October 28, 2006 -- ATLANTA -- The normally potent Maroon Tiger offense went suddenly south on Homecoming Saturday and Morehouse fell to Albany State, 16-6.
Matching the SIAC’s leading offense against the leading defense, the outcome was a predictably low-scoring, slow-paced game, as both teams slipped and slid across the rain-soaked turf.
Morehouse, last in the conference standing, kept the game close against the defending SIAC champions, but failed to capitalize on key scoring opportunities.
Mired in a five-game losing streak, Morehouse dropped to 2-8 (1-5 SIAC) and last place in the conference. Albany State, in second-place in the conference, improved its record to 6-3 (5-1 SIAC).
Gaining only 169 yards and scoring no touchdowns, the Maroon Tigers’ offense amassed less than half of the 360-yards per game average that has kept the team atop the SIAC statistical heap nearly all season.
Running back Eddie Rowe led the team in rushing with 49 yards on 11 carries.
Backup running back Kelvin Moore gained 22 yards on four carries, but spent most of his time on defense, collecting four solo tackles. The versatile junior from Columbus, GA has become the team’s punter. He was called on eight times Saturday, averaging 26.8 yards per kick.
Meanwhile the Morehouse defense employed a bend-but-don’t-break style of play. Populated by players who normally play offense, the Morehouse defense gave up considerable yardage, but kept the Golden Rams out of the end zone on all but two occasions.
The only Morehouse touchdown came on a 69-yard fumble recovery by quarterback-turned-cornerback Carlos King, with 9:02 left in the second quarter. On an all-out Morehouse rush, the trapped Albany quarterback coughed up the ball and King weaved his way through would-be tacklers to the end zone.
King at cornerback exemplifies the new look Maroon Tigers of the last few games that has had offensive players playing defense and defensive players playing offense. For example, two of the top tacklers in Saturday’s game were tight end Tyjuan McFadden, playing defensive end, and running back Kelvin Moore, playing linebacker.
Despite the loss, quarterback Ruben DuPree passed for 114 yards and a major milestone, With 1,981 yards, DuPree has surpassed the Morehouse single-season passing yardage record of 1,869 yards set by Duwuan Burton in 2003.
DuPree, a 5’-8” signal caller from Atlanta has posted outstanding numbers for three years, despite starting each season as the backup quarterback. With more than 3,000 yards for his Morehouse career, DuPree has moved easily into third place all-time in career passing yardage. On September 16,
he passed for 445 yards and broke the single-game passing yardage record of 335 yards also set by Duwuan Burton in 2003.
Four of DuPree’s completions were hauled in by his brother Ravenell DuPree who caught four balls for 36 yards. Quincy Avery caught three passes for 20 years.
Tyjuan McFadden and Vincent Whaley powered the Morehouse defense. Each had 10 tackles – seven solo and three assisted – and forced an Albany State fumble. Eric Shelton collected nine tackles and a sack.
Morehouse will play the final game of the season on Sunday in Birmingham against the Miles College Golden Bears. That game, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (Central Time) will be televised on ESPNU.
