This game sure enough was a battle! The Shorter Hawks played a hard-fought game but came up short against the Albany State Rams.  Coach Morrison, spoke at the end of the game, "We knew that Albany was going to be a physical opponent, but after a fantastic week of practice I was confident in our team, the game came down to execution and details that we will have to polish up as we prepare for the remaining games in the Gulf South Conference."  
 
In the first quarter, ASU's Dionte Bonneau ran a 43-yard touchdown to the house. With a minute left in the game the ram's Aljhanod Thomas ran a 1-yard touchdown in making the score 14-0. Just when some thought the Hawks had no more flight in their wings, Dorian Anderson, No.1, soared to the end zone on a 79-yard pass from Aeneas Dennis at five seconds left in the first quarter. Anderson finished the game with five receptions and 131 receiving yards.  "DD had a great game, his ability to stretch the defense and high point the ball make him such a valuable target.  We will continue to look at him throughout the season for his leadership," said Coach Morrison. 
 
ASU drove the ball 9 plays for 75 yards and Dionte Bonneau scored on a 1-yard run. Shorter's Aeneas Dennis led the team 70-yards up the field in 13 plays, and lobbed the ball up in the back of the end zone in which John Dietl III came down with a tough grab for a touchdown. "Our Tight Ends had a good day on the perimeter, Dietl, Morlock, and Forman were able to get the chains moving for the offense.  Dennis finished with 12 completions out of 22 attempts and a total of 178 passing yards and 37 on the ground. ASU is now ahead 21-14 after another successful kick by Brett Bardenwerper.  One turning point of the contest was at the end of the 1^st half the Hawks drove the ball down the field and were about to tie the game going into half time, but a costly interception with short time on the clock hurt their chances.  "We have to be smart with the ball in those situations, Coach Robles and I have spoke with the offense about understanding game situations and being smart with the football.  That could have been a defining moment in the game that changed the outcome."
 
In the second half the Golden Rams took control and were able to score about with five minutes left in the third quarter. Ralph Lovett scored for the rams on a 23-yard pass from Dionte Bonneau. Marcuis Fulks ran a 4-yard touchdown with just a minute to go in the third. Then in the 4th Dionte Bonneau made another 23-yard passing touchdown to Aljhanod Thomas to bring the score to 42-14.  "Defensively, we are going to have to step up.  We allowed to many points as well as 279 yards on the ground.  Penalties really hurt both sides of the ball, but we have to be more disciplined on our defensive line," stated Morrison.  
 
Not even twenty seconds later, Harold Cook came in for Shorter and threw an 81-yard pass to John Dickerson. Cook had 5 completions out of 9 attempts and 110 passing yards. Dickerson had 90 receiving yards on just 2 receptions. "We came into halftime with over 100 yards on the ground and we didn't bring the same mentality out in the second half, one of the areas we will have to clean up in our preparation for the coming weeks." Justus Durrant was the Hawks leading rusher on the day with 13 carries for 56 yards.  Devin Brown finished with 33 yards on the ground, but a holding penalty hindered his stat line from a much better day after a 55 yards rush was negated due to a hold. 
 
The Hawks tried on onside kick, which was recovered by the Rams, but stripped away by the Hawks Kick-Off team, but because of an inadvertent whistle by a referee the play was ruled dead.  The sideline erupted first with excitement as the hawks were trying to put together a comeback, but after the ruling there was a lot of confusion.  "The onside kick will be sent into the conference office to get a better understanding on how that was allowed to happen.  We stripped the ball away from the Golden Rams and it should have been Shorter's football.  I will let the head official explain that ruling to me," stated Morrison. 
 
Bryan Rice showed out with nine total tackles for the Hawks defense. "Rice battled the entire game and because of his efforts he lead the team in tackles, his pursuit to the football and leadership will be counted on for the season ahead," said Morrison.  Marc Harris had a total of eight tackles. Trey Thomas and DeAndre Moss each had six total tackles, and Bruce Guyton, Devonn Lane, and Artellious Edmonds had a total of five tackles.   Defensive Coordinator Harlen Jacobs said of the defense, "We know as a unit that we are better than what we showed today, the offense gave us an opportunity to win by putting points on the board for the team.  We must play unselfish gap sound football, which will be addressed and practiced all week."
 
The Hawks will continue fighting and they look to Valdosta State at home next Saturday at Barron Stadium with a noon kickoff.