ATLANTA, Ga. - In the home opener under first-year head coach Kevin Ramsey, Clark Atlanta fell to fellow Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Central State 49-12.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Central State 49, Clark Atlanta 12
Records: Central State (1-1), Clark Atlanta (0-2)
Date: Sept. 12, 2015 | Time: 2:00 p.m. kickoff
Location: CAU Panther Stadium | Atlanta, Ga.
Series: Clark Atlanta trails series 0-2
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The visiting Marauders jumped out to 35-0 first quarter advantage.  Central State returned a fumbled snap on a punt 21 yards to open the scoring.

 

• Central State added two short rushing touchdowns before Marquis Wells found Christopher Murray for a pair of long scoring passes - 45 and 34 yards - to cap the opening quarter.

 

• Wells added another long scoring strike, this time finding Zach Thomas for 63 yards to end the 95 yard drive.  CSU would add another rushing touchdown from four yards to wrap up the Marauder scoring.

 

• Clark Atlanta scored the first touchdown of the season with 47 seconds remaining in the third quarter when quarterback Matthew Vincent handed the ball off to Jaha McCray.  McCray ran right and threw back to the left to find Vincent at the goal line for five yard touchdown pass. 

 

• Vincent added a more traditional scoring play in the fourth quarter as he found Deandre Jackson in the back of the end zone with the 18-yard pass.  Jackson was well covered and was able to pull in the reception around the defender.

 
THE NUMBERS:

• Clark Atlanta claimed the advantage in first downs, 17-15.  The Panthers were aided four times by Marauder penalties.

 

• The Panthers rushed the ball 39 times for 78 yards.  Dashawn Blow rushed for a team-high 42 yards on 10 carries.  Moses Vines rushed eight times for 81 yards to record the game-high.

 

• A trio of Panthers hauled in three receptions apiece with Jackson leading the group with 53 yards and the score.  Murray had game-highs in receptions, five, and yards, 107, for Central State.

 

• Jacob Mitchell tallied eight stops from linebacker while Jorden Paige and William Kimmey each registered 1.5 tackles-for-loss.  Paige also posted one sack.

 

• Aquimial Burton intercepted a Central State pass and returned the ball 23 yards.  Burton picked off Wells at the visitor 45 and crossed mid-field before being stopped at the CAU32.

 
UP NEXT:

• Clark Atlanta remains at home and will face SIAC East rival Fort Valley State on Sept. 19 at 2:00 p.m. from Panther Stadium.