August 29, 2009 – ATLANTA – The Maroon Tigers started the 2009 season with a bang, bashing the Benedict College Tigers, 34-13.

The victory extends the Morehouse win streak to four games, dating back to October 18 and avenges a 7-3 loss to Benedict, on opening day last year. Morehouse has now won 5-of-6 against the Tigers from Columbia, SC.

A lackluster first quarter by both teams turned in Morehouse’s favor, when David Carter rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with just over a minute left. The freshman running back from Marietta, Ga., showed speed and power throughout the game, breaking tackles and gobbling up 126 yards in his college debut.

Early in the second quarter, junior quarterback William Brack and senior wide receiver Achille Hendje showed why they were selected preseason all-conference. Brack hit Hendje with a deft fade pass in the left end zone that lifted Morehouse to a 14-0 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, junior transfer Ian Mullen hit the first of his two field goals. The 39-yarder put Morehouse up 17-0. His second kick split the uprights near the three-minute mark. Sandwiched between the two field goals was a 36-yard touchdown run by Benedict’s Robert Rowe. Mullen, from Long Beach, CA, was perfect on the day, hitting 4-of-4 extra points, to go with his two field goals.

Late in the fourth quarter, Brack dragged a defender four yards into the end zone, for his first rushing touchdown of 2009. The junior quarterback, who was featured in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper article, on Friday, now has four rushing touchdowns in two games, including the 2008 finale.

The Morehouse defense flexed its muscle all game, holding Benedict to 243 yards of total offense. Brandon Cunningham, Justin Murray and Charley Wilson each had an interception, and along with Olajawaun Gooch, DaJuan Holmes and Derrin Nettles led Morehouse in tackles. Linebacker Keith Rooks also had a big game, recording five tackles and a sack.

The crowning defensive play was made by sophomore linebacker Charlie Wilson who intercepted an errant Benedict pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown, late in the fourth quarter. Wilson’s big play came courtesy of senior defensive back Olajawaun Gooch who put a crushing hit on Benedict quarterback Robert Rowe, causing the misfire.

Benedict, which fell to 0-2, following a 27-7 loss to Tuskegee last Saturday, scored a meaningless touchdown with less than a minute left in the game.

Players of the Week:
For Week One: the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference named Ramon Harewood as the Offensive Lineman of the Week. Harewood, (6-6, 310-lbs) from St. Michael, Barbados), graded out at 93% while anchoring an offensive line that gained 456 total yards, averaging 6 yards per play and scoring on 4 of 6 chances in the red zone.
Freshman running back David Carter shared the Newcomer of the Week honors with Albany State’s Justin Blash. Carter averaged seven yards per carry and had the third-best rushing performance in the conference.

Achille Hendje, Ian Mullen and Charlie Wilson made the Player of the Week Honorable Mention list for their performances.