Two teams winning on the same day isn’t as preposterous as it sounds. Clark Atlanta lost their homecoming game to Edward Waters 55-41, but still came out as winners.
Homecoming at Clark Atlanta is a big damn deal. Alumni, friends, and randoms fill the streets surrounding the stadium, looking for a good time and a side order of competitive football, ribs, burgers, and potato salad— hold the raisins. Clark Atlanta took their duties as host to heart Saturday afternoon. Trailing by two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, Panthers return man Chry’shawn Sellers cut left and headed upfield for a 39-yard kickoff return. In his wake lay Edward Waters defensive back Jermaris Speights.
The freshman from Tallahassee lay motionless with his left forearm frozen in the air, similar to that of a boxer or MMA fighter losing consciousness before hitting the mat. As soon as the whistle blew, trainers, coaches, and medical staff ran to Speights’ side. Clark Atlanta President George T. French, Jr., Ph.D, made his way from the box to the field as fast as the elevator could descend from the third-floor suite atop the stands. Ashley Conner, Interim Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics, began dialing on her cell phone. Concern had shifted from the outcome of the game to the young man’s health.
His head coach, Brian Jenkins, Sr., knelt over Speights across from the medical team attending to him. “He’s the type of kid that works hard just for one play,” said the veteran coach of 30 years.
While the people in the tailgate areas adjacent to the south and west of the stadium celebrated, the medical personnel continued working. Panthers Head Coach Teddy Keaton walked over with the entire team kneeling down on the field 20 yards behind him, allowing enough space for the gurney to come through.
An Edward Waters trainer lay down next to the injured player and held a mobile phone to his mouth. “He told his mom he was okay,” said Coach Jenkins. “Hats go off to the doctors; they did a wonderful, excellent job, and I appreciate everything that they did. Clark Atlanta, the administrators, Coach Teddy Keaton came over and said, “Whatever he needs, make sure he gets it”, which doesn’t surprise me. Teddy is a first-class guy. It just brings it in perspective. The game is secondary, it’s really about these kids.”
In a game that packed 12 touchdowns, two pick-sixes, sacks, big runs, big catches, three lead changes, and several comebacks into over five hours, it still just boiled down to young men living out their aspirations of playing college football. In the moments that followed the injury, all eyes shifted from the scoreboard to the 27-yard line and then to what was surely a moment of self-reflection.
“Sometimes, as coaches, we forget the effort and sacrifice that they (the players) give and sometimes we forget the dangers that they face playing this game,” said Jenkins.
Speights, with a cervical collar strapped on, gave the thumbs-up as he was being wheeled off the field. The hours that had transpired before the injury didn’t seem to matter. In the minutes that followed, Clark Atlanta begrudgingly accepted the outcome of the game and the realization of what they just witnessed. When the horn sounded, the teams and coaches lined up and shook hands solemnly. For the Tigers, it was a bittersweet victory. Clark Atlanta didn’t get the outcome they had hoped for, but they won big at life for the care and concern they gave to an injured opponent.
“We won the game, that’s always a good thing,” said Jenkins, Sr. “Our guys fought to the end, but my main concern is for this young man and getting to him. I think God worked a miracle right in front of our eyes today, and we just don’t know it.”
About the game
- The teams combined for 1024 yards of total offense.
- Brady Tillman (EWU) rushed for 171 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries
- Armone Harris (CAU) caught 9 passes for 147 yards
- Davari Morris (EWU) caught a 60-yard touchdown pass and finished with 4 catches for 134 yards and 2 TDs
- Defensive lineman Mamadou Sall (CAU) returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown
- Defensive back Aykenon Rodgers (EWU) returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown.