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THE PANTHER
OCTOBER 4, 1979
Panther Defense Strong In Opener;
Defending Champs Beat Lane 25-9
Last year it was the play of a
veteran defense, game-break
ing specialty teams, and the
right toe of punter Charles
McPherson that pulled the
SIAC defending champs out of
tight situations.
Clark College’s homeopener
against Lane College was no
different. Before 2500 fans at
Herndon Stadium, the Pan
thers got off to an amazing
start, scoring 16 points with
5:57 remaining in the first
quarter, enroute to a 25-9
triumph Sept. 15.
Charles McPherson, last
year’s NCAA Division III lead
ing punter with a 48.6 yard
average, kicked off to the
Dragons and on their first
possession of the game
fullback Melvin Norman fum
bled on the 20-yard line.
Defensive end Arturo Cato
recovered the ball on the 17-
yard line to set up a 35 yard
field goal with 11:07 in the first
quarter. Lane held inside the
30-yard line on their next
possession of the ball punted to
return specialist Gary Dukes
who scampered around right
By James D. Wilcox
Panther Reporter
end for a 70-yard touchdown,
giving Clark a 10-0 lead. “The
only thing on my mind is win
ning and at that moment, I
had to contribute my share,”
Dukes said after the game.
Lane plagued by fumblitis all
afternoon, gave the Panthers
yet another opportunity to
score by fumbling the ball
away and having defensive
interference called on the 1-
yard line. That set up a 1-yard
plunge by fullback Johnny
Richards, giving the Panthers
a 16-0 with 5:57 remaining in
the first quarter.
Ijane did get a break in the
game when Robert Sturdivant
blocked a punt by McPherson,
a rarity, deep in Clark’s
territory. That set up the only
Dragon touchdown of the
afternoon when tailback
Kenneth Powell swept around
right end seven yards for the
Dragon’s score, to pull Lane to
within nine, giving Clark a 16-
7 halftime lead.
A stingy Panther defense and
numerous turnovers by both
teams told the story for the
most part of the second half. A
veteran defensive line of
Charles Cheeks, Robert
Wright, Jerome White and
Arturo Cato applied continual
pressure on Dragon
quarterback Carlton Chance,
sacking him 11 times.
Unable to mount a successful
drive, Lane was forced to punt
from their own 3-yard line, but
a high sn ap from center James
Howard sailed over Virgil
Stephens head for a Panther
safety, rallying Clark to a 18-7
lead.
But to indicate just how
atypical a day it was for Lane,
punter Virgil Stephens hit a
booming 50-yard punt only to
tightrope up the sideline for a
50-yard touchdown run by
Phillip Goff, breaking the
game wide open and giving the
Panthers a 25-9 lead.
Late in the fourth quarter
Lane also added two points
when quarterback Kenneth
Standifer was dropped for a
safety by Herbert Curry, with
10:11 left in the ball game to
end the scoring at 25-9.
Coach Jesse McClardy was
pleased with his team’s
performance. “The defense
was much sharper than I
expected it to be,” the coach
said after the game.
Below: Aldo Gaither (26),
defensive back, pursues
Fisk quarterback (10).
(Photo by Jerome Gwinn )
TEAM STATISTICS
CIARK
LANE
1st downs
9
1st downs
5
Rush-yds
44-175
Rush-yds
39-(-6)
Pass-yds
0
Pass-yds
69
Ret.-yds
149
Ret.-yds
97
Passes
0-8-0
Passes
5-20-0
Punts
6-38-5
Punts
40.3
Fumbles Lost
4-2
Fumbles Lost
4-0
Pen ,-vds
10-96
Pen.-yds.
8-76
Walter Pollard (50) awaits patiently to resume play action
for Pantbers. (Photo by Jerome Gwinn)
Morehouse Names Hunt
By Veverly Y. Byrd
Panther Sports Editor
Morehouse College named a
new head football coach to
succeed Michael Gray, who
resigned last year to accept a
position at Lakeshore High
School in Atlanta.
Maurice Hunt, a native of
Birmingham, Alabama, was
appointed by Morehouse
President, Dr. Hugh Gloster to
assume responsibilities for the
Maroon Tiger Football Squad,
who are presently 2-0, defeat
ing Savannah State and Fort
Valley State College.
Hunt received his B.S. degree
in Health and Physical
Education from Kentucky
State University, and received
the M.S.E. degree from Drake
University in Des Moines,
Iowa. Before coming to
Morehouse, Hunt held
positions of Head Football
Coach and Assistant Profes
sor in Physical Education at
Central State University. He
was both Head Track Coach
and Wrestling Coach at
Grinnell College.
In 1967, Hunt was a 10th
round draft choice of the Kan
sas City Chiefs. While at Ken
tucky State, he was captain of
the football team and an All-
Conference defensive back for
two consecutive years.
Married to the former Mary
Elizabeth Sain and father of
one, Hunt is a member of the
American Football Coaches
Association and the National
Wrestling Federation As
sociation.
Clark
25
Lane
9
Jacksonville St.
28
Alabama A&M
21
Bethune-Cookman
28
Livingstone
14
Morris Brown
27
Tuskegee
20
Grambling St.
40
Alcorn St.
3
Games from 9-15-79