Inside Hotlanta and the SIAC

By Hal Lamar

A Rainy Day for SIAC Football last week

 For several games in the SIAC last weekend, it was a soggy , rainy mess that forced at least one to start three hours late ( and it was scheduled for broadcast over ESPN 3) Three of the game were played on the teams' homecomings.

Habersham It also wreaked havoc with two of my predictions: CAU over Savannah State-Savannah won that one- who did I pick? ..Guess! ; Morehouse over Fort Valley (the Wildcats won their homecoming - by the way, my apologies to the Wildcat hard-core. Last weekend, I wrote the game was Morehouse's homecoming-so sorry from humble, nearsighted self).
The inclement weather down in Dougherty County, Georgia didn't stop the Albany State Rams from winning their 5th straight and make the 151 fans who showed up happy-even amid the three hour rain delay.
The final there was 7-2. ASU dented the board with an 80 yard run by McKinley Habersham in the first period while Benedict scored the only other points in the game, a safety before halftime .........

REST OF THE CONFERENCE:

Reggie Ruffin

Greg Ruffin

Miles continues to roll and dominate the SIAC west. They defeated Edward Waters on the road 49-28. Reggie Ruffin's grizzlies took a 28-0 lead at the half. Edward Waters scored three times in the second to include an impressive 60 yard run by freshman DeShaun Hugee. This game was billed as the "Ruffin Bowl". Edward Waters head coach Greg Ruffin and Reggie Ruffin are cousins (just don't mention it much).......
Fort Valley,third best in the SIAC east, beat Morehouse 37-21 and captured homecoming. Two field goals and two touchdowns put Valley up front 23-6 at halftime. Morehouse relied on their field goal kicker Fernando Sdelamora for their first points of the game and two more in the second half along with a 60 yard interception return by freshman defensive back Cartrell Strong. StrongMorehouse starting quarterback Michael Sims threw for 62 yards but his offensive line couldn't keep Fort Valley's defense out of the Maroon Tigers' back yard. Sims was sacked four times.......
Notwithstanding the terrible weather all day Saturday in Atlanta, CAU took it on the homecoming chin via visitor Savannah State 22-15. The Panthers, though 0-7 , are nobody's doormat. In fact, the Panthers held Savannah State's passing attack to near nothing but couldn't stop their QB D'Vonn Gibbons from rushing for 115 yards and a score. CAU's QB Charles Stafford racked up 193 yards but no touchdown strikes. He did rush for one touchdown. CAU had tied the Tigers 15-15 as the fourth quarter commenced but did allow their visitors to score and failed to return the favor allowing SSU to head back south with a 4-3 overall and a 3-0 in conference play....
Though they played them tough, Central State of Ohio dropped another, this time to Tuskegee 21-10. The Goldens, now 3-4 overall, maintain second place to SIAC west behind Miles with a 2-1 mark..
And in another prediction I blew wholesale, Kentucky State put the homecoming dragon fire out of Lane 40-20 in Jackson Tennessee. I bet Atlanta Falcon Head Coach Dan Quinn is having second thoughts about dismissing his former assistant Charlie Jackson . Since leaving the Birds earlier this year to become head coach at KSU, Jackson has done a great deal in his rookie season. His Breds are 4-2 overall, 2-1 in conference play and upset two FCS (Division I) colleges this year. .....Jones

XTRA POINTS: Speaking of Lane College, one of their former celebrated players, Jacoby Jones, has returned to the Lane gridiron. The one time Baltimore Raven who became a cause-celebre in Super Bowl 57 when he returned a second half opening kickoff 105 yards to set a super bowl or postseason record, is now coaching wide receivers at his alma mater......
My condolences to a dear friend, Leon Oldham (Tennessee Srate University) who passed away September 2 of this year. Leon, a very civic, civil rights and socially minded brother, was also a member of the Atlanta chapter of 100 Black Men of Atlanta. Unless my memory fails me, it was Leon who brought the idea to the club of promoting a football game here in Atlanta featuring TSU against FAMU which became known as the Atlanta Classic. It became a giant of a success which benefitted the 100s Project Success, helping high schoolers initially at the former SH Archer High school of Atlanta stay in high school and go on to college and beyond through mentoring provided by club members.

Got an item? Contact Hal -> hallamar at comcast.net