September 7, 2008 – FORT VALLEY, GA – Placekicker Micah Streiff hit a 29-yard field goal with two seconds left to lift Morehouse to a thrilling
38-35 come-from behind victory over the Fort Valley State Wildcats.
The win was the exact reversal of last season, when Fort Valley’s Jake Grubbs hit a last-second field goal to defeat Morehouse at B.T. Harvey Stadium. It was the first Morehouse win against FVSU since 1997.
The game, televised nationally on ESPNU, was played in temperatures that reached nearly 95 degrees on the field and lasted three-and-a-half hours.
Morehouse trailed 35-17 midway through the third quarter, but fought back, scoring 21 unanswered points, on two touchdowns and two field goals.
There was no shortage of heroes in this monumental comeback. The normally strong defense was porous in the first half, giving up 28 points. But the defense stiffened in the second half and held the Wildcats scoreless. The only Fort Valley score in the second half came on a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Wide receiver Achille Hendje had a career day, catching eight passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. His 175 yards were the eighth best in Morehouse history. The sure-handed senior from Silver Spring, MD made several catches in heavy traffic and repeatedly broke tackles to pile on multiple yards after the catch. Hendje’s 61-yard touchdown reception was the longest play of the game.
Quarterback Christian Sterling, who subbed for starter quarterback Jerald Cook midway through the first quarter, rallied Morehouse to the impressive win, despite being sacked three times and throwing three interceptions. The sophomore from Houston connected on 22-of-33 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns. His passing yardage was the third best in Morehouse history.
James Steadman, winner of the MVP award in the Benedict game, followed that performance with a better one today. The senior wide receiver from Savannah, GA caught six passes for 106 yards and touchdown. His 34-yard reception and the subsequent 15-yard face mask penalty committed against him took the ball to the Fort Valley 25-yardline and set up the winning field goal.
Quincy Avery made his only catch of the game count in a big way. Early in the fourth quarter, the senior wide receiver suffered apparent heat exhaustion, got sick on field and was sitting on the bench with his jersey and shoulder pads off. Minutes later, Avery was back on the field, breaking tackles and weaving his way to a 37-yard touchdown that cut the Morehouse deficit to 35-33.
Trailing by two, Morehouse was forced to go for the two-point conversion.
Sterling hit Hendje across the middle for the two-point conversation and the comeback was complete.
Linebacker Jeffrey Cargile led the Morehouse defense that limited the Wildcats to 83 yards in the second half. Cargile collected 10 tackles, with two of them in the Fort Valley backfield.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jamar Rodriquez had a great all-around game, catching two passes for 21 yards and running back four kickoffs for 106 yards. So, too, did Tyderrick Williams, who ran back six kicks for 67 yards, to go with four pass receptions for 17 yards.
Running backs Cameron Ford (10 carries for 40 yards) and Pernez Pinckney (8 carries for 16 yards) did most of the rushing for the Maroon Tigers. Starting running Christian Green, coming off an injury last week, saw limited action, carrying the ball only six times for 10 yards.
Morehouse improved to 1-1 (1-1 SIAC). Fort Valley, which beat Clark Atlanta last Saturday, fell to 1-2 (1-1 SIAC).
The Maroon Tigers will play their first home game of the season against the Lane College Dragons, Saturday at 7 p.m. at B.T. Harvey Stadium.
