SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State's defensive unit entered Saturday's Homecoming game with Morehouse as one of the top defensive units in Division II. The Tigers were ranked 10th in rush defense and 14th in total defense.

Morehouse's offense found out first hand how tough the Tigers were.

The Maroon Tigers were the top passing offense in the SIAC but Savannah State held the visitors from Atlanta to 103 total yards and negative 20 yards on the ground. Along the way, SSU sacked the Morehouse quarterback ten times and picked off four passes. 

The end result was a 24-16 win by Savannah State at Theodore A. Wright Stadium.

Darrian Bell had a game-high nine tackles to go with his two tackles for loss and 1.5 sack while Xavier Esquellian ended the afternoon with six tackles, five sacks, five tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Kevin Stokes, Jr., Trevor Strowbridge, Ahlik Booker and Christopher Murray all had an interception.

The crowd of 9,110 saw Morehouse take a 6-0 lead with 7:08 left in the first quarter after Carlos Dunovant returned a David Gardner, Jr. fumble 20 yards for a touchdown. The extra point kick was no good.

With 11:45 left in the second quarter, Savannah State's offense bogged down at the Morehouse eight and they had to settle on a 25 yard field goal by Jimmy Tran.

Key plays during the 12-play, 79-yard drive were a 14 yard reception by Jamal Hill and a 28 yard reception by Braylon Fowler.

On the next Morehouse possession, Tony Rountree Jr. sacked the Maroon Tiger quarterback and caused him to fumble which was recovered by John "Wesley" Bentley at the Morehouse 18 but SSU was not able to take advantage of the turnover because Tran's 32 yard field goal attempt was blocked.

Morehouse turned the ball over again on their next possession, a interception by Murray, but SSU could not turn it into points. 

Late in the second quarter, the Maroon Tigers drove to the Savannah State 16 and a field goal attempt was blocked by James Shellman, IV and the visitors went into the half with a 6-3 advantage.

Savannah State scored their first touchdown of the game on their first drive of the third quarter when Gardner scored on a three yard run with 7:07 showing on the clock. During the drive, Cinsere Clark caught passes of ten and seven yards and TaDarius Vaught hauled in a seven yard reception.

The Tigers went ahead 17-6 with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter when Jadon Adams threw a five yard touchdown pass to Josiah Benson. Gardner had a 11 yard run on the scoring drive.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Booker intercepted a pass but the Tigers could not produce any points and a field goal attempt was blocked. 

But on the next SSU possession, Rashawn Truell threw a 12 yard touchdown pass to Fowler to expand the Savannah State lead to 24-6 with 9:05 left in the game. During the drive, Gardner ran the ball twice for eight yards and Evan Guyton had one carry for ten yards.

Strowbridge picked off a Morehouse pass deep inside SSU territory to stop a Maroon Tiger scoring threat but Savannah State snapped the ball over the head of the punter and out the end zone for a safety which gave Morehouse two points and made the score 24-8 with 6:17remaining. 

Morehouse scored a touchdown on their next drive and completed the two point conversion to pull within 24-16 with 4:25 showing on the clock.

On the last Morehouse possession of the game, SSU  sacked the Maroon Tigers quarterback three times. The first was a eight yard loss by Bell and Bentley and the next was a seven yard loss by Esquillen and the final sack took place with 41 seconds left as Esquillen sacked the quarterback for another seven yard loss on 4th and 20.

In his first start of his collegiate career, quarterback Rashawn Truell finished the contest completing 13 of 21 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Gardner ran the ball 17 times for 49 yards and a touchdown. Fowler had four catches for 51 yards and a score while Clark had five receptions for 38 yards. Lucas Edenfield averaged 41 yards on his five punts and Tran made all three extra points and made one of three field goal attempts.

The win gives Savannah State a 4-4 overall and 3-3 SIAC record as they prepare to play at Albany State on November 1 at 1 p.m. in the ASU Coliseum. 

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