September 11, 2004 – COLUMBIA, SC – The Maroon Tigers captured their first win of the season, with a 10-7 defensive catfight over the Tigers of Benedict College, in Columbia, SC.
The victory ended a four-game Morehouse winless streak that dated back to the 48-33 Homecoming win over Clark Atlanta University.
After the game, Head Coach Willard Scissum didn’t need the crutch he’d been using for nearly a month, as he nearly floated off the visitor’s field.
“It was great to get that win,” said a jubilant Scissum. “It’s good to finally get that monkey off our backs.”
Scissum had high praise for his team who toughed it out in the low-scoring but hard-fought game on enemy turf. He was especially high on starting running back John David Washington, who played the entire game despite suffering a hip pointer injury early in the first quarter. Washington finished with 45 yards on 19 carries.
Star-of-the-game honors went to freshman running back Kelvin Moore who scored the Maroon Tigers’ only touchdown, on a 41-yard dash. With three minutes gone in the third quarter and Morehouse trailing 7-3, the 6’-1” 195-pounder from Columbus, Ga. eluded would-be tacklers on the left side of the line and ran untouched into the end zone. The run was Moore’s only carry of the game and was the longest rush by either team.
Adam Williams, who kicked a 26-yard field goal at the end of the first half, added the extra point. Williams has converted on every extra point attempt this season and has developed into one of the SIAC’s top kickers. His 48-yarder last week against Edward Waters College is the longest field goal in the conference this season. In Saturday’s see-saw contest, Williams punted nine times for a 40.9-yard average. Four of his punts pinned the Benedict offense inside their 20-yard line.
Benedict’s only score came on a fumble recovery by defensive lineman Gary McCausland. With just over a minute left in the first quarter and the Maroon Tigers pinned on their own two yard line, McCausland burst through the line as the ball was being exchanged between quarterback Duwuan Burton and John David Washington. The fumble was the Maroon Tigers’ only turnover.
The shutout by the defense was a collective effort by the Morehouse defense that had surrendered 84 points in two previous games. Defensive back Robert Harris led the Maroon and White with eight tackles, including two behind the home team’s line of scrimmage. He also forced and recovered a fumble. Defensive end Jason Cornelius also forced a Benedict fumble and had three quarterback hurries. He and linebacker Lynn Freeman collected six tackles each.
Morehouse moves to 1-2 (1-1 SIAC); Benedict drops to 1-2 (0-1 SIAC). The Maroon Tigers return to B.T. Harvey Stadium to play Johnson C. Smith University, Saturday at 7 p.m. Benedict will go on the road to play Tuskegee.
Last season Morehouse defeated J.C. Smith 39-21 in Charlotte.
