GAME NOTES: Gardner-Webb Hosts Virginia State Thursday Night

Boiling Springs, North Carolina -- Gardner-Webb will host Virginia State at 6:00 pm Thursday night on Harris Field at Spangler Stadium. The game will air live on WGWG-FM (88.3), with Fabian Fuentes and David Allen providing the call. The game will also be broadcast on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), as part of the league’s video streaming package. Log onto to wgwg.org for a live audio stream via the internet as well.

   GAME NOTES (PDF)

SERIES NOTES: First meeting in the sport of football ... GWU is 11-4-0 all-time against members of the CIAA, with most of that win total coming against nearby Johnson C. Smith (Charlotte) and Livingstone (Salisbury) ... GWU hasn’t played a home game against a CIAA school since beating Virginia Union, 22-20, on Homecoming in 2000.

THE COACHES: Gardner-Webb head coach Ron Dickerson, Jr., is in his first season in charge of the Runnin’ Bulldogs. GWU is his first head coaching job overall. Andrew Faison is in his 10th season as heac coach at Virginia State, his alma mater (‘81). Faison is 54-46 during that time, including a 5-4 mark this season. The Trojans went 8-3 in 2010.

LAST WEEK: Treymaine Schley caught two touchdown passes, one from Lucas Beatty and one from Ricky Rhodes, and Gardner-Webb’s defense recorded seven sacks and two interceptions to spark a 14-7 win over Charleston Southern. Lyndon Leslie provided a lift off the bench with four catches for 85 yards, including a 21-yard reception on a flea flicker that set up Gardner-Webb’s first score – a 14-yard strike from Beatty to Schley.

PUSH ‘EM BACK: Gardner-Webb ranks No. 3 nationally in tackles for loss, helped indeed by last weekend’s 11-tackles for loss effort vs. Charleston Southern. GWU also had a season-high seven sacks and 11 quarterback pressures in that game – just two sacks shy of the league’s single-game mark for a team. The rotation up front of Preston Pemasa (6-2, 250, So.), Matt Goods (6-2, 275, RSo.) Dylan Taylor (6-0, 265, Jr.), Jordan Woods (6-3, 245, Sr.), Maurice Dickson (6-4, 260, So.), Maurice Bryan (6-2, 265, RJr.) and Tyler Hough-Jenkins (6-4, 270, RFr.) forms one of the deepest defensive lines in the nation.

BIG FRONT LINE: Gardner-Webb’s offensive line has drawn solid reviews during preseason camp, coming together nicely as a unit under new position coach Dwayne Ledford. The starting five: left tackle Harrison Martin (6-6, 285, RJr.); left guard Jamie Dunaway (6-4, 290, Jr.); center Austin Sargent (6-3, 290, Jr.); right guard Jeff Harris (6-2, 291, RSo.) and right tackle Steve Demilio (6-5, 290, RJr.) average a solid 6-foot-4, 289-pounds per man and have at least three years each in a college weight program under their belts.

A GOOD STREAK: Gardner-Webb has won two games in a row in the same season for the first time since starting the 2010 season 2-0 with wins vs. Brevard and at Akron. GWU won two in a row to span the end of the 2010 season and the start of the 2011 campaign, beating VMI to close out ‘10 and topping Brevard to begin ‘11. GWU has not won three games in a row since October 18-November 1 of the 2008 season – topping Presbyterian (Oct. 18), VMI (Oct. 25) and Stony Brook (Nov. 1) behind strong quarterback play from then-senior Devin Campbell.

DICKSON DELIVERS: With All-Big South tackle Matt Goods sitting out last week with an injury, classmate Maurice Dickson (6-4, 260, So.) came through with a tremendous effort. Playing both end and tackle in the game, Dickson registered a career-high 10 total tackles (four solo), 4.5 tackles for loss and broke a school record with 3.5 sacks. The previous mark was set by Rondell White at Tusculum in 1998 (3.0 sacks). Dickson added four pressures and was named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. The Hillside, N.J., native leads the Big South with 4.5 sacks in 2011.

PATTERSON PILING UP STATS: Linebacker Marty Patterson (6-3, 235, RSr.) has accomplished many things already during his career in Boiling Springs, but topped his best efforts in the win over Charleston Southern. The preseason All-America selection came through with a career-high 20 total tackles (nine solo) and a tackle for loss in the win, including several big hits. Patterson has 72 tackles in six games played this season, leading the Big South with 12.0 tackles per game. In league play, Patterson has totaled 55 tackles in four league games, averaging 13.8 per contest – which also leads the league. The Mt. Airy, Ga., native has registered 293 total tackles during his career in Boiling Springs, which ranks No. 16 in school history – only 13 hits behind former All-America and NFL linebacker Jim Maxwell.

SCHLEY IS SLY: Sophomore tight end Treymaine Schley (6-3, 220) enjoyed one of his finest games Saturday – one week after posting a career-high total in yardage – hauling in five passes for 50 yards and the first two touchdowns of his career. Schley’s 14-yard scoring grab from Lucas Beatty tied the game with 2:00 left before halftime and his nine-yard touchdown catch from running back Ricky Rhodes gave GWU the lead for good with 14:10 left in the game. Schley was named National Tight End of the Week in the Football Championship Subdivision by College Football Performance Awards (CFPA), and now leads the Big South’s tight ends with 17 catches for 200 yards and two scores – all career-high numbers to date for Schley. The Ft. Myers, Fla., native has nine catches for 119 yards in the past two games combined.

CAREER DAY: Punter Graham Purvis (5-11, 165, RSr.) was one of several stars in Gardner-Webb’s 14-7 win over Charleston Southern last week, punting 11 times for a conference-record 497 yards (45.2 yards per punt). Purvis uncorked two of the longest punts in league history in the same game – booming a 67-yarder (sixth best) late in the first half to pin CSU inside its own 20 with the game tied, 7-7, and launching a school and Big South-record 85 yard punt late in the fourth quarter that forced CSU to try and cover 80 yards for a potential game-tying score. The GWU defense took advantage of the field position and kept the lead safe. Purvis’ effort earned the Shallotte, N.C., native Big South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors Monday morning, and National Special Teams Player of the Week honors Monday afternoon. He is averaging 36.3 yards per kick this season, and has five kicks of 50 yards or better under his belt through eight games.

BIG SOUTH NETWORK: The Big South Network, presented by State Farm, will carry all of Gardner-Webb’s home football games and all Big South Conference games live as part of the league’s subscription-based video streaming package. Interested parties may register for an account at bigsouthsports.com.

Courtesy: Gardner-Webb

VSU's Lyde scores 3 TDs in win over Lincoln (Pa.)

West Grove, Pennsylvania -- Senior, running back Antwain Lyde rushed for 129 total yards and scored 3 touchdowns in a 21-16 road victory for the Trojans of Virginia State University over the Lions of Lincoln University on Saturday, Oct 22 in West Grove, PA.

The Trojans snapped a two game road losing streak and improved their overall record to 4-4 and 3-3 in the CIAA conference with a great victory over the Lions. VSU held the Lions to 51 total rushing yards but allowed 316 total passing yards. The Trojans committed no offensive turnovers, forced a fumble on defense, and also blocked an extra point attempt.

After an early touchdown score by Lincoln's offense, VSU's Antwain Lyde broke out for a season long 48 yard touchdown score to tie the ball game up at 7-7. Lyde led the Trojans with 31 rushes for a total of 129 yards with 3 touchdowns.

Lincoln's Kyle Kaski knocked in a 25 yard field goal with 4:45 remaining in the first quarter that put the Lions ahead of the Trojans 10-7. The second quarter began with a Lincoln offensive turnover and a defensive fumble recovery by VSU's junior, linebacker Alandus Beggs. Beggs had 3.5 tackles and applied constant pressure to LU's quarterback forcing 3 hurries.



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Fayetteville State wins big over Virginia State

Fayetteville, North Carolina -- Even after a colossal 49-21 win over Virginia State, Fayetteville State coach Kenny Phillips was left scratching his head. The question isn't one of how the Broncos won the game. The fact that the Broncos forced six Trojan turnovers accounts for a lot of that.

No, instead, Phillips is wondering how his team, once again, fell behind 14-0 to start the game.
"We're trying to figure this out every week," the coach said. "We've been trying to work on getting out of the hole quicker. Sooner or later, we're going to have to go up 14-to-something."

It was the fifth straight game that Fayetteville State (2-4, 2-1 CIAA) had fallen behind by at least a two-score margin at the start of play. The Trojans (3-3, 2-2) put two rushing touchdowns on the board in the opening quarter.

But the Broncos rebounded, scoring 49 consecutive points to the win.



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Late fumble leads to OT loss for Bowie State at Virginia State

ETTRICK, Virginia - The Bowie State University football team gave up the tying touchdown after fumbling the ball with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter and went on to lose to Virginia State in overtime, 28-21, on Saturday in Ettrick, Va.

The game was punctuated by a wild fourth quarter that had an even wilder final minute. Each team scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and it appeared Bowie State had the game won when it took possession at the Virginia State 48-yard line with a 21-14 lead and 30 seconds left.

After Virginia State used a time out to stop the clock with 22 seconds to go, Bowie State's Michael Gagne lost 20 yards on a second-down play and fumbled at the Bowie State 21, where Virginia State's Malcolm Solomon recovered. With 16 seconds left on the clock, Jarred Battle tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Timothy Paulk, and William Rudd's extra point tied the game at 21-21, forcing overtime.

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With Budd, Bowie State Hopes to Bloom

OgheneMaro Erhie

Bowie, MD - An overcast sky, with a few drops of rain, was the scene on Tuesday afternoon as the Bowie State football team held practice in preparation for another road game on Saturday.

The dreary weather on the back side of campus, just off Laurel-Bowie Road, was hopefully not an omen for the Bulldogs, who are coming off their first loss of the season and will play the second of six straight road games this coming weekend at Virginia State in Petersburg.

Bowie State, 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the CIAA, may be at a crossroads. The Bulldogs lost last Saturday, 32-29, at Virginia Union in a CIAA contest and Virginia State will be the second of four league games in a row away from Bowie.

"From here on out we have to win," said starting right tackle OgheneMaro Erhie, a 296-pound junior from Laurel High. "We need to play better on defense." The normally stingy Bowie State defense gave up 523 yards of total offense to Virginia Union, including 354 through the air at Hovey Field in Richmond.

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JCSU looks for defensive improvement vs. Virginia State

Charlotte, NC - Johnson C. Smith scores in bunches – and so do Golden Bulls opponents. The Golden Bulls, who play CIAA North foe Virginia State Saturday at McGirt Field, have outscored 99-65 in the first two games, but are 1-1 after a 38-35 overtime loss last week against Brevard. For the second straight week, JCSU allowed more than 400 yards but that liability has been offset by an offense that’s averaging better than 536.5 per game.

“I’m extremely proud of those guys because they didn’t give up,” Golden Bulls head coach Steve Aycock said. “The one thing I take from this is our kids have got to learn how to close. “We could’ve put them away in the fourth quarter and nailed the coffin shut and got out of there with a victory.”

The Golden Bulls’ main concern from the start has been defense, which was overhauled after allowing an average of 405 yards and 39 points a game last year. They’re still struggling at 452 per contest, and opponents are averaging 229.5 per game on the ground.

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VSU football, a force to be reckoned with

Petersburg, VA - After falling in the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) championship to Shaw University last season, Virginia State University’s (VSU) football team is gearing up for another hard-hitting season on the grid iron. The team is currently undergoing preseason training camp, preparing for their season opener on Monday, Aug. 29, against Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C.

Ranked sixth (out of 12 teams) in CIAA’s 2011 overall preseason poll, the Trojans are defending a season in which they finished first in the conference’s North division – where they are currently predicted to finish second.



Coach Andrew Faison, soon to begin his tenth season as the team’s head coach, isn’t the least bit bothered by the polls.

“It’s only preseason. I tell our guys: It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” he said. “Last year we were predicted to finish eighth, and, hey, look what happened. They moved us up a little bit, so hopefully this time around we will bring home the trophy.”



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VSU's Howard Spencer Greets Success With A Smile

ETTRICK, VA -- What makes Virginia State University junior Howard Spencer so easy to identify is not the free-flowing mane of dreadlocks that billows out of his football helmet. Nor is it the head-turning speed with which he roams the baselines.

It's his unfailing smile -- an ear-to-ear grin that rarely leaves his visage and has come to define the 21-year-old two-sport athlete. "Everybody always calls me 'Smiley,'" Spencer said. "They say I'm always smiling and they know something is wrong when I'm not."

To be fair, the 2007 Thomas Dale graduate has a lot to smile about. His work ethic and positive approach have become contagious and lifted him into leadership roles on the VSU football and baseball teams.



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Taylor, defense lift Lady Trojans over Lady Bulldogs

ETTRICK, VA - Displaying an ability to find a way to win when things go awry is the mark of a good team. Having the wherewithal to do so late in the season and against a divisional foe, doubly so.

The Virginia State University women's basketball team did just that in a CIAA clash with Bowie State at Daniel Gymnasium on Saturday. The Lady Trojans overcame a first half in which they shot 17 percent from the field to win 50-43.

Spurred by solid team defense and a double-double from senior Rhon'Neisha Taylor, the Lady Trojans kept pace with the Lady Bulldogs and found a finishing kick from the bench to pull ahead late in the game.

Bowie State Bulldogs Overpower VSU Trojans

The Bowie State men's basketball team came into Daniel Gymnasium as the top-ranked team in the CIAA and played like it in a 92-71 win over Virginia State.

The Bulldogs never trailed and overcame a streaky showing from the Trojans with a consistent and well-balanced offensive effort.

"I thought we played well in spots," said interim coach Gene Thompson. "And then there were some situations where some people took a break and that is what killed us. You have to sustain it all the way."

The Bulldogs quickly extended an eight-point halftime advantage to 11 after the break but the Trojans assembled a run that led the VSU faithful to believe a season-defining win was on the horizon. D'Angelo Johnson drained a 3-pointer, Brandon Plummer knocked down a 12-foot jumper and Chris Washington came up with a backcourt steal and layup that cut the deficit to 63-58 with 11:04 remaining.

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Big Apple Classic: Brad Byerson's 26 points power VUU past VSU in New York City

NEW YORK -- Braxton Byerson swiveled toward the Spike Lee seats at Madison Square Garden and yapped with the fans at yesterday's Big Apple Classic. He had just hit an important 3-pointer at the end of the first half to solidify a lead Virginia Union (2-0) did not relinquish in a 66-46 win over rival Virginia State (1-4).

Byerson soaked in the moment. His screams stretched through the iconic arena. His post-shot swagger made him the game's most theatrical performer. But it was his scoring -- 26 points, trumping the 23 he scored on the same court last season -- that made the difference in the victory.

"Coach said when I first got here, 'You're a crowd pleaser,'" Byerson said. "It just always stuck with me. I just get in touch with the crowd when they start talking to me. It just gives me energy. I feed off it. I tend to play better when I feed off it."

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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)

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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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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Fayetteville State shocks division-leading Virginia State, 21-14

PETERSBURG, Va. - Fayetteville State shocked the CIAA North Division leader, Virginia State, 21-14, on Saturday night. It was the first road win of the season for the Broncos (2-4, 1-2). Fayetteville State built up a 21-0 lead after three quarters, then held off a rally by the Trojans.

Quarterback Robert Benjamin threw three touchdown passes for the Broncos.

Trojans fall

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ETTRICK, VA - The stage was set for more late-game heroics from the Virginia State football team. Having won last week on a last-minute 50-yard touchdown pass, they looked poised to steal another game, this time from visiting Fayetteville State. But sophomore quarterback Jarred Battle's fourth-and-goal pass fell incomplete with 27 seconds left and the Broncos held on for a 21-14 victory.

The Trojans, who came into the game sitting atop the CIAA North Division standings, struggled on both sides of the ball from the start.

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NSU Spartans romp Virginia State Trojans

Norfolk, VA - Senior running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) rushed for 167 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Norfolk State to its most points in five years in a 51-28 rout of Virginia State on Saturday night in the Spartan-Trojan Classic at Dick Price Stadium.

Quarterback Chris Walley (Tallahassee, Fla.) completed 17-of-22 passes for 237 yards and two scores for the Spartans (2-1), who piled up 505 yards of total offense en route to their fifth straight win over the Trojans (2-1). The five-game winning streak is NSU’s longest in the series, which dates to 1963. The 51 points recorded by NSU is the team’s most since ...

Branche puts legs to work as Spartans trample Trojans

NORFOLK, VA - The only labor came from the scoreboard operator. Behind running back DeAngelo Branche's career-high four touchdowns and quarterback Chris Walley's best effort yet, Norfolk State's offense barely broke a sweat. The Spartans were efficient throughout a 51-28 trouncing of Virginia State on Saturday, scoring on two of their first three offensive plays.

"I kept saying in the first quarter that we could do whatever we wanted to, run or pass," Norfolk State wide receiver Victor Hairston said.

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Norfolk State squares off against longtime foe Virginia State

It's not just a Labor Day weekend love. While tonight's meeting between old rivals Norfolk State and Virginia State isn't being played during the holiday weekend for the first time since 1991, NSU athletic director Marty Miller said it's the teams, not the calendar, that attract a crowd.

Norfolk State's DeAngelo Branche, the team's top offensive option, was looked at seriously by Virginia State. Two of the Trojans' primary producers - quarterback Jarred Battle and wide receiver Corey Young - are local products whom NSU inquired about, though neither felt heavily pursued.

"There's nothing personal about it," said Young, a Bayside High grad. "But maybe after I do play this game, and we get this win, they'll look back and see what could have been."

Virginia State Trojans' Merrill Morgan Coaching AL Ball

Virginia State University Trojans coach Merrill Morgan has compiled over 100 wins and has guided VSU to four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships, including three consecutive championships. Morgan is a 1986 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, and batted .308 in Rams baseball his junior season.

While high school baseball has ended, American Legion baseball has only just begun within the Tri-Cities for the Colonial Heights (Virginia) Post 284 Bucs and Pirates teams. For fourth-year Post 284 Bucs coach Merrill Morgan, also the head baseball coach at Virginia State University, he is excited to get going. "I just like helping young players develop. I love baseball and working with young players improve for college," Morgan said. "I get a chance to watch and follow many of the players because I coach at Virginia State and live within the area."

As a Dinwiddie native, both of Morgan's sons, M.L. (Merrill,Jr.) Morgan and Marcus have gone to play collegiate baseball. M.L. is currently on the Virginia Commonwealth baseball team and also graduated from Dinwiddie High School while Marcus went to VSU. Both sons last year coached with Morgan during the American Legion season and this year M.L. will join him again.

While at Virginia State, Morgan has coached six seasons - leading the Trojans to over 100 wins with four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships, including three straight titles. He has also been named CIAA baseball coach of the year three times (2004, 2006 and 2007). Because of the good relationships that the Morgan family has developed over the years within the local community, it has only made the teams under the fourth-year coach that much closer.

"The kids that we get are pretty polished. All we try to do is give them the guidance and confidence to play college ball," Morgan said. "They already come from good programs so that experience certainly helps."

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NSU Spartans turn it on, rout Virginia State

NORFOLK, VA - Slow start, fast finish. How fast? Usain Bolt kind of fast. The Spartans didn't just win, they overpowered their rivals from Division II Virginia State in the Labor Day Classic on Saturday 47-7 before a festive crowd announced at 17,132 at Price Stadium that appeared far larger. Speaking of big, the 40-point margin of victory was the greatest in the annual series that dates to 1963.

The Spartans (1-0) rang up the first 47, with 28 of those points earned in the second half. Virginia State's lone score came with 1:34 left in the game when NSU had a collection of backups on defense. After missing all of the 2007 season due to eligibility issues, running back DeAngelo Branche showed as much rust as a shiny new vehicle. A white towel hanging from his gold pants exclaimed "I'm back!" in colored marker, and the Trojans couldn't argue. Scoring three touchdowns, which matched his previous high from the entire 2006 season, the sophomore showed off elusive moves that should make him the MEAC's best.

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Attendance 17,132 @ Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA (Capacity: 30,000)

NSU hopes game with Virginia State starts something big

NORFOLK. VA - James Riddick lists the priorities for any Norfolk State football fan. No. 1 is beat Virginia State in the opener. No. 2: beat Hampton. No. 3 is beat everyone else in the MEAC. It's a sentiment shared by many Spartan diehards, most of who will fill Dick Price Stadium tonight for the annual Labor Day Classic against the Trojans.

The Norfolk State schedule, toughened with a match-up at SEC foe Kentucky next week and CAA stalwart William and Mary later this month, doesn't have a more attractive date to its fans than today's game. Even talk of a future contest with down-the-road rival Old Dominion doesn't hold the same mystique for Spartans fans, who have made this annual showdown with the Division II Trojans a circle on their calendar since 1963.

Six of Price's top 10 crowds have come with Virginia State in the stadium, including the top attendance of 33,872 exactly 11 years ago in the stadium's inaugural game there. As for today? "I'm projecting a sellout," said NSU athletic director Marty Miller, whose only reservation about making such a bold statement is the chance of rain dampening the evening.

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