ATLANTA, GA - The Maroon Tiger's explosive fourth quarter offense helped them to a come-from-behind win and end their three-game losing streak as they beat the Kentucky State Thorobreds 33-24 at B.T. Harvey stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Maroon Tigers improve to (2-3, 0-1 SIAC) while the Thorobreds fall to (2-2, 0-1 SIAC).
In the first quarter, both offenses failed to score. Quarterback Michael Sims (Detroit, MI) helped Morehouse's offense pick up two first downs on their opening drive. The drive ended after Sims threw an incompletion to receiver Ricci Nuckles on a 3rd and 14. The Thorobreds picked up one first down on their opening drive. Defensive lineman Demetrice Lofton (Fairburn, GA) and linebacker Jonathan Mathis (Stone Mountain, GA) combined to stop KSU running back Malik Saunders on a 3rd and 7 to force the Thorobreds to punt.
On the first play of the Maroon Tiger's second offensive possession, running back Santo Dunn (Miami, FL) broke lose for a 35-yard run to put the offense at their own 49-yard-line. Sims threw a 7-yard pass to Dunn to get Morehouse to KSU's 44-yard-line. After running back Ronald Bradley (Douglasville, GA) picked up another first down, both Dunn and running back Frank Bailey (Atlanta, GA) lost yards on the next two plays. The drive ended on a Sim's incompletion to Dunn on a 3rd and 17.
On their first offensive possession in the second quarter, KSU's offense leaned heavily on their running attack as running backs Brett Sylve and Christopher Conaway led the Throrobreds on a 12-play, 71-yard drive capped by a 27-yard field goal by Kicker Michael Boback giving Kentucky State an early 3-0 lead.
Morehouse had a three and out on their next offensive possession but punter Fernando Sdelamore (Fairburn, GA) pinned KSU's offense at their own 1-yard line. On 3rd and 6, Mathis forced Sylve to fumble which was recoveved by defensive back Daniel Norman who recovered the ball at the Thorobred's 5-yard line. Bailey's 1-yard run gave the Maroon Tigers a 7-3 lead. Sims's 9- play, 43-yard drive closed out the half and led to a 44-yard field goal that increased Morehouse's lead to 10-3.
The Thorobreds struck quickly to start the third quarter as Sylve had 4 carries 26 yards rushing on this drive. His 8-yard touchdown run tied the game at 10-10. Morehouse's next drive was stalled after a Sims completed a 3rd down pass to Dunn that resulted in a 1-yard loss. Kentucky State quarterback Jalen Myers threw a deep 58-yard pass to receiver Jonathan Powell on the very next series that gave the Thorobreds a 17-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Maroon Tigers' offense ignited in fourth quarter, scoring 23 points. 14:20 into the fourth quarter, Sims completed at 10-yard pass to Bailey to tie the game at 17-17. The Thorobreds responded with a run heavy 5 play, 71-yard drive. Sylve busted off a 30-yard run to give Kentucky State a 24-17 lead.
After a 37-yard field goal by Sdelamore to cut the deficit to 24-20, defensive tackle Marquis Deweert forced Sylve to fumble, which was recovered by lineback KJ Phillips (McDonough, GA) just two plays into the drive. Morehouse would take the lead for good on a Sims 5-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tremell Gooden giving the Maroon Tigers 26-24 lead.
Knowing that they were protecting a lead, The Maroon Tigers' defense applied pressure on Myers. Lofton sacked Myers on a 3rd and 10 and again Lofton combined with linebacker Edward Nelson (Chester, PA) to sack Myers on fourth down. After the possession change, Dunn broke free for a 17-yard touchdown run that increased Morehouse's lead to 33-24.
On the ensuing kickoff, Thorobreds' Nathaniel Myles returned it 58 yards before he was forced out-of-bounds. On a 3rd and 21, Lofton stripped sacked quarterback Dennis Bryant at Morehouse's 34-yard-line and defensive lineman Cameron Evans jumped on the ball at sealing the Morehouse victory.
Offensively, the Maroon Tigers were led by Sims and Dunn. Sims had 237 passing yards and two touchdowns. Dunn had 184 all-purpose yards one touchdown. Gooden added another 91 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, Mathis led the team with 13 total tackles. Lofton had two and a half sacks while Nelson had one and a half sacks.
The Maroon Tigers will travel to Columbus, Georgia on Saturday, October 12th to take on the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University in the 84th Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic. Kick-off is set for 2 P.M. E.T.