Rivalry Week Was Not Kind To The Marauders

            Saturday, September 14, 2013, could not have gotten here any faster for me. For a number of reasons, this Week 2 Game has been heavily weighing upon my mind. In the season’s opening contest, The Central State University (CSU) Marauders did not play well whatsoever. That is now the past. As the longtime, old phrase goes, “The past is the past. What has happened cannot be changed.” The phrase forever remains true. As far as how it relates to the CSU Football Team, the situation is like this. Whether they want to or not, the Marauders have to accept what took place in The Dayton Classic. By no means can the game’s final outcome be altered in any way, shape, and/or fashion. Hopefully, the Marauders realized the things that they did wrong. In turn, I hope that they have corrected those miscues. By doing that, CSU can minimize the risks of repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Week 2 is a brand-new week. Along with a brand-new week comes brand-new opportunities and a new opponent. The Week 2 opponent is not your common, ordinary, everyday opponent. For Week 2, the opponent is none other than Kentucky State University (KSU). This is a big-time rivalry game. For those that do not know, please allow me to fill you in on something. For years, without any shadow of a doubt, the Thorobreds of KSU has been the biggest rival that CSU has had. Most people think that nearby Wilberforce University (WU) is CSU’s biggest rival. While WU is a big rival for CSU, they just are not a big enough rival as KSU is. CSU and KSU are big-time rivals in everything, including football; basketball; marching band; choir; etc. You name the activity, and I am quite certain that the two institutions intensely compete against one another in it.

            My anticipation was so high for this game that the walk from my car to McPherson Memorial Stadium was a very long one. It seemed like the trip across campus would never end. Upon getting to the stadium, I realized some things. After a long walk of much thought, I was finally at the entrance of McPherson Stadium. I arrived more than an hour before game time, but I made it nonetheless. The game that I had waited for so long to take place was just mere minutes from commencing. After taking my seat, it was unusually quiet. There were not many people in the stadium yet. Both teams were conducting on-field, pre-game preparations. That quiet nature did not last long whatsoever. Music started blaring over the PA (Public Address) system. CSU’s Marching Band took its place around the track which surrounds the field. Out of nowhere, the silence was no more. KSU’s team was leaving the field, and they did not leave quietly. They were extremely boisterous and loud, as they walked past the CSU Home Side Seats. The KSU Band was marching into the stadium. Of course, they were creating much noise with their instruments. By the time this was taking place, both the home side and the visitor’s side seats were filling up with fans. You could feel the excitement in the air. Even both marching bands were getting in on the action. They began to loudly play. It was obvious that they were trying to outperform one another. CSU’s Invincible Marching Marauders (IMM) Band got the home side “Marauder Land” extremely hyped up.

            After the game’s official kickoff, KSU started the game by being the first on offense. The Thorobreds’ Offense immediately paid quick dividends. On the very first play from scrimmage, KSU was positioned on its very own 22-Yard Line. After the ball was snapped, it was handed to Running Back Devon Causey. At 14:39, he took the ball to the house (the end zone) for a 78-Yard Touchdown Run. The extra-point kick was good, and the Thorobreds quickly went up 7-0. You should have witnessed the reaction of CSU’s Home Supporters. They all were instantly stunned. They were in complete shock. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The home crowd began to wonder if they were going to see a repeat of what took place in Week 1’s Dayton Classic. The Marauders’ Offense did not respond well to KSU’s quick start and score. In the form of 5-Yard Encroachment Penalty against the Thorobreds, CSU’s Offense gained a first down on its opening drive. However, the Marauders solely utilized the “rushing game,” and it went absolutely nowhere. Eventually, CSU was forced to punt.

            On KSU’s next offensive drive, CSU’s Defense came through in a huge way. At 11:51, KSU’s Quarterback fumbled a handoff, and the Marauders’ Defense recovered the ball at the Thorobreds 20-Yard Line. At 11:40, CSU’s Quarterback Michael Wilson ran to the end zone for a touchdown. After the extra point kick was complete, the game was tied 7-7. When faced with adversity, the Marauders stepped up big-time. After KSU’s quick, opening score, CSU could have crumbled. However, they did not do that. Instead, the Marauders took the fight (both defensively & offensively) directly back to the Thorobreds. Causey’s score was not an immediate sign of things to come. CSU’s Defense began to shut KSU’s running game down. KSU’s passing was not working much either. Surprisingly enough, the Marauders were the ones utilizing both the rushing & passing games well. CSU was mixing up their offensive play selection very well. With the aid of three crucial penalties by KSU’s Defense and success by its own offense, the Marauders were moving the ball downfield. If CSU’s Offense had an incomplete pass or a bad run, penalties by KSU’s Defense voided those negative plays.

            In the game’s first half, CSU’s Quarterback Michael Wilson was one person who truly impressed me with his play. In Week 1’s Dayton Classic, Wilson was way too inconsistent. However, in Week 2, he came out fired up. His play on the field thoroughly displayed that. At the beginning of the 2^ND Quarter, he had some decent passes and completions. At one point, he had a long rush into KSU’s territory. On a critical 3^RD Down and 4, Wilson was part of a very good-looking play. He utilized an option by flipping the ball to one of his running backs. The end result was a 1^ST Down deep into the red zone. At 9:06, Wilson finished off a great drive. He completed a pass into the end zone for a touchdown. After the extra point kick was completed, the Marauders took the lead 14-7. Unlike what took place in The Dayton Classic, it was so nice to see the Marauders finish off a good offensive drive. On this drive, CSU did not allow penalties and/or turnovers to hamper the drive’s success.

            Late in the 2^ND Quarter, one issue was still apparent. KSU’s Running Game was still unable to gain any type of momentum. CSU’s Defense was still shutting the running game down. Causey’s 78-yard score lit a fire up under the Marauders’ Defense. From that point forward, CSU’s Defense kept Causey and the rest of the Thorobreds’ Offense in check. Well, as soon as I say that, KSU quickly turned the tide. By the way of a 71-yard rush (at 7:47) from its own 23 to the CSU 6, KSU revitalized its rushing arsenal. At 6:47, the Thorobreds rushed the ball into the end zone for a short-yardage score. With the completed extra point, the game was now tied 14-14. Instead of completely giving up on a rushing game that was going nowhere, KSU did not quit. They continuously kept on running the ball. Eventually, their refusal to give up paid off dividends.

            After playing a very good first half, CSU’s troubles began at 2:55 of the 2^ND Quarter. Wilson flipped the ball to a running back. However, the ball did not connect with the running back’s hands. It fell to the ground. The running back quickly regrouped, and he picked the ball up. Then, he ran into the end zone for a touchdown. The score did not last too long. A penalty committed by CSU took the points off of the scoreboard. The success of this drive started to become hampered by an incomplete pass and short pass completions which did not gain much yardage. However, a Face Mask Penalty committed by KSU’s Defense allowed the drive to continue. A CSU rushing play got the Marauders near the goal line. However, the Marauders’ Offense was unable to convert a touchdown score. With 18.7 seconds left in the first half, CSU converted a field goal. The Marauders now lead 17-14. That is how the game’s first half ended.

            The CSU Marauders made some bad second-half adjustments. In plain and simple terms, CSU did not bring their positive vibes from the first half to the second half. The 17 points which the Marauders scored in the first half would go on to be their only points. They would not score again. As soon as the second half began, the Marauders committed a huge mistake. Wilson threw an interception. KSU’s Defense took that interception to CSU’s 1-yard line. At 13:54 of the 3^RD Quarter, one of the Thorobreds’ Running Backs took the ball into the end zone for a score. After the completion of the extra point, KSU now leads 21-17. CSU’s next offensive drive was hampered by a Delay of Game Penalty and a Holding Penalty both of which they committed. Eventually, they were forced to punt.

            CSU’s fortunes continued to go further downhill. At 7:02, KSU had to punt the ball. However, a penalty on CSU gave the ball back to KSU’s Offense. The Thorobreds began to get their running game going. They started marching the ball downfield with run plays. All of their rushing landed them deep into CSU’s territory. At 4:53, a 5-Yard Encroachment Penalty on the Marauders resulted in a first down for the Thorobreds. At 1:45, KSU converted a field goal attempt. They lead 24-17. As the 3^RD Quarter came to a close, CSU was moving the ball into their opponent’s territory. The Marauders utilized pass completions to accomplish that. At the very beginning of the 4^TH Quarter, a sack on Wilson delayed CSU’s momentum. Then, at 13:59 on 3^RD Down, CSU was flagged for a holding penalty. On 4^TH Down, a field goal attempt was no good.

            If things had not already gotten bad for the Marauders, they got even worse. Once again, CSU forced KSU to punt. However, like a previous punting play, the Marauders committed a penalty. This time, a “Roughing The Kicker” penalty was called. As a result of the penalty, the Thorobreds maintained possession. At 11:09 and positioned on their own 49-yard line, KSU rushed to the end zone for a 51-Yard Touchdown. After the completion of the extra point, the Thorobreds now lead 31-17. They quickly put the final dagger into the hearts of the Marauders. At 10:59, on the kickoff, CSU’s Kick Returner fumbled the ball. One of KSU’s special teams’ players picked up the fumble, and he ran to the end zone for the Thorobreds’ final score. With the completion of the extra point, KSU now leads 38-17. Before the game ended, CSU Quarterback Michael Wilson fumbled the ball which KSU’s Defense recovered. Also, Wilson threw an interception. The game went on to end with the final score of KSU 38 and CSU 17.

            CSU’s second-half performance was extremely puzzling & unsettling. After KSU quickly scored to start the game, CSU overcame adversity and fought back in a very stern manner. Overall, the Marauders won the game’s first half. That was not the problem. The second half was the problem. The Marauders came out of the locker room, and they were unable to put together two halves of efficient gameplay. The inability to make necessary & positive adjustments can be a huge problem for any football team. If CSU does not fix this issue, then their entire season is going to be filled with mass troubles. Creating a positive nature in the first half has to carry over into the second half. If it does not, winning games is going to be difficult to come by.