New Team, Same Goals: “We’re Coming For It All”

Panthers look to get their first win of the season in Atlanta’s Labor Day Classic.

Photo Credit: Evin Goodwin

Rivalry week in the Atlanta University Center is a time like no other. Atlanta’s much-heralded institutions, often celebrated for their excellence and distinguished students, share a moment in time where those distinctions are pushed to the side and pride takes center stage.

School spirit is taken to a new level, and it all comes down to which side of the grass you stand on: Morehouse College or Clark Atlanta University? For both schools, only one thing matters, winning.

This rivalry dates back well over a century to 1900, where the first matchup between the two schools—which were known at the time as Clark University and Atlanta Baptist College—took place. It was a tough match for Clark as they would go on to lose 56-0, but this moment sparked what seems to be an intrinsic, maybe even eternal rivalry of neighbors across the grass.

For both schools, only one thing matters, winning.

Photo Credit: Evin Goodwin

The rest of the 20th century would be a tale of streaks as each school would trade winning streaks for years at a time. Clark holds the longest streak at 12 games, from 1942-1953.

Ahead of this year’s rivalry game between Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College, termed the ‘Atlanta Labor Day Classic’, both teams are coming off a first game loss, itching to get their first win.

In his first season as head coach of the Panthers Terry Sims shared, “In any rivalry game, you want to send a strong message of going out and competing. Giving our board of trustees, our president, and fans a product to be proud of.”  Sims added, “For the community, you’re going to see a disciplined, detailed football team on Saturday.”

Clark holds the longest streak at 12 games, from 1942-1953.

Sims left a message for all fans and supporters of Panther Football, “Come out and support a group of young men that deserve your support because they’re playing for the University, they’re playing for you. They’re playing for the city of Atlanta.”

Photo Credit: Evin Goodwin

Starting quarterback Xzavier Jackson, in his sophomore season, clarified for supporters, “I want the fans to know, even though this is a new team, we're still coming for it all,” adding, “we’re not going to B.T. Harvey to lose.”

This Labor Day weekend matchup will be eventful as both teams look to get their first win of the season while claiming bragging rights in this historical rivalry.

All of this will be taking place 1 p.m. Saturday, September 5th, 2026, at B.T. Harvey Stadium on Morehouse College’s campus.