The Kentucky State University football team put a scare into East Division leading Morehouse, but ultimately a pair of miscues enabled the Maroon Tigers to escape with a 23-21 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory Saturday at Alumni Stadium.

"I think for the most part, we are getting better, and I am proud of the kids and the way they played today," said Kentucky State University head coach John L. Smith. "They hung in there and showed more toughness, more mental toughness than we have all year. We came out in the second half and battled, battled, battled. We are without a lot of guys, but we are patching it together. We have made progress, just not enough to get over the hump."

Morehouse scored 10 points on a pair of drives that totaled one yard. After a bad snap on a punt set the Tigers up on the 17, the Thorobreds' defense didn't yield a single yard. However, MC got three points on the board.

The other Kentucky State turnover, an interception deep in its own territory, had the visitors in business on the one-yard line. KSU's defense bowed its neck, but ultimately surrendered a touchdown on fourth and one early in the fourth quarter.

Kentucky State raced out to an early lead, scoring on its first two drives. The Thorobreds took the opening drive 60-yards on eight plays as sophomore quarterback Jules St. Ge (Lakeland, FL) found senior Demetrius Anderson (Indianapolis, IN) for a four-yard grab.

Another touchdown pass, this one a 24-yard catch and run from St. Ge to junior Jordan Level (Detroit, MI), pushed the Thorobred advantage to 14.

Morehouse finally got its offense going to cut its deficit in half with a seven-yard scamper that culminated an 18-play, 80-yard drive. The Maroon Tigers converted three third downs and a fourth down to keep the drive alive.

The aforementioned bad snap on a punt came at the end of a 12-play drive that was sidetracked with a pair of penalties.

For the third time this season, the Thorobreds took a lead into halftime.

The Maroon Tigers took the lead on the fourth play of the fourth quarter, a one-yard run following the aforementioned interception. Morehouse extended its lead with a nine-play, 66-yard drive.

As the clock was ticking away, Kentucky State scored on critical drive as junior Malik Saunders (Louisville, KY) punched it in from seven-yards away - pulling the Thorobreds to within two points.

Needing a defensive stop to get the ball back the offense, a defense that had came up with stops all day long, couldn't get a final one. Morehouse converted third down and six, and a fourth and one, to seal the win.

Kentucky State's rushing attack was solid with 133 yards on 34 attempts. The botched punt snap cost the Thorobreds 33 yards.

St. Ge finished with 47 yards on 13 carries, and he added 163 yards on 14-of-21 passing with two touchdowns and an interception.

"For the most part, he played pretty darn good today," Smith said. "The one where he held it too long down on the goal line was a crucial mistake, but he is getting better."

Junior Michael Nero (Louisville, KY) added 45 yards on six carries and Saunders had 42 yards on 11 totes of the rock.

Level tied a season-high with six receptions, registering 76 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Christopher Roberts (Frankfort, KY) led the defense with nine tackles, two for loss and a forced fumble. Sophomore Antoine Lloyd (Indianapolis, IN) and junior Myrthel Stewart (Glenwood, IL) added eight tackles each.

Kentucky State (0-5 overall, 0-2 SIAC) steps away from conference action Saturday, traveling to face West Virginia State.