WILBERFORCE, Ohio – Playing host to the defending SIAC Champion Tuskegee University, the Central State Marauders erased a 14-point deficit in the third quarter and went on to beat the Golden Tigers, 40-36, on Saturday.THE BASICS
Score: Tuskegee – 36; Central State - 40
Records: Tuskegee (5-4; 3-2) ; Central State (4-5; 2-3)
Location: McPherson Memorial Stadium – Wilberforce, Ohio
Weather: 45 degrees, light rain
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter
CSU scored on the opening drive of the game. The score was set up by a 69-yard pass play from Trent Mays to Kevin Greenhow. Running back Terraris Saffold finished the drive with a 1-yard run to give CSU the early lead. (CSU 7-0)
TU tied the game at the 13:11 mark with a 6-play, 59-yard touchdown drive. Full back Justic Owens ran for a 12-yard score to put the Golden Tigers on the board. (7-7).
The Marauders completed quick passes to Greenhow and Saffold to march down to the TU 1-yard line. After three unsuccessful attempts, running back Jerry Lanier broke in for the score on fourth down. (CSU 14-7)
TU immediately answered on its next possession as quarterback Ahmad Derasmus found a streaking Peyton Ramzy for a 55-yard gain. Owens capped off the drive with a touchdown from nine yards out to tie the game. (14-14)
2nd Quarter
TU took its first lead of the game with a 9 play, 67-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 10-yard pass from Deramus to tight end Alex Mitchell at the 4:15 mark of the second quarter. (TU 21-14)
With limited time, CSU drove the ball down to TU's 9-yard line but time ran out as Saffold was tackled in bounds to end the half. (TU 21-14)
3rd Quarter
On their first possession of the second half, the Golden Tigers extended the lead to 14 as Deramus connected with Steven Hodges for a 40-yard touchdown pass. (TU 28-14)
On the next drive, CSU went to its ground game. CSU ran the ball nine times for 69 yards capped off by a Mays touchdown from the 1-yard line. CSU failed to convert on the extra point attempt and trailed by 8 with 9:08 remaining in the third quarter. (TU 28-20)
The Marauders pulled within two points thanks to a 10-play, 80 yard scoring drive. Mays completed three passes on the drive to Greenhow for a combined 50 yards. Greenhow finished the drive with a catch from five yards out with 3:08 to play in the third quarter. (TU 28-26)
Mays found Greenhow again for a 32-yard touchdown to put CSU ahead by five with 1:07 left in the third quarter. CSU outgained TU in yards, 173 to 76, in the third quarter to take a five-point lead into the final 15 minutes of play. (CSU 33-28)
4th Quarter
Deramus led TU back by completing three of four passes on the Golden Tigers' next drive. Deramus finished a 92-yard scoring drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Javarrius Cheatham with 8:59 remaining. (TU 36-33)
After the TU score, the CSU offense struck three-plays later as Mays connected with Saffold, who outstretched two TU defenders for the ball and ran another 35 yards after the catch for the eventual game-winning score. (CSU 40-36)
The Marauders defense sealed the victory as they did not allow a TU first down over the sequence of the next two drives. Defensive lineman Shemar Moss came up with a crucial tackle in the backfield to force a TU turnover on downs with 1:49 to play. (CSU 40-36)
With one last chance, Deramus' pass down field was knocked down by K'Jamus Sanders and a host of Marauders as time expired.
BOX SCORE
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
For CSU, Saturday's game was the first win over Tuskegee since 1948. The two schools have played nine times with TU holding a 6-3 advantage in the all-time series.
The Marauders are undefeated at McPherson Stadium this season (3-0).
Trent Mays completed 19 of 39 pass attempts for a career-high 376 yards and three scores.
CSU receiver Kevin Greenhow finished with seven receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Greenhow is the first Marauder to record back-to-back games of 200 or more receiving yards since the 1995 season.
Terraris Saffold set a new career-mark with 127 receiving yards. Saffold has scored a combined 10 times this season which leads the team.
CSU was a perfect three of three on fourth down conversions. TU failed on both of its fourth down attempts.
Kailen Abrams led CSU defenders with nine tackles.
The Marauders have scored 40 or more points in the last three games. The last time CSU scored 40 or more points in three straight games was during the 1995 NAIA Championship season.
QUOTES FROM SATURDAY'S GAME
"Everybody came into this week with a new level of focus after last week's loss to Robert Morris. We worked so hard to be successful and I am extremely proud of the guys in our locker room. Our confidence on offense is through the roof right now. Our defense made big plays when they had to. Tuskegee is always considered the top team in our conference. Our guys did a great job of keeping their composure and competing from beginning to end. We will enjoy this win tonight and refocus towards next week's big SIAC matchup against Lane."
-Head Coach Cedric Pearl
"I knew today would be a really challenging game. My goal is to play as physical as possible. On the big fourth down play, we had an idea what was coming based on the formation. I shot the gap, grabbed the runner and held on for the stop. I wasn't going to let him get away. We did a good job of applying pressure to the quarterback in the backfield and our defensive backs made good plays on the ball to help seal the victory."
-Defensive Lineman Shemar Moss
"We have great chemistry on offense. I am always trying to make plays to help us win. Over the last few weeks, my number has been called and it has been a blessing to be able to deliver for our team. We are hungry and want to end this year on a great note."
-Receiver Kevin Greenhow
UP NEXT
The Marauders will host Lane College next Saturday at 1 pm in McPherson Stadium. The seniors will be recognized 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
STAY CONNECTED
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