B-CU moves A&T game for ESPNU coverage

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Bethune-Cookman Athletics Director Lynn Thompson and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced Tuesday that the B-CU vs. North Carolina A&T football game originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30, will now be Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Municipal Stadium. The switch was made so the game can be shown live on national television (ESPNU).

"There is a lot of interest in the new direction of our program," Thompson said. "With our phenomenal band, and the new construction of the athletic training facility and schedule upgrade, plans are underway to attract youngsters to our program from our backyard and beyond. "It will also be a super opportunity for our city to showcase the new improvements at Municipal Stadium." B-CU coach Brian Jenkins agreed.



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A&T anxious to work on rebuilding

Year 2 of N.C. A&T’s rebuilding campaign is underway.

The Aggies reported to preseason camp on Sunday; the first practice was Tuesday. “My coaching staff is excited about getting out there,’’ said second-year coach Alonzo Lee. “We believe the players have really put in the hard work necessary to be successful, so we are eager to see how that translates to the field.”

Two Aggies – safety Justin Ferrell and cornerback Quay Long (West Charlotte High) – earned first-team All-MEAC preseason honors. The Aggies ranked ninth in the nation in pass defense last season. Ferrell, who led the conference with six interceptions, started the season at cornerback before moving to safety. “Justin makes us a team that can really get after you blitz-wise because he can cover like a corner,’’ said Lee. “It gives us a chance to play a little more man coverage. His presence really makes us a better defense.”

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Back to work for the North Carolina A&T Aggies‎

GREENSBORO, N.C. — He is N.C. A&T’s most decorated returning football player, the kind of guy any coach would eagerly build his defense around. And yet, Justin Ferrell stood on the lush, manicured grass of Aggie Stadium on Tuesday morning and pointed out his own flaws. Drenched in sweat from A&T’s first football practice under the August sun, Ferrell vowed to be better.

“I really looked forward to this practice because my last two years, as a freshman and sophomore, I really didn’t show the passion I should have,” Ferrell said. “I didn’t show the intensity in practice I should have to get better, to take heed to what the coaches are putting forth to make us better in life and on the field.” This from a first-team All-MEAC defensive back. This from a player who volunteered to move from cornerback to safety last season to help his team. This from the guy who led the league with six interceptions last season.

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• Gallery:Photos from the first day of practice
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Young — both of them — to play college baseball at A&T

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Aggies head baseball coach Keith Shumate signs a set of twins, a pitcher and a catcher from Statesville (N.C.) High School.

North Carolina A&T might have the most interesting battery in the state over the next few years. Statesville seniors Brett and Sean Young, twin brothers, have both accepted scholarship offers from the Aggies. Brett Young was recruited as a pitcher and Sean Young will play catcher. "We didn't really set it up where we both were (intending) to go to the same school," Brett Young said. "That's just how it turned out. It fits both of us the best."

The Youngs are going to a program that has won a lot of conference games lately. The Aggies (22-23, 12-3) are the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament. The MEAC is a conference comprised of Division I schools. "It was a nice Division I offer," Brett Young said. "It's small Division I, but we play against top-notch competition like (N.C.) State and Carolina." Brett Young said the coaching staff intends to pack 30 pounds onto his frame. He expects to likely start out as a relief pitcher and progress from there.

Meanwhile, Sean Young has a shot to contribute right away. He plays his position well and can really swing the bat. Sean Young finished the North Piedmont 3A season with better than a .460 batting average, along with three home runs, against some really good pitchers.

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N.C. A&T scrimmage a real hit parade

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Alonzo Lee made his reputation as a defensive coordinator long before N.C. A&T hired him as its head coach last year. So it should come as no surprise the Aggies' first-team offense couldn't score a touchdown against the second-team defense at the Blue vs. Gold spring game Saturday afternoon at Aggie Stadium. And the first-team defense? It shut out the second-team offense, thanks to Marquis Sutton's interception in the end zone with 35 seconds left.

Patrick Courtney kicked 32- and 37-yard field goals to lead the first-team Blue to a 6-0 victory over the Gold in an intrasquad scrimmage that featured more tackles for losses (15) than completed passes (11). Scrimmage or not, a lot of those tackles were of the pad-popping variety. "We're going to fight defensively. That's my bread and butter," Lee said. "I don't believe in tacklers; I believe in hitters. If you're banging that (running) back, by the fourth quarter he's starting to tip. If you're just tackling him, he's still going to be running his butt off in the fourth quarter."

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Spring Game: North Carolina A&T Aggies combine football and food‎

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Pick your passion: tailgate or tailback. Food meets football in a daylong exhibition of both at N.C. A&T's annual Blue vs. Gold spring football game today at Aggie Stadium. Parking lot gates will open at 9:30 a.m. for the first Best Tailgate in Aggieland Cook Off grilling contest, which will be judged at 1 p.m. The spring game will kick off inside the stadium at 2 p.m.

A&T will play a traditional intrasquad scrimmage, matching its first-team offense and defense against second-teamers, coach Alonzo Lee said. "It's going to be good, solid competition," Lee said. "You hope that your first team goes out there and takes charge, but that second unit feels like they've got something to prove. They're excited. I know the coaches are excited, and they've been game-planning. It should be fun."

The Aggies are coming off a 4-6 record -- 5-6 including a forfeit over Delaware State -- in Lee's first season as head coach. A&T was 3-31 in the previous three seasons and hasn't had a winning record since 2003.

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North Carolina A&T Aggies win A&T Invitational

GREENSBORO, N.C. – All the positive attributes people have come to associate with North Carolina A&T softball were on display during the three-day N.C. A&T Softball Invitational played at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. Lillian Bullock hit for power. Yahamma White showcased her tremendous speed by constantly getting on base. Ryanne Hill produced runs, and pitchers Jennifer Luper and Sahsa Philpot were dominant. Throw in what was a career-best weekend for senior Bianca Alsobrook, and the start of the 2010 season has to be considered a success.

It all culminated in the Aggies 12-3 win over Appalachian State in the championship game of the invitational Sunday afternoon. After losing to the Mountaineers 3-0 on Friday, the Aggies (4-1) won four straight games to win the title. Senior Channing Statham, Alsobrook and Bullock had three RBIs apiece for the Aggies. Bullock hit her 30th career home run in the fourth, and White added three hits and scored a run. Junior Jennifer Luper earned the win on the mound by striking out six over six innings to improve to 2-1 on the season.

Alsobrook hit an impressive .571 (8-for-14) for the tournament with two doubles and four RBIs to earn all-tournament honors. White was also an all-tournament selection after securing eight hits and scoring six times over five games. Philpot was the only other all-tournament selection for N.C. A&T. Philpot went 2-0 and did not give up a run over 10 innings pitched in the tournament.

BOX SCORE vs. APPALACHIAN STATE

All Tournament Team
Inde Whitehurst, UMES
Jade Dudley, CSU
Sasha Philpot, A&T
Katie Boyd, ASU
Caitlin Wainright, ASU
Yahamma White, A&T
McKenzie Phillips, ASU
Travonna Byrd, HAM
Bianca Alsobrook, A&T

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Andrew Jackson lifts WSSU past A&T

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- President's Day was last week, right? Winston-Salem State's Andrew Jackson apparently felt like celebrating again Monday. Jackson, nicknamed "The Prez" for sharing the name and birthplace of the nation's seventh chief executive, scored 13 points in the final 7:05 to spearhead the Rams' comeback from a 15-point second-half deficit and a 79-74 win over N.C. A&T before 5,038 in the Greensboro Coliseum.

In earning its first sweep over the Aggies since Jimmy Carter was in the White House (1980), WSSU nearly duplicated its effort in the Twin City last month. The Rams wiped out a 14-point disadvantage in that one. Jackson, a junior from Wilmington, conspired with Brian Fisher's 25-point effort as WSSU made its sudden and shocking comeback. Winston-Salem State finished 12-for-20 from downtown. Or, to be more precise, from Kernersville or so it seemed. "This is the battle of I-40, and we're the champions right now," Jackson said.

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Rivalry Night: WSSU will take on A&T at the Greensboro Coliseum

Round 2 of one the state's best rivalries will be tonight, when Winston-Salem State and N.C. A&T meet in a basketball doubleheader at the Greensboro Coliseum. The games were moved from A&T's campus arena, the Corbett Center, in order to allow more fans to attend. The women's game will begin at 6, the men's game at 8. "We've got a lot of interest in moving the game because the coliseum can seat around 10,000, and the Corbett Center can seat around 5,000, so this will hopefully give fans a chance to come out," said Wheeler Brown, the athletics director at N.C. A&T.

Last year's game at the Corbett Center was a sellout, and it was estimated that about 500 fans were turned away at the door. "I'm not sure how many people were turned away last year, but I do know we had a ticket lottery for the students and all of that, but this year we don't have to do that," Brown said. The rivalry between the schools goes back a long way, but with WSSU returning to the CIAA next season, there have been questions about whether WSSU and A&T will ever meet in basketball again.

Bill Hayes, the athletics director at WSSU, has been the football coach at both schools, and he knows how important it is that the schools continue to compete against each other. "I'd like to play A&T in football, basketball, marbles, checkers, whatever sport we are playing, we need to play each other," Hayes said.

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Hampton Pirates hand North Carolina A&T Aggies first MEAC defeat

HAMPTON, Va. -- Bernadette Fortune scored 30 points and added 11 assists as Hampton knocked off N.C. A&T 90-80 on Monday night in MEAC women's basketball. It was the first conference loss of the season for the Aggies (17-8, 11-1). Hampton is 14-10 overall, 9-3 in the league. Jaleesa Sams led A&T with a career-high 28 points and 10 rebounds. JaQuayla Berry added 20 points, and MEAC Player of the Week Lamona Smalley recorded her fourth double-double in five games (16 points, 12 rebounds).

"That was our first loss," said Patricia Cage-Bibbs, A&T's coach. "I'd much rather have it happen now than to have it happen in the tournament. My young ladies really wanted to go undefeated in the conference. ... If we take care of business, everything will be fine."

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North Carolina A&T Aggies goes defensive, Inks 18 players

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For two seasons, the North Carolina A&T defensive line was anchored by Detroit natives Tyre Glasper, Adam Beal and Jarrell Herring. In 2009, the trio combined to make 28 ½ tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including eight sacks as Herring earned All-MEAC honors. But their eligibility ended in 2009, leaving the North Carolina A&T football program with huge holes to fill along the defensive front four. Second-year head coach Alonzo Lee and his staff filled those gaps by signing three defensive linemen, including two defensive ends as part of their 2010 Signing Day class.

In total, Lee announced the signing of 18 players to national letters of intent on Wednesday. Three of those players are from area high schools. “Our goal is to make each class better than the previous,’’ said Lee. “We definitely feel like our class last season was excellent, but this class is really going to challenge that class in terms of talent. I think we took care of our own backyard again, which is crucially important to me in recruiting.”

One of those Triad players is defensive end Daniel McNeil (6-2, 210) out of Greensboro. McNeil led Ragsdale to back-to-back conference championships by recording 117 tackles, 28 sacks and three fumble recoveries over the final two seasons of his career. The other defensive linemen signees include defensive end Dontrail McDaniel (6-2, 225) out of Richland Northeast in Columbia, S.C.; and Derrius Hamlet (6-4, 265) out of Fairfield Central in Columbia.

“We definitely replenished ourselves on the defensive line,’’ said Lee. “I feel like we really enhanced our pass rush with this class. We’ve got some guys with speed that can really come off the football and make things happen.” Lee, who coached five different defenses to top 15 national rankings during his tenure as a defensive coordinator, knows an outstanding defensive line is made by putting solid linebackers behind it. Just as pressing as its need for defensive linemen, the Aggies coaching staff felt it needed a similar push to sign an outstanding class at linebacker.

Greensboro Dudley linebacker Major Bryant is one of five linebackers Lee signed. Bryant runs a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash, and he is a two-time All-State performer. He posted 135 tackles, had 14 sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered five during his senior season. He will join the five other Dudley graduates Lee signed in 2009. The other 2010 Aggie linebacker signees include Marcus Arline (5-11, 225) out of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Fla.; Christian Insley (6-0, 215) out of Ashbrook in Gastonia, N.C.; Dareon Mays (5-11, 225) out of Union Grove in McDonough, Ga; and Recco Wilson (6-2, 210) from Carman-Ainsworth in Flint, Mich.

“We really needed to step up and sign some big-time talent at the linebacker position, so we can do some things with our (defensive line) front,’’ said Lee. “We signed some heavy hitters. We’ve got some guys that are really going to make you feel it when they hit you.” The Aggies staff went after immediate help along the offensive line as well. Lee believes the Aggies made significant upgrades at the offensive line positions because the four he signed were all being pursued by major Division I schools.

William Robinson III, who attended Riverdale Baptist High and is from Clinton, Md., stands at 6-4 and weighs 290 pounds. He was selected for two all-star games, including the Prince George’s County vs. SMAC All-Star Game. Robinson did not allow a sack his senior season. Center Ronald “RJ” Canty (6-2, 270) out of Chester High in Chester, S.C., really has the coaching staff excited, while Westlake’s Nathan Isles’ (6-5, 285, Atlanta, Ga.) late commitment meant the staff signed the top four linemen on its list. Kortlan Jackson (6-3, 280, St. John’s College HS) out of Upper Marlboro, Md., also signed with the Aggies.

“They are going to have a great opportunity to compete for starting jobs this season,’’ said Lee. “We’re talking about two-and-three star athletes here. Our offense just became a whole lot better with these four guys.” Two defensive backs signed with N.C. A&T, including Jamie Smith (5-10, 170) out of High Point Andrews. Defensive back Travis Crosby (5-11, 180, Charlotte), who attended Victory Christian and West Charlotte High Schools as a prep standout, made the North Carolina Independent Scholastic Athletic Association All-State team as a senior.

The Aggies added to their great group of running backs that includes MEAC Rookie of the Year Michael Mayhew by signing Christopher “CJ” Frederick (5-10, 195, Garner, West Johnston). At the start of the season, rivals.com had him ranked as the No. 1 running back in the state, the 28th ranked athlete in the nation and the 54th ranked running back nationally. Frederick ran for nearly 3,000 yards and scored 43 touchdowns over a two-year span. Fullback Devin Moore (6-2, 245) could be the heir apparent to current fullback Justin Kearney. Moore is out of Charlotte, and he attended East Mecklenburg High.

Harold “DJ” Clower (6-2, 180) is the only quarterback who signed with the Aggies thus far. The Dade City, Fla., native led Pasco High to a 9-2 record and the school’s third straight district championship during his senior season. He threw for 1,617 yards and 15 touchdowns in the process. Braddie Ellison (6-3, 230) is the only tight end in the class. He is out of Brooksville, Fla., and attended Nature Coast Tech. Four of his 10 receptions last season went for touchdowns.

















Coach Alonzo Lee: “We really feel good about this class. Yes, we addressed some needs, but we also brought some guys in here who are ready to compete for playing time right away. That’s what we want. We want guys who are willing to put in the hard work it takes to get on that field and play on Saturdays.”

2010 Aggies Student/Athletes Signed

1. Marcus Arline LB 5-11 225 Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland
2. Major Bryant LB 5-10 210 Greensboro, N.C./Dudley
3. Ronald “RJ” Canty OL 6-2 270 Chester, S.C./Chester
4. Harold “DJ” Clower QB 6-2 180 Dade City, Fla./Pasco
5. Travis Crosby DB 5-11 180 Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte
6. Braddie Ellison TE 6-3 230 Brooksville, Fla./Nature Coast Tech
7. Christopher “CJ” Frederick RB 5-10 195 Garner, N.C./West Johnston
8. Derrius Hamlet DT 6-4 265 Columbia, S.C./Fairfield Central
9, Christian Insley LB 6-0 215 Gastonia, N.C./Ashbrook
10. Nathan Isles OL 6-5 285 Atlanta, Ga./Westlake
11. Kortlan Jackson OL 6-3 280 Upper Marlboro, Md./St. John’s College HS
12. Dareon Mays LB 5-11 225 McDonough, Ga./Union Grove
13. Dontrail McDaniel DE 6-2 225 Columbia, S.C./Richland NE
14. Daniel McNeil DE 6-2 210 Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale
15. Devin Moore FB 6-2 245 Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg
16. William Robinson III OL 6-4 290 Clinton, Md./Riverdale Baptist
17. Jamie Smith DB 5-10 170 High Point, N.C./Andrews
18. Recco Wilson LB 6-2 210 Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth

From Aggies Press Release

NC A&T releases 2010 football schedule

Head coach Alonzo Lee has Aggies moving in right direction.

N.C. A&T will play in the 2010 Circle City Classic in Indianapolis on Oct. 2, the university announced Wednesday. The Aggies will play Tennessee State, their opponent in the 2005 Classic. A&T won that game 16-3. A&T will open its 2010 football season at home against Winston-Salem State on Sept. 4. Homecoming will be Oct. 9, with Morgan State as the Aggies' opponent. Other home games for A&T include Howard on Oct. 23, Florida A&M on Nov. 6; and S.C. State on Nov. 20. The Aggies travel to Norfolk State on Sept. 11 and Hampton on Sept. 18. They will play rival and newest MEAC member N.C. Central on September 25.

North Carolina A&T's 2010 football schedule as it stands now:
Sept. 4: Winston-Salem State
Sept. 11: at Norfolk State
Sept. 18: at Hampton
Sept. 25: vs. N.C. Central, location tba
Oct. 2: vs. Tennessee State at Indianapolis, Ind.
Oct. 9: Morgan State (homecoming)
Oct. 23: Howard
Nov. 6: Florida A&M
Nov. 20: South Carolina State

Florida A&M 31, North Carolina A&T 27

Rattlers win isn't pretty, but it counts

The one quarter Alonzo Lee’s team has dominated all season turned out to be the difference in an unpredictable game between North Carolina A&T and Florida A&M. A four-point halftime lead disappeared in the third quarter as the Rattlers (7-2, 5-1) overcame fumbles, and the loss of quarterback Curtis Pulley to take a lead they would not relinquish in a 31-27 victory over North Carolina A&T. Heading into the game the Aggies (5-5, 3-4) had allowed only six points in the third quarter all season; however touchdowns by Philip Sylvester and LeRoy Vann led the Rattler revival and overshadowed fumbles from both men. “We’re a long ways from playing our best ball game,” FAMU coach Joe Taylor said. “At some point that is going to have to happen, but we will have to make plays.”

Record-setting performance lifts Rattlers over Aggies

The Florida A&M University Rattlers defeated the North Carolina A&T Aggies in their regular season home finale at Bragg Stadium 31-27 in front of 8,034 fans. The game, which was the last home game for 28 Rattler seniors, was one of ups and downs. Senior LeRoy Vann returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to help seal the game for Rattlers, who improved to 7-2 overall, 5-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Vann has now returned five punts for a touchdown this season tying an NCAA FCS single-season record set ironically by North Carolina A&T’s Curtis Deloach in 2001. Vann also broke single-season school records for punts returned for a touchdown (five) and for punt return yards (540), both previously set by Howard Huckaby in 1988.

Vann ties a pair of NCAA records, sparks Florida A&M in 31-27 win over N.C. A&T

LeRoy Vann's punt return for a score tied two NCAA records to lead Florida A&M to a 31-27 win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday. Vann's 51-yard touchdown on a punt return in the third quarter was the senior's fifth of the season and his eighth career punt return for a score. He tied both the NCAA single-season and career records, along with setting the Football Championship Subdivision record for career returns. Vann now shares the Football Bowl Subdivision and FCS records for single-season punt return touchdowns with Hawaii's Chad Owens (2004) and North Carolina A&T's Curtis DeLoatch (2001).

Aggies come up short in upset bid

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Turnovers gave N.C. A&T a chance to defeat Florida A&M. The Aggies returned the favor. Two fumbles, an interception and a missed extra point hurt N.C. A&T as the Rattlers held on for a 31-27 victory on Saturday in MEAC football at Bragg Memorial Stadium. N.C. A&T (5-5, 3-4 MEAC) still had a final shot to pull off the upset, using a fake punt to extend the drive and push farther into FAMU territory. But the Aggies' Dontavious Payne, who graduated from Tallahassee's FAMU High School and played his home games at Bragg Stadium, was stopped on fourth-and-2 at the Rattlers' 22. Aggies coach Alonzo Lee said he thought Payne was close to a first down. "We didn't get a measurement," Lee said. "It was a situation where I was crying and hollering for a measurement -- but they couldn't because they had already moved the sticks."


Houston's mom allowed to cherish this special day at FAMU

She couldn't hold back the tears. Carron Brown's son had made her that proud. So there she was near the FAMU sideline on the football field at Bragg Stadium in front of thousands Saturday afternoon. Photographers snapped pictures of her and her boy, Cameron Houston. She only knew a few in the crowd who came with her, but this was her moment and not even being in front of a crowd of 8,034 fans for the first time in her life intimidated her. Saturday was one of two days she's been waiting for since her son enrolled at FAMU. "I'm happy," she said, wiping way tears. "I'm sure any mother would be happy to see this day." The next big occasion will be graduation. This day was special. The day that her son got his recognition for working his way to one last semester of college. Nobody kept count of the hits Cameron Houston took at nose guard. They only counted the ones he gave. He had six tackles, giving him 26 for the season.

Photo Galleries
FAMU Pre game photos
FAMU vs. NC A&T Fan Cam
FAMU 31 Aggies 27

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Morgan State Bears 7, North Carolina A&T Aggies 6

Blocked extra point gives Morgan State the win

There were few secrets Saturday between Morgan State and visiting North Carolina A&T. Not with former Bears coaches Alonzo Lee and Chennis Berry standing on the opposite sideline as the Aggies' first-year head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively. So for the better part of three hours, each team successfully snuffed out what the other does best on both sides of the ball. It was special teams, however, that ultimately made the difference in Morgan's 7-6 win before an announced 12,045 on Homecoming Day at Hughes Stadium.

First, Bears linebacker Fred Davis blocked Patrick Courtney's extra-point try in the third quarter after A&T's only touchdown, then Wallace Miles' 51-yard desperation field-goal attempt fell short as time expired, helping the Bears improve to 4-1 for the first time since 1979. "It was like fighting with your brother over bread," Bears coach Donald Hill-Eley said. "When you've been together for 15 or 20 years, they know your tendencies. It's very difficult because there's only so much you can do. It was a chess match." The win gave Morgan (4-1 overall, 2-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) just its second four-game winning streak since moving to Division I in 1984.

Attendance: 12,045 @ Hughes Stadium, Baltimore, MD

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OPEN COMPETITIONS CONTINUE

Coastal Carolina 28. North Carolina A&T 7

Quarterbacks falter in Aggies' loss to Coastal

CONWAY, S.C. -- The way N.C. A&T's offense failed to move the ball in the first half, a two-touchdown halftime deficit appeared insurmountable. Outside of one second-half series, the Aggies did little but confirm that in the third and fourth quarters. A&T lost 28-7 to Coastal Carolina on the road Saturday night, leaving coach Alonzo Lee's team still searching for answers on offense. "We have to execute better with our quarterbacks," Lee said. "We've been back and forth; we've shown spurts of doing really good things. And then, boom, we fall on our face. &ellipses; We're going to simplify a little bit more. We simplified some this week. We'll simplify a little more next week until we can get the nuts and the bolts."

Even with a scaled-back playbook, A&T (2-2 overall) quarterbacks Carlton Fears and Lewis Kindle struggled, overthrowing and undershooting receivers throughout the night. Fears -- who finished the game 7-of-22 with two interceptions -- didn't help his cause of holding on to the quarterback job. His first pick, a second-quarter job by Coastal Carolina defensive back and North Carolina transfer Tavorris Jolly, looked all too easy for the CCU player, who barely moved to cause the turnover. Kindle was inserted on the Aggies' next possession. But after three running plays, he drilled CCU (2-2) linebacker E.J. Brown in the chest with his first pass attempt. The Chanticleers squeezed a field goal out of that turnover.

Box Score Photo Gallery

Chants pound out win

CONWAY -- Teams typically spend their bye weeks focusing on their weaknesses. Coastal Carolina began working on its ailments a week early. Despite a passing game that may have taken a step back, the Chanticleers established the running game and began to find an offensive rhythm in the second half of a 28-7 win over North Carolina A&T Saturday. The Chants rushed for 304 yards, including a combined 239 yards from tailbacks Eric O'Neal and Tommy Fraser, and their defense was solid for a fourth consecutive week, sending Coastal to its off week at 2-2.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

First quarter
Key moment Coastal Carolina was gashing North Carolina A&T's defense for big gains on its second drive. Tailback Eric O'Neal and quarterback Jamie Childers had several long runs, helping the Chanticleers drive to A&T's 23 before Childers' first-down pass was picked off in the end zone by Quay Long. The man A&T punter Alex Grubb had three first-quarter punts and pinned all of them inside Coastal's 20-yard line: one at the 8, one at the 15 and one at the 3.

Attendance: 7, 367 (Sold-Out) at Brooke Stadium, Conway, S.C.

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Hampton Pirates 24, North Carolina A&T Aggies 14

Hampton deals A&T its first loss of season

GREENSBORO — Hampton hasn't needed extra motivation against N.C. A&T in recent years. The Pirates' averages of 46.6 points and 32-point margins of victory during five straight wins hardly necessitated it. But after reading some comments made by members of Aggies this week, Don Rose clipped out the statements anyway and passed them around the Pirates locker room. "I know with coach (Alonzo) Lee, I know he does a lot to motivate his team or whatever," Rose said. "But a lot of times by doing that, we just took advantage of it. We don't need that to necessarily get us going, but it was a little fire."

Watch Replay : ESPN 360 -- HU vs. NCA&T Game

HU awakens in second quarter, wins 24-14

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Hampton University needed some extra effort this time, but the final result looked familiar.After devouring North Carolina A&T by an average of 32 points in their previous five meetings, the Pirates scrapped through early offensive struggles Saturday before bouncing back with several momentum-swinging plays to pick up their sixth straight win over the Aggies, 24-14 at Aggie Stadium.Hampton quarterback Herb Bynes completed 11 of 20 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the season. HU (2-1, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) rolled up 333 yards of offense against a defense that had given up a total of 391 in its first two games.

Bynes throws 2 touchdown passes to lead Hampton to 24-14 victory ...

Herbert Bynes threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns to lead Hampton to a 24-14 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday night.Bynes hit Damon McDaniel on touchdown passes of 62 and 23 yards and LaMarcus Coker rushed for 112 yards on 24 carries for the Pirates (2-1, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). McDaniel finished with five catches for 104 yards.Brand Roundtree scored on a 5-yard interception return for Hampton's other touchdown with 12:27 left in the game.

IMPROVEMENT STILL EVIDENT DESPITE LOSS

Hampton head coach Don Rose predicted the change in the days leading up to Saturday’s Hampton-North Carolina A&T football clash. “It is no longer as it once was; when you travel to play North Carolina A&T, you have to be ready to play,” Rose said in a Hampton press release early in the week. Saturday’s 24-14 win, though Hampton’s sixth straight in the series, could mark a shift in recent Pirates vs. Aggies history. Unlike some of the previous contests, the 2009 clash was competitive throughout. From 2006-08, Hampton outscored the Aggies 151-35. The Pirates’ average margin of victory in those three games was 38 points.

Attendance: 13,502@Aggie Stadium, Greensboro, N.C.

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I-40 Show Down: NCAT Aggies vs WSSU Rams

North Carolina A&T 19, Winston Salem State 10

Aggies start Lee era with statement win

Alonzo Lee built a reputation as an aggressive defensive coordinator in 12 seasons coaching in the MEAC. Turns out Alonzo Lee the head coach is even more aggressive. Senior quarterback Carlton Fears passed for 131 yards and ran for 78 and a touchdown to lead N.C. A&T's offense during a 19-10 victory over Winston-Salem State in Lee's debut as the Aggies' head coach Saturday night at Bowman Gray Stadium. It wasn't that close.

The Aggies' offense left some scoring chances on the field. They missed a field-goal attempt, saw another field-goal try blocked, got stopped on a fourth-and-3 gamble at the 8 and let the first-half clock run out 2 yards short of the end zone. "I thought we moved the ball well, but we've got to get better in the red zone," Lee said. "We were in the red zone too many times where we did not come up with points. We've got to work on it. We're going to go back to the drawing board and find our best red-zone plays and get better." On this night, the Aggies didn't need those points because their defense was flat-out dominant. A&T grudgingly surrendered just 90 total yards, had four sacks and recovered two fumbles.

Photo Gallery: N.C. A&T 19, Winston-Salem State 10

Aggies beat Rams 19-10

N.C. A&T won the backyard battle with Winston-Salem State, mainly because it had fewer mistakes. The Aggies won 19-10 in front of a sellout crowd of 22,000 at Bowman Gray Stadium. Coach Alonzo Lee of the Aggies, making his debut, built his reputation on defense as an assistant coach. That trait has carried over because the Aggies held the offensive-stagnant Rams to just 90 yards. The Rams' defense, spending way too much time on the field, tired in the fourth quarter and the Aggies took advantage. Coach Kermit Blount of the Rams summed it up best: "The bottom line is we can't turn the ball over and we can't keep our defense out there as long as we did."

The game was tied at 10 going into the fourth quarter, but the momentum swung toward the Aggies after a bad snap on a punt by long-snapper Rodney Taylor of the Rams. Pinned deep in their own territory punter Landon Thayer had to fall on a bad snap that nearly sailed all the way over his head. The Aggies took over on the Rams' 10 and after the defense held again; freshman place-kicker Patrick Courtney made a 25-yard field goal for a 13-10 lead with 7:54 left. The way the Rams' offense was going, the field goal was enough.

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Rain can't dampen Aggies' spirits

GREENSBORO -- The sky was gray, the field green, the jerseys blue and gold. And for one day, at least, the outlook was rosy. With new head coach Alonzo Lee running the show from the sideline, N.C. A&T's Blue team defense eked out a 27-26 victory over its Gold team offense in the annual spring game Saturday at Aggie Stadium. Rising junior linebacker Brandon Jackson made eight tackles for the Blue, which came back from deficits of 14-0 and 17-10. Linnell Evans, another linebacker who redshirted as a freshman last season, made four of his six tackles in the backfield.

Carlton Fears, who will be a senior in the fall, staked an early claim to the starting quarterback job, completing 17 of 28 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns for the improved offense. But in this controlled scrimmage -- the offense scored points on touchdowns and field goals, while the defense earned points based on things like third-down stops and turnovers -- the final stat sheet didn't matter much.

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A&T embraces challenge: Coach and two stars have been here before

DULUTH, Ga. -- The NCAA women's basketball tournament selection committee finally gave the MEAC a little respect Monday night, designating N.C. A&T as a No. 14 seed rather than the usual No. 16. That doesn't mean the Aggies won't have a major first-round challenge when they face third-seeded Florida State at 2:30 p.m. today in the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Seminoles (25-7) are ranked No. 12 nationally and shared first place in the ACC with Maryland during the regular season. The Terps got a No. 1 seed for the tournament, as did Duke, the team that knocked off FSU in a semifinal of the ACC tournament.

A MEAC team has never won a women's NCAA tournament game in the event's 28-year history. N.C. A&T, though, showed what it is capable of with a victory over A-10 champion Charlotte this season, and the Aggies (26-6) have a couple other things in their favor. Although this is N.C. A&T's first NCAA trip since 1994, coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs joins senior standouts Amber Bland and Brittanie Taylor-James with March Madness experience.

This is the seventh tournament for Cage-Bibbs, who previously guided Grambling and Hampton to the tournament. Bland played on a NCAA team as a freshman at Penn State, while Taylor-James did the same at UC-Santa Barbara. "Our kids deserve to be here and they are going to do their very best," Cage-Bibbs said.

GAME TIME: 2:30 P.M. EDT TODAY--ESPN2

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All-MEAC Brittanie Taylor-James, 6-0 senior forward from Evanston, IL makes a return to the NCAA Tournament.

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AGGIES HAVE GEORGIA ON THEIR MINDS