5,500 people turn out for first White Water Classic in Phenix City

PHENIX CITY, Alabama  -- Hours before the kickoff between Tuskegee University and Albany State University for the first White Water Classic, Phenix City Mayor Eddie Lowe said he liked what he saw with tailgaters near Garrett-Harrison Stadium.

"I'm hoping that everybody continues to come in," the mayor said just before noon Saturday. "This is something that's big for us that we can build on."

The 3 p.m. game between the two historically black colleges returned college football to Phenix City for the first time in 25 years. The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III national championship game, was played at the stadium from 1973-89.

Lowe and city officials garnered support to pay Tuskegee $100,000 to move its home game to the renovated stadium. With events for children and adults, the city had a total budget of $150,000 to host the Division II football game. The stadium crowd was estimated at 5,500 as Tuskegee defeated Albany State 20-12.

Dan and Lewis Alexander were among the early tailgaters who arrived in the lot for campers. The Phenix City brothers parked their huge camper when the gates opened Friday, spent the night at home and returned to fire up the barbecue grill with ribs early Saturday.

CONTINUE READING 

Tuskegee 20, Albany State 12: Lacey leads Golden Tigers

PHENIX CITY, Alabama -- Sparked by quarterback Kevin Lacey, Tuskegee exploded for 17 points in the third quarter and held on for a 20-12 victory and a much-needed Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Albany State at Garrett-Harrison Stadium on Saturday.

Lacey, a Wetumpka native, used his arm and legs to spark the Golden Tigers' offense. After a lightning delay midway through the second quarter, the Tuskegee offense found life and scored all 20 of its points on four consecutive possessions.

The win snapped Tuskegee's three-game losing streak dating back to last season.

"We just wanted to get this one out of the way. We hadn't won since last year, so winning this game means a lot to kick-start the season," Lacey said. "The first win in conference play, that's the first step to getting a ring.

"Winning this game is a big step toward our goals."

Lacey went 6-for-12 passing for 137 yards and a touchdown and added 19 yards on the ground. His ability to extend plays with his feet led to big pass plays.



  CONTINUE READING

TSU Tigers dominates Jackson State in Southern Heritage Classic

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- A fast start propelled the Tennessee State football team to a, 35-7, victory over Jackson State in the 25th annual Southern Heritage Classic in front of 46,914 spectators. 

The TSU offense played its finest football of the young season in the first half, totaling all of its 35 points.

Tom Smith, who was named the game’s Offensive MVP, anchored an offense that racked up 189 yards in the first 30 minutes. The junior transfer totaled 48 yards on only seven carries and scored twice - once to start the game from two-yards out and had the final score of the half from 13 yards away.

Sophomore quarterback Ronald Butler took over for Mike German with 13 minutes left in the second quarter and he quickly found Dantwaun O’Neal on crossing pattern for a 13-yard touchdown to give Tennessee State a 28-0 lead.

The TSU defense was strong as well during the first two periods, only allowing 21 yards of total offense, 0.7 yards per play and one first down.

Senior cornerback De’Ante Saunders had two interceptions in the first half and ran the first one back 45 yards for a touchdown when TSU was up by just two scores.

Tennessee State was content to sit on its lead in the second half and only managed 135 yards and did not score again.

Jackson State, meanwhile, finally found the end zone once with 2:44 left in the third quarter with a four-yard touchdown run.

The TSU defense held JSU to minus-one yard rushing, a one-for-16 line on third down tries and recorded seven sacks.

NOTES: Butler’s 45-yard pass to Chris Sanders-McCollum in the third quarter was the longest pass of the season for TSU… TSU’s 21-point first quarter tied for the largest output this season with the second period against Edward Waters… German was injured on TSU’s first possession of the second quarter following a roughing the passer penalty on JSU… Butler’s score in the second period was his first since Nov. 30 of last season at Butler… TSU’s 35 first half points were the most against an FCS opponent since the Tigers put up 41 against Southeast Missouri in 2011… Butler completed his first four passes of the contest for 33 yards and a touchdown… Sanders-McCollum broke his career record for receiving yards that he set last week with 102… Kicker Cameron Carter was 0-for-1 on field goal attempts, but 5-of-5 on extra points… Jackson State’s No. 93 Cornelius Henderson was ejected with 7:57 left in the game due to a flagrant foul… TSU committed 10 penalties for 112 yards…




COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Eligibility struggles return for Southern before Northwestern State cruises to 51-27 win

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Southern’s chronic eligibility issues dealt the Jaguars secondary a 1-2-3 punch just before kickoff Saturday night in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Northwestern State quarterback Zach Adkins was even harder on the defensive backfield, setting school records with 30 completions for the game and 19 consecutive, as well as tying a school record with four touchdown passes.

Adkins, a senior who passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-point victory against the Jaguars last season, had just five incompletions as he passed for 230 yards in Northwestern State’s 51-27 victory.

“He was on fire tonight,” Demons coach Jay Thomas said. “He’s usually very, very consistent anyway, but he was really on tonight.”

Southern (1-2) begins defense of its Southwestern Athletic Conference championship when it visits Prairie View on Saturday. The Demons (1-2) next visit Louisiana Tech.

Starting cornerbacks Kevin King and D’Andre Woodland and starting safety Dionte McDuffy were dressed and ready to start before being told just minutes before kickoff that they couldn’t play. King had gone to midfield as a game captain to participate in the pregame coin toss before being pulled.

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McGhee Leads Howard To Win Over Morehouse

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Greg McGhee accounted for all the Howard scoring, rushing for three touchdowns and passing for two more as the Bison defeated Morehouse, 35-17 in the AT&T Nation's Football Classic at RFK Stadium before 13,178.  The 6-3, 208-pound senior from Pittsburgh, Pa, rushed 98 yards, scoring on runs of 1-yard twice, and a 17-yard scamper late that all but put the game away.  He also completed 16 of 30 for 149 yards and TD passes to Justin Chaney and Robert Mercer.  For his efforts, he was named the game MVP for the third time in four years.

The Maroon Tigers (1-1) got on the board first when Monqavious Johnson capped off an eight-play, 65-yard drive on a 16-yard strike to Lake McGuffie with a little over five minutes off the clock in the first quarter.  Morehouse failed on the PAT kick, but led 6-0.

Johnson, a sophomore who accounted for 338 of his team's 392 yards, was a thorn in the side of  the Bison's defense all day.

Morehouse's score apparently woke up Howard (1-2) and their leader, McGhee began to take over the game.  The four-year starter, took advantage of a short field and used five plays to get the Bison on board, scoring on a one-yard quarterback sneak to give his team the lead for good at 7-6.

Then early in the second quarter, McGhee drove his team 74 yards in eight plays, using short passes to running back Aquanius Freeman to move the ball effectively.  He finished off the drive with his first TD pass of the season, a four-yard toss to Chaney for his first career TD.

The Maroon Tigers would not go away and responded with a 14-play drive that ate up over eight minutes off the clock.  But the Bison defense clamped down in the Red Zone and forced Morehouse to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Alexis Gonzales. The 14-9 score would stand at halftime.

In the second half, it was all McGhee.  First he finished off a short drive with another one-yard plunge to make it, 21-9.  He then capped off another drive, this time from 17 yards out to expand the lead to 28-9 with 1:50 left in the third quarter.

The last Bison score came courtesy of a play by the special teams.  The Morehouse punt returner muffed a punt and gave Howard possession at Maroon Tiger 22-yard line.  It took the southpaw four plays before he found Mercer from 17 yards for the score.  For Mercer, a walk-on from the track tea, it was his first career TD.
The Maroon Tigers closed out the scoring when Johnson dashed six yards with a little under nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

From there, the Howard defense put the game away and posted its first win of the season.

Freeman, a 5-10 red-shirt junior from New Orleans, missed most of last season with a high ankle sprain.  But he played a huge role in the game plan, rushing for 72 yards on 12 carries while grabbing four passes for 43 yards.
                 
William Parker, who splits time at the running back position, proved to be a big contributor on special teams, returning three kickoffs for 100 yards to give his team excellent field position.
                 
Punter John Fleck also had another solid day, averaging almost 42 yards per punt and knocking three of his attempts inside the 20-yard line.
                 
The defense surrendered almost 400 yards of total offense, but it was able to come up with big stops when it needed to.  Godspower Offor, Khari Brown and Devin Rollins and their mates combined to effectively stop Morehouse runners and apply pressure on Johnson.
                 
The Bison have a huge test next week when it plays its MEAC opener against a much-improved Morgan State team in the New York Urban League Classic at MetLife Stadium.
                   

Bethune-Cookman scores twice in 4th quarter, tops Grambling 36-23

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Danny Dillard said he felt nervous playing in his first college football game — three years after he finished a stellar career at Venice High School.

By the time he got the ball at the Grambling State 5-yard line with 6:12 left in the game, the nerves were long gone. Dillard barreled into the end zone for the go-ahead score and Bethune-Cookman went on to win its home opener 36-23 in front of 9,423 fans on Saturday at Municipal Stadium.

“When I got the ball, it was time to get into the end zone,” said Dillard, who redshirted at Miami in 2012 and sat out last season. “I just kept pushing.

“I was a little nervous at the beginning, but to get back into it, it felt good.”

In a game that was touch and go for most of the afternoon, the 13th-ranked Wildcats (2-0) felt very good about escaping with a victory for the second straight time this season.



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UNCP vs. Fayetteville State: Rain delays Two Rivers Classic

PEMBROKE, North Carolina — The rivalry between The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Fayetteville State was no match for Mother Nature on Saturday.

Heavy rains across the region left the football field at Grace P. Johnson Stadium covered in water and forced the teams to postpone the annual Two Rivers Classic until today at noon. The postponement was announced an hour before the game’s scheduled start time.

Sunday’s admission prices will not change but parking will be free in all general lots, with tailgating beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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D-II Fort Valley State downs Savannah State, 42-28

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- It didn’t start well for Savannah State, and it didn’t end well, either.

Fort Valley State pretty much had its way with the Tigers in the second half and rolled to a 42-28 win Saturday night at T.A. Wright Stadium before 3,516 disappointed fans.

It was the third straight loss for Savannah State this season, and 12th straight dating back to last season when the Tigers went 1-11, the lone win coming against Fort Valley.

In that victory, Savannah State had to rally with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for a 27-20 win. There was no rally this year as the Wildcats, perhaps still remembering the pain of that loss, never let up.

The tone of the game was set at the very beginning.

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Winston-Salem State falls to Valdosta State Blazers

POWDER SPRINGS — Valdosta State’s trip to McEachern’s Walter Cantrell Stadium proved beneficial in a number of ways for the No. 23 Blazers who beat No. 12 Winston-Salem State 22-17 on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 2,519.

The game, a rematch of the 2012 NCAA Division II national championship won by Valdosta State, started slowly after neither team scored in the first quarter.



That changed 3 seconds into the second period when Valdosta State quarterback Jake Medlock capped an eight-play, 61-yard with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Kenny Murphy’s 2-point conversion gave the Blazers an 8-0 lead.

Winston-Salem State answered when Terry Ross’ 52-yard interception return trimmed the deficit to 8-7.

Cedric O’Neal’s 3-yard run capped a 10-play, 70-yard Blazers’ drive and Valdosta State took a 15-7 lead into halftime.

CONTINUE READING

NSU gets first TD, not much else in loss at W&M

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia -- Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian rattled off the litany of things that went wrong Saturday.

But he wasn’t about to ignore what went right.

Steve Cluley passed for 166 yards and a touchdown and No. 19 William & Mary scored in a variety of ways in a 29-14 non-conference win over Adrian’s steadily improving Spartans at Zable Stadium.



The Tribe forced two turnovers and scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in handing NSU (0-3) its ninth loss in 10 games, dating to last season.

Adrian counted the miscues aloud before changing course.

“We certainly played extremely well, and I think we’re getting better,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any question about that.”

Mikal Abdul-Saboor rushed for 66 yards for William & Mary (2-1), which won despite being outgained 322 yards to 234.

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Cohen paves way for North Carolina A&T Aggies’ win over Elon

ELON, North Carolina  —  College football is full of geographic rivalries, and Saturday night’s home opener at Elon’s Rhodes Stadium treated 7,228 fans to one of the Triad’s with N.C. A&T visiting in a non-conference matchup.

On Saturday, A&T sophomore running back Tarik Cohen, the 2013 MEAC Freshman of the Year, rushed for a career-high 234 yards on 20 carries, including an 81-yard touchdown run with 11:20 remaining in the game, to seal the Aggies’ 17-12 win over the Phoenix.

“The line did a good job opening up holes for me to run through,” Cohen said. “On my touchdown run, I felt like I needed to make a big play because the game was back-and-forth. All of the linebackers and defensive linemen were blocked, so it was just me one-on-one with a defensive back and I made a move to the end zone.”

A&T (2-1) rebounded nicely from last week’s heartbreaking 31-30 home loss to Coastal Carolina.

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Winslow: Consulting report mirrors FAMU's athletic woes

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS
KELLEN WINSLOW Sr.,
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- report by Collegiate Consulting, which recognizes several inefficiencies in Florida A&M University's athletic department, doesn't contain "earth-shattering" information, according to Rattlers athletics director Kellen Winslow.

But Winslow said Saturday that the report is valuable in his push to turn around the athletic department, which he said was "a problem department," before his arrival in May. Winslow said the report merely mirrors the issues.

"Yes, it's something we can use as a guide (and) a tool to communicate, but there is nothing earth-shattering in there," Winslow said.

"It's best practices that everyone else is doing and the strategies that everyone else has used to help their university grow in using athletic as a tool."

The 149-page report, which was prepared ,,.

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ASU Hornets pull away late for easy victory over MVSU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- It didn't take long to figure out Alabama State had more talent than Mississippi Valley State, but it took a little longer before the Hornets' superiority started showing up on the scoreboard.

Alabama State quarterback Quinteris Toppings (12) dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Mississippi Valley State Davon Jones (22) attempts to stop himduring the game between Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 13, 2014, at The New Hornet Stadium in Montgomery, Ala.

The Hornets shook off a second-quarter slump with a pair of quick touchdowns late in the first half and weathered a brief Delta Devil rally early in the fourth quarter with two more scores to win 47-22 on Saturday night at ASU Stadium in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Malcolm Cyrus set the tone on the first play of the game with a 49-yard run into Mississippi Valley territory and the Hornets overcame a costly penalty four plays later with a 19-yard lob from Daniel Duhart to DeMario Bell for a quick 7-0 lead.

But the Hornets struggled over the next 25 minutes with missed opportunities on offense, failing to put away a team that was clearly overmatched in experience and depth.

CONTINUE READING

Edward Waters Stuns Pikeville with Last-Second Touchdown

PIKEVILLE, Kentucky -- Edward Waters (Fla.) outscored the University of Pikeville football team 35-7 in the fourth quarter to complete an improbable comeback with a last-second heave into the end zone on Saturday at the Hambley Athletic Complex.

Trailing 48-42 with 35 seconds left, the Tigers (1-2) recovered an onside kick at their own 45 yard line with no timeouts. From there, Tyler Mahla completed a nine-yard pass on second down, then spiked the ball at the UPIKE 46 to bring up fourth and one with just a few ticks remaining.

Instead of looking for a short completion and dash out of bounds to get closer to the end zone, Mahla put up a 46-yard bomb that Devion Laws came down with to tie the score at 48 with no time left in regulation.

All of the pressure was on kicker Christopher Miglioranzi to seal the win, and his teammates made things even harder on him with a celebration penalty. But even after moving back 15 yards, he was able to guide the ball through the goalposts for the win.

UPIKE's Tyler Guffey, making his first collegiate start at quarterback in place of the injured Sani Warren, completed 13-of-17 passes for 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His main target was Aaron Jackson with three catches for 81 yards and a score, while Seth Millar finished with 71 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Defensively, Austin Baldwin and Donald Styles were all over the field, issuing nine and eight tackles, respectively to lead the Bears.

At the end of the third quarter, there was little doubt in the stadium that UPIKE would tally a win.

Millar scored the lone touchdown of the third frame with a six-yard run to put the Bears in front 41-14. Then after a three-and-out by the Tigers to start the fourth, backup quarterback R.J. Rosemond Jr. had a 17-yard keeper into the end zone to make it 48-14.

But the final 10 minutes changed everything as Edward Waters found success through the air, so much so that it finished the game with a 271-230 yard advantage passing.

First it was a nine-play, 92-yard drive that ended with Michael Love running in from a yard out, followed by Darryl Campbell finishing an eight-play, 61-yard drive with a two yard run. Then with just over three minutes to play disaster struck as EWC recovered a fumble at the UPIKE 19, then moved up 10 yards on a late hit to Mahla.

Mahla found Suwayne Hilton in the end zone on the very next play, and it was suddenly a two-possession game at 48-35. The Tigers went through their timeouts during UPIKE's next drive, stopping the clock as Millar struggled to find any openings.

After taking over on their own 33-yard line, Edward Waters got an incredible 32-yard, one-handed catch by Keronne Smith to keep the momentum. Add in another late hit by the Bear defense and a 13-yard Mahla keeper and it was a 48-42 game, allowing EWC to pull off the miracle with the onside kick.

Mahla finished 21-of-35 through the air for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Smith was the leading receiver with 92 yards on seven catches and Diondre Wynn led the game on the ground with 97 yards on 12 carries.

Edward Waters finished with 482 yards of total offense, compared to 403 by UPIKE. There were 30 penalties called in the game with the Bears claiming 18 of them for 202 yards.

UPIKE returns to Mid-South Conference East Division play on Saturday, hosting No. 18 Lindsey Wilson at the Hambley Athletic Complex.

Box Score 

Photos | Stats

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

WEEK 3: HBCU ScoreCard

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Fayetteville State at UNC - Pembroke, Two Rivers Classic, 12 Noon

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

MEAC
North Carolina A&T 17, Elon 12
Bethune-Cookman 36, Grambling State 23
Florida A&M (Bye Week)
Morgan State 28, Bowie State 3
Towson 21, Delaware State 7
Howard 35, Morehouse 17
Charlotte 40, North Carolina Central 28
Richmond 42, Hampton 17
Coastal Carolina 30, South Carolina State 3
Fort Valley State 42, Savannah State 28
William and Mary 29, Norfolk State 14

OVC
Tennessee State 35, Jackson State 7 at Memphis

SWAC
Alcorn State 52, Louisiana 10
Alabama-Birmingham 41, Alabama A&M 14
Bethune-Cookman 36, Grambling State 23
Alabama State 47, Mississippi Valley State 22
Texas Southern 30, Central State (Ohio) 16 at Nassau, Bahamas
McNeese State 41, Prairie View A&M 16
Tennessee State 35, Jackson State 7
Northwestern State 51, Southern 27

CIAA
Alderson Broaddus 47, Chowan 7
North Carolina Wesleyan 27,  Lincoln (Pa.) 0
Charleston (W.V.) 38, Virginia Union 21
Morgan State 28, Bowie State 3
Wingate 30, Saint Augustine's 0
Johnson C. Smith 13, Kentucky State 6,  Eddie C. McGirt Classic
Lenoir-Rhyne 34, Virginia State 6
Elizabeth City State 18, Tusculum 10
Livingstone 48, Paine 45
Valdosta State 22, Winston-Salem State 17
Fayetteville State at UNC - Pembroke, Two Rivers Classic,  Postponed
West Alabama 30, Shaw 6

SIAC
Samford 52, Stillman 0  (Thursday) 
Tuskegee 20, Albany State 12 at Phenix City
Johnson C. Smith 13, Kentucky State 6
Clark-Atlanta 20, Lane 17 
Howard 35, Morehouse 17, Nation's Classic
Livingstone 48, Paine 45
Texas Southern 30, Central State (Ohio) 16,  HBCUX Classic, Nassau, Bahamas
Fort Valley State 42, Savannah State 28
West Georgia 26, Miles 0 

OTHER CONFERENCES
Concord 55, West Virginia State 7
Charleston W.V. 38, Virginia Union 21
Gannon 48, Cheyney 0
Edward Waters 49, Pikeville 48
Southwest Baptist 42, Lincoln (Mo.) 21
Lamar 73, Texas College 0
Truman State 17, Langston 12
Concordia-Selma 27, Point U. 14
Gardner-Webb 34, Virginia U. Lynchburg 0

WSSU, Valdosta State prepare for showdown

POWDER SPRINGS, Georgia — Finding competitive nonconference games isn’t always easy for NCAA Division II powers, but Winston-Salem State and Valdosta State have found some common ground.

The 12th-ranked Rams (1-0) will take on the 23rd-ranked Blazers (1-0) at 4 p.m. today (WTOB 1380). WSSU is coming off an easy win against UNC Pembroke, and Valdosta State had an easy time with Albany State in openers last week. Nothing is expected to be easy today.

Both programs have been dominant in recent years, so the early-season test should help down the road.

“It does not get any easier,” Coach Kienus Boulware of WSSU said. “They had a lopsided win as well on Saturday. It was a turnover fest against Albany State, and that’s how that score got out of hand.”

CONTINUE READING 

Former Conway HS star Moody returning to town with South Carolina State to face Chanticleers

CONWAY, South Carolina  --  There were times over the last year that Mykal Moody wasn't sure he'd ever play football again.

The former Conway High School star had become something of a college football vagabond, initially signing with East Carolina then instead heading to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas for a brief detour before rerouting yet again to South Carolina State, where he had to sit out his first year while focusing on his schoolwork.

He didn't practice with the Bulldogs last season as they surged to a 9-4 record and reached the FCS playoffs. He was just a regular student on campus, as he put it, "trying to get [his] grades straight." All the while wondering if his dazzling varsity days at Conway would be his final football contributions.

"I don't think I touched a football until the summer time," Moody said of last school year. "It was extremely hard. There were times I thought about not even playing anymore --- 'Man, do I even want to do it anymore?'"

CONTINUE READING 

Track team speed boosts North Carolina A&T Aggies in football

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T ATHLETICS

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  — Speed.  Some teams have it, some just think they have it.

At N.C. A&T, it’s the cornerstone of the program. In fact, it’s the cornerstone of two programs.

“Track and football,” Aggies wide receiver Desmond Lawrence said. “We’ve got a lot of both here. We have some guys who can really run.”

So many that sometimes an A&T football game can quickly turn into a track meet.

CONTINUE READING  

UR seeks bounce-back win against Hampton

RICHMOND, Virginia --If jest is required to rouse the football team he captains, Austin Gund has no problem playing the fool. The University of Richmond senior center sings at 7 a.m. on Tuesdays.

The Spiders practiced on Tuesday morning before last week’s game at Virginia because of high heat that afternoon. Coach Danny Rocco liked the results, and determined Tuesday drills would start at 7 a.m. for the rest of the season.

“Sometimes those morning practices get to be a little dull. Everybody’s still kind of asleep,” said Gund, a captain for three years.

>So he sings, a way to loosen up the Spiders and get them talking, even if they’re talking about how badly Gund sings. Gund believes a wake-up call will not be necessary Saturday evening for UR (1-1) when Hampton (0-2) visits.

CONTINUE READING 

3 things you should know: Grambling State (0-2) at Bethune-Cookman (1-0)

KICKOFF: 4 p.m. Saturday

SITE: Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach
RADIO: WELE (1380 AM)

THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Depreciating 'G' Force
The 'G' on Grambling's helmets represents the “mecca” of black-college football, B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said. Grambling's Eddie Robinson was the first college coach to win 400 games, and the Tigers have won 14 black-college national titles and 24 SWAC titles (most recently in 2011). But, those days seem nostalgic. Grambling was 1-11 last year, including a forfeit caused by a player protest over coach Doug Williams' firing and deteriorating facilities. Broderick Fobbs is the team's fourth head coach in two years.

CONTINUE READING 

Strothers joins MVSU men's basketball staff

ITTA BENA, Mississippi  -- Mississippi Valley State University head men's basketball coach Andre Payne has announced the hiring of assistant coach Eric Strothers, a 20-year veteran coach in the SWAC.

He joins the MVSU program following a successful 20-year career at rival Jackson State, where he served as associate head men's basketball coach for the Tigers. Strothers' responsibilities will include recruiting, scouting, managing the student-athlete academic program, supervising study hall, directing the off-season conditioning program and various administrative duties with the team.

"I am really pleased to be a part of MVSU as a member of the coaching staff," said Strothers, who helped lead JSU to three NCAA Tournament appearances. "I look forward to working closely with coach Payne to ensure we have the best and most sound basketball program in the SWAC. Coaching is my passion, something I live and breathe, and being part of this institution brings forth many exciting opportunities."

The Vicksburg, Miss. native has been recognized several times for his work, including being voted one of the best mid-major assistant coaches in NCAA Division I basketball by the collegeinsider.com. Then, in 2010, he was tabbed the SWAC Assistant Basketball Coach of the Year.

Strothers has recruited a plethora of talent including former NBA guard Trey Johnson, who starred at JSU and was named the SWAC MVP.

He graduated from Vicksburg High School and came to Jackson State as a basketball hopeful. Strothers was an All-County football player in high school, but had less than one year of basketball experience as he saw action in only two games his senior year.

He was a walk-on player when then-assistant coach Chris Giles (former Tigers associate head coach) discovered the package of tremendous potential Strothers possessed. By the time Strothers left Jackson State, he was a first-team All-SWAC forward who led Jackson State to a regular season conference title; a SWAC tournament title and a chance to play in the NCAA tournament play-in game against Coastal Carolina.

He was voted the team's Most Valuable Player his junior and senior seasons and garnered a SWAC Player-of-the-Week and Black Entertainment Television (BET) Player-of-the-Week honors during his senior campaign. His 17.4 points per game average during his senior year put him in the Jackson State 1,000 point Club as he finished his collegiate career with 1,251 total points.

Strothers graduated from Jackson State with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Sioux Falls franchise of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and played in the exhibition season for the South Dakota team before deciding to play overseas. Strothers started in the Holland Pro League for a season before playing in Hong Kong where he led his team to second place in division play, the team's best finish.

Strothers has a master's degree in Physical Education from Jackson State. He has two children, Eric II and Ericia.    

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Game Preview: Jackson State vs. Tennessee State

GAME INFO
When: Today, 6:07 p.m.
Where: Liberty Bowl, Memphis
TV: SportSouth
Radio: 95.5 FM
Last meeting: Tennessee State 26, Jackson State 16 (2013)
All-time series: TSU leads 26-20-2
THE SETUP
Jackson State (2-0, 0-0 SWAC) faces arguably its toughest opponent on the schedule to date.
Tennessee State (1-1, 0-0 OVC) is coming off an FCS playoff appearance and was named the HBCU National Champion.

But what seems to matter for today is momentum. JSU enters with a 2-0 record and confidence from a 59-0 blowout of small-school Virginia-Lynchburg. TSU is coming off a surprising 27-21 loss to Alabama State, and despite its 58-6 score against NAIA school Edward Waters on Aug. 30, TSU struggled offensively.

It's the final matchup for both teams before they open conference play next week.

Stopping the run
Jackson State defensive coordinator Derrick Burroughs described TSU's offensive line as a group that will "maul you." Although his front line may be outmatched in size, he hopes its speed will make up ground and stop TSU's running game.

CONTINUE READING

Week 3: HBCU Football Schedule

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
All Games Shown in Eastern Time Zone

MEAC
Florida A&M (Bye Week)
Bowie State (0-1) at Morgan State (0-2), 1 PM
Towson (0-2) at Delaware State (0-2), 2 PM
Morehouse (0-1) at Howard (0-2), 3:30 PM
Grambling State (0-2) at Bethune-Cookman (1-0), 4 PM
Charlotte (1-1) at North Carolina Central (1-1), 5 PM
Hampton (0-2) at Richmond (1-1), 6 PM
North Carolina A&T(1-1) at Elon (0-1), 6 PM
South Carolina State (1-1) at Coastal Carolina (2-0), 6 PM
Fort Valley State (0-1) at Savannah State (0-2), 6 PM
Norfolk State (0-2) at William and Mary, (1-1) 7 PM

OVC
Jackson State (2-0) vs. Tennessee State (1-1) at Memphis, 7 PM   (SportSouth)

SWAC
Louisiana at Alcorn State (1-1), 3 PM
Alabama A&M (1-1) at Alabama-Birmingham (1-1), 3:30 PM
Grambling State (0-2) at Bethune-Cookman (1-0). 4 PM
Mississippi Valley State (1-1) at Alabama State (1-1), 6 PM  WATCH LIVE
Texas Southern (2-0) vs. Central State (Ohio) (1-0) at Nassau, Bahamas, 6 PM
Prairie View A&M (0-1) at McNeese State (0-1), 7 PM
Jackson State (2-0) vs, Tennessee State (1-1), 7 PM
Northwestern State (0-2) at Southern (1-1), 7 PM  (Cox Sports)

CIAA
Chowan at Alderson Broaddus, 12 Noon
North Carolina Wesleyan at Lincoln (Pa.), 1 PM  Streaming Video
Charleston (W.V.) at Virginia Union, 1 PM
Bowie State at Morgan State, 1 PM
Wingate at Saint Augustine's, 1:30 PM
Kentucky State at Johnson C. Smith, 2 PM, Eddie C. McGirt Classic
Lenoir-Rhyne at Virginia State, 2 PM
Tusculum at Elizabeth City State, 4 PM
Livingstone at Paine 4 PM 2
Winston-Salem State at Valdosta State, 4 PM
Fayetteville State at UNC - Pembroke, 6 PM, Two Rivers Classic, Streaming Video 
Shaw at West Alabama, 7 PM

SIAC
Samford 52, Stillman 0  (Thursday) 
Albany State vs. Tuskegee at Phenix City, AL, 2 PM
Kentucky State at Johnson C. Smith, 2 PM
Lane at Clark-Atlanta, 2 PM
Morehouse vs. Howard, Nation's Classic. 3 PM
Paine vs. Livingston, 4 PM
Central State (Ohio) vs. Texas Southern, 4 PM, HBCUX Classic, Nassau, Bahamas
Fort Valley State at Savannah State, 6 PM
Miles vs. West Georgia, 7 PM

OTHER CONFERENCES
Concord at West Virginia State, 1 PM
Charleston W.V. at Virginia Union, 1 PM
Gannon at Cheyney, 1 PM
Edward Waters at Pikeville, 1:30 PM
Southwest Baptist at Lincoln (Mo.), 3 PM
Texas College at Lamar U., 7 PM
Langston at Truman State, 8 PM

Situations similar as undefeated Charlotte 49ers take on N.C. Central

DURHAM, North Carolina  --  One season ago, the Charlotte 49ers were 2-0 after beating a pair of over-matched opponents.

Then came N.C. Central. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's Eagles beat the 49ers 40-13 the following week, handing Charlotte its first loss in program history and giving the 49ers a taste of what Division I football really is like.

The scenario is similar this week. Charlotte has won its first two games --- against non-scholarship Campbell (33-9) and Division II Johnson C. Smith (56-0) --- with Saturday's game at N.C. Central (1-1) looming.

"We're a year older, our guys are another year more mature," 49ers coach Brad Lambert said Tuesday. "We were coming off two wins last year and playing our first full-scholarship (Football Championship Subdivision) team and were stepping up another level. That's no different this week."

There were plenty of lessons to be learned for the ..

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FCS Game of the Week: South Carolina State at Coastal Carolina

South Carolina State (1-1) at No. 5 Coastal Carolina (2-0)

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Series Record: Coastal Carolina leads, 3-0

Last Meeting: Coastal Carolina won, 27-20, last year

Television: Big South Network

What to Know: This is a classic matchup of offense versus defense. Coastal puts up points (31 in each of its first two wins; 41-point average last season) while South Carolina State has kept eight of its last 13 sub-FBS opponents under 10 points.

With Alex Glover (four tackles for loss), Javon Hargraves (four quarterback hurries) and talented but slumping defensive end Andrew Carter, SCSU features a highly productive defensive line. The secondary has been picked on, and Coastal quarterback Alex Ross is capable of doing the same.

The Bulldogs, two wins shy of giving coach Buddy Pough the 100th of his 13-year career at his alma mater, thrashed Benedict in their season opener before taking on similar punishment at Clemson last Saturday. Their offense still needs consistency out of its quarterbacks, Adrian Kollock and TeDarrius Wiley. The run game is a strength with Dondre Lewis-Freeman, Jalen Simmons and Justin Taylor.

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