Sometimes it sounds cliché' when the phrase 'the records don't count' is uttered.

But this is usually the case when the Clark Atlanta Panthers take on Atlanta University Center rival Morehouse College.  The two schools – separated by just a sidewalk in some places - square off the season-finale for both teams at Morehouse's B.T. Harvey Stadium at 2 p.m.

The game can be seen live, via webstream, at https://www.flofootball.com/signup?utm_campaign=2019siacfootball&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=clarkatlantasports.com&utm_content=website&utm_term=clarkatlanta&rtid=&coverage_id=.

"We walk on some of the same grass and sidewalks together," said CAU head coach Tim Bowens.  "They are a program that's been established with Coach Rich Freeman, a good man of character. But we're looking forward to going over there and competing. We're fired up.  I think our seniors, they are excited as well.

"I want them to see the importance of how fast time can go," he said.  "And to finish your career with a big rivalry is always a good thing. It's very unique when you can walk on the same sidewalk with someone they are going to be playing against on Saturday. It's very unique and a very special thing."

Clark Atlanta (0-9, 0-5 SIAC) will be wrapping up 2019 campaign in which the Panthers competed hard and were close to winning several games, while Morehouse (3-6, 1-4 SIAC) has lost three of their last four games, but has lost three games by a touchdown or less, including to FCS SWAC member Alabama A&M.

Last season, Clark Atlanta defeated Morehouse 30-13 at CAU Panther Stadium and has won two of the last three games against Morehouse.  Morehouse defeated CAU 40-0 in 2017.

CAU hasn't won at Morehouse since 2013 when the Panthers defeated Morehouse 21-17.  But just like his year, CAU went into that game having not won a game that season.  It turned into the only victory for CAU that season and erased a five-game losing streak to the Maroon Tigers.  

"We believe we have a chance every week if we play like we know we can play," Bowens said.  "And we're looking for improvement and continuing to build from each other, lifting each other up, encouraging each other, and seeing if we can improve day in and day out."

Saturday's game features two of the conference's top four passing offenses.  Quarterback Charles Stafford leads the Clark Atlanta offense, which is ranked second in the SIAC.  With SIAC passing leader in Fort Valley State's Slade Jarman maybe out with an injury for their game against Albany State Saturday, Stafford will finish the season leading the SIAC in passing yards – he leads the conference with 2,221 yards – and could lead in touchdown passes. He and Jarman are tied with 18 heading into Saturday's game.

His two top targets continue to be Kendall Wimberly, who is third in the SIAC with 30 catches for 4.3 receptions per game this season, and Drakar Jerry, who is eighth with 34 receptions, or 3.8 per game.

Morehouse's Michael Sims has thrown five touchdown passes over the past two games, with his top targets being the fifth and sixth place players on the SIAC's receptions per games list, Tremell Gooden and Santo Dunn. 

"We're going up against a team that's going to spread you out, throw the ball around," Bowens said.  "With that quarterback, he can get that ball distributed so we've got to make sure we contain him and not allow them to hit us with big plays.  They've got some guys with good speed, so we have to make sure we corral them as well.  A well-coached team. We weren't going to expect anything less. [Coach Freeman] has done a really good job over the years."

PANTHER NOTES: The two top tacklers in the SIAC will be on the field for this game.  Morehouse's senior linebacker Jonathan Mathis leads the conference with 96 tackles – 10.7 per game – heading into Saturday's game.  Clark Atlanta senior linebacker Terrance Harris has 86 stops, or 9.6 per game, so far this season.  Harris does lead the conference in fumble recoveries with four this season… According to some records, the first team that Clark College – one of the original institutions that formed Clark Atlanta University – played its first football game in 1900.  The opponent – Atlanta Baptist College, or what later was renamed Morehouse College.  ABC won that game and the two teams didn't play again for another 13 years.  CAU got it's first win in the series in 1926, a 7-6 victory over Morehouse….  CAU will be wearing all-white Nike uniforms on Saturday.
 
CLARK ATLANTA PANTHERS (0-8, 0-4 SIAC)
Head Coach – Tim Bowens
LEADERS
 
Offense
Passing – Charles Stafford (197-of-368 for 2221 yards, 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions)
Rushing – Darius Blackmon (46 rushes, 91 yards, long of 17 yards)
                 Martin Fleming (23 rushes, 67 yards, long of 30 yards)
Receiving – Drakar Jerry (34 receptions, 381 yards, three touchdowns, long of 64 yards)
                    Kendall Wimberly (30 receptions, 453 yards, three touchdowns, long of 64 yards)
                    Darius Blackmon (19 receptions, 154 yards, one touchdown, long of 26 yards)         
Kickoff Returns – Darius Blackmon (15 returns, 287 yards, long of 27 yards
Punt Returns – Drakar Jerry (five returns, 45 yards, long of 15 yards) 
                 
Defense
Tackles –  Terrance Harris (86 tackles, 51 solo, 35 assisted, 7.5 tackles for loss)
                 Kenneth Morgan (54 tackles, 31 solo, 23 assisted, two tackles for loss)
                 Justin Wade (47 tackles, 24 solo, 23 assisted, three tackles for loss)
                  Breante Glover (38 tackles, 21 solo, 17 assisted, eight tackles for loss)
Sacks – Breante Glover, Tyler Wimberly, Rodney Lewis, Elexious Perkins (two sacks each)
Interceptions – Johnny Sharp (three interceptions)
                         Kenneth Morgan (two interceptions)

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE TIGERS (3-6, 1-4 SIAC)
Head Coach – Rich Freeman
 
LEADERS
 
Offense
Passing – Michael Sims (116-of-203 for 1179 yards, nine touchdowns, four interceptions)
                Jalen Brown (51-of-87 for 605 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions)
Rushing – Frank Bailey (87 rushes, 525 yards, four touchdowns, long of 69 yards)
                 Santo Dunn (106 rushes, 514 yards, four touchdowns, long of 35 yards)
Receiving – Santo Dunn (38 receptions, 235 yards, two touchdowns, long of 36 yards)
                   Tremell Gooden (36 receptions, 624 yards, seven touchdowns, long of 52 yards)
                   Ricci Nuckles (26 receptions, 330 yards, long of 31 yards)
Kickoff Returns – Santo Dunn (13 returns, 261 yards, long of 52 yards)
                         Ricci Nuckles (five returns, 102 yards, long of 30 yards)
                         Cartrell Strong (four returns, 102 yards, long of 48 yards)
Punt Returns – Santo Dunn (12 returns, 110 yards, long of 25 yards)
                       
Defense
Tackles – Amari Andrews (50 tackles, 25 solo, 25 assisted, three tackles for loss)
                Robert Cummings  (47 tackles, 40 solo, 7 assisted, 2.5 tackles for loss)
Sacks –  Christopher Reed, Micah Levine (two sacks each)
Interceptions – Macaiah Paige, Dedrick Vanover (two interceptions each)
 
For more information about Clark Atlanta football, go to https://clarkatlantasports.com/index.aspx?path=football