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Wildcats Spoil Maroon Tigers Homecoming

Box Score Nobody told the Fort Valley State Wildcats that they were supposed to roll over at Morehouse's Homecoming. Instead the Wildcats played like they had something to prove and beat the Maroon Tigers, 24-16.

The loss dropped Morehouse to 2-7; 1-6, on the season. Fort Valley improved to 3-6; 3-4 and was hoping for a win today and an Albany State loss to Benedict, which would give the Wildcats a shot at the SIAC East Division, when the two meet next week in Columbus.

Morehouse got on the board first, with a 43-yard Alexis Gonzalez field goal, early in the first quarter.

That lead was short-lived, as the Wildcats resonded with 17 unanswered points, to take a 17-3 halftime lead.

The Wildcats scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Otis Brown to Christopher Weems, an eight-yard touchdown by Otis Brown and a 33-yard field goal by Juan Serna.
Morehouse closed the gap, late in the third quarter, on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Kivon Taylor to Tremell Gooden. The scoring catch was the second in two weeks by Gooden, a 6'-4" freshman from Fairburn, GA.

Another Brown to Weems touchdown pass for 19 yards, early in the fourth quarter, pushed the score to 24-10.  

Playing before a Homecoming gathering, of nearly 25,000, the Maroon Tiger fought back.

Taylor who was subbing at quarterback for starter Monqavious Johnson drove the Maroon Tigers 88 yards to paydirt.

The two-yard scoring touchdown pass to Lake McGuffie put Morehouse within a touchdown to score.

The extra point attempt by Gonzalez failed, but still left a glimmer of hope for the struggling Tigers.

However that hope was dashed when the Wildcats stopped the Tigers on four downs, took over the ball and ran out the clock.

Taylor finished the day 9-of-16, for 82 yards and two touchdown. Johnson,  who left with a knee injury in the third quarter, was 9-of-17, for 111 yards. He was sacked three times and intercepted once. 

On defense, Lynd Parrish led the way for Morehouse with 12 tackles. It was the first time all season that someone other than David Smith has led the team in tackles. Smith made a respectable 10 tackles.   

For the fourth consecutive game, Morehouse failed to gain 100 yards rushing. Monqavious gained 15 yards, on 11 carries. Four other Maroon Tigers combined for 15 yards. The Tigers faired a little better through the air, with 18 catches for 193 yards. Ryan Edwards made three catches, for 55 yards. Tremell Gooden made three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Tamarick Vanover caught three passes for 31 yards, and Lake McGuffie hauled in three passes, for 30 yards and a touchdown.  

Morehouse will travel to Jackson, Tenn., to face the Lane College Dragons, Saturday at 2 p.m. (Central Time)
 
 
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