ATLANTA, Ga. — Edward Waters University Football continued its strong start to conference play Saturday afternoon, capturing its third consecutive victory with a 46-38 SIAC road win over Morehouse College at B.T. Harvey Stadium.
The Tigers improved to 4-1 overall and a perfect 3-0 in SIAC play, remaining undefeated against conference opponents. Edward Waters built a commanding 46-10 advantage before withstanding a furious fourth-quarter comeback from the Maroon Tigers to secure the eight-point victory.
Edward Waters put together its most productive offensive performance of the season, piling up 469 yards of total offense, including 296 through the air and 173 on the ground. The Tigers recorded 24 first downs, averaged 6.9 yards per play and scored four rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Tavion Faulk delivered another impressive performance, completing 17-of-22 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Faulk was also a major factor on the ground, rushing for 40 yards and two touchdowns.
Morehouse struck first with a 30-yard Davis Rowe field goal, but the Tigers quickly answered. Senior running back Johntarrious Thomas capped a nine-play, 65-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run to give EWU a 7-3 advantage with 6:31 remaining in the opening quarter.
Faulk extended the lead early in the second quarter, racing into the end zone from 14 yards out to put Edward Waters ahead 14-3. Morehouse responded with a one-yard Miles Scott touchdown run, but Faulk struck again, this time scoring from two yards out to make it 20-10.
The Tigers' defense then supplied one of the biggest plays of the afternoon.
With less than a minute remaining before halftime, Junior safety Aykenon Rodgers intercepted Scott and returned the ball 60 yards for a touchdown, sending Edward Waters into the break with a 26-10 advantage. It was one of two interceptions recorded by the EWU defense in the contest, with fellow safety D'Juan Grant collecting the other on Morehouse's opening possession.
Edward Waters seized complete control in the third quarter.
The Tigers took the second-half kickoff and marched 75 yards in 10 plays, with Camren Stewart finishing the drive on a one-yard touchdown run. After forcing another Morehouse punt, EWU needed just two plays to strike again. Faulk connected with Thomas for 57 yards before finding Xavier Irvin for a 30-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 39-10.
Faulk and the Tigers weren't finished.
Starting from their own eight-yard line late in the third, Edward Waters engineered a 10-play, 92-yard scoring drive. Faulk converted a key third-and-20 with a 22-yard completion to Izaiah Jean-Baptiste before connecting with Kyron Burroughs for a 16-yard touchdown, giving EWU its largest lead of the afternoon at 46-10 with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Morehouse refused to go quietly. Chase DeVaughn returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, beginning a run of 28 unanswered points by the Maroon Tigers. Morehouse scored three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 61-yard interception return by Joshua Houston and a 29-yard touchdown reception by Dylan Brooks, cutting the EWU advantage to 46-38 with 3:09 remaining.
Despite the late charge, Edward Waters held on to secure its third consecutive victory and remain unbeaten in SIAC competition.
Faulk accounted for 334 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, while Thomas led the ground game with 77 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Burroughs added 37 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown.
Irvin led a balanced EWU receiving corps with five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Tylon Williams added three receptions for 64 yards, Thomas contributed a 57-yard reception, Jean-Baptiste caught three passes for 35 yards and Jayden Pressey finished with four receptions for 32 yards.
Defensively, Trevon French led the Tigers with eight tackles and a tackle for loss, while Rodgers finished with four tackles, a sack and his 60-yard pick-six. Jaevin Jenkins also recorded a sack, while the Tigers' defense held Morehouse to 297 yards of total offense and forced two interceptions.
Edward Waters will now return to Jacksonville for a conference showdown under the lights as the Tigers welcome Kentucky State University to Nathaniel Glover Community Field & Stadium on Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 p.m.
The matchup will serve as High School Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Day, with fans encouraged to join the Tigers in wearing PINK as the official game color.
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