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With 2:54 remaining in the contest, Savannah State forced Morehouse to a three and out and grabbed the oval at the Maroon Tiger 44. Then, Savannah State's third hero of the hour, senior running back Chadrick Cone from Waycross Georgia's Ware County High School, took the handoff from Williams and raced around right end 36 yards for the go-ahead and game winning touchdown. Morehouse had one more try for go-ahead points with 1:40 remaining and worked the pigskin to the Savannah 14. Savannah State put pressure on Morehouse quarterback Dupree who then put the football in the air via desperation . The clock ran out and Savannah State fans went ballistic. "Our kids came out in the second half with new energy," said Lemon. "They decided they were not going to lose." "I think we got a little lax and it cost us the game," said Morehouse senior running back Ravenell Dupree from Atlanta's Mays High School. "We dominated the entire game and did what we wanted to do but that lax moment in the fourth quarter cost us." "It was a miracle," said Williams. "My QB coach gave me a second chance and I just took advantage of it. After the game. he told me we win with you or lose with you. I'm so happy for my teams right now. All we needed was one win to snap the losing streak. Now, we know what it takes to win." Savannah State improved its CSRA Classic record to 5-5. The win erases their embarrassing 56-13 loss at last year's event to the Wildcats of Bethune Cookman . This was Morehouse's first return to the CSRA since 1999. In the last three visits to Augusta, the Tigers lost all three games to Morris Brown College.
-0- Asking Savannah State's president about whether or not SSU will remain Division I raises an ire. When I approached him with the question at halftime of the CSRA Classic, I found myself being upbraided. "My position on this is clear and has been. Why am being asked the same question over and over. Don't you read the Atlanta Constitution or the Savannah paper?" When I replied that I hadn't ( and I really hadn't), he accused me of exercising "poor journalism." I prodded ( ever so gently) and he told me " Savannah State is and will remain a Division I program." I politely thanked him for the remarks on the touchy subject but wanted to tell him that most credible reporters would rather gather their own facts from interviews and credible sources in lieu of relying on a competing paper for their information. -0- The CSRA isn't the only thing buzzing in Georgia's second largest city. Augusta is on the eve of a big mayoral election and all three candidates were at the ballgame passing out political literature and glad handing with the fans. It didn't help that I told campaign workers I didn't live in Augusta and couldn't vote. "Well, you write and you have some influence," said candidate William Gilyard III "Maybe somebody will read your article and vote absentee (good point). The other contenders in the race are Ronnie Few and Stephen Kendricks. -0-
The CSRA Classic was something of a homecoming for Morehouse. The college was founded as the Augusta Institute in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church in 1867. That church, by way at the corner of 12th and Reynolds, is the oldest black church operating continuously in the same location in America. The church opened its doors in 1787! -0- Kudos to Augusta's Convention and Visitors bureau and especially to Jennifer Bowen for helping me navigate my way to some of the city's attractions like Springfield Baptist. In addition, she also scored a bulls-eye in recommending the Marriott Hotel and Suites located right on the banks of the Savannah River and Calvin's Down Home Cooking restaurant right in the heart of Augusta's thriving business district.. Awesome. -0- Clark-AU and Morehouse meet this weekend for their annual do on the gridiron. Should be a close contest, especially since both teams are entering the contest with near identical records and having won only two games apiece this year. Last year, the Panthers took the contest 27-21. Here are the rest of my SIAC picks for the weekend: ......And elsewhere in Georgia: Got an item or comment?
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Savannah State had reason to treat that victory like a Super Bowl victory.. Wins for the Tigers by the big sea since 2004 have been as rare as a snowball in hell. In fact, SSU hasn't tasted the thrill of victory since their 34-0 shutout over Allen University 19 games ago..jpg)
