ASU Golden Rams Defeat Catawba College 35-21 On The Road

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- Albany State University rolled up a season high 500 yards in route to a 35-21 win over Catawba College Saturday afternoon at Shuford Stadium.

With the victory, ASU evens its record at 3-3 overall while the Indians drop their second home game of the season to fall to 1-4 overall.

The Golden Rams' backfield featured to 100 yard rushers in Saturday's non-conference tilt. Tracey Scott racked up a season high 190 yards on 15 carries and McKinley Habersham chipped in 106 yards on the ground on 17 touches. Albany State finished the day with 385 yards rushing, six yards shy of Catawba's total offensive output (391).

The bulk of Catawba's offensive attack came through the air and courtesy of starting quarterback Ken Avent who finished the day with 239 yards and two touchdowns on 19 of 32 attempts.

Leading 27-21 after two quarters, the Albany State defense held the Indian scoreless in the second half. On three of Catawba's four second half drives, the Indians did not cross midfield and on what would be their final drive of the game, Aaron Davis intercepted Avent's pass at the ASU 19 with 36 seconds left, to seal the win for the Golden Rams.

The only score of the second half came with 2:14 left in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Scott. ASU completed a two-point conversion for the final point spread.

BOX SCORE

The Golden Rams scored on their first two possessions on the game. Their first drive went 72 yards in 6 plays and was capped with a 17-yard scoring strike from Kelias Williams to Chris Hunt. After the extra point missed its mark, the Indians took the lead on the game's ensuing drive; a one yard rushing score from Kenyatta Green followed by a PAT from Lee Brackman put Catawba in front for the first time in the contest.

Tracy Scott responded for the Rams, taking the first snap of the next possession 75 yards for a score and a ASU a 13-7 advantage with six minutes left in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, Catawba pulled back in front by a point, 14-13, on a 36-yard passing touchdown from Avent to Devonte Tanksley at the 11:15 mark. The Golden Rams next score came after Martery Brown recovered a fumble (forced by Coemba Jones) at the Catawba 27-yard line. Five plays later, McKinley Habersham found the end zone from two yards out and with the PAT, the Golden Rams went up 20-14.

The ASU defense came up big on the Indians' next possession, stopping a fourth and one at the Rams' 37-yard line. After Kelan Fraise's rush took the ball 21 yards to the Catawba 42, Mike Green hauled in a touchdown reception from that distance to give the Golden Rams a 27-14 lead with 3:20 left in the first half.

The Indians orchestrated a four-play, 64-yard drive in just 90 seconds to make the score 27-21 right before the first half expired.

Brown, Jones and Antonio Leroy led the Golden Rams' defensive effort with ten tackles apiece.

Albany State will return to action on Saturday, October 13thwhen they travel to face off against Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC battle is set to kickoff at 6pm.