Southern can't stop camouflaged Prairie View

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana  -- Prairie View’s camouflage uniforms didn’t fool anyone.

Southern could see the Panthers, it just couldn’t stop them.

For the second week in a row, the Jaguars defense was gashed and gutted for a season-worst performance, giving up so many yards and points that even a good day for the SU offense wasn’t enough to keep up.

PV exploded in the fourth quarter, turning a back-and-forth affair into a 49-29 win in front of an unannounced crowd at Independence Stadium for the Shreveport Classic.

Prairie View racked up a gaudy 645 yards, riding a massive performance from quarterback Deauntre Smiley to take full control of a game with four second-half lead changes.

“We couldn’t stop them,” SU interim coach Dawson Odums said. “We couldn’t get them off the field. (Smiley) made some runs, and we missed tackles. It’s the second week in a row where a running quarterback has given us problems, and we have to fix that.”

Smiley finished with 398 yards and four touchdowns on 29-of-38 passing, and he added another 170 yards and a touchdown on only 14 carries.

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Magic City Classic - Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 13: Hornets on a high in Magic City

BIRMINGHAM. Alabama — In the face of adversity, Alabama State stood tall with a championship-caliber performance that throttled Alabama A&M 31-13 in the 71st Magic City Classic at Legion Field on Saturday afternoon.

“We realize we haven’t played a complete game all season,” said Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow. “Our guys stepped up to the challenge. Defensively, they were outstanding.”

With three players dealing with family losses, the Hornets’ defense reeling from a 533-yard performance by Jackson State in their last game and an Alabama State offense struggling to find consistency, the underdog Hornets defied the odds with their best performance since pounding the Bulldogs in the 2010 Magic City Classic.

“We bonded,” said defensive most valuable player Jimmy Daniels. “We bonded all week and did everything together and came out here and it showed. We played as one. (The offense) came out fast paced and they were with it. They put up points. But with the field goal they put up, we could have won 3-0. We were assignment, fly to the ball and finish.”




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This is Our House: Morehouse College NSO 2012

Fort Valley State Wildcats get revenge and remain on track for division title

ATLANTA, Georgia  -  After losing to the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College (MHC) last season 49-12, the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) enjoyed nothing more than spoiling this year’s homecoming game for the Maroon Tigers today (Oct. 27^th) with a 26-19 win at B.T. Harvey Stadium. In addition to the sweet taste of revenge, the win put the Wildcats (7-2, 5-1 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)) just one game away from the SIAC East Division Title.

“This was a big win for us, said FVSU Quarterback Antonio Henton. It gives us a lot of confidence going into the game next week. We just want to take it one game at a time and play four quarters.”

The Wildcats will meet the Golden Rams of Albany State University next Saturday (Nov. 3^rd) in the 23rd Annual Fountain City Classic in Columbus, GA. In addition to the intangible bragging rights associated with the game, the most tangible feature in this year’s matchup is that the winner will claim the East Division Title.

In the win against MHC, the Wildcats used a heavy dose of the run on their first possession for the game’s first score. After four straight runs up the middle, the Wildcats capped a six-play, 52 yard drive with a five yard touchdown run by freshman running back Germaine Tait. The extra point attempt was blocked but FVSU had its first lead of the game, 6-0.

The early lead by the Wildcats was overcome by the Maroon Tigers at the 9:45 mark in the second quarter when Elijah Anderson recovered a Wildcat fumble and returned it 68 yards for a MHC touchdown. After the converted extra point, MHC took its first and only lead of the game, 7-6.

Approximately three minutes later, the Wildcats re-claimed the lead when Henton climaxed a five-play, 59 yard drive with a 33-yard touchdown run. With the extra point by place kicker Justin Rosenbaum, FVSU led 13-7.

With less than two minutes to play before halftime, Wildcat Head Coach Donald Pittman took a gamble on a fourth down play which paid huge dividends for FVSU. Facing fourth and two, Henton reached out to his favorite receiver Christopher Slaughter. Slaughter answered with a 44-yard touchdown catch. His grab and Rosenbaum’s extra point pushed the Wildcat lead to 20-7.

“On the touchdown pass, we had something different called, said Henton. Coach told me to check off the play. I did and we found what we were looking for after a great route by Chris. That was good momentum for us going into halftime.”

FVSU tacked on another touchdown early in the third quarter. After taking over on offense at the MHC 48 yard line, the Wildcats wasted little time covering the distance. A 37-yard pass from Henton to Slaughter was followed by the 11-yard touchdown strike from Henton to junior wide receiver Rashad Tukes. Although the two point conversion attempt failed, the Wildcats stretched their lead to 26-7.

After the Tukes touchdown, it appeared as if the Wildcats would cruise to an easy victory. However, the Maroon Tigers clawed their way back into the game. A five-play, 62 yard drive capped by a touchdown run by running back David Carter cut the Wildcat lead to 26-13 with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter. With 1:20 left in the third, the lead was cut even further when a Wildcat fumble was recovered and returned 97 yards by Devon Mann for a MHC touchdown.

With the Wildcat lead now down to 26-19 and a full quarter of football left, hope was abounding in the Maroon Tiger camp that a homecoming comeback was imminent. That hope was almost realized. With under a minute left to play the Maroon Tigers recovered a fumble on the Wildcat 20 yard line; putting them in position to tie the game or take the lead. However FVSU linebacker Lerron Furr intercepted a MHC pass on the 11-yard line with 29 seconds left to secure the win for the Wildcats.

Furr ended the game with eight tackles and a sack while Bernard Little finished with a game-high 13 total tackles; four of which were tackles for losses. FVSU defense came into the game ranked second in the nation (NCAA Division II) with 89 total tackles for a loss.

Offensively, Henton threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns while Slaughter had 120 yards receiving. Freshman Germaine Tait had his first 100 yard rushing performance as he ran for 116 yards on 22 carries.

In next Saturday’s (Nov. 3^rd) Fountain City Classic, the Wildcats will face an old nemesis in the Golden Rams of Albany State University with each eyeing the SIAC East Division Title. The stakes will be high at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium when the game kicks off at 2 p.m. in Columbus, GA.

For ticket information to attend the 23^rd Annual Fountain City Classic, visit www.fountaincityclassic.com.

COURTESY FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bowie State Routs Lincoln (Pa.) Lions 45-9

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania  –  Bowie State spoiled the Homecoming for Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, routing the Lions 45-9. The victory snaps a Bowie State two-game slide and improves the Bulldogs record to 5-4 overall (2-4 CIAA).

Senior Tyrae Reid, Jr. completed 16-of-28 passes for a team-high 238 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Douglas McNeil, III led the Bulldogs receivers with a game-high 112 yards on four catches and redshirt freshman James Brown added 43 reception yards on four catches. Junior transfer Corwin Acker led the Bulldogs on the ground with 74 rushing yards (six carries) and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Bulldogs were led by redshirt freshman Curtis Pumphrey with nine total tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.

Lincoln quarterback Doug Cook threw for a game-high 276 yards, completing 24-of-49 passes and one touchdown. Cook was intercepted twice and sacked twice in the loss. Matt Coston hauled in nine passes for a team-high 109 yards.

Bowie State scored the games' first points of the afternoon, when redshirt sophomore Mario Diaz-Aviles booted a 29 yard field goal at the 3:26 mark of the first quarter for a 3-0 Bulldogs lead. Lincoln used a 7-play, 72 yard drive to tie the game at 3-3 on a 22-yard field goal by Kyle Jaski with 47 seconds left in the opening period.

With 13:36 left in the second quarter, Bowie State senior Ridwan Cole caught a screen pass from Reid an ran 22 yards down the Bulldogs sideline for a touchdown. Diaz-Aviles added the extra point for a 10-3 lead. Pumphrey returned a Lincoln punt 68 yards to push the Bulldogs lead to 17-3. The Bulldogs increased the lead to 24-3 on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Ramono Flowers.

Lincoln's Doug Cook connected with Kester Lewis on a 15 yards pass and catch with one second remaining in the first half, trimming the Lions deficit to 24-9.

Lincoln (1-8, 1-5 CIAA) fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and promptly took advantage of the Lions miscue with BSU's Acker rumbling 33 yards to paydirt. Diaz-Aviles added the extra point, extending the Bowie State lead to 31-9 at the 14:06 mark of the third quarter.

The Bulldogs defense comes through again on Lincoln's very next possession, as junior Quentin Walker picked off a Cook pass and returned it for a 19 yard Bowie State touchdown, giving the visitors a 38-9 stronghold.

Reid found a streaking McNeil for a 48 touchdown to end the third quarter, padding the Bulldogs lead at 45-9.

The Bulldogs will close out the 2012 season next Saturday (November 3), hosting the Elizabeth City State University Vikings. Prior to Saturday's 1 pm kickoff, 12 Bowie State senior football seniors will be recognized in a special pregame presentation.   

PHOTOS

Box Score

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION  

Alabama State and Alabama A&M bands impress crowd during halftime (Video)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  --  Theatrics was a constant theme at the Magic City Classic halftime show.

Alabama State University and Alabama A&M took the field ripping through selections from pop radio while performing intricate and exciting routines.

Magic City Classic celebrity ambassador and funk legend Bootsy Collins kicked things off by greeting the crowd and leading them in a chant of the chorus of P-Funk All-Stars’ “We Want the Funk.”  “I’d just like to say thank you to everybody for coming out and keeping funk alive,” he told the crowd.

Alabama State began their set, which included songs from rapper Lil Wayne. Alabama A&M soon followed with a melody of hits from Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.

James Pittman enjoyed each school’s technique. “We came here from Atlanta, Georgia so we know what a good band sounds like,” he said.  “We just saw two fantastic bands. We enjoyed the crispness of Alabama State, the energy of Alabama A&M. It was fantastic. “



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Bethune-Cookman takes control of MEAC with 42-17 win over North Carolina Central

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Brian Jenkins rarely shows the type of emotion that he did following his Bethune-Cookman Wildcats' 42-17 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over North Carolina Central on Saturday.

Shortly after the final whistle, Jenkins marched over to the sidelines at Municipal Stadium and took a microphone from Wildcats' athletic director Lynn Thompson. He thanked the fans, gave a shout out to the band and even got a little sway going during the school's fight song.

 

In his postgame presser, he said someone told him he should let his team see him smile a little more. Of course, in typical Jenkins' fashion, he was not smiling at the time that he said as much. But down on the field he did, and for good reason – with the win over North Carolina Central (5-3, 4-1), B-CU (6-2, 5-0) took sole possession of first-place in the MEAC.

 

The Wildcats will have to lose twice in their final three games against teams that have a combined seven wins – Morgan State, Savannah State and Florida A&M – to potentially fall short of a conference title.

 

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