Quarterback Calvin McNairl stands out at TSU scrimmage

Photo Gallery: TSU's Blue and White scrimmage

Calvin McNairl finished the 2007 season as Tennessee State’s starting quarterback. On Saturday he took a step toward being the starter when the 2009 season kicks off. “The most exciting thing today was that Calvin did a great job directing the team up and down the field,’’ TSU Coach James Webster said after McNairl outshined the other quarterbacks in the annual Blue and White game at Hale Stadium. “He was a threat throwing the football and he was a threat running the football.”

McNairl led the white to a 6-3 victory by engineering the only touchdown scoring drive. He accounted for 64 of the 70 yards (36 passing, 28 rushing) on the drive.
Terrence Wright capped the drive with a 2-yard run into the end zone. While about 1,000 fans watched the white take on the blue Webster and his offensive staff paid more attention to how well McNairl and the other quarterbacks performed. They’re locked in a battle to replace Antonio Heffner.

McNairl spent last season redshirted. The former Henry County star had stepped in as a freshman in 2007 for Heffner, who was injured in the final four games. While McNairl sat the year out the Tigers inherited a pair of transfer QBs – Dominique Grooms from Missouri and Jeremy Perry from Middle Tennessee State - who moved ahead of him on the depth chart.

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Staying healthy big key for Southern senior WR Roberts

Everything is coming together for Southern University wide receiver Del Roberts. He enters his senior season as the veteran leader among the wideouts. He’s on course to graduate in psychology in December and then pursue his master’s, likely at SU, as he seeks his goal of becoming an occupational therapist. And he’s got a team that can — if he and others play up to their potential — make a run for the Southwestern Athletic Conference title.

A December with a diploma and a SWAC championship run looks like the perfect way to finish to Roberts.

#1 Jaguars wide receiver Del Roberts.

“It’s something special,” Roberts said of his view of his senior year. “I’ve been playing football all my life. To say I graduated and be able to try to win a championship in my last year going out is a big deal. I’m just trying to do anything I can to help this team and this unit be the best it can be.”

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A&M's Atkins tries on big shoes

Replacing Kelcy Luke at QB no small challenge

Kevin Atkins has taken over for a quarterback before. Six years ago, Atkins replaced his cousin, T.J. Wilson, who was moved to wide receiver, as the starter at Southern Durham (N.C.) High School. All the 6-foot-1, 219-pounder did was win.

When Atkins left Southern Durham, he had led his team to a 38-3 record and to three consecutive conference championships. He was a three-time all-conference selection and was a 4A All-State pick as well, throwing for more than 2,000 yards as a senior, while rushing for 700 more. "I had a great high school career," Atkins said shortly after arriving at Alabama A&M three years ago. "Hopefully, I can duplicate that here."

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"More than ever": Pough excited as SCSU reports, prepares for practice

Oliver “Buddy” Pough won’t be having a fun-filled Friday. Instead, Pough will spend the day checking 85 to 90 South Carolina State football players in, running through a little orientation and then comes the paperwork. “It’s a necessary evil,” Pough said Thursday evening. “Our compliance people have to get them to sign all types of paperwork. Our equipment people have to do all types of stuff. There is plenty to do. We have a full day ahead of us.”

The bright side? Get Friday’s paperwork and Saturday’s early-morning physical tests out the way, and around 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon the Bulldogs can hit the field for their first fall practice of the 2008 season. Excited?

SCSU Bulldogs vs. Norfolk State University Spartans in 2007 (Mark's Digital Photography)

“More than ever,” Pough said without pause. “This is a new team, new kinds of faces. We have people moving around different places ... experiments to see how they will work. Marshall (McFadden) is moving up, Terrence (Smith) is moving over (from wide receiver to defensive back), and our quarterbacks ... I want to see how they are going to react to being the guys.

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Howard edges WSSU in OT

JOURNAL STAFF REPORT

Rams give up three straight sacks, lose 24-21 on field goal

WASHINGTON - Brian Johnson’s three touchdown passes and Dennis Wieh-berg’s 28-yard field goal gave Coach Carey Bailey of Howard his first victory, a 24-21 overtime win over Winston-Salem State yesterday.

In overtime, Howard (1-3) stymied Winston-Salem State (2-3) with three straight sacks, knocking Rams quarterback Monte Purvis out of the game.

On fourth-and-42, Howard’s Thomas Claiborne intercepted a pass from backup quarterback Jarrett Dunston.

Howard’s Terry Perry then rushed for 20 yards on five carries to align Wiehberg for the winning kick.

“Howard stepped up big late in the game and forced us out of our rhythm,” said Coach Kermit Blount of Winston-Salem State.


WSSU 0 7 7 7 0 — 21

Howard 7 7 7 0 3 — 24

First Quarter

Howard—Williams 12 pass from Johnson (Wiehberg kick), 4:15.

Second Quarter

Howard—Williams 4 pass from Johnson (Wiehberg kick), 13:26.

WSSU—Kinzer 20 pass from Purvis (M.Mitchell kick), :35.

Third Quarter

WSSU—Scarbrough 28 pass from Purvis (M.Mitchell kick), 9:06.

Howard—Fowler 32 pass from Johnson (Wiehberg kick), 4:42.

Fourth Quarter

WSSU—Hubbard 0 run (M.Mitchell kick), 1:14.

Overtime

Howard—FG Wiehberg 28.

A—3,302.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—WSSU, Fluellen 17-58, Bines 15-30, Dunston 1-(minus 1), Sherrod 1-(minus 5), Purvis 13-(minus 24). How., Perry 23-87, Johnson 6-17, Whittaker 4-14, Moore 1-3.

PASSING—WSSU, Purvis 14-24-1-261, Dunston 0-3-1-0. How., Johnson 20-35-0-251.

RECEIVING—WSSU, Scarbrough 6-107, Thomas 2-50, Bayne 2-20, Fluellen 1-37, Reaves 1-21, Kinzer 1-20, Bines 1-6. How., Moore 6-44, Williams 4-36, Hood 3-34, Fowler 2-85, Perry 2-14, Whittaker 1-24, Blake 1-8, Duncan 1-6.