October 7, 2006 – COLUMBUS, GA – In the 71st Annual Battle of the Tigers in Columbus, it was the Golden over the Maroon, 55-29.
Tuskegee scored early and often and used the SIAC’s best defense to stifle the Maroon Tigers.
After falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter, Morehouse head coach Terry Beauford replaced Ruben DuPree with Carlos King who began the season as the starting quarterback. DuPree, the conference’s leading passer, hit only 1-of-6 passes for five yards rushed four times for minus-15 yards.
King rallied the troops for two touchdowns in the second quarter, but Tuskegee matched the two scores and Morehouse trailed 35-14 at halftime.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter and Tuskegee outscored Morehouse 18-8 in the fourth to hand the Maroon Tigers the most lopsided defeat of the season.
By design and under pressure, King rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown.
The 6’-3” junior from Albany also connected on 10-of-23 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. His three-yard strike to Quincy Avery in the second quarter was the second Morehouse score within seven minutes and gave the Maroon Tigers a brief ray of hope.
King spread the wealth around to seven different receivers. Avery caught three passes. Fred Strickland and Ravenell DuPree caught two each.
Starting running back Eddie Rowe rushed for 47 yards on 13 carries. Kelvin Moore, the only Morehouse player from Columbus, rushed for nine yards on four carries.
Jeremy Major ran back six kicks for 123 yards. His 99-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter electrified the sellout crowd, but was called back when referees ruled that Major had stepped out of bounds near midfield. The junior from Atlanta had to settle for a 46-yard return, his longest of the season.
Defensive back Robert Harris, who had 10 tackles, was named the Morehouse Player of the Game. Running back Eric Long, who rushed for 100 yards, earned the POG honor for Tuskegee.
Morehouse will play against Savannah State in Augusta, Ga., Saturday at 2 p.m. in the CRSA Classic. The game will be the Maroon Tigers’ third consecutive road game.
