State college notebook

By Andy Johnston

For the AJC

Albany State (7-0, 6-0 SIAC)

Next game: vs. Tuskegee (5-2, 5-1), 2 p.m. Saturday

The honors continue to roll in for Albany State players. RB/WR Demetrice Johnson (Thomson), who is third in the Division I-AA in scoring (13.7 points a game), is the SIAC offensive player of the week after rushing for 106 yards and three TDs in a win over Clark. K Juan Bongarra kicked two field goals, including a last-second one that forced OT, and is the special teams player of the week. ... Eighth-ranked Albany State’s game against No. 19 Tuskegee will be broadcast on ESPN360.com.

Clark Atlanta (3-4, 2-4 SIAC)

Next game:at Morehouse (5-2, 4-2), 2 p.m. Saturday

LB William Hollis is the SIAC defensive newcomer of the week after making 14 tackles, 2 ½ tackles for loss and a sack in a loss to Albany State. LB Zimier McCloud also had 14 tackles, a sack and broke up a pass in the OT loss. ... Despite being held to 13 yards against Albany State, RB Winston Thompson still leads the SIAC with 705 yards rushing and 117.5 yards a game, 11th in Division II.

Fort Valley State (5-3, 4-2 SIAC)

Next game: at Benedict (5-3, 3-3), 2 p.m. Saturday

QBs Nathaniel Samas (Americus-Sumter) and Terrance Ransom (Monroe-Albany) combined to throw seven interceptions in Saturday’s 55-23 loss to Southern, a Division I-AA team. Despite the picks and two fumbles, the Wildcats trailed only 28-16 on a 3-yard run by Brandon Anderson (Warner Robins) with 11:25 left in the third quarter. ...  The Wildcats are fifth in Division II in total defense, giving up an average of 250.1 yards a game.

Georgia Southern (4-3, 3-1 Southern)

Next game: at Appalachian State (4-2, 3-0), 3 p.m. Saturday

RB Adam Urbano (Calhoun) rushed for a career-high 153 yards and scored two TDs in a win over Chattanooga. His 31 carries were three short of the school record of 34, held by Adrian Peterson and Charles Bostick. ... The Eagles have not won or lost consecutive games this season and will be hard-pressed to put together two victories in a row at No. 8 Appalachian State. Mountaineers QB Armanti Edwards is third in Division I-AA total offense (338.2 yards).

Morehouse (5-2, 4-2 SIAC)

Next game: vs. Clark (3-4, 2-4), 2 p.m. Saturday

Freshman RB David Carter (Sprayberry) was the SIAC offensive newcomer of the week with 125 yards and two TDs in a victory over Lane. He averaged 6.2 yards a carry. LB Charlie Wilson had 12 tackles, three sacks, broke up a pass and recovered a fumble for a TD in the victory. He leads the SIAC in sacks with 7 1/2, tied for second in the country. … DB Olajawaun Gooch scored on an 81-yard fumble return.

Savannah State (1-5)

Next game: vs. Old Dominion (5-2), 5 p.m. Saturday

QB Kurvin Curry (Hart County) is struggling to find the form he had as a freshman, when he helped lead the Tigers to a 5-7 mark. Curry was stopped on fourth-and-1 and threw two interceptions in final three minutes of a 34-24 loss to Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. He threw for 1,651 yards and 13 TDs last year. ... Old Dominion is a first-year program playing a Division I-AA schedule, but has consecutive wins over Presbyterian and Campbell.

Valdosta State (4-3, 4-2 Gulf South)

Next game: vs. North Alabama (8-0, 5-0), 8 p.m. Thursday

VSU has won consecutive games for the first time this year heading into Thursday’s game against No. 1 North Alabama, coached by former Auburn coach Terry Bowden, who is in his first season. The Lions moved to the top spot in the Division II poll for the first time since 1996 after Abilene Christian lost to West Texas A&M. ... Valdosta State WR Cedric Jones (Ware County) is sixth in Division II with 7.7 catches per game. ...  Fox SportsSouth will broadcast Thursday’s game at 8 p.m.

West Georgia (0-7, 0-4 Gulf South)

Next game: vs. West Alabama (5-3, 3-2), 2 p.m. Saturday

West Georgia’s losing streak reached 21 games, but the Wolves scored 30 points in the loss to Arkansas Tech, their highest total since scoring 32 in the loss that started the streak, a defeat to Arkansas-Monticello on Oct. 20, 2007. … Freshman WR Malcolm Johnson had his best game of the season with four catches for 92 yards and a 14-yard TD reception. He leads West Georgia with 284 yards receiving and two TD catches.

Other state schools

* Shorter players lead the NAIA in two categories. RB A.J. Cooley (Bowdon) is first in kickoff returns with an average of 35.9 yards (two TDs) and DB A.J. Baker (Calhoun) leads with five interceptions. The Hawks (4-3) play at Union (Ky.) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

* LaGrange (4-3) has won three in a row since losing three consecutive games. QB Drew Carter (Northwest Whitfield) has played well since returning from an injury that forced him to miss a game, throwing for 467 yards and six TDs in back-to-back victories. He passed 5,000 career passing yards with 166 in Saturday’s win over Eureka. The Panthers host Westminster (Mo.) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

* Four players scored TDs in Georgia Military’s 34-7 victory over Valdosta State’s junior varsity last Thursday. Tobias Palmer, Antonio Danzy (Washington County), Carlos Ross (Carver-Columbus) and Antonio Mitchum scored for the Bulldogs (4-3), who host Louisburg College (N.C.), which is 5-2, at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Andy Johnston