Jacksonville, Florida-In the words of Hall of Fame Boxing Ring Announcer Michael Buffer, "Somebody's "O" Has Got To Go"! Edward Waters and Morehouse will meet on the gridiron on Saturday afternoon in a matchup of two SIAC squads looking to pick up their first victory of the 2023 campaign.

GAME INFORMATION:
Morehouse (0-3, 0-1 SIAC) vs. Edward Waters (0-3, 0-2 SIAC)
Saturday, September 22nd 
Nathaniel Glover Community Field Stadium | Jacksonville, Florida
Kickoff: 2:00pm 
Weather: 85° Sunny, 0% Chance of Rain, Wind: NNW 7mph

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets must be purchased online at http://EWUTigerPride.com/Tickets

CLEAR BAG POLICY
In an effort to ensure a safe gameday environment for all, Edward Waters is adhering to a Clear Bag Policy for all spectators. 

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Live Stream: ESPN+ (https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/867c25b1-381c-4f20-ba2a-e1e321361670)
Radio Broadcast: 1010XL/92.5FM | Play-By-Play: Joshua C. Jackson, Sports Information Director/"Voice of the Tigers"

COACHING MATCHUP:
Morehouse: Gerard Wilcher, 1st Season (0-3)
Edward Waters: Toriano Morgan, 3rd Season (9-16)

SERIES HISTORY:
Saturday's matchup will be the 12th all-time meeting between the Tigers and Maroon Tigers on the gridiron. While Morehouse does hold an 8-3 series advantage between the two teams, it is Edward Waters that has enjoyed success recently. The Purple & Orange have won the last two meetings, including last season's 49-20 drubbing of the Maroon Tigers.

2004 | Atlanta, GA | EWC 27, Morehouse 20
2005 | Valdosta, GA | Morehouse 50, EWC 28
2011 | Atlanta, GA  | Morehouse 49, EWC 15
2012 | Waycross, GA | Morehouse 38, EWC 19
2013 | Atlanta, GA | Morehouse 28, EWC 26
2014 | Jacksonville, FL | Morehouse 31, EWC 16
2015 | Atlanta, GA | Morehouse 51, EWC 7
2016 | Jacksonville, FL | Morehouse 19, EWC 13
2019 | Jacksonville, FL | Morehouse 26, EWC 20
2021 | Atlanta, GA | EWU 37, Morehouse 13
2022 | Jacksonville, FL | EWU 49, Morehouse 20

PREVIEWING EDWARD WATERS:
LAST TIME OUT: Edward Waters had their best effort of the season both offensively and defensively, but it was not enough in a 34-31 SIAC road loss to Fort Valley State last Saturday evening. The Tigers had a 31-27 lead with 1:37 remaining in the 4th quarter, but a :24 second, three-play 64-yard drive that culminated in an 18-yd TD for FVSU to send the Tigers to a three point loss.

OFFENSE WAKES UP: A stagnant Edward Waters offense finally woke up in a big way last week. The Tigers put up a season high 477 yards of offense (368 passing, 109 rushing). Jyron Russell finished 21-37 passing for 368 yds, four TDs, and 2 INTs. The Tigers had two receivers with over 100 yards in the contest. Johnny Jones had seven receptions for 139 yards, while newcomer Nathan Rembert had a breakout contest for the Tigers with six catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

DEFENSE ROUNDING INTO FORM: The EWU defense put the clamps of a top five rushing attack in FVSU, holding the Wildcats to just 86 yards rushing. Widmyer Garçon is EWU's leading tackler and is 10th in the conference with 23 total tackles. DT James Gary also had seven tackles including two tackles for loss last week, and LB Jonathan Nesbit also had a standout game with six tackles, including two tackles for loss as well.

PREVIEWING MOREHOUSE:
WELL TRAVELED MAROON TIGERS: Morehouse has been one of the most well traveled teams in the SIAC through their first three games of the season. The Maroon Tigers opened the season with Virginia Union (45-13, L) in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton, OH, then traveled to play Howard (65-19, L) in Washington, D. C., and just last week, battled Albany State (24-14, L) in their SIAC opener in the NYC HBCU Classic in East Rutherford, N. J. at MetLife Stadium.

LOOKING FOR FIRST W: Like their counterparts, Morehouse also enters Saturday's matchup in search of their first victory of the season. The Maroon Tigers nearly fought all the way back from a 14-0 deficit last week against Albany State, but could not complete the comeback attempt falling 24-14. MHC had 212 yards of offense against the Golden Rams (157 passing, 55 rushing), but surrendered 335 to ASU.

ROUGH START STATISTICALLY: Morehouse ranks 12th in scoring offense, averaging 15.3 ppg, and 12th in scoring defense, allowing 44.7 ppg. The Maroonn Tigers are also last in the SIAC in total offense with 245.0 ypg, and in total defense, allowing 462.7 ypg. INDIVIDUAL LEADERS: Despite that, RB Zion Bouie leads the conference in rushing, averaging 74.3 ypg. QB Derrach West is 10th in the SIAC in passing (31-80 passing, 307 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT). Receiver Marqueiz Pride leads the air attack with eight receptions for 124 yds, and a TD, averaging 15.5 ypc, and 41.3 ypg. Defensively, Daylon Land ranks fourth in the league with 28 total tackles, averaging 10.7 tackles per game.

MOREHOUSE MAN IN FIRST SEASON LEADING ALMA MATER: 1992 Morehouse graduate Gerard Wilcher was hired in February to usher in a new era of Maroon Tiger football. Wilcher came back to Morehouse after spending five seasons as defensive backs coach at Rice University. He has also had coaching stops at Delaware State, Seton Hill, Lehigh, Cornell, UMass, Boston College, Cheyney, and began his career at Morehouse in 1993 as running backs coach.

NEXT GAME:
The SIAC's version of the Florida-Georgia game will take place next Saturday evening as Edward Waters will renew gridiron acquaintances with their I-95 rival Savannah State at 6:00pm at Theodore A. "Ted" Wright Stadium in Savannah.

Follow the Tigers
For complete coverage of Edward Waters University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @EWU_Athletics (Twitter), /EWUTigers (Facebook) and @EWU_Athletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Edward Waters Athletics at EWUTigerPride.com