Rivalry games aren’t usually played this early in the season for a reason. When the schedule dropped showing Morehouse and neighborhood rival Clark Atlanta were going to open up conference play over the Labor Day Weekend, this jaw dropped to the ground. And it was the ground game of the Panthers, led by Dae’Jeaun Dennis, that gave new head coach Terry Sims a 31-21 win over the Maroon Tigers.
Sims’ victory was at the expense of Brad Sherrod, who was hired as the new head coach at Morehouse in February. Both hirings raised more than a few eyebrows. Sims replaced Teddy Keaton two seasons after reaching the conference championship game. Sherrod replaced former Atlanta Falcons receiver and local prep star Terance Mathis, who led the M-Tigers to its first win over Tuskegee and a homecoming win in the same year since 2011 ( Tuskegee 17-14, Lane 25-21).
Sims and Sherrod were gifted returning quarterbacks to lead the offense. Sherrod’s gift, Miles Scott, returned from a season-ending injury. His injury came with a few more accolades, including out-gaining the team in yardage. Scott joined an elite group of quarterbacks that includes names like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Steve McNair. Scott threw for 284 yards on 25-of-36 passing in the season opener against D1 opponent Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
CAU hired Sims late in the recruiting process. “We came in, finished the spring with forty-three players and brought in 63 new guys,” said Sims after the win. “We had to gel them together fast.”
Leading the Panthers offense this year is true sophomore Xzavier Jackson. As a freshman, Jackson was thrown into the fire against Allen University after an injury sidelined fifth-year grad student Zy McDonald for the season. While mistakes were inevitable for a freshman QB, the numbers Jackson put up (425 yards vs Kentucky St., 302 yards vs Edward Waters, 388 yards vs Benedict, 298 yards vs Morehouse, and only 4 interceptions in his first season) pointed to a diamond in the rough with a lot of potential.
Jackson is known for having a big arm and pinpoint accuracy. He put that on display Saturday, throwing for two touchdowns, including a 51-yard strike to Chry’shawn Sellers in the fourth quarter that gave the Panthers a 10-point lead. Sellers and Jackson combined for the Panthers’ last 14 points. The true freshman led all nine CAU receivers with 4 receptions for 83 yards.
Morehouse and Clark Atlanta fans saw a bright future ahead for their programs. Trayvon Pinder hit a lick and a seam in the M-Tigers’ defense for a 94-yard touchdown.
The Panthers’ lead didn’t last long. Morehouse hit back with a 13-play, 63-yard drive for a field goal followed by a 30-yard touchdown run by running back Chase DeVaughn.
Scott kept the ball moving late in the opening quarter. On fourth-and-41, Scott dropped a 43-yard beauty into the arms of Jeremiah Gibson inside the Panthers 20. The M-Tigers were unable to add to their lead when Davis Rowe’s field goal sailed wide of the upright.
Running back Kelan Anderson put the Panthers back on top with a 39-yard touchdown run on the ensuing drive. Joseph Wright nailed a 23-yard field goal to push the Panthers’ lead out to 17-9.
Every time the M-Tigers got close, the Panthers’ offense stepped on the gas. Clark Atlanta won the game to move to 1-0 in the conference and garner bragging rights for a third consecutive year.