Morehouse Coach Rich Freeman exorcised a personal demon Saturday as the Maroon Tigers rallied from a 14-point second-quarter deficit to beat Tuskegee in the 76th Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic in Columbus, Ga.
Morehouse’s win over Tuskegee was Coach Rich Freeman’s first as a head coach or assistant in 11 games against Tuskegee. (Photo: HBCUsportsonline)
The victory was the first for Freeman as a head coach or an assistant in 11 games against Tuskegee. It was just the third victory for Morehouse in the 16 games in the series, which began in 1902. Tuskegee went into Saturday’s game with a 66-27-7 edge in the overall series and a 51-19-5 advantage in the Classic.
“I guess it gives me some temporary relief,” Freeman said. “Now I’m 1-0. It was a very rewarding win for us as a team. It had huge national implications and conference implications. It puts us very much in the race for (SIAC East) division.”
The victory for the Maroon Tigers (5-1, 5-0 SIAC), coupled with Albany State’s upset loss to Lane, puts them in control of the East Division race. They play at Albany State Saturday with the winner most likely emerging as the division champ.
Freshman Justin Nared scored on a pair of first-half runs, scrambling 16 yards into the end zone in the first quarter and 10 yards in the second period, to give the Golden Tigers a 14-0 lead. At that point, it that game was destined to end the same as so many others in this rivalry – that being another Tuskegee victory.
“It started out the same as the past four years with Tuskegee petty much keeping us from running and forcing turnovers,” Freeman said. “It had all the makings of the same thing we experienced in the past. The way we won it down the stretch against team with pride and tradition was very rewarding.”.
The Maroon Tigers scored on their final possession of the first half to cut the lead to 14-7. They got the ball with 2:13 at the Golden Tigers’ 39 following Stewart Moody’s 38-yard punt and a nine-yard return. Three plays later, David Carter, No. 7 in rushing in NCAA Division II and No. 1 in the SIAC, scored on a 20-yard run with 1:15 left in the half.
Source: Black America Web
BCNN1 WP 