Golden Rams lose 50-23, ending playoff hopes

History did repeat itself. The Albany State Golden Rams (7-4) lost to Miles College (5-6) Saturday 50-23 in the SIAC Championship game after beating Miles College in Albany back in September. In 2015, the same thing happened. The win gives the Golden Bears the SIAC football championship and makes it likely that no team from the conference will advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The ASU Golden Rams were in the seventh position before Saturday’s game, but now they will almost certainly lose that spot. The top seven teams in the Super Region advance to the playoffs.

Saturday’s game near Birmingham Alabama was much different than when the Rams won 30-24. In September, the Bears scored late to make the score look close, but in reality, the Rams dominated that game. Saturday the Golden Bears of Miles scored the first five times they had possession of the ball with quarterback Daniel Smith and running back Justin Hardy leading the assault against the Ram defense. Smith connected on 21 of 32 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Hardy rushed for 131 yards on 27 carries and scored three touchdowns. The Ram defense simply did not have an answer for the Bear defense.

In the first half of the game the two teams battled evenly. Miles held a slight 20-17 lead at halftime, but the second half was a different story. In that half the Golden Bears scored three touchdowns and a field goal before the Rams got their only score in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Kelias Williams, who was injured late in the game, led the rushing attack for the Golden Rams with 107 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He also completed five of 11 passes for 61 yards. Brandon Pearson relieved Williams after his injury and connected on three of four passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

The loss Saturday will end the second season under head coach Gabe Giardina with a 7-4 record. The Rams had won seven straight and beaten every team from the SIAC they had faced, until Saturday.

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total

Albany State 7 10 0 6 23

Miles 10 10 14 16 50

Qtr Time Scoring Play V-H

1st 09:56 MC – Hardy,Justin 10 yd run (Spradlin,Jackso kick), 10-75 5:04 0 – 7

06:39 ALBN – Williams,Kelias 5 yd run (Ballinas,Gabrie kick), 7-63 3:17 7 – 7

02:49 MC – Spradlin,Jackso 26 yd field goal, 8-45 3:39 7 – 10

2nd 07:30 MC – Hardy,Justin 2 yd run (Spradlin,Jackso kick), 13-80 6:38 7 – 17

06:20 ALBN – Fraise,Kelan 14 yd run (Ballinas,Gabrie kick), 3-75 1:10 14 – 17

01:01 MC – Spradlin,Jackso 43 yd field goal, 12-54 5:16 14 – 20

00:01 ALBN – Ballinas,Gabrie 38 yd field goal, 6-54 0:54 17 – 20

3rd 11:07 MC – Fagin,DeionTray 11 yd pass from Smith, Daniel (Spradlin,Jackso kick), 5-20 3:00 17 – 27

07:06 MC – Fagin,DeionTray 2 yd pass from Smith, Daniel (Spradlin,Jackso kick), 9-68 3:08 17 – 34

4th 13:17 MC – Spradlin,Jackso 33 yd field goal, 10-49 5:02 17 – 37

10:42 MC – Hardy,Justin 10 yd run (Spradlin,Jackso kick failed), 5-28 2:26 17 – 43

06:28 ALBN – Wooten,Javon 20 yd pass from Pearson,Brandon (Pearson,Brandon rush failed), 9-62 4:05 23 – 43

02:10 MC – Mays,Christian 9 yd run (Spradlin,Jackso kick), 7-48 4:16 23 – 50