MEAC/SWAC Scoreboard 11/17/2007

Compiled by beepbeep

Congratulations to Norfolk State University for their record setting season in the 10th year of playing Division I football. The Spartans (8-3,7-2 MEAC)were the surprise team of the year contending for the MEAC championship with Delaware State. NSU ends the year with a 23-20 victory over Winston Salem State University Rams (6-5, 5-4 MEAC)and tied for second place in the conference with SCSU. Over 8,093 fans enjoyed NSU, who appears to have won the home attendance record for 2007 in HBCU football over Southern University. Both the Rams and Spartans have shown that they will be championship teams in the near future in the MEAC and strong home attendance.

NSU: Behold, the Green and Gold! WSSU: No doubt, WSSU defense is RAM tough!

It was record setting day at South Carolina State University. Lee Fobbs Aggie team was blasted 51-7 in front of 13,083 fans with sophomore Will Ford steamrolling the N.C. A&T defense for 322 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. Senior Cleveland McCoy became the #1 passer in SCSU history surpassing 6,133 yards with two touchdown passes. The Bulldogs scored 31 straight points on Fobbs defense and ran up 632 yards of offense on the Aggies. SCSU finished a disappointing season at 7-4, 7-2 MEAC, tied with Norfolk State for second place in the conference.

North Carolina A&T finished its second virgin season (0-11). Coach Fobbs is 0-22 in two seasons in his first job as head coach and the Aggies losing streak is extended to a record 27 consecutive games. Just one question for Coach Buddy Pough---Did you run up the score on North Carolina A&T after leading 37-7 at the end of the third quarter just to set individual player records? Buddy should be flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct!

Hampton University Pirates got pounded 45-27 by #5 ranked FCS Southern Illinois before 3,340 Pirate fans at Armstrong Stadium. In victory, SI tied a school record with its 10th regular season win. The FCS playoff bound Salukis are 10-1, 5-1 in the Gateway Conference behind FCS #1 ranked Northern Iowa (11-0, 6-1 Gateway). Hampton played a competitive game but was burned for 282 yards and three touchdowns by quarterback Nick Hill on 24/28 passes. The Pirates T.J. Mitchell also passed for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns on 23/37 passes and led Hampton to 411 yards of offense. SI gained 474 yards and was able to score on the fastest defensive backfield in the MEAC on a 76 yard run, 28 yard pass and a 29 yard pass play. Hampton finishes their season at 6-5, 5-4 MEAC for 4th place with DI provisional - Winston Salem State University, who finished with the same record.

Tennessee State University (5-6, 4-3 OVC) had five turnovers in a 43-38 loss to University of Tennesseee - Martin (4-7, 4-4) to end their season. Calvin McNairl, a true freshman quarterback for TSU had three interceptions on 8/22 passes for 173 yards. Running back Javarris Williams rushed for four touchdowns and 162 yards on just nine carries before a crowd of 7,859 fans. Dominique Rodgers had a 92 yard kickoff return for a touchdown in third quarter.

Before 32,506 fans at the Capital City Classic, Jackson State University (7-4,7-2 SWAC)was able to overcome a early 6-0 Alcorn State (2-8, 2-7 SWAC)lead to score 24 unanswered points to win at home 31-19. This was possibly Dr. Johnny Thomas last game as head of Alcorn's football program, and he had no answer for Rick Comegy's quick strike offense. Grambling awaits Jackson State in the December 15th SWAC Championship game.

Prairie View A&M Panthers (7-3, 6-3 SWAC) indirectly helped Jackson State University win the east division title outright by humbling Alabama A&M University Bulldogs (8-3, 6-3) by a 30-20 score. The Bulldog loss and JSU win gave the Tigers the SWAC East Division title and a date with West Division champs, Grambling State University. The loss may drop AAMU from receiving an NCAA FCS At-Large playoff bid but we must await the selection committee announcement.

Prairie View finishes their season with the most wins in 40 years, but more importantly, their first winning season in a long time. In four seasons, coach Henry Frazier III has taken the worst program in the country with the second smallest football budget in the SWAC and reconstructed the Panthers into a second place finisher behind west division leader, Grambling State.

Over 7,782 Panthers fans watched PVAMU take a 21-0 half-time lead on the Bulldogs with a 73 yard punt return by Anthony Weeden in the first quarter. Calvin Harris one yard run in the second quarter moved the score to 14-0 with the PAT, and quarterback Mark Spivey 3 yard pass to Gabrael Osaze Ediae and the PAT closed out the scoring in the first half.

Texas Southern (0-10) played inspired football before 750 fans, but it was not enough to keep Arkansas Pine Bluff (4-7) from recording a 20-10 defeat over the Tigers. TxSU has one more game with the C-USA West Division Champs, University of Houston Cougars (7-4, 6-2 C-USA). Texas Southern may end the season as a virgin at 0-11 and a 13 game losing streak.

UAPB Mo Forte coached his last game for the Golden Lions and is expected to be fired on Monday, with a buyout of the final year of his $120,000 contract.

The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (3-8, 2-7 SWAC) took Savannah State (1-9) to the woodshed for a 28-3 victory. SSU rushed for 38 yards on 30 attempts against the Delta Devils. Savannah State's coach Theo Lemon finishes his second season with a 1-9 record. No doubt, both of these programs need better athletes and should put out the welcome signs for all D-I transfers.