September 27, 2003 – The Morehouse College Maroon Tigers football team got their first victory of the season with a 39-21 win over Johnson C. Smith University, Saturday, in Charlotte, NC.
The win broke a four-game losing streak for the Maroon Tigers and brings the team record to 1-4 (SIAC 0-2). J.C. Smith, which plays in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, dropped to a record of 0-4.
Running back John David Washington had a career rushing day, breaking a Morehouse single-game running record set in 1978. The 5-10, 170-lb sophomore from Toluca Lake, Calif., rushed for 242 yards on 33 carries and one touchdown. The previous record of 214 yards was set by Greg Kelly in a game against Fisk University.
In eclipsing the 25-year-old single game rushing mark, Washington gained one yard more than the entire J.C. Smith team, which gained 241 yards.
“It was all set up by the O-line,” Washington said, sharing the credit for his big day with the offensive linemen who cleared the way for him.
Morehouse’s first win this season brought an improvement in nearly every statistical category on both offense and defense. One of the biggest improvements was along the offense line. Despite being without starting center Kevin Coleman, a pre-season All-Conference selection who is out following knee surgery, the offensive opened gaping holes for the darting Washington to scamper through on his way to his recording-setting game.
Quarterback Duwuan Burton returned to the starting lineup after missing all or part of the previous three games with a broken non-throwing hand. The 6-5, 235-lb Charlotte native had a strong performance in his hometown, completing 10 of 19 passes for 180 yards and one interception. Burton also threw for one touchdown and scored two touchdowns on runs of two and three yards.
The defensive secondary had its best game of the season, holding J.C. Smith quarterbacks to 15 completions on 34 attempts for 87 yards passing.
Senior middle linebacker Andre Warren leads the SIAC in tackles. His 58 tackles through five games gives him an average of 11.6 per game.
