Morehouse’s offense is rolling, its defense is clamping down and the Maroon Tigers looked poised for a strong run through the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
But as the Maroon Tigers (2-1) prepare to open SIAC play at Lane (2-1) on Saturday, there are a couple numbers that have coach Rich Freeman worried: zero and 22. That’s the number of weeks off and scholarships, respectively, for Morehouse.
“Our team is pretty beat up, but I’m sure that’s holding true for every team,” Freeman said. “We are being really careful with how we are practicing and playing and trying to keep everyone healthy.”
Freeman said he’s trying to avoid a repeat of 2010, when Morehouse faded to losses in three of its past six games after a 5-0 start. With that in mind, Freeman said he’s had to “be creative to keep guys healthy.”
Part of that plan involves keeping star running back David Carter (Sprayberry) fresh. Carter leads the SIAC with 121 rushing yards per game and six touchdowns but has only 43 carries.
Freeman said depth was an issue in Morehouse’s 30-27 loss to Howard at RFK Stadium on Sept. 10. Morehouse led 20-9 after Carter’s 79-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
“They were putting in fresh players [late], and we didn’t have anyone,” Freeman said.
The Maroon Tigers’ kicking game continued to struggle against Howard. Morehouse had two botched punts that led to a safety and touchdown, prompting Freeman to use Carter as the long snapper against Edward Waters on Saturday.
Morehouse’s disappointment at letting a victory slip away against a division from a higher division lingered from the start of Saturday’s game. Morehouse led only 20-15 at halftime before Freeman said they “recharged” and pulled away to a 49-15 victory over the NAIA opponent.
Morehouse now ranks among the Division II leaders in scoring (No. 13 at 41 points per game) and scoring defense (No. 29, 18 points allowed per game). Lane boasts the top scoring defense in the SIAC.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge,” Freeman said. “The jury is out on us being able to handle teams that are [defensive] pressure teams.”
Freeman said two players will miss Saturday’s game because of injuries: starting right guard Mike Coke (Redan), a preseason second-team all-SAIC selection, and reserve linebacker Cameron Ford (Dunwoody).
The Maroon Tigers could soon get a reinforcement in defensive end Scottie Williams (Southwest DeKalb), a transfer from Southern Mississippi. Freeman said the NCAA could clear him to play before Saturday or for next Thursday’s showdown with Clark Atlanta.
Shootout in Statesboro?
Georgia Southern will defend its national No. 1 FCS (formerly Division I-AA) ranking Saturday against Southern Conference-foe Western Carolina. The Catamounts haven’t beaten the Eagles in a long time, but might be able to match its high-powered offense.
Western Carolina ranks No. 7 in FCS in total offense (482 yards per game) and 17th in scoring (36.5 points). GSU is No. 15 in yards (444) No. 2 in scoring (46.5 points).
“We know they can run the ball effectively,” Eagles coach Jeff Monken said. “Their quarterback [Brandon Pechloff] is a big kid who is able to see over everybody and we are not a big, tall, football team. Big, strong guys like that are hard to bring down.”
GSU won 28-6 at Western Carolina last season for its 16th consecutive victory in the series. The Catamounts are 2-19 against the Eagles with victories in 1941 and 1994.
Etc.
Albany State passed up field-goal tries three times on fourth down during its 30-27 loss to Valdosta State on Saturday. “You’ve got to have touchdowns to beat them,” Albany State coach Mike White told The Albany Herald. “Field goals are not going to get it with them. [Against] somebody else, we probably would kick.” ... Morehouse’s Carter was named SIAC offensive player of the week after he rushed for 123 yards and four touchdowns against Edward Waters. Teammate Marlon Jones (South Cobb) was the conference offensive lineman of the week. ... Stillman freshman quarterback Dondre Purnell (McEachern) was the SIAC newcomer of the week for his 138 yards of offense and two touchdowns in a 31-29 victory at Kentucky State. Stillman ranks fifth in offense in the SIAC. ... The Southern Conference named Chattanooga linebacker Wes Dothard (Carrollton) its defensive player of the week for the second consecutive week. Dothard had 10 tackles, including three for a loss, and a sack, in a 23-14 victory against Eastern Kentucky.
Quotable
“Obviously we’ve got to learn how to win games. This program has been losing for a long time now, and sometimes it’s hard to get over the hump. Once we have a little bit of success, it will infect everyone around here and have some positive vibes.” — Savannah State coach Steve Davenport on the program’s 21 losses in its past 24 games.
“Heck, I am proud of them. We went through a gauntlet there. I’m awfully proud of how our guys played. The big thing now is that we have gone through that stretch, is we can’t be satisfied with where we are.” — Valdosta State coach David Dean, to the Valdosta Times, on his team’s 3-0 start with victories against two ranked teams (Albany State and Wingate).
By the numbers
7.5 Tackles for loss for Clark Atlanta linebacker Harrison Porter, tied for best in SIAC
.718 All-time modern-era winning percentage for Georgia Southern (268-104-1), third-best overall in the NCAA behind Michigan (.740) and Notre Dame (.736)
Schedule
Saturday
Clark Atlanta vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (St. Louis), 3 p.m.
Morehouse at Lane, 3 p.m.
Savannah State at N.C. Central, 6 p.m.
Albany State at Miles, 7 p.m.
Valdosta State vs. Southern Arkansas, 7 p.m.
West Georgia vs. Arkansas-Monticello, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Clark Atlanta at Morehouse, 8 p.m.
