October 13, 2007 – ATLANTA – With the best offensive performance this season, Morehouse got back on the winning track, rolling over Savannah State 32-14, in the first home game in five weeks.
Morehouse scored in every quarter and rolled up 451 yards of offense, compared to 204 yards for Savannah State. The Maroon Tigers avenged a last-second loss to the visiting Tigers in last season’s CSRA Classic in Augusta.
Savannah State scored two third-quarter touchdowns on pass receptions of 34 and 21 yards, but could do little else against a fired-up Morehouse defense.
The win improved the Morehouse record to 5-2 (2-2 SIAC) and guarantees that the Maroon Tigers will not have a losing season for the first time since 2002, when the team went 6-5. Savannah State fell to 1-5.
In part, the game was the Christians against the Tigers, as quarterback Christian Sterling and running back Christian Green had big days for the home team.
Green scored on two touchdown runs of 33 and 2 yards and finished the game with 69 total yards on nine carries.
Sterling got the start at quarterback and went the distance, completing 18-of-25 passes. Making his second start of the season, Sterling connected with 10 different receivers for 216 yards. He threw two interceptions and was sacked once.
Fullback Richie Jones got into the scoring column for the first time in his Morehouse career. Jones, a defensive lineman-turned-running back, scored on a one-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. The touchdown extended the Morehouse lead to 25-14 just minutes after Savannah State scored to put them within striking distance.
Running back Kelvin Moore scored on a three-yard run with 25 seconds left in the first half, to give Morehouse a 15-0 lead at the break. Moore tallied 118 all-purpose yards, with 71 rushing yards and 47 yards on three catches.
Running back Myericks Thompson reached the all-purpose century mark with 60 rushing yards on 11 carries and 40 receiving yards on two catches.
Wide receiver James Steadman led the receiving corps with 58 yards on five catches. Carlos King caught two passes for 20 yards.
The Morehouse defense also had a big day, surrendering only 204 yards. It was the second best performance since holding Concordia to 140 yards three weeks ago. Allowing only 3-of-13 conversions on third-down, the defense repeatedly repelled Savannah State scoring attempts.
The Morehouse defense was without the services of outstanding cornerback Brandon Morgan who broke his ankle in the loss last week to Tuskegee. Morgan, a senior from Albany, GA, is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the outdoor track and field season. He is one of the team's best sprinters.
Two Maroon Tigers intercepted passes that led directly to scores. Free safety Derrick Scott picked off a pass and returned it 55 yards in the first quarter and defensive back Quintin Ramos picked off a pass at the goal line and returned it 15 yards to squash a 90-yard Savannah State drive.
Defensive lineman Mario Lane led all tacklers with nine. DeJuan Payne, Earl Thomas and Eric Shelton collected six tackles each.
Kicker Micah Streiff kicked field goals of 20 and 35 yards and added two extra points. He missed an extra point and had one attempt blocked, both in the first half.
Morehouse will return to B.T. Harvey Stadium, Saturday at 2 p.m., for a Homecoming game against Clark Atlanta. CAU, which lost 17-14 to Albany State, today, has beaten Morehouse in the last two meetings.
