SAVANNAH, Ga. - Savannah State senior Antonio Bostick, the Tigers' starting quarterback last season, has been cleared by the NCAA after serving a two-game suspension for what SSU head coach Earnest Wilson III said were "academic reasons."
Bostick might play in the Tigers' home opener against Fort Valley State University at 6 p.m. Saturday at T.A. Wright Stadium, but Wilson said redshirt freshman Leon Prunty will start.
"I just found out he's been cleared to play," Wilson said of Bostick late Wednesday night. "He's been practicing. I'm not sure where he's at in terms of being ready to play. He has to shake the rust off. Prunty will start."
The game will be broadcast by WHCJ 90.3 FM.
SSU (0-2) is 11-35-4 against Fort Valley State (0-1) in the series, which began in 1934. Fort Valley State, an NCAA Division II program, beat SSU, 41-10, when the teams last met Sept. 11, 2010, at Henderson Stadium in Macon.
SSU is coming off a 66-3 loss at Troy (Ala.) University, a Football Bowl Subdivision program, last Saturday. The Tigers fell, 77-9, at Georgia Southern on Aug. 31.
Fort Valley State is coming off a 36-21 loss to NCAA Division II defending national champion Valdosta State University in both teams' season opener last Saturday at Henderson Stadium in Macon.
Prunty is 12-of-30 passing (40 percent) for 112 yards without a touchdown. He has been intercepted one time. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Stockbridge native has split time in SSU's first two games with Zach Hutcheson, a 6-foot-4, 208-pound sophomore transfer.
Hutcheson is 15-of-35 passing (42.9 percent) for 178 yards and a touchdown. He has been intercepted twice.
SSU sophomore Cantrell Frazier leads the Tigers' receivers with five catches for 88 yards. Junior Kris Drummond, who has SSU's only touchdown, has caught five passes for 63 yards. Drummond is tied with senior Simon Heyward (three catches) for second on the team in receiving yards.
"We're hoping to get (Heyward) more involved in the game plan," Wilson said. "He's learning that he has to compete every day when he comes to work. They've been 1-10 for the last three years. Nothing should be given to anybody. We're fools if we think otherwise."
SSU has run for 35 yards on 108 carries, an average of 0.8 yards per carry. The Tigers have not run for a touchdown.
"We've had a pretty good week of practice," Wilson said. "I hope we get after them a little bit and play hard."
Defensively, SSU has allowed 827 yards on 108 carries, an average of 7.7 yards per carry, and 12 touchdowns. Sophomore linebacker Justin Dixon leads the Tigers in tackles with 19. Sophomore linebacker Trevion Ashford and freshman linebacker Marquis Smith are tied for second with 18 tackles apiece.
STAINROD DRAWS PRAISE
Although SSU's offense has struggled, Wilson raves about the performance of offensive lineman Devin Stainrod.
"Devin Stainrod is a man's man," Wilson said of the 6-foot, 265-pound sophomore from Conyers. "He dominated both opponents (Georgia Southern and Troy University). I mean, he embarrassed them. Threw them down on the ground. He has the potential to be an All-American."
NEW PUNTER FOR SSU
Wilson said he also is impressed with kicker John Barron, a freshman from Marietta. Barron kicked a 40-yard field goal, SSU's only field-goal attempt this season, against Troy and he has kicked off four times for 246 yards, an average of 61.5 yards per kickoff.
"John is a heck of a player," Wilson said. "He kicks the ball out of the back of the end zone."
But Barron has struggled at punting, averaging 30.3 yards in 19 punts, so Wilson said he decided this week to give the punting responsibility to Preston McCarthy, a junior from Decatur.
McCarthy was SSU's primary kicker last season and Jacob Thomas handled punting duties. Thomas is ineligible, Wilson said.
FVSU OUTLOOK
Fort Valley State is led by quarterback Eugene Smith, who finished 17-of-37 passing (45.9 percent) for 287 yards against Valdosta State. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior from New Orleans was intercepted one time.
Smith's favorite target is wide receiver De'Angelo Smith, a 6-foot, 193-pound freshman from Camden County. Smith made three catches for 122 yards, including a 72-yard gain, against the Blazers.
"They're a very explosive team," Wilson said. "They scored first against Valdosta State. They have about four or five Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision) transfers."
Two weak points for Fort Valley State's offense might be its inability to convert on third down and its running game. The Wildcats were 4 of 18 on third-down conversions against Valdosta State and they gained 71 yards on 42 carries.
Defensively, the Wildcats are led by defensive back Thomas Wolfe, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior from Marietta. He leads the team in tackles with 6.5. Defensive back Ja'Bioas Glenn, a 5-foot-10, 202-pound senior from Vienna, Ga., is second on the team in tackles with six. He also intercepted a pass.
The Wildcats gave up 285 yards passing against Valdosta State and allowed 169 yards on 28 carries.
FAMILIAR FACE
Fort Valley State offensive lineman Aaron Crawford is from Savannah. The 5-foot-9, 274-pound sophomore played for Windsor Forest High School.
AFTER FVSU
On Sept. 21, SSU will travel to Miami, Fla., to play the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Tigers begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play Sept. 28 against Delaware State University at 6 p.m. at T.A. Wright Stadium.
"I think we have the ability to beat almost anybody," Wilson said. "We definitely better come ready to play. We've got to focus and get after it."
