Challenge features standout defenders

Orlando, FL - The seventh annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney between Bethune-Cookman and Prairie View A&M should be quite an HBCU battle on Sept. 4 (ESPN, noon ET) at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla. These two schools feature some terrific players, but the most talented players will be on the defensive side of the ball.

In fact, this black college classic boasts two of the best defensive players in the FCS. Bethune-Cookman's playmaking linebacker Ryan Lewis was chosen as the MEAC's preseason defensive player of the year, while Prairie View A&M's quick-footed cornerback Moses Ellis was selected as the SWAC's preseason defensive player of the year.



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Prairie View A&M hopes to regain championship form

Prairie View, Texas - Henry Frazier III was the face of the Prairie View A&M program for the last seven years before resigning as coach in December to become head coach at North Carolina Central. That left the task of carrying on the program's success to former defensive coordinator Heishma Northern.

Frazier led the Panthers to winning seasons in each of his final four years, winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2009. Northern played a huge role in that success, orchestrating a defense that was second in the Football Championship Subdivision in scoring defense in 2007 and third in 2008. The pressure will be on Northern to build on Frazier's numbers. Anything less than a strong season in 2011 would constitute a setback for the program.

The Panthers return only 10 starters and plan to go with a two-quarterback system in the ...



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