Today at CAU Panther Stadium, the Clark Atlanta University Panthers get into the meat of their Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule when they host Albany State University at 2 p.m.
CAU (0-3) are coming off close losses in their first three games, including last week's 26-19 defeat at the hands of Central State. It marked the second consecutive week that a potential game-tying drive fell short in the game's final minutes. Albany State (1-2) is opening conference play after getting their first victory of the season last week over the University of West Georgia.
Last season, the Panthers outgained Albany State, but were undone by a rash of early turnovers in a 36-3 defeat in Albany, Ga. The game was played off campus after Hurricane Michael had damaged ASU's home stadium days prior.
This season, the Golden Rams were picked to finish first in the SIAC East Division race as seven Albany State players were named to the pre-season All-Conference squad. ASU won the East Division last season but lost in the SIAC Championship game to Miles College.
They are led by quarterback Kelias Williams, who tops ASU in passing and rushing so far this season. Running backs Tracy Scott and McKinley Habersham are key cogs in their running game. Michael Green is Williams' top target with eight catches so far, while Tyler Scott has 12 solo tackles among his 15 stops to lead the ASU defense.
CAU's
Charles Stafford is coming off a game in which he threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns against Central State, connecting with wide receiver
Drakar Jerry nine times for 92 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, the Panthers have been led by
Terrance Harris and Tyler Wiimberly, both of whom made nine tackles against Central State.
Kenneth Morgan added eight.
PANTHER NOTES: Clark Atlanta's
Charles Stafford leads all SIAC quarterbacks in passing with an average of 225.7 yards per game in all games so far this season. The senior also leads in total offense and is in ninth in passing efficiency. His top targets so far,
Darrell Nichols and
Drakar Jerry, are ranked sixth and ninth in receiving. Nichols Is fifth in all-purpose yardage while punter
Ty Woods leads the SIAC in punting with a 41.1-yard average. Two Panthers are in the conference's Top Ten in tackles:
Terrance Harris is sixth with 25 tackles while
Tyler Wimberly is seventh with 24 stops… The last time Albany State visited CAU, the Panthers earned a rousing. 44-36 homecoming win over the Golden Rams. CAU erased a second-quarter, 15 point-deficit by outscoring ASU 37-7 over the following two quarters before ASU got another touchdown late in the game… CAU Defensive Coordinator
Darius Buck is very familiar with the Albany State defense. He spent 2017 and 2018 as an assistant coach at ASU, coaching cornerbacks last season.
CLARK ATLANTA PANTHERS (0-3)
Head Coach – Tim Bowens (first year)
LEADERS
Offense
Passing –
Charles Stafford (60-of-114 for 722 yards, six touchdowns, seven interceptions)
Rushing –
Martin Fleming (10 rushes, 53 yards, long of 30 yards)
Darius Blackmon (10 rushes, 34 yards, long of 10 yards)
Receiving –
Darrell Nichols (12 receptions, 197 yards, two touchdowns, long of 46 yards)
Drakar Jerry (12 receptions, 171 yards, two touchdowns, long of 64 yards)
Johnathan Sanders (seven receptions, 87 yards, long of 24 yards)
Defense
Tackles –
Terrance Harris (25 tackles, 14 solo, 11 assisted, two tackles for loss)
Tyler Wimberly (24 tackles, 15 solo, nine assisted, four tackles for loss)
Breante Glover (18 tackles, 12 solo, six assisted, five tackles for loss)
Sacks –
Breante Glover (two sacks for 11 yards)
Tyler Wimberly,
Rodney Lewis (one sack each)
Interceptions –
Johnny Sharp (two interceptions)
Kenneth Morgan,
Tyrese Ross (one interception each)
ALBANY STATE GOLDEN RAMS (1-2)
Head Coach – Gabe Giardina (third year)
LEADERS
Offense
Passing – Kelias Wiliams (19-of-34 for 230 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions)
Rushing – Kelias Williams (25 rushes, 132 yards, long of 30 yards)
Tracy Scott (21 rushes, 130 yards, long of 50 yards)
McKinley Habersham (16 rushes, 52 yards, long of 12 yards)
Receiving – Michael Green (eight receptions, 103 yards, two touchdowns, long of 35 yards)
Rashad Jordan (three receptions, 44 yards, long of 25 yards)
Defense
Tackles – Tyler Scott (15 tackles, 12 solo, three assisted)
Coemba Jones (12 tackles, ten solo, two assisted, one tackle for loss)
Terry Compton (11 tackles, ten solo, one assisted, one tackle for loss)
Sacks – Coemba Jones, Deonte Jackson (one sack each)
Interceptions - none
For more information about Clark Atlanta football, go to
https://clarkatlantasports.com/index.aspx?path=football.
