The Gazette

Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: De'Shawn Saffold Langston University kicker Anthony Fernandez dropped to his

If you weren't in W.E. Anderson Stadium for the Langston University Lions game against the Southern Nazarene University Crimson Storm on Saturday, you missed one of the most exciting games that college football would probably see this year. The Lions defeated the Crimson Storm 20-19 in a nailbiter that gives the Lions their second conference championship in a row.

It only took two plays in the Crimson Storm's first drive to find paydirt and it appeared that SNU receiver Kevin Brooks would not be contained. Although the Lions started slowly, they seem to always find a way to fight back.

The Lions (7-2, 3-1) made their way into the endzone with 2:42 left in the first quarter on a Darrion Lewis 55-yard pass to Carlos Ross. The Lions defense then held SNU to two field goals even when the Crimson Storm seemed to be having successful drives.

Halfway through the third quarter, the Lions took their first lead of the game on a 1-yard run by Ross. But the Crimson Storm took the lead back before the fourth on a 28-yard Brady Wardlaw pass to Andrew Schumacher, with the extra point by Ryan Brock missing wide left, pushing the score to 19-14. With the Lion offense struggling and losing three fumbles in the game, it could have been the nail in the coffin.

The Lions were able to fight back on an 18-yard pass from Lewis to senior receiver Jermaine Carter and after a miscue on the 2-point conversion, LU led the game 20-19. But, with :06 seconds left in the game, SNU had a chance to win on a 41-yard field goal, but a bad snap and a LU recovery clinched the victory for the Lions.

For the Lions offense, Lewis was 20-32 for 342 yards and two touchdowns, while Ross rushed for 80 yards on 22 attempts with one touchdown and had four receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown. Tight end Tony Cotton had another big game for the Lions with four catches for 88 yards. All four of Cotton's catches converted for Lions' first downs.

Defensively, the Lions lived in the backfield, sacking the SNU quarterback six times and hurrying Wardlaw to get rid of the ball on nearly half of his snaps. The Lions were led by lineman Dominique Turner. Turner finished with eight tackles, four tackles for loss with three of those being sacks for a loss of 20 yards. Senior linebacker Rodrick Jenkins, a 2009 Preseason All-American, finished with six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and assisted on a sack.

The Lions will travel to Muskogee, Okla. to play Bacone College next Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. Kick off is set for 2:00 p.m.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools