Florida A&M Rattlers Release Complete 2018 Football Schedule - 6 Home Games at Bragg Stadium

COURTESY: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida --The Coach Willie Simmons era at Florida A&M University will start with six (6) home games at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee. FAMU Director of Athletics Dr. John Eason has completed the Rattlers upcoming football schedule and designated October 6 conference game with Norfolk State University Spartans as the 2018 Homecoming game.

Absent from the schedule is Hampton University Pirates who have moved on to the Big South Conference in their exit from the Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference (MEAC).  The Rattlers will not play the Delaware State Hornets in 2018, who has welcomed first-time head coach and alum Rod Milstead.

The Rattlers will open the season with Fort Valley State Wildcats in the 2nd Annual Jake Gaither Classic/FAMU Hall of Fame Football Reunion on Labor Day Weekend, on Sat. Sept. 1 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.  FAMU retained the #3 position in FCS home attendance for 2017 with an attendance mark of 19,048, trailing only FCS powerhouses James Madison (21,724) and Montana (23,535). 

Fort Valley State and FAMU played before a capacity crowd in the 2011 season opener with the Division II Wildcats finishing the game leading the Rattlers in almost every significant statistical category. The final score -- FAMU 28-22.



On Sat. Sept. 8, the Rattlers travel to Division I FBS Troy University for its first road contest of the season. Lead by head coach Neal Brown, the sixth-youngest head coach in the FBS, Troy football has gone through a renaissance over the past three years. The wins have been plentiful for Brown’s Trojans with 22 victories over a 27-game period dating back to the end of his first season in 2015. Troy set the school’s FBS record for wins in back-to-back seasons as the Trojans won 10 games in 2016 and then followed with 11 victories in 2017, including the upset of the season in college football as Troy knocked off No. 22 LSU in Death Valley.

FAMU welcomes the Jackson State University Tigers on Sat., Sept. 15 to Bragg Memorial Stadium. With 25,500 seats, Bragg may be too small for the huge crowd expected to come see the best of the SWAC -- the JSU Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band vs. the FAMU Marching 100. With the Celebration of the Rattlers 1978 1-AA (FCS) National Championship and 1978 National Black College Championship, Bragg Stadium will be lit with the magnificent sounds and showmanship of the Boom and the Marching 100. 

Florida A&M knocked off Jackson State 15-10 in the 1978 NCAA 1-AA National Championship Playoffs. The Rattlers, coached by Rudy Hubbard won the first FCS (1-AA) National Championship defeating University of Massachusetts 35-28 in the Pioneer Bowl in a blinding snowstorm at Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls, Texas on Dec. 17, 1978.

Jackson State won the last outing with the Rattlers on a game winning 49 yard Hail Mary pass from quarterback LaMoniez Ivy to wide receiver DeSean McKenzie with one second left on the game clock for a Tigers 22-17 win. A Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium crowd of 39,217 watched as the Rattlers took at 17-16 lead over JSU with 46 seconds left in the game.




Week 4, Sept. 22 the Rattlers remain at home for the first MEAC contest of the season as they host the Savannah State Tigers for a celebration of FAMU's 1998 Black College Football National Championship. The 11-2 Rattlers, coached by College Football Hall of Famer William "Billy" Joe made it to the 1998 NCAA FCS Quarterfinals defeating Troy 27-17 and falling to Western Illinois 24-21 as the Gulf Coast Offense sputtered.  This will be Savannah State final season at the FCS level as the Tigers move down to Division II after this season as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

Week 5 is payback Saturday as the FAMU Rattlers travel to Durham to face the  North Carolina Central Eagles for a Sept. 29, 4 p.m. MEAC contest.  If the Rattlers have any chance of making it to the 2018 Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 15, this is a must win situation for FAMU.  The Eagles have been one of the most consistent programs in the MEAC for the past four years and the road to the championship requires two victories in North Carolina.  The Eagles also welcome a new interim head football coach in former Eagle defensive coordinator Granville Eastman.  

The Rattlers welcomes FAMU'ly for Homecoming 2018 and the Norfolk State University Spartans on Oct. 6. This is also an important MEAC conference game as the Rattlers build steam for contention of a spot in the 2018 Celebration Bowl.  The Spartans are not your typical homecoming cupcake and conference games are always difficult in the MEAC.  This will be a well-fought contest.



The Rattlers cannot afford to look ahead to the biggest game of the year on Oct. 13 in Greensboro with defending Black College Football National Champion and 2017 Celebration Bowl Champion, North Carolina A&T State University.  No need to hype this game as the Aggies will show the Rattlers how much improvement they have made under new FAMU Coach Willie Simmons.  

North Carolina A&T will be without legendary coach Rod Broadway who has retired, but that should not matter.  His replacement is Broadway's former defensive coordinator Sam Washington, who has built the most consistent defense in FCS in the Grambling State Tigers and A&T Aggies who's rapid rise to powerhouse status including wins over FBS Charlotte and Kent State.

FAMU earns a much needed Bye Week on Oct. 20 to regroup for the big push forward.

The Rattlers theme for the Oct. 27 home game with Morgan State Bears is Breast Cancer Awareness.  The Bears from Baltimore welcomes a new interim head coach in Ernest T. Jones, formerly the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Morgan State.  Jones previously served as the head football coach at Alcorn State in 2008.

On Sat. Nov. 3, FAMU is scheduled to face the much improved Howard University Bison in Washington, D.C.  The Bison finished 2017 with a record of 7-4 under first year head football coach Mike London Sr.  London delivered a signature FBS win for the Bison defeating UNLV 43-40, with freshman star quarterback Caylin Newton, brother of Carolina Panthers three time all-pro quarterback Cam Newton.  Coach London has made a big impact on the MEAC in a very short period of time.  London has proven he can coach, but more importantly he has aggressively upgraded the talent level of Bison football with recruits like Newton.  

Nov. 10 is Senior Day on the Hill with the Rattlers playing a Oliver "Buddy" Pough coached team for the final time.  South Carolina State University Bulldogs will make their presence felt at Bragg Memorial Stadium as Coach Buddy Pough ends a 16th year career at his alma mater.  Pough has a shot to become the all-time winningest coach in South Carolina State history.  Pough only trail legendary Coach Willie Jeffries for the most wins at SCSU.  Coach Pough current career record is 120-64, 94-33 MEAC.  

For the Bandheads, the FAMU Marching 100 and the SCSU Marching 101 has a rich history that is intertwined by Rattler brothers Lindsey B. Sarjeant, Arranger and Music Department Chairman and Director of Jazz Studies at Florida A&M University, and the late Ronald J. Sarjeant, retired director of bands and arranger of the Garnet and Blue at SCSU, and former director of bands/arranger at Tuskegee University. The two gifted prodigies of the late Dr. William P. Foster are difference makers today in the lives of thousands of young men and women that have studied music under their guidance. The battle between the two bands should continue to be epic in 2018.



The Florida Blue Florida Classic is scheduled for Sat. Nov. 17, 2 p.m. at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida between rivals Florida A&M and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Coach Simmons and the Rattlers will be ready to strike and start a new legacy of dominating B-CU. The Wildcats have a streak going and has beaten the Rattlers for the past 7 seasons. Last year, the Rattlers fell 29-24 before 47,819 fans ending the season with a 3-8 record. The Rattlers and Wildcats record attendance for this neutral site annual rivalry is 73,358.  Since the game inception in 1973, over 1.8 million fans have attended this annual FCS battle for Florida supremacy.

The undefeated Rattlers (0-0) has a fresh start in 2018. Three goals stand tall before the Rattlers and are within reach with hard work and Rattler Nation fan support -- NCAA FCS National Playoffs, 2018 Celebration Bowl and #1 in FCS home attendance for 2018. The Marching 100 should have a great season too with the world stage awaiting the legendary band, as an invitation to perform at the 2019 Rose Bowl Parade has been accepted by Florida A&M University.

Florida A&M University will share two home game dates with Florida State University for Sept. 22 (Savannah State) and Oct. 27 (Morgan State). Hotel rooms may be in short supply so book early.
 
The schedule is subject to change as ESPN and the MEAC have not announced its Thursday Night schedule of HBCU televised games. Be a part of the Rattler back to dominance renaissance. Buy your reserved season tickets now at: FAMU Athletics Football Tickets.  Go Rattlers!

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (Print Copy)

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (ET) Jake Gaither Classic/FAMU Hall of Fame/Football Reunion Sat, Sep 01 Fort Valley State Bragg Memorial Stadium TBA Sat, Sep 08 Troy at Troy, Alabama TBA 1978 Championship Celebration Sat, Sep 15 Jackson State TALLAHASSEE, FL • Bragg Memorial Stadium TBA 1998 Championship Celebration Sat, Sep 22 Savannah State * TALLAHASSEE, FL • Bragg Memorial Stadium TBA Sat, Sep 29 North Carolina Central * at Durham, NC 4:00 PM HOMECOMING 2018 Sat, Oct 06 Norfolk State * TALLAHASSEE, FL • Bragg Memorial Stadium TBA Sat, Oct 13 North Carolina A&T * at Greensboro, NC 1:00 PM Breast Cancer Awareness Sat, Oct 27 Morgan State * TALLAHASSEE, FL • Bragg Memorial Stadium TBA Sat, Nov 03 Howard * at Washington D.C. TBA SENIOR DAY Sat, Nov 10 South Carolina State * TALLAHASSEE, FL • Bragg Memorial Stadium TBA Sat, Nov 17 Bethune-Cookman * at Orlando, Florida (Camping World Stadium) 2 PM

* Conference Games
Note: Schedule subject to change.  Game time to be announced at later date.

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Ticket, Hotel Information For MEAC-SWAC Challenge

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Get ticket and fan hotel information for the 2018 MEAC-SWAC Challenge in Atlanta on Sunday, Sept. 2 as Prairie View A&M football takes on North Carolina Central.

The Panthers and Eagles will play at Georgia State Stadium, with game time TBA.

Game tickets are $15, $25, and $35, plus applicable taxes and fees. All seats inside Georgia State Stadium will be reserved.  PVAMU will be on the East Sideline with sideline seating in sections 127-135. The Marching Storm will sit in sections 100 and 101.

North Carolina Central will be on the West sideline in front of Sections 109-119.

The interactive Ticketmaster map is currently available to pick your seat.  Click HERE

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge has also set up a limited number of room rates at $119 per night.

DSU nears decisions on hiring new hoop coaches

Jareem Dowling

DOVER, Delaware -- With the NCAA basketball season finishing this week, Delaware State University’s coaching search could also be coming to a close soon.

The Hornets have openings for both a men’s basketball and women’s basketball head coach since Keith Walker and Barbara Burgess were dismissed on Feb. 22.

One candidate who has emerged for the men’s vacancy is Jareem Dowling, according to various reports. The basketball website HoopDirt.com reported there is interest between the two parties.

Dowling is currently an assistant at North Texas who just won the College Basketball Invitational Tournament over San Francisco less than a week ago.

Dowling is from Wilmington and is a Howard High graduate. He played at MidEastern Athletic Conference rival Maryland Eastern Shore in 2004 and 2005 after two years at Cecil College in Maryland.

His attachment to Delaware doesn’t end there.

Dowling was previously the head coach at Scotland Performance Institute, a prep school in Scotland, Pennsylvania where he had multiple players from Delaware on his roster.

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B-CU Football Endures Heat, Rain in Wednesday Workout

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman Football continued spring practice on Wednesday afternoon, as the Wildcats worked out at Municipal Stadium in a humid and warm – mixed with periods of rolling showers – Daytona Beach, Florida.

Under the watchful eye of Head Coach Terry Sims – recently completing his third season at the helm of the Wildcats program in Daytona Beach, the Wildcats endured temperatures in the mid-80s on Wednesday. There was no wind at all, adding to the heat range and feeling of humidity for the Cats. Rain came down at the beginning of practice mixed with sunshine, but would stop after just two of the 26-period practice session. The remainder of practice saw sunny skies with no shade whatsoever at Larry Kelly Field.

"Calm down and see it," calmly expressed Offensive Coordinator Allen Suber.

That summed up the majority of the day's practice on the offensive side of the ball as he spoke with quarterback Jabari Dunham during that exchange of words.

Rotating between Dunham and redshirt junior Akevious Williams under center, the signal callers were asked to see the play happen and make the reads quickly during 7-on-7 action. The quarterback duo made solid performances with downfield passes and short passes out of the backfield to the running backs. But it was the way the two read the defense before making the play that Suber harked upon to his backfield tandem.

"Calm down. See what they're giving you. Go through your progressions. But do it on the rhythm we work on every time. Ok?"

Those were the words from the second-year offensive coordinator that was a standout and All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) quarterback of his own rights for the Maroon and Gold back in 2002 and '03.

However, it was the defense that moved at a faster pace on this day.

Darrin Hayes, the defensive backs assistant coach, was heard screaming, "That's it" to his players after making the interception or deflection on passes from Dunham and/or Williams, respectfully.

Aside from a perfect pass to the back of the end zone from Dunham to a streaking Anthony Cruz, the defense stole the day's practice session. The cornerbacks, watched by Assistant Coach Terry Williams, as well as the safeties with Assistant Coach Hayes were in position to make the play(s) for the majority of the eight-period 7-on-7 drills.

The running backs, led by Assistant Coach Carl Franks, came out of the backfield quickly, including a big burst from Tupac Isme on one delayed handoff from Dunham that caught the defense unaware.

"It was a defensive effort today," said Terry Sims afterwards. "As a defensive guy, I love when they are in sync with each other as a unit. I know the offense will get there quickly. I have no doubts about that. But it's always good to see the defense moving at a faster pace, collectively."

Bethune-Cookman continues preparation for its first scrimmage of the spring scheduled for Saturday, April 7, at Municipal Stadium. This scrimmage will be closed to the public.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).

Rush, Nuggets take care of business against Jackson State

NEW ORLEANS — NAIA tennis power Xavier University of Louisiana capped a three-day home win streak against NCAA Division I teams with Sunday victories against Jackson State.
     
The Gold Rush (10-8), ranked second, needed less than two hours to defeat the Tigers 5-0 and win for the ninth time in 11 duals. The Gold Nuggets (13-7), ranked fifth, overcame a doubles deficit and won 5-2 for their 10th consecutive victory.
     
XULA's women defeated Southern Friday, and the men beat Troy Saturday.

Results:  Men   •   Women

The home stand will conclude Thursday when both XULA teams meet William Carey at 1 p.m. The Carey women are ranked sixth in the NAIA, and the men are 13th. New NAIA coaches polls will be announced Tuesday.
     
Because Jackson State's men had five players and forfeited a pair of matches, the Gold Rush needed just three on-court victories to clinch the dual. XULA got them with ease. In doubles, Catalin Fifea and Chris Anders defeated Vishu Prasad and Fritz Jacobs 8-0, and Antoine Richard and Shaikh Abdullah improved to 3-0 against DIs with an 8-4 decision against Andrey Alawi and Stylianos Gkontsaris. Samir Chikhaoui clinched in singles when he beat Joan Sanson 6-2, 6-1.
     
Jackson State's women won 2-of-3 doubles matches, but the Gold Nuggets won four straight in singles to avenge a 4-1 loss at JSU from a year ago. Angela Charles-Alfred and Farah Baklouti both won 6-0, 6-0 in singles — Charles-Alfred against Oni Jones and Baklouti against Chloe Gauvreau-Dredge.
     
Sunday also was Baklouti's birthday.
    
Charlene Goreau continued to dominate on the second singles court with a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Lucia Solis. Yi Chen Pao clinched when she beat Daria Butorina 6-4, 6-1.
     
Goreau, a two-time NAIA All-American, has won her last 11 singles decisions. In her last 10 matches — nine wins and one unfinished — Goreau won 118 games while losing 13. That's a 90-percent success rate.
     
Pao and Borodii earned XULA's only doubles victory with an 8-0 decision against Jones and Gauvreau-Dredge. Borodii, unbeaten in singles as a collegian, and Tyler Smith, who entered with a 13-match win streak, split sets in their matchup, which was halted after Pao clinched.
     
Jackson State's men are 5-18, and its women are 8-13.
     
NOTES:  The XULA women's win streak is the program's longest since 11 straight in 2013 . . . It was the first time in two years that XULA beat DI men's and women's teams on the same day . . . Temperature at the start was 52 degrees — 18 degrees colder than it was Saturday.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush staying power results in 5-4 win vs. DI Troy

NEW ORLEANS — Samir Chikhaoui defeated Amer Bedwan 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 6-4 Saturday to give NAIA No. 2 Xavier University of Louisiana a 5-4 men's tennis victory against NCAA Division I Troy.
     
The Gold Rush (9-8), winning for the eighth time in 10 duals, won three three-set singles matches.
     
Both XULA teams will play host to DI Jackson State at noon Sunday.
     
Chikhaoui won in singles for the seventh time in the last nine matches and snapped Bedwan's six-match win streak.
     
Also winning in three for the Rush were Catalin Fifea, who beat Pelayo Antuna 6-4, 4-6, 6-0, and Gabriel Niculescu, who defeated former Troy teammate Jiaqi Duan 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Niculescu won in singles for the first time since Feb. 23 and the second time since Jan. 28.
     
Freshman Shaikh Abdullah was the lone XULA player to win in doubles and singles. Abdullah and Antoine Richard cruised past Oskar Michalek and Mustapha Belcora 8-2 on the first doubles court, then Abdullah beat Andy Lau 6-3, 6-4.
     
Abdullah has won five of his last six singles matches. He and Richard are 3-1 as doubles team, 2-0 against DIs.
     
The Gold Rush have three victories this season against DIs and 40 in coach Alan Green's 15 seasons at XULA. In the three victories vs. DIs this season, Fifea and Chikhaoui are both 3-0 in singles.

Results

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Fort Valley Wraps up Spring Practice with Spring Game

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- The rain came but didn't spoil the annual spring football game. The Wildcats hit the field and were able to test some new plays and polish up some old ones in front of the faithful who didn't let the rain keep them away from their team. The coaches ran plays and designed action to test both the defense and offense. This observer noticed an increase in speed and agility on the field that will make what was a stingy offense last season even more so in the coming season. In addition, the offense has some new faces and different roles for some of last seasons' returners.

Head coach Kevin Porter when asked about todays' game said "we are happy with the work that we got done this winter and spring. The spring is the time to focus on the areas that need improvement and gives you an opportunity to explore areas where you can expand and grow. We feel confident that we were able to get many of those things done during the spring practice".

The Wildcats got ahead of the weather and the rain wasn't able to stop them. The fans and faithful followers of the team that has played in the last two SIAC championship games saw reason to believe the Wildcat football team will continue to be in front of the competition come fall 2018.

The first game of the season will be against Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Florida September 1, 2018.

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GSU Tigers defense soaks up knowledge from DC Everett Todd

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling still has a few more spring practices before wrapping things up in their annual Black and Gold game next Saturday.

The offense gets a lot of the attention for the G-men, but the defense might steal the show.

The Tigers are led by defensive coordinator Everett Todd who enters his fifth year on that side of the ball, but his career has spanned well beyond that.

Grambling's been at the top of several defensive categories since he joined the coaching staff and redshirt junior Rodney Jackson believes the knowledge he receives from Todd is some of the best in college football.

"One of the most intelligent coaches that I've ever been coached under so I'm extremely appreciative of what he has and what he brings to the table and the amount of effort that he's put into me as a young man and helping me grow as a player," Jackson explained.

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‘Meet Me in St. Louis’: The Red Flash advance to St. Louis in win over Bowie State

ALTOONA, Pennsylvania -- - The Saint Francis bowling team opened the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 series win over Bowie State on Saturday at the Holiday Bowl. The Flash outlasted the Bulldogs 911- 698 during traditional match play while also winning 5-0 during baker match play.

"We knew these lanes would play tough. The oil pushed on both lanes, more so on the right lane. We stayed good with our pin count to keep ourselves clean," said head coach Tom Falbo. Between the break we committed to all playing much deeper to get a consistent reaction. The ladies executed the plan to what the lanes were giving. I'm so proud of how our ladies have performed this past month. Credit to Bowie State who never gave up, and now we look forward to an exciting week in Saint Louis "



During the Mega Match, Freshman Britney Grey (Cattaraugus, N.Y./Cattaraugus Little Valley Central) and Emma Wrenn (Arlington Heights, ILL. /John Hersey ), who was sensational all day, helped the Red Flash jumped out to a big early lead. Grey knocked down 209 total pinfalls as Wrenn chipped in with 190. Haley Carroll (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South), Sarah Littleton (Round Lake Beach, Ill./Grayslake North), and Kyra Udziela (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) also played a virtual role in the Red Flash traditional match victory as Carroll bashed 158, Littleton thumped 173 and Udziela whacked 181 total pinfall.

The Red Flash carried its momentum into the baker match as they were victorious with a 5-0 win and 920-692 total pinfalls. The Flash won, 193-147, 192-151, 194-119, 186-131, and 155-144.

The win helps Saint Francis notch its first NCAA Tournament win in school history and earns a trip to Saint Louis as the 7th seed in the double elimination NCAA National Tournament. The matches will begin on Thursday as times are to be determined. Make sure to follow @RedFlashBowling or sfuathletics.com to get all the information.

Flash Points:

• The Red Flash advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament
• Saint Francis finished with 911 total pin falls during traditional play

SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Lady Railsplitters advance in National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship with hard-fought win over Texas Southern

HARROGATE, Tennessee – The Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team outlasted Texas Southern 105-72 in a five-frame roll-off Friday morning at Hillcrest Lanes in the opening-round match of the 2018 National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship to advance to the eight-team double elimination bracket competition to compete for the national championship April 12-14 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Lady Railsplitters topped the Lady Tigers 897-844 in the traditional team round and rallied from a 52-pin deficit in the final of five Baker matches to tie the score at 871 and force a tiebreaker.

Lincoln Memorial improves to 25-5 in its past 30 matches and 72-50 overall.

"I thought both reams really fought hard," said LMU Director of Bowling and Women's Head Coach Joseph Slowinski.

Freshman Justine Brookover led LMU's balanced effort in the traditional team match by posting a score of 186. Sophomore Mary-Kate Kersting totaled 185 pins, and freshman Christine Hansen recorded 184. Freshman Tyra Sanchez and sophomore Marisol Dodson rounded out the team with scores of 179 and 163, respectively.

"I was very impressed with how well Texas Southern got out of the gate," Slowinski said. "We weren't making the best of shots, but we were sparing well, so we kept ourselves in the match. Through five frames, they were really the better team."

The Lady Tigers made some critical mistakes later in the match that Lincoln Memorial was able to capitalize on to pull ahead by converting spares and adding in some strikes.

"The gutter ball on a turkey flipped that team on a dime," Slowinski said. "They really responded with some key mistakes after. When somebody makes a mistake we want to respond, and we did. We stayed pretty clean throughout the rest and put the match away."

Texas Southern ended the first of five Baker matches with a 50-pin advantage in the second leg of the competition by outscoring the Lady Railsplitters 223-173. LMU battled back in the second match by outscoring Texas Southern 182-145 to cut the deficit to 13. The Lady Tigers increased their lead over the next two matches by outscoring Lincoln Memorial 148-133 and 212-188 to head into the final Baker match up by 52.

"We started off very poorly in that second format match, but we never gave up," said Slowinski.

Hansen's strike in the final frame put LMU ahead 195-143 and tied the overall score at 871 apiece to force a five-pin roll-off.

"She's done that over and over and over again," Slowinski said. "That's why I moved her. We had a lot of anchors and rotations throughout the day. We just keep fighting and find a way to make it work."

Lincoln Memorial will join Nebraska, McKendree, Arkansas State, Vanderbilt, Sam Houston State and North Carolina A&T in St. Louis next weekend to compete for the national championship. The winner between St. Francis (Pa.) and Bowie State in the other opening-round match will be the eighth and final team.

"Anything can happen," Slowinski said. "We will not just show up to show up. We are there to fight and to represent LMU in a world-class standard."

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS SPORTS INFORMATION

Third TSU Football Spring Scrimmage in the Books

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- The third scrimmage of the spring season for the Tennessee State football team included plenty of highlights on both sides of the ball at Hale Stadium on Thursday night.

“All in all, I thought it was a pretty good scrimmage,” Head Coach Rod Reed said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’re getting to see a lot of things. A lot of young guys were out there playing today with as depleted as the defensive line is. It’s always good to get out here and see it and go back and evaluate it on film.”

• Opening up with 7-on-7, Kalen Whitlow moved the offense with first-down completions to Chris Rowland and Steven Newbold.
• On the next 7-on-7 drive, it was Demry Croft’s turn to take the reins of the offense. The drive was highlighted by a 20 yard completion to DeVon Johnson and a 25 yarder to Al-Malik Moore.
• More big plays came from the offense on the first 11-on-11 drive of the day courtesy of Te’kendrick Roberson. After back-to-back short gains, Roberson broke off a 70-yard touchdown run up the middle.
• Seth Rowland continued the offense’s momentum with a 50-yard run on the right sideline. Croft capped the drive with a touchdown run from five yards out.
• It was the defense’s turn to make big plays on the next drive. After a Shakur Jackson pass breakup, Ronnie Killings came up with an interception on a tipped pass.
• Kicker Mitchell Boudreaux drilled a 42 yard field goal after the next drive stalled.
• On some of the last action of the day, running back Shawn McColley punched in a two-yard touchdown run, and linebacker Blair Edwards picked up an interception and 40-yard return.

HEAD COACH ROD REED

“I thought it went really well. It’s good to see the offense come out and have a fast start. Obviously, you don’t want to see that on the defensive side, but it was great to see the offense come out and make some big runs. “Te’kendrick (Roberson) and Seth Rowland had some really good runs, and I thought that Shawn McColley - he’s a big back – got down on the goal line and was able to punch one in. It was good to see that.”
- On the running backs

“I thought Demry (Croft) had good control of the offense. Michael Hughes had class tonight, so he couldn’t be here, but (Kalen) Whitlow turned the ball over with the interception. One was his fault, the other one was not his fault. We’ve got to cut turnovers down. On defense, we’ve got to continue to create turnovers.”
- On the quarterbacks

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New UMES basketball coach has 1 year to make an impression on team — and his bosses

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- Cliff Reed is used to the offseason at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

In the last few years, Reed has prepared for the upcoming men’s basketball season as a member of Bobby Collins’ coaching staff. But on March 27, UMES officials announced they would not renew Collins' contract after his four seasons as coach.

Less than a day later, Reed was appointed the interim head coach and assigned to coach the team for the 2018-19 season. After that, a national search for a permanent replacement is expected to be conducted.

However, Reed has a year to prove he has the tools needed to get UMES back to its winning ways.

Having coached at nearly every level of the sport, Reed brings years of experience to the table and a passion for helping athletes discover their true potential.

“I just want to build upon some of the big things we've established,” Reed said. “The main thing I want to do is create the culture I would like to see. I’m a military man, my thought process is a little bit different, so I want to create a culture that’s different, because that’s the foundation of a program and not just a team.”

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Mahorn credits Hampton teammates with his Virginia Hall induction

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Nearly four decades have passed since Rick Mahorn played basketball at Hampton Institute. The Pirates have subsequently upgraded to Division I, changed conferences twice and represent Hampton University, but Mahorn’s records endure.

Most points in a career and game. Most rebounds in a career and game.

Mahorn is proud of those standards, and they’re a primary reason for his Saturday induction into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. But there’s something in which Mahorn takes far more pride.



His lasting friendship with Hampton teammates.

A radio analyst for the Detroit Pistons, the franchise he helped to the 1989 NBA championship, Mahorn doesn’t see his Pirates crew in-person very much. But through the Marco Polo video conferencing app on his phone, he sees them almost daily.

“We talk about fatherhood, family life,” Mahorn said, the enthusiasm growing with every word. “These are my Hampton guys. These are my Pirates, baby!”

Marvin Payne, Rich Taliaferro and Darryl Warwick. Greg Hines and Antonio Washington.

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Nuggets shut out Southern for ninth straight victory

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana women produced their first-ever dual-match shutout of Southern University with a 6-0 victory Friday at XULA Tennis Center.
     
The Gold Nuggets (12-7), ranked fifth in the NAIA, have a nine-dual winning streak, their longest since winning 11 straight in 2013. They also notched their first victory against an NCAA Division I opponent after five losses this season.
      
Southern (6-12) had only five available players. Doubles matches were not played.
     
XULA kept intact five singles streaks. Mariia Borodii is 12-0 this season after a 7-5, 6-2 victory against Tanaka Chakanyuka. Angela Charles-Alfred is 7-0 after her 6-3, 6-1 decision against Nicki Neal. Charlene Goreau extended her win streak to 10 by beating Stephanie Mbaya 6-1, 6-2. Yi Chen Pao defeated Mia Kent 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) for her seventh consecutive victory, and Farah Baklouti made it six in a row with her 6-4, 6-4 decision against D'Jeri Raymond.
     
Chakanyuka, Neal and Raymond all won in singles a year ago in Southern's 6-1 victory against XULA.
     
XULA's top three singles players, Borodii, Goreau and Charles-Alfred, produced the Gold Nuggets' first sweep at those positions against Southern in 11 years.
     
XULA's men will play host to NCAA DI Troy at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will play host to DI Jackson State at noon Sunday.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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