Albany, Ga.----Albany State University quarterback Stan Jennings (Marietta, Ga.) threw four touchdown passes as the Golden Rams defeated Wingate University 49-28 Saturday night at the ASU Coliseum. The contest featured two nationally-ranked teams. ASU is number seven, while Wingate is number 23.

Albany State is 2-0 overall, while Wingate falls to 0-2 overall following its fourth consecutive contest against a nationally-ranked opponent (dating to last season). The Golden Rams host number 14 Valdosta State Saturday (6 p.m.), while the Bulldogs hit the road to face local rival UNC Pembroke (2 p.m.).

Jennings completed 17-of-30 passes for 307 yards and four scores. His favorite target was junior wide receiver Ronnie Tubbs (Yazoo City, Miss.), who caught six passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns. The Golden Rams compiled 427 yards total offense, compared to 396 yards for the 2010 South Atlantic Conference champion Bulldogs.
 
Wingate redshirt senior quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) completed 22-of-44 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Bulldog redshirt sophomore signal-caller Robbie Nallenweg (Asheville, N.C.) connected on seven-of-11 passes for 63 yards and one score. Haffly and Nallenweg utilized 10 different targets; junior wide receiver Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.) led the way with seven catches for 85 yards and one score.
 
Albany State bolted to a 20-0 halftime lead. In the first quarter, Jennings led his troops on a 13-play, 81-yard march to put his team on the board. ASU junior running back Luther Edwards (Yazoo City, Miss.) finished the deal with a one-yard TD plunge. Senior placekicker Tory Torstenson (Juliette, Ga.) added the first of his four extra points to make the score 7-0 with 3:39 to play in the opening frame. The drive consumed 6:35 from the game clock.
 
The Golden Rams turned a Bulldog fumble into six points in the second quarter. ASU junior running back Nathan Hoyte (Waldorf, Md.) finished the three-play, 30-yard drive with a two-yard scoring run at the 7:58 mark. Jennings completed the first half scoring on the next ASU possession, moving the Golden Rams 72 yards on nine plays. He found paydirt with the first of his four TD strikes.
 
ASU received the second half opening kick-off and moved the ball 75 yards on eight plays. Jennings connected with Tubbs for the first of his three receiving touchdowns at the 10:58 mark. The PAT gave the hosts a 27-0 advantage.
 
Wingate fought back, scoring on its next two chances. Haffly hit Bowden with a 29-yard scoring strike at 9:41. Bulldog redshirt junior placekicker Matthew Sierk (Saluda, N.C.) booted the first of his three extra points to make the score 27-7 ASU.
 
After Albany State went three-and-out, Haffly moved the Bulldogs 70 yards on seven plays for their next TD. The hyper-fast drive consumed only two minutes as Haffly sealed the deal with a 20-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Marquise Allen (Monroe, N.C.) to pull the visitors within two scores with 5:57 to play in the third quarter.
 
The Golden Rams wasted little time responding, as they posted 22 unanswered points to put the contest out of reach. Tubbs scored a touchdown late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to give the 2010 SIAC champions a 40-14 lead. ASU senior defensive back Jamarkus Gaskins (Tifton, Ga.) returned a fumble for a TD and Torstenson booted a 22-yard field goal to complete the Golden Ram scoring.
 
Two Wingate wide receivers recorded their first collegiate TD receptions in the fourth quarter. Bulldog redshirt freshman Chuby Uwadie (Powder Springs, Ga.) caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Haffly with 4:56 to play, putting the final touches on a 12-play, 80-yard drive. Senior James Holston (Waxhaw, N.C.) scored on a nine-yard connection from Robbie Nallenweg with 40 seconds to go. Wingate senior placekicker Paul Grammaticopoulos (Paris, France) scored his first collegiate point with the final PAT to conclude the night’s scoring.
 
Wingate junior defensive back Jarvis Smith (Godfrey, Ill.) had nine tackles to lead the Bulldogs, including a team-high six solo stops. Redshirt junior linebacker Jared Seate (Charlotte, N.C.) had seven tackles and two tackles for losses. Albany State freshman defensive back Larry Whitfield (Albany, Ga.) celebrated his first appearance at ASU Coliseum with a team-best nine tackles. He added a quarterback sack as well.