Saint Augustine's Falcons Release 2011 Football Schedule

Raleigh, N.C. - Five home games highlight the 2011 Saint Augustine's College football schedule which was released Tuesday.

The Falcons are looking to build off last season's 9-2 record and second-place finish in the CIAA's Southern Division. They capped the 2010 year by defeating Fort Valley State 20-9 to take home the Pioneer Bowl title. The nine victories set a modern school record for season wins.

Led by Head Coach Michael Costa, the Falcons host Catawba in the season opener on Sept. 3. They hit the road the next two weeks with games against New Haven on Sept. 10 and Saint Paul's on Sept. 17. The contest versus Saint Paul's kicks off the CIAA portion of the schedule.

The Falcons return home Sept. 24 to play Lincoln (Pa.) before hitting the road again to visit Fayetteville State on Oct. 1. They finish the second half of their schedule with three of the final five games at home starting with Winston-Salem State on Oct. 8. The Falcons step out of conference for the final time during the season for an Oct. 15 matchup against West Georgia.

The homecoming game will be Oct. 22 against Johnson C. Smith followed by an Oct. 29 home contest against Livingstone. The Falcons wrap up the regular season against crosstown nemesis Shaw on Nov. 5 at Durham County Stadium, which is the host site of the CIAA Championship Game on Nov. 12.

2011 Saint Augustine's College Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
9/3/11	CATAWBA	RALEIGH, NC	1:30 p.m.
9/10/11	at New Haven	West Haven, CT	1:00 p.m.
9/17/11	*at Saint Paul's	Lawrenceville, VA	1:00 p.m.
9/24/11	*LINCOLN (PA.)	RALEIGH, NC	1:30 p.m.
10/1/11	*at Fayetteville State	Fayetteville, NC	6:00 p.m.
10/8/11	*WINSTON-SALEM STATE	RALEIGH, NC	1:30 p.m.
10/15/11	at West Georgia	Carrollton, GA	2:00 p.m.
10/22/11	*JOHNSON C. SMITH#	RALEIGH, NC	2:00 p.m.
10/29/11	*LIVINGSTONE	RALEIGH, NC	1:30 p.m.
11/5/11	*at Shaw	Durham, NC	1:00 p.m.
11/12/11	CIAA Championship	Durham, NC	1:00 p.m.

*CIAA Games

# - Homecoming


By Saint Augustine's College Sports Information Office
VISIT: SAINT AUGUSTINE'S COLLEGE
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Pioneer Bowl: FVSU Wildcats look to rebound from missing playoffs

FORT VALLEY, Ga. -- Not being included in the NCAA Division II playoffs was obviously disappointing for Fort Valley State. But getting three more weeks of practice and getting to play in one of three Division II bowl games and having the chance to end the season on a winning note is a pretty good consolation prize.

It took a little while for the Wildcats to realize it after getting over a loss to end the regular season that kept them out of the playoffs. “You saw some pep in their step,” FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said of recent practices. “Everybody’s about back.”

FVSU takes on St. Augustine’s at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Pioneer Bowl at Columbus’ A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, home to the Fountain City Classic between FVSU and Albany State.

Former Huss standout hoping to help St. Aug's to school record

GASTONIA – Stedman Gardner says his St. Augustine’s College football coaches haven’t talked about the Falcons’ opportunity at history in Saturday’s 1 p.m. Pioneer Bowl at McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ga. “They’re just trying to keep us focused on what’s ahead,” said Gardner, a 2008 Hunter Huss High graduate. “But it would feel great to get in the record book.”

St. Augustine’s (8-2) missed its first opportunity at history when it dropped its regular-season finale to crosstown rival Shaw 10-6 in its Nov. 6 regular-season finale. Then, the Falcons could’ve taken a school-record 9th victory while also advancing to the CIAA championship game for the first time. St. Augustine’s, which restarted its football program in 2002 after a 35-year absence, had previously won eight games in 1950, 1965 and 2005. The 1950 team has a school-best 8-1 record.

The Pioneer Bowl appearance against Fort Valley State (8-2) gives the Falcons a second chance to win their 9th game of the season. The contest is in its 12th season and pits a CIAA team against a SIAC team.

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Saint Augustine's Falcons vs. Shaw Bears for CIAA Championship Berth

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Shaw football coach Darrell Asberry enjoys conversations about championship trophies. His Bears claimed Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships in 2007 and 2008. He wants another. "They make my office look good," Asberry said.

To earn the opportunity to play for a third championship in four seasons, the Bears (7-2, 6-0 CIAA) must defeat St. Augustine's (8-1, 6-0) on Saturday at Broughton High School in what is the final regular-season game for both teams.

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Saint Augustine's Falcons hands WSSU its first loss of year

Hold off on making those reservations for the CIAA championship game.

Winston-Salem State had been running roughshod over the CIAA this season but ran into a determined and talented St. Augustine’s team last night at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The Falcons (5-1, 4-0 CIAA) took control of the Southern Division with a 40-35 victory, and gained the inside track to the conference-championship game next month in Durham. Most of the damage the 17th-ranked Rams did was self-inflicted, with a season-high six turnovers. Quarterback Kameron Smith threw five interceptions, and the Falcons took the gifts and unwrapped them as if it was Christmas morning.

Falcons soar past Rams

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- St. Augustine's pulled off one of its biggest wins since restarting football in 2002 with a 40-35 victory over nationally-ranked and previously unbeaten Winston-Salem State on Saturday.

CIAA rushing leader Walter Sanders ran for 121 yards and scored two touchdowns and the Falcons (5-1 overall, 4-0 CIAA) forced six turnovers to gain first place in the CIAA's Southern Division. The win was also the first in five tries against the Rams (6-1, 4-1) since 2002. The Rams are ranked 17th in NCAA Division II.

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Saint Augustine's 20, Catawba 17

Salisbury, N.C. - For the second time in three years, St. Augustine's surprised Catawba College in the Indians' home opener at Shuford Stadium. The Falcons won behind two touchdown passes by Joaquin Green and a defense which held firm late. It all added up to a victory for the Falcons in their season-opener.

Walter Sanders clinched the win with a 23-yard scoring run on fourth down and inches with 2:04 left. Green, the 2009 CIAA offensive rookie of the year, was efficient at quarterback. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 202 yards. He tossed touchdown passes to Jone' Harris and Jamain Smith, whose 25-yard catch with 9:05 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Falcons a 14-10 lead which they would keep for good.

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Saint Augustine's defense shines in Falcons scrimmage

All-CIAA linebacker Mark Hall recorded nine tackles, including one sack, and an interception to highlight St. Augustine's intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at Emery Field.

The defense, led by Hall, collected five sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions during the two-hour morning scrimmage. The defense held the offense scoreless in the first half, but the offense responded with six touchdowns during red-zone situations in the second half.

"We showed good signs of stopping the run and throwing the football well in the red zone," Falcons coach Michael Costa said. "It was a good first scrimmage. We are starting to see everything come together that we have worked on in practice."

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Saint. Augustine's Falcons have more experience

After finishing the 2009 football season in third place with a 4-3 conference record, St. Augustine's will rely on veterans this season. The Falcons have back 17 starters and 38 lettermen in all from a team that produced a 4-6 record overall, and for the first time in five years, they will have stability at quarterback.

The team also has four returning All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association players: senior linebacker Mark Hall, senior offensive lineman Ricky Rodriguez, redshirt sophomore quarterback Joaquin Green and sophomore wide receiver Tyron Laughinghouse. Despite all the experience, the Falcons still have questions that need to be answered if they want to come out with more victories this season:

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