GAME CENTRAL: Albany State vs. Savannah State

THE GAME

Savannah State will play their home opener against in-state rival Albany State. Both squads enter the contest coming looking to give their new head coaches their first win of the season. Savannah State did not play last week but lost their season opener against South Carolina State 87-0 while Albany State fell to Johnson C. Smith on September 6 in the Black College Hall of Fame Classic, 27-7. SSU and the Golden Rams have been playing each other since 1932, making  ASU one of the Tigers’ oldest rivalries. This Saturday will be the 68th time the teams have met on the gridiron. Albany State holds the series lead, 48-17-2.

GAME INFORMATION

Albany State (0-2) vs. Savannah State (0-1)

Date: Saturday, September 12th

Time: 6:00pm

Location: Theodore A. “Ted” Wright Stadium

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets must be purchased online at SSUAthletics.com/Tickets.

WEATHER INFORMATION:

Saturday’s forecast for Savannah shows a high of 88° and a low of 75°. There are evening thundershowers in the forecast with a 39% chance of rain. Winds will be blowing Southwest at 8 miles per hour.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Channel: Savannah State Sports Network

Broadcaster: Terry Hines (Play-By-Play), Curtis Foster (Color Commentary)

SAVANNAH STATE SPORTS NETWORK

Savannah State will have fourth of their home football contests live streamed on the Savannah State Sports Network with veteran SSU broadcasters Terry Hines (Play-By-Play) and Curtis Foster (Color Commentary). The Savannah State Sports Network can be found at: https://siacnetwork.tv/ssutigers/.

HOWARD’S THREE KEYS TO BEATING ALBANY STATE

1- Stop the run

2- Protect the football

3- Win the kicking game

LAST WEEK

Savannah State had a open week last weekend but played the week before as they opened their season with a 87-0 loss to No. 24 South Carolina State. The Tigers got off to a rough start in the first half but was able to move the ball in the second half, picking up 123 yards and six first downs. In the third quarter, Elijah Stephens had a eight yard run and Fabian Walker had a scamper that covered 14 yards while Christian Burks threw completions to Cinsere Clark (8 yards) and Elijah Stephens (14 yards). Dralin Gilbert had a six yard run in the fourth quarter. Burks and Walker combined to pass for 42 yards with Burks throwing for 34. Walker was the leading rusher with 16 yards while  Stephens had a pair of receptions for 18 yards. Cameron Leonard had a game-high seven tackles and one pass breakup. Chase Butler averaged 38.1 yards per punt while Trenton Rhodes (17.38 yards) and Jahziah Avilez (19.00) did a good job on kick returns. 

LAST YEAR

The Tigers fell behind 14-0 before mounting a comeback but lost to Albany State 21-18, on November 1, 2025 in a game played at the ASU Coliseum. The Golden Rams were ranked 23rd in the AFCA Coaches poll. A 35-yard field goal by Jimmy Tran sent SSU into the half down 14-3 but a three-yard touchdown run by Joseph Hampton with 9:33 left in the third quarter drew Savannah State within 14-10. A touchdown by ASU increased their lead to 21-10 but the Tigers answered with just over eight minutes remaining as David Gardner, Jr. scored on a five-yard run and RaShawn Truell’s two-point conversion pass to TaDarius Vaughn was successful and Savannah State found themselves down by just three points. After stopping the Albany State offense, SSU had chances to go ahead but could not produce any more points, losing the ball on downs and throwing a interception. Lucas Edenfield had five punts for an average of 41 yards and Tran made his only extra point attempt while going one for two on field goal attempts. Tony Rountree Jr. had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for the defense. Gary Davis, Jr. and Jayden Turner had six tackles apiece and Kevin Stokes, Jr. added five tackles and two tackles for loss. Ameer Phillips chipped in 2.5 tackles for loss and Xavier Esquillen had two tackles for loss. Truell finished the day with 213 passing yards while Gardner ran for 24 yards and a touchdown and Cinsere Clark caught nine balls for 111 yards.

SAVANNAH STATE/ ALBANY STATE CONNECTION

Albany State special teams coordinator Chris Schultz was an assistant on the Savannah State staff for the 2022 season as the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. That year, defensive end Makenly Newbill and punt returner Chaii Bland made the All-SIAC team. Schultz’s punt and kick defense units both ranked among the top 15 in the country in yards allowed.

COMMON OPPONENTS

Savannah State and Albany State have four common opponents: Kentucky State, Allen, Benedict and Fort Valley State.

A HOUSE DIVIDED

Albany State Athletics Director Dr. Kristene Kelly is married to former Savannah State quarterback Jonathan Wayne Kelly. During the 1994 season, Kelly helped the Tigers earn a 8-3 record and was the team leading passer, completing 53 of 108 passes for 849 yards and seven touchdowns.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Savannah State’s roster is made up of players from seven different states. 62 hail from Georgia while 21 are from Florida, five from South Carolina, three from North Carolina, two from Alabama and one each from Tennessee and Massachusetts.

YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE FROM HERE

Former Savannah State tight end Dr. David Graham is the Associate Provost for Student Success at Youngstown State University. The Adel, Georgia native has also held administrative positions at UMass, Ohio State, East Carolina and Miami (Ohio). From 1993-98, Graham worked at Savannah State’s Student Support Services as a Tutorial Coordinator.

TIGERS FROM SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

Savannah State’s roster does not include any players from from Albany, Georgia but several others hail from southwest Georgia. Offensive lineman Zion Garlington is from Thomasville, running back Elijah Stephens is from Ashburn, defensive back Zamarian Williams is from Valdosta, offensive lineman Kahleem Murphy is  from Bainbridge, defensive lineman Kason Hodges is from Americus and tight end Alex Barge and defensive back and Nishawn Osby hails from Moultrie.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

In the latest, NCAA Division II statistics, Savannah State is ranked #1 in sacks allowed (0) and 4th down conversion percentage defense (1), #2 in kickoff return defense (0.00), #49 in passes had intercepted (1), #50 in fewest penalty yards (75) and #57 in fewest penalties (10). Individually, Trenton Rhodes is #18 in combined kick returns (139) and #36 in all purpose yards (139) and Calvin Leonard is #25 in solo tackles (6).

TIGER LEADERS

Cameron Leonard leads the Tiger defense with 7 tackles while Antonio Vazquez has 5 with 1 tackle for loss. Quarterback Christian Burks has 34 passing yards while Fabian Walker has 8 passing yards and 16 rushing yards. Isaiah Davis has 13 yards on the ground. Elijah Stephens has caught 2 passes for 18 yards and Rodney Hill has caught 1 pass for 8 yards. Chase Butler is averaging 38.13 yards per punt and has a long of 46 yards. Trenton Rhodes has 8 kick returns and is averaging 17.38 yards per return and Jahziah Avilez has 2 kick returns and is averaging 19 yards per return.

SCOUTING ALBANY STATE

The Golden Rams are the defending SIAC champions and were picked to finish fourth this season. They began the season ranked third in the inaugural Black College Football poll. ASU averages 7.0 points and 431.3 yards per game while the defense yields 23.5 points and 314.5 yards per night.

Quarterback  Jeffery Davis is the leader of the offense and has thrown for 201 yards. Jayden Threatts is the leading rusher with 67 yards while Roderick McCrary has ran for 26 yards. Jacquan Graham has caught 9 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, Duke Timmon has 4 receptions for 44 yards and Malachi Eaford has caught 4 balls for 31 yards.  Defensive ends Derrick Drayton and De’Avary Weeks anchors the defensive line with 12 tackles, linebacker Ian Rembert has 12 tackles and safety Rontavion Scott has been in on a dozen stops.

Stay Connected

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