Box Score
KINGSLAND, Ga- Johnathan Johnson caught a 42 yard touchdown pass from Kamu Leitner with 28 seconds remaining to lift Edward Waters to a 26-21 victory over Savannah State in the Ralph Bunch Classic at Chris Gilman Stadium.
SSU had a chance to win the game after Johnson's touchdown.
Isaiah Osborne returned the kickoff 25 yards to the SSU 46. JaCorey Kilcrease completed back-to-back passes which gave SSU a first down at the EWC 26. However, his next three passes fell incomplete and time expired.
Savannah State (4-6) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter.
Kilcrease threw his first touchdown pass of the season, a 22 yarder to fellow Macon, Georgia native A. J. Denson with 9:32 on the clock. A interception by Marcus Darrisaw led to the second SSU score. With 4:39 remaining, Daniel Studdard scored on a three yard scamper. Derek Williams kicked both extra points.
At the end of the quarter, SSU had 133 yards of offense while their defense sacked the Edward Waters quarterback three times and limited their offense to ten yards on 14 plays.
Savannah State drove to the EWC 29 late in the quarter but failed to convert a fourth and 15.
Edward Waters regained possession and drove 71 yards in six plays as Leitner threw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Johnson with 14:02 left in the second quarter. Nadens Madeus added the extra point and SSU's lead was cut to 14-7.
The Tigers responded with Studdard scoring his second touchdown of the game on a one yard run with 8:09 remaining to cap a 11-play, 86 yard drive. Williams' extra point was good and SSU's lead was 21-7. A 24 yard run by Chris Bush set up Studdard's score.
Edward Waters drove deep into SSU territory next possession but Darrisaw intercepted his second pass of the night in the end zone. SSU gave the ball right back as Madeus picked off a Kilcrease pass and returned it 13 yards to the SSU 46. From there it took the Jacksonville, Florida based school three plays to score as Leitner tossed a 21 yard touchdown pass to Horace Scott with 11 second left. Madeus kicked the extra point and EWC sliced Savannah State's advantage to 21-14.
A. J. Defilippis came in a threw a 40 yard pass to Denson but time expired and SSU went into the half with a 21-14 lead.
SSU had 339 yards of offense after two quarters while the defense racked up five sacks and held EWC to 44 yards on the ground.
The Tigers' defense played well in the third quarter. Darren Hunter intercepted a pass at the SSU 26. Edward Waters drove to the SSU two on their next drive. Vince Cochran and Javorris Jackson combined to stop Trentt Stewart for a three yard loss. After a timeout and a incomplete pass, SSU stopped Cesary Wilborn for a six yard loss on a fourth and goal situation.
SSU's offense never crossed midfield in the third quarter.
Calvin Leonard picked off a pass early in the fourth stanza to halt a EWC drive.
However, Kilcrease threw a interception which proved costly as Travis Knight ran 57 yards for a touchdown with 11:49 left in the game. The extra point was missed and EWC trailed 21-10.
Savannah State was driving on their next possession but drew a delay of game penalty and turned a fourth and two situation into a fourth and seven from the EWC 35. SSU had to punt the ball.
SSU reached the Edward Waters 26 the next time they had the ball but Williams' 43 yard field goal attempt hit the cross bar with 2:54 left.
Chris Reed recovered a fumble at the EWC 39 but the Tigers could only gain six yards and had to punt.
Edward Waters next possession ended in the game-winning touchdown.
The 3,117 in attendance saw Savannah State go scoreless in the second half and gain just 76 yards.
Rashard Russell rushed for a career-high 106 yards on 14 carries for SSU. Studdard added 52 on seven carries and two touchdowns. Kilcrease completed 13 of 24 passes for a career-high 131 yards and a touchdown along with a pair of interceptions. Justin Babb and Bush caught four passes each with Babb getting 36 yards and Bush getting 33 yards. Antwan Allen had five tackles for the defense. Reed, the defensive most valuable player, had three tackles.
Leitner, the offensive most valuable player, passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns led EWC (3-7). Leitner was picked off three times and sacked twice. Stewart ran for 79 yards while Johnson caught seven passes for 87 yards and two scores. Rod Owens had 10 tackles.
Savannah State will travel to Lake Wales, Florida to play Webber International on November 15. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. at Legion Field.
Webber (3-7) is coming off a 23-15 win over Southern Virginia.
