Alabama A&M going up against tradition in SWAC Championship Game

2011 SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

TEAMS: GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS (7-4) vs. ALABAMA A&M BULLDOGS (8-3)
DATE: SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2011

TIME: 1:00 PM ET

WHERE: LEGION FIELD, BIRMINGHAM, AL
TV: ESPNU
INTERNET: ESPN3

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- What's in a name?

Forget that.

How about, what's in a letter?

If it's a 'G' and is on the side of a football helmet, there's an abundance of excellence and tradition involved, that's for sure. Not just in the NFL, where the Green Bay Packers are the latest threat to the '72 Dolphins' version of perfection, but in the college ranks as well.

Grambling, with a roll call of legends and Hall of Famers such as Eddie Robinson, Willie Brown, Buck Buchanan, Willie Davis and Charlie Joiner, is the Green Bay of the Southwest Athletic Conference. That's pretty much the way it's been in the past - with 17 league titles under Robinson back in the day - and in the present - with five more since the conference went to a championship game format in 1999.

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GSU, ’Dogs collide for title

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Figure on another close game between Grambling State University and Alabama A&M this weekend, only this time under much more important circumstances.

In a late September regular season duel at Robinson Stadium, the Bulldogs pulled out a 20-14 victory.

Now, the longtime rivals from the West (GSU) and East (A&M) divisions collide in a winner-takes-the-title setting on Saturday (1:00 p.m., ESPNU) at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

“It’s probably going to be close again, I would think,” said Grambling wide receiver Mario Louis. “I’ll kinda be surprised if it isn’t. We’re both pretty evenly matched and have similar records.”

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Alabama A&M football: A&M, Jones talking about contract extension

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M athletics director Betty Austin and football coach Anthony Jones spent some time together during the offseason.

Austin outlined for Jones a few things she would like for him to accomplish this season. Most of all, she wanted Jones to get the Bulldogs back among the Southwestern Conference elite. Mission accomplished.

A&M, despite being picked to finish fourth in the Eastern Division preseason poll, won the Eastern Division title for the fifth time in Jones' 10 seasons and will play Grambling in the SWAC championship game Saturday at Birmingham's Legion Field. Kickoff is noon and the game will be televised on ESPNU.

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JSU's Coach Comegy receives extension, raise

Coach Rick Comegy

Jackson, Mississippi - Jackson State University has renewed Rick Comegy’s contract as the Tigers head football coach through 2013.

JSU Athletics Director Dr. Vivian L. Fuller made the announcement at an 11 a.m. press conference Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the Sports Hall of Fame Room of the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.

“Coach Comegy and his staff have an excellent track record of on-the-field success at Jackson State,” said Fuller. “Moving forward under his leadership, I expect the JSU Tigers to be champions in sports, in the classroom and in the Jackson community.”

Having just completed his sixth season with the Tigers, Comegy looks forward to his two-year extension.

“I want to thank Dr. Meyers and Dr. Fuller for having confidence in me and my coaches. I’m thankful that they believe in us to continue what we’re building here at JSU,” said Comegy. “I love my job, I love my kids and I love JSU.”

“We all look forward to Coach Comegy’s continued leadership of Jackson State’s football program,” said Meyers. “I am confident that he will lead our student-athletes to even greater success on the field and in the classroom.”

Comegy, 58, completed his six years at Jackson State with a 41-26 record and ended this last season with a 9-2 record. His teams won a SWAC championship in 2007 and returned for SWAC championship play in 2008.

Turnout for Bayou Classic smallest in history

NEW ORLEANS — This year’s meeting between Grambling and Southern was hardly the most exciting in the 38-year history of the Bayou Classic.

Maybe the fans knew something beforehand. Only 40,175 of them filed into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to watch Grambling pound Southern in the second half for a 36-12 win Saturday.

It was the smallest crowd in Bayou Classic history, and a far cry from 2000-04, when the average attendance was 70,198. The previous low was set last season, when 43,494 people came to the Superdome to watch the Jaguars lose 38-17 and finish with a 2-9 record, the worst in school history.

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KEYS: Recruiting landscape tougher for Southern

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Fresh off their most impressive win of the Stump Mitchell era, Southern football players returned to campus this week, reinvested and ready to prepare for the Bayou Classic. The big game, of course, is still nine days away; Southern and Grambling both have an open date Saturday.

Meanwhile, this week, between light practices and study halls, SU coaches spent part of their time evaluating recruits - the lifeblood of any program. “We’re trying to get a kicker, of course, and some defensive tackles to help our young guys that played as true freshmen on defense,” Mitchell said. Give the man high marks for recognizing the obvious.

In the offseason, Southern lost a very valuable player when place-kicker William Griswold, who made 15 of 20 field goals last season, withdrew from the university, citing, among other things, a fading interest in football.

It’s not a wild leap to think that if ...

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Magic City Classic economic impact tops $24 million, most ever

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Organizers estimate that this year's Magic City Classic packed an economic impact of $24.3 million, shattering previous records for the event. "We were projecting anywhere between $13 million and $15 million, and we would have been happy with that," Birmingham Mayor William Bell said.

Traditionally, the annual clash between Alabama State University and Alabama A&M has an economic impact between $15 million and $16 million, according to Gene Hallman, chief executive of the Alabama Sports Foundation, which organizes the Classic. The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, which routinely calculates economic impact figures for major events, came up with the $24.3 million figure for this year's game.

Organizers say:
• Corporate sponsorship amounting to $890,000 was the most ever.
• The 66,473 tickets sold was not a record, but when combined with the estimated 40,000 tailgaters that remained outside Legion Field during the game, Hallman said it set a new mark.
• The 2.75 night average hotel stay was higher than in previous years.
• The $450,000 paid to each school was a new record, blowing past the $425,000 paid last year.

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Southern 26, Alabama State 23: Golden opportunity slips away

Montgomery, Alabama -- It was there for the taking. But it was Southern, not Alabama State, that took it. The Hornets followed the formula that had spelled success all season. They forced four turnovers, they brought in the injured Greg Jenkins at quarterback to provide the spark. They even got 92 yards rushing from tailback Tim Clark.

But while Jackson State was demolishing Alabama A&M 34-6 -- giving ASU a berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game provided they won -- the Jaguars were weaving their own brand of voodoo magic.


Alabama State highlights vs. Southern University: Nov. 12, at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. Watch game highlights and postgame interview with ASU coach Reggie Barlow. (Video courtesy ASU)

And when Brian McCann landed in the end zone from a yard out with nine seconds left, it was Southern, not Alabama State, that pulled out a 26-23 victory on Saturday afternoon in front of 8,255 stunned fans at the Cramton Bowl.

"It hurts," said Jenkins, who sparked the Hornets to 16 fourth-quarter points. "I'm ready to play right now, just to get that bad taste out of my mouth."

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Finally!: Late TD helps SU sting Hornets

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The moment of truth was at hand. Moments earlier, in what looked like another trademark collapse, the Southern football team fizzled on offense, made too many late mistakes on defense and gave away a fourth-quarter lead to Alabama State.

But before freshman quarterback J.P. Douglas led the Jaguars to a game-winning touchdown with 9 seconds left in a 26-23 thriller at the Cramton Bowl, he and his teammates had a short meeting with coach Stump Mitchell on the visitors sideline. So many times, the Jaguars had been in this spot before. So many times, they caved under pressure.

“Coach told us we needed to come together as an offense,” Douglas said. “He told us, remember all the times that we lost the close ones. Win this close one.’ “ They did.  Southern took over at its own 27-yard line with 2:59 remaining.

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Payton fires up defense

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Suspended two weeks for his role in a postgame brawl, Southern linebacker Jamie Payton was despondent. In losing his cool at the wrong time, he’d prevented himself from doing the one thing he loved most: playing football.

So when Payton returned Saturday in the Cramton Bowl, he played with passion. He tried to get the most out of every snap in a 26-23 upset win against Alabama State. It showed.

Though Payton and the Jaguars defense were sloppy in the fourth quarter, they made enough key plays to help Southern win - and for much of the sunny, mild afternoon, Payton was anything but mild. He led the charge, finishing with a team-high 10 tackles to go along with an interception and a 48-yard fumble return.

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Douglas steps up at QB

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Last week, Southern football coach Stump Mitchell said he planned to use freshman J.P. Douglas as his starting quarterback for the rest of the season. He changed his mind, starting sophomore Dray Joseph when the team faced Alabama State in the Cramton Bowl on Saturday.

Before long, it didn’t matter. Out of necessity, Douglas came in - and that turned out well for Southern, which scored with 9 seconds left to top the Hornets 26-23.

Joseph suffered a concussion in the second quarter when, after throwing an incomplete pass, his smacked the hard artificial turf. He eventually returned to the visitor’s sideline and watched the game in warmups. Joseph completed seven of 16 passes for 72 yards before his exit.

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ASU unable to capitalize

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - It was a formula the Alabama State Hornets have used all season. Force turnovers on defense that lead to big plays on offense. Give up yards, but not points. Alabama State played the same card for the eighth time in 10 games. This time, the formula didn’t work.

Brian McCain’s 1-yard touchdown run with nine seconds left gave Southern an improbable 26-23 victory over the Hornets at the Cramton Bowl on Saturday afternoon. Improbable because the Hornets had scored 16 points in the fourth quarter to shake off a sluggish start. Improbable because the defense, one of the nation’s best at forcing turnovers, had forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass, doing its job to secure another victory.

Stunned as the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Hornets wept openly on the sideline and in their locker room, unable to figure out how they lost not only the game but quite possibly the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title as well.

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Another comeback for GSU; Tigers beat Texas Southern 29-25

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Wide receiver Mario Louis and linebacker Cliff Exama came up with some of Senior Day's biggest plays in their final home game, but freshman Tyree Hollins provided the coverage on the final play to clinch the victory.

On a fourth down from the 5-yard line, the Carroll alumnus covered Texas Southern senior receiver Joe Anderson tightly in the end zone as time expired to help the home Tigers hang on for the 29-25 victory that took a 15-0 fourth-quarter run just to set up.

"We hadn't made a play all day, so we had to put somebody back there that would make a play," Grambling coach Doug Williams said. "The throw helped him a lot because the throw was close to being out of bounds. I don't know what happened in the end zone, did he get his hands on it or what. I was just hoping the receiver didn't put his hands on it."

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Jason Pugh: Grambling's victory worthy of big 'screen'

GRAMBLING, LA — Mario Louis claims he only went to the Grambling coaching staff "twice or three times" Saturday asking them to let him make a play. Freshman quarterback D.J. Williams was more than happy to allow his senior receiver that opportunity — repeatedly.

Louis, whose big plays are serenaded with calls of "Suuuuuuuper Mario, to the rescue" over the Robinson Stadium speakers, saved perhaps his biggest play of the season for his final catch in the natural bowl Grambling calls home.

The senior from New Orleans took a jailbreak screen 34 yards — covering the final 3 with a headlong dive into the end zone — to keep secure a 29-25 comeback victory over Texas Southern on Saturday, keeping the host Tigers' conference title hopes alive for another week.

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Grambling State edges Texas Southern 29-25

GRAMBLING, LA — D.J. Williams threw his third touchdown pass of the game with 1:45 remaining, capping an 89-yard drive, to lift Grambling State to a 29-25 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday.

Williams, who completed 14 of 19 for 253 yards for Grambling State (6-4, 5-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference), found Mario Louis for a 34-yard score at the end of the eight-play drive. On the play before the touchdown, Williams completed an 11-yarder to Louis on fourth-and-7.

Texas Southern (4-6, 2-6) got the ball back at its 20 after a touchback on the kickoff and drove to the Grambling State four on completions of 11, 25 and 23 yards by Riko Smalls and runs of 12 and 5 yards by the quarterback. Smalls was sacked for 10 yards by Cliff Exama on third down and his fourth-down pass was incomplete.

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Preview: Southern Jaguars at Alabama State Hornets

GAME: Southern University Jaguars at Alabama State University Hornets
WHEN: Saturday, November 12, 2011, 1:00 PM CT
Venue: Cramton Bowl (19,500), Montgomery, Alabama
Records: SOUTHERN (3-6, 3-4 SWAC); ALABAMA STATE (7-2, 7-1 SWAC)
Radio: WVAS-FM 90.7, Jonathan Spells (play-by-play), Tony Fleming (analyst), Robb Taylor (sidelines), Jay Holcey (studio)
INTERNET STREAMING VIDEO - Bamastatesports.com   WVAS-FM 90.7  Live Video  Live Audio  
2011 Alabama State Football Media Guide



THE GAME: The Alabama State Hornets will play their final conference game of the 2011 season when they host the Southern Jaguars. Saturday is the Black Out Game, and the Hornets are encouraging all fans to wear black. Saturday is also the Military Salute Game as we thank those who protect our freedom.

THE SERIES: Southern leads the series over the Hornets, 23-10. Last season, Alabama State ended a four-game losing streak to the Jaguars, winning in Baton Rouge 21-19. The teams have met twice in the SWAC Championship Game, with SU winning 20-9 in 2003, and Alabama State winning the title
game rematch, 40-35 in 2004.

LAST TIME OUT: Alabama State got back on the winning track, winning at Arkansas-Pine Bluff 28-12. Southern lost at Texas Southern, 29-15.

DE JA VU ALL OVER AGAIN?: For the second consecutive season, the Hornets enter their final SWAC game of the season with a possible SWAC Eastern Division title on the line. Last season, Alabama State’s win at Southern, combined with Alcorn State’s loss at Prairie View, clinched the East Title for the Hornets. This season, the scenario is similar. To win the East, Alabama State must
defeat Southern AND have Alabama A&M lose to Jackson State. If both the Hornets and Bulldogs win this week, AAMU must lose at Prairie View next Saturday for Alabama State to win the East.

SWEET HOME ALABAMA: The Hornets will play their final games of the 2011 season in the state of Alabama with home games this week vs. Southern and Tuskegee in the Turkey Day Classic Nov. 24. If the Hornets advance to the SWAC Championship, they would play in Birmingham’s Legion Field.
POLL POSITIONS: The Hornets moved back into the Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25, coming in at No. 23. Alabama State maintained its No. 2 position in the Urban Sports News Poll, while moving up in several other polls. The Hornets moved up one spot to third in the Heritage Sports
Radio Network poll, one spot to fourth in the Boxtorow.com Media Poll, and one spot to fifth in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network Poll.

NOTABLES
• The Hornets rushed for a season-high 149 yards against the Golden Lions,
the most by ASU since rushing for 212 yards vs. Alabama A&M on 10/30/10.
• RB Tim Clark posted career highs in rushes (10), rushing yards (106) and
touchdowns (three), becoming the first Hornet RB to top the century mark
since Andrew Pitts vs Alabama A&M on 10/30/10 (6-122).
• With three takeaways against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Hornets have forced
at least one turnover in 28 straight games (76 takeaways over that time: 31
fumbles/45 INTs).
• SS Markinley Saint Fort made career highs in total tackles (13), solo tackles
(10) and made his first career interception.

By Duane Lewis, Sports Information Director/Football
VISIT: ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: BAMASTATESPORTS

Southern Jags encounter stiff challenge

Baton Rouge, Louisiana -- Stump Mitchell recapped last week's loss to Texas Southern with two words: Riko Smalls. And in short, that was all Southern's second-year coach needed to say to get the point across in the wake of his team's 29-15 loss.

"He was the difference in the ballgame," Mitchell said of Smalls. "He led his team on a couple drives of more than 90 yards. He did it both with his legs and his arm." Indeed.

Smalls completed 26 of 39 passes and torched Southern's defense for 365 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. "In the secondary there's no question we got victimized this past game," Mitchell said, noting the Jaguars were without starting defensive back's LaMarkius Pettaway and Levi Jackson. "We played a couple guys who had not played before. That showed."



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Alabama A&M football: Bulldogs ascend to No. 1 ranking in polls

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Alabama A&M is the No. 1 ranked black college football team in the country for the first time in school history.

The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the Heritage Sports Radio Network and the Boxtorow polls and are second in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network poll following their 28-14 win over Alcorn State. The SBN poll determines the black college national champion. A&M moved up one spot in all three polls.

"When I got this job, my goal was to see Alabama A&M sitting on top of the polls," A&M coach Anthony Jones said. "When we won the (SWAC) championship, we were ranked No. 3. Now, for us to be No. 1 in some polls, that's another accomplishment for this football team and I'm honored to be a part of that."

A&M is also ranked No. 1 in The Heritage Group poll and is No. 3 in the Urban Sports News poll. "Anytime you can say you were No. 1, it helps," Jones said. "We go after quality kids. Those kids want to be associated with winners ... winners on the field and winners in the classroom. Whenever you can put that out there, it's a feather in your cap."




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CIAA, SIAC championship games set

Every year, there will be decisions and losses that will haunt head coaches throughout the winter. The game most likely to be on the mind for Jackson State head coach Rick Comegy is Saturday’s 26-23 loss at home to Grambling.

It will be a memorable game because the special teams for JSU (7-2, 5-2) were not special at all. Jackson State missed a field goal and its porous kick coverage set GSU (5-4, 4-3) up with short fields to work with all day. Then there was a fumbled punt by JSU freshman Antonio Sutton that helped put Grambling ahead for good.

“You are going to get those types of mistakes,” Comegy said. “It happens. We have to get better at executing plays late in the game.”

Indeed. A pass play gave Jackson State a first down on the Grambling 14 with just 14 seconds remaining and JSU trailing 26-23. With a timeout remaining Jackson State seemingly had enough time to run a play or two aiming for the end zone and the go-ahead touchdown, or at the very least set up an attempt at a field goal to send the game into overtime. JSU, however, mismanaged its opportunity and left the game and the timeout on the field.



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Alabama State 28, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12: Hornets maintain SWAC East lead

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Tim Clark rushed for a career-high 106 yards and three touchdowns, and Alabama State spoiled Arkansas-Pine Bluff's homecoming game with a 28-12 win Saturday.

"Tim has that type of ability," ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. "He's an elusive runner, protects well, and is a smart guy. He's one of our team leaders and I'm happy he played well today. He had a long run for us and those are the type plays we are going to need from these guys as we finish the season."



Devin Dominguez added 254 passing yards and a 51-yard touchdown pass to Nehemiah Henry for the Hornets (7-2, 7-1), who stayed in first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference's East division.

"This week we were really focused and wanted to come back out and put a good game together," ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. "I thought in all three phases we did some positive things and we were able to come away with a victory."




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Alcorn falls to Alabama A&M

LORMAN, Mississippi — The Alcorn State defense did its part to pull off a SWAC upset of Alabama A&M Saturday afternoon at Jack Spinks Marino Casem Stadium, but the offense gave away two turnovers for touchdowns and was unable to put up enough points to get the Braves the win.

“I thought we came out and fought like champions,” Braves’ head coach Melvin Spears said. “We just can’t afford to make the little mistakes we made.”

Alcorn jumped out to a 7-0 lead early, but Alabama A&M was able to take the lead by the end of the first quarter with a 49-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and a 30-yard interception return for a score. The Braves fought back to tie, but the Bulldogs were too much for the Braves in the fourth quarter and added two touchdowns to win 28-14.

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Alabama A&M football: MAKE IT SEVEN

LORMAN, Mississippi - Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones may not have been looking ahead to Jackson State, but his team certainly was Saturday. The Bulldogs came out flat as a pancake against an Alcorn State team that had beaten the likes of Mississippi Valley State and Concordia-Selma.

Fortunately, Jones got their attention at halftime, and they escaped danger. Free safety Rico Porch and cornerback Clarence Morris came away with defensive touchdowns in the first quarter and quarterback Deaunte Mason, and running back Kaderius Lacey scored on short touchdown runs in the fourth quarter as A&M downed Alcorn State 28-14 at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

"We had an attitude adjustment at halftime," said Lacey, who finished with 158 yards rushing, including 144 in the second half. "We didn't play to the best of our ability in the first half. We know how bad we want it, and we didn't want to blow our season like that.

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Smalls carries TSU to 29-14 victory over Southern

Houston, Texas -- Riko Smalls threw for a career-high 365 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score to lead Texas Southern to a 29-14 victory over Southern in its home finale Saturday night at Delmar Stadium.

Smalls helped TSU (4-5, 2-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) take a 15-0 lead in the second quarter with a touchdown pass to Richard Samuel and a touchdown run to go along with a two-point conversion rush.

Southern (3-6, 3-4) fought back, reducing the Tigers' advantage to 22-15 on J.P. Douglas' 24-yard touchdown pass to Michael Berry with 11:45 left in the third quarter.

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99-yard drive sinks Southern

HOUSTON, Texas — Moments earlier, they had scored swiftly and easily. They trailed Texas Southern by seven points in the third quarter. They had the Tigers pinned on their own 1-yard line. They had momentum. Then, almost as quickly, everything fell apart for Southern football team.

With a game-changing series that all but clinched a 29-15 victory on a cool, breezy Saturday night, Texas Southern changed everything.

In the finest game of his college career, TSU quarterback Riko Smalls capped a 10-play, 99-yard drive when he fired a 13-yard rope to receiver Joe Anderson, who made a sticky-fingered catch in the north end zone at rickety old Delmar Stadium.

Just like that, the Jaguars’ momentum was gone.

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SU-Texas Southern play final time at Delmar

HOUSTON — Southern’s football team played Texas Southern in rickety Delmar Stadium on Saturday for the second time in three years. In all likelihood, the Jaguars will never play there again.

Saturday’s game marked TSU’s final home game in Delmar, a 12,500-seat high school facility owned and supervised by the Houston Independent School District. Next fall, Texas Southern will move into an $85 million downtown stadium, which it will share with the MLS’ Houston Dynamo.

“This is bittersweet,” TSU Athletic Director Charles McClelland said. “This is a high school stadium, but it has served us well. We have a winning record here, and of course, we won a SWAC championship playing here. ... But we’re extremely excited to be moving into our new home.”

In doing so, Texas Southern leaves behind a high school facility that’s showing his age.

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Texas State beats Prairie View, 34-26

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State snapped a two-game losing streak Saturday, defeating Prairie View A&M 34-26 in a back-and-forth contest. There were 157 combined plays, 755 total yards of offense and five lead changes. Both teams were perfect in the red zone — a combined 8 for 8 — and strong winds were a big factor all game.

"There was a 12th man out there today and he switched teams at times," said Texas State coach Dennis Franchione. "It was the wind. Every point was scored with the wind at your back, except one (play)."

That one play — Isaiah Battle's 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, giving the Bobcats a 24-19 lead — was Texas State's biggest turning point, according to Franchione.

Running back Tim Hawkins scored the game-winning touchdown for Texas State on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter, and kicker Will Johnson connected on a 42-yard field goal on the following possession to seal the victory.

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Texas State outlasts Prairie View A&M, 34-26

San Marco, TX - With his team trailing for the first time in the game, Isaiah Battle returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and reserve quarterback Tyler Arndt led lead two scoring drives in the fourth quarter as the Texas State football team rallied for a 34-26 victory over Prairie View A&M on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.

“It was good to get back into the win column,” said Texas State head coach Dennis Franchione. “The kids fought hard and they had to fight hard. There was a 12th man out there today and he switched teams at times and that was the wind.”

Every point with the exception of Battle’s kickoff return was scored with the wind at each team’s back throughout the game.

Texas State looked to be in complete control early in the game as the Bobcats scored touchdowns on their first two possessions in the game. The first touchdown came after Josh Minde recovered a fumble to stop Prairie View A&M’s opening drive at Texas State’s 45-yard line.

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Grambling State Tigers rallies to beat Jackson State, 26-23

Jackson, Mississippi -- Grambling State pulled off a late comeback and last-second defensive stand to take a 26-23 win over Jackson State in Jackson on Saturday.

Sophomore running back Dawrence Roberts scampered to paydirt from 10 yards out against a stacked Jackson State defensive line with 1:24 remaining to put Grambling up by three points. But the game was far from over with high-powered quarterback Casey Therriault behind center for JSU.

Therriault moved the home-standing JSU Tigers within scoring position in the final minute. Jackson State opted to go for the win as opposed to a field goal and overtime, but Theriault's pass to the corner of the end zone as time expired was overthrown.

"The most important thing is the way you finish and that's something we've done a good job of the past four weeks," a Gatorade-soaked GSU coach Doug Williams said. "The Grambling-Jackson State rivalry has always been big and a big part of (Southwestern Athletic Conference) football, and with (JSU) celebrating its football centennial, we knew this was going to be a big one."

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Special teams play leaves J-State kicking itself

The words rolled off of Jackson State coach Rick Comegy's lips with the most disgusting tone. "Putrid," he said, referring to the Tigers' special teams play during Saturday's 26-23 loss to Grambling.

 JSU allowed a whopping 213 yards on six kickoff returns, muffed a third punt return this season and missed a late field goal. Grambling's average field position after a JSU kickoff? The 44-yard line.

The G-men returned the first kickoff to the JSU 20-yard line, a 56-yard return that eventually led to a field goal.

Part of the kickoff troubles can be blamed on injury. Kris Selita, the team's normal kickoff specialist and punter, didn't play because of an injury to his plant leg.

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Grambling loss knocks JSU from black college title picture

Time has expired on Jackson State's bid for a black college national championship.

The Tigers tossed away a chance at a game-tying field goal Saturday, deciding not to use a timeout and allowing time to run out during a last-second throw to the end zone in a 26-23 loss to pesky conference rival Grambling.

This, a fourth straight defeat to Grambling (5-4), might burn the most.

Jackson State (7-2) entered as the No. 1 black college team in the country, three wins away from winning a mythical black college national title.

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Game Notes: Alabama State Hornets vs. UAPB Golden Lions

Alabama State University vs. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Time: Today, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Listen Live on 90.7 WVAS FM
Alabama State Game Notes
2011 Hornet Football Media Guide

THE GAME: The Alabama State Hornets will play their final road game of the season when they face the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions in
a battle of two teams looking to get back on the winning track.

THE SERIES: This is the 13th meeting between the Hornets and Golden Lions, with Alabama State leading 7-5. Alabama State has won six straight meetings between the teams, including last season’s 38-31 win in Montgomery.

LAST TIME OUT: Both teams lost last week. Alabama State had a nine-game SWAC winning streak end, losing to Alabama A&M 20-19. UAPB lost at home to Grambling State 27-20.

STILL IN THE HUNT FOR THE EAST CROWN: The Hornets’ loss to the Bulldogs
last week puts Alabama State in the position to win and need help to repeat
as Eastern Division champions. The Hornets need to finish ahead of Alabama
A&M in the standings to win the title, as the Bulldogs hold the head-to-head
tie breaker over Alabama State.

LAST ROAD GAME:  This Saturday’s game in Arkansas is the final contest
outside the state of Alabama for the 2011 season. The Hornets will conclude
the regular season schedule with home games vs. Southern Nov. 12 and
Tuskegee in the Turkey Day Classic Nov. 24.

POLL POSITIONS: After ascending to the top of several Black College Football poll at the beginning of October, last week’s loss moved the Hornets from the top spot. Alabama State is now ranked second in the Urban News Poll, fourth in the HSRN.com poll, fifth in the Boxtorow.com media poll, and sixth in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network poll. After being ranked 16th last week, Alabama State fell out of the FCS Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25.



NOTABLES
• QB Devin Dominguez’ 59-yard touchdown run was the longest of his career
and the longest rushing play of the season for Alabama State.
• WR Nick Andrews had the fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season and
his 134 receiving yards was his third-highest total of the season. Andrews’
nine receptions was one short of his career high.
• FS Kejuan Riley has made interceptions in back-to-back games for the
second time this season (Sept. 17 vs. Grambling; Sept. 24 at Jackson State).
• With one takeaway against Alabama A&M, the Hornets have forced at
least one turnover in 27 straight games (73 takeaways over that time: 30
fumbles/43 INTs).
• LB Brandon Slater made a career-high 13 tackles, while CB Donovan
Masline made a season-high eight tackles.
• LB Demarques Taylor has made at least 10+ tackles in three consecutive
games.
• K/P Wenzig averaged 51.0 yards on three punts, including a season-long
69-yarder.

By Duane Lewis, Sports Information Director/Football, Alabama State University

Jackson twins pit stats from TSU, Tennessee

Southern at Texas Southern
When/where: 6 p.m.; Delmar Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV/radio: KHOU 11.2; 90.9 FM.
Records: Southern 3-5, 3-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference; Texas Southern 3-5, 3-3.
Last meeting: TSU won 54-7 last season at Baton Rouge, La.

Houston, Texas -- Texas Southern defensive end Marquis Jackson made his strongest statement of the season against Central State of Ohio on Oct. 22. He finished with a season-high three sacks to go along 4 ½ tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the Tigers' 42-11 victory.

That gave him plenty of breathing room against one of his main rivals. "Three sacks," Jackson said after the game. "(Let's) see if he can beat me now."

The challenge was directed at Jackson's twin, Malik, a senior defensive tackle at Tennessee. Malik Jackson went up against No. 2 Alabama in a Southeastern Conference showdown later that Saturday. Malik recorded just one sack.



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