August 25, 2005 – ATLANTA – The Maroon Tigers got the 2005 football season off to a roaring start with a 20-17 come-from-behind victory over the Tigers of Benedict College, Thursday at B.T. Harvey Stadium.
The clash of the tigers was the first-ever game televised live by ESPNU, a new affiliate of ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports television. Fans across America could see the Maroon Tigers win their first season opener since 1997 when Morehouse defeated Morgan State University 24-14.
The game was also the start of the Terry Beauford coaching era at Morehouse. Beauford, a Florida A&M grad, won his first game as a head coach after serving as an assistant for nearly a decade. Beauford’s victory came nearly two months to the day after a near fatal car crash in which he sustained injuries from which he is still recovering.
Running back Eddie Rowe, a junior from Atlanta, scored the winning touchdown on a nine yard dash into the end zone with 5:14 remaining in the game. The touchdown was Rowe’s second of the game. His first touchdown, midway through the third quarter put Morehouse ahead 3-6. Rowe finished with 61 yards on 12 carries.
Rowe’s late-game heroics came four minutes after Benedict forged ahead 17-13, with an 85-yard drive that was capped by a 55-yard touchdown reception by Rashidi Scott.
After a scoreless first quarter, Morehouse jumped out in front on a one-yard run by John David Washington. The touchdown was set up two plays earlier when Washington made a spectacular 35-yard run down the left side to the one yard line.
Washington’s rush was Number 2 on ESPN’s Top 10 Plays of the Day. He ended up with 105 yards on 22 carries.
On defense, Morehouse was led by Lynn Freeman and Gerik Witt who each recorded 10 tackles.
Sophomore Carlos King started his first game as a Morehouse quarterback, hitting on 5-of-9 passes for 63 yards and rushing for 31 yards.
A press conference and a huge pep rally on the steps of the Kilgore Center, complete with cheerleaders, dancers and marching band, preceded the history-making game.
