The Clark Atlanta University Panthers led late but fell to Fort Valley State University 34-27 Saturday at CAU Panther Stadium.

It is the sixth game in which Clark Atlanta (0-8, 0-4 SIAC) has led or been down eight points or less going into the fourth quarter.

CAU led 27-20 early in the fourth quarter after Rodney Lewis hit FVSU quarterback Demontay Jones who fumbled.  Justin Wade scooped up the ball and ran it 36 yards for the touchdown to put the Panthers ahead of FVSU (6-2, 4-0 SIAC) with 12:42 remaining.

Two series later, Fort Valley State, playing without the SIAC's leading quarterback, Slade Jarman who left the game with an injury, drove 52 yards on four plays, going into the end zone on Marlon Fleming's 8-yard touchdown run.   The game was then tied 27-27 with just under nine minutes remaining.

CAU couldn't move the ball on the ensuing drive, going three plays before having to punt to Fort Valley State.  The Wildcats when went on a long 12-play, 62-yard drive that ate up nearly six minutes of time.  The drive was capped by Jones' 7-yard TD toss to Shemar Bridges to give them the lead at 34-27.

CAU got the ball back with 1:02 left in the game and began moving downfield.  Charles Stafford hit Drakar Jerry on a 9-yard pass, and then later again on a 10-yard connection to got the Panthers down to the FVSU 49 yard line.  But on the next play, Stafford fumbled after being sacked by Fort Valley's Demetrius Harris.   FVSU recovered and then ran the clock out for the win.

Stafford, who was one of 19 Panthers playing their final home game at Clark Atlanta, was 26-of-49 for 210 yards and three touchdowns.  Those TD passes went to Andarious Hawkins, Jerry and Makel Young. Kendell Wimberly caught five Stafford passes for 54 yards, while
Caleeb Roberson nabbed four passes for 39 yards.

On defense, Terrance Harris, the SIAC's second-leading tackler, had another big day as he racked up 15 tackles for Clark Atlanta.  Wade had eight tackles, along with his fumble recovery, while senior Elexious Perkins also finished with eight tackles, three of them for losses, and two sacks.  The CAU defense was stingy against the run Saturday, allowing minus-24 yards rushing to Fort Valley State.

In the battle of the SIAC two top-ranked passers, Jarman hit 12-of-13 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown before he left the game.  Jones was 18-of-30 for 167 yards in relief.

The Panthers now hit the road for their final two games of the season.  CAU visits Benedict next Saturday and then Atlanta University Center rival Morehouse on Nov. 9.