ball inside the two, the offense was called for a penalty and the ball moved back. On the next play, Williams handed the ball to senior running back Tracy Scott who blew through the defense for the second touchdown of the game.

The gold team defense picked up their only points on an interception when Brandon Johnson picked off a pass and raced more than 80 yards for the pick-6.

“If we come together…as Golden Rams, we’re all on the same mindset and care about each other and continue to work” – Girardina said – “then we’ll be as good as we need to be.” “The players did a great job this spring getting the ball out and making plays.”

He told the crowd Valdosta would come into Albany ready to play angry football and said the Rams had to be ready as well. “We need you to come and be angry with us,” he said.

Season tickets for the Golden Rams football games are $80 and will go on sale on April 22nd. The Rams will host games with Valdosta State, Tuskegee, Lane College (Homecoming), Benedict College, and Morehouse College this season. 

By Joe WhitfieldBy Joe Whitfield

By Joe Whitfield

By Joe Whitfield