Coach Rich Freeman has led a resurgence for Morehouse football.
The Maroon Tigers have posted four winning seasons for the first time since 1922-25. They earned their first invitation to the Division II playoffs last season and are on track for another berth this year.
But there’s one thing Freeman hasn’t been able to do.
“We have got to get over the hurdle of Tuskegee,” Freeman said. “We’ve got to get a win some kind of way.”
The Golden Tigers are the only Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team that Morehouse has failed to beat during Freeman’s tenure. Since beating Tuskegee 16-13 in 2003, Morehouse has lost seven consecutive games in the series by an average of 23 points.
The Maroon Tigers (4-1, 2-0) will try again Saturday in Columbus. The teams have played 100 games since 1902, and Tuskegee leads the series 66-27-7, but this is one of the few times the Golden Tigers (1-3, 1-1) appear vulnerable.
Tuskegee’s streak of consecutive SIAC titles ended at four last season, despite a 9-2 finish. League coaches picked the Golden Tigers to win the West division this season, but they immediately stumbled with losses to Langston, Alabama A&M and Stillman.
It was Tuskegee’s worst start since it was 0-7 in 1995, and the Golden Tigers already have their most losses since finishing 9-3 in 1999. It’s not what’s expected from a program that boasts 28 SIAC championships and eight black college championships.
No wonder coach Willie Slater called Tuskegee’s 18-15 victory over Fort Valley State on Saturday “a great relief.”
“We needed it desperately,” Slater told the Associated Press. “We’re excited about it, but we’re still going through growing pains.”
Freshman at QB
Clark Atlanta freshman Tyree Williams didn’t have a great debut in the loss to Morehouse on Sept. 29. Williams, of Covington, completed six of 14 passes for 40 yards.
But with Clark Atlanta’s passing game struggling — the Panthers rank ninth in the SIAC in passing efficiency — coach Daryl McNeill said Williams will get more chances.
“We are going to play him a little bit more and get his feet wet,” McNeill said.
Williams showed his potential as a runner against Morehouse, though he held the ball too long at times while taking four sacks. T.J. Smith, the winner of the three-way competition in preseason camp, was 0-for-4 against Morehouse, while Bryan Mann was 8-of-18 for 94 yards with two interceptions.
Pass on the Eagles?
Georgia Southern (4-0, 3-0 Southern Conference) is still No. 1 in FCS (formerly Division I-AA) and leads the conference race. But Saturday’s opponent, Chattanooga (2-3, 0-2), might be capable of exploiting the Eagles’ one relative weakness, pass defense.
The Eagles have allowed 271.2 passing yards per game, the most in the conference. Chattanooga, led by quarterback B.J. Coleman and wide receiver Joel Bradford, averages 252.3 yards passing per game to rank third in the conference.
Georgia Southern coach Jeff Monken said he would like the pass defense to improve, but noted that the Eagles are allowing only 57 yards rushing per game.
“We’ve played some people that throw the ball pretty good,” Monken said. “What we’ve been able to do is stop people from running the football, and that’s been important for us. That’s an old-school philosophy, but I think it’s important to stop the run.”
Sharpe returns
When Savannah State arrived at its stadium for a game against Howard on Saturday, the first person off the team bus was former Tigers star Shannon Sharpe.
Sharpe, who lives in Atlanta, was back in Savannah for the school’s athletic hall of fame ceremonies.
“It’s unbelievable, driving around campus and seeing all of the upgrades that they’ve made,” Sharpe told the school’s website. “I got to see some of my old instructors and my old teammates, some familiar faces. I don’t get back often, but it’s always nice when I do come back.”
Sharpe played for the Tigers from 1986-89 and helped them post a program-best 8-1 record as a senior. He played 14 seasons in the NFL, winning three Super Bowl rings, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.
Etc.
The Southern Conference named Georgia Southern freshman running back Dominique Swope (Buford) its newcomer of the week. Swope made his first start against Elon and had 74 yards rushing with a touchdown and also caught a 12-yard touchdown pass. ... Shorter returned to the NAIA Top 25 with a 52-34 victory over Faulkner and now will try to stay at the top of the Mid-South West division. No. 22 Shorter (3-1, 1-0) plays host to No. 25 Cumberland (3-1, 0-0) on Saturday.
Quotable
“Indianapolis is probably still on some of us. I know it’s still dragging on me. [Monday] morning when I came in, I still felt it after a cup of coffee. I still felt like I was a little sleepy.” Albany State coach Mike White, to the Albany Herald, on his team’s 12-hour bus ride.
By the numbers
7 Division II rushing rank for Morehouse's David Carter (Sprayberry), who is averaging 137.6 yards per game.
2:54 Total time, in minutes and seconds, that Georgia Southern has trailed this season, after Elon took a 7-0 lead Saturday.
Saturday’s schedule
Miles at Clark Atlanta, 1:30 p.m.
Morehouse vs. Tuskegee (Columbus), 2 p.m.
Savannah State at Morgan State, 1 p.m.
Fort Valley State at Kentucky State, 1:30 p.m.
Valdosta State at Ouachita Baptist, 2 p.m.
Albany State at Lane, 3 p.m.
Georgia Southern vs. Chattanooga, 3 p.m.
West Georgia at Harding, 7 p.m.
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