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by Hal Lamar CAU gets “boo-boo flu”, loses to Kentucky State at homeWhat do you call a team that gets itself intercepted four times, gives up three scores as a result then fumble on 3rd and goal at the 1? You call them losers, an apt description for CAU that let one slip away again 30-20 to a Kentucky State team intent on not leaving Hotlanta 0-4. “It’s good to get the losing jinx off your back,” said Head Coach Fred T Farrier “The kids really worked hard for this one.” KSU seemed to work as hard to win the game as CAU did to lose it.
Things started looking bleak for the hometown Panthers as early as 13:54 of the first period when Thorobred starting quarterback Jerimy Watston caught the CAU secondary napping and uncorked a prize winner to Juwan Jones for 81 yards. Only CAU defensive back Michael Pratt prevented a touchdown when he hauled down Jones from behind at the four yard line, “We made a few mistakes but we managed to capitalize on (CAU’s). Our defense stepped up as did out O (offensive) line. Coach said I still need to pick up my feet a little bit.” Then midway the second quarter, KSU defensive back Melvin Thomas stepped in front of a throw from CAU’s Corey Jones and raced 55 yards to pay dirt.
Down by 14, CAU did manage to launch a subsequent 54 yard line that resulted in a 33 yard pass from Jones to Mortimer Lightburn. Lightburn ,a sophomore from Tampa Florida, was one of the bright spots for CAU, snatching six passes for 127 yards and scoring three times including a fourth quarter grab in the end zone which he literally took from a KSU defender. Jones finished the night completing 15 of his 34 passing attempts for 235 yards but was intercepted four times. “What can you say,” said a disgusted-sounding Ted Bahhur. “ I just don’t think he ( Jones) is ready to lead. He seems to be intent on doing what he wants to do and not what the coaches want him to do. That’s how you wind up with four interceptions.” But that was the least of CAU’s troubles. In the fourth period, the Panthers took the oval at the 28 .Jones engineered a near flawless drive to the KSU 1. Then on a third and goal, a handoff was flubbed and recovered by KSU’s Thomas, killing the drive that would have given CAU a 26-23 lead. “ I wasn’t really surprised that CAU narrowed our 14-0 lead to 3 points,” said Farrier. “ We knew that we’d have to win most of our games by 2 or 3 points.” For CAU, the loss puts them at 0-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play. They have a week off ( which they need) and will play Miles at home on September 29. Kentucky State will not have such a luxury. They take on Central State (Ohio) Saturday in Lexington’s Kentucky’s 6th Toyota Heritage Classic. Farrier reminded his team of that in their post-game huddle. “ We got work to do,” he bellowed. No time for sitting down. Let’s enjoy the victory tonight cause it’s back to work Monday.” POSTSCRIPTS: KSU Sports Information Director Ron Braden is celebrating his 20th year at the post. He has survived coaching and other personnel changes and battled health problems of his own but persevered. Congrats Ron on being the “iron man” of SIDs…..
Even in a losing fashion, CAU defensive end-linebacker Curtis Johnson can count on his family motoring up from Lauderhill Florida for his games. Johnson’s brother, by the bye, is former pro linebacker JR Johnson who reportedly played with both the Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons…… Morehouse College may have hired itself another Anthony “AJ” Jones (now at Alabama A&M) in head coach Rich Freeman. The first year native son is 3-1 and his latest win on the road against Shaw University was in come-from-behind fashion with a touchdown in the closing moments of the fourth quarter and the reliable foot of kicker Tennessee State University transplant Micah Streiff booting the PAT. He also nailed two field goals of 25 and 43 yards. The Tigers hit the road for the third time in as many weeks when they travel to historic Selma Alabama to do battle with the 1-3 Concordia Hornets…… HAL’S PREDICTIONS: Got an item or comment?
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