November 20, 2010 – WINGATE, NC – In their first-ever NCAA playoff game, the Maroon Tigers gave it their all, but came up short, as #5 Morehouse lost a slugfest to the #4 Wingate University Bulldogs, 63-41.
Hundreds of Morehouse fans – including President Robert Franklin – traveled to the Charlotte suburb, where they were greeted by North Carolina-based alumni who served up a tail-gaiting feast.
The Morehouse faithful were disappointed by the final score, but not the outstanding effort of the Maroon Tigers, who played their hearts out, from start to finish.
After spotting the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead, Morehouse reeled off 17 points, on a
David Carter 10-yard touchdown run, a
Mykel Green 39-yard fumble recovery touchdown and a 41-yard field goal by
Ian Mullen.
Two Wingate touchdowns passes put the home team ahead, 21-17. Moments later, quarterback
Byron Ingram dashed into the end zone, from the 19-yard line, and
Ian Mullen tacked on a 35-yard field goal, to give the Maroon Tigers a 27-21 halftime lead.
The second half belonged to the Bulldogs, who reeled off 21 unanswered points in the third quarter and added 21 more points in the fourth. The scoring barrage put an end to a spectacular Morehouse season. Most of the damage was the inflicted by Wingate's taller and veteran receivers who exploited Morehouse's defensive secondary racked with injuries and inexperience.
Ranked #8 in the nation, in passing, Wingate quarterback Cody Haffly connected on 29-of-49 passes for 477 yards and seven touchdowns. It was the most yardage and points yielded by Morehouse in seven seasons.
Morehouse's defense hung tough, led by
Darrius Williams, who forced and recovered a fumble and had a team-high 12 tackles.
Brandon Houston collected six tackles and had a first-quarter interception that set up a Morehouse field goal.
Brandon Cunningham and
Demario Dixon recorded six tackles each.
Derrin Nettles, who Friday night was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, had five tackles.
The Maroon Tigers had their chances to keep pace, in the second half, but fumbled the ball away three times, twice inside the Wingate 10-yard line. In the fourth quarter, Carter pounded in a one-yard touchdown and
Robert Darby-McNair caught a seven-yard scoring pass from
William Brack who subbed for Ingram.
Carter had one of the few bright spots for Morehouse. The sophomore running back rushed for 167 yards. His season total of 1,347 yards broke the previous Morehouse season rushing record of 1,198 yards, set by John David Washington, in 2005.
Morehouse finished the season at 8-3. Wingate improved to 9-2 and earned the right to play Albany State, the #1team in Super Regional 2. That game will be played, Saturday, in Albany.
