Mistakes ruin CAU’s homecoming vs. SSU

Too many fourth-quarter mistakes cost Clark Atlanta a chance to win its first game against a Division I opponent on Saturday and sent a huge homecoming crowd away in disappointment.

The Panthers lost a fumble and missed two field goals, the last with 7.8 seconds left, which sealed a 17-14 loss to Savannah State before 17,893 at Panther Stadium.

“Mistakes killed us,” said Clark coach Ted Bahhur, whose team is now 4-2. “We killed ourselves. Overall we were a lot better but we couldn’t stop making mistakes.”

Trailing 17-14 on its last drive, Clark drove down the field with a series of often-risky keepers by quarterback Cedric Johnson - the last a 24-yarder with a live clock - to the 17. With a chance to tie, Henry Boynton’s 35-yard field goal try was just wide to the left.

Clark had many chances earlier in the fourth quarter, though. With the score tied 14-14 early in the fourth quarter, Clark took the ball to the 13, but couldn’t advance it on three tries and Boynton was sent out to attempt a 33-yard field goal. Javorris Jackson blocked the kick, which was downed in the end zone.

Savannah State (3-3) took over and drove to Clark’s 22, largely behind a series of clutch runs and passes by quarterback Kurvin Curry. But freshman Derek Williams slightly stubbed the 39-yard field goal, which drifted wide right.

Clark responded by marching to the Savannah State 33 in five plays, only to have reserve running back Arthur Stokes stripped of the ball by Roland Jackson and recovered by LaDarien Redfield at the 28.

“Winston (Thompson, who led the team with 145 yards rushing) was really tired so we put Arthur in there. I don’t know what happened,” Bahhur said.

This time Savannah State made Clark pay. Curry hit Deleon Hollinger for a 24-yard gain, then connected with Chris Bush for a 14-yard pickup. After the Clark defense stiffened, Savannah sent Williams back onto the field for a 37-yard field goal try, which he converted to give the Tigers their first lead of the game with 1:09 remaining.

“We call him money,” said Savannah State coach Robby Wells.

“I wanted a chance at redemption,” Williams said.

The loss ruined fine efforts from Johnson (175 yards passing, 99 rushing) and running back Thompson, who had his fifth 100-yard game and improved his season total to 819 yards.

Savannah State’s Curry, a freshman from Hart County, wound up with 81 yards rushing and 223 passing. He completed 15 of 25, one for a touchdown.

“We have more players from Georgia and more players from Atlanta than they have on their roster,” Wells said. “We just told them it’s our homecoming game and we were going to go out there and give everything we had.

“Our players executed and did a great job in a very hostile environment. We’re going to celebrate all the way back to Savannah.”