“I am happy for our program and our fans said Central State head coach Kevin Porter. “Tonight is one game but it is a big game for us to win on a great stage. It has been a while since Central State has won an HBCU Classic so hopefully, this is a turning point for us as a University and as a football program moving forward.”
Sunday’s game, which was shown live on the NFL Network, opened with an 81-yard kickoff return by CSU’s Twon Hines. Hines later finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown reception to give the Marauders the early lead. Anthony Mack put CSU up by 14 with a 25-yard interception return for a score at the 6:26 mark of the first quarter.
THE CSU TURNOVER GLOVE IS OUT THE BOX!
Anthony Mack takes an interception to the house to give the Marauders a 14-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/Kwzv1sUiDe
— Central State Athletics (@GO_MARAUDERS) September 4, 2022
WSSU broke through a turnover as the Rams’ Justin Fleming intercepted a pass and ran to the endzone with 2:37 to play in the opening quarter. The WSSU offense knotted the score up and a 90-yard scoring drive capped off with a 23-yard throw from Richard Latimore to Amos Mobley with 4:38 left in the half.
The Marauders scored late in the half with a methodical 10-play, 60-yard drive ending with a three-yard run to the outside pylon by Kaz Dina.
CSU went back up by two scores as a Jalil Lenore fumble recovery set up the Marauder offense at the WSSU 7-yard line. After being pushed back due to a holding call, CSU quarterback Brandon Kyles completed back-to-back passes including a 13-yard strike to Kenyadus Hollins for the score at the 5:10 mark. WSSU responded on its next drive as Latimore connected with a streaking Mobley again for a 43-yard touchdown.
On CSU’s next drive, a defensive holding call and roughing on the passer allowed CSU to move down the field and eventually find the endzone as Aaron Kennebrew leaped over a pile of players from two yards out.
With a 34-21 lead going into the final quarter, the Marauders took full control when a Latimore fumble was recovered by linebacker Corwyn Hurt at the WSSU 21-yard line. CSU scored on the next play as Kyles found Micah Lowe through the air to give the Marauders a 20-point lead. The Marauder defense stepped up in the final stages of the game with three sacks in the fourth quarter to stifle any chance of a WSSU comeback.
Central State linebacker Jalil Lenore earned BCHOF Player of the Game honors.
Courtesy: Central State Athletics
