On a sunny afternoon in Rochester, New York, the Albany State Golden Rams faced off against the Central State Marauders in a pivotal matchup highlighting the City of Rochester's first ever Frederick Douglass Classic. The game kicked off at 1:02 PM at the Rochester Community Sports Complex. In front of a strong neutral site crowd, the Rams outlasted the Marauders.
Albany State set the tone early with a strong offensive performance led by quarterback Isaiah Knowles. Just under ten minutes into the first quarter, Knowles connected with Javion Jackson for a 34-yard touchdown pass, putting the Golden Rams up 7-0. The Marauders struggled to find their rhythm in the opening quarter, unable to answer back.
As the second quarter unfolded, Central State finally found a bit of rhythm. Quarterback Kendall Boney orchestrated a 43-yard drive that culminated in a 10-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Heath Jr. The Marauders tied the game at 7-7 with 12:54 left in the half. However, Albany quickly responded with another touchdown, this time a 40-yard strike from Knowles to Devon Dorsey, reclaiming the lead at 14-7 just moments later.
The Golden Rams continued to dominate, as Knowles found Xavier Herndon for an 18-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, extending the lead to 21-7. Albany's defense and running game, highlighted by Tiant Wyche's 109 rushing yards, kept the pressure on Central State, limiting their offensive output to just 143 total yards throughout the game.
In the fourth quarter, Albany sealed the victory with a final touchdown, another connection from Knowles to Tiant Wyche, this time for 25 yards. The score climbed to 28-7 with just over three minutes remaining.
Central State struggled to match Albany's pace. The Marauders managed only one touchdown, with Boney finishing the game with 47 passing yards and one touchdown. The Marauders tried to boost the offense with backup QB Stephon Buford who completed 3 passes for 42 yards, Their inability to convert on crucial third downs and the effectiveness of Albany's defense proved decisive.
In the end, Albany State walked away with a convincing 28-7 victory, improving their record to 1-0 in conference play, while Central State fell to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Knowles' performance stood out, as he threw for 208 yards and four touchdowns, showcasing the Golden Rams' offensive prowess. The victory sets a strong foundation for Albany as they look to build momentum in the weeks ahead.
