Tigers Lose Homecoming Game

October 27, 2007
SAVANNAH, Ga- Kamau Leitner passed for 176 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead NAIA Edward Waters to a 24-7 win over Savannah State before 6,118 fans at T. A. Wright Stadium.

It was the first game of the season for SSU (1-7) to be played on campus.

On their first play from scrimmage, EWC's Jamal Sheffield sacked Savannah State quarterback Greg McCrary for a 10 yard loss. McCrary also fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Edward Waters' V. Grissett at the SSU 23.

EWC (4-5) took only two plays to score as Leitner tossed a 17 yard pass to Grissett for the first touchdown of the contest. Nadens Madeus kicked the extra point and EWC had a 7-0 lead with 13:54 on the clock in the first quarter.

On their first series in the second quarter, SSU drove to the Edward Waters 16 but McCrary was intercepted by Rodney Grant at the two yard line.

Later in the quarter, Edward Waters drove from their own nine to the SSU 13 before bogging down. Madeus kicked a 30 yard field goal with 2:58 left in the quarter to give the visitors a 10-0 advantage.

Savannah State took the kickoff and marched 56 yards in 13 plays as JaCorey Kilcrease threw a three yard touchdown pass to Deleon Hollinger with 11 seconds left before halftime. Jeremy Johnson converted the extra point and SSU trailed 10-7. During the drive, Hollinger caught five passes for 30 yards.

Johnathan Johnson took the second half kickoff and raced 83 yards for a touchdown that gave EWC a 17-7 edge with 14:47 left in the third quarter.

With less than three minutes to go in the quarter, SSU started a drive at their own 32. After a false start penalty of Savannah State, McCrary fumbled the ball on the next play and it was recovered by EWC's Jerry Carter at the SSU 24.

It took EWC just two plays to score as Johnson caught a 24 yard pass from Leitner with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter. Madeus' extra point was good and the Tigers from Jacksonville, Florida led 24-7.

The next SSU drive started at the Edward Waters 37 but Rodney Bryant intercepted Kilcrease's pass at the EWC 25.

McCrary threw a interception at the start of the fourth quarter which was picked off by EWC's Grant at the Edward Waters 35. EWC drove to the Savannah State 11 before stalling. Madeus attempted a 41 yard field goal but it was wide left.

SSU had two possessions after that but could only muster negative yardage.

In the second half, Savannah State ran 24 plays for 32 yards.

Neither team found their running game with EWC gaining 34 yards while Savannah State had 21. Edward Waters finished the game with 205 offensive yards and SSU had 171.

Johnson was one of nine EWC players to catch a pass and led his team with four receptions for 68 yards. Defensively, Sheffield had eight tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one tackle for a loss while Grant had two interceptions.

Antwan Edwards rushed for 24 yards for SSU. Kilcrease passed for 76 yards and a touchdown and Hollinger caught six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. It was the third game in a row that Hollinger has caught a touchdown reception. Calvin Leonard paced the SSU defense with a game-high 14 tackles. Javorris Jackson had nine and Antwan Allen was in on eight stops. Cordero Campbell had two sacks.

Savannah State will travel to Boiling Springs, North Carolina to play Gardner-Webb (4-4) on November 4 for a 1:30 game. The Bulldogs defeated Charleston Southern 29-25 on October 27.