Saint Augustine's Falcons win Pioneer Bowl

COLUMBUS, GA -- Saint Augustine’s survived a conversion returned for a touchdown in the first half and the absence of standout Walter Sanders to score 14 second-half points and knock off Fort Valley State 20-9 on Saturday afternoon in the Pioneer Bowl. The Falcons ended their season at 9-2 while the Wildcats concluded at 8-3, losing their second game in a month at A.J. McClung Stadium.

Saint Augustine’s Jone’ Jones was named the offensive and game MVP for his three receptions for 54 yards, two going for touchdowns. FVSU’s Ricky Johnson was the defensive MVP. Deonte Toliver rushed for 70 yards on 17 carries for the Falcons, who got 220 yards passing from Joaquin Green and Teddy Bacote.

Wildcats stumble to finish

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- At least this time, Ricky Johnson had a positive momento. But being named the defensive MVP of the Pioneer Bowl didn’t help. “We had this nasty taste in our mouths here (four) weeks ago,” the senior from Fort Valley State said. “It came back.”

FVSU’s sudden quarterback problems were too much to overcome and a struggling offense was the roadblock as the Wildcats fell 20-9 on Saturday to St. Augustine’s in the Pioneer Bowl. A crowd of about 1,500 watched the bowl game between the SIAC and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, the site of the Fountain City Classic between FVSU and Albany State.



FVSU Ends Year With Loss in Pioneer Bowl

On Saturday the Fort Valley St. Wildcats made their first postseason visit since 1999. Don Pittman's team entered the Pioneer Bowl shorthanded thanks to the arrest and suspension of standout quarterback Eugene Smith, and the departure of backup Nick Stephens, who decided to leave the team for personal reasons.

Behind center for FVSU was freshman Chris Broomfield, getting his first start. A year ago Broomfiel as the team equiptment manager.

ATTENDANCE: 1,500

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Pioneer Bowl: FVSU Wildcats look to rebound from missing playoffs

FORT VALLEY, Ga. -- Not being included in the NCAA Division II playoffs was obviously disappointing for Fort Valley State. But getting three more weeks of practice and getting to play in one of three Division II bowl games and having the chance to end the season on a winning note is a pretty good consolation prize.

It took a little while for the Wildcats to realize it after getting over a loss to end the regular season that kept them out of the playoffs. “You saw some pep in their step,” FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said of recent practices. “Everybody’s about back.”

FVSU takes on St. Augustine’s at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Pioneer Bowl at Columbus’ A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, home to the Fountain City Classic between FVSU and Albany State.

Former Huss standout hoping to help St. Aug's to school record

GASTONIA – Stedman Gardner says his St. Augustine’s College football coaches haven’t talked about the Falcons’ opportunity at history in Saturday’s 1 p.m. Pioneer Bowl at McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ga. “They’re just trying to keep us focused on what’s ahead,” said Gardner, a 2008 Hunter Huss High graduate. “But it would feel great to get in the record book.”

St. Augustine’s (8-2) missed its first opportunity at history when it dropped its regular-season finale to crosstown rival Shaw 10-6 in its Nov. 6 regular-season finale. Then, the Falcons could’ve taken a school-record 9th victory while also advancing to the CIAA championship game for the first time. St. Augustine’s, which restarted its football program in 2002 after a 35-year absence, had previously won eight games in 1950, 1965 and 2005. The 1950 team has a school-best 8-1 record.

The Pioneer Bowl appearance against Fort Valley State (8-2) gives the Falcons a second chance to win their 9th game of the season. The contest is in its 12th season and pits a CIAA team against a SIAC team.

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