S.M. Ridley-Thomas - Contributing Writer

The Maroon Tigers football team has faced a few consistent challenges this season, mainly the lack of offensive efficiency and balance. Those two problems doomed Morehouse in Saturday’s Angel City Classic in Los Angeles as it went scoreless in the second half of a 28-17 loss to Prairie View A&M.

Turnovers in the passing game and an inadequate rushing attack made the Tigers’ ability to control game tempo dismal. The disappointing defeat followed the Maroon Tigers (3-1 in the SIAC, 3-2 overall) building a 17-14 halftime lead against the Panthers (1-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, 4-0 overall).
Head coach Rich Freeman acknowledged the offense’s struggles but holds out hope for improvement.

“We are looking for the one guy who will be productive enough to balance our attack,” Freeman said.

The plan entering the season was for second-year running back Christian Green to be the Tigers’ go-to rusher.


“Green was our guy from get-go but injuries have limited his productivity,” Freeman said. “These next two weeks will allow for us to concentrate on strengthening our running game.”

The Maroon Tigers have two weeks to prepare to play the No. 1-ranked black college team, Tuskegee University (4-0 in SIAC and overall), at the 73rd Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic in Columbus, GA, on Oct. 11. Tuskegee earned their 20th consecutive victory by beating Fort Valley State, 20-16.


At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Tiger passing attack gained 323 yards trying to compensate for the mere 24 yards gained by Morehouse running backs. Quarterback Christian Sterling overcame an opening drive interception to pass to nine different receivers, four of whom (Achille Hendje, Quincy Avery, James Steadman and Tyjuan McFadden) had over 40 yards receiving.


Sterling’s first interception was taken 60 yards to the end zone by Prairie View for the first score of the game. He threw a second interception during the fourth quarter to end a promising seven-play 49-yard drive.


Transfer running back Pernez Pinckney became a receiver for the Tigers’ first score by converting a Sterling pass to the flat into a 15-yard score. He scored the Tigers’ only other touchdown on a two-yard run in the second quarter.


Though the Tiger defense allowed 14 points the entire contest, they also let the Panthers run for 92 yards by halftime. Prairie View scored in the second quarter on a short run that tied the game, 14-14. Another run in the third quarter made the score 21-17.

“Prairie View showed man-on-man blocking in their earlier games this season,” defensive lineman Darrin Nettles said. “[During the game] we saw all zone blocks and were forced to adjust.”

Defensive backs Derrick Scott and Johnny Eubanks each intercepted Panther passes. Linebackers Brandon Cunningham, Jeffery Cargile and Earl Thomas also had standout performances with several individual tackles.


Special teams standouts kick returner/running-back/receiver Jamar Rodriguez gained 154 all-purpose yards and kicker/punter Micah Streiff made two PATs and a field goal with about five minutes left in the second quarter. That scoring drive proved to be the Tigers’ last.

“Prairie View’s defense and kick coverage were tough but as the game went on, we were forced to adjust,” Rodriguez said. “We ultimately beat ourselves.”
The Tigers’ chances for victory were eliminated when center Vince Jones sent a shotgun snap over Sterling’s head in their second-to-last drive of the game. A Panther picked up the ball and ran for a 32-yard touchdown to produce the final score.

“We had missed assignments [on the offensive line] and had miscues [as a unit] at some points but were relatively good all day,” a somber-faced Jones said. “Though this is a hard loss, we have learned how good we really are.”

Published: October 1, 2008 07:42 AM