Texas College vs. Clark Atlanta

4SHOT Sports

College Hoops
Texas College vs. Clark Atlanta
By Larry Williams/4SHOT Sports
Sep 10, 2005, 06:07 EST

Panthers turnovers steer Steers to win!

Davenport scores 3 touchdowns

Clark Atlanta Stadium – Atlanta, GA

Texas College WR-Curtis Shaw heads to the endzone with this touchdown pass.

The Clark Atlanta “Panthers” hit the field against the “Steers” from Texas College (Tyler, TX) all jacked up and looking good wearing their new uniforms but in the end it was the same old story … turnovers that caused them to loose a game that they very well could have won.

The “Panthers” defense led by former UGA LB-Derrick White (Creekside H.S.), DL-Jeff Jess, DB-Kevin Ford and LB-Jurnal Walton stuffed the “Steers” and their hard charging senior tailback Eugene Sweazie (who had committed to Missouri out of high school) forcing an early punt.

Texas College would come back a few series later and mount a drive that was highlighted by 25-yards pass completion from QB-David Bowie to freshman WR-Curtis Shaw who went high to grab the pass for 25-yards to the “Panthers” 42-yard line. The “Steers” moved the ball to the 36-yard line before the drive stalled out forcing another punt. The punt backed the “Panthers” up to their 15-yard line.

Facing a third down and nine, Clark Atlanta QB-Adrian Johnson (Peach Co. H.S.) went long to WR-Tony Mathis (Westside-Macon H.S.) and got a pass interference call that gave the “Panthers” a first down on the 31-yard line. The “Steers” defense was bring some real heat, especially LB-Gerald Lacy, FS-Xavier Lane, DE-Mark Lewis and LB-Eric Ellis as they slowed down the “Panthers” advance and forced them to punt.

Clark Atlanta DB-Kevin Ford made a great play deflecting this pass and returning it for a touchdown.

Clark Atlanta’s defense made the first big play of the game when DB-Kevin Ford deflected a pass then caught the ball and raced 27-yards for the touchdown. The PAT failed making the score 6-0 with 7:50 left in the first quarter.

Later in the quarter the “Panthers” offense threatened when Johnson went deep to WR-CJ “Willie” Lewis who made a nice grab for 28-yards to the “Steers” 12-yard line. The wheels then started to fall off of the “The Panthers Express”. A bad snap by C-Kyle Easley went over Johnson’s head for a loss of 15-yards then another bad play ended up forcing them to punt the ball.

When the “Steers” got the ball back Bowie went deep to Shaw, who made a nice play on the ball, broke a tackle and raced 85-yards for the touchdown. The PAT by K-Sau Delacruz gave Texas College a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second-quarter the “Panthers” almost regained the lead when Johnson hit Mathis wide open behind the secondary but he was unable to hold onto the ball. That play hurt because when Texas College got the ball back Bowie hit WR-Rod Davenport with a little hitch-pass that he turned into a 72-yard score. The PAT gave the “Steers” a 14-6 lead.

Clark Atlanta LB-Michael Porter makes a big stick on RB-Eugene Sweazie with help from a teammate.

With time running out in the half Clark Atlanta mounted a drive, Johnson hit WR-Quamall Mays for 18-yards to the Texas College 26-yard line. With :15 seconds left Johnson connected with WR-Vernon Moore cutting across the middle for the touchdown cutting the lead to 14-12 at the half.

When you attend any HBCU game you know it’s all about the halftime show baby! with the bands those beautiful Auxiliary Teams, man. I have to say that this halftime battle went to the “Panthers” from Clark Atlanta. The Texas College band did their thing but when the Red & White hit the field with their auxiliary team it was over…Bada Boom, Bada Bam you know how we do.

Ok back to football!

I’m sure new Clark Atlanta Head Coach Ted Bahhur told his team at the half that they needed to just settle down and execute and they would be alright because they came out in the third quarter and looked like a different ball club. Terrin Usher a good looking junior running back from out of Rochester, NY continued to run the ball well and was finally rewarded for his efforts when he put the “Panthers” on top with a short touchdown run. The two-point conversion by Johnson gave Clark Atlanta a 20-14 lead with 5:51 left in the quarter.

Clark Atlanta WR-Vernon Moore strolls into the endzone with this touchdown grab.

Late in the third-quarter the “Panthers” defense, which already had a touchdown to their credit, came up big again when LB-Michael Porter scooped up a fumble and returned it 8-yards for the touchdown as Clark Atlanta built up a 26-14 lead.

Texas College WR-Rod Davenport, we understand has only been with the team a few weeks, having transferred from junior college. Well I’m sure the “Steers” are glad to have him because he was a difference maker. In the first half he score on a long play and with less than :30 seconds to play in the third-quarter he did it again catching a 65-yard bomb from Bowie for his second touchdown of the game. The PAT by Delacruz cut the lead to 26-21.

The “Bowie to Davenport Show” was over yet with just under 8:00 minutes to play in the game the combo struck for the third time, this time the touchdown came at the end of a 6 play drive. Delacruz’s PAT put the “Steers” up 28-26.

As disheartened as the “Panthers” and their fans were they fought back. With less than 2:00 minutes to play Johnson started driving his team down the field but then the old turnover bug hit when the “Steers” hard hitting FS-Xavier Lane intercepted Johnson, ending all hopes of pulling this one out of the fire.

The final score was Texas College 28 – Clark Atlanta 26.

Players of the game (Game Day Player in Red)

Texas College:

RB-Eugene Sweazie, WR-Rod Davenport (GDP), QB-David Bowie (GDP), WR-Curtis Shaw, DE-Mike Williams, LB-Gerald Lacy, FS-Xavier Lane (GDP)

Clark Atlanta:
RB-Terrin Usher, RB-Adrian Johnson, WR-Vernon Moore, LB-Michael Porter (GDP), DB-Kevin Ford (GDP), QB-Adrian Johnson.