Alcorn Spoil Another Homecoming with 27-13 Win over PVAMU

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- For the third time this year, the Alcorn State University football program went on the road for Homecoming and walked away with a victory as the Braves ousted Prairie View A&M 27-13 Saturday at Panther Stadium.

The Braves (7-2, 5-1 SWAC) defense did not allow a touchdown. The lone PVAMU (3-5, 2-2 SWAC) touchdown came on a kickoff return. Alcorn sacked Jalen Morton five times, and junior Brelion Hollis wrapped-up a career-high 12 tackles.

The Braves also got their hands on two interceptions from senior Leishaun Ealey and sophomore Qwynnterrio Cole.

Alcorn held a 512-235 advantage in total yards, including a 249-61 disparity in rushing. Junior Deshawn Waller led the ground game with 120 yards and a touchdown. Junior Noah Johnson rushed for 81 yards to go along with his 263 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Johnson's touchdown passes were caught by senior Dayall Harris and junior Chris Blair. Harris finished with 81 receiving yards, while Blair hauled in 63.

Morton ended with 174 passing yards for PVAMU on 16-for-33 passing and two interceptions. Dawonya Tucker, who entered the game as the league's leading rusher, was limited to 60 yards on 15 attempts.

The Braves fumbled the opening kickoff of the game and the Panthers recovered at the 11-yard line. A good defensive stand by Alcorn, including run-stopping tackles by Cole and junior Solomon Muhammad, resulted in a 22-yard field goal attempt that was no-good.

After the Braves went three-and-out offensively, the PVAMU marched down the field on its second drive and got on the board with a 22-yard field goal by Zach Elder to take a 3-0 lead at the 8:04 mark. The big plays on the series were catches of 29-yards and 20-yards, respectively, by Tristen Wallace. The Panthers had 1st-and-goal at the Alcorn 5 when the Braves made a red zone stop.

Alcorn got-going offensively on its second drive. A 29-yard screen pass to Blair to the left moved the ball into Panthers territory. Johnson then found Blair again as he hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass between to defenders and hung on as he was tackled into the end zone. It gave the Braves a 7-3 lead with 5:35 remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, Bernard Goodwater ran back an 81-yard touchdown to put the Panthers back on top 10-7 with 5:22 to go. It was a short kick, and Goodwater found a large hole to the left as he was off to the races.

BOX SCORE

ATTENDANCE, 14,250

The Braves offense was on the move again late in the first. After a 10-yard first down run by senior P.J. Simmons, Johnson took off for a 44-yard rush as he faked the hand-off and kept it himself to the left and was tackled at the PVAMU 19. However, Alcorn was backed up by a holding penalty and settled for a 39-yard field goal which was good by junior Corey McCullough to even it 10-10 with 1:16 left.

PVAMU started at its own 4 early in the second quarter when it put together a long drive and got all the way to the Alcorn 17. Though, on a first down play, Morton was intercepted in the right corner of the end zone by Cole as he leaped up and kept a foot in bounds for the turnover.

After the interception, Johnson threw a slant to Harris over the middle that went for 22 yards. Third down runs of 11 yards by Johnson and 19 yards by Waller moved the ball to the PVAMU 24. The Braves took the lead 13-10 after a 20-yard field goal McCullough at the 3:50 mark.

Alcorn added on before the end of the half. On 2nd-and-20, Johnson was nearly sacked in the backfield but stayed up and found Harris wide-open for a 44-yard touchdown catch. It extended the lead to 20-10 heading into the intermission.

Midway through the third quarter, the Braves got good field position near midfield after an interception by Ealey. A quick pitch to junior Nigel Wood went for 16 yards, and a 16-yard reception by senior Raidarious Anderson made it first down at the PVAMU 16. Alcorn settled for a 29-yard field goal attempt, but it was missed wide-left with 6:06 remaining.

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers chipped into the deficit 20-13 with 5:46 left after a long, 14-play drive. PVAMU had 1st-and-goal at the Alcorn 8 when the Braves made a red zone stop. The Panthers scored on a 31-yard field goal by Elder. The drive took 7:04 off the clock.

The Braves were faced with a 3rd-and-8 on the following series when they kept the drive and clock moving with an 11-yard screen pass to Waller. Alcorn stayed on the ground and ran it for another first down with Waller with 3:30 to go at the PVAMU 47. Johnson followed with a QB-keeper for a first down to the PVAMU 27 with 2:45 left.

The clock ended up not making a difference though as Waller took a hand-off and ran it for 26 yards and a touchdown to give Alcorn a 27-13 edge and put the game away with 1:34 remaining.

The Braves will take a break from conference play next weekend when they travel to New Mexico State for a 3 p.m. (CT) start.

NOTES
- Alcorn won its fourth consecutive road game. It previously spoiled Homecoming games at Southern and Alabama A&M.

- The Braves are now 42-15 all-time against the Panthers.

- The Alcorn defense entered the game leading the nation in both sacks per game (4.5) and tackles for a loss per game (9.5). The team will improve upon its tallies with 5.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for a loss.

- The Braves offense entered the contest leading the SWAC in total offense (451.9 ypg) and notched 512 yards.

- Hollis broke his previous career-high of eight tackles set at Jackson State last year. He also had a sack and two tackles for a loss in the match.

- Junior Terry Whittington is the reigning FCS National Defensive Player of the Week in addition to HBCU Player of the Week and SWAC Defensive Player of the Week. He finished with three tackles.

- Cole's interception was his third of the year which ties him for a team-high this season with junior Javen Morrison.

- The Braves improved to 12-0 when leading at halftime over the last two seasons.

- The Panthers featured both the league's top rusher and passer. Morton, who normally throws for 239.7 yards per game, was limited to 174 passing yards. Tucker averages 116.0 rushing yards per outing and was held to 60.

- The Braves sit at No. 3 in this week's HBCU Poll and are receiving a vote in the national FCS Poll. PVAMU was No. 6 in the HBCU Poll.

- Alcorn's captains were Simmons and seniors Sterling Shippy and Matthew Stewart. PVAMU won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.

- With Alabama State's loss to Alabama A&M, the Braves can clinch the SWAC East Division with a win over Jackson State in the season finale. Alcorn can also clinch prior to the game with losses by JSU and ASU in the upcoming weeks.

Quoting Alcorn head coach Fred McNair
Opening Statement
"We came out and played hard today. The team played with a lot of speed and really fought. We played with a sense of urgency. Though at the same time, we still have a lot to work on. I still don't think we're there yet. We have to be better in a lot of areas and I just feel that we haven't played to our full potential. We have some good spurts in every game but we need more consistency overall. We'll get back at it Monday morning."

On not giving up a defensive touchdown
"It's no secret that our defense has been solid all year. We did a great job of stopping the run today which put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. We just have to continue to get better as a team. I'm proud of the way we're competing."

On trying to limit the penalty yards
"It's a point of emphasis every week and the coaches talk about it before every game in the pre-game speech. We need to eliminate the penalties and the big plays, and we'll keep pressing it until it's done."

On posting over 500 yards of total offense
"We wanted to mix-up what we were doing offensively today. We knew coming into the game that PVAMU had a big defensive line and is tough to run against. We needed to come up with some schemes to counter what PVAMU was doing, and Coach [Ryan] Stanchek did a great job of coming up with a game plan."

Quoting running back Deshawn Waller
On his performance
"This was a great team win today. I have to give credit to both the offensive line and the wide receivers for the way they blocked. We even had a touchdown called back, but it was the blocking that opened up all the holes today."

On his touchdown that put the game away 27-13
"That play was just about execution. We work on perfecting the little things every day in practice and it paid off on that play. It was a read to the right and our right tackle, right guard and wide receivers did a great job of getting down field and making blocks. The rest of our guys did what they had to do and it opened it up for me."

On his emerging role on the team
"I had to learn a lot coming in this year including new plays. I wasn't here last year so I had to come in over the summer and get right to it."

Quoting linebacker Brelion Hollis
On his career-high in tackles
"I couldn't have done it without my teammates and the rest of the defense putting me in a position to be successful. I'm just glad to be a part of something special. I have to give credit to the coaches for pushing us every day in practice, and I couldn't have done it without them and the rest of the team."

On not allowing a defensive touchdown in the game
"It was about the coaches giving us the right calls, and us being in the right positions at the right time. We were able to handle our business and do what we needed to do. All week the coaches stressed about the little things and paying attention to detail. We were able to stay focused and execute today and get a win."

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

ASU Smothers' Game-Winning Kick Return TD Helps Wildcats Seal Upset of Maroon Tigers

ATLANTA, Georgia – In a real tale of two halves, the Wildcats spun the best tale in sudden fashion for the upset. The defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East champion, Fort Valley State, may not be headed back to the title tilt, but Lorenzo Smothers' 96-yard kick return touchdown with 3:16 left in the game helped his team pull the 27-22 upset, and keep Morehouse College from qualifying for this year's contest.

After having everything go their way in the first 30 minutes, the Wildcats (2-7/2-3 SIAC East) took a 21-2 halftime lead, but they saw the tables turn. The seventh-rated Region 2 Maroon Tigers (7-2/3-2 SIAC East) edged ahead 22-21 for all of 16 seconds as Smothers bobbled the kick off, before he regained his composure and cut through the defenders down the right sideline 96 yards for the game-winning touchdown, 27-22. Following a Niykiem Floyd sack on third-and-19, the FVSU defense forced one final Morehouse incompletion to seal the win with seven seconds left at the visitors 32-yard line.

With the win, FVSU takes it winning streak over Morehouse to four games. The Wildcats' 27 points is also a season-high.

BOX SCORE

ATTENDANCE: 27,519

Smothers finished the day with 250 all-purpose yards, including 139 yards on three kick-off returns. The sophomore pulled in four passes for 65 yards with a 16-yard second-quarter touchdown, rushed seven times for 37 yards and added a nine-yard punt return.

Quarterback Demontay Jones had a tough day with only 101 yards passing on 7 of 18 attempts with two touchdowns, but three interceptions. FVSU was outgained 171 to 322 in total offense and saw Morehouse hold the ball for 17:22 longer.

Aaron Dore, who had 1.5 tackles for loss, and Andrew Robinson paced the Wildcat defense with nine stops apiece. Zach Anderson added 7 tackles, one for loss, and David Brown had six tackles.

Leading-tackler Camron Young accounted for only four tackles, but he did block a Maroon Tigers punt and recover it in the first half. Voris Bryant (6 tackles, forced fumble) and Floyd (5 tackles) each had a sack.

For Morehouse, the running back duo of Santo Dunn and Frank Bailey, Jr., combined for 185 yards on 38 rushes and two scores.

On the second possession of the day, the FVSU offense drove 63 yards for the game's first points. On 4th-and-2 at the home 31-yardline, Jones found Smothers for a 14-yard completion to keep the drive going. On the next set of downs, Jones scrambled eight yards for the touchdown and 7-0 lead at 8:48 in the first stanza.

Following a Young blocked Morehouse punt and recovery late in the first quarter, Jones connected with Smothers from 16 yards on the game's next play to extend the difference to 14-0 only 52 seconds in the second quarter.

The Maroon Tigers put a safety on the scoreboard when the Wildcat punter did not field the snap cleanly and saw it recovered in the end zone, 14-2, at 8:33 in the first half.

With 1:58 left in the second frame, FVSU took over on the home 49-yardline and took advantage. On the fourth play, Jones fired to Jeffery Mack from 27 yards and took a 21-2 lead to half.

Morehouse took the ball to the ground on three long, time-eating drives. With its second possession, a Michael Sims 16-yard touchdown pass, 21-8, was the first tally on an 89-yard drive.

After a four-play visitor possession and punt, Bailey ran in from three yards to cap a 59-yard, 15-play drive for a 21-15 game with 13:49 left.

FVSU aided the Morehouse comeback as Jones three his third interception on the next Wildcat time with the ball. The Maroon Tigers ran off another 8:06 resulting in a Dunn 4-yard touchdown plunge for a 22-21 lead at 3:32 to go.

The Wildcats moves on for the season finale at the Fountain City Classic next Saturday, Nov. 3. FVSU battles rival Albany State in a 2 p.m. kick-off in Columbus, Ga.

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Bowie State Bulldogs Move One Step Closer to Northern Title with 35-14 win at Lincoln (Pa.)

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania – Fortunately for Bowie State football, it's not how you start but how you finish as the Bulldogs shrugged off a terrible start and came back to defeat Lincoln (Pa.) 35-14 on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The win improves Bowie State's record to 7-2 overall, 4-1 in the CIAA North and one game closer to claiming the division title.

Dominique Rogers intercepted Bowie State's Amir Hall and returns it for a 50-yard touchdown to give Lincoln (Pa.) 7-0 lead with 7:23 remaining in first quarter.

Lincoln (Pa.) (1-8, 1-4 CIAA) pushed its lead to 14-0 at the 4:27 mark of the second quarter, when the Lions blocked a Bulldogs punt and scored.

Montez Clay hauled in a 68-yard touchdown pass from Amir Hall to pull Bowie State within a touchdown on the Bulldogs' very next possession to narrow the deficit to 14-7 with 4:08 left in the second quarter. Bulldogs get a quick two as Derrick Tate and Taylor Johnson score on a safety to trim deficit to 14-9 with 3:06 left before halftime.

Bowie State takes lead with 44 seconds left in second quarter on a Hall to Geordan Clark for a X-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs in front 15-14.

Bowie State's Maurice Williams scores a 13-yard touchdown run at 3:53 mark of 3rd quarter but the extra point was missed, pushing the Bulldogs lead to 21-14.

The Bowie State duo of Hall and Clark teamed up again, this time for 9-yard touchdown to double up the Lincoln (Pa.) Lions by a score of 28-14 with 2:36 to go in 3rd quarter.

Hall throws his fourth touchdown of the afternoon, this time a 33-yard pass to Lansana Sesay to extend the Bowie State lead to 35-14 with 11:32 left in the contest.

Hall threw for a game-high 306 passing yards completing 24-of-42. His four touchdown passes move him to within two of tying the CIAA All-Time TD passing yard on Winston-Salem State's Kameron Smith. Williams and Brandon Abrams led Bowie State's ground gainers with 59 and 42 yards respectively. Clay and Gilbert Lunsford led all receivers with 82 and 73 reception yards respectively. The Bulldogs trio of John Johnson, Jaylen Harris and Da'Ron Holmes paced the Bowie State defense with five tackles each.

BOX SCORE

Lincoln (Pa.) quarterback Vincent Espinoza led the Lions on offense with 122 passing yards and 59 rushing yards. Carlos Croslyn was LUPA's top receiver with 39 yards while Devon Cathcart was the games' leading tackler with 10.

The Bulldogs will conclude the regular season next Saturday (November 3), hosting Elizabeth City State University for Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day. Bowie State will recognize its seniors in a special pregame ceremony beginning at 12:30 p.m. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Shaw Bears Tops Winston-Salem State for Homecoming, 26-21

DURHAM, North Carolina – The Shaw University football team roared out to a 14-0 lead in the first half, and then used a strong passing game and opportunistic defense to top Winston-Salem State University on Homecoming and Senior Day at Durham County Memorial Saturday afternoon in nationally televised game.

The Bears recognized 14 senior student-athletes before kickoff that included Dorrel McClain (Raleigh, NC), Michael Sherman, Jr., Coleman Blackston (Baltimore, MD), Raymond Green, Jr. (Durham, NC), Keon Marsh (Queens, NY), Quron Hall (Jacksonville, FL), Joshua Edwards (McCleansville, NC), Alban Harp, Jr. (Winter Garden, FL), Zedrious Wright-Starks (Atlanta, GA), Keith Alston (Eggharbor City, NJ), Dante Lowe-Rogers (Concord, NC), Justus Sapp (Franklinton, NC), Dana Macklin (Ridgeway, SC) and Terrence Jones (Newport News, VA).

Offensively, Shaw (4-4, 3-2 CIAA) turned in 243 yards of total offense, including 203 through the air while the Bears defense held the Rams (4-4, 3-2 CIAA) scoreless in the first half and limiting its powerful run game to 192 yards on the ground while scoring seven points off of WSSU's turnovers. In the Southern Division standings, Shaw and Winston-Salem State are 3-1, tied for second place behind Fayetteville State.

Junior receiver Marquis Gorham (Greenville, NC) was a workhorse in the Bears option attack, gaining a career-high 129 yards on nine receptions and two touchdowns while Marsh registered 203 yards on 19-of-29 passes and three touchdowns.

Shaw struck first with 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Marsh connected with sophomore receiver Daniel Bender (Jacksonville, FL) for a six yard TD. Freshman Colton Koontz (Lexington, NC) extra point gave Shaw a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

Neither teams scored on the offensive side of the ball in the second stanza but on a third and six for the Rams, Dominique Graves pass was intercepted by sophomore defensive back Kevin Sherman (Powder Springs, GA) for an 82 yard pick six and a 14-0 lead for the Bears at intermission.

In the second half, the Rams managed to outscore the Bears 14-6 in the third quarter. WSSU's first score of the game came on a 12 play drive worth 73 yards capped off by a five yard rushing touchdown from Jahi Linebarger at the 10:16 mark. WSSU then scored again, this time on a one yard scamper from Antwoin Pittman that would knot the game at 14-even with 2:57 left to play in the quarter. However, Shaw put together a four-play 45 yard drive topped off by a Marsh and Gorham connection for a four yard reception TD that would give the Bears a 20-14 control going into the fourth quarter.

BOX SCORE

With 5:30 remaining in the contest, a relentless Rams squad stole the lead after an 18 yard TD reception from Darren Dowdell. On the ensuing possession, the Bears never panicked; in fact, Shaw showed poised and stuck to the game plan as Marsh and Gorham combined for 52 yards on four plays that led to a 25 yard reception touchdown for Gorham and a 26-21 scoring margin in favor of SU.

WSSU's next drive started at the 4:04 mark as the Rams tallied two first downs but the Bears defense came up big when freshman defensive lineman Corinthian Hudson, Jr. (Pompano, FL) sacked Emiere Scaife for a nine yard loss, giving Shaw the ball back and ultimately the victory which snapped a two-game losing skid for Shaw against the Rams.

In addition, the win also marked the first win on homecoming since 2014 and extends the Bears win-streak to three consecutive games for the first since 2013.

Junior linebacker Devon Hunt (Hamlet, NC) led the Bears defense with 15 tackles and two tackle for loss while Sherman made 10 stops.

Shaw returns to the field on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Saint Augustine's for the Raleigh Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the George Williams Athletic Complex.

For the most up-to-date information on Shaw football and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit www.shawbears.com.

SHAW UNIVERSITY BEARS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Witt Leads Chowan Past Virginia State Trojans On Road

PETERSBURG, Virginia – The Chowan Football team gutted out a 45-38 victory on the road to Virginia State to halt the Trojans' CIAA Northern Division title hopes on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 45, Virginia State 38

RECORDS | Chowan 4-4 (3-2, 3-1), Virginia State 4-4 (4-2, 2-2)

LOCATION | Petersburg, Va. (Rogers Stadium)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

For the first time in program history the Chowan Hawks nearly had two players rush for 100 yards in the same game. Bryce Witt posted a career-high 136 yards on the ground, while Tyrell Freeman came up just short with 99 yards rushing with a touchdown. Freeman needs 124 yards rushing to become the second Hawk to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.

Bryce Witt accounted for five touchdowns in the contest completing 19-25 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns to go with his 136 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Jackson Brooks sealed the victory with a 28-yd field goal in the fourth quarter.

Torry Baker led the receivers with five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Imeek Watkins caught four passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

Chowan's defense forced three interceptions and two sacks in the victory. Virginia State's offense came from their signal caller, who accounted for 380 of the 397 total yards.

Jacquae Peart led the defense with nine tackles. Treielle PearsoBn had four tackles for loss and a sack. George Parker, Connor O'Brien, and Bryan Bryant picked up the VSU quarterback.

Brian Hopper Jr. blocked a punt on special teams.

BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

On the opening drive of the game, Bryce Witt connected with Adrian McNeil for 24 yards and Torry Baker for 26 yards to put the Hawks in scoring range. Witt found Baker for a 12-yd gain before Tyrell Freeman punched it in from 1-yd out for the 7-0 lead.

The Chowan defense forced a punt but the Hawks gave the ball back to Virginia State the next play on a fumble.

With good field position, the Trojans would knot the game at 7-all just 2:06 later.

Chowan would be forced to punt on the next possession, but would get the ball back near midfield as George Parker picked off the pass for his fourth of the season.

Second Quarter:

Brian Hopper Jr. blocked the punt and gave the Hawks great field position at the VSU 19. Bryce Witt found Imeek Watkins two plays later to put the Hawks up 14-7 with 14:44 remaining in the half.

Chowan would go up 21-7 as Bryan Bryant picked off a pass on the next possession near midfield. Tyrell Freeman carried the load before Bryce Witt found Torry Baker on the 2-yd strike for the score.

Virginia State's next drive was aided on a penalty before finding the endzone to cut the deficit to 21-14.

Tyrell Freeman posted a 31 yard run on the next drive following an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Trojans. Bryce Witt connected with Paul Gooden to push the score to 28-14 with 3:09 remaining.

VSU tallied a 25-yd field goal to close out the scoring in the half, 28-17.

Third Quarter:

Virginia State marched down the field on nine plays for 76 yards as the Trojans found the endzone. The two-point conversion would fail to keep the score at 28-23.

The score would not hold long as Bryce Witt rushed for 45 yards to find the endzone, three minutes later to put the Hawks up 35-23.

The Trojans would not be turned away scoring quickly to pull the score to within five, 35-30, with 4:40 remaining in the quarter. VSU recovered the onside kick and struck quickly on two plays to take their first lead at 38-35.

The Chowan drive stalled on fourth down at the VSU 30 on the next drive. Connor O'Brien picked off the pass to give the Hawks the ball back at midfield.

Fourth Quarter:

On the next Hawk drive, Bryce Witt found Imeek Watkins in space and raced past the defense for a 31-yd touchdown to regain the lead at 42-38 with 13:40 remaining.

VSU's drive would stall on fourth down as Rafiq Abdul-Wahid registered a sack to hand the ball back to the Hawks at the CU 41.

The Hawks would produce a 12 play 54-yard drive that took 7:20 off the clock and resulted in points. The Trojans thought they would get the ball back with 7:20 left but a 13-yd scamper by Bryce Witt on fourth down allowed the drive to continue. The Hawks would drive the ball into the redzone before Jackson Brooks converted from 28-yards out to put the Hawks up 45-38.

Virginia State looked to mount a comeback drive, but the Hawks defense would pick up a big sack by Treielle Pearson on fourth-and-one from the CU 7 to allow Chowan the victory formation.

UP NEXT

Chowan returns home for their final home game of the season as the Hawks host Lincoln (Pa.) on Saturday, November 3. The game is Hall of Fame and Senior Day for the Hawks. Kick-off is slated for 1pm.

CHOWAN UNIVERSITY HAWKS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

S.C.State Bulldogs Win On The Road 27-21 Over Howard

WASHINGTON, D. C.—The South Carolina State Bulldogs used a balance attack to pull off an, 27-21, win over a feisty Howard Bison team Saturday (Oct.27th) at Greene Stadium.

"A very huge and much needed win for our team on the road against a very good Bison football team," said head coach Buddy Pough. "We made some big plays early on but they(Howard) kept coming down the stretch to keep the game close."

The Bulldog defense came up big forcing sophomore quarterback Caylin Newton to give up two interceptions on the day. Newton finished 11-of-19 for 118-yards and a touchdown.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyrece Nick led the charge on offense for the Bulldogs throwing 10-of-18 for 154-yards. Freshman running back Omar Cummings finished with 11 carries for 90-yards and a touchdown.


BOX SCORE

Senior DAMU Ford had a solid performance on defense with 5 tackles and two (2) tackles for loss, while sophomore linebacker Chad Glichrist added 4.5 tackles along with 2.0 tackles for loss.

South Carolina State jumped out quickly controlling the tempo with a 17-0 lead off a 14-yard score by Nick at the 9:13 mark in the first quarter. Cummings put the Bulldogs ahead 14-0 on a 40-yard scamper early in the second quarter.

Freshman kicker Dillon Bredesen kicked a season best 46-yard field goal with 6:27 remaining during halftime to give SC State a 17-0 lead. Howard responded on a 62-yard dash to the end zone to put the Bison on the board 17-7.

Bredesen closed out the first-half connecting on his second field goal of the day on a 20-yarder as time expired to give South Carolina State a 20-7 lead during intermission.

The second-half started out slow with neither time scoring in the third quarter. Nick's 1-yard punch at the 9:25 mark pushed the Bulldogs lead 27-7. The Bison offense came to life off a 65-yard toss from Newton to Faraji Joseph to close the gap 27-14 with 9:16 remaining.

HU defense came up big down the stretch as the Bison offense capitalized on a 2-yard run by running back Dedrick Parson with 1:53 remaining in regulation. Several onside kicks fell short by Howard as the Bulldogs held on to a 27-21 victory over host Howard on Homecoming.

"We will enjoy this win for a minute and get back to work and correct some mistakes we made so they won't happen again moving forward," said Pough.

South Carolina State will have a bye week on Nov.3 before returning to action on Saturday Nov.10th on the road against Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla. Kickoff is 4 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN3.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Huskers Roll to 45-9 Win Over Bethune-Cookman

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Quarterback Adrian Martinez completed 15-of-22 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, JD Spielman returned a punt for 77 yards and a touchdown, and Nebraska built an early lead en route to a 45-9 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.

A Memorial Stadium crowd of 88,735 saw Nebraska (2-6, 1-4 Big Ten) improve to 12-0 all-time against FCS foes in a make-up game for the season opener against Akron that was cancelled because of severe weather.

Martinez, a true freshman from Fresno, California, increased his season total to 1,656 passing yards, setting a Nebraska freshman record. The previous record was 1,632 yards by Taylor Martinez in 2010.

Nebraska built a 28-3 lead after one quarter and led 38-3 at halftime, its biggest halftime lead since 2012.

“We needed that to happen,” Nebraska coach Scott Frost said of the fast start. “We needed to go out and get the game secured early. I’ve said it a bunch, 12 weeks in a row is a long time, 13 weeks of practice in a row of practice is a long time without any break. It isn’t just the physical, it’s the grind of it. It takes a toll on you emotionally, especially with what these guys have been through this season.”

With Nebraska already ahead 7-0, Spielman returned his punt for a touchdown, the longest punt return by a Husker since De’Mornay Pierson-El returned one 80 yards against Iowa in 2014.

POST GAME QUOTES: COACH TERRY SIMS, B-CU
FINAL STATS
PHOTO GALLERY

“We blocked everybody on that play,” Frost said. “Our special teams did get better; I think they have been improving. Confused special teams plays probably cost us a couple games this year, and it was good to see us finally get one on special teams. You score on defense or special teams, you’re going to win most games. We haven’t had one yet, so it was good to see us break the ice.”

Senior receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. then caught first-quarter touchdowns of 3 and 27 yards to give Nebraska a comfortable lead. He caught seven passes for 82 yards, all in the first half. It marked the second straight game Morgan has had two touchdown catches, and gives him 20 career touchdown receptions.

Transfer quarterback Noah Vedral, a native of Wahoo, saw his first action of the season beginning in the second half. He had a 20-yard rush for a touchdown and completed two passes for 29 yards.

“It was good seeing him get in the end zone,” Frost said. “I know growing up here, when I was little, that was all I could think about was scoring as a Husker, and it's been kind of a weird path for him to get there, but it was great to see him dive into the end zone at Memorial Stadium.”

Senior running back Devine Ozigbo rushed 11 times for 110 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown to begin the game. Ozigbo did not play in the second half. It marked the fourth time in the past five games Ozigbo has topped 100 yards, and his seventh career 100-yard rushing game.

Punter Isaac Armstrong had a 73-yard punt in the third quarter, tying for the seventh-longest punt in school history. It is the longest punt by a Husker since Alex Henery had a 76-yard punt at Virginia Tech in 2009.

Safety Deontai Williams had two takeaways, recovering a fumble in the second quarter and picking off a BCU pass in the third quarter. Nebraska forced three turnovers, a season high. Senior linebacker Luke Gifford had a sack to increase his season total to 5.5, a team high.

Defensive lineman Peyton Newell had an interception in the second quarter, the first of his career. It was the first interception by a Nebraska defensive lineman since defensive end Randy Gregory, Jason Ankrah and Avery Moss each had an interception in 2013.

Since beginning the season 0-6, the Huskers have won two straight games as they prepare for a Big Ten Conference road game at Ohio State on Saturday.

“Hopefully the last two (wins) means we're going to be more of a confident team,” Frost said. “We've got to go on the road to a tough place to play a very good team. We know what we're in for, we're going to get their best shot.”

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West Virginia State Jackets Fall to Fairmont State

INSTITUTE, West Virginia -- The Yellow Jackets came into Saturday's game one of the most banged up teams in the Mountain East Conference.

Meanwhile Fairmont State was possibly the hottest team in the MEC after big wins against Shepherd and Glenville State.

That combination along with gray skies, cool temperatures, and a nearly constant light rain made for a long afternoon at Dickerson Stadium as WVSU lost 41-12 to the visiting Falcons.

"They were the best team we've played," WVSU Head Coach John Pennington said."They were good in every part of the game."

Neither squad could produce much offense in the opening half which ended 13-6 in favor of Fairmont State as WVSU could only manage a pair of field goals by senior Aaron Ball.

"The defense did a great job in the first half," Pennington said. "Their line was huge and I think they wore us down some."

The Yellow Jackets have lost a total of eight starters to injury since the season began. Saturday the Falcon used their size and depth advantage up front to rush for 333 yards, the most allowed by the Jackets this season. That allowed Fairmont State to maintain possession of the ball almost nine minutes longer than the Jackets which only compounded the problem.

The Falcon offense found its footing in the third period. After missing a field goal on its first possession Fairmont State proceeded to score on its next three possessions including a blocked punt in the WVSU endzone.

The Yellow Jackets hit paydirt in the fourth quarter when Kyle Alexander intercepted a pass at the WVSU two yard line and returned it to the 30. WVSU put together its best drive of the day going the rest of the way in nine plays with Faustino Saucedo hitting A.J. Barrette from four yards out for the touchdown.

BOX SCORE

Fairmont added one more touchdown in the fourth period on a seven play, 65-yard drive, that finished with a 24-yard touchdown run.

Saucedo finished 21-of-37 passing for 191 yards while Carl Garmon led the ground game with 75 yards on 12 carries. Zach Pate caught eight passes for 68 yards and returned two punts for 48.

Joe Stoneman and Robert Branch each had 11 tackles to lead the defensive effort.

The Yellow Jackets (4-5) travel to Urbana (4-5) next week for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Blue Knights have lost four in a row after a strong start including a 28-21 decision at Glenville State Saturday.

WVSU then wraps up the season at home against West Virginia Wesleyan (1-7) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 10. 

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FAMU Lady Rattlers Claim Seventh Straight Cross Country Crown

Results

SMYRNA, Delaware—Florida A&M won its unprecedented seventh straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Cross Country title on Saturday at the Delaware State Outreach & Research Center.
 
The Lady Rattlers edged Norfolk State in the team standings, 43 points to 44.
 
Head coach Dr. Darlene Moore was again named Outstanding Coach.
 
Martha Bissah of Norfolk State was named Outstanding Performer after defending her individual crown, turning in an 18:02.31 on the soggy, chilly course. Emmax Kiplagat paced FAMU with a second-place effort, completing the 5K course in 18:42.68. Shalet MKitei was third with an 18:49.97.
 
FAMU placed four runners in the top 15.
 
North Carolina A&T State, Maryland Eastern Shore and Howard rounded out the top five of the team standings, followed by Bethune-Cookman, Morgan State, Delaware State, Coppin State, North Carolina Central and Savannah State. 
 
Outstanding Performer: Martha Bissah, Norfolk State
Outstanding Coach: Dr. Darlene Moore, Florida A&M
 
All-MEAC Team
Martha Bissah, Norfolk State
Emmax Kiplagat, Florida A&M
Shalet Mitei, Florida A&M
Fridah Koech, Norfolk State
Mercy Chemutai, Maryland Eastern Shore
Sharon Kibiwott, Florida A&M
Deja Davis, Bethune-Cookman
Destiny Stanford, Howard
Candice Higgins, Norfolk State
Infinnatie Rowe, Morgan State
Katarzyna Rosikon, Delaware State
Neus Quinonero, Maryland Eastern Shore
G’Jasmyne Butler, North Carolina A&T State
Ashah Koech, Norfolk State
Mercy Rotich, Florida A&M

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N.C.A&T Aggies Win First MEAC Cross Country Title Since 1983

Results

SMYRNA, Del., Oct. 27, 2018—North Carolina A&T State won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Cross Country championship in more than three decades on Saturday at the Delaware State Outreach & Research Center.

The Aggies recorded 51 points.

Duane Ross was named the meet’s Outstanding Coach.

Carlin Berryhill of Bethune-Cookman won individual gold and was named Outstanding Performer after completing the soggy 8K course in 26:39.90. NCAT’s Regan Kimtai was second with a 26:50.80, and B-CU’s Daniel Kiptoo ran a 27:18.40 to come in third.

The Aggies, in claiming their first men’s cross country title since 1983, placed five runners in the top 20.

Savannah State was second with 86 points, with Bethune-Cookman, Maryland Eastern Shore and Norfolk State rounding out the top five. Howard, North Carolina Central, Delaware State, South Carolina State and Coppin State closed out the field.

Outstanding Performer: Carlin Berryhill, Bethune-Cookman
Outstanding Coach: Duane Ross, North Carolina A&T State

All-MEAC Team
Carlin Berryhill, Bethune-Cookman
Regan Kimtai, North Carolina A&T State
Daniel Kiptoo, Bethune-Cookman
Oussama Chouati, Maryland Eastern Shore
John Akakeya, Maryland Eastern Shore
Morris Kimble, North Carolina A&T State
Mar’Quise McGee, North Carolina A&T State
Xavier Walton, Bethune-Cookman
Abbas Abbkar, Savannah State
Festus Bett, Norfolk State
Kamil Jihad, Norfolk State
Suhieb Muhamed, Savannah State
Trenton Montgomery, South Carolina State
Hasan Gill, Delaware State
Hector Cime, Maryland Eastern Shore

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Hampton Lady Pirates 9th at Big South Cross Country

KERNERSVILLE, North Carolina – Hampton University ended its 2018 women's cross country season on Friday with a ninth place finish at the 2018 Big South Conference Championships.

High Point won the meet with 23 points, followed by Campbell (55), Charleston Southern (91), UNC Asheville (106) and USC Upstate (160) to round out the top five. Hampton had 245 points to finish ahead of Longwood (246) and Gardner-Webb (293).

Asia Johnson topped Hampton with a 34th place finish covering the 5k course in 20:28.9, while freshman Zuri Rashad was 39th in 20:38.1. Sophomore DeVonya Brown was next in 65th for Hampton in 21:35.7, while freshmen Shakeria Johnson (70th/22:07.9) and Tea Foster (71st/22:09.9) rounded out the Lady Pirates.

For more information on Hampton University cross country, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

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Aggies Are Unlucky In Loss to FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – North Carolina A&T played for sole possession of first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division Friday night at the Al Lawson Center against Florida A&M.

Even though the score does not indicate it, the Aggies truly did come up just short, 3-0 (26-24, 25-10, 28-26). N.C. A&T had several opportunities to extend the match but could not get the key points when needed. N.C. A&T goes to 9-10 on the season and 4-2 in the MEAC, while FAMU (6-14, 5-1 MEAC) ascends into sole possession of first with a season sweep of the Aggies.

Sophomore Courtney Pitt led the Aggies with 14 kills. Freshman Andrea Laboy-Rivera contributed with 15 digs. The Aggies only hit .087 for the match with a tough second set accounting for the low percentage. FAMU surprisingly hit .276 against an Aggies defense that has been tough to be successful against all season.

“We are so close to being the team we want to be but the bottom line is we have to make the play when the play needs to be made,” said N.C. A&T coach Hal Clifton. “I know they have it and it’s coming. The hard work they are putting in is going to pay off.”

Clifton watched his team take set point at 24-22 in the first set thanks to a Pitt kill. He then painstakingly watched as the Rattlers scored the next four points to win the set. Two straight kills from Yvett Maria Garcia and another from Nair Canessa gave the Rattlers a 25-24 advantage.

After a N.C. A&T timeout, the Aggies committed an attack error to give the Rattlers a one-set lead. Clifton said the first-set disappointment led to a less than stellar showing in the second set where the Aggies hit a mere -.038.

It took the Aggies midway through the third set before it appeared they were finally over the first-set blues. N.C. A&T trailed by as many as five in the third set, 17-12 before they started to mount a rally. An attack error got the Aggies to within two at 19-17 before the Rattlers posted two straight points to extend their lead to four.

The Aggies then got tough at the net. They took over the serve with a service error by FAMU’s Jessa Long. Block assists from juniors Leila Haynesworth and Makaylah Elliot got the Aggies to within two at 21-19. Block assists from redshirt freshman Fatimah Shabazz and Elliot cut the lead to one and forced a FAMU timeout.

BOX SCORE

N.C. A&T took their first lead of the set on an attack error by Aybuke Kocabiyik leading to another FAMU timeout. Like the first set, the Aggies once again reached set point, this time on a Haynesworth kill that gave the Aggies a 24-23 lead. But the Rattlers reversed fortunes with an Ilayda Nurkan kill and a service ace from Nurkan to earn set point of their own at 25-24.

A ball handling error by Nurkan kept the Aggies alive before block assists from Aggie freshman Lily Walton and Pitt put the Aggies on the verge of going to a fourth set. But FAMU closed out the set and match with three straight points.

The Aggies are in a second-place tie in the South with the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. They play the Wildcats Sunday afternoon at 1 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Aggies won the first matchup in three sets at home.

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Grambling State Claims SWAC Regular Season Soccer Crown

Congrats to the Lady Tiger soccer team for winning their first-ever @theswac regular season championship ... final: GSU 3, @uapblionsroar 0 #RespectTheG #grambling #gramblingstate #gramblingstateuniversity #WhyNotGrambling pic.twitter.com/kfcBO4Js2O

— GSU Athletics (@GSU_TIGERS) October 26, 2018

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas | Kaylee Holt scored for the seventh straight game and the Grambling State University women's soccer team ran its scoreless streak to 660 minutes on Friday afternoon as the Lady Tigers captured their first-ever Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season championship with a 3-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Grambling State (12-7 overall, 9-1 SWAC), which now ran its streak to seven shutout victories, have never won the outright regular season SWAC championship. When the conference was in divisional play, Grambling State had won the west division from 2003-2010, including capturing the tournament crowns in 2004 and 2006.

The Lady Tigers will meet Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1 in the opening round of the 2018 SWAC Women's Soccer Tournament in Prairie View, Texas.

Grambling State, which yielded just one goal in 10 conference matches, broke open the scoring in the 17th minute. Kailey Pena dished off the ball to a streaking Kaylee Holt down the left side and the sophomore forward from South Jordan, Utah fired the ball in the upper left corner, giving the Lady Tigers a 1-0 advantage.
 
GSU doubled the scoreline in the 41st minute as Jasmine Smith beat the defender to the end line and her cross found Clarissa Rivas in the penalty area. Rivas shot beat a diving Sariah Orocu to extend the margin to 2-0.
 
The Lady Tigers put the game away in the 81st minute as Brittany Terry's assisted on Kristy Melendez diving header to give Grambling State a comfortable 3-0 lead.
 
Defensively, Rita Siaha played the first 45 minutes and registered three saves. She has not conceded a goal in 405 minutes. Hanna Johnson played in the final 45 minutes in goal.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Rita Siaha recorded three saves in 45 minutes
> Hanna Johnson played in the final 45 minutes in goal and did not record a save
> Sariah Orocu tallied five saves for Arkansas-Pine Bluff
> Grambling State finished with 17 shots, including 12 in the first half
> Arkansas-Pine Bluff registered eight shots, including three in the second half
> The Lady Tigers held an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks
> There was a combined 19 fouls and three yellow cards
 
News and Notes
> Grambling State recorded its seventh straight shutout
> The Lady Tigers have not conceded a goal in 660 minutes
> Grambling State finished the regular season with 27 points, while Howard had 25 points
> GSU earned the No. 1 seed for next week's SWAC Women's Soccer Tournament
> The Lady Tigers surpassed their win total from a year ago (2017 record: 11-7-2)
 
Up Next
Grambling State has concluded the regular season and clinched the No. 1 seed at next week's SWAC Women's Soccer Tournament in Prairie View, Texas. The Lady Tigers will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the opening round of the tournament at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1.
 
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.

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Stellar defense helps Gold Rush win opener vs. Keiser

SAINT THOMAS, Virgin Islands — Xavier University of Louisiana allowed its fewest points in a half in 73 years and held on for a 44-41 men's basketball victory Friday against Keiser.
     
It was the season opener for both teams.
     
The Gold Rush, ranked 23rd in the NAIA, led 22-10 at halftime. It was the best scoring defense in a half by the XULA men since allowing six points in the first half at home against Alabama State on Feb. 9, 1945.
     
XULA won its opener for the 23rd consecutive season. Alfred Williams is 12-0 in XULA openers — 3-0 as a player, 6-0 as assistant coach and 3-0 as head coach.
     
The Gold Rush led 35-24 with 5:48 remaining, then the Seahawks scored 17 of the next 24 points to close the gap to 42-41 in the final minute. XULA sealed the victory when newcomer Johnell Lane made 2-of-2 free throws with 2.8 seconds remaining, then the Rush produced a turnover on Keiser's final possession.
     
XULA allowed its fewest points in an opener since a 97-41 home victory vs. Schreiner on Nov. 11, 1995, and its fewest points in any game since a 42-39 victory at Edward Waters on Feb. 20, 2016.
     
XULA will play the University of the Virgin Islands at 2 p.m. AST (1 p.m. CDT) Sunday, then play its home opener at 7 p.m. Thursday against Carver in the Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
XULAgold.com
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Sophomores Shine in TSU Blue and White Scrimmage

PHOTOS

Final Score: White 61 – Blue 57
Venue: Gentry Center 
Location: Nashville, Tenn.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team hosted a Blue and White Scrimmage Thursday night in the Gentry Center.

The White Team came out on top, 61-57, after a highly competitive four quarters of action. The sophomores led the way for the Lady Tigers who had four players score in double-figures.

Sophomore Andreana Wrister led all scorers with 22 points while knocking down 6-of-12 from three-point range for the Blue Team. Taylor Roberts reached double-digits with 18 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double.

Jaden Wrightsell posted a double-double to lead the White Team with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman Annaliese Burnett came off the bench to score 12 points while senior Asia Sims grabbed 10 rebounds.

QUOTES

Head Coach Jessica Kern

“I am, first of all, glad the season is here. When you practice so much, you’re ready to just play somebody else. A lot of offensive production tonight.” 

“It’s nice to see we’re putting the pieces together. I’m happy that we are from an energy standpoint all on the same page and from a positivity standpoint, we’re all on the same page.”

“They’ve worked really hard this season. Overall we’ve got people to score the ball at every position and that’s what makes me really excited.”

SEASON OPENER

TSU will get its final tune up of the season with an exhibition contest against Cincinnati Christian on Nov. 5 in the Gentry Center before officially kicking off the 2018-19 campaign at Lipscomb on Nov. 9.

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SWAC Football Notebook: Week 9

Week 9 schedule (All games are conference games)

Mississippi Valley State at Texas Southern; 2 p.m. Stats  Video
Alcorn State at Prairie View A&M; 2 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Grambling State; 2 p.m. Stats  Radio: KPCH - 99.3 FM | KJMG - 97.3 FM
Magic City Classic: Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M in Birmingham, Ala.; 2:30 p.m.   ESPN3
Jackson State at Southern; 6 p.m. Stats  Audio

Week 9 Notes:

• Tiger Strong: Texas Southern has defeated Mississippi Valley State in four straight meetings including a 38-21 victory in last season’s match up. 
• 1-2 punch: Texas Southern wide receivers Bobby Hartzog (30 receptions, 574 yards, five touchdowns) and Tren’Davian Dickson (31 receptions, 511 yards, four touchdowns) are currently the top two receiving leaders in the SWAC. 
• Decade high: With Mississippi Valley State’s 48-47 double overtime victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff last week, it was the most points the Delta Devils scored against a conference opponent since November 8, 2008 when it defeated Texas Southern 58-44.   
• You like points?: The Alcorn State-Prairie View A&M series have recently staged some of the highest scoring affairs in the conference.  The Braves and Panthers have totaled at least 54 points in eight consecutive match ups dating back to the 2010 season including three games in which they combined to score at least 85 points from 2012-2014.  The highest scoring match up featured a 77-48 win by Alcorn State in 2014. 
• Rushing title tightens up: Prairie View A&M running back Dawonya Tucker leads Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Taeyler Porter by just single yard heading into week nine.  Tucker has 812 yards with four touchdowns while Porter has rushed for 811 yards and six touchdowns. 
• Tops in the conference: Alcorn State continues to lead the SWAC in both points per game (34.0), yards per game (451.9 per game), defensive points allowed per game (19.9) and defensive yards allowed per game (266.6).   
• Four in a row: Grambling State has defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff in four consecutive seasons dating back to the 2013 season when the Golden Lions came away with a 45-42 victory.  The game was close last year as well with the Tigers holding off UAPB 31-26 last November 4. 
• Solo stopper: Arkansas-Pine Bluff sophomore defensive back Shawn Steele leads the conference in solo tackles with 33.
• Rushing the quarterback: Grambling State ranks second in the SWAC in sacks with 24, but the Arkansas-Pine Bluff offensive line has held opponents to just five sacks all season, the lowest mark in the conference.  The Tigers also rank second in sacks against conference teams with 17 while the Golden Lions have not allowed a sack in three conference games to rank first in the category. 
• Magic City Showdown:  The Magic City Classic’s first game between Alabama State and Alabama A&M was played in 1924. It has been an uninterrupted, annual tradition since 1945 and has been played at Legion Field since 1946. The classic is the largest HBCU event in the nation attracting nearly 200,000 participants. The Bulldogs lead the series with a record of 40-38-3 all-time, but the Hornets came away victorious in last year’s edition by the count of 21-16. 
• Boombox Classic: Jackson State travels down to Baton Rouge, La. to take on Southern in another see-saw rivalry.  The Jaguars leads the all-time series 32–29 after winning the last five in the series including last year’s 35-17 victory. 
• Stiffen up that defense: Both Southern and Jackson State have stiffened up their defense when it comes to conference play.  The Jaguars rank first in points allowed per game (13.5) while the Tigers are ranked second by allowing 18.3 points per contest.  

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