Deception aids Southern win

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Had there been time, Southern would have tried a 29-yard Josh Duran field goal.

But the clock ran out on the third quarter, and as the teams changed sides, SU coach Pete Richardson called for the play his team had practiced all week: a fake, with holder Nick Benjamin connecting with tight end Evan Alexander for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

That play, combined with stout defense, gave SU a cushion to beat Prairie View 12-2 Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The touchdown pass was the first for Benjamin since 2002 as a quarterback at WS Neal High in East Brewton, Ala.

Benjamin had never thrown a pass, let alone for a score, at Southern.

“Coach really thought I could step up and make that throw,” Benjamin said. “I knew I had to do that for the team, so that’s what I did.”

Some factors for SU to consider: Duran, a true freshman, is 5-for-8 on PATs and 1-for-2 on field-goal tries this season. ... The field position change meant Duran would have been kicking into a brisk breeze. ... PV had blocked two punts and a field-goal try the week before. ... And PV had come strong so far Saturday night.

“We practiced on that all week,” Richardson said. “I knew they were going on an all-out block. That’s what they had been doing all the time, so we took a chance.”

So, Richardson told Benjamin of the change.

“When I went over, I kind of figured he’d change the call,” Benjamin said. “But when he did, it really brought it to realization it was really about to happen. I had to get my mind right. I knew I had to step up and make the throw in order to put some points on the board.”


No butterflies?
“Naaaah,” Benjamin said.
No problem.
Alexander, lined up on the right side, released at the snap. That meant that, if PV was already coming strong, that side, where Benjamin now was as he rolled, was more vulnerable.

Said Benjamin, “There was some pressure (coming), but it just went back to the old days: avoid the pressure and make the throw.”

Said Alexander, “It was a little pop pass. We knew they were going to be rushing real hard off my side. We had watched film. We had practiced it all week. I just released off my line and faded to the back of the end zone.”

Alexander created enough separation and the ball was on target.

“They blitzed hard, and I was wide-open in the back of the end zone,” Alexander said. “It was planned the whole time.”

The gutsy call extended Southern’s lead from a thin 6-0 (a missed extra point) to 12-0 (a failed two-point conversion pass) with 14:55 to play.

Here’s some weirdness. Southern scored on the first play of the fourth quarter against Prairie View for the second straight season.

But unlike the 20-6 lead on Kendall Addison’s 5-yard touchdown run with 14:54 remaining in a 26-23 overtime loss a year ago, the Jaguars made this 12-0 lead stand.

“We called it,” PV coach Henry Frazier III said. “We said, ‘Watch the fake.’ Their guy missed the extra point. They were kicking into the wind, and we said, ‘It’s a fake.’ We called it out and we didn’t make the play. We didn’t execute.”

How They Scored: SU-PVU

Second quarter

SOUTHERN: Quarterback Bryant Lee, with Prairie View blitzing, fires a 15-yard touchdown pass to Gerard Landry with 0:52 left in the first half (kick failed). DRIVE: 56 yards in eight plays. TIME OF POSSESSION: 3:00. KEY PLAY: Lee starts the march with a 17-yard pass to Juamorris Stewart. SOUTHERN 6, PRAIRIE VIEW 0.

Fourth quarter

SOUTHERN: On a fake field-goal try, holder Nick Benjamin rolls right and flips a 12-yard touchdown pass to Evan Alexander, a tight end with 14:55 left in the game (pass failed). DRIVE: 59 yards in seven plays. TIME OF POSSESSION: 3:09. KEY PLAYS: Kendrick Smith breaks free for gains of 13 and 9 yards and Prairie View is flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct as two defenders simulate cramps just as SU gets to the line of scrimmage.

SOUTHERN 12, PRAIRIE VIEW 0.

PRAIRIE VIEW: Safety with 12:39 remaining in the game. Southern is called for holding in the end zone during a Josh Duran punt.

SOUTHERN 12, PRAIRIE VIEW 2.

Final score: Southern 12, Prairie View 2.

Attendance: 16,372.

Next game: Southern hosts Tennessee State at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

SU Lands doesn’t let up for victorious Jaguars

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

A year ago, Southern defensive end Vince Lands couldn’t stop Prairie View from its stunning overtime victory, having already been carted off the field on a stretcher with dehydration.

A year later, Prairie View couldn’t stop Lands or his defensive mates.

The Jaguars defense, with Lands sacking Chris Gibson twice and teaming on another sack of backup Mark Spivey, came up with two fourth-and-short stops in Southern territory and totaled three interceptions to power a 12-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

“It really burned inside, because I couldn’t finish the game,” Lands said of the 26-23 overtime loss that started a tailspin after a promising start last season. “I felt like I left my team down, so I tried to lay it all on the line and stick it out, even when I was tired. It was just pride tonight.”

That time, in Prairie View’s first win over Southern since 1971, the Panthers turned two Southern fumbles into 14 points in the final 2:33. And that time, after the SU offense coughed up the ball on consecutive bad snaps, the defense didn’t hold up, even against a PV offense that struggled then and all season to pass the ball.

This time, Southern’s offense never could get rolling like the Jaguars had in their first two games, with SU totaling 223 total yards (67 rushing after 293 the week before) and getting a fourth-quarter touchdown on a fake field-goal try. But this time, Southern’s defense held strong and refused to let PV score — stopping the Panthers six times in Southern territory.

“The defense, we really stepped it up tonight,” said Lands, who had eight tackles, including 4&permil for losses.

Photo: Defensive end Vincent Lands sacks Prairie View A&M quarter-back Chris Gibson.










Southern (3-0, 2-0 SWAC) has kept opponents out of the end zone for six straight quarters. If not for a fourth quarter safety, for holding in the end zone during a punt, Prairie View (2-1, 1-1) would have been shut out.

Prairie View had 77 yards in the second half. The Panthers, down 6-0 at the time, were stopped after an incomplete Gibson pass on fourth-and-3 at the Southern 28-yard line and, after getting to the SU 15 down 12-2, free safety Jarmaul George picked off Spivey.

“We got a little more pressure on the quarterback, and once we started to do that, then he started to get a little antsy and we were able to do some things,” SU head coach Pete Richardson said. “That’s the thing we have to do: make them move their feet. Once we started doing that, Lands did a great job coming off that corner.”

How different than getting medical attention on a stretcher was this night for Lands? After sprinting to drag down the mobile Gibson from behind five minutes into the fourth quarter, Lands raced over to the SU sideline to leap into a chest bump with SU defensive coordinator Terrence Graves.

“That’s just Coach Graves’ swagger. That’s just our chemistry,” Lands said.

Prairie View looked to take that oomph away early in the game, driving 46 yards on the opening drive to the SU 17. But on a fourth-and-1, Gibson saw a gap in Southern’s line and gambled, only to get denied for no gain. Cornerback Efe Osawemwenze intercepted Gibson on PV’s next touch.

“We want to come out of the locker room, playing fast, playing hard and making things happen,” Graves said.

Gibson finished 11-for-26 for 69 yards and two interceptions, with Spivey, entering in the fourth quarter, going 11-for-18 for 76 yards and an interception.

Although Calvin Harris rushed for 69 yards, Gibson, averaging 99.5 yards per game on the ground, had minus-17.

“We made some plays on defense,” Richardson said.

Meanwhile, Southern’s offense, which has had slow starts in all three games, made the most of two drives - finished by clutch plays—after good field position.

First, as free safety Anthnony Beck blitzed hard, quarterback Bryant Lee, who was 22-for-36 for 144 yards, zipped a 15-yard touchdown pass to Gerard Landry for a 6-0 lead with 52 seconds before halftime. The PAT by Josh Duran was no good.

Second, holder Nick Benjamin, a former high school quarterback, tossed a 12-yard TD pass to tight end Evan Alexander for a 12-yard TD five seconds into the fourth quarter.

On the possession after the safety, getting PV within 12-2 with 12:39 left in the game, the Panthers started at the Southern 49 but finished at their own 35. First, Lands hauled down Ben Boyd for a 7-yard loss. Then, PV went back 5 yards for a false start. Then, after a 2-yard gain, Lands blasted Gibson from behind.

The next PV touch was a three-and-out. The next ended in the George interception. The next closed out the game.

“Just a credit to the defense. Those guys are just playing hard,” Graves said. “We call it, and those guys are just executing at a high level.”

Southern has won four straight games, dating to last season. And after two straight losing seasons, the Jaguars are off to their first 3-0 start since 2003, when the team went 12-1 and won the SWAC and black college national titles.

“We’ve got to just live from week to week,” Richardson said. “We’re real thin on that offensive line. Injuries could make things real ugly for us. We just have to regroup and come on back.”

UAB plays like Alcorn State but wins 22-0

Photo: UAB Kicker Swayze Waters

STEVE IRVINE, Birmingham

Waters sets record as Blazers pitch shutout over Alcorn State

Want to take an optimistic view of UAB's 22-0 non-conference victory over Alcorn State on Saturday night at Legion Field?

Then focus on Swayze Waters' school-record five field goals and the Blazers' first defensive shutout since 1999.

For you pessimists out there, why couldn't UAB put the ball in the end zone more than once? And, really, how impressive is a shutout of an Alcorn State team that has scored 13 points in three games?

For the record, Neil Callaway can see both sides - at least as far as his offense is concerned.

"It was great what he (Waters) did because he made them all and, really, I don't think there was any question on any of them," said Callaway, after his team improved to 1-2. "On the other hand, we wished we could score a few more touchdowns."

Regardless, linebacker Joe Henderson was pleased Callaway won for the first time as a head coach.

"I felt good to get him a win and see a smile on his face because he doesn't smile very often," Henderson said. "He's tough on us, so we're happy to see him smiling and happy."

Take away the offense's inability to put the ball in the end zone and the Blazers did several things on Saturday night not only to make Callaway happy but to please a crowd of 21,828.

The most important thing was breaking an eight-game losing streak. Before Saturday night, the last time UAB went home victorious was when it beat Memphis at Legion Field on Oct. 7, 2006.

"It means a lot," said safety Will Dunbar. "That losing taste that you've got in your mouth is finally out. You got to get used to winning again. It just gives a big boost to us and is a confidence builder."

Obviously, it was the defense that spearheaded the streak-breaking victory.

The defense took turns being stifling and optimistic. The Blazers allowed the Braves (0-3) just 233 yards in offense. When Alcorn State did get moving in the first half, Henderson and Dunbar stepped up to end drives with interceptions. In the end, it was the Blazers' first shutout in the past 91 games - dating to a 47-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 2, 1999.

"We turned the ball over inside of their territory two or three times and that hurt us," said Alcorn State head coach Johnny Thomas. "You can't do that against a good football team like UAB."

The game would have been more nerve-wracking for the Blazers without those turnovers because UAB had trouble getting the ball in the end zone.

Three promising first-half drives ended up with Waters converting on field goals of 42, 32 and 52 yards. Two promising second-half drives ended with Waters drilling field goals of 22 and 38 yards.

When he was through, Waters set a school record and tied a Conference USA mark for field goals in a game. But the Blazers would have preferred that Waters wasn't so busy.

"It always drives you crazy when you can't score touchdowns," said fullback David Sigler. "But points are points. It was just a bunch of little things we need to correct to score some touchdowns."

The only touchdown of the night came when quarterback Sam Hunt floated a pass to Sigler in the right flat that Sigler turned into a 4-yard score.

It gave UAB a 16-0 halftime lead.

Other than Waters, the most promising offensive performance came from former Homewood standout Brandon Thornton, who started in place of a banged-up Rashaud Slaughter. Thornton, playing for the first time in a UAB uniform, carried the ball 21 times for 89 yards even though he claimed to be rusty. Jim Mitchell chipped in with 78 yards on 12 carries as the Blazers gained 211 net yards rushing on 45 carries.

Attendance: 21,828

Howard's Lead Is Short-Lived as Florida A&M Takes Over

by The Washington Post

Photo: FAMU RB Philip Sylvester takes it 94 yards to the house (Touchdown--FAMU)!

Albert Chester threw two touchdown passes and Philip Sylvester ran for 222 yards to lead Florida A&M to a 30-17 win over Howard last night in Tallahassee.

Brian Johnson threw two touchdown passes to Jarahn Williams for the Bison (0-2, 0-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).

The Rattlers (1-2, 1-1) dominated after falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter.

Sylvester gained 196 yards on nine carries in the first half, including a 94-yard touchdown run.

The Rattlers finished with 481 offensive yards, while Howard had 221.

Chester's two-yard touchdown run tied the score at 7 with 10 seconds left in the first quarter. Florida A&M took the lead for good in the second quarter when Chester scrambled and threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Demarius Folsom.

Sylvester's 94-yard touchdown came with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. He took a handoff up the middle, broke to the sideline and outran the Howard defenders.

Southern U. 12, Prairie View A&M 2

BATON ROUGE, LA -- Bryant Lee passed for 144 yards and a touchdown and Nick Benjamin connected on his only pass of the evening for another as Southern beat Prairie View 12-2 to remain undefeated Saturday night.

The Jaguars (3-0, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) also gave Prairie View (2-1, 1-1) its only score, when Southern was charged with a fourth-quarter safety for holding in its own end zone.

Lee, who got a 15-yard touchdown pass to Gerard Landry in the second quarter, was 22-of-36 for Southern. Benjamin's score was on a 12-yard pass in the fourth quarter to Evan Alexander.

Kendrick Smith rushed 10 times for 40 yards for Southern.

Calvin Harris led all rushes with 69 yards on 18 carries for Prairie View. Mark Spivey was 11-18-1 for 76 yards, and Chris Gibson was 11-26-2 for 69.

Tennessee State 33, Austin Peay 32

CLARKSVILLE, TN -- Tennessee State's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie blocked a kick in overtime helping his team to a 33-32 victory over Austin Peay on Saturday.

Austin Peay (2-1, 0-1) needed only three plays to reach the end zone on its first possession of overtime. Mark Cunningham rolled right and connected a 12-yard pass to Terrence Holt.

Chris Fletcher used the next two plays to power his way into the end zone. But Isaac Ziolkowski's kick was blocked by Rodgers-Cromartie.

Tennessee State (2-1, 1-0 ) then methodically drove to the two-yard line where Javarris Williams pounded the ball over the goal line. The victory was sealed when Eric Benson's PAT sailed through the uprights.

ATTENDANCE: 8,539

North Carolina Central 18, Elizabeth City State 10,

ATTENDANCE: 43,006

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER ELI NC
NC TD 06:01 Craig Amos 0 Yd Fumble Return (Pat Failed) 0 6
SECOND QUARTER ELI NC
ELI TD 07:35 Jerome Smith 6 Yd Run (Daniel Mendez Kick) 7 6
NC TD 02:03 Wayne Blackwell 9 Yd Pass From Stadford Brown (Pat Blocked) 7 12
FOURTH QUARTER ELI NC
NC TD 10:07 Tim Shankle 2 Yd Run (Pat Blocked) 7 18
ELI FG 03:50 Daniel Mendez 26 Yd 10 18

South Carolina 38, SCSU Bulldogs 3

SCSU RB Will Ford takes 14 carries for 104 yards in front of 73,000 full house; SC pulls away in second half.

COLUMBIA, SC -- Blake Mitchell threw three touchdowns and No. 17 South Carolina defeated South Carolina State 38-3 Saturday to make the Gamecocks 3-0 for the first time in six years.

South Carolina won its sixth consecutive game and the defense didn't allow a touchdown for the second straight.

That streak -- and South Carolina's perfect start -- will get severely tested next week with a trip to No. 2 LSU.

The numbers looked strong for South Carolina.

Mitchell finished 14-for-21 for 147 yards. Cory Boyd (132) and Mike Davis (102) went over 100 yards rushing, but the Gamecocks' offense looked lost for a half against the Bulldogs (1-2).

Mitchell had three interceptions and a fumble to go with his touchdown throws. Backup Tommy Beecher added an interception and a fumble of his own.

It got so bad, Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier chose to run the ball much of the second half. And that's when South Carolina finally put away its Championship Subdivision rivals.

Davis rushed for 43 yards and finished a 91-yard TD drive with a 9-yard catch from Mitchell.

Two series later, Boyd broke free for a 29-yard scoring run and the Gamecocks were up 31-3.

Spurrier called only two passes in the third quarter. Then again, he didn't have to get creative the way South Carolina's defense played.

The Gamecocks picked off three passes of their own, lineman Nathan Pepper returning one 19-yards for a touchdown to put them ahead for good, 7-3.

South Carolina State had just 46 yards passing through three quarters.

The Bulldogs are celebrating 100 years of football at the historically black college. It's the first time, however, they've played their larger state rivals about 45 minutes up the road.

The 73,000 at Williams-Brice Stadium was the largest crowd South Carolina State had played in front of and it showed.

The Bulldogs got an early chance to make an impact when Markee Hamlin got Mitchell's first interception to set South Carolina State up on the Gamecocks 12.

But penalties for an illegal snap and illegal procedure pushed them back and they took a 3-0 lead on Aaron Haire's 37-yard field goal.

South Carolina settled down after that shaky start -- and looked ready to give Spurrier a Florida-style blowout.

Pepper went 19 yards to the end zone with Cleveland McCoy's interception to put the Gamecocks ahead 7-3.

Ryan Succop added a 40-yard field goal and Mitchell hit Kenny McKinley with a 12-yard touchdown pass on the Gamecocks next two series to increase the lead to 17-3.

Soon enough, though, South Carolina reverted to the "average stiffs" Spurrier spoke of two weeks ago in the opener with Louisiana-Lafayette.

The defense, though, was again above average. It didn't give up a touchdown at Georgia in South Carolina's 16-12 win a week ago and did not yield this time, either.

The closest South Carolina State got after its opening drive came in the third quarter after driving to the Gamecock 12, but Darian Stewart recovered Jonathan Woods' fumble to end the threat.

ATTENDANCE: 73,095

Hampton 59, North Carolina A&T 14

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Van Morgan ran for a career-high 154 yards and scored twice to lead Hampton to a 59-14 victory over North Carolina A&T Saturday, the fourth-straight victory over the Aggies in the series.

Quarterback T.J. Mitchell passed for 210 yards and three touchdowns for the Pirates (2-0, 2-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). Jeremy Gilchrist caught six passes for 112 yards and a score.

N.C. A&T (0-3, 0-1 MEAC) lost its 19th straight game.

Hampton jumped out to a 17-0 lead, but the Aggies cut into the deficit on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Shelton Morgan to Trey Green late in the first half.

Kevin Teel 70-yard kickoff return for a score increased Hampton's lead to start the second half, but the Aggies converted a Pirate turnover into a 6-yard scoring pass from Morgan to Michael Christen with 11:48 left in the third quarter.

The Pirates answered with a four-play, 75-yard drive ending in Gilchrist's touchdown. Kendall Langford returned an interception 22 yards for another score and the Pirates capped the third quarter with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to Teel.

Final: Florida A&M 30, Howard 17

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Albert Chester threw two touchdown passes and Philip Sylvester ran for 222 yards to lead Florida A&M to a 30-17 win over Howard on Saturday.

Sylvester gained 196 yards on nine carries in the first half, including a 94-yard touchdown run. Chester also scored a touchdown on a two-yard run.

Brian Johnson threw two touchdown passes to Jarahn Williams for Howard (0-2, 0-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).

Florida A&M (1-2, 1-1 MEAC) dominated the game after falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter.

The Rattlers finished with 481 offensive yards, while Howard had 221.

Chester's touchdown run tied the game 7-7 with 10 seconds left in the first quarter. Florida A&M took the lead for good in the second quarter when Chester scrambled and threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Demarius Folsom.

Sylvester's 94-yard touchdown came with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. He took a handoff up the middle, broke to the sideline and outran the Howard defenders.

Florida A&M scored its final touchdown in the third quarter when Chester threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Smith.

Wesley Taylor also kicked a 42-yard field goal for Florida A&M, which has beaten Howard three years in a row. John Mendoza kicked a 44-yarder for Howard.

ATTENDANCE: 10,175

Final: Winston-Salem 19, Morgan St. 17

BALTIMORE -- Matt Mitchell nailed a game-winning 24-yard field goal with .4 seconds left to give Winston-Salem State a 19-17 victory over Morgan State on Saturday.

Brandon McCrae ran 3 yards for a touchdown for Winston-Salem (2-1) and the Rams took advantage of a pair of early turnovers for a 10-0 lead.

But Bears quarterback Mario Melton scored from 6 yards out for Morgan State (1-2) with 1:25 left in the second quarter to make the score 10-7 at the half.

Morgan State took the lead with 9:33 left in the third quarter when Chad Simpson dashed down the sideline for a 33-yard touchdown that gave the Bears a 14-10 lead. Simpson finished with 221 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries.

After Simpson fumbled, the Rams recovered at the Bears 2-yard line and one play later Roderi Fluellen ran into the end zone to make the score 16-14 with 9:56 left.

James Meade kicked a 43-yard field goal with 1:13 left to give Morgan State a 17-16 lead. Winston-Salem marched 49 yards to set up the winning kick.

ATTENDANCE: 8,953

Final: Kent St. 38, Delaware St. 7

KENT, Ohio -- Eugene Jarvis rushed for 136 yards and scored two touchdowns and Julian Edelman passed for three scores to lead Kent State past Delaware State 38-7 on Saturday.

Jarvis, who carried 22 times, scored on a 4-yard run and also caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Edelman.

Edelman completed 18-of-33 passes for 267 yards with one interception. He also hit Shawn Bayes on a 42-yard scoring strike and tossed a 56-yard touchdown pass to Rashad Tukes.

Bayes added a 95-yard kickoff return for a score in the final minute for the Golden Flashes (2-1).

Bayes' return followed a 1-yard touchdown run by Vashon Winton for Delaware State (2-1).

Kent State led just 7-0 at the half but broke the game open with 14 points in the third quarter and the first 10 points of the fourth.

Delaware State mustered just nine first downs. Winton was 11-of-21 passing for 74 yards with one interception. The Hornets added only 117 yards rushing on 41 attempts. Winton was sacked three times for 19 yards in losses.

ATTENDANCE: 8,455

Rutgers Rolls Over Norfolk State 59-0

Rice runs for 3 TDs as Rutgers piles it on Norfolk State

PISCATAWAY, N.J.-- No. 13 Rutgers produced the biggest second quarter in the school history, and all it needed was 11 plays and 91 seconds to amass 277 yards and score 42 points.

Ray Rice ran for three touchdowns and Mike Teel threw for three more in the lightning-quick outburst that carried the Scarlet Knights to a 59-0 victory over Norfolk State on Saturday.

While the result wasn't surprising, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano raised some eyebrows just before the half by calling three timeouts in an attempt to get the ball back with the Scarlet Knights (3-0) ahead 45-0.

A roughing the kicker penalty allowed the Spartans (1-1) to keep the ball, but Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian seemed to stare at the Rutgers' bench when he went on the field to help punter Brian Jackson, who suffered an Achilles' tendon injury.

The two coaches shook hands after the game ended and spoke for about a minute, patting each other on the shoulders.

Schiano rested Teel, Rice and most of his skill players on offense in the second half.

The 59 points and the margin of victory were the biggest for Rutgers since a 59-0 win over Buffalo in 2000.

Teel started the biggest second quarter at the birthplace of college football (1869) with touchdown passes of 43 yards to Kenny Britt and 28 yards to Tiquan Underwood on consecutive plays from scrimmage for the Scarlet Knights.

Rice, who now has nine touchdowns this season, scored on runs of 22, 7 and 4 yards, before Teel ended the offensive fireworks with a 34-yard scoring pass to Britt.

The scoring drives covered 52, 28, 92, 46, 42 and 53 yards and lasted two, one, two, two, three and two plays. The total elapsed time for the six drives was one minute, 31 seconds, which is all the time Rutgers had the ball in the quarter.

Remarkably, the big quarter came after Norfolk State forced Rutgers to punt on its first two possessions and then settle for a 30-yard field goal by Jeremy Ito with 4:45 left in the first half for a 3-0 lead.

Defensive tackle Eric Foster intercepted a Casey Hansen pass late in the quarter and Rice ran nine yards to give Rutgers a second-and-inches at the Spartans 43 as the quarter ended.

Norfolk State, a championship subdivision team playing its first bowl subdivision opponent, had to feel good at that point.

The optimism didn't last long for the Spartans, who have yet to produce a winning season since joining then Division I-AA in 1997.

Teel and Britt connected on a deep post on the opening play of the second quarter for a touchdown. After Norfolk State came up short on a fake punt deep in its own territory, Teel found Underwood on a sideline fly pattern on the next play for a 17-0 lead.

Rutgers got the ball back at its own 8 after a punt, and Teel and Underwood hooked up on a 65-yard pass play to the Norfolk State 27 on first down. An illegal substitution penalty moved the ball five yards and Rice, who carried 12 times for 72 yards, scored on a great cutback run from the 22-yard line.

A short punt, a 32-yard pass from Teel to Underwood and a personal foul set up Rice's 7-yard TD run. A 23-yard pass to Underwood, who had four catches for 148 yards, and a pass interference paved the way for Rice's final score.

Teel, who was 8-of-15 for 269 yards, covered the 53 yards on his final drive with passes of 19 and 34 yards to Britt, who had four catches for 121 yards.

Backup quarterback Jabu Lovelace scored on a pair of 16-yard runs for Rutgers in the second half.

ATTENDANCE: 43,712

Bethune-Cookman 45, Savannah State 13

SAVANNAH, Ga.-- Jimmie Russell scored touchdowns on runs of 12, 2 and 10 yards to lead Bethune-Cookman to a 45-13 victory over Savannah State on Saturday.

Russell, who had 65 yards on 12 attempts, also completed 10 of 15 passes for 112 yards. His backup, McKinson Souverain, completed one of two passes, but it went to Paul Neufville for 39 yards and a touchdown.

The Wildcats (2-1) also got an 85-yard interception return from Corey Council and Brian Sumlar got the other score on a 1-yard run.

JaCorey Kilcrease supplied most of the offense for the Tigers (1-2), hitting on 14 of 26 passes for 112 yards, including a 39-yard scoring pass to A.J. Benson. Greg McCrary scored the other Savannah State touchdown on a 1-yard run.

ATTENDANCE: 5,063

MEAC/SWAC Scoreboard- Sept. 15, 2007

MEAC Scoreboard - Week 3, Sept. 13-15, 2007

Norfolk State (1-1) 0
@Rutgers (3-0) 59 Final
#15 AP Poll
3:30 PM ET
Rutgers Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Internet & TV: ESPN 360, GamePlan Pay-Per-View
Radio: WOR, WCTC, WENJ, WRSU
TV: MSG in the New York/New Jersey; Cox Cable in New Orleans; Charter Cable in St. Louis and Time Warner-Wisconsin.
Radio: WNSB Hot 91.1 FM in the Hampton Roads area. WNSB’s audio stream is also available on the web by logging onto www.nsu.edu/athletics and following the ‘Listen Live’ link.

Delaware State (2-1) 7
@Kent State (1-1) 38 Final
4:00 PM ET
Dix Stadium, Kent, OH
Internet Audio & Video: http://www.kentstatesports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11400&KEY=
http://www.dsuhornets.com/

Bethune Cookman (2-1) 45
@Savannah State (1-1) 13 Final
4:00 PM ET
Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, GA

Winston Salem (2-1) 19
@ Morgan State (1-2) 17 Final
4:00 PM ET
Hughes Stadium, Baltimore, MD
RADIO: Morgan State Radio Network WEAA - 88.9 FM:
Rob Long (play-by-play) & Kelvin Bridgers (color).
INTERNET: http://www.morganstatebears.com/
http://wssurams.cstv.com/
INTERNET COVERAGE: Live Audio and Live Stats

Hampton (2-0) 59
@North Carolina A&T (0-3) 14 FINAL
6:00 PM ET
Aggie Stadium, Greensboro, NC
TV: Tape Delay ESPNU (10 PM)

Howard U.(0-2) 17
@ Florida A&M (1-2) 30 FINAL
6:00 PM ET
Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Howard Internet Live TV: http://www.broadcasturban.net/player/hubison/player.htm
FAMU Internet Live TV: http://www.BlackCollegeSportsNetwork.net/FAMU/Men.html
FAMU: Internet Live audio/visual -http://www.famu.edu/?a=famcast

South Carolina State (1-2) 3
@ South Carolina (3-0) 38 FINAL
7:00 PM ET
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
Internet & TV: ESPN 360 & ESPN GamePlan

SWAC Scoreboard - Week 3

Thursday, Sept 13th
Texas Southern (0-3) 7
@Jackson State (1-2) 28 Final
7:30 PM ET
Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS
TV: ESPNU live

Saturday, Sept 15th

Alcorn State (0-3) 0
@UAB (1-2) 22 FINAL
7:00 PM ET
Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
Internet Audio & TV: Gameday Central: http://all-access.cstv.com/cstv/player/player.html?code=albr&sport=m-footbl&category=live&media=43266

Alabama State (3-0) 12
@Arkansas Pine Bluff (1-2) 10 FINAL
7:00 PM ET
Pumphery Stadium, Pine Bluff, AR

Prairie View A&M (2-1) 2
@Southern University (3-0) 12 FINAL
7:00 PM ET
Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA
TV: Cox Sports TV
Radio: SU Sports Network

Mississippi Valley State (1-2) 14
@Alabama A&M (3-0) 45 FINAL
7:30 PM ET
Milton Frank Stadium, Normal, AL

Grambling State-Idle

Division I Independent - Scoreboard Week 2

Elizabeth City State 10
@North Carolina Central (3-1) 18 Final
2:00 PM ET
Giants Stadium – The Meadowlands – East Rutherford, N.J. (80,242 capacity)
The New York Urban League's 37th Annual Whitney Young Football Classic
Audio: http://web.nccu.edu/campus/athletics/audio.html

Bethune Cookman (2-1) 45
@Savannah State (1-1) 13 Final
4:00 PM ET
Ted Wright Stadium, Savannah, GA

A&T's new QB is man with a plan

Photo: Shelton Morgan waited patiently to start for N.C. A&T. He also ran in the heat, studied film and took biology in summer school.

By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record

GREENSBORO -- The Wheel of Misfortune that has defined N.C. A&T's quarterback situation has stopped on Shelton Morgan, a guy who seemingly never stops. With defending MEAC champion Hampton coming to Aggie Stadium for a national TV game tonight, this would be no time to get tentative, and there doesn't seem to be much threat of that happening.

"It's exciting, because out of high school I had been waiting for this moment," said Morgan, a redshirt freshman from Elizabeth City. "It's finally here, and I'm ready for it."

When he replaced injured and perpetually star-crossed Herb Miller last week at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Morgan became the eighth man to play quarterback for A&T during its 18-game losing streak. Injuries, academics and position changes have accounted for the bulk of the turnover. The Aggies are just hoping for some stability.

As far as his routine is concerned, Morgan appears to embody the planning, permanence and professionalism that will give him a shot.

Having come from a high school where he threw an average of 25 times a game and set school passing records, Morgan waited patiently as a true freshman in 2006. He also decided to work ahead academically, which is why he attended both summer sessions this year and developed a daily schedule.

The morning was for film study, the afternoon for weightlifting and running in the heat of the day.

At 5:30 p.m. every Monday through Thursday, Morgan attended a biology class, which involved a bit more than you might imagine. Summer sessions cram a regular semester's worth of work into six weeks, and science classes come with lab work as well as classroom study. Nobody got out until 9:30, at which time it was often necessary to study.

Now A&T hopes the ability to adhere to such a plan carries over to the field.

"In August," Morgan said, "my mind-set was to be ready in case anything happened. Don't let the situation sneak up on you. The most challenging thing was taking it from paper to the field. Last week was actually slower than I expected, but I know the speed of the game this week is going to be a lot different."

That's a safe bet. Hampton, which has established itself as the class of the MEAC, offers up a defense that features Page High graduate Henti Baird, a hybrid linebacker and defensive back who had a sack and six other tackles in a season-opening victory over Howard two weeks ago.

The Aggies don't really expect their quarterback to win the game for them. They have a promising collection of running backs, and they mainly need to avoid turnovers and other breakdowns. Last week, they beat Prairie View A&M in total offense and first downs, but were outscored 22-7.

After replacing Miller, Morgan completed three of eight passes for 55 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions.

The beauty of the incomplete pass or the never-tossed option pitch is often underappreciated. Asked to describe his best asset, Morgan said, "Make good decisions. If it's not there, throw it away."

Not to the opponent. Maybe not even in the general direction of an Aggie. Having played wide receiver -- he had two snaps at that position against Prairie View before Miller's injury -- Morgan said he understands the importance of accuracy.

"I realize the receiver's job is harder than what people might think," he said. "When you're put in a bad situation by a quarterback, you don't appreciate it much."

Coach Lee Fobbs presumably is tired of training a new guy all the time to run the offense, but he can't look back now. Morgan is the captain of this ship until further notice.

"He's a young kid who is talented and who will play hard," Fobbs said. "He'll take care of the ball. He's ready to play. He has shown that in practice with his leadership."

BCU Wildcats eager to get back on track

Photo: BCU QB Jimmy Russell

By BRENT WORONOFF, Daytona Beach News-Journal

In a way, today's football game at Savannah State is bigger for Bethune-Cookman than last week's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference battle with South Carolina State.

With seven more conference games on tap, the Wildcats can get back into the league race. But a loss to the Tigers could provide a psychological setback that would be difficult to bounce back from.

In last week's 24-13 home loss to the Bulldogs, B-CU (1-1) came away with just two field goals from three drives that penetrated S.C. State's 10-yard line. The Wildcats also fumbled away two option pitches that led to Bulldog touchdowns.

"Turnovers really hurt us," B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said. "(And) I've never seen our team get down there so many times and not come away with at least one touchdown. We just stalled there. But if we linger on that game -- take South Carolina State to this game -- then we'll see the same result."

A B-CU loss to Savannah State would be an upset on the level of Michigan's loss to Appalachian State two weeks ago. Since moving up to Division I-AA in 2002, the Tigers are 1-40 against I-AA teams. The Wildcats have won seven straight against the Tigers by a combined score of 275-76.

This year, Savannah State opened with a 47-7 loss to MEAC member Morgan State before defeating Division II Johnson C. Smith 24-10 last week.

"There is no one on our schedule who can't beat us," Wyatt said. "I know (the Tigers are) fired up to play us."

Like last year, the S.C. State-B-CU game took a toll on both teams. Several Wildcats are questionable for today's game, including quarterback Jimmie Russell (knee) and offensive tackles De'Juan Guillory (thigh) and Reubin Mordecai (ankle).

If Russell can't play, junior transfer McKinson Souverain would take his place. As for the O-line, Wyatt said three defensive linemen (Wayne Byers, Mike London and Fred Brown) got prepped on offense this week in case they will be needed. Byers is likely to play both ways.

This was the second straight year that Russell, who wore a knee brace this week, was "beaten up" in the Bulldogs game, Wyatt said.

"That first play, (in which Bulldogs nose guard James Simmons was called for roughing the passer) kind of shook Jimmie up, and I don't think he was right after that lick, because Jimmie never really makes bad pitches like he did in that game."

But Russell said that was not the play in which he hurt his knee.

"I actually hurt it twice," he said. "The first time I was ripped down by my facemask and I fell on my knee. I said, 'Man, that's a sharp pain.' The next time I was hit, I started grabbing my knee, I thought I was done."

OF NOTE: Wyatt said highly touted freshman running back Brian Sumlar, who did not get in on any offensive plays last week, will "definitely" see action today. "He's going to be very productive in the scheme we have set aside for him," Wyatt said. "Being a freshman it has taken him a while to pick up our scheme. We've got something for him that will fit his talent."

B-CU at Savannah State

WHERE: Municipal Stadium, Savannah, Ga.

KICKOFF: 1 p.m.

RADIO: 1380-AM (WELE)

RECORDS: Bethne-Cookman 1-1, Savannah State 1-1

SERIES: B-CU leads 27-8-2. B-CU won 55-6 last year.

PLAYMAKERS: B-CU -- QB Jimmie Russell, Sr., has rushed for 171 yards (5.2 ypc) and 3 TDs and passed for 160; RB Justin Brannon, Sr., has rushed for 126 yards (6.0 ypc); FS Bobbie Williams, Sr., is second on the team in tackles (15) and has one interception. Savannah State -- QB Jacorey Kilcrease has passed for 158 yards with one TD and one interception; RB Antwan Edwards has rushed for 116 yards with one TD; SS Antwan Allen has 15 tackles, including three for losses, and an interception.

STORY LINE: Both teams like to run the ball. Savannah State rushed for 328 yards in its victory over Johnson C. Smith last week. B-CU will try to iron out its problems in the option offense. But if Russell can't play because of a knee injury, look for the Wildcats to pass more with McKinson Souverain (7-for-9, 85 yards) at QB. The game was moved to Municipal Stadium and pushed back to 1 p.m. because of upgrades to the Tigers' stadium press box.

DID YOU KNOW: The last time the Tigers beat a Division I-AA team was in 2004 when they outlasted Norfolk State, B-CU's opponent next week, 41-34 in double overtime.

MVSU Devils in details, not stats

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

A&M knows MVSU tougher than its numbers

On paper, tonight's Alabama A&M-Mississippi Valley State game appears to be a mismatch.

The Bulldogs (2-0) are averaging 45 points and 529 yards per game. The Delta Devils (1-1) are averaging 11 points and 172.5 yards per game.

But Bulldogs coach Anthony Jones knows numbers don't win football games and that MVSU has historically played tough against A&M.

"I expect this game to be no different than the other ones we've played against them," said Jones, who is 4-1 against MVSU. "We better be ready because they're going to come in here firing their best shot and if we're not ready to fire our best shot, we won't like the outcome."

Kickoff is at 6:30 at Louis Crews Stadium.

Despite its paltry numbers, MVSU owns a win over defending Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division champion Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Delta Devils played another league foe last week and lost 23-6 to Southern.Tonight's game is the SWAC opener for A&M.

"They haven't had a great explosion offensively, but they've been in both games," Jones said. "Their offense is going to come around. I'm just hoping it doesn't come around (tonight)."

A&M's offense has already come around.

The Bulldogs were unstoppable in whipping Tennessee State 49-23 and Clark Atlanta 41-10. A&M had 450 yards against the Tigers and 608 against the Panthers. Quarterback Kelcy Luke threw for 301 yards with four touchdowns against Clark Atlanta, and running back Ulysses Banks rushed for a school-record 211 yards on 19 carries.

"We're going against the best team in our conference in the Eastern Division," said MVSU coach Willie Totten, whose team is giving up 16 points, but is allowing more than 360 yards per game. "They are doing a lot of exciting things offensively and they're always good on defense. This is the best I've seen A&M look this early."

Jones said A&M won't likely be able to maintain its scoring pace as it enters conference play - even against an MVSU defense that gave up almost 500 yards against Southern.

"They've given up some plays, but stats are misleading," he said. "They shut down Arkansas-Pine Bluff and then they played a statistically bad game against Southern, but they were still in the game midway through the fourth quarter.

"They have a bend-but-don't-break mentality. We have to do our best to take advantage of whatever opportunities that present themselves."

SWAC previews - Today's Games 9/15/2007

Huntsville Times

Prairie View (2-0, 1-0 SWAC) at Southern (2-0, 1-0); Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, La., 6 p.m.

The Panthers are seeking to start 3-0 for the first time since 1964 when they won the SWAC and were crowned national black college champions. Prairie View started 2-0 last season before losing seven straight. The Panthers downed the Jaguars 26-23 last season for the first time since 1971. Despite giving up more than 380 yards per game, Prairie View has allowed only 21 points in two games.

Coach Pete Richardson's team has found a running game - the Jaguars are averaging a league-high 265.5 yards rushing - to go along with its solid passing game, engineered by new starting quarterback Bryant Lee, who is averaging 210 yards per game.

Prediction: Southern 28, Prairie View 14

Alabama State (2-0, 1-0) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-1, 1-0); Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, Ark., 6 p.m.

The Hornets could be a team to be reckoned with if they can knock off the Golden Lions. Alabama State came from behind to beat Jacksonville State in its season opener and scored two late touchdowns last week to beat Texas Southern on the road. RBs Jay Peck and Rahmod Traylor have combined to average almost 200 yards per game and QB Chris Mitchell has given the Hornets a solid passing game, averaging 155 yards through the air.

UAPB, the defending West Division champ, has struggled. The Golden Lions are averaging just 15 points per game. QB Jonathan Moore will replace Chris Wallace in the starting lineup this week. Wallace, the preseason SWAC Player of the Year, has thrown for just 221 yards in two games. RB Martell Mallett, who led the league in rushing a year ago, has just 93 yards in two games. UAPB's offensive line, which includes four new starters, has allowed 14 sacks.

Prediction: Alabama State 17, UAPB 10

Alcorn State (0-2) at UAB (0-2); Legion Field, Birmingham, 6 p.m.

Alcorn State's three QBs - Chris Walker, Tony Hobson and Tim Buckley - have all struggled. The Braves are averaging 6.5 points per game and have allowed 27.5.

UAB will give Neil Callaway his first win as a head coach.

Alcorn State is slated to make $150,000 to $200,000.

Prediction: UAB 42, Alcorn State 7


Mississippi Valley State (1-1, 1-1) at Alabama A&M (2-0, 0-0); Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, 6:30 p.m.

Alabama A&M is off to a 2-0 start because of its high-flying offense. The Bulldogs are averaging 45 points and 529 yards in total offense. The defense has bent, but not broken.

MVSU has struggled offensively, averaging just 11 points and 172.5 yards per game. The Delta Devils' defense will likely keep them in the game, but the Bulldogs' offense has too many weapons.

Prediction: Alabama A&M 28, Mississippi Valley State 10

Last week's predictions: 6-0

Season: 7-6

Reggie Benson

SU Jaguars take advantage of Landry’s size and strength

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Prairie View at Southern
WHEN: 6 p.m. today.
WHERE: A.W. Mumford Stadium (25,500).
TV: Tape-delay (4 p.m. Sunday, CST).
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5.
RECORDS: Southern 2-0 (1-0 SWAC), Prairie View 2-0 (1-0 SWAC).
LAST MEETING: Prairie View 26, Southern 23, OT.
SERIES: SU leads, 48-19-2.

What does it feel like to be 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds and simply run through players, just mashing defensive backs?

“Like I say, I’m in the weight room, so I’m not even feeling the licks happen,” Southern senior wide receiver Gerard Landry said.

Landry certainly knows.

Two weeks ago, on a 46-yard touchdown against Florida A&M, Landry ran through two sets of two guys. One guy got the treatment twice. That defensive back bounced off the initial hit and tried to chase Landry down and team with another defensive back before the end zone, only to have Landry crash through.

“It’s not normal,” quarterback Bryant Lee said. “I really didn’t see it until I got in the film room, and I was amazed by it. I didn’t think he did all that to score the touchdown.”

A week ago, Landry shoved away Mississippi Valley State’s Jean-Pierre Marshall, one of the better cornerbacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, en route to a 54-yard touchdown.

“It just happens in the heat of the moment,” Landry said. “When I catch the rock, I’m trying to make something happen. If somebody’s in my path, I just do what I can to shake them off. The running over part, it just happens.”

As SU (2-0, 1-0 SWAC) hosts Prairie View (2-0, 1-0) at 6 p.m. today in A.W. Mumford Stadium, Landry, with 1,604 yards and 13 TDs, is sixth on the program’s all-time receiving ledger (having passed former Philadelphia Eagles great Harold Carmichael at 1,601). He needs 370 yards to move past Calvin Magee (at 1,973), the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at West Virginia and a former SU All-American, into second place behind Michael Hayes (3,056 yards and 30 TDs).

Landry has caught a pass in 27 consecutive games. He was a second-team All-SWAC selection last season (727 yards and five TDs on 55 catches).

“He’s a big athlete,” SU head coach Pete Richardson said. “A lot of defensive backs don’t want to see him coming. If they try to arm-tackle him, he’s going to go through that.”

Here’s where things get really bad for defensive backs.

Southern coaches emphasized downfield blocking from receivers as part of the improvements from the season opener to the second game.

So Landry, one of two team captains, took one guy into the bench area after a pass to Del Roberts. Another had to plea for mercy — “Man, lay off,” SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando relayed.

“He responded to coaching,” Orlando said. “Gerard is a kid who wants to get to the next level. He knows scouts will be looking at tape to see if he’s loafing on the blocks.”

To provide positive reinforcement after SU totaled 293 rushing yards (the most in one game since September 2003), coaches wanted to reward the blocks. So SU baseball coach Roger Cador donated a bat for what will be the “Big Hit” award. Landry was to get the first one Friday night.

“I felt like I left something out there (against FAMU). I didn’t block as well as I could’ve blocked,” Landry said. “I remembered coach Orlando talking about a pancake award. So I started going out there trying to kill all the little DBs. Every time I went to the sideline (a week ago), I told coach to give me that pancake award.”

Here’s where things get even worse for defensive backs.

Landry wasn’t even 100 percent for the first two games and rated himself as only 85 percent earlier in the week. Despite getting himself in tremendous condition (and cutting his weight from 240 pounds in the spring), he missed two weeks of preseason camp after having oral surgery. He had one full practice day, a Tuesday, before the season opener (because he has class and misses most Wednesday practices and the team traveled Thursday).

“It really hurt me,” Landry said of the time off. “I was just in my prime. I could feel myself getting better and better every day as camp was going. Now, I’m working my way back into shape and feeling more comfortable.”

Even so, Landry still leads SU with 10 catches for 139 yards and the two TDs this season.

“He’s coming out just as I expected him to play,” wide receivers coach Eric Dooley said. “He worked hard over the summer on strength and conditioning as well as speed and he’s just ready to take over.”

The comparisons to Hayes (1999-2002), the school’s top receiver, are there because they are so similar physically and similarly physical.

Hayes was a little leaner, a tad taller and slightly faster. And what he excelled at was in going up to win jumpballs on fade routes. Don’t sleep on Landry’s speed, though. He’s run away from defensive backs in the past and is faster now after improving his speed in the offseason.

Said Richardson, “Both of them could go and body up on a guy. If you throw it up there, they could jump and catch the football.”

Said Orlando, “Mike could out-physical, do some things against defensive backs similar to what Gerard does. Gerard is a more physical receiver. I don’t remember guys bouncing off Hayes like they do (so regularly) off Gerard.”

Maybe this is just perception, but the defensive backs Hayes jousted with seemed bigger. Maybe Landry just seems so tank-like.

“Everybody looks like they’re 5-9, 5-10,” Richardson said. “They’re scuffling with him. It’s going to be interesting to see how they’re going to continue to play him.”

Southern U--PVAMU Matchups

SU Video: http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate_Sports/09142007-25.high.flash8.html

SU Video: http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate_Sports/09062007-10.high.flash8.html

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southern LB Johnathan Malveaux

19 tackles, 1 pass breakup

Other than DT Joseph Selders, the junior is the most experienced defender among the Jaguars’ front seven. And like Selders, Malveaux is getting the job done. Malveaux leads SU with 19 tackles. His career has been held back by a series of minor injuries, but Malveaux seems to be at his healthiest and strongest these days. That’s a huge plus, because he’s always been a relentless, ferocious tackler and has plenty of speed.

PVU QB Chris Gibson

26-for-49, 248 yards, 2 INTs; 199 yards, 2 TDs on 24 carries

Gibson, a senior, is charged with both improving a horrendous passing game and shoring up the running game. Though suffering from a shoulder injury, Gibson came off the bench in the fourth quarter to help the Panthers to a stunning 26-23 overtime win over Southern. He scored on a 1-yard run and then marched PV to the tying and winning touchdowns.

WHO HAS THE EDGE?

Quarterbacks: SU

Running backs: SU

Offensive line: SU

Wide receivers: SU

Tight ends: SU

Defensive line: PVU

Linebackers: SU

Defensive backs: SU

Kickers: PVU

Kick returners: PVU

Intangibles: SU

Coaching: SU

PREDICTION

Southern has to prove to itself after the debacle that unfolded last season. SU’s offense — balanced and diversified — will get a test from a defense that was the best in the SWAC last season. PV’s offense begins and ends with QB Chris Gibson. The Panthers have also been getting contributions from special teams, a factor they didn’t have last year. Both teams, losers a year ago, bring a lot of confidence tonight.

Southern 34, Prairie View 9

-- Joseph Schiefelbein

SCSU vs. South Carolina

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (1-1, 1-0) at 17th-ranked UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (2-0 1-0)

AT STAKE: It's the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks. Both schools have played football for over 100 years and look to build on conference road victories from the previous week.

LAST OUTING: SCSU def. Bethune-Cookman 24-13 on Sept. 8 in Daytona Beach, Fla,. USC def. Georgia 16-12 on Sept. 8 in Athens, Ga.

LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: SCSU (7-4, 6-2 in the MEAC); Bethune-Cookman (8-5, 3-5 in the SEC)

ALL-TIME RECORDS: SCSU (371-240-28); USC (517-517-44)

FIRST SEASONS OF FOOTBALL: SCSU (1907): USC (1892)

HEAD COACHES & CAREER RECORDS: SCSU's Oliver "Buddy" Pough (41-18 overall, 30-10) 6th season; USC's Steve Spurrier (159-50-2 overall; 17-10 with the Gamecocks) 18 seasons overall, 3rd at USC

DID YOU KNOW: Oliver "Buddy" Pough led Fairfield-Central to a Class 3-A title in 1996. Steve Spurrier led the University of Florida to a national championship in 2000 and has won 7 SEC championships and one ACC championship...SCSU has three former players (Deacon Jones, Marion Motley and Harry Carson) inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, more than all the Palmetto State's Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Division and Division II programs combined. USC has the Palmetto State's lone Heisman Trophy winner in running back George Rogers (1980) and head coach won the award in 1966 as a quarterback at Florida...USC currently has 18 former players in the NFL, while Seattle Seahawks nose tackle Chartric Darby is the lone SCSU representative...Pough spent five seasons as a running backs coach at USC under both Brad Scott and Lou Holtz before returning to SCSU in 2001...Spurrier is 16-4 against schools from South Carolina...The last time USC lost to a Football Championship Subdivision School was 1992 against The Citadel...This is the second game in school history for SCSU against a Football Bowl Subdivision team, having opened the season against Air Force...SCSU offensive lineman Raymond Harrison and USC linebacker Rodney Paulk were teammates at Richland Northeast, while USC twin linebackers Jasper and Casper Brinkley and free safety Brandon Isaac of Blackville-Hilda played with SCSU reserve wide receiver Phillip Morris at Georgia Military...Lineman Xavier Littleberry (Clemson) and James Lee are the only SCSU players with previous playing experience against USC...Under Pough, the Bulldogs are 37-5 when leading or tied at halftime and 4-13 when trailing. In MEAC play, the record is 28-1 when ahead, 1-9 when trailing...

SHERIDAN BROADCASTING NETWORK

BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 10

1. Hampton

2. Alabama A&M

3. Delaware State

4. Tuskegee

5. Southern

6. South Carolina State

-Times and Democrat

SCSU All-MEAC selection injured for game

By BRIAN LINDER, T&D Sports Editor

McFadden missing 'my chance'All-MEAC selection injured for game
against USC friends

Marshall McFadden strolled into Oliver C. Dawson with the rest of the first-team defense Tuesday afternoon, but unlike the rest of his South Carolina State Bulldog teammates, he wasn't padded up.

Instead, the preseason All-MEAC first-team selection wore a white Under Armour shirt and shorts. On his right arm, a tightly wrapped bandage secured the elbow that he hyperextended in the second quarter of his team's 24-13 win over Bethune-Cookman. He hasn't quit hurting since, not so much because of the injury but because he won't be able to step onto the field today when his team takes on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

"It hurts me a lot," McFadden said. "I have a lot of friends that play for USC, guys like Mike Davis and Cory Boyd, and all those guys have been bragging for a while. All of us went to Clemson camp together, and this was our chance to meet up and play against each other. I'm real disappointed that I won't be able to do that with Markee (Hamlin) and LaQuinn (Ellerbe)."

McFadden is closest to Davis; he met him as a senior year in high school.

"We were at that Clemson camp together, and they treated him like a God," he said. "I was Marshall. But we became friends and kept in contact."

So what does Davis think about McFadden's injury?

"He called me up and told me I was scared," McFadden said. "He was just kidding, but it's disappointing knowing that he is going to be playing and I'm not."

The most disappointing part of it all, McFadden said, is missing out on the opportunity to play in front of the crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium.

"The atmosphere ... I've never played in an atmosphere where you have 80,000 people watching you," he said. "This was my chance."

Thursday -- the day before the Bulldogs were scheduled to leave Orangeburg for Columbia -- McFadden was out on the field again, without pads and looking on as his teammates ran through their final walk-through in Orangeburg.

"Coach (Buddy Pough) came up to me, and he was like, 'Marshall, I know you are hurt and upset.' And I told coach that I couldn't sleep at night. He just told me that I have to live through these guys like he does sometimes. That's the only thing that I can do is give these guys energy."

And so, McFadden has resigned himself to enjoying the moment. When the Bulldogs and Gamecocks kickoff tonight, he said he will be ready -- even if he isn't playing.

"I am going to be excited to be in front of the lights," he said. "I'm going to have a good time. I'm going to be out there just like I'm playing in the game anyway. I want those guys to feel comfortable, and if I am walking around with my head down they are going to be walking around with their heads down.

"We are trying to go down and shock the world," he said. "This is David vs. Goliath."

SCSU football sees wisdom in taking on Carolina

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

‘Ollie would be excited’ - 91-year-old queen of SCSU football
sees wisdom in taking on Carolina

Gracia Dawson thinks of herself as a “living historical marker” for South Carolina State University -- and with good reason.

The 91-year-old widow of Bulldog coaching legend Oliver Cromwell Dawson has meticulously maintained her husband’s memoirs, trophies and plaques at the Orangeburg residence they shared for 49 years. A self-professed “campus brat” who was born where now Bethea Hall stands, Dawson is also the oldest living Miss South Carolina State winner (1937) and has spent most of her life cheering on the Bulldogs’ football team.

“We’re celebrating 100 years of football, and I’ve almost celebrated that 100 with them,” she said.

Yet even Dawson could not envision this particular day coming when her alma mater would head to Williams-Brice Stadium to play 17th-ranked University of South Carolina. At 7:05 tonight, Dawson will be in attendance to witness the latest keepsake chapter in SCSU football history.

“Oh, he would be quite excited as I am,” Dawson said. “I’m very excited. We’re making history. As I say, I am a historical marker so ... I plan to be right there. And I’m hoping that we might win it and if we don’t, I hope that we play very well and do their best. That’s all we can demand of them.”

Such a game taking place was very much unthinkable during the early part of Dawson’s 41-year tenure in which he coached five sports, served as athletics director and initiated the school’s Health and Physical Education program. With segregation the law of the land in South Carolina, Dawson said even the thought of scheduling USC could have made her husband’s stay in Orangeburg a short one.

“In those days, no, that was unheard of,” she said. “No, No. You’re talking about the ‘30s now, 1935. That was a no, no. That wouldn’t have come about in that era. This is a new day.

“But in 1935, playing the University of South Carolina, I was afraid somebody might have run him out of Orangeburg for even thinking that, let alone try to do that.”

Through what she called the “lean years,” her late husband more than managed to make a thriving athletics environment at SCSU. Not only did Dawson coach football, basketball, track, tennis and golf, he helped bring several high-profile tournaments in those sports to Orangeburg for the town’s black youth.

“We were living on Goff Avenue at the time ... and we lived across the railroad tracks from Claflin,” Dawson said. “He would come home from the football field, grab a bite and go to the gym to start basketball practice.”

The Thomaston, Ga., native, who was also a boxing champion in Cleveland, Ohio, even taught Sunday school, which may have caught by surprise those student-athletes who sometimes were on the receiving end of his verbal admonishments.

“Somebody use to always say ‘Lord, we’ve never seen a person that cusses so much during the week and prays so good on Sunday,” she said. “But Ollie could get up and give an exemplary speech.”

Dawson’s efforts to help young people receive an education lasted right up until the night before his death on the morning of Feb 9, 1989, when he convinced then-head coach Willie Jeffries to give his nephew, Dyrek Dawson, a football scholarship.

“It was ironic that the last act he did before he died was to get a scholarship, something he had done for other people’s children over all those years, and he was getting help for one of his relatives,” Dawson said. “He never spoke another word after that, but he got that scholarship.”

Dawson did have one lasting message to impart to his nephew over the telephone following his final meeting with Jeffries.

“He told them ‘I had paved the way for you’,” he said. “‘But the truth is, I’m going to tell you. If you’re not interested in an education, don’t come down here because I don’t want no Dawson tramp athlete!’ People thought he was rough, but once you knew him, he had a heart of gold.”

Dawson’s legacy lives on in the form of the stadium that bears his name, through his widow who continues to financially support the university and the coaches who have followed in his footsteps and shown the same commitment to helping young people.

Gracia Dawson sees those similar traits in the Bulldogs’ current head coach who, ironically, shares the same first name as her late husband and was a former neighbor.

“I think he’d be proud of (Oliver) “Buddy” Pough,” Dawson said. “I think ‘Buddy’ Pough has done real well and is such a fine representative.”

Dawson is especially happy to see Pough schedule games against the Football Bowl Subdivision teams, as she believes they will help the Bulldogs in the long run.

“I’ve heard a lot of people complain, ‘Oh why in the world did they put schools like Air Force Academy and USC (on the schedule)?,’” she said. “But to me, that’s the only way you’re going to grow. I tell you one thing, I feel that playing Air Force helped us win our first conference game (last week against Bethune-Cookman). I mean that’s my thinking. And they’ll do better when you have better competition.

“But a lot of people are saying ‘Why in the world are they putting those schools on the schedule? They know they’re out of our league.’ What’s wrong with trying to reach up into another league or whatever. I’m glad to see them play them.”

While still very spry, Dawson now attends few road games, content to follow the action on the radio at home decked out in her SCSU paraphernalia. For this special occasion, however, Dawson plans to make the trip to Columbia with her late husband in spirit.

“I just hope that they play some ball,” she said.

SCSU must believe anything can happen

By T&D Sports Writer Travis Boland

When Appalachian State knocked off Michigan in the first week of the college football season, it gave other Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) teams the thought that they could beat anybody. It also struck fear in the hearts of all Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) teams, hoping they weren't going to be the next major upset to be splashed all over SportsCenter.

Now, South Carolina State gets its chance to pull its own major upset over an FBS team, but it's going to take a monumental effort, seeing as you can't sneak up on anyone this season.

The Bulldogs will have to play the perfect game to get the win. Here are a few things they can do to make it happen:

1. South Carolina State will have to spread the USC defense.

The Gamecocks struggled in their first game of the season against Louisiana-Lafayette because of the Ragin' Cajuns' spread-option attack and no-huddle offense. UL-L rushed for 252 yards and was able to control the clock against the defense.

Cleve McCoy and the Bulldogs will have to use the spread attack to their advantage, McCoy is quick enough to be able to run the misdirection plays that can confuse the Gamecocks. Gettting USC to over-commit will be the key.

The offensive line will have to protect against a defensive line that gave Georgia fits last week. Cleve needs to be able to run but not spend all night running for his life.

2. Score early, score often.

Appalachian State was able to beat Michigan by scoring early. They took the lead and were able to hold off a comeback. If the Gamecocks score the first points,

it could be a long night for the Bulldogs. But if State is able to open the game with a touchdown drive, it could set the tone. SCSU is not going to win a defensive struggle the likes of Carolina's win over Georgia, so the Bulldogs will have to put the ball in the end zone as often as possible. The longer SCSU hangs around, the better the chances of pulling the upset.

3. Empty the playbook.

If the Bulldogs can hang tough, then expect to see some razzle-dazzle from Buddy Pough. Why hold on to trick plays if they can lead to a win. Don't hold anything back in this game. Anything you're going to use will be good practice for later in the season. Fake punts, reverses, flea-flickers, whatever ... just use them.

I'm not saying the Bulldogs will beat the Gamecocks, but like we've already seen this season, anything can happen.