Bragging rights on the line

ALBANY —Very few things change about the Fountain City Classic from year to year.

The intensity, the excitement, the importance of bragging rights all remain the same. While the fanfare surrounding the game is still the same, the Albany State Rams have definitely changed since the last time they faced rival Fort Valley in Columbus.

Last season, the Rams had already been eliminated from SIAC title contention and were playing for pride. This year, they enter A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium as the SIAC East champs — still playing for pride, but with at least one more game on the schedule the week after.

Gabe Giardina was in his first year and still navigating the conference during last year’s meeting. This year, as he donned his “BEAT FORT VALLEY” shirt at practice, he said though things are more familiar, the approach is still the same.

“I had somebody come up to me and say ‘Coach, you know winning the East is great, but you know what? We really just want you to beat Fort Valley,’” he said. “We know it’s an important game and it should be. It’s exciting to be a part of.”

The Wildcats enter the contest at 2-7, but things can change when the upper hand over a fierce rival is at stake.

“We keep telling our guys you don’t want to be the team that makes it to the conference championship game from Albany State, but lost to Fort Valley,” Giardina said.

He noted that much like last year, his team has had to overcome adversity throughout the season and it has helped them prepare.

Sophomore quarterback Kelias Williams has also had a year to adjust since the contest. It was during the 2017 Fountain City Classic that the former Thomas County Central standout made his collegiate debut and stole the show in the 34-9 win. He finished 12-for-22 with 141 yards and was named the team’s game MVP. This year, he’s had some highs and lows, but is finding his footing late in the season. He said the butterflies don’t go away.

“I’m nervous before every game, but I still feel good,” he said.

Williams said that while the team has seen success, it has to remain hungry this weekend.

“We can’t settle. We have to keep working,” he said. “It’s going to be a huge test for us from here on out. We’re looking at it like we haven’t made to the SIAC championship. We still want to win out the season and make the playoffs.”

On the flip side, there are a few Rams getting their first taste of the rivalry, including defensive line coach Trevian Roberston. He said that while the environment is new to him, the feeling surrounding the day is all too familiar.

“One thing with being a former football player, rivalry games are something I look forward to and this is a huge game for our program,” he said. “This is my first one and I’m excited, I know the kids are excited about it and it would be a huge win for us.”

He said that for the defense to see success it will have to get back to the basics.

“We need to just work on our technique. We’re playing fast, we’re doing a lot of great things,” he said. “But when we don’t look good on film, it’s when we don’t have good technique. … We told the guys that the team that makes the most mistakes is going to lose the game. So we’ve got to be very sound on defense.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Mike Haskey