Sunday, October 24, 2010

Week 8: Pretenders vs. Contenders

My heart goes out to the players at Lane College. After 19 straight losses, you would think the Dragons (0-8, 0-7 SIAC) could hold onto a lead to beat the equally bad Stillman College Tigers (1-7, 1-6). No Sir! The Dragons allowed Coach L.C. Coles Tigers to come from behind scoring 9 points in the 4th quarter to squeak past Lane 26-25 on the final play of the game.

For Lane College first year Coach Derrick Burroughs, who was the defensive backs coach at Stillman in 2007, its another bad pill to swallow. With SIAC powers Fort Valley State and Tuskegee remaining on the Dragons schedule, it looks like an 0-10 season for Lane. It was pure joy for L.C. Cole who coached at Lane with his brother, Johnnie Cole (Texas Southern) a few years ago.

Does anyone have any ideal why Livingstone is not competitive? Fayetteville State romped 59-6 on the Blue Bears like they were playing their own "pit team." And Saint Paul's Tigers offense finally showed up scoring 28 points on Virginia Union, but the Panthers offense was 11 points better for a 39-28 VUU win. Enough with the pretenders....

Now to the contenders... Hampton botched a late field goal attempt in the 4th quarter to hand S.C. State a gift 10-7 homecoming win. Bethune Cookman conducted another coaching clinic, this time at North Carolina Central, and walked away with a 23-10 win to move to 7-0, 4-0 MEAC on the season.

Florida A&M is no cupcake and Norfolk State's homecoming party got squashed by the Rattlers 17-13. The Rattlers remain in contention for the MEAC championship with a 3-1 record, tied with S.C. State. Coach Joe Taylor is not looking ahead, but we are. Up next are Morgan State (homecoming), at North Carolina A&T, Hampton and the November 20, Florida Classic with league leading Bethune-Cookman.

Better get your tickets now for the Florida Classic. This B-CU/FAMU clash will be a sellout with 74,000 partying fans at the somewhat refurbished (new field turf) Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. But it won't mean a thing, if the Rattlers don't stop Morgan State next week. Taylor says, one game at a time, but the Rattlers offense has looked anemic since week 3 of the season.

FAMU's defense and special teams play is consistently good enough to help the Rattlers run the table and stay in title contention. It appears that the Rattlers are beginning to believe in their slogan -- " Don't take no for an answer!"

If the B-CU Wildcats continue to steamroll the conference, they will make the greatest one season turn-around in recent FCS memory. The 'Cats finished last season at 5-6 under former Coach Alvin Wyatt, and have a chance to go undefeated in their first season under Coach Brian Jenkins with the Speedway O spread offense.

What can you say about Grambling State other than they own the SWAC and the MVSU Delta Devils. The G-Men(6-1, 6-0 SWAC) won 35-14 without breaking a sweat.

Defense rules! Just ask Jackson State Tigers No. 1 ranked offense. Coach Johnnie Cole's Texas Southern Tigers defense proved again why they are the No. 1 ranked defense in the SWAC -- holding the "Air Raid" offense to -6 yards rushing, 5 sacks and holding the FCS leading passer, Casey Therriault in check.


TSU has two tune-up games next with Mississippi Valley and Southern before the November 11, Thursday night Clash of the Titans with Grambling State for the SWAC West Division title. This home game will be televised by ESPN Classic and ESPN3.com to the nation.

What more can you say about the No. 8 ranked Albany State Golden Rams other than their quarterback is backing up the talk. Junior quarterback Stanley Jennings, 2-times SIAC Offensive Player of the Week, guaranteed that the Golden Rams would not lose the remainder of the season.

It took a superman effort, but ASU scored a touchdown in the final18 seconds of the game on an 84 yard drive. The Golden Rams keep the promise alive with the come from behind 13-12 win to spoil Morehouse homecoming. Jennings was responsible for 92 yards rushing and 202 yard passing, to move ASU record to 8-0, 7-0 SIAC. No. 18 ranked Morehouse drops to 6-2, 5-2 SIAC.

-beepbeep



SIAC
Fort Valley State 14, Kentucky State 12
Albany State 13, Morehouse 12
Tuskegee 37, Clark Atlanta 10
Stillman 26, Lane 25
Benedict 20, Miles 14

MEAC
South Carolina State 10, Hampton 7
Bethune Cookman 23, North Carolina Central 10
Florida A&M 17, Norfolk State 13
North Carolina A&T 52, Howard 32
Morgan State 34, Delaware State
Alabama State 24, Savannah State 0

SWAC
Arkansas Pine Bluff 39, Alcorn State 35 (Thurs.)
Texas Southern 21, Jackson State 18
Alabama State 24, Savannah State 0
Grambling State 35, Mississippi Valley 14
Prairie View A&M 30, Southern 16

CIAA
Bowie State 20, Elizabeth City State University 12
Winston Salem State 21, North Carolina - Pembroke 7
Shaw 35, Chowan 14
Saint Augustine's 34, Johnson C. Smith 24
Virginia State 42, Lincoln (Pa.) 0
Fayetteville State 59, Livingstone 6
Virginia Union 39, Saint Paul's 28

OVC
Tennessee Tech 21, Tennessee State 10

OTHERS
Peru State 41, Lincoln (Mo.) 33
North Greenville 42, Edward Waters 0
Glenville State 42, West Virginia State 27
Shippensburg 50, Cheyney

No comments: