The Morehouse Maroon Tigers earned bragging rights as they withstood a Clark Atlanta comeback to win 35-26 on Saturday at Clark Atlanta University Panther Stadium.
Morehouse took a 28-7 lead at halftime and held off Clark Atlanta’s comeback attempt in the second half.
“I remember back in 2015, we had an identical lead, and they came out and was on fire in the second half,” Morehouse coach Rich Freeman said. “I told them we are good enough football team to sustain a momentum swing. It happened late, but we were able to do it.”
Morehouse quarterback Michael Sims threw two touchdown passes to help his team build a 15-0 lead early in the second quarter. The first went to Marqueiz Payne for nine yards and the second to Albert Connell for six yards. Earnest Davis completed Morehouse’s first-half scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run.
Before halftime, the Panthers benched starting quarterback Elijah Odom for Shariif Brown. Trailing 28-0 in the second quarter, Brown led the Panthers downfield for a score. He connected with receiver Kendall Wimberly for a 13-yard touchdown pass as the Panthers went into halftime with momentum.
As the Panthers marched downfield trailing 28-20 with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Brown scored on a quarterback sneak from the goal line, putting the Panthers two points from a tie.
However, the Panthers were unable to convert on the two-point conversion and trailed 28-26 with 3:51 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers defense forced the Maroon Tigers to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession. This gave Brown and the Panthers an opportunity to take the lead while having to go 93 yards with 2:17 remaining in the game.
Tigers defensive lineman Elijah Campbell recovered a fumble by Brown in the end zone, which iced the game at 35-26 with 1:59 to play in the game.
The Tigers defense recorded eight sacks in the game and had a pick-six by Michael Land in the second quarter.
The Tigers rushed for 211 yards to the Panthers’ 69.
Tigers running back Fran Bailey finished the game as the leading rusher, with 23 carries for 118 yards. Davis rushed 15 times for 97 yards and the one touchdown.
Brown finished 15-of-35 passing for 209 yards and four total touchdowns (two rushing, two passing).
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