Kent State Set To Host Delaware State On Saturday

Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications

Complete Delaware State Game Notes (PDF Format)
Click here to Watch the Game Live on K-Zone!

Kent State (0-2) vs.
Delaware State (1-0)
Saturday, September 13, 2008 • 2:00 p.m. EDT
Dix Stadium (25,000/FieldTurf) • Kent, Ohio
WNIR 100.1 FM (Tom Linder, Reggie Crook & Ty Linder)

THE OPENING KICK

Kent State will debut the new-look Dix Stadium on Saturday when the Golden Flashes welcome Football Championship Series opponent Delaware State to Kent for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Flashes earned a 38-7 victory, handing the Hornets their only regular season setback against 10 victories.

In last year’s match-up, Eugene Jarvis rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown, while also catching a 42-yard TD pass as part of a 267-yard passing day for quarterback Julian Edelman. Shawn Bayes started the scoring with a 42-yard touchdown grab before closing out the game with a 95-yard kickoff return with 22 seconds remaining.

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE IS PACKED

Beginning when doors open on Tailgate Alley at 11:30 a.m. right up until the end of the game, the Heroes’ Day activities surrounding Kent State’s home opener Saturday against Delaware State will have fans excited, entertained and most importantly, educated.

The day will begin at Tailgate Alley with interactive displays and demonstrations from the four branches of the armed forces and local fire, police and rescue squads. In addition, the Flight 93 exhibit and timeline that spent all week at the M.A.C. Center will also be set up.

Prior to the game, the Army Fast Track Jump team will deliver the game ball and the Air Force will conduct a fly-over following a national anthem performance that will be highlighted by the unveiling of a 47’ x 90’ American flag on the field. In addition, family members of the Flight 93 passengers and crew, members of the U.S. Army and a Wounded Warrior representative will be on hand for the coin toss involving a special Flight 93 commemorative coin.

FLASH FACTS

• Running back Eugene Jarvis moved within 12 yards of taking over fourth place in the KSU rushing annals with his 139-yard performance at Iowa State. The junior now has 2,657 yards in just over two seasons.

• Quarterback Julian Edelman has completed 55.6 percent of his passes en route to throwing for 294 yards in the first two games. He is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 97 yards.

• Linebacker Derek Burrell extended his double-digit tackles streak to six games with 11 stops at Iowa State. After two games, he leads the MAC with 25 tackles.

• Delaware State is the only school out of the MEAC that Kent State has faced in its 86-year history.

A GLANCE AT THE SERIES

Kent State won last year’s contest, 38-7, in the first meeting between the two schools. The loss was the only regular season setback for the Hornets as the Flashes improved to 26-22-1 all-time against FCS opponents. DSU is the only MEAC school KSU has ever faced.

KSU VS. FCS OPPONENTS UNDER MARTIN

Year Opponent Result Score
2003 Youngstown State W 16-13
2007 Liberty W 38-10
2007 SE Missouri State W 33-12
2007 Delaware State W 38-7

TELEVISION

None. However, the game can be seen on http://www.kentstatesports.com/ as part of the premium content on the K-Zone.

RADIO

For the second straight year, the excitement of Golden Flashes football can be found on flagship station WNIR 100.1 FM in Northeast Ohio as part of the Kent State ISP Sports Network. New for this year, Tom Linder slides over from the analyst chair to handle the play-by-play duties, with Reggie Crook (defensive back at KSU, 1998-01) joining the team as the color analyst. Once again, Ty Linder will roam the sidelines for all of the broadcasts.

WEB SITE

Live audio for all Kent State football game broadcasts, live video of select games and live stats are available via the K-Zone on the official athletic department web site (http://www.kentstatesports.com/).

THE COACHES

• Doug Martin (Kentucky ‘85) is in his fifth season as a head coach, owning a 15-33 record at the helm of the Golden Flashes. He was promoted to head coach March 1, 2004, after serving as Kent State’s offensive coordinator in 2003. (For a complete Martin bio see page 12.)

• Al Lavan (Colorado State ‘70) has a 30-16 record in his fifth season at Delaware State. Overall, he is 32-17 in six seasons as a head coach, including a 2-1 mark at Eastern Michigan in 2003 after taking over for Jeff Woodruff, who was fired after the Eagles started 1-8.

UP NEXT

The Golden Flashes embark on a two-game road trip beginning at Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 20. Following the first-ever meeting between the two schools, Kent State will open up MAC play the following weekend at Ball State in a game that will be televised on ESPN Plus.

NSU Spartans prepare for an improved N.C. A&T team

NORFOLK, VA -North Carolina A&T puts its streak on the line on Saturday against Norfolk State. The Aggies have won two straight - and if that doesn't sound like any great win streak, consider that before they had lost the past 27 for the dubious distinction of having the longest losing streak in the nation.

NSU Spartans held Kentucky to 38 points and has a solid defense. Look for the Aggies offense to give the Spartans more than they can handle.

And while NSU coach Pete Adrian talks of being wary of Michael Ferguson, on pace to become that school's all-time leading rusher, the Aggies' defense is what got it done on Saturday when the team defeated Winston-Salem State 14-9. Before a sellout crowd in Greensboro, the Aggies held their opponent to less than 100 yards of offense.

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Stats tell story of SU defense

Eighty-nine points in two games. With opposing quarterbacks completing 79.8 percent of their passes. Against Southern’s more veteran unit, its supposed strength. Where’s the defense? “It’s still here,” strong safety Glenn Bell said. “We’ve just got to work out some kinks. We’ve got to rededicate ourselves. That fire we had last year, it’s not showing out there right now.”

Southern defensive coordinator Terrence Graves showed his team the harsh numbers. “The last couple weeks have been disappointing from the defense’s point of view,” defensive tackle Joseph Selders said. “We need to work on our focus, as a team.” Southern (0-2) is looking to rebound defensively in its home opener, a 6 p.m. nonconference game with Mississippi Valley State (1-0) in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

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Update: (9/12/08) Ike Wins! Prairie View A&M-Sam Houston State football game was canceled!

Sam Houston-Prairie View Game Notes (.pdf)

Sam Houston State Bearkats (1-0) vs. Prairie View A&M Panthers (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 -- 6 p.m.
Bowers Stadium -- Huntsville, TX
Radio KSAM 101.7 FM
Internet Radio: http://www.gobearkats.com/

The Sam Houston State Bearkats look to make it to 2-0 on the season when they take on Prairie View A&M on Parent's Weekend this Saturday. The Panthers come in to town after a 53-0 victory over Texas College, while the Bearkats look to get back to where they left off with their strong victory over East Central Oklahoma, 58-14.

Prairie View A&M is 2-0 with its first winning season since 1976 coming last year when the Panthers went 7-3. The Panthers hold the all time record for most consecutives losses at 80, lasting from 1989-98. This is almost double the previous record held by Columbia University, who accumulated 44 straight losses.

The Bearkats look to have another explosive offensive performance out of Rhett Bomar, who passed for 198 yards and had four touchdowns, as well as 30 yards rushing. The offense scored on every possession of the first half, including two touchdown catches by Catron Houston, and another by Jason Madkins. James Aston also rushed for 115 yards on eight carries and two scores.

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Expect Hurricane Ike to win this battle...

Offensive line big part of DSU's title quest

It was a direct order, the kind not to be questioned. It came from the guy at the top, after all. If he knew what was good for him, Adrian Brown, all 330 pounds of him, had better listen closely. "[Head coach Al] Lavan said, 'No fat guys allowed,' " the offensive lineman recalled of the first week he arrived at DSU from Hudson Valley College in 2007. " 'You all got to be slim and trim.'

"It was no joke. I found out the offensive linemen probably run more than anyone on the team." Brown and the rest of the offensive linemen have heeded Lavan's warning, and that could lead to the Hornets successfully defending their title as champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. "When you look back at where we've come from, this is the best [line] that we've had since I've been here," said Lavan, whose Hornets (1-0) visit Division I-A Kent State (0-2) from the Mid-American Conference on Saturday in Kent, Ohio.

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FAMU focusing on run defense during bye week

Asked how much the FAMU defensive unit would like to limit opposing teams on the ground, nose tackle Cameron Houston chuckled.

"To be honest, I don't want anybody get nothing on us," he said. "We are trying to get a lot of penetration up front. We're just trying to shut down everything. We're going to have a Steel Curtain." The Rattlers' defense seemed to be close to doing just that coming out of preseason camp, but it showed vulnerability against the run in their first two games.

Delaware State's running back Chris Strother had 129 yards on 32 carries against FAMU last Thursday night. That followed the opener against Alabama State, which rushed for 125 yards as a team. With Saturday being an off day for FAMU...

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Senior Linebacker Could Be Howard's Next NFL Star

This electrical engineering major could be Howards next big NFL star.

WASHINGTON, D. C. -- On Monday, Howard University senior linebacker Endor Cooper -- already named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's preseason defensive player of the year -- was honored as the conference's defensive player of the week. In Sunday's 12-7 loss to Georgetown University, Cooper recorded a career high 18 tackles, including 13 unassisted and 2.5 tackles for losses, according to the official Web site of Howard athletics.

Cooper burst onto the scene as a sophomore when he recorded five sacks in a game against Bethune-Cookman. That was the most ever in a game in Howard football history.
Cooper's talent was noticed when he played at Hylton High School in Woodbridge. He was selected as one of George Michael's Golden 11 and received scholarship offers from big programs.

VIEW: The ENDOR COOPER VIDEO

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Tennessee State vs. Southern U. Battle of Bands 9/6/08

No need for motivation: SCSU ready for Lowcountry Classic

S.C. STATE VS. BENEDICT: Video Hightlights



Motivation will not be a problem this week for South Carolina State.

Unlike the games against Central Florida and Benedict, the objective is not just about trying to have a good showing in a bid for victory. And, Saturday’s Lowcountry Classic matchup against Bethune-Cookman at Johnson Hagood Stadium is not just about playing well in front of the Charleston Bulldog fans. It’s the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for S.C. State and as S.C. State head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough reiterated at Monday’s press conference, it’s a contest the Bulldogs cannot afford to lose.

“I can tell you that our sense of urgency in this matter is pretty intense,” he said. Although S.C. State (1-1) has won three of the last four meetings against the Wildcats (following a six-year winless stretch from 1998-2003), the memory of that one loss at the 2006 Lowcountry Classic still lingers. The 45-21 thrashing at the hands of Bethune-Cookman was not only Pough’s worst conference loss, but served as an albatross the rest of the season for the Bulldogs’ MEAC title hopes.

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Grambling to start Tillman at Northwestern State

Missouri transfer J.P. Tillman will start for Grambling State this week. Tillman, subbing for sophomore Greg Dillon on Saturday against Alcorn State, was 12-of-25 for 143 yards and two scores. Dillon, a sophomore, finished 4-of-8 for just 24 yards in the eventual 29-0 win for GSU.

Grambling faces Northwestern State, a fellow Football Championship Subdivision program in Natchitoches, on Saturday. Kickoff has been moved up to 2 p.m., four hours earlier than initially announced, to accommodate the Grambling band -- which has been invited to perform the next day at a home game of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

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SU will decide on game Wednesday

Southern University officials expect to know by Wednesday if the school will be able to host Saturday’s home opener with Mississippi Valley State. The school is in the process of fixing damage caused by Hurricane Gustav and keeping an eye on Hurricane Ike’s track. “We want to wait until Wednesday,” Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said. “We know it’s coming. We want to see which direction it’s going in by Wednesday.”

SU officials met Monday afternoon to discuss damage assessments from Gustav. If Saturday’s 6 p.m. game is postponed, the teams would play Dec. 6, LaFleur said. The teams have no common open dates until then. That would sandwich the game between the Nov. 29 Bayou Classic and the Dec. 13 Southwestern Athletic Conference (should either be a participant).

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Understated NFL Star Ken Riley Remains Underrated

Former Florida A&M University Rattlers Ken Riley and Bob Hayes, deserve to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Their inductions are long overdue as less accomplished players are being named to the Hall.

If Ken Riley had come up with a little trademark dance to perform after each of his 65 NFL interceptions, he might be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame today. But it isn't Riley's nature to call attention to himself. "I was very low-key," he said. "I always felt actions spoke louder than words."

Now he's not so sure. Twenty-five years after retiring as an active player, the 61-year-old Riley is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A strong case can be made that he should be, starting with statistics and longevity, and then considering more subtle issues like character and what a Hall of Fame should be about.

"He's the kind of classy guy you want to see in the Hall of Fame, what it stands for," said Arthur Hightower, director of player development for the San Diego Chargers. "The Sixties was a turbulent time, and he was a college quarterback who changed positions and never questioned it. Ken Riley has never been a 'me' person; he's always been a guy who just gets the job done."

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N.C.A & T Aggies go to 2-0 with win over WSSU Rams

Coach Lee Fobbs is beaming after a 2-0 start to the Aggie season.

Box Score

GREENSBORO -- It's a streak -- a winning streak for N.C. A&T. The offense scored early in the fourth quarter to give the Aggies breathing room and the defense made a late game, goal-line stand to protect that lead, as the Aggies came away with a 14-8 victory over Winston-Salem State on Saturday at Aggies Stadium.

After 27 straight losses, the victory gives A&T a 2-0 record to start the season and consecutive wins since 2005. After two Division II opponents at home, the Aggies now travel to Norfolk State next week, but coach Lee Fobbs knows that this year's version of the Aggies is much more prepared for their MEAC opener than they have been in the past.

"They believe that it (winning) is going to happen," Fobbs said. "It was all about effort, the effort they put in tonight and back on Tuesday and Wednesday. We have to stay on the right path. I just have a plan and we are working that plan."

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Attendance: 21,500 (100%) @ Aggie Stadium, Greensboro, N.C. (Capacity: 22,000).

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GU Hoyas Storm Back to Beat HU Bison in Season Opener

Boxscore (PDF)

GU Takes Inaugural D.C. Cup

On a summery Sunday afternoon on the campus of Howard University, Georgetown’s third season under Head Coach Kevin Kelly began with a refreshing air of optimism as clean and clear as the all-white road uniforms the Hoyas were sporting. A turnover on the opening kickoff gave the Bison excellent field position to start, but on a fourth and two with 13:15 remaining in the first quarter, the defensive line collapsed around the quarterback, and junior defensive back Dennis Jackson broke up a short slant pass.

In a play, the 2008 Hoyas showed why a new season provides fresh hope. Behind a dangerous two-quarterback attack and a revitalized defensive line, Georgetown seized the inaugural D.C. Cup 12-7 with a resilient comeback performance at Greene Stadium. The game was postponed on Saturday due to Tropical Storm Hanna. “They kept scratching and clawing,” Kelly said of his team. “This game could have gone either way. Howard played an excellent football game as well; we just made a couple of plays down the line to win the game.”

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Attendance: 6,085 (61%) @ William H. Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C. (Capacity: 10,000)

JMU Smacks N.C. Central, 56-7

HARRISONBURG, VA – A week ago, a football team from Durham, N.C., slapped some of the swagger from James Madison. Saturday night, against another team from the same city, the Dukes grabbed it all back. With quarterback Rodney Landers bouncing back from a nightmarish effort against Duke, JMU scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions to stomp North Carolina Central 56-7 in front of 15,518 fans on a surprisingly bright evening at Bridgeforth Stadium.

“Anytime you lose, people nitpick, find something to say,” Landers said. “We know what we can do because we're out at practice every day. We throw the ball around a lot, we change it up. Tonight I think we showed a little bit of that versatility.”

Nobody had more to prove than the senior quarterback, who committed three turnovers before being benched for JMU’s final possession in a 31-7 loss at Duke last weekend. Saturday, Landers was at his most efficient, finishing 13-for-17 through the air for 164 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 31 yards and a score on three carries.

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Attendance: 15,518 (100%) @ Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA (Capacity: 15,500).

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SSU Tigers blows out Livingstone

SAVANNAH, GA - The monkey is officially off of Robby Wells' back, Wells and Savannah State picked up their first win of the season by beating Livingstone College 45-10 at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. It was the Tigers first win in almost a year. Prior to their win over the Blue Bears, the Tigers were on a 9 game losing skid dating back to last season. Their last win came against Johnson C. Smith on September 7th until Saturday.

"Its really exciting," says Coach Wells, "I just want to thank everyone for all they've done who helped us get to this point. It's good to have my family here. We're going to celebrate tonight, that's for sure." Kurvin Curry had a total of 326 yards and 4 touchdowns. "Now everyone knows what it feels like and Coach Wells is going to coach us to a lot more wins. I know we can do it."





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Attendance: 2,157 (29%) Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, GA (Capacity: 7,500)

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S.C. State routs Benedict in home opener

Benedict College was not the only adversary South Carolina State was facing Saturday night at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Just as important as a win was getting its offense -- specifically running back William Ford and quarterback Malcolm Long -- on track after a poor showing last week against Division I Football Bowl Subdivision foe Central Florida.

From a statistical standpoint and the final outcome, the Bulldogs seemingly accomplished those goals in the 42-3 rout of the Tigers. Ford sparked a revived S.C. State offense, which tallied 412 total yards with three rushing touchdowns and surpassed 100 yards for the first time all season. As for Long, he was 13-19 passing for a career-high 173 yards and two touchdowns. The Gaffney native also thrilled the home crowd of 10,200 fans with a 74-yard bomb to Phillip Morris in the fourth quarter.

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Attendance: 10,200 (46.4%) @ Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, Orangeburg, SC (Capacity: 22,000)

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Jacksonville State Gamecocks Roll To 45-18 Win Over AAMU Bulldogs in Home Opener

FINAL STATISTICS
PHOTO GALLERY

JACKSONVILLE, AL-- Jacksonville State scored 24 second quarter points to erase a 12-10 deficit en route to a 45-18 win over Alabama A&M in front 16,654 at Paul Snow Stadium on Saturday. The Gamecocks improved to 1-1 in front of the third largest crowd in Paul Snow Stadium history while Alabama A&M fell to 0-2 on the year.

“I think we came out here with a great purpose and tried to say that we’re a good football team that has some good ambitions,” JSU Head Coach Jack Crowe said. “I am proud of it. I still think we have a lot of work left to do, but I think we are good enough to have high expectations.”

Daniel Jackson got the scoring started on JSU’s opening drive when he took an option pitch and rambled 37-yardS to give JSU a 7-0 lead. The Bulldogs responded with the next three scores to cut the deficit into a Bulldog lead. Jeremy Licea made field goals of 26 and 38 yards and A&M took a 12-10 lead when Anthony Green scored on a one-yard run with 11:17 to go in the second quarter, just before JSU’s big second quarter.

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Attendance: 16,654 (111%) @ Paul Snow Stadium, Jacksonville, AL (Capacity: 15,000).

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PVAMU Panthers routs Texas College 53-0 for second straight win

Game Statistics

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas- The Prairie View A&M Panthers scored early and often in a 53-0 rout of the Texas College Steers on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Blackshear Field. The win marks the Panthers largest margin of victory over an opponent since 1955.

The Panthers took a 19-0 advantage over the Steers into intermission before erupting for 34 second half points fueled by a relentless rushing attack and success via the airwaves. Defensive end Quinton Spears put the Panthers’ first points on the board in the second half on a 10-yard fumble recovery which he subsequently returned for a touchdown.

The Panthers defense would add more points to the scoreboard as defensive back Jason Fobbs returned a interception 48-yards for a touchdown. PVAMU quarterback Mark Spivey had another productive night behind center as he threw for 181 yards and one touchdown. Spivey’s TD pass was a 44-yard connection with wide receiver Shaun Stephens at the 8:10 mark of the third quarter.

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Attendance: 5562 (93%) @Blackshear Stadium, Prairie View, TX (Capacity: 6,000).

Grambling defense in championship form against Alcorn

PHOTO GALLERY:
Alcorn St. v. Grambling, 9/6
Grambling halftime show, 9/6
Grambling/Alcorn You Cam

GRAMBLING, LA -- Grambling State's Saturday night game against Alcorn State figured to be more telling than the Tigers' season opener against Nevada. The Grambling offense managed just five net rushing yards in last week's 49-13 loss, while the defense allowed 426 rushing yards. But surely those numbers were a product of the matchup -- Grambling was tussling with an FBS opponent.

Against ASU the talent level would be equal. The Tigers would be playing in the friendly confines of Robinson Stadium. Order would be restored. Right? Well, sort of. Grambling's defense put forth a great performance from start to finish, holding Alcorn State scoreless in the 29-0 victory. The Tigers created five turnovers, held the Braves to 176 yards of total offense -- including just 41 yards on the ground -- and created countless easy scoring opportunities.

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Attendance: 10,077 (51%) @ Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA (Capacity: 19,800).