Albany State vows to clean things up

Jessie Atkins stood outside the Albany State University dressing room, still in somewhat disbelief after Valdosta State’s 38-10 victory over the Rams Saturday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

It wasn’t so much about the lopsided score that Atkins was shaking his head over. It was more about the turnovers Albany State committed – five total, including four fumbles. Three of the turnovers led directly to 21 Valdosta State points.

None were more painful than on the opening possession of the second half. Trailing 17-0, the Rams faced second-and-9 from its 24, only to cough the ball up. It was the Rams’ third fumble at the time, and the Blazers turned the fumble recovery into a touchdown two plays later and built an insurmountable lead.

Atkins knows the Rams are going to have a hard time winning if they can’t corral the turnovers.

“I really don’t know what to think about the turnovers,” he said. “That’s a first for me to witness (five turnovers) ever playing at Albany State. I’m at a loss for words myself. But we’ll pick up the slack next week and you’ll see a difference.”

That next week game is against Tuskegee, the team predicted to win the SIAC West Division as well as the preseason pick to win the conference championship at the SIAC Media Days in August.

That game will kick off at 3 p.m. Saturday and be played in Phenix City, Ala. at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in what will be called the White Water Classic.

The Golden Tigers dropped their opener 30-17 to Alabama A&M on Saturday.

While Albany State players were kicking themselves for turning the ball over five times, Valdosta State head coach David Dean couldn’t have been happier with his team’s defensive effort, holding the Rams to just 206 yards of total offense, including 39 rushing.

“I was really, really proud of the defense, the way they flew to the football,” he said. “That was something we talked about all summer camp when we reported, was being physical. I really think they did that, they were very physical tonight.

“A lot of those fumbles were not from stripping, they were actual hats hitting the ball and knocking it loose.”

Regardless, Albany State players vow to clean things up before starting SIAC play on Saturday.

“We’ve got to get back to practice next week and work a little harder on the small things that we messed up on tonight,” Atkins said. “I think we’ll be all right next week.

“We’ve got to come out better prepared for a better game from the offense.”