November 3, 2007 – ATLANTA – The Maroon Tigers ended the 2007 season the way they started it – with a win – beating the Miles College Golden Bears 24-7.
On Senior Day at B.T. Harvey Stadium, the seniors and the defense took center stage. Prior to the game, 15 seniors, playing in their final game as Maroon Tigers, were honored for their service and commitment to the football program. Accompanied by their parents, the seniors were showered with praise and applause, at midfield.
During the game, some seniors who normally see little playing time, took advantage of an early Morehouse lead and made big plays on both sides of the ball.
Morehouse jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter and never looked seriously threatened, while holding Miles to a single touchdown late in the second quarter.
Micah Streiff put the Maroon Tigers up 3-0, with a 42-yard field goal. Several minutes later, quarterback Christian Sterling hit Achille Hendje in stride over the middle and the junior receiver raced untouched into the end zone. The pitch-and-catch seemed to work just the way the duo talked about it in the tunnel prior to the game.
Most of the offensive success was made possible by the offensive line, anchored by senior linemen Robert Green, Peter Hungiapuko and Gary Patten. The O-line provided quarterback protection and running lanes that helped Morehouse out-gain Miles, in yardage 342-211.
Senior running back Kelvin Moore saved his best for last, leading all rushers with 159 yards on 22 carries, to go along with three catches for 33 yards. It was his best performance in a Morehouse uniform.
In his final game at home, senior Carlos King (recently crowned “Mr. Versatility”) showcased his all-around talents, completing two passes, catching a pass and rushing for 60 yards on eight carries.
King and Moore alertly combined for one of the game’s best plays, midway through the final quarter. After a handoff by King, Moore was tackled by two defenders at the line of scrimmage. But before going down, Moore pitched the football to King who had trailed the play, and the fleet-footed quarterback scampered into the end zone.
As he did two weeks ago, against Clark Atlanta, linebacker Earl “The Tiger” Thomas scooped up a fumble and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. Thomas also recorded eight tackles and a quarterback sack.
Linebacker Jeffrey Cargile led a ferocious Morehouse defense that spent a lot of time in the Miles backfield, holding the Golden Bears to 48 rushing yards. On the day, Morehouse collected 15 tackles for loss, with six sacks. The defense also forced two fumbles and picked off two interceptions. One of those fumbles was forced by senior reserve defensive back Dominque Scoggins.
Cargile, the team’s season leader in tackles, recorded 13 tackles, intercepted a pass and sacked the quarterback.
Seniors DeJuan Payne and Emanuel Young made their presence felt, with big plays in the second half. Each collected a quarterback sack and they combined for 10 tackles. Senior wide receiver Terrence Thomas caught two passes for 18 yards.
Senior fullbacks Richie Jones and Terrence Davis, who are usually called on to block for other running backs, got their numbers called for two plays. Jones carried once for four yards and Davis broke off an 18-yard run up the middle that got the Maroon Tigers out of the shadow of their own goal posts.
Morehouse was without the services of senior cornerback Brandon Morgan, the team interception leader, who broke his leg in the Tuskegee game.
Senior defensive lineman Demareo Pruitt made one tackle, before leaving the game early with an ankle injury. And though they failed to record any statistics, seniors Kwame Agbottah, Philip Butler, Fred Strickland and Justin Wallace were lauded by their coaches, for their contributions to the team effort.
Morehouse finished the season at 7-3 (4-3 SIAC) and await the outcome of other conference games next weekend, for the final standing. Predicted in the preseason to place tenth in a 10-team race, the Maroon Tigers could finish as high as fourth place.
