Texas Southern vs. Langston

Although he kept his team focused during an idle week, the first half of the game offered no moments of leisure for the Tigers as they found themselves down by two points at the end of the first quarter.

"I thought we came out a little flat, but I attribute that to Langston. They did a few things that we had not seen before, and I thought (offensive coordinator Charlie) Coiner and (defensive coordinator Kenwick) Thompson did a fine job of adjusting to what they were doing," said Thomas.

Adam Lamb and Julius Davis combined for 213 yards passing, despite the fact that Lamb was intercepted three times before the half. Tiger running back, Waynmon Steed, led all rushers with eleven carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns (in the third quarter), insuring the Tiger's victory.

While TSU gained a season-high 243 yards on the ground, the Lions running attack suffered at the hands of Lernard Mack and company. Mack garnered 13 tackles, three for a loss of ten yards. Freshman defensive tackle, Sydney Gordon registered eight wrap-ups, half of them for a loss. And, Kreme Davis' six tackles and one sack cost the Lion's offense 33 yards.

Langston's top rusher, David Banks, who had averaged 30 carries and 174 yards per game. He rushed for 40 yards on eight carries with one touchdown. The Tiger defense is ranked number one in the nation in division I-AA and played without four key starters, including Jeremy Jones and Lonnie Phillips.

TSU's first score was a safety as Kreme Davis trapped Lion quarterback, Archie Craft in his own end zone. On their next possession, Lamb connected with Mike Davis for a 13-yard touchdown at the 11:05 mark.

Langston started their drive at 10:56, but a forced fumble by Yves Eveillard-recovered by Santino Hall- put the Tigers on the Lion's 20-yard line. Exactly one minute later, LaCombe's field goal attempt was good from 38 yards out.

Next, Banks scored for the Lions from the TSU two-yard line with 6:46 on the clock. The two teams traded possessions twice more before Jonte' Strozier

intercepted Lamb on the Tiger's 31-yard line for an 18-yard return. That set up their next and last score as Terrell Green rushed for 5 yards to put Langston up, 14-12, with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.

Lamb hit Mike Davis for three first downs to begin the second quarter. With 12:14 on the clock, LaCombe, made good on a 19-yard attempt to put the Tigers up 15-14, which would be the halftime score.

"Tonight we started out real slow, but we picked it up in the second half," said Mack.

A more settled Tiger offense returned in the second half and continued to execute the shotgun, scoring another 30 unanswered points. LaCombe booted a 42-yard field goal early in the third quarter. Midway through the third, Steed scored on a 26-yard run with 9:31 left in that period. With 30 seconds left, he burst up the middle, again, for a 13-yard touchdown.

Julius Davis replaced Lamb in the fourth quarter and completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Chris Causey at 11:36, and connected with Owens for a five yard score with the clock at 6:09, pushing TSU ahead, 45-14.

Langston began their last drive at 6:03, to no avail as the Tigers were clearly the victors, upping their record to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the western division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Langston, who dropped to 2-2 for the season, has yet to play a conference game.

Defensive back, Daron Franklin, led all Lion performers with ten tackles-nine solo, one assist, plus one forced fumble and an interception.

TSU's annual homecoming game is October 7. They will face a tough University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff team, in an important conference match-up.

Thomas told his squad, "Its going to be a different ball club next week. You know that we've got to turn it up another notch."

The Golden Lions (3-1, 2-0) will be looking to avenge last year's loss to the Tigers. Kickoff is 7 p.m. in Robertson Stadium.

GAME SUMMARY

TEAM STATISTICS