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DURHAM, North Carolina -- The North Carolina Central University football team suffered three losses on Saturday at Florida International University in Miami.
The visiting Eagles lost the game to FIU by a score of 39-14, but also lost two starters for the rest of the season due to injuries.
NCCU junior FCS All-American cornerback and return specialist Mike Jones suffered a fractured ankle in the first quarter, while junior transfer receiver Khalil Stinson fractured his hip on a second-quarter punt return.
NCCU head coach Jerry Mack says the loss of Jones and Stinson has a “huge impact” on the team.
“This is very unfortunate for these two young men and their families,” said Mack. “Mike is obviously a key player for us and I was looking forward to watching Khalil continue to grow as we enter conference play. We’re sure they will be back in 2016 ready to go.”
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- L.J. Pipkin, a key member of three North Carolina A&T MEAC men’s basketball championships, passed away Saturday as confirmed by his daughter Latasha McDougal, Monday night. Pipkin was 58.
“When I think about him and the crew who came in with me I think about the fact that these are the best guys a teammate could ever had,” said former teammate and Aggie legend James Sparrow who holds the school’s single-season scoring record with 647 points. “L.J. and I started out as teammates. We turned into friends and from there we turned into brothers. We were family. We went everywhere together – the basketball courts, we ate together along with doing a few other things. He was one of the best teammates and friends you could ever have in your life. It was an eternal bond.”
Born L.J. Sander Pipkin on Oct. 5, 1956 in Laurinburg, N.C., Pipkin was a high school standout at Scotland County High School where he was known as a scorer and a shot blocker. He came to N.C. A&T in 1975 under head coach Warren Reynolds. Along with teammates like Sparrow and Joe Brawner, Pipkin helped to usher in the Aggies dominance of the MEAC in the 80’s by dominating the late 70’s.
A&T won three consecutive MEAC titles from 1977-79, the last two under head coach Gene Littles. Pipkin, who stood 6-foot-9, was an intimidating force on defense for the Aggies according to teammates. In 103 games played, he averaged 11.1 points and 7.0 rebounds. His 1,143 points and 723 rebounds ranks him 20th and 10th on the Aggies all-time list.
Pipkin was a two-time second-team All-MEAC performer (1976-77, 77-78). He went on to have a successful basketball career in Amsterdam where he set several scoring records. Funeral arrangements have not been made. Mr. Pipkin was living in Amsterdam, Netherlands at the time of his death. He is survived by two sons and a daughter, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren and two brothers and two sisters.
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The first season of Harold Jackson’s tenure as Jackson State coach was so tumultuous there was a change.org petition, which called for the firing of Jackson and then-athletic director Vivian Fuller.
The petition had 831 supporters.
Another petition, which had 424 supporters as of 3 p.m. on Monday, calling for Jackson’s job popped up following the Tigers’ 50-31 loss to Southern in their SWAC opener this past weekend.
“Harold Jackson Has (sic) turned Jackson State Universities (sic) football team into a laughingstock,” wrote Tim Jones, who created both petitions.
That’s some of the outside noise Jackson is trying to drown out after JSU, which hosts Texas Southern this weekend, fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2009 this past weekend.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern is off to a fast start in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, having won its first two league games and scoring 50 points in each.
Now the Jaguars get a taste of Southeastern Conference play when they visit seventh-ranked Georgia on Saturday.
“Hopefully,” coach Dawson Odums quipped Monday during the weekly SWAC coaches teleconference, “we’ll come back with the same number of guys that we take up there.”
Certainly the Bulldogs present the most physical challenge the Jaguars will face this season, if not ever. But, Odums added, Southern can’t allow that to affect its preparations.
“You’ve got to line up and play,” Odums said. “They’re no different than you, they just play for a bigger school with more resources, but they can’t play more than 11 players at a time. You’ve got to go in there with the right mindset to play your very best just to give yourself a chance.”
HARTLEY, Delaware – Alcorn State University and Tuskegee University held on to the top spots following the third full week of HBCU football action. The Braves of ASU remained in the top FCS position while TU’s Golden Tigers were unanimously picked #1 in DivisionII/NAIA HSRN Football Polls.
In the Division I FCS poll, Alcorn State celebrated “Family and Friends Day” by demolishing Mississippi Valley State, 55-14, in their home opener at Spinks-Casem Stadium.
North Carolina A&T moved up to second place followed by South Carolina State, Southern and Bethune-Cookman.
In Division II, Tuskegee’s 28-13 win over Winston-Salem State left no doubt about their strength in the division. The Golden Tigers are undefeated and captured all the first place votes of the HSRN pollsters.
Virginia Union and Virginia State tied for second place leading a strong representation for the CIAA. Elizabeth City has moved into third place followed by Bowie State and Livingstone. Chowan enters the poll at #7 following their stunning defeat of Delaware State, 31-30, in Dover.
Grambling St., Alabama St., Morgan St., Jackson St..
Alabama A&M, Ark-Pine Bluff, Norfolk St.
Division II/NAIA
School (First Place Votes)
Record
Pts
Last Week
1
Tuskegee (12)
3-0
120
1
2T
Virginia Union
2-1
78
2
2T
Virginia State
2-1
78
3
4
Elizabeth City State
2-0
66
5
5
Bowie State
2-1
50
4
6
Livingstone
1-0
44
6
7
Chowan
2-1
37
NR
8
Morehouse
2-1
36
8
9
Albany State
1-2
32
NR
10
Winston-Salem State
0-3
28
7
Others receiving votes
Fort Valley St., Central St., Lane, Fayetteville St. Lincoln (Pa)
Johnson C. Smith, Kentucky St. Miles, Benedict, Cheyney
West Virginia St.
About HSRN:
HSRN (Heritage Sports Radio Network) is the national leader in live radio broadcasts of mid-major athletics. HSRN combines innovative programming and production with a vast broadcast network. The SiriusXM platform avails partners of HSRN exposure on the world's largest radio broadcaster as measured by revenue and exposure to 28.3 million subscribers. In addition to SiriusXM, HSRN is available on terrestrial radio affiliates, smartphones and other connected devices as well as online at HSRN.com.
NEW ORLEANS -- The NAIA confirmed it Monday: Xavier University of Louisiana has the association's longest active conference win streak in women's volleyball.
The Gold Nuggets will put that 51-match win streak -- ninth longest in NAIA history -- on the line Tuesday when longtime city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard visits. Starting time will be 7 p.m. at XU's Convocation Center, and admission is free.
Columbia (Mo.) holds the NAIA record of 159 consecutive regular-season conference victories and also shares ninth place with Xavier. Next on the list for Xavier to catch are Taylor (Ind.), which won 53 in a row, and Northwestern (Iowa) at 58.
The NAIA's win-streak list does not include conference tournaments. Xavier has won 62 straight against GCAC opponents, regular season and tournament, since a five-set loss to SUNO in the semifinals of the GCAC Tournament on Nov. 13, 2010.
Xavier, 7-4 this season and 3-0 in the GCAC, has won five straight overall. Third-year coach Hannah Lawing said focus and unity have been the keys to success.
"We are making a lot of progress," said Lawing, who is 34-0 against GCAC opponents, 29-0 in the regular season. "We have a lot of depth, and our practices have gotten more intense. We have people competing at each position for starting spots, and it's fun to watch.
"This group has figured out the balance between being all-business on the court while playing loose and not getting uptight. That was something our team last year struggled with."
Xavier is the only GCAC team with five players with 70 or more kills. CeCe Williams has 87, Taylor Reuther 81, Claudia Haywood 75, Ruby Hunt-Thompson 71 and Jodi Hill 70. Hunt-Thompson is a freshman, and the other four are seniors.
Chelsea Wilkinson has 65 kills and Ty Howard 53 for Dillard (2-9, 1-0), and Demetria Horton has 154 digs. The Lady Bleu Devils won 2-of-3 matches after losing their first eight and won 25-12, 25-16, 25-11 at home against Tougaloo in their GCAC opener Friday. Xavier beat Tougaloo 25-7, 25-9, 25-16 at home Saturday.
The Gold Nuggets were 2-0 a year ago against Dillard, winning 25-18, 25-16, 25-10 at home and 25-23, 25-21, 25-17 at DU.
Xavier will visit its other GCAC city rival, SUNO, at 6 p.m. Friday.
University of West Florida boasts stringent hazing policies, plans activities for Hazing Prevention Week
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Before Dante Martin, Caleb Jackson and Robert Champion became household names, there was Michael Morton.
In the spring of 2006, Morton had it all.
Weeks from graduating from Florida A&M University with a degree in engineering on a full-ride scholarship. Job offer at Pepsi's Dallas plant in hand. A child on the way.
That all changed in 2007, when Morton, then 23, and his fellow Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother, Jason Harris, were the first two people sentenced under Florida's tougher 2005 hazing law after an initiation beating that landed a pledge on a surgical table with a broken eardrum.
The stricter law made hazing that leads to serious bodily injury a felony, regardless of a victim's consent. The two men, who had been viewed by many as models of FAMU's student success, spent two years in prison before an appeals court overturned their convictions and freed them in 2009. They pleaded no contest to felony hazing and were sentenced to time served.
ORLANDO, Florida -- The family of Robert Champion — the Florida A&M University drum major killed in a hazing ritual in Orlando — settled a lawsuit against the university, accepting $1.1 million and an apology, according to documents obtained Friday by the Orlando Sentinel.
The university will pay $300,000 through the Florida Department of Financial Services, the maximum allowed without a claims bill that would have required the Florida Legislature's approval.
An insurance company for the Rosen Plaza hotel will pay $800,000 to the drum major's estate. The hazing occurred on a bus parked at the hotel where the marching band was staying.
FAMU also will honor Champion by renaming the marching band's anti-hazing program for the drum major and dedicating a commemorative plaque in his memory in the band room on FAMU's campus, the student union, or "The Patch," as the band's practice field is known.
The Champions can choose the plaque's location, according to the agreement.
Champion, 26, died Nov. 19, 2011, after the hazing that followed a performance at the Citrus Bowl that was part of the Florida Classic weekend, an annual football game and band competition with its in-state rival, Bethune-Cookman University.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- If someone is going to deny Southern a third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title, that team is probably going to have to score an awful lot of points when it faces the Jaguars.
Southern has scored 100 points in its first two SWAC games, splitting the total evenly between its 19-point win at home against Jackson State on Saturday and its 37-point win nine days earlier at Mississippi Valley State.
That certainly doesn’t mean 50 points is going to be the norm. Valley is one of the least talented teams in the SWAC, and Jackson State, though more talented than its fellow Magnolia State team, has looked like a lost group since Harold Jackson replaced Rick Comegy as head coach before last season.
Nonetheless, it’s obvious the Jaguars are going to be extremely difficult to defend. It’s not just the point totals or the 675 yards they accumulated against JSU; it’s also the comfort with which they have moved the ball through the air and on the ground.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M finally plays its first home game Saturday against Tennessee State after a rough three-game road trip to start the season. That excitement aside, the Rattlers have a host of problems to fix before debuting at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
The Rattlers were blown out in all three games to start the season, including a 36-0 shutout loss in at South Carolina State on ESPNU Thursday. It was the first time FAMU failed to score since losing 76-0 to Ohio State in 2013.
FAMU coach Alex Wood said the coaching staff is looking for solutions on offense. Through three games, the Rattlers have scored 24 points and haven’t thrown a touchdown pass.
FAMU is one of eight teams in all of FCS football without a touchdown pass this season.
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- It's that time of year again — the leaves are turning, the breeze is blowing, and the Circle City Classic is bringing marching bands, football fans and supporters of the Black community and Indiana's youth to Indianapolis for the 32nd consecutive year.
The annual "Classic" — put on by Indiana Black Expo and Indiana Sports Corp. — raises funds for college scholarships for deserving Hoosier students. According to the Classic's website, proceeds from the event have funded more than $3 million in scholarships.
There are several events planned for the Classic, including the Miss Circle City Classic Coronation, a prayer service and a pep rally, all culminating with the main events on Sept. 26 — a parade, tailgating, football game and marching band competition.
Here's what you need to know for the big day, Sept. 26:
Tickets are available at the Indiana Black Expo Box Office, the Lucas Oil Stadium Box Office, through Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
LORMAN, Mississippi -- Valley State why it’s the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Saturday in its 55-14 win.
The Braves (2-1, 2-0 SWAC) ran an efficient offense and defense and more than doubled the total yards gained — 494 to 191 — while having the ball 10 minutes less than the Delta Devils.
The defense held Valley to 2-of-15 on third down conversions.
“I really thought we played well on both sides of the ball,” said Alcorn coach Jay Hopson.
“Offensively we had some good early drives. We have a few things we have to correct like every game but as a whole, a pretty good day.” Alcorn came out early on offense and blew the crowd away. At the end of the first quarter, the Braves already had 173 total yards on 15 plays.
AKRON, Ohio– Senior nose tackle Cody Grice (Akron, Ohio) scored three of the Zips' seven touchdowns in Akron's first win of the season, defeating Savannah State, 52-9, Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
The Zips improved to 1-2 overall, while Savannah State dropped to 0-2.
Akron's run game led the charge for the Zips' offense, scoring five times and collecting 291 total yards on the ground. Grice owned a team-high and career-high three touchdowns. Senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) ran for a team-high 120 yards on 11 attempts with one score, marking the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career.
Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) completed 12-of-20 passes for 207 yards with a touchdown through the air and 11 rushes for 67 yards and touchdown on the ground. Sophomore QB Tra'Von Chapman (Kent, Ohio) also saw action for the Zips and was 6-for-13 for 128 yards and a score.
Savannah State played two quarterbacks, David Handler and Arshon Spaulding, who threw for a combined 128 yards and one interception.
Defensively, senior LB Dylan Evans (Nazareth, Pa.) recorded a team-high nine tackles, four solo and one for a loss, and four break-ups for Akron. Junior CB DeAndre Scott (Frederick, Md.) picked off Handler for his second interception of the year and the Zips forced one fumble.
Akron outgained Savannah State, 626-202. The Zips picked up 31 first downs and converted 7-of-13 third downs. The Tigers totaled just 14 first downs and were 6-of-17 on third down.
The Zips received the ball to start the game and marched down the field 75 yards for an opening-drive touchdown. Chapman completed all three of his pass attempts for 70 yards and rushed twice for four yards. With the ball on the one-yard line, Grice powered his way into the end zone for the Zips' first touchdown and his first of the year.
Savannah State took advantage of Akron's first interception of the year and put three points on the board to cut the Zips lead to 7-3.
Akron senior Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) attempted a field goal with 9:44 remaining in the second quarter. The kick was blocked by Savannah State and returned for an 81-yard touchdown. The Tigers attempted a two-point conversion and were stopped short of the goal line.
Woodson entered the ball game in the second quarter (9:27) and led the Zips on an eight-play, 66-yard scoring-drive. Woodson completed a pass to a diving Hundley for 17 yards putting the ball on the two-yard line. Grice took the direct snap, hit the hole, and went untouched over the goal line for his second score of the afternoon.
The offense extended the Akron lead to 21-9 with Grice's third touchdown of the contest. Once again, Grice lined up behind the center and dashed across the goal line for a four-yard touchdown.
Grice's three touchdowns in the first half are a career-high and his third multi-score game. Grice now owns seven touchdowns in his collegiate career.
With five ticks left on the clock, Imani Davis (Miami, Fla.) caught a pass in stride from Woodson for 33 yards and a touchdown. Davis' catch was the longest catch of his career. The drive lasted only 32 second and four plays. The Zips entered the locker room at halftime ahead, 28-9.
In the second half, the Zips' second drive resulted in a 21-yard field goal from Stein, to increase the Akron lead to 31-9.
During Akron's next possession, the Zips ran the ball four out of five plays. The drive ended with an 18-yard touchdown run by Hundley.
A 28-yard completion to sophomore Anthony Young set up a one-yard touchdown run for Woodson, his first rushing TD of the game, second total.
The Zips scored one last time to close out the contest with 2:40 to play in the fourth quarter. Chapman found sophomore WR Jerome Lane (Akron, Ohio), who sprinted to the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown.
Next week the Zips travel to Lafayette, La., for their final non-conference game of the year against Louisiana. Kick off will be at 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) on ESPN3.
PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- In their Southwestern Athletic Conference home opener, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Football fell to Texas Southern, 24-20 here Saturday night at Golden Lion Stadium.
UAPB scored on their very first possession of the game with a big run by Bryan Handley for 21 yards, a 19 yard pass reception from Marcus Terrell to Kyle Coleman and a 17 yard reception to John Hawkins from Terrell. Then just three plays later, Nicholas Woodfork punched it from two yards giving the Golden Lions, a 7-0, capping a 13-play, 80-yard drive, taking 6:41 off of the clock, with 4:57 left to go in the first quarter.
The Golden Lions increased their lead to 10-0 on a 29-yard field goal by Jamie Gillan with 9:58 left in the second quarter.
TSU cut UAPB's lead to 10-7, when Johnathan Bowen connected with Derrick Griffin from 48 yards out with 8:07 left in the second, capping a five-play, 72-yard, drive by the Tigers.
Clyde Lee set up TSU's second TD of the game as he block an UAPB punt, setting up a Darrell Robinson two-yard TD run with 12:41 left in the third, giving the Tigers, a 14-13 lead.
A Jaimon Peterson 89-yard kickoff return setup UAPB's next score as Woodfork scored his second TD of the game, giving the Golden Lions a 20-14 lead with 11:50 left in the third.
TSU reclaimed the lead on a Robinson two-yard run with 7:37 left in the third, giving the Tigers a 21-20 lead.
The Tigers added to their lead on a 22-yard field goal by Eric Medina, giving TSU a 24-20 lead.
On their final possession of the game, UAPB marched the length of the field to the TSU 19 yard line. But could not convert a fourth and five as TSU intercepted the ball in the end zone, securing the Tigers the 24-20 victory.
Handley led the Golden Lions ground attack as he finished with 53 yards on 12 carries, followed by Terrell with 50 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Terrell finished the contest with 189 yards passing by completing 18 passes in 32 attempts with two interceptions.
Willie Young led the Golden Lion receivers with 76 yards receiving on seven receptions with his longest catch being for 23 yards.
Both Kyle Walker and Willie Duncan as they both finished with eight tackles apiece, while Walker tallied one sack and Duncan finished with one quarterback hurry.
TSU was led by Robinson with 57 yards on 16 carries with two TDs.
Johnathan Bowen led the Tigers' aerial attack as he passed for 178 yards by completing 12 passes in 24 attempts with one TD and one interceptions, while Larry Clark led the TSU receivers with 48 yards on three receptions.
UAPB will return to action on Saturday, September 26 as they will travel to Normal, Ala., to take on Alabama A&M in the Louis Crews Classic in a 2 p.m. start.
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman held off upset-minded Lane College on Saturday evening, using a hard-fought 7-3 win over the visiting Dragons in front of 6,781 fans inside Municipal Stadium. The game was the home debut for first-year head coach Terry Sims and the 2015 Wildcats.
One week after a 56-53 win at Grambling State, which was one of the highest scoring road games in program history, Bethune-Cookman (2-1) needed two (2) fourth quarter defensive stands to preserve the victory in one of the lowest scoring home tilts the Wildcats have played.
The combined 10 points made this the lowest scoring collegiate game at Municipal Stadium since it opened in 1988. The previous low was a 10-3 Bethune-Cookman victory over Howard on September 16, 198It was also the first time the Wildcats failed to reach double figures at home since a 24-3 loss to South Carolina State on September 12, 2009.
“We’ll take the win,” Sims said. “But we’ll continue to work to play more disciplined, detailed football.”
After giving up a combined 98 points in the first two games, the young Wildcats defense registered a positive. This was the first time since a 14-3 win against South Carolina State on Homecoming 2013 (October 26) that a Wildcats opponent did not reach the end zone.
“We can feel good about that,” Sims said. “We knew the defense was going to have those ‘bend but don’t break moments’ with nine new guys, and it will take us a bit to get everything together.”
After stopping a Wildcats scoring drive with an interception, Lane (1-2) closed to 7-3 on Carlos Moore’s 28-yard field goal with 6:38 remaining in the contest. The Dragons had a first-and-goal on the B-CU 7, but Donald Smith threw Gerald Gaines for a seven-yard loss that set the tone for the next three plays.
However, the Dragons immediately got the ball back after a muffed kickoff by the Wildcats, but Moore missed a 48-yard attempt three plays later. Lane had one last possession with two minutes remaining, but a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Anthony Jordan's 9-yard second quarter scamper was the lone Bethune-Cookman score. The graduate – playing as a senior on the field – rushed for 74 yards, while redshirt senior quarterback Quentin Williams went 14-of-19 for 168 yards through the air, as the Wildcats put up 395 total yards of offense. Still, the Cats failed to capitalize on three of four red zone opportunities.
In the third quarter, B-CU got down to the Dragons 2-yard line on the strength of runs of 12- and 25-yards, respectively, and a 28-yard Williams to Jontavious Carter completion. But after a holding penalty negated a huge B-CU run deep inside the Dragons red zone, a fumble eventually ended the threat.
B-CU would later march from its own nine to the Lane one. But after a seven-yard loss, Williams was picked off by Ira George-Coat for a touchback.
Jordan’s score was set up by a 33-yard Michael D. Jones run and a 28-yard Williams to Frank Brown connection on a six-play, 81-yard drive that made 7-0 with 9:23 remaining in the first half.
Jones and Williams each finished with 70 and 63 yards rushing, respectively. Brown’s six catches for 55 yards paced six Wildcats receivers that tallied at least a single catch. The defense was guided by Robert Way and Smith with nine tackles each, and it was linebacker Atreyu Farrior supplying 1.5 sacks.
The Cats will look to continue their current two-game winning streak next weekend when they open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play against Savannah State at Municipal Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
For the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow us on Twitter, @BCUGridIron. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Bethune-Cookman Wildcats app for your Droid or iPhone.
COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
MIAMI, Florida -- The only lightning involved with FIU football the first two seasons under Ron Turner halted games at FIU Stadium. On Saturday night, lightning from the Panthers powered a 39-14 win against North Carolina Central.
A 64-yard bomb to sophomore wide receiver Dennis Turner built FIU’s lead to 12-0. Two touchdowns in 21 seconds, the second a 26-yard run by freshman Anthony Jones, blew out FIU’s lead to 26-7. Another third-and-long conversion, this one via a 20-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Thomas Owens, fueled the touchdown drive to a 32-14 bulge.
Along with completing 22 of 36 for 242 yards and three touchdowns, sophomore quarterback Alex McGough ran for 77 yards on eight carries, including runs of 29 and 27 yards.
“That’s one thing we’re doing through the first three games that we haven’t had here is some big-play capability,” FIU coach Ron Turner said. “And the good news is we’ve got a lot of guys doing it.”
FIU moved to 2-1, only the second time the Panthers have been above .500 after three games since moving to the FBS level in 2005. The other time, in 2011, the Panthers won eight games and went to their second consecutive bowl game.
The Panthers rolled up 490 yards of offense while holding North Carolina Central to 209. Starting quarterback Malcolm Bell completed only 3 of 7 passes for 22 yards before getting yanked after Niko Gonzalez’s second-quarter interception, the first of three by FIU.
ELON, North Carolina – Redshirt junior defensive lineman Marquis Ragland went Captain Obvious on everyone after North Carolina A&T’s 14-7 win over Elon Saturday night in non-conference football play at Rhodes Stadium. “If they can’t score, they can’t win,” Ragland said about the close contest.
Although obvious it certainly was effective against the Phoenix. The Aggies, who have won three straight over the Phoenix, allowed only 231 yards of offense, 88 rushing, and didn’t allow the Phoenix to score until the fourth quarter.
“That was a good football game,” said A&T head coach Rod Broadway. “It was a hard-fought football game and there were some licks being passed out there. I would have hoped to have scored a few more points, but Elon played well. You have to give them credit. You've got to give us some credit too because our guys hung in there and did what we had to do to win the ballgame.”
As stellar as N.C. A&T’s defense was, the Phoenix ‘D’ had its moments too. N.C. A&T preseason All-American running back Tarik Cohen only had nine yards rushing in the first half and did not have a single yard rushing in the second quarter. Cohen finished with 96 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
The Aggies (2-1) only compiled 16 total yards over their first five drives while the Phoenix (1-2) only had one drive better than 30 yards over the first three quarters of the game.
Elon finally figured out the Aggies defense after freshman place kicker Steven Sawicki missed a 34-yard field goal. The Phoenix took over at its own 20-yard line with 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter and executed a seven-play, 80-yard drive that included a 27-yard completion from Connor Christiansen to Demitri Allison. It culminated with Christiansen scoring on a 16-yard run off a read option play where he got the Aggies to buy the inside fake before running into the end zone untouched with 13:58 remaining in the game. The touchdown marked the first time Elon has scored a touchdown against A&T in eight quarters.
“We made a lot of mistakes out there,” said Broadway about a defense 13 minutes away from a shutout. “They played hard, they made some plays and they hung in there pretty good. But we blew so many calls defensive front wise.”
After the Phoenix scored, both teams became stingy again. Each team had two drives apiece over the next six minutes but combined to run only 11 plays including an interception by Elon’s Greg Liggs, Jr., at the Elon 5 with 9:29 to play. But the Phoenix were not able to get out from their own end zone, giving the Aggies good field position at the 50-yard line after the punt.
Senior quarterback Kwashaun Quick and Cohen took over. They accounted for all the Aggies yardage on a 7-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Cohen scoring from 13 yards out to give A&T a 14-7 lead. The Phoenix did get the ball at their own 47 on the ensuing kickoff and were able to convert a 4th-and-8, but the Aggies defense halted the drive at the N.C. A&T 39 to clinch the win.
“We couldn’t afford to take a play off the whole game,” said Ragland who finished with a team-high nine tackles. “The offense wasn’t scoring so we knew we had to make plays. The score was low but they still made too many plays. We can be better.”
N.C. A&T’s offense did score in the first half after a missed 50-yard field John Gallagher gave the Aggies the ball at the Elon 33. Quick rushed for 31 yards on a 12-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to junior Denzel Keyes with 1:27 remaining in the first half.
A&T will take next week off before playing exclusively MEAC games starting with a game at Hampton at 2p.m., on Oct. 3.
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The G-Men gave Alabama State University some big payback after the Hornets beat the Tigers last season and each of the last four years with a big win, 34-10.
The Grambling State University football team G-Men left the ASU Stadium with their first SWAC win of the season.
"I think our kids played well," said head coach Broderick Fobbs, "and we ran the ball well, which is good because it keeps the defense off the field."
While ASU gave up 34 points, the G-Men's defense held ASU to only 3 points until less than 3 minutes left in the game when the Hornets scored their only touchdown.
GSU remembered the Hornets' sting last year, and that was on their minds as they entered Saturday's game. "They started the losing streak, and that's what I remember," said offensive line Coach Reginald Nelson at a Monday news conference.
Defenses on both teams took over the first quarter, leaving Alabama State leading by 3 after a 33-yard field goal.
An early second quarter touchdown by running back Verlan Hunter at 14:00 turned things around.
On the G-Men's next possession, Ka'Jandre Domino forced another 6 points for GSU, and he finished the night with 50 yards and a touchdown.
At halftime, Grambling led 14-3.
A couple touchdowns late in the third quarter by Chad Williams and Chester Rogers gave Grambling a cushion for the win.
"The turnover early in the third quarter allowed us to put some more points on the board," said Fobbs after the game. "I think it somewhat sealed the door."
Quarterback Johnathan Williams threw for over 200 yards with four touchdowns.
Fobbs put his starting quarterback's play in context. "I thought he played well in some spots. I still think from time to time he presses the ball too much and he's always trying to make a play and I think that's what makes him good, but it also can get you in trouble a little bit."
Freshmen quarterback Trevon Cherry had the opportunity to take the field in the second half. "I wanted to get him in there, you know, get some snaps because it's always good to have a backup.
Coming off their first win of the season, Grambling State will take on Prairie View A&M University at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, Saturday at 4 p.m.
By KASSANDRA MERRITT
COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
WALLER, Texas – Prairie View A&M kept fans on the edge of their seats from start-to-finish as they withstood a furious second half rally by Alabama A&M to claim a 53-49 win in an offensive shootout at Waller ISD Stadium.
AAMU came out and set the tone via the run on its opening drive as they marched 75 yards in seven plays to claim an early 7-0 lead following De'Angelo Ballard's 5-yard touchdown run and the PAT. The Panthers were forced to punt on their opening possession but the PVAMU defense responded and forced AAMU's second drive to end with a punt which followed with PVAMU's second punt of the night on its second possession.
After an AAMU punt, the Panther offense finally broke through as wideout Nick Pitre became quarterback Trey Green's favorite target as Pitre caught a 12-yard first down pass and a 38-yard touchdown strike on consecutive plays for a 7-7 tie after the PAT. AAMU would answer with 2-yard touchdown run from Tevin McKenzie to lead 14-7 very early in the second quarter but the Green to Pitre connection struck again as the Lake Charles, La. native needed only one play to strike big as he caught an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive to bring PVAMU within one at 14-13 followed by Owen Hoolihan's game-tying PAT.
The Panther defense forced an AAMU punt on the ensuing possession and the offense went back to work as the running game came alive and moved the Panthers down the field. Seven plays into the drive, Green threw his third touchdown of the night as he found wideout Raymond Jackson on a 29-yard touchdown reception. Hoolihan's PAT was blocked as the Panthers now led 20-14 at the 11:20 mark.
AAMU continued to struggle against the Panther defense as they were forced to punt once again and the Panther offense made the most of their next situation as they were pinned back at their own 1. The Green-to-Pitre connection on 2nd-and-10 got the Panthers out of their jam as a 30-yard reception gave PVAMU plenty of field to work with. From there, the Panthers turned to Green to march down the field as he connected with four receivers and the team converted three 3rd down conversions as Courtney Brown capped off the 15-play, 99-yard drive with a 12-yard run for a 26-14 lead as the PAT failed.
PVAMU opened the second half with a bang as Johnta' Hebert showed why he's an all-American kick returner as he returned the opening kickoff 84 yards to the AAMU 12. One play later, Green hit Pitre for the third time of the night as PVAMU was coasting with a 33-14 lead 21 seconds into the third quarter.
However, AAMU refused to go down easily as they converted two third down conversions with the latter ending with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Ballard to Octayvius Miles followed by the PAT for a 33-21 PVAMU lead. The Panthers punted on their next drive and once again on 3rd-and-9, Ballard threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to draw AAMU within five points (33-28) after the PAT. With momentum all the way in AAMU's corner, the Panthers avoided a major mistake as they fumbled the ensuing kickoff but received new life as the play was wiped away thanks to a Bulldog penalty.
With new life, the Panthers mixed up the run and pass to perfection as they marched 70 yards in 13 plays as De'Auntre Smiley scored from 2 yards out. The PAT was good as PVAMU led 40-28 with 3:13 remaining.
Both teams would trade punts as the fourth quarter approached and AAMU struck first in the final stanza as Ballard converted a key 4th down run into a touchdown as AAMU trailed 40-35. After a big kickoff return by Tommie Robins, the Panthers responded and was on the verge of punching it in but Green's pass from the AAMU 5 sailed into multiple coverage and was picked off. AAMU converted a 4th down play on the ensuing drive and used the momentum to pull ahead for the first time since the second quarter after Harvey Harris' 2-yard jump into the end zone.
Trailing 43-40 with less than five minutes remaining, PVAMU dug deep as Hebert returned the kickoff 48 yards to the AAMU 44 for solid field position. The Panthers appeared to convert their first 3rd down conversion of the drive as Hebert rushed all way to the AAMU 1 but a spot holding penalty put PVAMU in a negative predicament as it was now 3rd-and-11. On the next play, Pitre caught a 9-yard pass from Green and was two yards short but a late unsportsmanlike penalty from AAMU turned the tide as Brown took advantage of the new set of downs and rushed 21 yards for the touchdown and a 47-43 lead after the PAT.
The Panther defense turned up the heat with a strip sack on the next possession and it took Brown only two plays to increase the lead to 53-43 with 2:14 remaining. Once again though, AAMU would use 3rd down magic with two big conversions to set up a 53-yard strike from Ballard to O'Darius Williams. The PAT failed as PVAMU recovered the onside kick and escaped with the emotional win and its second straight comeback victory over AAMU.
PVAMU finished with 522 total yards with 349 coming via the air and 173 on the ground. Green threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-40 passing while Brown rushed for 114 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns. Pitre exploded for 196 yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns. Foster Brown II had a team-high seven tackles.
The State Fair Classic is now on the horizon as the Panthers will head to Dallas to face Grambling State at 4 p.m. in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 26 in the 90th anniversary of the game.
DURHAM, North Carolina -- The North Carolina Central University football team suffered three losses on Saturday at Florida International University in Miami.
