CSU's Final Home Game Ended With A Surprising Loss

            Although the weather was sunny and very windy, Saturday, November 9, 2013, will go down in history as a very special day for Central State University (CSU). For the CSU Marauders’ Football Team, the day was Senior Day. For the final time in their collegiate careers, CSU’s Senior Football Players will take the field at McPherson Memorial Stadium. More than likely, for most of them, this will be the final organized football game that they will ever play. On an annual basis, CSU does not put many players into the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and/or Arena Football League (AFL). Of course, some of CSU’s Football Players do manage to get into training camps and/or tryouts will those leagues. Not much success comes out of those opportunities. However, the show does not stop there. If football players from CSU want to obtain a football career in one of the previously-mentioned top-tier leagues, then their path to fulfilling their ultimate dream usually begins in a semi-professional football league. Even if a career in semi-professional football is as far as they go, the former Marauders will still be able to live out their dreams of playing some type of professional football. It just may not be exactly where they have envisioned their careers going. As of 11/09/2013, future life after college does not matter. What truly matters is today’s football game.  After years of hard work, these dedicated Marauders hope to close their collegiate careers out with a win. Over the past four years, this year’s Marauders’ Seniors have not experienced much success at all. Winning has been very limited. To me and many others of The CSU Family, the Seniors should not be looked down on for that being the case. Also, they should not be frowned upon. What truly matters is simply this. Each Senior Member has played his very own respective role in the process of creating future success for CSU’s Football Program. The Seniors have laid out the foundation for future greatness. Everyone wants to see the Marauders’ Football Program become the very successful powerhouse which it once was. These 2013 Seniors are ensuring that statement becomes a future reality.

            Before the football game got underway, the Seniors walked out onto the field. Over the public address system, they were introduced to the crowd. The Seniors were accompanied by parents, guardians, family members, friends, and even some CSU Faculty Members. The football players and those accompanying them all received a positive, roaring ovation from the entire crowd. That ovation came from spectators on both the Home Side and the Visitor Side. CSU’s Senior Band Members, Dancers, Auxiliary Members, and ROTC Participants were later honored at halftime. In addition to the day being recognized as Senior Day, it was always labeled “College Visitation Day” and “Military Day.” All morning long, High School Students were given a complete tour of CSU’s Campus. They were given an initial taste of what being a college student is like.  More importantly, these high school students were educated upon the unique & vast history of CSU. CSU’s Students are held to high stands of accountability. Whenever they are on and/or off-campus, they not only represent themselves, but they represent their educational institution as well. Therefore, the behaviors which they represent reflect back upon CSU as a whole. The “Military Day” aspect of today goes without saying. As an American, I truly appreciate all of The United States’ various Military Branches and all of their members. Without their daily, on-going dedication & hard work, neither I nor any other American would be able to thoroughly enjoy the freedoms which we are presented with every single day. Therefore, admitting Military Members by the way of “Free” and/or “Reduced Admission” is one of the best behaviors which CSU could ever display.

            The Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) Golden Bulls won the coin toss. However, they deferred possession until the second half. Therefore, The Central State University (CSU) Marauders were the first team on offense. The Marauders made the most out of a short, quick drive. On 1^ST Down and 2^ND Down, CSU ran the ball. The yardage gains were extremely short. Although the rushing attempts did not garner much yardage, those same attempts set the stage for what happened next. On 3^RD Down and 8 at 13:58, CSU’s Quarterback Robert Evans III connected with the Marauders’ Wide Receiver Steven Heard for a touchdown. After the completion of Dustin Bryan’s Extra Point Kick Attempt, the Marauders led the game 7-0. On its opening drive, JCSU was unable to get much going. On 1^ST Down, the Golden Bulls’ Quarterback Keahn Wallace completed a pass to Wide Receiver Fred Scott. On 2^ND Down, Wallace threw an incomplete pass. On 3^RD Down and 10 at 13:05, the Golden Bulls’ Running Back Harold “Trey” Oliver rushed the ball for a First Down. With a new set of downs now in place, JCSU earned the opportunity to make something happen. Unfortunately, for the Golden Bulls, they were unable to capitalize on that opportunity. Wallace completed another pass. Oliver had another rush. On 3^RD Down and 8, Wallace threw an incomplete pass. At 11:31, the Golden Bulls faced a 4^TH Down and 3 on their own 29-Yard Line. JCSU’s Punter Matias Lambrecht had to punt.

            On its next, offensive drive, CSU kept the positive momentum going. At 10:26, the Marauders faced a 2^ND Down and 8 on their own 24-Yard Line. Evans was sacked by JCSU’s Defense. However, neither Evans nor the Marauders’ Offense allowed that negativity to linger, and mess up what they were attempting to accomplish. Immediately following the sack, Evans came up with a big-time play. At 9:51, the Marauders faced a 3^RD Down and 11 on their own 21-Yard Line. Evans completed a First Down pass to Marauders’ Wide Receiver Deonte Wiggins. On the next play, Evans utilized his legs, and he rushed for another First Down. For the next two plays, Evans threw two incomplete passes. Then, Evans went back to utilizing his legs. His ability to rush the football led to two more First Downs for CSU’s Offense. Now, the Marauders were positioned on the Golden Bulls’ 9-Yard Line with a 1^ST Down and Goal. At 8:04, CSU’s Running Back Rodney Smith rushed the ball. On the play, Smith slipped, and he immediately fell to the ground. The play resulted in a gain of only 1-Yard. At 7:25, the Marauders were faced with a 2^ND Down and Goal on the Golden Bulls’ 8-Yard Line. Evans rushed to the end zone for an 8-Yard Touchdown. Bryan’s Extra Point Kick put the Marauders up 14-0.

            For the next five possessions, both teams traded the ball. CSU had two possessions, and JCSU had three possessions. All of those possessions ended the game’s 1^ST Quarter of play. JCSU’s final possession spilled over into the 2^ND Quarter. At the end of the 1^ST Quarter, a Personal Foul Penalty was called on the Marauders’ Defense. As the 2^ND Quarter began, that late hit on Wallace (by CSU’s Defense) put the Golden Bulls into Marauders’ territory on the Marauders’ 30-Yard Line. An immediate rushing play obtained a First Down. On 2^ND Down and 6, the Golden Bulls were positioned on the Marauders’ 15-Yard Line. At 13:56, Wallace threw a pass into the end zone. Unfortunately, that pass was incomplete. On 3^RD Down, a rush by JCSU’s Running Back Kyle Gregg did not result in a First Down. As a result, the Golden Bulls were faced with a 4^TH Down and 4 on the Marauders’ 13-Yard Line. Instead of punting the ball, the Golden Bulls decided to go for the First Down. At 13:22, a pass by Wallace came up incomplete. The Golden Bulls turned the ball over on downs. CSU had a 1^ST Down and 10 on their own 13-Yard Line. 

            Behind a strong rushing attack led by Evans and CSU’s Running Back Isaiah Grooms, the Marauders' drive extended into JCSU’s side of the field. On this march into the Golden Bulls’ territory, Grooms had rushes of 17-Yards and 16-Yards. Once into Golden Bulls’ territory, the Marauders’ rushing attack kept on pushing the ball further down the field. At 8:48, CSU was faced with a 3^RD Down and 3 on JCSU’s 23-Yard Line. Evans threw a pass into the end zone. Unfortunately, the intended receiver was unable to hold onto the ball, and he dropped the pass. That incomplete pass ended up being a good thing for the Marauders. On the play, two penalties were called against the Golden Bulls. One of those penalties was a Personal Foul. One of JCSU’s players was kicked out of the game. After all of this confusion was cleared up, the Marauders had a 1^ST Down and 10 on the Golden Bulls’ 11-Yard Line. On the next two plays, CSU’s Running Back Priestly Shuler ran the ball. His second rush was for 8-Yards, and it was for a touchdown. That score took place with 8:15 remaining in the 2^ND Quarter. Bryan’s Extra Point Kick pushed CSU’s lead to 21-0. The next two offensive possessions led to a punt by the Golden Bulls and a punt by the Marauders. CSU’s drive was hampered by two False Start Penalties and one Holding Penalty.

            Behind the arm of Wallace and the legs of Gregg, JCSU’s next, offensive drive took them to CSU’s 10-Yard Line. Originally, the drive started at CSU’s 40-Yard Line. At 2:59, the Golden Bulls’ faced a 2^ND Down and 1 on the Marauders’ 10-Yard Line. Gregg took the ball into the end zone for a 10-Yard Touchdown Run. Erik Amaya’s Extra Point Kick was blocked. JCSU now trailed CSU 21-6. CSU’s next, offensive drive started on their own 3-Yard Line. The Marauders’ rushing attack led them all the way to JCSU’s 48-Yard Line. CSU’s Punter Gracewell Mabhena was forced to punt for the Marauders. However, on the play, the Golden Bulls made a major mistake. They were called for a Substitution Infraction Penalty. As a result of the penalty against the Golden Bulls, Mabhena was given a chance to re-punt the ball. However, with :43 Seconds remaining in the 2^ND Quarter, the Marauders brought a little trickery into the game. Jeffrey Washington performed a Fake Punt Rush, and he ran all the way to the Golden Bulls’ 16-Yard Line for a First Down. With no time left on the clock, Bryan’s completed Field Goal pushed CSU’s lead to 24-6. With that being the score, the game’s First Half came to a close.

            After halftime, JCSU started the Second Half on offense first. The Golden Bulls’ drive started on their own 30-Yard Line.  The very first play from scrimmage was a First Down Pass from Wallace to JCSU’s Wide Receiver Fred Scott. After the completion of that pass, the rest of the drive consisted of runs by Wallace and Gregg. At 12:04 of the 3^RD Quarter, the Golden Bulls were faced with a 4^TH Down and 5 on CSU’s 30-Yard Line. Instead of a Field Goal Attempt or a Punt, the Golden Bulls decided to run the ball. A rush by Wallace went absolutely nowhere. As a result, the Golden Bulls turned the ball over on downs. However, on the very next play, CSU’s Offense fumbled the ball. JCSU’s Defense recovered the fumble. The Golden Bulls made the most out of the Marauders’ major mistake. Wallace’s First Down Rush gained two yards. Then, Wallace proceeded to complete two passes to Golden Bulls’ Wide Receiver Avius Capers. The second completion took place at 10:19 of the 3^RD Quarter. It was a 19-Yard Touchdown Pass. Amaya’s Extra Point Kick was good. JCSU trimmed CSU’s lead down 24-13. The Marauders’ next, offensive drive went absolutely nowhere, and the Marauders were forced to punt. The Golden Bulls took over on the Marauders’ 47-Yard Line. Behind the passing & rushing ability of Wallace, the Golden Bulls ended up with a 4^TH Down and Goal on the Marauders’ 1-Yard Line. At 4:21, Wallace took the ball into the end zone for a 1-Yard Touchdown Run. Amaya’s Extra Point Kick Attempt was good. By the score of 24-20, the Golden Bulls trailed the Marauders.

            The next two offensive drives resulted in punts for both teams. CSU had another drive. That drive started at the end of the 3^RD Quarter, and it spilled over into the 4^TH Quarter. At 14:51, the Marauders made another drive-ending, major mistake. On 2^ND Down and 19 from their own 14-Yard Line, Evans took the snap from center. He proceeded to pitch the ball to a running back. However, the ball was fumbled. JCSU’s Defense recovered the fumble. The Golden Bulls’ ensuing, offensive drive consisted of three plays. On those plays, the Golden Bulls’ only managed to gain zero yards. On 4^TH Down and 10, a Field Goal Attempt was no good. At 12:14 of the 4^TH Quarter, the Marauders missed an opportunity which might have very well put the game away. CSU faced a 2^ND Down and 9 on their own 43-Yard Line. Evans attempted a pass to Marauders’ Wide Receiver Jeremy Turner. Unfortunately, Turner was unable to catch the ball. The ball went right through Turner’s hands. The very saddening fact about this play is simply this. Turner was wide-open. Had he caught the ball, Turner would have gone straight to the end zone. No one would have caught him. The Marauders went on to punt the ball. The next two offensive drives consisted of both teams turning the ball over on downs.

            Had CSU converted on its 4^TH Down Rushing Attempt, they would have put the game away for good. Instead, with less than two minutes remaining to go in the game, JCSU completely stunned CSU and its home crowd. On 1^ST Down and 10, the Golden Bulls were positioned on their own 36-Yard Line. At 1:35, JCSU’s Quarterback Andrew Alexander connected with Gregg on a screen pass. That screen pass turned into a 64-Yard Touchdown. Amaya’s Extra Point Kick Attempt was no good. That did not matter, because the Golden Bulls took a 26-24 lead. A final drive by the Marauders’ Offense failed. As a result, JCSU went on to win the game 26-24.