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Savannah State University Athletics

1
Photo by Sarah Peacock
28
Winner Kentucky St. KSU 1-4 , 1-1
13
Savannah St. SSU 2-3 , 2-2
Winner
Kentucky St. KSU
1-4 , 1-1
28
Final
13
Savannah St. SSU
2-3 , 2-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
KSU Kentucky St. 7 14 7 0 28
SSU Savannah St. 0 6 7 0 13

Game Recap: Football | | By Donald Heath

Thorobreds Run Through Tigers

SAVANNAH, Ga.— Savannah State University pushed its football game with Kentucky State to Sunday afternoon because of the threat of Hurricane Ian.

But there was no getting away from the Thorobreds' deceptive option offense.

Kentucky State scored on four of its first six possessions and rounded up 394 offensive yards while knocking off the Tigers, 28-13, at Theodore A. Wright Stadium.

"We fell asleep and they hit a couple of plays, that's what happened," Savannah State Head Coach Aaron Kelton said. "When we needed to get off the field, we couldn't."

Two pivotal plays slipped the Tigers' record to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play.
 
The first came in the first half after Jadon Adams' 16-yard TD pass to Da'Shun Mitchell trimmed the Thorobreds' lead to 14-6.
 
Kentucky State (1-4, 1-2 SIAC) responded quickly. Jaylen Myers hit Jaden Hale with a 70-yard pass on a broken, third down play. The long reception set up Christopher Coneway's 9-yard touchdown run on the next play.
 
Trailing 21-6 at the midway point, Savannah State opened the second half with an 11-play, 81-yard march culminated by JaMaurion "JT" Hartage's 28-yard scoring toss to Randy Scott.
 
Suddenly, the deficit was eight.
 
But the Tigers couldn't saddle the Thorobreds on third-and-21 from the KSU 24 on the next possession. Myers found Dariaze Kirkland open for a back-breaking 26-yard gain. Seven plays later, Hale scooted into the endzone from the 2-yard line and the Tigers' deficit was back to 15.
 
"The (defensive back) loses his eyes, the guy gets open and drags him for a first down. That's the stuff we have to work on to be better," Kelton said.
 
"I don't think that play brought us down, but it's just something we have to learn from," Scott said.
 
1
[Photo by Sarah Peacock]

 
The Tigers' defensive struggles were compounded by a slow-starting offense. The Tigers had just one first down (a roughing the passer call) during their first three possessions while falling into a 14-0 hole.

Three plays into the second quarter, Kentucky State held a 131 to -6 advantage in offensive yards. Seven sacks contributed to SSU's -12 rushing yards in the game.
 
Myers scored the Thorobreds' first touchdown on a 14-yard run to cap a 5-play, 65-yard drive on the opening possession.

Shaquan Oliver had the visitors' second touchdown from three yards out.

Scott's 66-yard return on the ensuing kickoff breathed some life into Savannah State. The Tigers didn't score but the return helped flip field position.
"I was hoping to take it to the house," Scott said. "We needed a big play."

Savannah State punted and pinned Kentucky State inside the 10. Then the Tiger defense forced a three-and-out and Chaii Bland's 23-yard punt return started the Tigers at the Thorobreds 16. Two plays later, Adams hooked up with Mitchell for the score.

About two minutes later, however, buoyed by a 70-yard pass play, Kentucky State answered back.

Kelton summoned Hartage to replace Adams at quarterback in the final minutes of the first half. Hartage completed three passes and scrambled 15 yards to spark the Tigers' offense.

Hartage then led the touchdown drive with a perfect pass to Scott to begin the second half.

Hartage, who lost his starting job to Adams, finished with 122 passing yards and his first touchdown of the season.

"The offense needed a spark and I just did what they coached me all week to do in practice," Hartage said. "I'm not going to lie, it was tough to lose my starting job. Jadon was making plays and it's always the next man up to help us win. When I got in, I just took advantage of what I had been seeing."

Mitchell led the Tigers in receiving with six catches for 64 yards. Scott had three catches for 42 yards. Scott's touchdown was the first of his collegiate career.

"I thought that was the one we needed to move the team in the right way and win the game, but unfortunately it wasn't," Scott said.

Savannah State gets back in the saddle next Saturday for its Homecoming game against Virginia Lynchburg. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. 
 
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