Central State Ends Season On A Positive Note

Today (Saturday, November 3, 2018) is the end. In just mere minutes, I will be covering my third (and final) Central State University (CSU) Football Game of the 2018 College Football Season. It takes so long for football season to arrive. When it does begin, it quickly flies by. As far as CSU is concerned, today is Senior Day. This is the day when CSU’s Football Program recognizes those who will play in McPherson Memorial Stadium for the final time. As a CSU Graduate (Class of 2003); Sports Journalist; and outright Sports Fan, I always treasure this day. However, the day just brings some sadness to my heart. At the conclusion of the ensuing game, I will exit McPherson Stadium. Next Saturday, I will not return. For the foreseeable future, I will not spend another Saturday afternoon in this stadium. At the earliest, I will not step one foot within the friendly confines of this stadium until August 2019. In a personal sense, that is a very longtime to be away from McPherson Stadium. While college basketball preseason has commenced, I will have plenty of opportunities to visit the CSU Campus. Of course, it will not be the same. Nothing (and I truly mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING) gets better than being able to be present at a Central State University Home Football Game! While I am here today to perform the duties of a Sports Journalist & Writer, just remember what I said at the beginning of this story. “I AM A SPORTS FAN.” Being able to cover football games is the most enjoyable aspect of writing (for me). That fact will never cease to exist.

            At the end of this game, CSU’s 2018 Football Season will come to an end. For the Marauders, there will be no entrance into the National Collegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA) Division 2 Playoff Tournament. The Marauders’ 2018 Season has been very up-and-down. Every time CSU has won a game, do you know what happens next? The team has lost the following game. The team has been unable to win consecutive games. Can the Marauders put a streak together of consecutive victories? This is the Marauders’ final opportunity to do so. Standing in the way will be fellow Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) West Division counterpart Lane College (LC). Coming into today’s game, the Dragons possess an Overall Season Record of 3-5. LC wants to end its season on a positive note too. Lane started on Offense first. On 1^st Down and 10 from Lane’s 39-Yard Line, Justin Hill took the handoff. Immediately, he slipped and fell (14:49). The end result was a loss of 2-Yards. Before the next play could get started, the Dragons’ Offense was penalized for a False Start Violation. The penalty backed the ball up 5-Yards. Eventually, it was 3^rd Down and 14. The ball was on the 35-Yard Line. At 13:32, Quarterback Marcus Reynolds was sacked by Central State’s Christian Lassiter. On 4^th Down and 23 from the 26-Yard Line, Vicente Luis Juan-Pena was forced to punt.

            After the punt, Central State’s Offensive Drive started on the team’s own 45-Yard Line. Soon, the football field’s wet and muddy conditions got in the way. On 2^nd Down and 10, Quarterback Trent Mays took the snap-from-center. As he was dropping back, he slipped and fell (12:36). The play resulted in a loss of 9-Yards. The Marauders went three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 19 from the 36-Yard Line, Isaiah Smith punted the ball away (11:49). Lane College took over on its 19-Yard Line.  On 1^st Down, Reynolds kept the ball. His run picked up 15-Yards (11:34). The next play had Hill rushing 6-Yards (to the 40-Yard Line). At the 10:32 mark, the ball was still on the 40-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 4, Reynolds completed a 10-Yard Pass to Ahmad Isaac. Isaac was tackled at Midfield (50-Yard Line). From Midfield, the drive would go on to gain 2-Yards. The Dragons’ Offense went three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 8 from Central State’s 48-Yard Line, Juan-Pena had to punt (9:18).

            Juan-Pena’s punt was a good one. The ball was downed on Central State’s 9-Yard Line. Instantly, Running Back Blake McEwen gave the Marauders some breathing room. On 1^st Down and 10, McEwen rushed the ball to the 19-Yard Line (9:01). On 2^nd Down and 7 from the 22-Yard Line, Mays completed an 18-Yard Pass to Robert Corbin, Jr. Unfortunately; flags were thrown on the play. McEwen was penalized for a Personal Foul (Illegal Block). The First Down which Corbin, Jr. obtained was taken away (8:03). Ten seconds later (7:53), CSU got 5-Yards back. As the next play got started, flags were thrown. Lane College’s Defense was penalized for being Offside. On 2^nd Down and 13 from the 16-Yard Line, Mays threw a pass to Kevin Greenhow. Greenhow was wide-open. However, he was unable to hold on to the ball. On 4^th Down and 13, from the 16-Yard Line, Smith had to punt (7:41).

            Once Lane College’s Offense received the ball again, it got on a roll. At 7:27, it was 1^st Down and 10 on Central State’s 49-Yard Line. Reynolds completed an 8-Yard Pass to Omari Hampton. By running for 2-Yards, Hill went on to pick up a First Down. On 2^nd Down and 10 from CSU’s 39-Yard Line, Hill obtained another First Down. This time, Hill’s run moved the ball 10-Yards (to the Marauders’ 29-Yard Line – 6:19). From the 29-Yard Line, the drive started to stall. At the 5:32 mark, a Personal Foul (Illegal Block Violation) resulted in a loss of yardage. With 4:23 remaining in the 1^st Quarter, LC faced 3^rd Down and 12. The ball was on CSU’s 31-Yard Line. After the snap-from-center, Reynolds completed a 23-Yard Pass to Hampton. Hampton was brought down on the Marauders’ 8-Yard Line. “All good things must come to an end.” With the ball now on the 5-Yard Line, the Dragons were getting closer to the end zone. On 2^nd and Goal, Hill took the handoff. CSU’s Javion Williams ended up forcing Hill to fumble the ball. The Marauders’ Christopher Lewis picked up the loose ball on the 6-Yard Line. When Lewis stopped running, it was 94-Yards later. At that point, Lewis was standing in the end zone (3:04). Trevor Teel’s Extra Point Kick was good. Central State took a 7-0 lead.

            Lane College proceeded to go three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 6 from the Dragons’ own 37-Yard Line, Juan-Pena punted the ball (1:39). As the 1^st Quarter was coming to a close, Central State’s Offense avoided a fatal mistake. With 41.6-Seconds remaining in the quarter, the ball rested on CSU’s 38-Yard Line. Mays handed the ball to Terraris Saffold. The handoff was botched, and the ball hit the ground. Saffold picked up the ball. For a loss of 5-Yards, Saffold was tackled back on the 33-Yard Line. At the 3.3-Seconds remark, Mays completed a pass to Anthony Bange. That 14-Yard Pass Completion moved the ball from the 33-Yard Line to the 47-Yard Line. At the end of the 1^st Quarter, Central State leads Lane College 7-0. Once the 2^nd Quarter commenced, the Marauders’ momentum continued. On 2^nd and 10, the ball was still on the Marauders’ 47-Yard Line. With 14:46 on the scoreboard, Saffold rushed the ball 16-Yards (to LC’s 37-Yard Line). After a False Start Penalty against CSU, the ball was moved back to LC’s 42-Yard Line. Then, Saffold went on to make another positive play. On 1^st Down and 15, he ran for 12-Yards (14:05). The next play ended with Saffold picking up a First Down. He moved the ball to the 25-Yard Line.

            Terraris Scaffold’s “HOT STREAK” continued on. On 1^st and 10, Saffold moved the ball to the 7-Yard Line (18-Yards – 12:50). Then, another False Start Violation got in the way again. That 5-Yard Penalty placed the ball back on the 12-Yard Line. On 2^nd and Goal, Saffold took the ball from the 12-Yard Line to the 4-Yard Line (12:04). After a high snap on 3^rd and Goal, Saffold was handed the ball again. Unfortunately, he was tackled on the 8-Yard Line. On 4^th and Goal from the 8-Yard Line, Teel successfully completed a Field Goal Attempt. CSU now leads LC 10-0. Lane College’s next Offensive Drive started on the team’s 26-Yard Line. After Reynolds completed two passes to Wilson (1-Reception for 8-Yards) and Hampton (1-Reception for 4-Yards), the ball was positioned on the 38-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 10, the ball was still on the Dragons’ 38-Yard Line. At 9:15, Reynolds was intercepted by the Marauders’ K’Jamus Sanders. When Sanders made the Interception, he was standing on CSU’s 48-Yard Line. When Sanders stopped running, he was in the end zone (52-Yards). Teel’s Extra Point Kick was good. CSU took a commanding 17-0 lead.

            With the ball on Lane College’s 41-Yard Line, the Dragons’ Offense faced 3^rd Down and 2. At 7:55, Reynolds took the ball to the 46-Yard Line. Reynolds soon made another huge play. On 2^nd Down and 10, the ball was still on the 46-Yard Line. After the snap-from-center, Reynolds kept the ball again. This time, he sped his way 36-Yards down the field. Reynolds went out-of-bounds at Central State’s 18-Yard Line (7:13). At the conclusion of the play, flags were thrown. It was quite clear to know why the flags were thrown. LC was not being penalized. Instead, the penalty was on CSU’s Defense. Once Reynolds was clearly out-of-bounds, CSU’s Devon Cunningham threw Reynolds to the ground. The penalty moved the ball to the Marauders’ 13-Yard Line. From the 13-Yard Line, the Dragons’ Offense was unable to get into the end zone. After a run on 1^st Down and 2^nd Down (each run gained 3-Yards), the ball was on the 7-Yard Line. With 5:26 seconds remaining in the First Half, it was now 3^rd Down and 4. Reynolds threw a pass into the end zone. To his dismay, the pass was incomplete. On 4^th Down, Juan-Pena successfully converted a Field Goal Attempt. By the score of 17-3, Lane was now on the scoreboard.

            Central State’s next Offensive Drive started with Mays completing a 19-Yard Pass to Darius Meadors (5:11). The play moved the ball from CSU’s 34-Yard Line to Lane College’s 47-Yard Line. From that very point, the ball would go on to move only 2-Yards. Of course, the drive did contain some controversy. With the ball on Lane’s 45-Yard Line, it was 3^rd Down and 8. Mays threw a pass to Kevin Greenhow. The pass was incomplete. However, this is where the controversy came in. As the ball was coming near Greenhow, Greenhow was being held by one of the Dragons’ Defensive Players. No Penalty Flags were thrown. The next play ended with Smith punting the ball away (3:19). In order to put some more points on the scoreboard, LC had 3:08 remaining to do so. The Dragons got started on its own 31-Yard Line. On 1^st Down, the snap was fumbled. Although Lane was able to maintain possession of the ball, 5-Yards were lost. That did not deter the Dragons’ Offense from doing what it wanted to do. On 2^nd and 15, Hill ran 15-Yards (to the 41-yard Line – 2:25).

            With the ball on the 44-Yard Line, Lane College faced 3^rd Down and 7. At 1:42, Reynolds kept the ball. He was brought down on Central State’s 46-Yard Line. The next play had Reynolds completing a 14-Yard Pass to O’Joshua Bunton. Trouble soon made its way into the drive. On 1^st Down and 10 from CSU’s 32-Yard Line, Reynolds was sacked by the Marauders’ Kailen Abrams. For LC, Abrams’ Sack resulted in a loss of 13-Yards. The ball rested on CSU’s 45-Yard Line. After an Incomplete Pass on 2^nd Down, it was now 3^rd Down and 23. At the 41.3-Seconds mark, Reynolds completed a 12-Yard Pass to Ahmad Isaac. On 4^th Down and 11, the ball was now on the 33-Yard Line. Instead of a Field Goal Attempt or Punt, the Dragons decided to run a play. Reynolds went on to complete a 15-Yard Pass to Isaac (36.4-Seconds). Isaac got the ball to the Marauders’ 18-Yard Line. On 1^st and 10, Reynolds threw a pass into the end zone. The pass was incomplete. After a second Incomplete Pass, it was now 3^rd Down and 10. With the clock reading 18.0-Seconds, Reynolds completed the 18-Yard Touchdown Pass to Quantavius Wilson. Wilson was standing in the end zone, and he was wide-open. Juan-Pena’s Extra Point Kick was good. LC now trails CSU 17-10.

            By the score of 17-10, the First Half would go on to end. After the Halftime Break, Central State’s Offense started on its 31-Yard Line. Saffold moved the ball to the 34-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 7, Saffold received the handoff again. This time, he took the ball (up the middle) 66-Yards to the end zone (14:24). Teel’s Extra Point Kick was good. CSU’s lead now stands at 24-10. By going three plays and out, Lane College responded to the Marauders’ quick score. At 12:49, it was now 4^th Down and 1 from the Dragons’ 47-Yard Line. Instead of attempting to pick up 1-Yard (or possibly more), LC decided to punt (12:49). From its own 28-Yard Line, CSU’s Offense got started. Immediately, a big play was made. On 1^st and 10, Mays threw a deep pass downfield. Greenhow was the lucky recipient of the deep pass. The 45-Yard Pass Completion placed the ball on LC’s 27-Yard Line (12:35). From there, Saffold went on to rush the ball to the 24-Yard line. On 2^nd Down and 7, Mays took the snap-from-center. He ended up stumbling. Mays was able to regain his balance. Once he did that, Mays completed the 24-Yard Touchdown Pass to Robert Corbin, Jr. (11:23). Teel’s Extra Point Kick was good. CSU’s lead now stood at 31-10.

            After receiving the ball again, Lane College’s Offense went three plays and out. The drive started on the Dragons’ 38-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 10, Reynolds was sacked by Central State’s Kwantay Stanley. Stanley’s sack moved the ball back 11-Yards. On 3^rd Down and 21, Reynolds was sacked again. This time, CSU’s Xavier Johnson brought him down. That sack resulted in a loss of 8-Yards. On 4^th Down and 29 from the 19-Yard Line, Juan-Pena was forced to punt. The ball ended up being downed on the Marauders’ 31-Yard Line. Once Saffold ran the ball on 1^st and 10, flags were on the field. The Marauders’ Coulter Powell, III was charged with an Illegal Block Violation. That penalty placed the ball on the 15-Yard Line. When 1^st Down and 26 was played, Saffold picked up 20-Yards. He got the ball to the 35-Yard Line (8:57). CSU soon pulled a play out of its bag of tricks. At the 8:07 mark, it was 3^rd Down and 2 from the 39-Yard Line. By the way of a Reverse Play, Blake McEwen was handed the ball. He proceeded to run the ball 56-Yards. Before he reached the end zone, McEwen was tackled on LC’s 5-Yard Line.

            Darius Meadors soon sealed the deal. On 1^st and Goal, Meadors took the ball into the end zone (7:35). Teel successfully converted another Extra Point Kick. Central State now possesses a strong 38-10 lead. Lane College’s next Offensive Drive started on the team’s 10-Yard Line. Justin D. Hill rushed the ball four, consecutive times. His runs went for a total of 25-Yards. Hill got the ball to the 35-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 8, Reynolds completed a 35-Yard Pass to Hampton. As Hampton was catching the ball, the closest defender had fallen to the ground. The play ended on CSU’s 30-Yard Line (4:51). When the next play got going, Reynolds threw a pass into the end zone. That was not a wise decision. The Marauders’ K’Jamus Sanders intercepted another pass (4:14). Central State’s ensuing Offensive Drive was a good example of fine precision. The drive started on the Marauders’ 20-Yard Line. Mays completed 3-Passes (for a total of 36-Yards) to Grayson Green. Saffold ran the ball twice for 9-Yards. Meadors had 2-Rushes too. His runs totaled 8-Yards. As the 4^th Quarter came to a close, the ball was now on LC’s 27-Yard Line.

            When the 4^th Quarter started, Central State had a tough decision to make. Either the Marauders would attempt a Field Goal, or the team would go for the First Down. CSU decided to go for the First Down. At 14:55, Saffold took the handoff. When he was tackled, he had reached the 22-Yard Line. The First Down was obtained. The very next play, the drive disintegrated. After the snap-from-center, Mays fumbled the ball. Lane College’s Dexter Collins forced the fumble. Collins’ teammate Cameron Brown recovered the ball. The ball was downed on LC’s 33-Yard Line (14:11). Immediately, Reynolds completed a 6-Yard Pass to Bunton. Then, Isaac was the recipient of a 7-Yard Pass. Next, Reynolds went on to complete 3-Passes (8-Yards; 6-Yards; & 5-Yards) to Hampton. This entire flurry of activity moved the ball to Central State’s 35-Yard Line. The Dragons’ Offense cooled down.

            At the 10:37 mark, the ball was on Central State’s 40-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 10, Reynolds threw an Incomplete Pass to Bunton. However, Lane College received an instant gift. CSU’s Maurice Young was penalized for Pass Interference. That penalty placed the ball on the 25-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 8 from the 23-Yard Line, Reynolds completed a Touchdown Pass to Wilson (9:52). A 2-Point Conversion pass was no good. LC trails CSU 38-16. The Marauders’ Offense proceeded to go three plays and out. With the ball on the Marauders’ 41-Yard Line, the team faced 4^th Down and 4. Smith punted the ball (8:16).  The Dragons’ Offense started on its 20-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 5, the ball was on the 25-Yard Line. At the 7:21 mark, Reynolds completed a 19-Yard Pass to Bunton. Then, the drive came to a halt. On 1^st Down and 10 from the 44-Yard Line, the snap-from-center was high. The ball fell loose to the ground. CSU’s Kailen Abrams recovered the loose ball. The ball was downed on LC’s 41-Yard Line (6:57).

            Central State’s 1^st and 10 Play ended with Mays throwing an Incomplete Pass. Then, the Marauders decided to grind the ball with Saffold. The Marauders’ Offensive Play Selection consisted of Saffold performing five, consecutive runs (12-Yards; 10-Yards; 14-Yards; 1-Yard; & 0-Yards). When Saffold’s streak ended, the ball ended up on Lane College’s 4-Yard Line. With 4:18 remaining in the game, it was 3^rd and Goal. McEwen picked up the 4-Yard Touchdown. Teel’s Extra Point Kick was good. CSU leads LC 45-16. After a 38-Yard Kickoff Return by Anthony Evelyn, the Dragons’ Offense started on the Marauders’ 43-Yard Line. On 1^st and 10, Reynolds completed a 16-Yard Pass to Bunton. The very next play ended with Reynolds completing a 27-Yard Touchdown Pass to Bunton (3:34). A 2-Point Conversion Pass Attempt was no good. Lane College trails Central State 45-22. When CSU got the ball back, its offense ended up turning the ball over on downs. In order to put some final points on the scoreboard, LC was presented with a final opportunity. However, CSU’s Defense would not allow it to happen. Toward the very end of the game, the ball was on CSU’s 27-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 11, Reynolds threw a pass. CSU’s Christopher Lewis was standing on the 4-Yard Line. Lewis intercepted the pass. He returned the ball 69-Yards to LC’s 27-Yard Line. By the Final Score of 45-22, Central State University’s very up-and-down season ended on a positive note. At last, the Marauders was finally able to put a streak together of consecutive victories.

Central State Finally Overcomes Tuskegee University

            Besides Central State University’s (CSU) Football Game at Kentucky State University (which took place earlier this season), today (Saturday, October 27, 2018) is the day I have been waiting for. In mere minutes, CSU’s Marauders will be hosting Tuskegee University’s (TU) Golden Tigers. Since November 1, 2014, something has been bothering me. Back on that very date, Tuskegee visited McPherson Memorial Stadium. To make a long story short, the game did not end how I wanted the game to end. By the Final Score of 28-25, Tuskegee defeated Central State. What has always bothered me the most is the following. The game came down to the end. CSU was in position to do one of two things. Either the Marauders would tie the game and send it into Overtime Play, or CSU would outright win the game. CSU’s Final Offensive Play still rests clearly in my mind. It will never leave my mindset. If you want to know what I am exactly talking about, go search the archives of “Xenia’s Word On The Street” (www.xeniaword.com). My past stories are still on the website. On Saturday, October 29, 2016, Tuskegee University returned to McPherson Stadium. However, that game was not the same as it was in 2014. In its return trip, Tuskegee decisively defeated Central State 42-14.

            Including Central State’s 2014 loss to Tuskegee, the Marauders has lost four, consecutive games in the series. However, today is a brand-new day. What happened before today is the past. Today provides a brand-new opportunity for success. Every season, Tuskegee University is one of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s (SIAC) Top Teams. Winning SIAC Championships and going to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Playoff Tournaments is nothing new for the Golden Tigers. Central State University is still trying to reach that level of success. That process continues now. Tuskegee won the Official Coin Toss. The Golden Tigers has deferred until the Second Half. Central State started the game on its own 35-Yard Line. At 14:26, the Marauders’ Offense was penalized for a False Start. That 5-Yard Penalty moved the ball back to the 30-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 15, CSU’s Quarterback Trent Mays completed a 69-Yard Pass to Wide Receiver Kevin Greenhow (14:10). Greenhow was brought down on TU’s 1-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and Goal, Terraris Saffold took the ball into the end zone (13:20). Trevor Teel’s Extra Point Kick was good. Central State took an early 7-0 lead.

            Tuskegee University’s first Offensive Drive started on the team’s 41-Yard Line. After an opening run which lost 2-Yards, Tuskegee quickly got on track. On 2^nd Down and 12, Ahmad DeRamus completed a 31-Yard Pass to Javarrius Cheatham (12:26). The ball rested on Central State’s 30-Yard Line. Then, trouble returned. The next play ended with a loss of 5-Yards. On 3^rd Down and 8 from CSU’s 28-Yard Line, Kenny Gant rushed for 4-Yards. Gant was unable to pick up the First Down. However, the Golden Tigers received a gift. The Marauders’ Samy Jean was penalized for a Personal Foul (Late Hit). Jean’s mistake gave Tuskegee a First Down on the 12-Yard Line. It did not take long for Tuskegee to turn Jean’s mistake into points. On 1^st Down and 10, Justice Owens moved the ball into the end zone (10:19). Huskic Arnes’ Extra Point Kick was good. The score is now tied 7-7.

            Upon receiving the ball again, Central State’s Offense looked like it would go three plays and out. With 9:24 on the clock, the Marauders faced 3^rd Down and 18 from its 33-Yard Line. Mays went on to complete a 33-Yard Pass to Greenhow. Greenhow got the ball to Tuskegee University’s 34-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 10, Mays threw an Incomplete Pass to Darius Ford. Ford was standing in the end zone. As he was going for the catch, one of the Golden Tigers’ defenders nailed him. The Marauders turned that negative into a positive. On 3^rd Down and 10, Mays connected with Saffold (8:35). The 28-Yard Pass Completion got the ball to the 6-Yard Line. After the snap-from-center on 1^st and Goal, the ball flew high over Mays’ head. Saffold recovered the loose ball. Eventually, he was tackled back on TU’s 16-Yard Line. On 2^nd and Goal, Mays completed a 14-Yard Pass to Saffold (7:50). At 7:05, CSU faced 4^th and Goal on the 1-Yard Line. Jerry Lanier took the ball into the end zone. After the successful completion of Teel’s Extra Point Kick, CSU now led TU 14-7.

            At the 6:01 mark, the ball was positioned on Tuskegee’s 36-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 11, Ahmad DeRamus threw a Deep Pass to a wide-open Peyton Ramzy. The 55-Yard Pass Completion placed the ball on Central State’s 9-Yard Line. On 1^st and Goal, Owens ran the ball to the end zone (5:45). Arnes’ Extra Point Kick was good. By the score of 14-14, the game was tied. With 5:22 remaining in the 1^st Quarter, CSU’s Offense had to go through a 2^nd Down & 10 Play. After the snap, Mays was looking for somewhere to pass. With nowhere to pass, Mays took off up the middle of the field. He picked up 12-Yards. On an ensuing 2^nd Down and 10 Play, Mays threw an Incomplete Pass to Greenhow. The ball was too high for Greenhow to make the reception. At the conclusion of the play, a flag was on the field. TU’s Terance Leatherwood was hit with a Personal Foul Penalty (Late Hit). That penalty enabled the ball to be placed on the Golden Tigers’ 26-Yard Line.

            Trouble soon visited the Marauders’ Offense. On 2^nd Down and 10, Mays threw a pass. Unfortunately, Tuskegee’s Rorrick Steward was standing on the 2-Yard Line. Steward intercepted Mays’s pass (4:01). He proceeded to return the ball to his team’s 12-Yard Line (10-Yards). Immediately, Justice Owens rushed the ball 10-Yards. The drive would go on to stall. At the 2:39 mark, it was now 4^th Down and 8 from the 24-Yard Line. TU’s Dalton Hall was forced to punt. With 1:43 on the clock, Central State had 2^nd Down and 6 from its 35-Yard Line. The ball was snapped high over Mays’ head. Eventually, Mays was able to retrieve the ball. He threw the ball out-of-bounds. CSU’s Isaiah Smith went on to punt the ball away (1:29). During the Punt Return, Tuskegee committed a Holding Violation. As a result of the penalty, the ball was placed on the Golden Tigers’ 29-Yard Line. On 1^st Down and 10, Owens rushed the ball to the 42-Yard Line (13-Yards). The 1^st Quarter would go on to end.

            As the 2^nd Quarter got underway, Tuskegee had a 2^nd Down and 8 from its own 44-Yard Line. During the course of a Reverse Play, Ramzy was handed the ball. He proceeded to run the ball 56-Yards. When he stopped running, Ramzy was standing in the end zone (14:47). Flags were thrown onto the field. The Touchdown was coming back. The Golden Tigers’ Kendall Calvin had committed a Holding Violation. The ball was placed back on TU’s 34-Yard Line. It never moved forward. On 4^th Down and 18, Hall had to punt. Central State’s Offense went on to go three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 15 from CSU’s 32-Yard Line, Smith punted the ball away. On 2^nd Down and 8 from Tuskegee’s 30-Yard Line, DeRamus completed a 14-Yard Pass to Ted Jalen Smith (12:32). Facing the possibility of having to punt, Tuskegee had to deal with 3^rd Down and 9 on the 45-Yard Line. DeRamus went on to complete a 12-Yard Pass to Ramzy (11:24). Ramzy was tackled on Central State’s 43-Yard Line.

            With the clock showing 10:34, it was 2^nd Down and 11. After the snap-from-center, DeRamus was looking to pass. He dropped the ball. Offensive Lineman Rochelin Romain recovered the loose ball. The ball was back on Tuskegee’s own 45-Yard Line. On 4^th Down and 22, Hall punted the ball. The punt was good. The ball was downed on Central State’s 6-Yard Line. Although the Marauders’ Offense was starting deep in its own territory, the unit created some breathing room. On 3^rd Down and 6 from the 10-Yard Line, Mays completed a 7-Yard Pass to Darius Ford (8:09). At 6:49, the ball was on the 26-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 1, Jerry Lanier picked up 1-Yard. For the remainder of the drive, the ball would remain on the 27-Yard Line. On 4^th Down and 10, Smith had to punt (6:02). During the Punt Return, TU was penalized for an Illegal Block. As a result, the ball was positioned on the Golden Tigers’ 33-Yard Line.

            With 5:08 remaining in the First Half, it was now 2^nd Down and 9 from Tuskegee’s 34-Yard Line. Ivonte Patterson rushed the ball 13-Yards (to the 47-Yard Line). For Central State’s Defense, the next play was disheartening. DeRamus threw an Incomplete Pass. Two of the Marauders’ Defenders got hands on the ball. Unfortunately, neither defender was able to obtain an Interception. After avoiding a fatal mistake, TU quickly redeemed itself. On 2^nd Down and 10, DeRamus completed a 14-yard Pass to Javarrius Cheatham (4:18). Then, Patterson ran the ball to CSU’s 29-Yard Line. Once the next play got going, CSU’s Shemar Moss made a great play. As soon as Patterson was handed the ball, Moss immediately tackled him. Moss’ Defensive Play resulted in a loss of 4-Yards. The Golden Tigers did not allow that mistake to halt the team’s momentum. The next play ended with DeRamus completing a 19-Yard Pass to Cheatham. A short time later, Tuskegee struck pay dirt. On 2^nd Down and 6 from Central State’s 10-Yard Line, DeRamus completed a Touchdown Pass (1:44). Once again, CSU’s Defense made a freak play. One of CSU’s Defenders tipped the ball to TU’s Alexander Mitchell. Mitchell was the lucky recipient of the Touchdown Pass. Arnes’ Extra Point Kick was good. Tuskegee leads Central State 21-14.

            With 1:37 remaining in the 2^nd Quarter, Central State’s Offense started on its own 32-Yard Line. On 1^st Down, Mays completed a 12-Yard Pass to Saffold. At the 1:15 mark, it was 2^nd Down and 15 from the 39-Yard Line. Mays went on to complete a pass to Ford. Ford’s 26-Yard Reception placed the ball on Tuskegee’s 35-Yard Line. The next play ended with Mays completing a pass to Saffold. To CSU’s dismay, Saffold was tackled for a loss of 5-Yards. With 20.3-Seconds remaining on the clock, it was 4^th Down and 8 on TU’s 33-Yard Line. Instead of attempting a Field Goal, the Marauders decided to run a play. That was a wise choice. Mays completed a 23-Yard Pass to Greenhow. Greenhow was tackled on the 10-Yard Line. Before the remaining time elapsed, the Marauders was unable to score. At the Halftime Break, Tuskegee leads Central State 21-14. Tuskegee won the game’s Coin Toss. Due to choosing to defer, the Golden Tigers’ Offense opened the Second Half.

            On 1^st Down and 16 from Tuskegee’s own 37-Yard Line, DeRamus completed an 11-Yard Pass to Kenny Gant (14:20). With 13:27 on the clock, the drive came down to 3^rd Down and 5 on the 48-Yard Line. DeRamus went on to complete a 9-Yard Pass to Gant. Before being tackled, Gant reached Central State’s 43-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 7, the ball was positioned on the 40-Yard Line. After the snap, DeRamus dropped back. He had all day long to throw the ball. When he finally let the ball go, DeRamus connected with Steven Hodges. When the play was over, Hodges was standing in the end zone (12:15). When Hodges caught the ball, he was wide-open. Arnes’ Extra Point Kick was good. Tuskegee leads Central State 28-14. At 11:34, the Marauders faced 2^nd Down and 11 from its own 30-Yard Line. Saffold took the ball to the ball to the 41-Yard Line (11-Yards). CSU soon got assistance from TU. Jamal Odom was flagged for Pass Interference. Odom’s mistake gave Central State’s Offense a First Down on Tuskegee’s 40-Yard Line.

            A False Start Violation soon made its way into Central State’s Offensive Drive. With 10:32 on the clock, the ball was still on the 40-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 10, Saffold rushed the ball 27-Yards. He was brought down on the 13-Yard Line. After Saffold went on to rush twice, the ball rested on the 1-Yard Line. On 1^st and Goal, Lanier was unable to move the ball. The next play ended with Mays reaching the end zone (9:08). Teel’s Extra Point Kick was no good. By the score of 28-20, CSU trails TU. After Tuskegee’s Marquez Burdette made a long Kickoff Return, the ball was stationed on Central State’s 44-Yard Line. The Golden Tigers’ Offensive Drive did not produce much. The drive never went past the Marauders’ 40-Yard Line. The Golden Tigers went three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 6, Hall punted the ball away. The Marauders’ next Offensive Drive started on the team’s 20-Yard Line.

            At 6:10, the ball was on the 20-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 10, Mays completed a 25-Yard Pass to Greenhow. The next play had Mays completing another pass to Greenhow. This time, the 20-Yard Pass Completion moved the ball into Tuskegee’s territory. With 4:43 remaining in the 3^rd Quarter, the ball was on the 27-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 2, Saffold moved the ball 22-Yards (to TU’s 5-Yard Line). Saffold proceeded to rush the ball twice. However, he could not reach the end zone. On 3^rd and Goal, the ball was on the 5-Yard Line. At 3:10, Mays completed the Touchdown Pass to Greenhow. Teel’s Extra Point Kick was no good. TU still leads CSU 28-26. At the 2:05 mark, Tuskegee faced a 3^rd Down and 8 from its own 27-Yard Line. The team was trying to avoid going three plays and out. The drive started on the 25-Yard Line. After the snap-from-center, DeRamus was hit by Central State’s Xavier Johnson. As a result of the hit, DeRamus fumbled the ball. Johnson’s teammate Lamont Montgomery recovered the fumble. The ball was downed on Tuskegee’s 34-Yard Line.

            After three plays which ended up losing 2-Yards, it was now 4^th Down and 8. The ball was on the 32-Yard Line. Instead of a Field Goal Attempt, Central State decided to perform a play.  At 1:08, Mays completed a 32-Yard Touchdown Pass to Greenhow. Once Teel successfully completed the Extra Point Kick, CSU regained the lead. The score stood at 33-28. Before the very end of the 3^rd Quarter, Tuskegee went three plays and out. With 6.3-Seconds remaining, the Golden Tigers had a 4^th Down and 18 on its own 27-Yard Line. TU was forced to punt. At the end of the 3^rd Quarter, Central State leads Tuskegee 33-28. Twelve seconds into the 4^th Quarter (14:48), Central State avoided a disastrous situation. Once he received the handoff, Saffold went on to fumble the ball. Tuskegee’s Kalil Gray forced the fumble. Luckily, Saffold was able to recover his fumble. That play was just one aspect which had the Marauders going three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 5 from the Marauders’ 38-Yard Line, Smith made a 54-Yard Punt (13:41). The ball was downed on Tuskegee’s 8-Yard Line.

            Although Tuskegee’s Offense was backed deep in its own territory, that did not deter the Golden Tigers. On 1^st Down and 10, Gant quickly moved the ball to the 25-Yard Line (17-Yards – 12:51). The drive briefly stuttered. Two plays resulted in a gain of only 5-Yards.  At 11:38 on 3^rd Down and 5 from the 30-Yard Line, DeRamus completed a 12-Yard Pass to Cheatham. Immediately, that play was followed up with DeRamus connecting with Cheatham again. This time, the completion was for 29-Yards. That play placed the ball on Central State’s 29-Yard Line. Then, Gant made a 21-Yard Rush (10:28). Before he was able to reach the end zone, Gant was tackled on the 8-Yard Line. An Illegal Formation Penalty moved the ball back to the 13-Yard Line. On 3^rd and Goal, the ball was still on the Marauders’ 13-Yard Line. At the 9:00 mark, DeRamus completed a Touchdown Pass to Cheatham. Instead of attempting the Extra Point Kick, TU decided to go for the 2-Point Conversion. At the snap, Owens took the ball into the end zone. The 2-Point Conversion Attempt was good. TU leads CSU 36-33.

            Central State wasted little time responding to Tuskegee’s scoring. On 2^nd Down and 8, CSU was on its 32-Yard Line. Mays went on to complete a 68-Yard Pass to Saffold. Saffold was never brought down. He reached the end zone (8:09). After the play ended, flags were on the field. However, a penalty (Personal Foul Violation) was called on TU’s Ken Hike, Jr. Teel’s Extra Point Kick ended up being good. Central State now leads Tuskegee 40-36. Once Tuskegee received the ball again, the Golden Tigers’ Offense went three plays and out. On 4^th Down and 2 from its 26-Yard Line, TU punted. On the ensuing Offensive Drive, CSU picked up a First Down. Then, the Marauders’ Offense went three plays and out. With 4:01 remaining in the game, CSU faced 4^th Down and 9 from its own 44-Yard Line. Smith punted the ball.

            Tuskegee’s Offense started on its 47-Yard Line. The Golden Tigers had trouble moving the ball. The drive came down to 4^th Down and 2 from Central State’s 45-Yard Line. With 1:51 remaining in the game, Owens was handed the ball. He proceeded to run, but he went nowhere. As a direct result of no gain, the ball was turned over on downs. CSU ended up moving the ball to only its 47-Yard Line. On 4^th Down and 8, the Marauders was forced to punt. The ball was downed on TU’s own 12-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 10, DeRamus completed a pass to Owens (27.2-Seconds). The 25-Yard Pass Completion took the ball to the 37-Yard Line. The ball would not move another yard. DeRamus threw three, consecutive Incomplete Passes. On 4^th Down and 10, Tuskegee had no choice but to run a play. With no time remaining on the clock, DeRamus threw a fourth, consecutive Incomplete Pass. By the Final Score of 40-36, Central State University finally defeated Tuskegee University. While Central State’s 2014 Loss to Tuskegee will never fully leave my mindset, today’s end result makes my mind; body; & soul all feel really good.  

Central State Drops Salute To Xenia Game

On Monday, October 11, 1976, I was born in Xenia, Ohio. Other than a year and a half spent living in London, Ohio, my entire life has been spent in the City Of Hospitality (Xenia, Ohio). I am a proud Graduate of both Xenia Community Schools (XCS) and Central State University (CSU). From April 2007 until January 2009, I was a Community Correspondent for the Greene County Dailies’ Xenia Daily Gazette. During the 2008 Ohio High School Football Season, I was a High School Football Columnist for the Greene County Dailies’ former publication: Greene County Shopper. Fast forward to Saturday, July 27, 2013. A meeting which was held inside of Xenia, Ohio’s Tim Hortons Restaurant led me to a long-awaited experience. On that very night, I was officially hired as a Sports Journalist & Writer for the online-only media platform “Xenia’s Word On The Street” (www.xeniaword.com). My positions with the Xenia Daily Gazette; Greene County Shopper; and Xenia’s Word On The Street all have one fact in common. I was hired as an Independent Contractor. While I am no longer associated with Greene County Dailies, I am still proudly associated with Xenia’s Word On The Street. Within the last two years, I have added my services to additional media platforms too. In all of my years of being a Sports Journalist & Writer, there have been many “highs” and “lows.” However, one issue is for certain. By far, the highs outweigh the lows. My passion for writing has enabled me to obtain a countless amount of enjoyable experiences. Everything in my writing past has now come full circle. Today (Saturday, September 29, 2018), a historical event is about to take place.

            Currently, I find myself sitting inside of Xenia, Ohio’s Doug Adam Stadium (DAS). DAS is the home of the Xenia High School (XHS) Buccaneers’ Football Team. This afternoon, I am not here to see a High School Football Game! Instead, I am present to see an event which is years in the making. In just mere minutes, a College Football Game is about to commence. Better yet, this game will be hosted by THE Central State University (CSU) Marauders! Central State’s opponent is Benedict College (BC) from Columbia, South Carolina. The Benedict College Tigers won the Official Coin Toss. However, the Tigers deferred until the Second Half. Central State’s Offense will start the game first. After the opening kickoff, the ball rested on the Marauders’ 31-Yard Line. On 3^rd Down and 7 from the 34-Yard Line, CSU’s Kevin Greenhow rushed the ball to Benedict’s 46-Yard Line (20-Yard - 13:35). The Marauders’ Offense quickly struck pay dirt. On 1^st Down and 10, Trent Mays completed a 46-Yard Touchdown Pass to Kevin Greenhow (13:09). Trevor Teel’s Extra Point Kick was Good. Central State leads Benedict 7-0.

            From the team’s own 37-Yard Line, Benedict College started its first Offensive Drive. After three plays, the Tigers managed to move the ball only 5-Yards. On 4^th Down and 5 from the 42-Yard Line, Cedrick Trottie punted the ball away. Upon receiving the ball again, Central State’s Offense fared no better. In fact, a rush (which lost yards) and a Sack hampered the drive. At 10:33 from CSU’s 22-Yard Line, Isaiah Smith punted the ball. With 9:44 on the clock, Benedict College was on the Marauders’ 49-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 6, Tigers’ Quarterback Dominique Harris threw a pass downfield. Danye Washington was wide-open. Unfortunately, the ball was too far in front of Washington. The ball fell incomplete. On 3^rd Down and 6, Harris completed a 2-Yard Pass to Keivonte Gallmon. At 9:04, Trottie punted again.  After the Punt Return, BC’s Special Teams Unit was penalized for a Late Hit. The Marauders received the ball at Midfield (50-Yard Line).  Central State was unable to capitalize off of Benedict’s mistake. On 3^rd Down and 8 from BC’s 48-Yard Line, Mays was intercepted by the Tigers’ Darryl Rolle (7:47).

            Benedict College’s Offense started on its own 42-Yard Line. After three rushing plays, the ball rested on Central State’s 49-Yard Line. The Tigers was faced with a decision. Either Punt on 4^th Down, or attempt to obtain the First Down. At the 5:19 mark, it was 4^th Down and 1. Harris kept the ball himself. To his dismay, Harris was unable to move the ball. The Marauders’ Defense was all over him. Benedict turned the ball over on downs. When it got back on the field, the Marauders’ Offense looked like it was going to do well. On 1^st Down and 10 from CSU’s 49-Yard Line, Blake McEwen picked up 14-Yards (5:09). From BC’s 37-Yard Line, CSU’s Offense managed to continuously lose yards. A Pass Completion and a Rushing Play each ended with a loss of 2-Yards. On 3^rd Down and 14, the ball was on Benedict’s 41-Yard Line. At the snap-from-center, Mays was Sacked by the Tigers’ Shaquille Husser (3:15). The loss of 8-Yards moved the ball back to the 49-Yard Line. On 4^th Down and 22, Smith punted the ball.

            With 2:27 remaining before the end of the 1^st Quarter, Benedict’s Offense quickly got the ball moving. At 1:46, the ball was on the Tigers’ 19-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 6, Harris completed a 7-Yard Pass to Phillip Brown. At the 31-Seconds mark, it was 2^nd Down and 9 from BC’s 27-Yard Line. Harris kept the ball himself. After he was brought down, Central State’s Javion Williams was flagged for a Personal Foul (Late Hit). The ball was moved up to the 48-Yard Line. At the end of the 1^st Quarter, Central State leads Benedict College 7-0. As the 2^nd Quarter got underway, Benedict faced a 2^nd Down and 5 on Central State’s 47-Yard Line.  After the snap-from-center, Harris completed a 9-Yard Pass to Gallmon (14:54). The next play ended with Trini Charlton rushing for 3-Yards. From there, a Rushing Play lost 6-Yards. Next, Harris threw an Incomplete Pass. Once the Incomplete Pass was thrown, the Marauders’ Defense made a mistake. Kobe Holtz was penalized for Holding (13:01). That penalty gave the Tigers a First Down on Central State’s 32-Yard Line.

            On 1^st Down and 10, Charlton rushed the ball straight up the middle. When he was brought down, Charlton had reached Central State’s 19-Yard Line (13-Yards – 12:56). Another run (by Charlton) moved the ball to the 14-Yard Line. At 12:03, Benedict’s Offense was hit with a Holding Penalty. That penalty resulted in a loss of 9-Yards. On 3^rd Down and 14, Harris completed a pass to Charlton (11:27). That play got the ball to the 15-Yard Line. With the Tigers now down to 4^th Down and 6, the Special Teams Unit got prepared for a Field Goal Attempt. Rigoberto Tinoco’s Field Goal Attempt was Blocked by CSU’s Demetrius Colbert (10:38). The Marauders’ Maurice Young recovered the loose ball. He proceeded to run it back to CSU’s own 40-Yard Line. After the completion of the entire play, a flag was thrown. Colbert was penalized for a Personal Foul. The penalty moved the ball back to the CSU’s 21-Yard Line. The yardage loss was too much to overcome. On 4^th Down and 29 from the 21-Yard Line, Central State was forced to Punt (10:16).

            Benedict’s Offense started with good field position. The ball rested on the Tigers’ 48-Yard Line. On 1^st Down and 10, Raheem Jennings ran to Central State’s 41-Yard Line (11-Yards – 10:02). With 8:17 on the clock, BC had 3^rd Down and 1 on CSU’s 32-Yard Line. At the snap, Jennings picked up 3-Yards. Jennings continued to control the ball. After two more runs, Jennings moved the ball to the Marauders’ 16-Yard Line. During the process, a First Down was obtained. From the 16-Yard Line, the Tigers’ Offense was unable to move the ball. On 3^rd Down and 10, the ball was still on the 16-Yard Line. At the 5:52 mark, Harris threw an Incomplete Pass. The Marauders’ Young had the Interception. While coming down to the ground, Young was unable to hold onto the ball. On 4^th Down and 10, Tinoco successfully completed a Field Goal Attempt. BC trail CSU 7-3.

            Central State’s Offense soon made a critical mistake. After the kickoff, the Marauders’ Offense Drive started on the team’s 20-Yard Line. On 1^st Down and 10, Greenhow rushed the ball. He lost 1-Yard. During the play, Benedict College’s Olajuwone Smith forced a fumble. Smith recovered the loose ball (5:34). The ball was downed on CSU’s 20-Yard Line. Immediately, Phillip Brown rushed to the 9-Yard Line (11-Yards – 5:24). During the play, Brown spun out of a tackle. He proceeded to keep on running.  From the 9-Yard Line, the drive stalled. With 4:05 remaining in the First Half, the ball was on the 9-Yard Line. On 4^th and Goal, the Tigers decided to make a Field Goal Attempt. Tinoco’s Field Goal Attempt was Blocked by Central State’s K’Jamus Sanders. Sanders’ teammate Young recovered the ball.

            On 1^st Down and 10 from Central State’s own 25-Yard Line, Mays completed a 12-Yard Pass to Terraris Saffold (3:59). As the next play was getting underway, CSU’s Redrick Mincy was penalized for a False Start Violation.  That penalty resulted in a loss of 5-Yards. With the ball resting on the 32-Yard Line, the Marauders had a 1^st Down and 15. Saffold took the ball to the 36-Yard Line. The ball would not move another yard. On 4^th Down and 11, Isaiah Smith’s Punt was Blocked by Benedict College’s James Wilson. BC’s Elroy Maloyd recovered the Blocked Punt (2:36). The ball was downed on the Marauders’ 19-Yard Line. With 1:57 remaining before the Halftime Break, the Tigers had 2^nd Down and 11 on the 20-Yard Line.  Harris went on to complete the 20-Yard Touchdown Pass to Washington. In the end zone, Washington was wide-open and alone. Tinoco’s Extra Point Kick was Good. By the score of 10-7, Benedict College now leads Central State University. Although not much time remained in the 2^nd Quarter, BC would end up with the ball again. With 33-Seconds remaining in the First Half, CSU had 1^st Down and 10 on BC’s 46-Yard Line. After the snap, Mays was intercepted by Benedict’s Traviontae Brown. The Tigers went on to run out the clock. At Halftime, Benedict still leads Central State 10-7.

            Immediately after Halftime, Benedict’s Offense made a big play. On 1^st Down and 10 from the Tigers’ 35-Yard Line, Harris completed a deep pass to Drelon Freeman. The 34-Yard Pass Completion placed the ball on Central State’s 31-Yard Line (14:43). On 2^nd Down and 7 from CSU’s 28-Yard Line, Harris threw an Incomplete Pass. After the play, the Marauders’ Devon Cunningham was penalized for Pass Interference (13:44). That penalty moved the ball to the 12-Yard Line. From that point, the drive would not experience any more positivity. On 2^nd Down and 10, Harris was Sacked by the Marauders’ Rashaun Searles (13:34). The Sack cost the Tigers 10-Yards. On 4^th Down and 20 from the 22-Yard Line, Tinoco attempted a Field Goal. The Field Goal Attempt was No Good. However, Benedict has little to worry about. The Tigers soon had the ball again. With the clock reading 12:00, Central State had 2^nd Down and 9 from its own 24-Yard Line. Mays ended up being Intercepted by Benedict’s Robert Cummings. Cummings was tackled on Central State’s 18-Yard Line.

            On 1^st Down and 10, Jennings rushed the ball to the 9-Yard Line (11:54). The next play resulted in a run which went nowhere. On 3^rd Down and 1, Harris picked up 2-Yards. Benedict now had 1^st and Goal on Central State’s 7-Yard Line. After a 2^nd and Goal rush which lost 8-Yards, the ball was back on the 15-Yard Line. At 9:14, Harris completed the 15-Yard Touchdown Pass to Washington. Tinoco’s Extra Point Kick was Good. The Tigers’ lead increased to 17-7. Once Blake McEwen returned the ensuing kickoff 40-Yards, Central State started on its 45-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 8 from the 47-Yard Line, Mays completed a 53-Yard Touchdown Pass to Terraris Saffold (8:15). The CSU Home Crowd erupted in excitement. Unfortunately, the excitement would not last. Before reaching the end zone, Saffold had stepped out-of-bounds. Therefore, the Touchdown came off of the scoreboard. With the scoreboard displaying 7:09, the Marauders faced 4^th Down and 1 on the Tigers’ 46-Yard Line. Saffold ran for 2-Yards. As a result, he obtained a First Down.

            Saffold soon made another positive play. On 2^nd Down and 10, the ball was on Benedict’s 44-Yard Line. Saffold took the ball to the 31-Yard Line (13-Yards – 6:27). Upon completion of the next play, Central State received a gift. On 1^st Down and 10, Mays threw an Incomplete Pass. Then, a Penalty Flag was thrown. BC’s Smith had committed Pass Interference (6:03). The Tigers’ mistake gave the Marauders a First Down on the 19-Yard Line. Once again, CSU was unable to capitalize off of a Benedict College Mistake. At the 5:53 mark, Mays was intercepted by BC’s Traviontae Brown. Benedict’s Offense took over deep in its own territory (2-Yard Line). Regardless of the bad Field Position, BC was able to move the ball. On 2^nd Down and 8 from the 19-Yard Line, Harris threw a deep pass downfield. The pass was incomplete (2:54). CSU had 2-Defenders in the area. Neither of them was able to grab the ball. Instead, the ball was knocked down. BC’s Offensive Drive stalled. With 2:10 remaining in the 3^rd Quarter, the Tigers faced 4^th Down and 4 on the 23-Yard Line. The Tigers had to Punt.

            After Mays completed a pass to Darius Meadors, the 3^rd Quarter would go on to end. Benedict still leads Central State 17-7. Once the 4^th Quarter got underway, the Marauders had to Punt (14:59). The Tigers’ Offense got on a mini-roll. First, it was 3^rd Down and 3. The ball was positioned on the Tigers’ 42-Yard Line. Charlton rushed the ball to the 46-Yard Line (13:45). On 1^st Down and 10, Harris completed a 15-Yard Pass to Phillip Brown. Brown was tackled on CSU’s 39-Yard Line (13:10). Benedict’s Offense kept coming through at the right time. On 3^rd Down and 1 from the 30-Yard Line, Harris completed a 5-Yard Pass to Freeman (11:16). At the 10:00 mark, Benedict was on Central State’s 22-Yard Line. After the snap on 3^rd Down and 7, Harris completed another First Down Pass (11-Yards) to Freeman. Finally, Benedict faced 3^rd Down and 1 on Central State’s 2-Yard Line. With the clock reading 8:29, Harris took the ball into the end zone. Tinoco’s Extra Point Kick was Good. By the score of 24-7, Benedict College leads Central State.

            Central State’s Offense responded well to Benedict’s latest score. At 7:52, the ball was on the Marauders’ 27-Yard Line. On 2^nd Down and 7, Mays completed a pass to Kevin Greenhow. The 32-Yard Pass Completion placed the ball on the Tigers’ 41-Yard Line. All good things must come to an end. With 7:03 remaining in the game, CSU had a 2^nd Down and 4 on BC’s 35-Yard Line. Mays was intercepted by Benedict’s Robert Cummings. However, Central State got a “Lucky Break.” Benedict’s Darryl Rolle was flagged for Pass Interference. The penalty placed the ball on the 20-Yard Line. On 1^st Down and 10, Saffold was handed the ball. When he stopped running, Saffold was in the end zone (6:38). Trevor Teel’s Extra Point Kick was Good. CSU now trails BC 24-14. With not much time remaining in the game, the Marauders’ Defense made a huge play. At 1:56, Benedict was on Central State’s 40-Yard Line. After the snap-from-center on 3^rd Down and 5, Harris was intercepted by CSU’s Devon Cunningham.

            Cunningham intercepted the ball on his team’s 25-Yard Line. Before he was tackled, he had brought the ball up to the 45-Yard Line. A Flag was thrown. After CSU’s Shemar Moss was penalized for an Illegal Hit (after the Interception), Central State’s Offense started on its own 25-Yard Line. By Trent Mays successfully passing the ball, CSU managed to get the ball to Benedict’s 30-Yard Line. With 48-Seconds remaining in the game, the drive all came to a crashing halt. On 1^st Down and 10, Mays was intercepted by BC’s Cummings. By the Final Score of 24-14, the game would go on to end. While this game did not end how I exactly wanted it to end, this entire day was very historic. In the past, I have written (more than once) about the need for Central State University to play football games inside of Doug Adams Stadium. Today fulfilled my dream. This is a great start. In the future, I pray that it continues. Better yet, I feel the following way. Central State University’s Football Team should go around to the various football stadiums of Greene County, Ohio’s High Schools. Each year, rotate the process. Play games in the various stadiums. The annual event could be labeled: “GREENE COUNTY CLASSIC.” Will my creation ever come to existence? I do not know. Officials with each entity need to come together. If that occurs, something will happen. Right now, I do not know what that “something” would be.