ALBANY, Ga.- Savannah State gave 23rd ranked Albany State all they had on Saturday afternoon but came up short in a 21-18 loss to the Golden Rams, in a game played at the ASU Coliseum.

The Tigers fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter before mounting a comeback that drew them within three points with just over eight minutes left in the game.

Savannah State trailed 21-10 entering the fourth quarter and used a five-yard touchdown run by David Gardner, Jr. along with the two point conversion catch by TaDarius Vaughn with 8:03 remaining to close their deficit to 21-18.

Christopher Murray intercepted a pass, his second of the game, with 7:56 on the clock, giving SSU a first down at the Albany State 38.

The Tigers could only get as far as the 26 and Jimmy Tran's 45 yard field goal attempt was no good.

After stopping ASU on their next possession and forcing a punt, Savannah State took over at their own 48 with 3:10 left but turned the ball over on downs.

Following another defensive stop, the Tigers had the ball at their own 15 with just over two minutes showing on the clock. SSU moved the ball to their own 33, thanks to a 12 yard reception by Vaughn and a six yard run by RaShawn Truell but a interception thrown by Truell, his third of the contest, whipped out any chances of a comeback win.

Truell's first interception of the day led to Albany State's first touchdown with 10:51 left in the first quarter. 

With just under three minutes left in the opening quarter, Murray picked off a ASU pass at the Tigers ten yard line to stop a scoring threat.

Early in the second quarter, ASU went ahead 14-0 but Savannah State answered with a 35 yard field goal by Tran to make the score 14-3 with 7:15 on the clock.

During the 12-play, 62-yard scoring drive that took 6:40 off the clock, Cinsere Clark caught three passes for 40 yards and Gardner ran the ball three times for 19 yards.

Joseph Hampton's three yard touchdown run with 9:33 left in the third quarter capped SSU's opening possession of the second half to make the score 14-10. 

The scoring drive, which took nine plays and 63-yards was highlighted by a 18 yard reception by Braylon Flower and catches of 32 and 18 yards by Clark.

With 3:43 remaining in the third quarter, the Golden Rams increased their lead to 21-10 with a touchdown.

Gardner's touchdown run was set up by a 14 yard punt by Albany State. Fowler had a 23 yard catch during the three play, 28-yard drive that took just over a minute.

Savannah State finished the game with 236 offensive yards while the Golden Rams had 244. 

In his second start of the season, Truell completed 19 of 46 passes for 213 yards while Gardner carried the pigskin six times for 24 yards and a score. Clark had his best game of the year with nine receptions for 111 yards and Fowler hauled in four catches for 79 yards.

Lucas Edenfield had five puns for an average of 41 yards and Tran made his only extra point attempt while going one for two on field goal attempts.

Tony Rountree Jr. had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for the defense. Gary Davis, Jr. and Jayden Turner had six tackles apiece and Kevin Stokes, Jr. added five tackles and two tackles for loss. Ameer Phillips chipped in 2.5 tackles for loss and Xavier Esquillen had two tackles for loss.

Savannah State (4-5, 3-4 SIAC) will close the regular season at home against Benedict on November 8 at 3 p.m.

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