The Clark Atlanta football team has had its share of dramatic victories, but having their game pre-empted by a network’s regularly scheduled programming is a new one.
The Panthers lost the lead late and took it back in the final minute to spoil Central State’s homecoming 25-20. Many of the game’s viewers on TheGrio/HBCUGo network didn’t get to see the final seconds, and the network inexplicably carried on with a scheduled 4:30 p.m. EST show called Dear Culture with Panama Jackson.
Viewers who streamed or watched live on TV were not happy they couldn’t see the game’s conclusion.
Whats the score??? The Grio switch off the game. 🙄
— A. Bernard Young (@abernardyoung) October 12, 2024
WTF!!!!!! IS WRONG WITH THE @theGrio
@HBCUGoTV the feed just got cut to the Clark Atlanta/Central State game. Less then a minute to go and CAU just scored the go ahead TD. And the feed gets cut. Come on man. Yall got to better.— SLYTHESPORTSGUY (@slythesportsguy) October 12, 2024
@theGrio Did you really just leave the end of the CSU game for a prerecorded podcast? Really?
— RufusKingIsNotAmused (@is_rufus) October 12, 2024
The Panthers — whether many saw the whole game or not — secured their first winning record since finishing 6-4 in 2008. CAU is currently 5-1-1 with three games left to play. Here are some takeaways from the game.
Virgil Young keeps the Panthers alive with the 29-yard catch and score‼️🏈🐾
Clark Atlanta leads 25-20 with 41 seconds left to play! #GoPanthers🐾 | #WeAreCAU | #BeTheReason pic.twitter.com/pz2c1rZA02
— Clark Atlanta Football (@CAU_Football) October 12, 2024
CAU is learning how to win at a rapid pace
Surely Teddy Keaton would love to have an easy week here and there, but he is likely proud of the way the Panthers are never truly out of a game. Clark Atlanta led most of the way before a 24-yard field goal by Central State’s Jose Chaires gave the Marauders a 20-19 lead with a little over a minute to go.
Clark remained cool, however. Jamal Jones returned a kick 37 yards to set up Wright at their own 42, where he completed a 23-yard pass to freshman running back Trayvon Pinder, a six-yard pass to Virgil Young, and the game-winner, a pass that Young caught, slipped by the CSU defender, and zipped the remaining distance for a 29-yard touchdown with 41 seconds left.
CAU’s never-say-die attitude is a change from previous years, thanks to Keaton, who came from Allen and brought a lot of talent with him.
The Panthers defense held their own
A much-maligned unit throughout the season, CAU limited Central State’s offense to 0 points until the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. Plenty of big plays by the Panther front seven kept the running game honest and kept CSU quarterback Kendall Boney improvising for much of the game.
Central State has heart
The Marauders, 5-5 a season ago, have taken a step back thanks to offense woes, but they showed fight for their homecoming. Safety Michael Sherill Jr. came up with a big play in the second quarter, intercepting Wright and zooming 47 yards to the end zone for the first CSU touchdown of the day.
Boney meanwhile, passed for nearly 200 yards and ran for nearly 100 more to keep the Marauders in the contest. Chaires’ field goal looked like the winner, but 1 minute and 12 seconds was enough time for Wright to work his magic.
The Panthers are still alive in the SIAC title race
Clark Atlanta will keep at least part of second place with the win, pending the result of Albany State/Miles later today. With Miles, Tuskegee, and AUC rival Morehouse left, the Panthers have a chance to prove that they can contend for a SIAC title now.
I watched on grio cable channel and saw the full game without any interruptions, it was amazing!!!