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October 9, 1991
SPORTS
CAU Squeaks past Fort Valley 14-12,Remain Unbeaten in Conference
By Anthony George m
Sports Editor
With Clark Atlanta
University's defense playing
prevent, outside linebacker Craig
DuBose forced Fort Valley’s
quarterback Danny Smith to run
inside the pocket, but linebacker
Dale Dixon was their to greet him
with a sack with 15 seconds
remaining, sealing the Panther
victory 14-12 in Fort Valley
Saturday.
'That was the biggest play
of the game,” said Panther
defensive coordinator David
Edwards. "Fort Valley has a very
strong running game, but we
wanted to get them in a situation
where they had to pass, because
they aren't a very strong passing
team."
The Panther offense was
able to put the defense in that
comfortable position. Gaining
possession of the ball early in the
fourth period, the Panthers,
running out of the wishbone,
were able to drive 90 yards,
consuming more than 10
minutes. On a fourth and goal on
the 1-yard line, the Wildcats
stopped Panther runningback
Charles Evans for a 4-yard loss.
Taking their final possession
from the Panther 5-yard line, the
Wildcats were unable to surmount
a potential winning drive.
"We showed a lot of
character," said Edwards. 'We
new we could gut it out. I am
happy we were able to pull out a
tough game. Unlike last season,
we were able to hold on. The team
really showed a lot of pride."
Panther quarterback
Charles Parks finished with his
consecutive 200 yard plus passing
performance. He completed 18 of
33 passes for 220 yards and a
touchdown. Equally as dangerous
was the Panthers running attack,
as they finished with 220 yards.
The major ground gainer was
runningback Tim Lowery, as he
rushed 13 times for 101 yards.
The win improved the
Panthers to 3-1-1 overall, and 2-0
in the conference. Fort Valley fell
to 3-2 overall, and 3-1 in the
conference.
"Although we made some
mistakes, we held together in the
long run and that helped us win,"
said head coach Willie Hunter.
"As long as everyone plays
together, we will win games."
The Panthers trailed in
the first period after Wildcat
runningback Zackary Reynolds
scored on a 1-yard run. The
Panthers scored on the ensuing
kickoff as they drove 11 plays for
81 yards. Runningback Charles
Evans scored on a 15-yard pass
from Parks.
The Panthers got a break
in the third quarter, as a Wildcat
fumble gave the Panthers the ball
on their 31-yard line. Evans
topped off the four play drive with
a 10-yard touchdown run, giving
the Panthers a 14-12 lead.
imm?
CAU (3-1) at
Tuskegee (2-3
1:00 p.m.
Braves Scalp Panthers
42-28
Suffer First loss of Season
A CAU Defensive Lineman takes ct break during a timeout against West Georgia.
PHOTO BY ANTHONY GEORGE HI
By Anthony George m
Sports Editor
Although the
Panthers played in
Atlanta Fulton County
Stadium a month ago,
they could not avoid the
Indian war chant, nor the
tomahawk chop.
When the West
Georgia fans got going, it
usually was trouble for the
Panthers' in the second
half. As they cheered their
team on, the Braves
responded as they scored
29 second half points and
defeated the Panthers 42-
28 in Carollton, Ga. Sept.
27.
The Braves rushing
game accounted for 333
yards, the Panthers with
66 yards. With the ground
game silent. Panther
quarterback Charles
Parks had a career day, as
he completed 21 of 47
passes for 342 yards and
three touchdowns.
"Our running game
just wasn't there," said
Panther runningback
Charles Evans. "A
linebacker usually filled
the gap we tried to run
through. But we were able
to open up our our passing
game. That shows our
versatility."
"I feel pretty good
about our offense because
we were able to execute,"
said Robert Haygood,
offensive coordinator.
"The offensive line played
well and gave Charles an
opportunity to pass. On
defense, we made several
mistakes, and we have to
work harder."
"We just didn't
execute on defense," said
David Edwards, defensive
coordinator. "West
Georgia has a strong team
and we matched up well
with them. What
separates us from them is
they had the advantage in
depth. With that, they
wore our guys down.
Nevertheless, we were
capable of winning this
game."
West Georgia
improved to 2-2, and CAU
suffered their first loss of
the year, dropping to 2-1-
1. Ron Jurney, West
Georgia head coach said
said many favorable
things about CAU's
athletic program.
"Coach Hunter is
doing a fine job for that
program," said Jurney. "I
told my team not to
underestimate Clark
because I know they have a
good team. The are well
coached and never give up.
They played extremely
tough tonight."
After playing to a
14-14 tie at halftime, CAU
struck early in the third
period on a 66-yard pass to
wideout Shedrick Austin
from Parks. Parks
primary receiver was
wideout Felix Lewis, but
the ball tipped it off his
fingers, and a defender, as
an alert Austin grabbed
the ball, and outran the
West Georgia defense,
giving the Panthers the
lead 21-13.
"That guy is going
to be the next player
drafted from CAU," said
Millard Hamilton, former
Panther. "He has excellent
speed, and has all the tools
to be a great receiver."
After the Panther
defense stopped West
Georgia on their ensuing
drive, the Panther offense
also went sour. Then,
West Georgia’s offensive
lineman started
dominating the line of
scrimmage. On a barrage
on trap runs, and sweeps,
the Braves drove 65 yards
to the CAU 5-yard line.
Wideout Chip Massey
caught a 5-yard pass from
quarterback Cris Teal,
that tied the score at 21.
Early in the fourth
quarter, the Braves took
the lead 28-21. West
Georgia drove six plays, 55
yards as runningback
Mark Evans scored on a 19
yard run.
Alter the Panthers
were forced to punt, West
Georgia drove 66 yards on
8 plays, scoring on a 19
yard reception by wideout
Leo Mendenhall from
Teal, giving the Braves a
comfortable 35-24 lead
with 6:10 remaining.
The Panthers
closed the gap to 35 28, as
Evans ran for his second
touchdown, on a 5-yard
trap over the center. The
big play was a 59 yard
bomb from Parks to
Austin that put CAU on
the 15-yard line. Austin
finished with four
receptions for 201 yards
and two touchdowns.