Fort Valley State defense comes up with big game

FORT VALLEY -- The Fort Valley State defense saved its best performance for when it needed it most.

After giving up a whopping 271 yards on the ground in their previous game, the Wildcats held Morehouse to 24 total yards in the first quarter and 135 yards for the game as they rolled to a 35-3 victory Saturday.

"This was a very big win for us,;it really was," FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said. "(Morehouse) knocked us off last year, and it is sweet to come back and beat them. They are a very good team and always play us tough. Our defense played tough and held them in check. I'm very proud of our defense."

FVSU remains atop the SIAC East standings with Albany State at 3-0.

The Morehouse victory Pittman referred to came last season when Morehouse ruined FVSU's chances of winning the SIAC East Division title with a 24-21 upset.

But the Wildcats made sure another upset wouldn't happen from the opening kickoff. On its opening drive, FVSU quarterback Malcolm Eady connected with receiver Jevon Bell for a 63-yard reception to push the Wildcats into the red zone where Travis Richmond capped off the drive three plays later with a 1-yard scoring run.

And after forcing Morehouse to punt after a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Eady lofted a perfectly placed pass into the hands of Bell for a 32-yard touchdown to push the Wildcats lead to 14-0. Eady, who was named the starting quarterback just before the game, has been in a quarterback battle with Otis Brown for much of the season.

But Brown was able to get his fair share of snaps, and he did not disappoint in playing all of the second half. A little more than two minutes into the third quarter, Brown scored on a 12-yard run and after FVSU forced Morehouse into a punt on the ensuing possession, Brown connected with receiver Alexander Morgan for a touchdown, stretching Fort Valley's lead to 28-3.

On his final drive of the game, Brown threw his second scoring pass of the game, connecting with Richmond just before the end of the third quarter.

With Albany State's victory over Benedict College on Saturday, the SIAC East title will be on the line when FVSU plays Albany State in the Fountain City Classic in Columbus this weekend.

"It doesn't get any bigger," Pittman said. "It is going to be a big game. It is going to be a great game."

This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Fort Valley State defense comes up with big game ."