Another dismal second half dooms Miles
Box Score On a cloudy and misty Saturday afternoon, Miles squanders a strong start on offense with costly turnovers in a 29-16 defeat at the hands of Albany State in front of 1,167 at Sloan-Alumni Stadium.
The Golden Bears (1-4, 1-1 SIAC West) led 14-0 at halftime thanks to the work of running back
Jamarcus Nance, who had a 10-yard rushing touchdown and a 34-yard scoring reception less than 18 minutes into the game.
The Golden Rams (2-3, 2-0 SIAC East) finally got on the board in the third quarter when Dalviness Green capped a nine-play, 46-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Then things really went south for Miles.
It started when punter
Brandon Carney had trouble handling a snap on a punt deep in Miles territory. The slick ball rolled on the ground and Carney kicked it nine yards as it rolled. But it was whistled for an illegal kick in the end zone and Albany State was awarded a safety on the penalty with 1:52 left in the third quarter.
Miles was able to weather that storm but a bigger one was brewing before the third quarter ended.
Cedric Poole muffed a punt near the Miles 20-yard line and the ensuing scramble pushed the ball all the way back into the Miles end zone. Unfortunately, it was Albany State's Nick Scott who had the ball at the end and that touchdown gave the Golden Rams a 16-14 advantage with just 16 seconds remaining in the period.
Albany State poured it on in the fourth quarter behind a touchdown run from Jarvis Small (26 carries, 111 yards) and a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown by Marquez Hodo with one second remaining. Miles' offense continued its season-long struggles, gaining just 244 yards of total offense, even after the strong start.
Nance had 107 yards of total offense (68 rushing) and quarterback
David Whipple was 11-of-23 for 143 yards passing.
Ashton McKenzie (10 tackles, five solo),
Michael Mitchell (nine tackles),
Braysean Jones (eight tackles, three for loss, a sack and a forced fumble) and
Jabril Cox (six tackles and an interception) paced the defense for Miles, which plays next week at Central State.
Jerome Woods contributed to this reportÂ
