COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Allen University Football team fell 35-32 to Central State University (OH) in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday evening in a thrilling game from Westwood HS Stadium in Blythewood.

Sophomore QB David Wright led the offense for the Yellow Jackets passing for 224 yards while sophomore WR Jayden Horace caught 6 balls for 61 yards and a touchdown. 
Sophomore RB Beau Herrington also ran for a touchdown while getting 50 yards of total offense. Fellow sophomore WR Jamal Jones led the receiving co. with 71 yards on 6 receptions while freshman wideout Armone Harris also caught 4 passes for 68 yards. Jones also added 138 yards on kick returns.

Herrington got the Jackets on the board first running in a touchdown from 17 yards out to complete a 5 play 54-yard drive to open the game. Allen then went on a 12 play 66-yard drive near the end of the first quarter and finished it off with a one-yard TD rush from freshman RB Rashad Durrah to lead 13-0. Central St. then added two touchdowns in the second quarter including one with only 40 seconds before halftime to take a 14-13 lead at the intermission.

Defensively, Allen was led by senior linebacker Gary Bourrage and his 9 tackles while freshman linebacker Kayleb Pierce and senior DE Kerry Thompson each recorded 8 tackles apiece. Freshman DB Kevin Graham also made 7 tackles and returned an interception 84 yards for a score to give Allen the 20-14 lead in the third quarter. CSU would then answer right back with a 8 play 67-yard drive to end the third quarter with a slim 21-20 lead.

Then, in the fourth quarter, Allen finished off a quick 28-yard drive with a touchdown pass from QB Michael Reese to Horace as Allen took a 26-21 lead as their extra point was blocked. CSU would then respond again with a score of their own to lead 28-26 with 11 minutes to go. After Allen drove down the field, they could not cash in with a score and unfortunately turned the ball over on downs. However, the defense again answered the bell sacking the CSU QB to force a fumble as Thompson then recovered the loose ball in the end zone to give Allen the lead at 32-28 with 5:33 to play. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jacket faithful, the Marauders would go on a game-winning 14 play 65-yard drive eating up almost the remaining time. Allen then did return the ensuing kickoff past midfield to close to the CSU 40 but went out of bounds.

Sophomore linebacker Kirkland Boone then led Allen with two sacks along with his 6 tackles while fellow sophomore LB Marquavious Henderson, sophomore DE Roosevelt Joseph, and senior DE Richard Hayes all recorded a sack apiece with Joseph registering two tackles for loss.

CSU improves to 2-3 with the win and 1-1 in the SIAC while Allen falls to 0-4 overall and 0-3 in the SIAC. The Yellow Jackets will remain home to host Clark Atlanta University next Saturday at 6 PM from Westwood HS.