Box Score November 4, 2017 – ATLANTA – In the most lopsided victory over Clark Atlanta in 94 years, the Maroon Tigers trounced the Panthers, 40-0. The last white-wash victory was a 52-0 Morehouse win, in 1923.
On Senior Day at B.T. Harvey Stadium, it was the Maroon Tigers playing in their final game at Morehouse who set the tone for the first shutout over the Panthers in almost a century.
Among other seniors, Kivon Taylor and Jibri Hicks on offense and Kenneth Hagins and David Smith, on defense, had big games for Morehouse.
Taylor, who shared quarterbacking duties with freshman Michael Sims, connected on 12 of 16 passes for 166 yards and four touchdowns. His long was a 60-yard strike to Amyr Smith, in the third quarter. The touchdown the first play following an interception by senior cornerback Gary Awkard, who intercept a pass in the end zone and return it 40 yards.
Hicks had his best running day at Morehouse, rushing for 97 yards, on 12 carries, including a 21-yard touchdown run, to go with a seven-yard pass reception.
Senior linebacker David Smith had a game-high 14 tackles, including three sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His linebacker running buddy, Kenneth Hagins, who is also a senior, had six tackles and shared a sack with Smith. Senior defensive back got in on the got in on the action, with five tackles.
Out-pacing the Panthers, 396 yards to 201 yards, the Maroon Tiger scored early and often, leading at halftime, 23-0, and allowing multiple reserves to play in the second half.
Including the touchdown reception by Amyr Smith, who finished with a game-high five catches for 82 yards, Santo Dunn made a 15-yard touchdown grab, in the first quarter.
Tremell Gooden caught three passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. Ricci Nuckles hauled in three passes for 36 yards. The longest was a 24-yard touchdown reception, late in the third quarter, which extended the Morehouse lead to 37-0.
Senior tight end Ryan Edwards caught five passes for 24 yards.
The final scoring play was a 38-yard field goal by freshman kicker Fernando Sdelamora. His 37-yarder early in the first quarter, gave Morehouse a 3-0 lead.
As they have all year, the Maroon Tigers stepped up on defense, with seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss and four takeaways – three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
The Panthers came close to scoring twice, in the third quarter, but shot themselves in the foot both times.
On first and 10, on the CAU 15-yard line, Michael Sims was under heavy pressure as he dropped back. Instead of a completion, his pass was intercepted by CAU linebacker Jaquatin Victrum who had 80 yards of clear field ahead of him for an apparent touchdown. But as he raced down field, Victrum began showboating well before crossing the goal line. Not only was the apparent touchdown nullified by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Victrum was ejected from the game, because the unsportsmanlike violation was his second of the game.
The second near-score was spoiled by the Gary Awkard interception in the end zone.
Michael Sims completed 12 of 19 passes, for 110 yards, and was intercepted once. Reserve quarterback William Roberson also saw some playing time, in the fourth quarter. He threw one incomplete pass, but gained 12 yards on four carries.
Senior punter Alex Gonzalez improved on a lackluster performance last week at Fort Valley, with three booming punts for 145 yards, including a long of 57. His 48.3-yard average was his best this season.
The Maroon Tigers and the Panthers finished the season with identical records of 4-6; 2-4, but the Tigers take over fourth place in the SIAC East Division, based on head-to-head competition.
