ATLANTA, Ga. — Morehouse College battled back from multiple deficits Saturday afternoon, but Clark Atlanta used several explosive plays to pull away for a 31-21 victory in the inaugural ATL HBCU Labor Day Classic at B.T. Harvey Stadium.
The longtime Atlanta rivalry, previously played as the Big Cat Classic, took on a new identity this season with the matchup moving to Labor Day Weekend. A crowd of 9,736 watched the Maroon Tigers and Panthers renew the rivalry in the SIAC opener for both programs. With the loss, Morehouse fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while Clark Atlanta improved to 1-1 and 1-0 in the SIAC.
Morehouse finished with 356 yards of total offense and controlled the football for 35:05, while running back Chase DeVaughn turned in the Maroon Tigers' top offensive performance with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Quarterback Miles Scott threw for 193 yards, and Jeremiah Gibson led all Morehouse receivers with 85 yards.
First Quarter
Clark Atlanta struck first with the game's biggest rushing play. Trayvon Pinder broke loose for a 94-yard touchdown run with 13:07 remaining in the opening quarter, putting the Panthers ahead 7-0.
Morehouse answered with a methodical 13-play, 63-yard possession that consumed 5:49. Davis Rowe capped the drive with a field goal at the 7:18 mark to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Maroon Tiger defense quickly forced a three-and-out, giving the offense excellent field position at the CAU 30. DeVaughn needed just one play, racing 30 yards for a touchdown with 5:46 remaining in the quarter to put Morehouse in front, 9-7.
Morehouse carried the two-point advantage into the second quarter.
Second Quarter
The momentum shifted toward Clark Atlanta during the second period.
Morehouse opened the quarter in scoring position but came away empty following a missed field-goal attempt. CAU responded by driving 80 yards in six plays, with Kelan Anderson scoring on a 39-yard run at the 10:39 mark to give the Panthers a 14-9 lead.
On Morehouse's next possession, Scott was intercepted at the CAU 41. Clark Atlanta turned the game's only turnover into points, moving 54 yards before Joseph Wright connected on a field goal with 5:29 remaining to extend the Panthers' advantage to 17-9.
Morehouse had another opportunity before halftime, advancing from its own 48 to the CAU 24, but a field-goal attempt as time expired was unsuccessful.
Clark Atlanta entered halftime leading 17-9.
Third Quarter
The Maroon Tigers came out of halftime with one of their best drives of the afternoon.
Morehouse marched 75 yards on 13 plays and kept possession for 5:49. Savion Red finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown run at the 9:11 mark, pulling Morehouse within two at 17-15.
Clark Atlanta immediately answered.
The Panthers covered 70 yards in nine plays before quarterback Xzavier Jackson connected with Chry'shawn Sellers for a 14-yard touchdown with 4:20 remaining. The score restored a two-possession advantage for CAU at 24-15.
Morehouse responded by beginning another 75-yard scoring drive late in the quarter, setting the stage for a fourth-quarter push.
Fourth Quarter
DeVaughn finished Morehouse's drive just six seconds into the fourth quarter, scoring from 10 yards out for his second touchdown of the afternoon. The touchdown capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive and trimmed the Clark Atlanta lead to 24-21 following an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt.
Once again, however, the Panthers answered immediately.
Clark Atlanta drove 75 yards in six plays, with Jackson finding Sellers for a 51-yard touchdown at the 11:40 mark. The explosive connection pushed the Panthers' advantage back to 10 points, 31-21.
Morehouse possessed the ball twice more but could not find the end zone. The Maroon Tigers were forced to punt following a 10-play possession before their final drive ended on downs at the Clark Atlanta 47 with 1:09 remaining. CAU then ran out the remaining time.
Morehouse Statistical Leaders
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Defense
Special Teams
- Seve Spruill averaged 46.0 yards on two punts, including a long of 48 yards and one punt placed inside the 20.
Game Notes
- Morehouse moved to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in SIAC play with the loss.
- The Maroon Tigers recorded 356 yards of total offense, including 193 passing and 163 rushing.
- Morehouse finished with 25 first downs, compared with 16 for Clark Atlanta, and ran 73 offensive plays compared with 50 for CAU.
- The Maroon Tigers held the ball for 35:05, more than 10 minutes longer than the Panthers' 24:55.
- Morehouse converted 6-of-15 third downs and an impressive 4-of-5 fourth-down attempts.
- The Maroon Tigers reached the red zone five times and scored on three of those possessions.
- Morehouse rushed for three touchdowns, with DeVaughn scoring twice and Red adding one.
- DeVaughn became the first Maroon Tiger in the game to surpass the century mark, finishing with 105 yards on just 11 attempts, an average of 9.5 yards per carry.
- Gibson led the passing attack with 85 receiving yards, highlighted by a 43-yard reception.
- Johnson paced the defense with seven tackles and two tackles for loss.
- Morehouse did not lose a fumble but committed the game's only turnover on a second-quarter interception.
- Clark Atlanta generated 394 total yards, with 259 coming on the ground, and produced four touchdowns on plays of 94, 39, 14 and 51 yards.
With the Loss
Morehouse falls to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in SIAC competition. Despite the setback, the Maroon Tigers showed improvement offensively after producing 356 yards, 25 first downs and three rushing touchdowns while sustaining multiple long scoring drives.
The difference came in Clark Atlanta's ability to generate explosive scoring plays. The Panthers' four touchdowns included a 94-yard run, a 39-yard run and touchdown receptions of 14 and 51 yards.
Up Next
Morehouse remains at B.T. Harvey Stadium next week as the Maroon Tigers welcome Central State for their second consecutive SIAC matchup. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com or Maroon Tiger football on Instagram @morehousefootball.
