Miles College Picks Up First Victory In 2013
GOLDEN BEARS HOLD OFF ALBANY STATE FOR FIRST WIN, 22-14
Box Score The Miles College Golden Bears held off an Albany State comeback attempt to pick up their first victory, 22-14, in front of an announced crowd of 7,349 at Albert J. Sloan – Alumni Stadium in Fairfield, Ala.
MC improves to (1-2, 1-0 SIAC) while the Golden Rams fell to (1-3, 0-1 SIAC)
After the Golden Bears were forced to punt on their first drive, ASU wasted little time to get on the board as quarterback and Fairfield native, Frank Rivers, found Jessie Atkins on a 17-yard strike giving the Golden Rams the early 7-0 lead.
After going scoreless in the opening quarter Miles got their first score using a nine play 74-yard scoring drive just before halftime as Alabama State transfer,
Demetrice Price, connected on a touchdown pass to All-SIAC wide receiver,
Antonio Pitts tying the score at 7-7 going into the locker rooms.
In the third quarter Price led another long scoring drive this time with his legs as he scampered into the endzone from 37-yards giving the Golden Bears the 13-7 lead.
An Albany State punt pinned MC deep in their own territory and on the first play of the fourth quarter Price again connected with Pitts capping a 97-yard nine play drive with a five yard TD pass in the right corner of the endzone giving Miles a commanding 19-7 lead.
The Golden Bears extended the lead to, 22-7, when freshman kicker,
Jason Coste, kicked a 19-yard field goal.
ASU would not go away and cut the lead to 22-14 as Rivers again found Atkins on a 12-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the endzone. On the ensuing kick-off Albany State recovered an onside kick, but was negated by an offside's penalty by the Golden Rams.
Albany State had another chance to tie the game and possibly send it to overtime but the Golden Bears defense kept ASU out the endzone as time expired.
Price finished 12-for-15, 210 yards passing and two touchdowns while also rushing for 65 yards and another touchdown leading Miles College. Pitts finished with six catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
The Golden Bears defense was led by senior linebacker,
Julantate English, who finished with a game-high 18 tackles (11 solo) including a fumble recovery. Cornerback Alexander Francios racked up eight tackles in the win.
The MC offense has a season-high 487 yards of total offense using a balanced attack that rushed for 239 yards and passed for another 248.
Miles returns to action next Saturday as they travel to Columbia, SC to take on the Tigers or Benedict College. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m. ET.
