Albany State football set to battle Miles College in televised SIAC showdown for first place

ALBANY – The Albany State Golden Rams are riding a three-game winning streak into Birmingham this Saturday, and they have a chance to return home with sole possession of the top spot in the SIAC championship race.

The Golden Rams (3-2) will face off against the Miles College Golden Bears (3-2) at 2 p.m. EST, with both teams boasting 3-0 SIAC records. The winner will claim sole possession of first place in the SIAC standings. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Albany State dominated Miles last season in Albany, winning 48-7, and has won four straight against the Bears. The last time Miles defeated Albany State was in the 2019 SIAC championship game, when the Bears earned a 21-6 victory at Albany State Coliseum.

“Our matchup against Miles College is a huge opportunity for us, and with it being televised, the stakes are even higher,” said Albany State head coach Quinn Gray. “Both teams have fought hard to earn the top spot, and this game will be a true test of our determination and preparation. We’re ready to give it everything we’ve got and show the conference what Albany State football is all about.”

Both teams started the season 0-2 against non-conference opponents but have since rebounded with three straight SIAC victories. Miles and Albany State have faced two common opponents: Central State and Allen University. Miles defeated Central State 16-7 in Birmingham last Saturday and beat Allen 33-13 the previous week in South Carolina. Albany State beat Allen 57-17 in South Carolina and topped Central State 28-7 in Rochester, NY.

The Golden Rams have averaged more than 44 points per game in their three SIAC wins, while Miles has averaged 30 points per conference game.

“We’re excited to move up in the rankings, but we know there’s still work to be done,” Gray said. “Last week, we did some great things, but there’s always room for improvement.”

Albany State’s quarterback Isaiah Knowles, who garnered national attention last week for throwing six touchdown passes against Allen, leads the SIAC in passing yards, touchdowns, and efficiency. Knowles has thrown for 1,333 yards with 16 touchdowns and boasts a 196.7 efficiency rating.

“I’m confident Isaiah will get the offense going, and the defense will make key stops,” Gray added.

Miles’ offense struggled last week without SIAC leading rusher Scott Jonero, who missed the game against Central State. Jonero has rushed for 377 yards in four games and is expected to be a key factor if he returns. Early in the season, Miles leaned heavily on the passing game, with quarterback Kameron Ivory attempting nearly 100 passes in the first three games. However, Ivory attempted only 18 passes against Allen and 20 against Central State as the Bears shifted toward a more balanced attack.

By Reginald Christian
Albany State University