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Page Eleven PANTHER October, 1974 Overpowers Fisk And Ft. Valley 'Red Machine’ Picks Up Two Big Victories By Vernard Howard Clark’s “Red Machine” picked up two big victories against Fisk and Fort Val ley Colleges. The victories made Clark’s record to 3 wins, 0 losses, and gave them the best record in the second division in the SI AC. The Panthers defeated Fisk College 21-20 onSep- tember 28, at home in a very close battle. Quarter back, Charles Turner went to work right away on their first offensive play bypas sing a 67 yard touchdown bomb to Arthur Allen. The PAT was no good. Clark’s second score came in the second quarter on a three yard run by the powerful running back Bobby Sumlin. ’ The PAT was no good. The Panthers went into the lockerroom at halftime trailing 13-12. During the second hall the Panthers scored twice. On their second series ol plays in the third quarter, Turner pass to Cedric Morris on a fake field goal for a 12 yard touchdown The PAT was no good The Panthers were be hind 20-18 late in the* fourth quarter but they re fused to be defeated. Ricky Grayson, who missed three consecutive extra point kicks, booted a 36 yard field goal with two minutes left in the game to give the Panthers a 21-20 win over Fisk College. Fisk tried to come back with a two minute drive but it was ended by an inter ception by Leroy Farley, who had 10 individual tackles On October 5, the Panthers went to Griffin, Georgia to defeat Fort Val ley College 27-14 in the Annual Textile Classic. The Panthers defense recovered a fumble on Ft. Valley’s 20 yard line on the second play of the game which led to the Panther’s first score. Ricky Grayson booted a 36 yard field goal. Charles Turner opened the second quarter by pas sing to his tight end Greg McCrary for a 39 yard touchdown. The PAT was good. After scrambling through Ft. Valley’s de fense Charles Turner pass 40 yards to Bobby Sumlin for another Panther score. At the close of the first half Ricky Grayson kicked his second field goal of the game to give the Panthers a 20-14 halftime lead. During the second half, Clark scored once. The score came in the thirc quarter on a nine yard rur by quarterback Charles Turner. The PAT by Gray son was good which made the final score 27-14 Clark. Clark’s defense held Fort Valley scoreless dur ing the second half. The defensive charges were led by Daryl Farley and O.J. Sampson. Charles Turner had a good game, passing for 197 yards, two for touchdowns and he rushed for 44 yards. The victory should put the Panthers in the top ten among Black Colleges. Clark and FAMU are the only unbeaten teams in the SIAC. Clark is in first place of the second divi sion in the SIAC, with three conference victories and three wins overall. Another Victory! CC Coaches are elated. Charles Turner Most Valuable Player Charles Turner has been selected as the Most Valu able Player for both games against Fisk and Fort Val ley colleges. This selec tion was made by the coaching staff of Clark College. Turner, a senior Phys ical Education major from Greensboro, Georgia, has led the Panthers to three consecutive victories. Me nas compleuedbO per cent of his passes for 522 yards. He is averaging a- bout 184 yards per game passing, making him the best passer in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He has passed for six touchdowns ranging from 67 yards to 12 yards. Turner, also, is the pun ter for the Panthers, averaging 35 yards per punt. GILLIAM OVERRIDES RACISM TO BECOME BLACK NFL QB By Ron Jenkins The Pittsburg Steelers of the National Football League has set a prece dent for the world of foot ball. The Steelers, in 1972, drafted Joe Gilliam, a quarterback from Tennes see State University. In *9 74, on opening day of the NFL season Gilliam wear ing number 17 was the designated starting quar terback. Gilliam, the first black to draw a starting position in regular season, went on to beat the Balti more Colts 30-0, passing for 257 yards, two touch downs and going 17 of 31. That was just the be ginning for Joe Gilliam, and hopefully the begin- ing for many future black quarterbacks. To date Gil liam has passed for 956 yards and five touchdowns. He is 74 of 152 for the sec ond best completion per centage in the league at 48.72%r- With the acquisition of Gilliam to the starting ranks, it seems that the doors of racial prejudices have been closed. Now Gilliam is not the only black quarterback in the league, but he is the only 'one that really earns his keep. Until Gilliam, the talents of blacks as quar terbacks had been regula ted to the bench, and ex hibition games. Marion Briscoe, of the Miami Dolphins, is the oldest black quarterback in the league, but when he replaced the injured Charley Johnson at Den-i ver, the following year he was traded. Briscoe is now a wide receiver for the Dolphins, and the only throwing fakes on defens ive backs. The Rams’ Joe Harris, was drafted in 69, but from then to now he has accumulated about one season of playing time. The sudden shift for Gil liam is due to two reasons: one he showed up at practice during the play ers strike; and the World Football League is using several black quarter backs. The first reason is the strongest one, being that Gilliam threw 11 touchdown passes in pre- season. The second reason will have a delayed effect upon the league. The World Football League has rec ognized the ability of the black quarterback and this will eventually pressure the NFL into using more blacks in that position. Some of the black quar terbacks that have slipped pass the NFL are Chuch Ealey from Toledo, who is leading the Canadian Foot ball League in passing and his Toronto team to two CFL championships; Eddie McShan. a product of Geor gia Tech, is quarterback ing the Jacksonville Sharks of the WFL; DC Nobles came out of the University of Houston. He was over looked and now plays for the Shreveport Steamers, also of the WFL; Matthew Reed, a Grambling gradu ate, was selected by the Patriots but they wanted him to convert to defens ive back. Reed now plays for the WFL’s winningest iteam, the Birmingham Americans. The upcoming graduat ing class will have a good selection of black athletes for the prescouts to choose from and the chances will be that the Scouts will look further than the black run ning backs.