Albany State Golden Rams win SIAC title in a thriller!

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - It wasn't easy or pretty but Albany State got the job done. The Rams held off Fort Valley State 12-7 in the Fountain City Classic to claim their first SIAC title since 2006. Stanley Jennings connected on 2 touchdown passes to Ronnie Childs in the second half after both teams failed to get on the score board in the first half.

The Rams' defense stepped up big in the 4th quarter with less than a minute left. ASU held Fort Valley out of the end zone after a blocked punt gave the Wildcats possession at the Ram 10 yard line. The win closes out a 10-0 regular season for the Rams.

Rams Edge FVSU for SIAC Title

This year's Fountain City Classic was more than a rivalry game. The SIAC Championship was at stake in Columbus between the 6th ranked undefeated Albany State Rams, and No. 25 Fort Valley State, winners of seven straight.

After battling to a scoreless tie in the first, the Wildcats' Emanuel Williams scooped up a fumble by LiRonnie Davis and took it to the end zone to give FVSU a 7-0 edge. The Rams responded with back-to-back touchdown passes from Stanley Jennings to Ronnie Childs to put Albany State ahead 12-7.



Wrong shade of blue: Fort Valley State falls short against Albany State

COLUMBUS — Tony Reid could only kneel down and watch, listen and stare blankly ahead as fans in blue and gold celebrated. The problem for the junior running back was simple — the wrong fans in the wrong blue and gold were happy.

“We came in and won last year and Albany State looked at it as a fluke, it just so happened we got lucky,” the Fort Valley State running back said. “We knew that it wasn’t luck last year. We had to do it again and make them respect us. We didn’t do that.”

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ATTENDANCE: 23,966


ASU Golden Passionettes 11/6/10

Virginia State Trojans lock up CIAA North

SOUTH HILL, VA - Most people turn their clocks back an hour in the fall, but the Virginia State University football team went back 14 years. VSU clinched its first CIAA North Division title since 1996 by defeating St. Paul's College 34-14 in the regular season finale on Saturday in South Hill.

The team from Ettrick will fight for the conference title next Saturday, something not too many people saw coming a the start of the season. The Trojans were picked to finish eighth in the 13-team league this year. The preseason snub did not sit well with the VSU. The Trojans have won their last four games, decidedly dispatching those opponents by a combined score of 126-21.

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Videographer: juankiki25 (10/4/10)

Shaw Bears will play for CIAA title

RALEIGH, N.C. -- For the third time in four years, the Shaw Bears are returning to the 'ship. The CIAA championship game, that is. In a game that didn't live up to its billing until the fourth quarter, Shaw defeated neighboring rival St. Augustine's 10-6 on Saturday at Broughton High School.

The win gives the Bears (8-2, 7-0 CIAA) the CIAA Southern Division title and a chance to meet Virginia State, winner of the Northern Division, at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Durham County Stadium.

St. Augustine's Fumbles Away CIAA Title Berth to Shaw

Rico Brown recovered a fumble and Raymond Williams took advantage with a 35-yard touchdown run as Shaw upset nationally-ranked St. Augustine's, 10-6, at Broughton High School in Raleigh Saturday. The victory gave the Bears (8-2, 7-0) the CIAA southern division title and, more importantly, a berth in the CIAA championship next Saturday in Durham against Virginia State. Shaw will make its third appearance in the conference title game in four years.

The no. 19 Falcons (8-2, 6-1), meanwhile, had their seven-game winning streak snapped and will wait to see if they can get an at-large berth in the Division II playoffs.

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Week 10: Pretenders vs. Contenders

Honoring the man that set the bar so high for all of us to meet, took center stage yesterday at South Carolina State University, Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at Willie Jeffries Field. On "Willie Jeffries Day", the legendary, iconic coach was presented a Plaque by the College Football Hall of Fame representative, and the football field at the Stadium was officially named "Willie Jeffries Field" in his honor.

More important, Coach Jeffries watched the Bulldogs thump the Howard Bison 54-14, the other team that he lead to the 1987 MEAC championship. Jeffries clearly enjoyed the camaraderie of generations of former Bulldogs and Bison players that he coached, that came to see him honored.

Read the following stories on how Coach Jeffries was honored:

• Jeffries gets one final ride on his day, on his field
• Bulldogs close out home slate with 54-14 win over Bison
• Bulldog Stadium playing surface to be named after Willie Jeffries
• Talented group of seniors happy to win final home game

In a made for television game, that was not televised, Albany State fans came out in droves to overflow A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia in the 20th Fountain City Classic. The 14,000 seat stadium, also site of the12th annual Pioneer Bowl (Dec. 4, 2010), packed in 23,966 fans to watch a defensive battle between Albany State and Fort Valley State. The ASU Golden Rams prevailed over their rivals, 12-7 to win the SIAC championship and a bye in next weeks NCAA Division II Playoffs.

The #25 ranked Fort Valley State (8-2, 7-2 SIAC) has a slim chance of being selected to an at-large berth in the Division II playoffs. The pairings will be announced on Monday.

Jackson State fans are disappointed this morning, as the Alabama State Hornets claimed first place in the SWAC East with a 32-30 win at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. The Tigers didn't help themselves with four turnovers and 17 penalties for -143 yards.



Bethune-Cookman rolled over the best defense remaining on its 2010 schedule and defeated the Hampton Pirates on their homecoming 23-18 before 12,244 at Armstrong Stadium. The Pirates offense sputtered in the second half and did not have enough firepower to overtake the undefeated Wildcats (9-0, 6-0 MEAC). With only a home date with Howard and FAMU (Florida Classic) remaining on the Wildcats schedule, there is a 99% probability the Wildcats will end the regular season undefeated, win the MEAC title and the automatic berth into the FCS playoffs.

Florida A&M Rattlers had to go into overtime to beat the same North Carolina A&T (1-9, 1-6) team that B-CU walloped 67-17 on Oct. 28. The Rattlers offense, with Redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Trainor in his first start, was able to overcome the Aggies 22-19.

Coach Joe Taylor has apparently dumped his starting quarterback sophomore Martin Ukpai after eight games and senior Eddie Battle, due to unspecified reasons.

Let's be honest here--Joe Taylor is not talking yet, but it's clear to the blog that Ukpai has fallen far short of expectations in the passing game. When provided the opportunity to play, senior Eddie Battle also has killed drives and momentum with untimely interceptions. He has been nailed to the bench and rightfully so, by Taylor.

We wrote about this lack of experience issue back in April 2010, under the blog "Help Wanted (FAMU): Division I Transfer QB", regarding the forthcoming deficiencies at quarterback for this season.

Trainor is not the answer. Ukpai and Battle weren't the answer! Trainor lacks game experience and will need more time to develop, as a redshirt freshman.

Too bad for the Rattlers, they had all the other pieces in place necessary to compete for the MEAC championship this season, except a serviceable quarterback. But--there is always next year to look forward to and the opportunity for another Tallahassee area star quarterback like Savannah State's Antonio Bostick and Norfolk State's Chris Walley to go totally unnoticed by the Rattlers recruiters.

T.J. Lawrence appears to be one of the best athletes on the FAMU team. A good offensive coordinator would give him a try for a few series in the "Wildcat" at QB with the speedsters, Jerral Stewart and Philip Sylvester as the running backs. If nothing else, it would be entertaining to see an offense series with these three talented players handling the ball.

Now the rest of the story...



MEAC
Bethune-Cookman 23, Hampton 18
South Carolina State 54, Howard 14
Florida A&M 22, North Carolina A&T 19 (O.T.)
Delaware State 29, North Carolina Central 7
Norfolk State 37, Morgan State 25
Old Dominion 57, Savannah State 9

SWAC
Grambling State 35, Concordia 0
Alabama State 32, Jackson State 30
Texas Southern 54, Southern 7
Arkansas Pine Bluff 49, Mississippi Valley 20
Alcorn State 41, Alabama A&M 24

CIAA
Shaw 10, Saint Augustine's 6
Fayetteville State 44, Virginia Union 27
Virginia State 34, Saint Paul's 14
Elizabeth City State 36, Lincoln (Pa.) 6
Bowie State 59, Chowan 19

SIAC
Albany State (Ga.) 12, Fort Valley State 7
Morehouse 13, Miles 3
Tuskegee 28, Lane 6
Stillman 23, Kentucky State 12
Benedict 20, Clark Atlanta 17

OVC
Eastern Illinois 31, Tennessee State 28 (O.T.)

OTHERS
Azusa Pacific 59, Lincoln (Mo.) 14
Urbana 40, Central State (Oh.) 12
West Virginia Wesleyan 50, West Virginia State 28
LIU-C.W. Post 63, Cheyney 28
Lambuth 44, Edward Waters 27



B-CU and Norfolk State performing exhibition shows at Kings Fork High School. Videographer, Gentleman1911.

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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FVSU rises in national poll, makes regional list

Fort Valley State has finally made it into both national Division II football polls, in time for the Fountain City Classic against higher-ranked Albany State. The Wildcats improved to No. 22 in the American Football Coaches Association poll and made their season debut at No. 25 in the D2football.com poll.

And the Wildcats are No. 7 in the first NCAA Region 2 poll, behind No. 1 Albany State and No. 6 Morehouse. Albany State is fifth in the AFCA poll and sixth with D2football.com, as well as first in the region poll. The top six teams in each region earn invitations to the Division II playoffs.

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ASU: We pay no mind to VSU trash talk

ALBANY, GA — The verbal rivalry between Albany State and Valdosta State is no secret. Rams and Blazers? They just don’t mix. But despite the fact the two teams haven’t played each other this year — and haven’t faced off since 2007 — the smack talk has been as prevalent as ever this season.

“I have not seen them play this year, but everyone is going to cheer for their team,” said ASU head coach Mike White when told about the anti-Rams talk perpetuated by Valdosta fans over the Internet message boards, and specifically stories written by The Herald about Albany State this season. “We cheer for ours and I’m quite sure they cheer for theirs, so I’m not surprised.”

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Winston Salem Rams left to ponder what-ifs of season

Durham, N.C. - It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Coach Connell Maynor shed some tears after Winston-Salem State’s season came to an end on Saturday as Shaw rallied to win 31-27.

Maynor, who was in his first season as a head coach, is passionate about winning, as evidenced by the many sprints he does up and down the sidelines in every game trying to get everything he can out of his players. But with the season over and the Rams finishing 8-2, Maynor’s body language said it all a few minutes after the loss that officially eliminated them from the CIAA’s Southern Division race.

While it was a boost to the program to make a turnaround after last season’s 1-10 record, Maynor said he was disappointed because for him, it’s about championships.

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Week 9: Pretenders vs. Contenders

What an exciting week of HBCU football!

Winston Salem State received the e-mail late, but nevertheless they will be spending Thanksgiving Weekend at home after falling to the Shaw Bears 31-27. The Rams had an outstanding season on their return to the CIAA, finishing with a 8-2 record and getting a few coaches upset with their ability to recruit Division I skilled players.

Bethune-Cookman may provide the best opportunity for the MEAC to break its string of losses in the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats are 8-0, 5-0 MEAC and should win the conference championship outright in the next three weeks. We don't see Hampton, who fell to two year old program, Old Dominion Monarchs 28-14, stopping the Wildcats offense. The next opponent for B-CU, the Howard Bison will have to play their best defensive game of the decade to stop the Wildcats from scoring 85 points.

So, that leaves only the Florida A&M Rattlers standing in the way of the Wildcats undefeated regular season. Whatever first year Coach Brian Jenkins put in the players head, the Wildcats will not beat themselves with silly penalties nor play to the level of their competition. This is the best coached HBCU team we have seen for sometime. So, go Wildcats!

South Carolina State offense is getting un-tracked and was able to escape Delaware State 38-21. If the Bulldogs and Rattlers keep winning, they may become the MEAC's second team in the FCS playoffs. We do not see FAMU making the playoffs, unless they run the table and defeat B-CU in the Florida Classic on November 20. There are many scenarios, so it is best we just sit back and watch how this unfolds over the next three week in the MEAC.

For sure, Morgan State is out of the race with the 31-17 loss to the Rattlers yesterday, but is strong enough to knockoff Hampton and take S.C. State to the wire. Anything is possible when you have a field goal kicker that can hit it from 47 yards like the Bears' Kemar Scarlett



Grambling State 35-25 win over Coach Monte Coleman's solid University of Arkasas Pine Bluff squad in the Literacy Classic confirms that the best defensive and offensive team maybe Grambling--not Bethune Cookman. I know most SWAC fans can't wait to see Grambling State vs. Bethune-Cookman in next year MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Saint Augustine's Falcons continues to roll toward the CIAA championship with a 33-0 defeat of the Livingstone Blue Bears. Fort Valley State--what are you thinking? Lane Dragons held an 18-14 lead until the 4th quarter, and finally the Wildcats took care of business to walk away with a 31-18 win. Albany State continues to play like the SIAC champions, stopping Stillman 44-5.

Great to see the attendance skyrocket over Week 9, with homecomings and classics dominating this week schedule. The Magic City Classic had 61,879 attend the game at Legion Field, Birmingham; Jackson State vs. Prairie View had 23,701 for the Tigers homecoming game; North Carolina Central scheduled Division II, NAIA Edward Waters in a guaranteed win and the Eagles did not disappoint with a 20-7 win before 13,562 homecoming fans.

Florida A&M had its best homecoming crowd since the Coach Joe Taylor era started, with 30,459 in Bragg Memorial Stadium. GSU and UAPB attracted a respectable 29,373 to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the Literacy Classic and Alcorn State vs. Southern game had 18, 075, in Lorman. The Howard Bison vs. Norfolk State packed in 7,086 to Greene Stadium for Howard's homecoming.

Hope everyone had a great time! Now, the rest of the story...



SIAC
Albany State 44, Stillman 5
Morehouse 17, Clark Atlanta 7
Fort Valley State 31, Lane 18
Tuskegee 45, Kentucky State 21
Kentucky Wesleyan 40, Miles 28

CIAA
Benedict 41, Concordia 14
Fayetteville State 64, Johnson C. Smith
Saint Paul's 16 O.T., Lincoln (Pa.) 13
Shaw 31, Winston Salem State 27
Virginia State 35, Virginia Union 7
Saint Augustine's 33, Livingstone 0
Elizabeth City State 55, Chowan 14

OTHERS
Langston 31, Lincoln (Mo.) 21
E. Stroudsburg 58, Cheyney 14
Shepherd 56, West Virginia State 19
Lambuth 42, Central State (Ohio) 6

SWAC
Grambling State 35, Arkansas - Pine Bluff 25, Literacy Classic
Jackson State 30, Prairie View A&M 13
Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 10, Magic City Classic
Texas Southern 38, Mississippi Valley State 7
Alcorn State 27, Southern 20

MEAC
Florida A&M 31, Morgan State 17
Bethune Cookman 67, North Carolina A&T 17, Thursday game
Old Dominion 28, Hampton 14
North Carolina Central 20, Edward Waters 7
South Carolina State 38, Delaware State 21
Norfolk State 10, Howard 9

Weekend Half-Time Shows:

Florida A&M University Incomparable Marching 100 is the best band in the WORLD! The Rattlers performance on homecoming Saturday will leave you speechless. There is no better homecoming like a FAMU Homecoming with ole school Rattlers! That field exit and delay of game call is a Marching 100 classic! You will also notice that the Marching 100 needs no gimmicky Tuxedo's or show girls to put on an entertaining, exceptional musical and marching performance. Hubba Doc!

Albany State: Nine down, one to go

ALBANY, GA — Rams fans, it’s officially time to start thinking about a 14th conference championship. Albany State cruised to a 44-5 win against Stillman on Saturday to remain undefeated at 9-0 overall and 8-0 in the SIAC on the season, and set up a Fountain City Classic against Fort Valley State (8-1 overall, 7-1 in the SIAC) with a bit more on the line than bragging rights.

“This is championship week,” said senior receiver Ronnie Childs, who finished with four catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. “We’re going to work hard every day, lift weights two or three times a week and let (offensive coordinator Steve) Smith put us in a position to make plays and let our defense carry us. All we have to do is put up some points.”

It didn’t take many points Saturday as the Rams held the Tigers (1-8, 1-7) to just 5 — the lowest of any ASU opponent this season.

ASU-STILLMAN NOTEBOOK: ASU win bittersweet for players, fans

ALBANY, GA — Ronnie Childs Sr. has been to every single one of his son’s football games.

From little league to college, the star wideout’s father did whatever he had to do to give him his support, even if it meant missing work. So it’s no surprise Childs Sr., along with his wife Patissia, were there for the senior’s last regular-season home game, waiting outside the locker room to congratulate him on yet another productive game Saturday following ASU’s 44-5 win vs. Stillman.

“It’s (possibly) the last time I’m gonna see him (here) and I know Ronnie’s gonna miss it,” Childs Sr. said. “(The stadium) seemed like part of us, so I don’t know how to take it. It’s the last one, unless we come back for the playoffs.”

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K-State's comeback falls short; Tuskegee 45, KSU 21

Kentucky State entered the fourth quarter within a touchdown of SIAC power Tuskegee Saturday at Cleve L. Abbott Stadium in Tuskegee, Ala. Then the Golden Tigers shut the door. Seventeen unanswered points by Tuskegee crushed the Thorobreds’ hopes for an upset as the Golden Tigers pulled away for a 45-21 win.

With the score 27-21, KSU had possession of the ball with a chance to tie the game late in the third quarter after Daeron Williams forced a Tuskegee fumble and Grandson Brown recovered the ball at the KSU 5. The Breds went three-and-out, however, giving Tuskegee prime field position after Chris Spalding’s 43-yard punt.

The Golden Tigers capitalized with...

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FVSU rallies to knock off Lane

The Fort Valley State Wildcats improved to 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the SIAC with a 31-18 win over Lane on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats entered the fourth quarter trailing 18-14, but they dominated the final quarter, scoring the final 17 points against the winless Dragons.

With his team trailing in the final quarter, Tony Reid took over. He scored from 1 yard out with 14:15 left and added a 6-yarder with 12:03 left to give the Wildcats control of the game. FVSU’s Justin Rosenbaum made a 47-yard field goal with less than six minutes remaining to close the scoring.

Lane falls to Fort Valley

For three quarters, it was difficult to tell which team entered Saturday's game at Lane Field No. 3 in the nation and which team was winless. Looking for its first win of the season, Lane College (0-9, 0-8) took an 18-14 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats (No. 3, NCAA Division II, HBCUDigest.com poll) responded with 17 unanswered points, pulling out a 31-18 win.

The Wildcats' Tony Reid scored on a one-yard run on the second play of the fourth quarter after racing 53 yards in the wildcat formation that gave Fort Valley the lead for keeps in Lane's final home game of the season.

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Virginia State Trojans turn the table on Virginia Union Panthers

RICHMOND, VA - The Virginia State University football team tallied three touchdowns on offense and two on defense en route to a 35-7 drubbing of Virginia Union in a CIAA game on Saturday. The matchup, which was the 101st between the two teams, came 380 days after VUU hung a school-record 490 rushing yards on VSU in a 31-3 blowout.

The Trojans counted those days, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to turn the table on their cross-town rivals. "I definitely marked in on my calendar," said VSU running back Antwain Lyde. "This was a time when we had to get our revenge from last year."

And that's exactly what the visitors did on a beautiful afternoon at Hovey field in Richmond.

Panthers Fall to Trojans 35-7

Virginia Union University's Jerell Washington rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown, but Virginia State University downed VUU 35-7 in the Panthers' home finale of the 2010 season.

Washington's yards came on 27 carries and accounted for VUU's only score on the day. VUU's Antonio Harris had eight tackles on the day while Fletcher Redd had two sacks. The loss dropped VUU to 3-6 overall on the season and 3-4 in CIAA play. Virginia State raised it's record to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in CIAA play.

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WSSU Rams end season with loss to Shaw Bears

Durham, N.C. - Winston-Salem State’s dream season ended with a Shaw nightmare.

The Bears rallied in the second half to come away with a 31-27 victory on Saturday afternoon in front of around 7,000 at Durham County Stadium. The win sets up a showdown on Saturday with St. Augustine’s with the winner of that game getting a berth into the CIAA Championship Game.

For the 18th-ranked Rams, their season of such high hopes comes to an end as they finish 8-2 and 5-2 in the CIAA. All season long Coach Connell Maynor of the Rams hasn’t made excuses, and he wasn’t about to start. The Rams led the whole way until a costly interception by Kameron Smith late in the game gave the Bears (7-2, 6-0) the final jolt of momentum they would need.

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Attendance: 7,000
Shaw University Platinum Sound Marching Band

Shaw holds keys to CIAA championship

Kienus Boulware doesn’t get too excited too often. As the coordinator of Winston-Salem State’s defense, he has used his steady hand and quiet nature to help make an already talented unit even better.

On Saturday, Boulware will face his old boss, Coach Darrell Asberry of Shaw. Boulware spent the previous four seasons as Shaw’s defensive coordinator, and his players sense something different this week. “When you are playing a school you used to coach, there’s a different feeling,” defensive lineman Juan Corders of WSSU said. “Of course Coach Boulware wants us to be successful on Saturday.”



Stakes sky high for WSSU, Shaw

Coach Darrell Asberry of Shaw is well aware of what his team will have at stake the next two Saturdays. First, his Bears will take on the 18th-ranked Winston-Salem State Rams at 1 p.m. Saturday at Durham County Stadium. The next weekend, on Nov. 6, they will play No. 23 St. Augustine’s.

“When you get down to this point in the season, they are all big,” said Asberry, who is in his fifth season. With Shaw (6-2, 5-0 CIAA), WSSU (8-1, 5-1) and St. Aug’s (7-1, 5-0) all chasing the CIAA’s Southern Division title, there’s late-season drama, but Asberry said that’s not a bad thing.

Maynor: Playoffs begin now for Rams

Coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State has done a good job keeping his players from worrying about whether one game is more important than another. He doesn’t have that luxury this week. The 18th-ranked Rams (8-1, 5-1 CIAA) will play the Shaw Bears (6-2, 5-0) in their regular-season finale Saturday. For WSSU, it might as well be a championship game.

“It doesn’t get any bigger,” Maynor said. “We have to win it.”

The game will help settle who wins the CIAA’s Southern Division title. A loss most likely would end the season for the Rams, eliminating them from the Southern Division race and a shot at the Division II playoffs.

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Saturday's WSSU/Shaw game moved to Durham County Stadium

WSSU’s final regular-season game with Shaw on Saturday at 1 p.m. will be played at Durham County Stadium instead of Millbrook High School in Raleigh. The game originally was scheduled for Millbrook, where Shaw plays most of its home games because it does not have a stadium on campus. Durham County Stadium is also where the CIAA Championship Game will be played on Nov. 13. For information on tickets call the WSSU ticket office at 750-3220.

Bill Hayes, the Rams’ athletics director, spent a lot of time on the field during Saturday’s homecoming game against UNC Pembroke but he wasn’t coaching. Instead, he was recognizing the many donors, both alumni and corporate, who have ...

Winston-Salem State Needs Win And A Little Help

Winston-Salem, N.C.--The 8-1 Winston Salem State head into Saturday's showdown with CIAA Rival Shaw needing a win and a little help the following week to earn a spot in the Conference Championship game.

Shaw and Saint Augustine's sit atop the CIAA Southern Division Standings with 5-0 records with the Rams just behind at 5-1. Winston-Salem State needs to knock off Shaw, and have Shaw beat Saint Augustine's the following week to create a 3 way tie atop the Division.

Stakes sky high for WSSU, Shaw

Coach Darrell Asberry of Shaw is well aware of what his team will have at stake the next two Saturdays. First, his Bears will take on the 18th-ranked Winston-Salem State Rams at 1 p.m. Saturday at Durham County Stadium. The next weekend, on Nov. 6, they will play No. 23 St. Augustine’s.

“When you get down to this point in the season, they are all big,” said Asberry, who is in his fifth season. With Shaw (6-2, 5-0 CIAA), WSSU (8-1, 5-1) and St. Aug’s (7-1, 5-0) all chasing the CIAA’s Southern Division title, there’s late-season drama, but Asberry said that’s not a bad thing.

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ASU Rams get SIAC honors, move to No. 6 in poll

ALBANY, GA — It looks like Albany State’s 13-12 win against Morehouse on Saturday was pretty significant.

Not only did the Rams (8-0 overall, 7-0 in the SIAC) move up to No. 6 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, they kicked the Tigers out completely and earned some SIAC awards in the process.
Junior quarterback Stanley Jennings was named Newcomer of the Week, while junior offensive lineman Ricory Green received Offensive Lineman of the Week honors.

Jennings orchestrated ASU’s come-from-behind victory as he completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards, including the game-winning five-yard pass with 18 seconds on the clock. The Marietta-native also scored on a 12-yard touchdown rush and led the Rams in rushing with 73 yards on 15 carries.




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VSU controls destiny for CIAA final berth

Virginia State will go into Saturday's game at archrival Virginia Union controlling its destiny for the Northern Division berth in the CIAA championship game, which will be played in Durham County (N.C.) Stadium for the third straight year Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.

"We look forward to our premier football event returning to Durham. Without question, the 2010 season is one of the most exciting in CIAA history," Commissioner Leon Kerry said. "We still have seven teams with a realistic chance of winning their division and a place in the championship game."

Still in the Northern Division hunt with the Trojans over the closing weeks of the regular season are Bowie State, Elizabeth City State and Chowan.

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BSU Bulldogs Win on Senior Day, 20-12 over ECSU

The Bowie State Bulldogs (5-4 overall, 5-1 CIAA) on Senior day found a way despite giving up 500 yards in total offense and not scoring in the second half to defeat Elizabeth State (4-4 overall, 3-2 CIAA), 20-12. The win gives the Bulldogs a fighting chance of earning a CIAA championship birth with two weeks remaining in the season.

"The guys played for the seniors today and they played a good game," said coach Damon Wilson. "This is a good Elizabeth City team." "The guys fought for four quarters and found a way to win the ballgame, so it was great to finish our home stretch with a W."

The Bulldogs won the game because of three things: on offense, they were efficient and ran the ball successfully; on defense, they were able to create three turnovers when Elizabeth City was within a yard of the end zone; and finally, special teams was fantastic creating two touchdowns.

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Virginia State Trojans tame Lincoln (Pa.) Lions

ETTRICK, VA - It's a good thing the cannon at Rogers stadium fires blank rounds after every Virginia State University touchdown. If actual cannon balls were required, there may not have been enough on hand Saturday as home team routed Lincoln 42-0 in a CIAA matchup.

The Trojans defense fired a blank of their own, claiming their first shutout of the year by forcing five turnovers and limiting the Lions to 225 yards of total offense.
VSU senior Laquentin Milo got things started for the home team by picking off a pass from Lincoln quarterback Steven Torres. The 6-0, 220-pound linebacker returned it 29 yards to the Lions' 16-yard line, much to the delight of a rowdy homecoming crowd.

Image Gallery for Trojans tame Lions

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