Jacksonville, Florida-Trailing by three with less than a minute to play and Edward Waters driving for what would potentially by the game-winning score at the Savannah State 26 yard line, the Tigers fumbled with SSU recovering, closing the book on a comeback attempt and sending EWU to their third straight close loss of the young season. Edward Waters dropped their SIAC home contest 31-28 to Savannah State on Saturday evening at the Nathaniel Glover Community Field & Stadium. The victory for Savannah State (1-1, 1-0 SIAC) was their fifth consecutive victory over Edward Waters (0-3, 0-2 SIAC) in the series that saw the 28th all-time meeting played on Saturday.
After a quick three & out for Edward Waters on their opening drive, Savannah State cracked the scoreboard first on a six play, 49 yard drive that culminated in a 27-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, junior RB
Tyler King punctuated a 10 play, 77-yard drive with a 10 yard rushing touchdown to give EWU a 7-3 lead. However, toward the tail end of the first quarter, SSU hit the end zone after a 10 play. 63-yard drive to retake the lead at 10-7.
Savannah State extended their lead at the 8:22 mark of the second quarter, thanks to a 5-yard TD pass to take a 17-7 lead. Edward Waters cut into the lead at the 3:33 mark of the second on a 43 yard
Tyler King rushing TD to make it a 17-14 ballgame, which would remain the score at halftime.
SSU hit the scoreboard at the 9:59 mark of the third quarter on a short touchdown run to push their lead back up to 10 at 24-14. EWU would not be denied as on a third and long, graduate transfer QB
David Johnson found senior WR
Tyberious Horne on a 35 yard strike to once again make it a three point ballgame at 24-21. Savannah State once again would score a TD at the end of the third to push the lead to 31-21. In the fourth, Johnson found senior WR
Ferante Cowart in the endzone for a TD to push the score to 31-28. However, that would be as close as Edward Waters would get, as a costly fumble with :37 remaining in the game ended the Tigers chances at victory.
Edward Waters outgained Savannah State 378-339 and had a 160-101 advantage in passing yards, however Savannah State took the decision on the ground, outrushing EWU 238-218. Johnson led Edward Waters, going 9-for-16 passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Senior RB
De'Shaun Hugee led EWU on the ground with 11 carries for 71 yard. Defensively, it was junior LB Widmyer Garçon that led EWU with 12 tackles including two tackles for loss. Junior DB
Dartrell Rolle and sophomore DB
Vashaun Stockmann each recorded interceptions in the contest for EWU.
The Tigers will be on a much needed bye week next week, before hitting the road to Jackson, Tennessee on Saturday, September 24th for an SIAC contest against Lane College.
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