Central State earns first victory of 2015 with 49-12 thrashing of Clark-Atlanta

ATLANTA, Georgia – Central State snatched its first victory of the 2015 campaign in dominate fashion with a 49-12 win over Clark-Atlanta University on Saturday.

After failing to score a touchdown in last week's 22-14 loss to Alderson Broaddus, quarterback Marquis Wells and the offense lit up the scoreboard with 7 trips to the end zone in route to the most points scored by a CSU team since 2012.

Christopher Murray had 5 catches for 107 yards and 2 scores in Saturday's 49-12 win over Clark-Atlanta

CSU's first score was anything but textbook as DeAndre Grant recovered a bad snap on a field goal attempt and ran 21 yards for the early 7-0 lead. After a Clim Robbins' interception gave CSU the ball on the CAU 26 yard line, Wells finished the short drive with a 1 yard run to put CSU up 14-0 at the 9:37 mark of the 1^st quarter. On the next Panther possession, CAU turned the ball over on downs, giving the Marauder excellent field position. The Marauders took advantage as running back Moses Vines capped off the drive with a 2 yard score to put his team up by 21.

After picking off starting quarterback Matthew Vincent three times in the first quarter, CAU looked to backup Dashawn Blow to deliver a spark for the Panther offense. Robert Evans III ended Blow's first drive with a pick at the CAU 47. CSU scored three plays later on a 35 yard touchdown pass to Christopher Murray for the 28-0 lead. Murray and Wells hooked up again on a 34 yard pass to take a 35-0 lead just before the end of the 1st half.

Scores by Zach Thomas and Isaiah Grooms gave CSU a 49-0 advantage midway through the third quarter. With an insurmountable lead, the CSU coaching staff put in the second string to finish out the afternoon as the Marauders cruised to the 37 point victory.

Wells finished the day with 179 passing yards with 3 touchdowns through the air and 1 rushing score. Murray accounted for 5 catches for 107 receiving yards and 2 scores. Gervell Morgan finished with a game high 9 tackles for a CSU defense that forced four CAU turnovers.

With the win, CSU climbs back to a .500 record at 1-1. The win also snaps a 9-game road losing streak dating back to Oct. 19, 2013. With back to back blow out losses to Tuskegee and Central State, CAU falls to 0-2 on the year.

The Marauders travel to play Benedict College next Saturday in Columbia, SC. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

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COURTESY CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION