After keeping things close most of the day, Clark Atlanta gave up 28-fourth-quarter points to lose at Savannah State 49-14 Saturday.
On a warm homecoming day in Savannah, Clark Atlanta (2-5, 0-3 SIAC) had erased a 21-0 second-quarter deficit and pulled to within seven at 21-14 midway through the third quarter.
But Savannah State (6-1, 4-0 SIAC) converted three Clark Atlanta fumbles into touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
Early, Clark Atlanta fell behind on the strength of Savannah State big plays – a 73-yard Einaj Carter touchdown run and a Ny'em Bozeman 53-yard punt return for a TD, both after Shamarcus Poole's one-yard TD plunge on Savannah State's opening drive.
But the Panthers got on the board after
Tyrese Ross blocked a Savannah State punt and
Zye'Kee Pruitt recovered it at the Tigers' 12-yard line. Three plays later,
Elijah Odom was on the receiving end of a 4-yard touchdown pass from
Daquon Kincey to make it 21-7.
The CAU defense continued to stiffen in the third quarter as
Charles Crawford picked off a D'Vonn Gibbens pass. Four plays later, Odom threw a 6-yard TD pass to Kendall Wimberly to pull the Panthers to within seven at 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
But the quarter began on a sour note for the Panthers when Odom completed a pass to
Undrez Prather, but SSU's Le'Vonte Larry forced the ball loose. The Tigers' Timothy Campbell returned the ball to the CAU 10-yard line. Two plays later, SSU's Malyk Walker then rushed twice, the second time a 4-yard TD run to begin the Tigers fourth-quarter run.
Odom finished 13-of-24 for 104 yards and one TD pass along with his receiving touchdown. Wimberly caught three passes for 33 yards and a touchdown, while
Perry Seldon caught two passes for 30 yards and
Trey Wilson hauled in two passes. The Panther ground game got 45 yards from Odom, 16 yards from
Jeremiah Gibbs, and eleven from
Tahjee Hudson. But Odom was sacked five times and lost 39 yards, among other losses by CAU rushers.
Crawford led the CAU defense with 15 tackles, 11 of them solo, one tackle for loss and an interception.
Quadarris Green had eight tackles, while
Travis Taylor had six stops.
Zion Nwokocha had five solo tackles.
The CAU defense held Savannah State to just 120 yards passing. But Einaj Carter rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown, while Gibbons rushed 12 times for 89 yards. Savannah State had 279 yards rushing on the day.
The Panthers end the road portion of their season next weekend when they visit Fort Valley State, a 51-3 loser to Morehouse Saturday. That game kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday. CAU then comes home to CAU Panther Stadium for Homecoming 2021 when they host Benedict at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.
