Box Score October 8, 2016—COLUMBUS, GA – Morehouse gave Tuskegee all it could handle on defense, but the Maroon Tigers couldn't muster enough offensive fire power against the Golden Tigers and lost 28-19, in the 81st Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic
Unlike last week's fourth-quarter collapse against Clark Atlanta, the Maroon Tigers took it to the D-II nation's #8 team for 60 minutes.
Linebacker David Smith had a monster game and won the Morehouse Most Outstanding player award. Smith, the Morehouse leading tackler posted 15 tackles, including three sacks, five tackles for loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Neither team generated much offense in a scoreless first quarter. In the second, Tuskegee jumped ahead, on a 16-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 halftime lead.
The Golden Tigers struck again, midway through the third quarter, with a 60-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 advantage.
Two minutes later, Morehouse battled back. Quarterback Monqavious Johnson weaved his way into the end zone from nine yards out and cut the lead in half. The 72-yard scoring drive featured pass completions of 38 yards to Trevor Gichaba and 15 yards to Amyr Smith.
On the next Tuskegee possession, Morehouse pressure up the middle forced a fumble by quarterback Kevin Lacey. David Smith scooped up the loose football and raced 28 yards for a Morehouse touchdown. The extra point attempt by Alexis Gonzales sailed wide and the Maroon Tigers trailed by one.
Lacey connected on a 50-yard scoring pass, to extend the Tuskegee lead to 21-13.
Once again the Morehouse defense scooped and scored. Defensive end Austin Clark put a jarring tackle on the Tuskegee ball carrier that forced the football loose. Linebacker Lynd Parrish picked up the ball and hauled it to pay dirt from the 10-yard line. A two-point conversion attempt failed and Morehouse trailed 21-19.
In addition to his touchdown, Parrish collected a career-high 10 tackles. The final Tuskegee 8-yard touchdown pass was set up by an interception and a 56-yard return.
Morehouse returns home, Saturday, at 2 p.m., to face Albany State.
