Courtesy: CAU Athletics
FORT VALLEY, Ga. — After a long-awaited return to the field, Quarterback David Wright threw for commanding seven touchdowns and 423 yards to trounce Fort Valley State 45-42 in the season opener on Saturday afternoon. The win marks the first victory for Clark Atlanta over Fort Valley State since 2018.
The Wildcats mounted an early 14-0 lead over the Panthers after two muffed punts started Fort Valley in plus territory on back-to-back drives. With three minutes left to play in the first quarter Allen transfer quarterback David Wright found fellow Lane College transfer Virgil Young for a 22-yard dart to put the Panthers on the board (14-6).
As the first quarter expired, Wright threw a 59-yard bomb to Jamal Jones for his second touchdown of the day to bring Clark Atlanta within one point (14-13). Fort Valley responded with a 7-yard touchdown pass, extending their advantage to 21-13 at the 9:28 mark in the second frame.
Wright continued his offensive clinic as he found Armone Harris for a 34-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter, narrowing Fort Valley’s lead back to one point 21-20. Clark Atlanta took their first lead of the day with 54 seconds left in the first half when Wright found Young for their second touchdown connection on a 10-yard toss.
Fort Valley’s Brandon Marshal opened the second half with a 2-yard scamper for a touchdown to put the Wildcats back in front. The Panthers responded less than four minutes later with another Armone Harris touchdown from David Wright. Clark Atlanta boasted a 32-28 lead heading into the final frame.
With 10:23 left in regulation, Ronnie West caught a 3-yard pass to mount a 10-point lead over FVSU (38-28). Dahlil WIlkins caught his second interception of the day to give the Panthers the ball back to set up Armone Harris’ third touchdown with 10:06 left to play (45-28).
Fort Valley scored two touchdowns in the final nine minutes but the comeback effort wasn’t enough as Clark Atlanta escaped with a 45-42 victory. The win marks Clark Atlanta’s first victory since the 2022 season.
David Wright led the way with 423 yards and seven touchdowns on the day. Wright went 23-31 in completions with zero interceptions. Jamal Jones registered seven catches for 136 yards and one touchdown, followed by Armone Harris with 7 catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Virgil Young caught four passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns, and Ronnie West caught four passes for 65 yards and one touchdown in his return to the field.
On the defensive end, Dahlil Wilkins pulled down two interceptions in his CAU debut while FVSU transfer Solomon Mosley led the Panthers in tackles with seven on the day.
The Panthers look to continue their streak next weekend as they return home for the first time this season to host the Allen University Yellow Jackets at 2 p.m. inside Panther Stadium.