Albany State looks to keep positive momentum going

ALBANY — Albany State coach Mike White has no interest in forecasting the future. But if he did, it would be interesting to see if his assessment of today’s game against Morehouse holds true.

The Rams visit the Maroon Tigers in a key SIAC East Division Game at 2 p.m. today at B.T. Harvey Stadium in Atlanta.

No matter the record, White said he expects the game to be decided in the fourth quarter.

“It’s always been a real tough game for us up there all the time,” White said. “Every time we go up there, it always comes down to the fourth quarter. I really don’t expect anything different. Regardless of record, it seems every time we go up there, we have a tough time with those guys.”

With four games left, the Rams can take a giant step forward in their division. Albany State is unbeaten in the East Division, while Fort Valley State and Morehouse have just one loss each.

Add to the fact that today in the Tigers’ first home game after six on the road to start the season and it’s also homecoming.

White said the environment could get pretty chaotic.

“It’s like no other place,” White said. “There are fans all around the field, there’s no places like that.”

Morehouse lost its first game last week – a 49-0 shellacking against Tuskegee. Sophomore quarterback Monqavious Anderson did not play after suffering an ankle sprain against Clark Atlanta two weeks ago.

Anderson is questionable for today’s game.

“You never know what the next day is going to bring,” Morehouse coach Rich Freeman said on the weekly coaches’ teleconference.

“We’ll see what happens.”

Albany State running back Jarvis Small said that whether Anderson plays or not, the Rams are going to get Morehouse’s best shot.

“We know everybody is going to get up for us,” Small said. “So we have to play above their level. You just have to play at a high level every time you step onto the field.”

The Rams (3-2, 2-0 SIAC East) hope to keep their positive momentum. White said he was pleased with last week’s 33-0 victory over Lane College, but wants to see more consistency on both sides of the ball.

“I hope so, and I think it all starts with our quarterback,” White said. “If Frank Rivers is accurate like he was this last game and the receivers hold onto the ball, I think Small and the O-line will keep running the ball, I look for us to be consistent and do something against Morehouse.

“That would be huge. But I think it will be a setback if we don’t do that.”