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by Hal Lamar Albany State keeps playoff hopes alive with homecoming win over Morehouse(Albany Ga )- If Morehouse College had played the first half of its game against the Rams of Albany State the same way it played their homecoming hosts the second, the results might not have been a 49-35 victory for ASU. Actually, according to unofficial stats compiled by INSIDE, Morehouse outscored ASU in the second half 20-14 and out-passed the Rams 95 to 163 yards in the second half. Morehouse scored three times in the fourth quarter, all of them passes from sophomore Christian Sterling to wide-outs Carlos King ( who is from Albany) and junior James Steadman. Unfortunately, games aren’t divided in halves and in the first, ASU could seemingly do no wrong and Morehouse , save a field goal and touchdown, couldn’t seem to do nothing right. It started right after the coin toss which ASU won but deferred to the second half. Then on the kickoff, Morehouse returner Christian Green bobbled it. It was recovered by ASU at the Morehouse one. A play later, they scored. Then, after Morehouse got a break when Green redeemed himself by returning the ensuing kickoff 64 yards allowing Morehouse to get a field goal out the process, the Maroon Tigers attempted an onside kick which failed, putting ASU in the scoring driver's seat again which they did in five plays from the Morehouse 42. Morehouse created a break for itself when its defense blocked a Ram punt and recovered at the Albany 30.Three plays later, Sterling found Steadman in the end zone for six (the PAT failed). The problem was, Morehouse couldn’t keep ASU out its end zone. The Ram elevens scored three more times to take a 35-13 lead into the locker room at the break. Despite the surge by Morehouse in the second half, ASU never relinquished the lead. After the game, Morehouse head coach Rich Freeman said ASU actually profited from their injuries.
“We were banged up. Our starting defensive tackle was out. We also lost our best defensive back (Brandon Morgan) several weeks ago against Tuskegee. This team was smart enough to figure that out and they went after our defensive backs and were able to make some plays on them.” ASU junior quarterback Kisan Flakes `completed 13 of his 15 passing attempts for 200 yards and threw two touchdowns. He also rushed for 77 yards. Their leading ground gainer, junior Brian Porter, galloped for 166 yards and scored a touchdown. ASU, having lost only one conference game to Tuskegee, now stands a good chance of getting an invite to the NCAA Division II playoffs (undefeated Tuskegee doesn’t qualify for a bid because of its Thanksgiving game with Alabama State) but the Rams will first have to get by Fort Valley. Despite the Wildcats’ shaky start, they have dropped only one conference tilt themselves (Tuskegee) and are currently in second place in the conference standings. They too won last Saturday over Lane College 25-22. The two will mix this weekend in the 18th Fountain City Classic in Columbus Georgia. Meanwhile, Morehouse will finish its 2007 season at home against Miles .
For Freeman, a win will give his team a 7-3 finish, eclipsed only by the 8-2 finale for the ‘House in 2001. “I told this team before the (Albany) game I was proud of them because we brought back the competitive spirit that supports the philosophy behind Morehouse. We’re competing and that’s what I’m proud of”…… OVERHEARD AND OBSERVED: Albany State had a special guest for homecoming Saturday. Heisman trophy winner and Georgia native Herschel Walker was on hand and participated in the coin toss….. Morehouse’s loss to Tuskegee a fortnight ago might have been because they were hungry. Insiders tell us that organizers of the Columbus Georgia classic provided only a continental breakfast for the Tigers as a pre-game meal. I assume that Tuskegee got the same thing…. The Fountain City Classic between ASU and Fort Valley will be televised over the NFL Network….. You might wonder why starting Morehouse quarterback Carlos King was suddenly switched to wide receiver. Rich Freeman said the move was deliberate. “Carlos got us where we needed to be mid season so I felt it was time for us to help him. He has a much better chance of continuing his career beyond this college as a wide receiver.” If there were scouts at the ASU-Morehouse game, they got to see plenty. He caught passes for two TDS and in one had to out race at least two Ram defenders into the end zone….. Special thanks to the Morehouse athletic booster club, the Torchbearers, which provided a bus to the Albany game and all of Morehouse’s road trips. Saved this writer a lot of driving…… Hal’s Picks this week: Got an item or comment?
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