Homecoming Was Very Kind To The Marauders

              Friday, October 11, 2013, was my birthday. I celebrated by going to a Xenia High School (XHS) Buccaneers’ Football Game. Although the Buccaneers did not come out victorious, I still enjoyed my presence at that particular game. My real birthday celebration did not begin until the morning of Saturday, October 12, 2013 (the very next morning). Early that morning, I headed out to the campus of Central State University (CSU). I got to campus around 9:00a.m. or shortly thereafter. As always, I parked my car at the CSU Health Center. I stepped out of my car, and immediately, a distinct realization came to my mind. I stopped exactly where I was standing. I could not move. I realized that this was not your normal Saturday. In fact, today is “Homecoming Saturday.” Nobody puts on a Homecoming Event like CSU. Within my mindset, after pondering over the meaning of today, I proceeded to make my way over to CSU’s Smith Hall. Every single year (on Homecoming Saturday), The CSU College of Business (COB) prepares various breakfast items for all Homecoming attendees. Breakfast is free of charge. However, the COB asks that those who partake in breakfast leave a monetary donation of their own choosing.

            After partaking in a wonderful breakfast, I sat around the friendly confines of Smith Hall. I talked with some former CSU Graduates. Also, I spoke with one of my former professors and a current CSU COB Faculty Member. She was the one who was actually serving all breakfast recipients. It was so nice to catch up with her and talk to the former CSU Graduates as well. Those graduates were much older than me. Therefore, it was so enjoyable & educational to sit with these fellow CSU Graduates. After talking with them, I feel like I am now fully-knowledgeable on the past history of CSU. Listening to them taught me so much. I was informed of so much which I did not already know. All good things must come to an end. As far as my enlightening conversations go, that is exactly what took place. As quick as those conversations started, they ended just as fast. The time came when we all had to move on and go our separate ways. Upon leaving the family-friendly confines of Smith Hall, I walked back over near The CSU Health Center & CSU’s Administration Building. I stood in this area, and I watched The 2013 CSU Homecoming Parade. Besides the performance by CSU’s Invincible Marching Marauders, my other favorite parade moment was The XHS Marching Band. The XHS Marching Band was included in this year’s Homecoming Parade. Their inclusion was a great sight to see. I am always a very happy and humble man whenever my two alma maters (both XHS and CSU) come together for a common and positive purpose.

            Finally, it was game time. The Miles College (MC) Golden Bears were The Central State University (CSU) Marauders’ 2013 Homecoming Football Game Opponent. MC started the game first on offense. Immediately, the Golden Bears went for the big play. On the game’s very first play from scrimmage, MC tried to perform a little trickery. A “Trick Play” resulted in a pass downfield to an open receiver. To the Golden Bears’ dismay, the receiver was unable to hold onto the ball. As a result, he dropped the pass. On 2^ND Down and 10 from their own 19-Yard Line, the Golden Bears threw another pass downfield to another open receiver. Once again, the pass attempt was incomplete. At 14:33, MC faced a 3^RD Down and 10 on their own 19-Yard Line. MC’s Quarterback Demetrice Price completed a pass to a receiver. However, the receiver fumbled the ball. At this point, CSU’s Defense came up with a monster play. At 14:20, The Marauders’ Defensive Back Tyrez Shipmon returned the fumble for a 28-Yard touchdown. Dustin Bryan’s Extra Point Attempt was good. With less than one minute gone off of the game clock, CSU took an early 7-0 lead over MC. On the Golden Bears’ next offensive drive, they ended up with a rush for a loss. Price was sacked by CSU’s Defensive End Justin Woods-West. MC even committed a Delay of Game Penalty. After Price completed a pass to Earnest Bell on 3^RD Down, the Golden Bears punted on 4^TH Down.

            On its first offensive drive, CSU started Mark Horne, Jr. at quarterback. Usually, Michael Wilson is the Marauders’ Starting Quarterback. So, this was a very puzzling move. On 1^ST Down, Horne almost made a catastrophic mistake. His pass was almost intercepted by MC’s Defense. After that play, Horne pretty much got his act together. Due to ineffective rushing plays and multiple penalties, the Marauders were hampering their very own drive. However, Horne’s passing was very good. His multiple completed passes enabled his offense to drive the ball downfield into the Golden Bears’ territory. While the Marauders were able to get the ball deep into the Golden Bears’ red zone, they were unable to put the ball into the end zone. On a 4^TH and Goal, CSU’s Kicker Dustin Bryan attempted a 33-Yard Field Goal. The Field Goal Attempt was blocked by MC. However, the Marauders’ own Woods-West made another big play. He picked up the blocked Field Goal Attempt, and he almost made it to the end zone. His spectacular play ended up being negated. Due to the rules, the ball is not allowed to be advanced by the kicking team. After obtaining possession, the Golden Bears went straight to the rushing game.  However, it went absolutely nowhere. On 4^TH Down, MC had to punt.

            Once CSU’s Offense received the ball again, the Marauders’ Rushing Game was effectively able to move the ball well into MC’s territory. On 4^TH Down and 9, the Marauders were positioned on the Golden Bears’ 25-Yard Line. At that point, their offense made a huge gamble, and it did not pay dividends. At 1:36 of the 1^ST Quarter, Horne’s pass to the Marauders’ Wide Receiver Steven Heard was near the goal line. Unfortunately, for the Marauders, the pass was incomplete. As a result, CSU turned the ball over on downs. Immediately afterward, MC was able to get their offense going. The Golden Bears alternated between passing plays and rushing plays with success. At the end of the 1^ST Quarter, MC’s Running Back Denzel Veale rushed into the end zone for a touchdown. However, on the play, the Golden Bears committed a major mistake. A Block in the Back Penalty took the points off of the scoreboard. At 14:40 of the 2^ND Quarter, Price fumbled the snap, but he was able to recover the ball. He was tackled for a loss. At 14:01, Price threw a pass to MC’s Wide Receiver, Darren Fife, in the end zone. The pass was incomplete, but the Golden Bears got a major break. Pass Interference was called on CSU’s Defense. Another penalty on the Marauders set the Golden Bears up on CSU’s 1-Yard Line. On 3^RD Down at 13:05, Price took the ball into the end zone for a score. After the completion of the extra point, MC tied the game 7-7.

            The Marauders’ Rushing Offense began to take over. Multiple rushing plays enabled the Marauders to move the ball well within their own territory. Then, CSU’s momentum was immediately stopped. The Marauders had a 1^ST Down and 10 on MC’s 47-Yard Line. At 9:49, Horne committed a major, momentum-killing mistake. He threw an interception to MC’s Defensive Back Alexander Francois. Francois returned the interception all the way to the end zone for a 57-Yard Touchdown. With the completion of the extra point, MC took a 14-7 lead. Due to a major mistake, a good CSU drive went absolutely nowhere. The Marauders were really moving the ball offensively. After offensive drives by both teams which resulted in punts, the Marauders’ Offense had the ball again. Once again, CSU’s Rushing Offense took over the game. The Marauders’ Rushing Attack took the ball downfield deep into MC’s territory. At 3:13, the Marauders’ Running Back Isaiah Grooms made a spectacular rushing play. The Golden Bears’ Defense could barely bring him down. Grooms kept fighting for yards. At one point, I thought he was tackled, but he kept on moving the pile. At 2:31, CSU’s Quarterback Michael Wilson completed a pass to tight end, Zach Thomas. Thomas was stopped near the goal line. After a False Start Penalty committed by the Marauders, CSU’s Running Back Priestly Shuler rushed the ball into the end zone for a touchdown at 2:03. Bryan’s Extra Point Attempt was blocked. The Golden Bears held onto a 14-13 lead. Before the 2^ND Quarter ended, MC’s Offense ended up near the Marauders’ goal line. However, they were unable to put the ball into the end zone. The first half ended.

            The Marauders made some good halftime adjustments. They started out the 3^RD Quarter very strong. After a good kickoff return by CSU’s Kick Returner & Wide Receiver Aaron Wade, the Marauders had a 1^ST Down and 10 on their own 48-Yard Line. Rushing plays by Shuler and Wilson took the Marauders into MC’s red zone. Then, Wilson began to throw the ball. First, he completed a pass to a wide receiver. On the next play at 12:32, Wilson completed a 15-Yard Touchdown Pass to Heard. A 2-Point Rushing Attempt Conversion was no good. However, the Marauders took a 19-14 lead over the Golden Bears. MC did not respond to CSU’s score in a good way. Their first drive of the 3^RD Quarter and the 2^ND Half ended in a punt. On its next offensive drive, by the way of a positive rushing game, the Marauders were able to effectively move the ball into the Golden Bears’ territory. At 9:06, the Marauders had a 1^ST Down and 10 on the Golden Bears’ 19-Yard Line. They were in a Shotgun Formation. Wilson was unable to handle the high snap from the center. He fumbled the ball, and the Golden Bears recovered the fumble. After recovering the fumble, MC was unable to do anything offensively. Eventually, they had to punt the ball. With his rushing ability, Wilson immediately began to take over the game. On the drive, his rushing ability took the Marauders to MC’s 1-Yard Line. After CSU committed a False Start Penalty, Wilson took the ball into the end zone at 5:51 for a 3-Yard Touchdown Run. The Extra Point Attempt was no good. CSU now held a 25-14 lead over MC.

            On MC’s ensuing, offensive drive, the Golden Bears’ Rushing Game dominated the drive. From their own 12-Yard Line, the Golden Bears’ Rushing Attack marched straight down the field. After the start of the 4^TH Quarter, MC faced a 1^ST and Goal on CSU’s 3-Yard Line. At 14:40, Veale took the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. The Extra Point Attempt was good. MC still trailed CSU 25-21. The rest of the 4^TH Quarter was pretty much a back and forth game. Neither offense was able to score. Both teams traded punts. Although the Marauders were unable to score, Wilson continued to further take over this game. By utilizing a strong, personal rushing attack and with the help of a key 4^TH Down Pass Completion, the Marauders were able to keep the ball moving. At 1:30, CSU’s Defense came up big on a 4^TH Down Play. MC’s Quarterback Price threw a pass deep downfield. However, the Marauders’ Defense prevented the pass from being completed. The Golden Bears turned the ball over on downs. The Marauders’ Offense eventually ran the game clock out. As a result, The CSU Marauders obtained their first win of the 2013 Season! The game ended with the final score of CSU 25 and MC 21.

            After the conclusion of CSU’s 2013 Homecoming Football Game, I was left speechless. In fact, before the game ended, I was speechless. As I was writing my final game notes, I had to hold back tears. That is how emotional I had become. A female spectator (sitting directly to my left) even verbally acknowledged to me about how quiet I was during the entire game. This game was very serious to me. In fact, each CSU Football Game is of a serious nature to me. I very much take all of The Marauders’ Football Games to heart. That is how personal those games are to me. Due to my own personal illness, I missed all of CSU’s 2012 Home Football Games. Therefore, I cannot remember the last time I witnessed CSU win a football game! That is how bad things have become for the CSU Football Program. For the Marauders, winning home football games is not a consistent occurrence. Therefore, it was finally so nice to see the Marauders win a game inside of McPherson Memorial Stadium. After an 0-5 start to the 2013 Season, it was extremely exciting & enjoyable to finally see the Marauders put together four quarters of quality football. As a result of doing that, The CSU Marauders won their first football game of The 2013 College Football Season. As the game clock ran down to zero, words just cannot simply describe the feeling which overcame me. This was definitely a great way for my birthday weekend to end. I received the greatest gift of all-time.