October 24, 2009 – ATLANTA – The Maroon Tigers staked the Clark Atlanta Panthers to a first-quarter 14-0 lead then bounced back for a 24-20 Homecoming victory and a year of Atlanta University Center bragging rights.
The game, which has come to be called “The Backyard Brawl,” was played before a crowd estimated at more than 23,000, including tailgaters.
Neither team generated much offense. For a while, the defensive battle became a turnover fest that featured nine mishandled possessions. Morehouse turned the ball over three times, with two fumbles and an interception; CAU lost the ball on three interceptions and three fumbles.
The deciding turnover was a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown by Morehouse defensive back Olajawaun Gooch. The interception was set up by teammate Charlie Wilson, who had two interceptions of his own. Wilson deflected the CAU pass into the hands of Gooch, who raced it into the end zone, with a cordon of blockers.
Gooch’s interception was a major turning point in the game. It game Morehouse a 24-14 lead, at the 12-minute mark in the fourth, and a cushion to offset the 20-yard CAU touchdown run, five minutes later.
Morehouse starting quarterback William Brack – in the second quarter -- and backup DaJuan Thigpen – in the fourth quarter – limped off the field with leg injuries. They were replaced by David Hart, the emergency quarterback who spends most of his time at wide receiver and placekick holder.
Freshman running back David Carter rushed 19 times for 109 yards and a touchdown. His four-yard TD run, midway through the second quarter, put the Maroon Tigers on the board and cut the CAU lead in half.
Achille Hendje caught an 18-yard pass for a touchdown from Thigpen, with 2:45 left in the third quarter to tie the score at 14-all. Hendje finished with three catches for 29 yards.
Ian Mullen’s 26-yard field goal made it 17-14.
Brandon Houston led Morehouse in tackles with nine. Brandon Cunningham and Justin Oliver collected seven tackles each and DaJuan Holmes and Darren Jackson had six apiece. Cunningham forced and recovered a fumble and recorded a sack. Christopher Bailey had 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Morehouse (6-2, 5-2 SIAC) will travel to Albany State (7-1, 6-1 SIAC), to face the Golden Rams, Saturday at 2 p.m. Albany State lost to Tuskegee 21-19, on Saturday.
