A better game could not have been played. The Clark Atlanta Panthers (0-6) were so close to that elusive first season win. A running game was born, a back up QB almost started a controversy and a stellar defense stood up against the run. The Panthers lost to the Stillman College Tigers (3-2) by a score of 22-14. The game was a struggle for the Panthers. The rebuilding process has been very hard on the team and the fans. With an 0-6 record and after a 56-point blow-out, the Panthers have been showing signs of what the rebuilding process will work real good in the future.

Sophomore QB Brent Standifer struck quickly in the first quarter with a 39-yard bomb to Hudson Cain. Standifer threw another long touchdown pass to Malik Williams and then lead a long drive for a field goal to end the scoring in the first half. The first half saw JR QB Matthew Vincent receive a game ending injury. Redshirt Freshman QB Deshawn Blow took over and BOY did he almost start a quarterback controversy! Blow came in and really started tossing the ball all over the field. He completed 9 of 19 passes for 149 yards. Sophomore Running Back Jaha McCray tore the field up for 125 yards and scored the first rushing touchdown of the season. JR Wide Receiver Davonte Webster showed that he will be Blow’s favorite target if Vincent has to miss any extended time.

Blow single-handedly brought the Panthers within one score. The Tigers did not make it easy though. Standifer threw his third touchdown in the fourth quarter and made the game seem out of reach, but Blow would not let the Tigers get too far ahead. After rushing for a touchdown, Blow led the team on a 7-play, 77-yard drive capped off with the McCray touchdown.

Junior linebacker Jacob Mitchell continues to dominate the defensive stats piling up tackles left and right. The defense kept the Tigers running game in check. The Tigers only mustered up 90 rushing yards. The Panthers could not stop the passing game as the Tigers threw for 314 yards. The defense kept the scoring under 25 for the second game in a row.

Blow had the ball in his hands for a very important play. Down by 8 points, the Panthers had the ball on the 2 yard line. Coach Kevin Ramsey put the ball in the hot hands. The call was a QB sneak up the gut. Blow pushed and the line pushed and then WHAM! The ball was loose and the Tigers had the ball running the other way. So close to the taste of victory, so close to the thrill of that first win. A tie ball game was not guaranteed but that score would have changed the game. Oh well, we must wait another game. The Panthers travel to South Carolina to face the (0-6) Benedict College Tigers. Somebody will get their first win of the season this game, hopefully, the Panthers will be the victorious team.

The band came through. After showing Morehouse that they are the best band in Atlanta, the Panthers brought it against a very good Stillman band. The Panthers band is really expanding its playlist and will be giving other bands a run for their money. The fire and fight that the band is showing seems to trickle over to the team. A victory is nigh as the band and team shows that even in defeat they will not give up until the fat lady sings, the clock strikes 12 and pigs fly alongside 757s.

By Lytrell Howard