Miles allowed two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the last coming with just 21 seconds left on the clock, in a tough 21-19 loss to Fort Valley State in the Prince Hall Americanism Football Classic Saturday night at Sloan-Alumni Stadium. The loss drops the Golden Bears to 0-3, just the second time in past 10 years that Miles has dropped its first three games in a season.

The late-game fade may have been attributed to the Wildcats' astounding time-of-possession advantage, which left the Golden Bears defense on the field for more than 40 minutes. Slade Jarman threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jaylen Lowder to cap a second five-plus minute drive in the fourth quarter to win the game. But those circumstances did not keep Miles from being in control for most of the contest.

Quarterback Daniel Smith and wide receiver Leonard Tyree remained a dynamic duo for the second straight week, connecting for two long touchdowns in the second half. The first was a 51-yard bomb midway through the third quarter that broke a 7-all tie. A missed extra point gave the Golden Bears a 13-7 lead but FVSU would take the lead for the first time midway through the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats converted on a 28-yard field goal but a Miles offsides penalty allowed FVSU to take the points off the board and get a first down to continue the drive. On the next play, slotback Lorenzo Smothers ran one in from six yards and after the PAT, the Golden Bears trailed 14-13. But that deficit did not last long.

Less than two minutes later on the ensuing drive, Smith (11-of-21, 236 yards) found Tyree (five catches, career-high 171 yards) again on a 47-yard pitch-and-catch that put Miles back on top. But the snap on the extra point was high and kicker Jackson Spradlin had little chance of running it in as FVSU quickly brought him down to keep the score at 19-14.

The Golden Bears offense struggled in the first half but the team never trailed during the first 30 minutes. On Fort Valley State's second play from scrimmage, Jarman fumbled at the 5-yard line. Linebacker Austin Stephens (game-high 12 tackles) scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown to give Miles a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. But the Wildcats would respond in the second quarter with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took more than eight minutes. Two big third-down conversions helped extend the drive, which was finished on a 5-yard scoring pass from Jarman to Jamari Clark to tie the game.

Ruben Sartin had a career-high 10 tackles (seven solo), MarQuel Shelton added seven tackles, Kendrell Walker had five tackles and an interception, and N'Ktavious Floyd had five tackles and a sack for Miles, which plays again on Saturday when they battle Morehouse in the Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.