The Clark Atlanta University Panthers woke up to heavy rain Saturday morning in Ohio as they got ready for Saturday's matchup with Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Central State University at 1 p.m. in Wilberforce, Ohio. The game will be broadcast live via webstream at
https://maraudersports.com/watch/?Live=118&type=Live.
During a workout at Miamisburg High School Friday afternoon, CAU Head Coach
Kevin Ramsey told his team to embrace the rainy conditions and be ready to play football.
"This is a big conference game for us," Ramsey said. "It's conference play and we have to take our "A" game on the road."
Both teams are searching for their first wins of the season after losing last week. The Panthers were nipped on the road at Mississippi College 31-30.
Quarterback
Charles Stafford threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in his debut, leading the CAU offense to 416 yards of production.
"I thought Charles in his first start did an admirable job," Ramsey said. "We got the ball in the red zone six times, but you'd like to come out with more touchdowns than field goals. When it gets to the red zone, it's about crossing that line."
Stafford connected most with receiver
Johnathan Sanders, who caught 14 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. Stafford also led CAU on the ground with 69 yards rushing, followed by 60 by running back
Roger Thomas.
On defense, the Panthers dealt with an option team in Mississippi College and held them to 14 first down and just 111 yards passing and 238 yards rushing.
"I thought we played with a motor on defense," Ramsey said. "I really liked the fight of the guys."
This week, they play a Central State team that fell 19-10 in a rain-shortened game at Elizabeth City State. The Marauders had the ball early in the fourth quarter when the game has stopped and later called due to lightening and bad weather.
CSU, who lost to the Panthers 55-14 last season in Atlanta, fell behind on the game's first play. Running back Terraris Saffold ran the opening kickoff to the ECSU 35 but was stripped of the ball. ECSU then returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.
The Marauders got on the board with a field goal in the second quarter. They answered an ECSU TD with a Trent Mays touchdown pass to Darius Ford to make it 13-10 early in the fourth quarter. ECSU's Bryan Gregory followed with a 71-yard TD run to put ECSU up 19-10. CSU got the ball for the ensuing drive, but that's when weather took over and ended the game.
"[Mays] is a good decision maker and spreads the ball around," Ramsey said of Central State's senior quarterback. "We have to be ready to be defend all over the field."
ABOUT CLARK ATLANTA
OFFENSIVE LEADERS:
Passing –
Charles Stafford (30-of-53, 277 yards, 2 touchdowns)
Rushing –
Charles Stafford (12 rushes, 69 yards)
Roger Thomas (15 rushes, 60 yards)
Receiving –
Johnathan Sanders (14 receptions, 120 yards, 1 touchdown)
DEFENSIVE LEADERS:
Tackles –
Amon Crumpton (7 tackles, 7 solo, 1 TFL)
Ezekiel Edmonds (6 tackles, 6 solo, 1 pass breakup)
Kenneth Morgan (5 tackles, 5 solo, 1 INT)
Sacks –
Amon Crumpton (1 sack for four yards)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kicking –
Carlos Saldana (3 field goals, long of 43 yards, 3 extra points)
Punting –
Ty Woods (4 punts, 132 yards, 33 average, long of 38 yards)
Returns –
Jaha McCray (5 kickoff returns, 113 yards, long of 33 yards)
ABOUT CENTRAL STATE
OFFENSIVE LEADERS:
Passing – Trent Mays (12-of-18, 118 yards, 1TD, I INT)
Rushing – Terraris Saffold (17 rushes, 49 yards)
Receiving – Darius Ford (2 receptions, 48 yards, 1TD)
Terraris Saffold (3 receptions, 17 yards)
DEFENSIVE LEADERS:
Tackles – Kallen Abrams (7 tackles, 5 solo, 2 assisted, 1 TFL)
Christopher Lewis (6 tackles, 5 solo, 1 assisted)
Sacks – Kallen Abrams (1.5 for six yards)
Shemar Moss (1 for 13 yards)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kicking – Trevor Teel (1 field goal, 28 yards)
Punting – Isaiah Smith (3 punts, 151 yards, 50.3 average, long of 59 yards)
Returns – Lei'Tonn Backus (2 punt returns, 20 yards, long of 17 yards
Terraris Saffold (3 kickoff returns, 92 yards, long of 50 yards)
