Howard's Brice Has Career Day in Win over Lincoln

Charles Brice rushed for a career-high 161 yards and three touchdowns to lead Howard University to a 28-14 win over Lincoln University on Oct. 2. The win snapped an 11-game losing skid for Howard.

After both teams failed to score in the first quarter, Howard (1-4) took advantage of good field position and drove 50 yards in seven plays, with Brice sprinting 34 yards for the score at the 11:52 mark of the second quarter. Howard never looked back after that.

Brice, a 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound red-shirt sophomore from Columbia, S.C., was making his first start after coming off a career-best 96 yards on 13 carries in a loss to Morgan State on September 25.

Howard Bison beat Lincoln for first win

Charles Brice ran for three second-quarter touchdowns, and Howard defeated Lincoln (Pa.), 28-14, on Saturday at Greene Stadium.

Brice, who finished with 161 yards on 31 carries, had scores of 34 and 12 yards before putting the Bison up 21-0 on a one-yard run with 20 seconds remaining until halftime.

The Division II Lions (1-4) answered with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ivan Mitchell to Anthony Wilson at the end of the half.

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Clark Atlanta Finds Enough Offense to Stop Stillman

It took almost the rest of the game, but Clark Atlanta found its offense as Ronald Thompson capped a 93-yard drive with a one-yard dive as the Panthers defeated Stillman 19-14 in CAU's home opener Saturday. The score was an exciting end to CAU's homecoming, but the excitement, unfortunately, did not end there for the fans.

Despite the touchdown, the Panthers (3-2, 3-1 SIAC) had to wait with baited breath as Stillman recovered a poor squib kick on the ensuing kick-off at Clark Atlanta's 38 yard line.

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Chowan Hawks Hang on for First Season Win over Virginia Union

MURFREESBORO, N.C. - The Chowan University football team picked up their first win of season this afternoon after beating Virginia Union University 35-34 in CIAA gridiron action. Playing in their first-ever televised event, Chowan held on to the one point win despite a late surge by the Panthers.

Chowan's Robert Holland hauled in 11 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns to help propel his team to victory. The Hawks improve their overall record to 1-4 and their CIAA record to 1-1. The Panthers fall to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the league after today.

Chowan collected 345 yards of total offense in the game with 234 yards coming through the air. Chowan's Steven Carroll came in for relief of starter Cameron Stover to throw for 183 yards on 19 completions. Carroll also threw three of today's four touchdowns. Stover, still nursing a shoulder injury, left the game in the second quarter but completed six passes for 51 yards and hooked up with Holland to put Chowan on the board in the first quarter.

Virginia Union University - Epic VUU Comeback Falls Just Short

A furious Virginia Union University comeback in the waning seconds of a regionally televised football game fell just short as Chowan University escaped with a 35-34 win over the Panthers in Murfreesboro, N.C., on October 2.

Trailing 35-21 with less than three minutes left to play, backup quarterback Cheston Hickman, playing in place of the injured Aris McGlone-English, led a seven-play 60-yard drive to pull the Panthers to within 35-28. Hickman capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Andre Winston with 1:22 left to play. Union then recovered the ensuing onside kick at their own 36-yard line.

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S.C. State Marching 101 vs. FAMU Marching 100

Shreveport Classic: Prairie View A&M Panthers vs. Southern Jaguars

Prairie View A&M University Department of Athletics has entered into a two-year agreement with the City of Shreveport and State Fair of Louisiana to bring to the city one football game each during the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Independence Stadium.

Prairie View's first contest in Shreveport will take place on October 23rd, 2010 versus Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge). The gridiron matchup will be a reunion of sorts as both teams met in Independence Stadium during the 2003 campaign.

Backfield powers TSU in Classic win

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Even though Preston Brown is one of the top running backs in the Football Championship Subdivision, he's always concerned each week about losing his starting spot. Dante' Thomas showed why.

With Brown slowed in practice by a groin injury, Thomas took over the starting spot Saturday, rushing for a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns in Tennessee State's 37-7 victory over North Carolina A&T in the Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium. Brown might not have been himself, but he was still pretty good. The second-leading rusher in the FCS added 145 yards, nine shy of his average.

Aggies coming home with 0-5 mark

INDIANAPOLIS -- The N.C. A&T football team ran out of luck at the Circle City Classic. The Aggies, who brought a 3-0 record at the event into Saturday's showdown against Tennessee State, couldn't draw from past success, dropping a 37-7 decision to the Tigers at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Aggies, with previous victories over Southern (1994) and Tennessee State (1997 and 2005), were the only undefeated team in Classic history with at least three appearances. The game, which was established to showcase Historically Black Colleges and Universities, has been played each year since 1984.

"Coach (Alonzo) Lee told us we were 3-0 coming in, so we tried to keep the legacy alive," said Aggies junior running back Mike Mayhew, who finished ...

Slide Show: Tennessee State 37, North Carolina A&T 7 in the Circle City Classic

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Prairie View beats Mississippi Valley State 34-13

GREENVILLE, MS - Quarterback K.J. Black threw a pair of touchdown passes to Shaun Stephens in a 1:30 span of the third quarter Saturday to help Prairie View (2-3, 2-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) subdue Mississippi Valley State in the Delta Devils' home away from home at Greenville High.

Adrian Martin pulled the Delta Devils (0-5, 0-4) within 14 points in the fourth quarter, catching TD passes of 19 and 52 yards from Oliver Hughes. Prairie View's Donald Babers rushed for 151 yards and two TDs on 26 carries. Black completed 22 of 37 passes for 230 yards.

TD connection hooks up twice in 90-second span

GREENVILLE, Miss. — Shaun Stephens caught two touchdown passes from K.J. Black in a 1-minute, 30-second span of the third quarter to lift Prairie View A&M over Mississippi Valley State 34-13 on Saturday.

Stephens’ first touchdown — a 25-yarder — gave the Panthers (2-3, 2-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) a 17-0 lead. Two plays later, Jarvis Wilson recovered a fumble at the Delta Devils’ 15, and Black then found Stephens for a 15-yard score.

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Jomarcus Savage has happy homecoming with Grambling victory over A&M

HUNTSVILLE, AL. -- When Jomarcus Savage decided to transfer from Auburn, he briefly considered Alabama A&M. "My parents were in my ear," he admitted. Naturally so, since his father Joe Savage played for A&M and since Jomarcus played at Johnson High. Alas, Alabama A&M was "too close to home," Jomarcus said.

Grambling State was apparently the right fit. On Saturday afternoon, as A&M held homecoming, so did Savage. For the first time since he was a 9-year-old linebacker in Pop Warner football, he was back at Louis Crews Stadium, this time for Grambling's 25-22 win over A&M.

Football team and the excitement around it proves to be heartbeat of Alabama A&M

HUNTSVILLE, AL. -- The prettiest girl. The most spectacular day. The greatest food. Every day should be homecoming. They just need to turn out differently than this one.

In a luxury box above Louis Crews Stadium, Alabama A&M president Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr. was following the frantic final seconds. "If we can just get close enough to kick a field goal," he was saying as the Bulldogs gained a late first down, then stopped the clock.

Peering over rows of his guests in theater seats, Hugine watched Deaunte Mason throw his 31st pass of the game. If ... If ...

Batiste's return sparks GSU comeback

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Alabama A&M, with a chance to prove it is one of the elite teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference on Saturday, failed to deliver. The Bulldogs, who have struggled against Grambling since joining the conference, had the Tigers on the ropes, but could not land the punch to knock them out.

Frank Warren ran roughshod through A&M's vaunted defense, and the Tigers also got an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that proved to be the difference as Grambling hung on for a 25-22 victory before an announced crowd of 12,328 on homecoming at Louis Crews Stadium.

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SU Jaguars cannot hold off UAPB Golden Lions in SWAC rout

Waving their hands toward the sky, running toward the west sideline at A.W. Mumford Stadium after halftime Saturday night, Southern football players felt the way they wanted to feel.

At the time, they were tied with visiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In the first half, they had showed passion, emotion and a stronger game plan, and they felt confident that their first Southwestern Athletic Conference win in the Stump Mitchell era was a mere 30 minutes away.

They were wrong. The Golden Lions used a dominant third quarter to pull away for a 41-23 victory, burning the beleaguered SU defense for big play after big play.

Too many mistakes hold Jaguars back

Saturday night in A.W. Mumford Stadium, for the second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference game, the Southern football team was left to lament all the times it turned the football over, all the times it committed a game-changing penalty, all the little things it failed to do.

Saturday night, all those mistakes helped Arkansas-Pine Bluff leave town with a 41-23 victory, handing SU its third straight loss in the process. The Jaguars had four turnovers, nine penalties and a handful of hiccups on special teams.

Jaguars see glimpses of hope

Receiver Curry Allen sat down at a table after Saturday night’s 41-23 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, trying to put in words what went wrong and even more importantly, how the Southern offense can recover. His answer was simple: stop trying so hard.

“We’ve been playing uptight, not really playing our game,” said Curry, a redshirt senior. “We have to relax and go out there and have fun.

Making the Fixes

There were plenty of mistakes to go around during Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 41-23 SWAC win over Southern University Saturday night, but most came in the first half for the Golden Lions.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff helped set up an early Southern field goal with a punt interference penalty. Another Southern field goal was set up when wide receiver Raymond Webber lost a fumble deep in UAPB territory, and quarterback Josh Boudreaux later tossed an interception.

But it all came together in the second half as Boudreaux and Webber led the UAPB rally that saw it outscore the Jaguars 28-10 after a halftime tie.

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WSSU cruises past Johnson C. Smith

Charlotte, N.C. -- Make it six in a row for Winston-Salem State. The Rams crushed CIAA rival Johnson C. Smith 49-3 at Memorial Stadium last night to improve their record to 6-0, 4-0 in league play.

The defense sparkled early, turning back two early Golden Bulls drives in the shadow of the Rams’ end zone. The offense then kicked into gear, scoring 21 second-quarter points to take a 28-0 halftime lead that put the game out of reach.

“They got off on a good start,” said defensive lineman Juan Corders, who led WSSU with 11 tackles, including 3½ for losses, and a sack. “They played us quite well, but the defense stuck in there and got adjusted to fight them off.”

Bulls fail to convert while Rams pile it on

Winston-Salem State's return to Division II and the CIAA still is perfect.

The Rams ripped off a 21-point second quarter on their way to a 49-3 league win against Johnson C. Smith at Memorial Stadium, their sixth to start the season. Winston-Salem State (6-0, 4-0), which rejoined the CIAA after four years in Division I, shook off an early challenge by J.C. Smith (1-4, 0-2 CIAA) to pull away by halftime.

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Albany State Rams slay Lane Dragons, 43-13

ALBANY, GA — It’s good to be home. After three long road trips in four games to start the season, the Albany State football team returned to the Albany State University Coliseum on Saturday night, using a fourth-quarter surge to beat a pesky Lane team, 43-13, and improve to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the SIAC.

It wasn’t as easy as the Rams had hoped, however, as the Dragons (0-5, 0-4) used a blitz all game long that stumped ASU and quarterback Stanley Jennings until the final frame.

“We actually went into the game thinking we could run the ball a lot better than we did,” head coach Mike White said. “The passing game (ended up being) there, (because) they were throwing a lot of people down (at us). So we were able to get them for some big plays.”

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FVSU Wildcats gain their homecoming revenge

FORT VALLEY, GA — About two-thirds of the way through the third quarter, running back Aaron Courtney was stopped at the line, but he disposed of the two Benedict tacklers who had him wrapped up and raced 22 yards for a touchdown.

That gave Fort Valley State a two-touchdown lead, and the Wildcats could breathe a little bit. Homecoming appeared to be saved, and the weekend would be a good one for FVSU. FVSU’s defense surrendered only a few big plays and the Wildcats blocked two punts and rolled past Benedict 41-13 on Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium.

The crowd was announced at 12,455 watched FVSU improve to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in SIAC play. Benedict fell to 1-5 and 1-4.

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Morgan State routed by Bethune-Cookman, 69-32

Morgan State didn't need long Saturday to come to the realization it was in for a long day against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference power Bethune-Cookman. Sixteen seconds, to be exact.

That's how long it took for the Florida school to complete a 70-yard touchdown pass on its first play from scrimmage. It was only the beginning of a game to forget for the host Bears, who committed seven turnovers and allowed 640 yards of offense in a 69-32 loss.

"There wasn't an effort on either side of the ball — offensively or defensively," Morgan head coach Donald Hill-Eley said. "Anytime you turn the ball over seven, almost eight times, you can't beat a little league team like that. We have to do a better job of protecting the football, and we have to make some changes in some areas that we're making some crazy decisions."

'Cats offense runs wild in win

BALTIMORE, MD -- Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins admitted he's not a numbers guy. "We're not into stats or records," Jenkins said. "We're just focused on running our offense." Following Saturday's 69-32 win over host Morgan State, however, the numbers were difficult to ignore.

The Wildcats racked up 640 yards of total offense, including 366 on the ground, and forced seven turnovers to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2003, as well as 2-0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the first time since 2006.

What's more, B-CU scored its most points on the road since 1950, starting on the game's first offensive play, when quarterback Matt Johnson found wide receiver Eddie Poole wide open down the left sideline -- the result of badly blown coverage by Morgan State -- for a 70-yard touchdown.

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Former S.C. State Bulldogs to get their rightful recognition

CHARLIE BROWN PLAYED in a couple of Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins and has a pair of rings to show for it. He also had a 1,000-yard receiving season in the NFL during his six-year career.

Still, the one-time South Carolina State standout carries a couple of beefs with him. He believes his beloved Bulldogs were slighted in 1980 when they were not invited to play in the Division I-AA playoffs, and two of his fingers have never been fitted for the pair of national black college championships S.C. State won while he was there.

Brown can never rectify the 1980 NCAA ruling, but he will right the latter wrong Friday night when members of the 1976 and 1980 coaching staffs and players will be presented with national championship rings.

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FAMU falls to South Carolina State

Almost every time that camera operators panned the Florida A&M sideline, head football coach Joe Taylor had one arm locked under his chest and the other under his chin.

It seemed like he was trying to find answers on how to ignite the Rattlers' anemic offense that struggled to get first downs and couldn't put a single point on the scoreboard. Not even a field goal to give a near-capacity crowd something to feel good about.

Quarterback Martin Ukpai wasn't getting it done and was benched after a half in favor of Eddie Battle. He couldn't get the offense moving either and as a result FAMU was beaten 19-0 for a loss that might just wreck its MEAC title hopes.

Photo Galleries:
Tailgate Cam - FAMU vs. S.C. State

Fan Cam - FAMU vs. S.C. State

Rattlers' defense looks crisp, even in defeat »

A dam can only hold water, or hold back the South Carolina State offense, for so long.

After watching the Florida A&M offense constantly cede field position, time of possession and turnovers to their opponent the Rattlers' defense was worn down by an extended drive by the visitors early in the fourth quarter.

Bulldogs Blank Rattlers 19-0

TALLAHASSE , Fla. - South Carolina State had a back to rush for the century mark as well a receiver to finish over the century mark as the Bulldogs extended their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win streak to 20 as they defeated the Florida A&M University, 19-0 here Saturday evening at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Blake Erickson scored the Bulldogs first nine points as he connected on a pair of 39-yard field goal, the first with 10:35 to in the first and the second with six seconds to in the first half, giving SCSU a 6-0 lead into the break.

SC State 19, Florida A&M 0 Final

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It was a 'Blackout' Saturday at Bragg Memorial Stadium and not just in the stands. For the first time since 1934, the Bulldogs shut out Florida A&M on the scoreboard to post their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference-record 20th consecutive victory. It's also the eight straight win over the Rattlers, the Bulldogs' 11th straight road conference win and 26th consecutive win over a historically black college.

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Alabama State struggles under center in loss to Texas Sourthern

Alabama State's game Saturday against Texas Southern looked a lot like August practices at Hornet Stadium. Three quarterbacks shuffled duties. No one appeared to want the job. When the musical chairs ended, it was Texas Southern who left Cramton Bowl singing, claiming a 21-7 victory over the Hornets.

Devin Dominguez, Demetric Price and Rashard Burkette took snaps for the Hornets and each struggled to find any rhythm in an offense that generated just 149 total yards.

Alabama State University Athletics - Turnovers, Bad Field Position ...

MONTGOMERY, AL — Curtis Thomas’ 59 yard interception return for a score put the final touches on a Texas Southern 21-7 win over Alabama State University in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game.

For the second game in a row, the Hornets’ offense struggled with five turnovers and continually had bad field position.

TSU’s defense was stellar the whole game and after forcing ASU to punt on their first possession, William Osbourne returned the punt 39 yards to set up TSU’s first offensive possession from the ASU 19 yard line. From there it only took two plays for Martin Gilbert to cover the 19 yards, with the scoring run coming from 12 yards out as TSU took a 7-0 lead a little over two minutes into the game.

COMMENTARY: ASU-Texas Southern matchup more than a game for ...

Johnnie Cole wants to beat Alabama State today. That much, the Texas Southern head coach doesn't hide. Calling it a game of "personal" importance in several interviews, Cole has made no secret of the fact that today's meeting between his Tigers and ASU carries more than just SWAC ramifications for him.

How personal, and how important the game is though, is something Cole's trying to keep to himself. And he's used all the right words, saying he'd be happy with a 3-0 win and reminding everyone of the great friends he still has in Montgomery.

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Attendance: 12,182

Alcorn State plays to full capability in falling to Mississippi State 49-16

The ASU Braves, led by multi-talented freshman QB Brandon Bridge compiled 314 yards of total offense against quality SEC defense.

Dogs think they should have played better

STARKVILLE, MS -- The scoreboard at Davis Wade Stadium showed Mississippi State beat Alcorn State 49-16 Saturday, but coaches and players feel like they should have performed better.

MSU (3-2) turned the ball over twice and didn't force any from Alcorn State. And after entering Saturday's game as the least penalized team in the Southeastern Conference, the Bulldogs committed a season-high nine penalties for 75 yards.

The Bulldogs also got a scare from the Braves, who pulled to within eight points near the end of the second quarter. But for every big play quarterback Brandon Bridge and Alcorn State made, Mississippi State was there to answer with a score.

Wake-up call for Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Even with a win, Dan Mullen was frustrated with the way his team performed and his coaches prepared.

Mississippi State (3-2) made its fair share of mistakes at Scott Field on Saturday morning but also had more than enough big plays on offense and defense for a 49-16 win over Alcorn State.

"We came out a little flat," Mullen said. "We didn't play with the emotion and the passion we played with last week.

MSU Notebook

Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge shocked the Mississippi State faithful with one quick move to the sideline. The true freshman from Canada, who Braves coach Earnest Collins calls "the young fella," burned State's defense for a 78-yard run to cut MSU's lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter. It was the longest run the Bulldogs have allowed this season.

"We'd like to not be out-athleted that badly, to be honest with you, but that's the way it looked," MSU defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. "He made a heck of a play. In a game where playmakers decide things, he made a play and we couldn't stop him."

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Attendance: 50,439

Positive changes continue for FAMU athletics

The corporate world would throw around terms like "re-branding" or a "re-assessment of core values" or some other "strategic initiative." Within the Florida A&M athletic department, it's much easier to explain. This place has changed, and it's continuing to change.

Those paying attention Saturday evening as nearly 23,000 fans packed into Bragg Memorial Stadium — most of them wearing the same black T-shirts — understand exactly what is happening on the highest of Tallahassee's seven hills.

Andre Dawson Returns to FAMU

Andre Dawson, who is a Major League Baseball Hall of fame inductee and self proclaimed 'rattler forever' returned to his stopping grounds to give those being inducted to the FAMU Sports Hall of fame a pat on the back. Dawson, a Rattler baseball great in the 70s, was a member of the 81 FAMU sports hall of fame.

After a knee injury out of high school-- He says his time on the Rattler Diamond is what made his child hood dream work itself out. Andre Dawson says, "I got a full scholarship because ...

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Week 5: Pretenders vs. Contenders

CIAA
Winston Salem State 49, Johnson C. Smith 3
Saint Augustine's 42, Fayetteville State 36
Shaw 34, Livingstone 0
Chowan 35, Virginia Union 34
Elizabeth City State 30, Saint Paul's 12
Virginia State 16, Bowie State 15

SIAC
Albany State 43, Lane 13
Tuskegee 51, Miles 0
E. Kentucky 58, Kentucky State 7
Fort Valley State 41, Benedict 13
Clark Atlanta 19, Stillman 14

SWAC
Mississippi State 49, Alcorn State 16
Texas Southern 21, Alabama State 7
Arkansas Pine Bluff 41, Southern 23
Grambling State 25, Alabama A&M 22
Prairie View A&M 34, Mississippi Valley 13
Jackson State (Bye)

MEAC
South Carolina State 19, Florida A&M 0
Bethune Cookaman 69, Morgan State 32
Howard 28, Lincoln (Pa.) 14
Tennessee State 37, North Carolina A&T 7 (Circle City Classic)
Liberty 52, Savannah State 14
Hampton 20, Delaware State 14 (Thursday)
Norfolk State, North Carolina Central (Bye)



South Carolina State University's Marching 101 will take on Norfolk State University's Spartan Legion in the "Man vs. Beast: Brawl in the Burg" band battle. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on the campus of S.C. State.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information or tickets, call 803-536-8579, 1-800-298-9157 or 803-533-3691.

Circle City Classic: Tennessee State vs. North Carolina A&T

Thousands to attend Circle City Classic

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - It's classic weekend again in Indy.

A pep rally is set to begin at White River State Park at 4 p.m. featuring marching bands from North Carolina A&T State and Tennessee State. Following the rally fans can head to Lucas Oil Stadium to watch the Circle City Classic High School game. Warren Central will take on Carmel High School at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a gospel explosion at the Madame Walker Theatre and a comedy jam at Old National Centre.

On Saturday, thousands of fans will make their way downtown to watch the electric Circle City Classic Parade.

College game on Colts' turf

Footballs will be flying and pads will be poppin' this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in front of thousands of screaming fans.

No, Peyton Manning will not be in town. The Indianapolis Colts play Sunday in Jacksonville. Instead, what is on the docket is the 27th annual Circle City Classic. “We're ready for a breakout,” North Carolina A&T coach Alonzo Lee said. “This should be an exciting game.”
Lee's Aggies (0-4) will face Tennessee State (2-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Circle City Classic organizers look to boost 27-year-old event‎

Indiana Black Expo officials are fighting to breathe new life into the Circle City Classic, but they have a steep hill to climb to assure the 27-year-old event maintains long-term financial viability in Indianapolis.

Coming off a year in which ticket revenue declined 19 percent, sponsorship revenue fell 12 percent and overall revenue dropped 15 percent, IBE officials hope a series of new attractions and events will stir up more interest in the annual football game and festival.

“Things are going quite well,” said IBE spokeswoman Elizabeth Hart. “Ticket sales are trending well; we think better than last year. We expect a big draw this year from followers of the out-of-town schools involved as well as local residents. We think we have some attractions that are really going to bring people to the event this year.”

This year’s game, to be played Saturday in Lucas Oil Stadium, features North Carolina A&T State University against Tennessee State University.

13 WTHRCircle City Classic has new twist‎

Indianapolis - The Circle City Classic has a new twist this year. Two local high schools will kick off the classic weekend with a game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Carmel plays Warren Central Friday night at 7:30 pm. The Carmel Greyhounds are hoping to avenge a loss to the Warren Central Warriors during last year's state championship game.

"We've been around for 27 years. We really wanted to add a new aspect to the Circle City Classic - keep it fresh, and so we wanted to incorporate the high school students and high school athletes into the Circle City Classic weekend. We are hoping for a great success and great crowds this year so we can continue it for years to come," said Elizabeth Hart, Indiana Black Expo.

TSU running back gains national attention

Tennessee State running back Preston Brown knew he had rushed for a lot of yards this season, but wasn't sure exactly how many. He also wasn't aware of where he ranked in the Football Championship Subdivision.

When told he had climbed to second nationally, averaging 153.8 yards, and that he has more rushing yards (615) than any other player, Brown was glad to hear it. Grambling's Frank Warren leads the FCS, averaging 162.7 yards.

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Circle City Classic coaches share career path

The two coaches who will lead their football teams in today's Circle City Classic came up through the same career path.

Tennessee State's Rod Reed and North Carolina A&T's Alonzo Lee were assistant coaches and then coordinators at historically black colleges and universities before getting a chance at the top job. It's a key development, both say, to have the opportunity for that kind of advancement instead of seeing assistants from big-name schools swoop in and be named head coaches.

Run game will make or break TSU

The only thing Tennessee State Coach Rod Reed enjoys watching as much as Preston Brown making long runs is the Tigers' defense stopping the run. "Being an old defensive coach that's what really makes me happy because when you stop the run, you stop a lot of the things most offenses are going to try to do," said Reed, who was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach after James Webster resigned last season.

Brown's running, combined with TSU's ability to stop North Carolina A&T running back Mike Mayhew, will be a key for the Tigers (2-2) in today's Circle City Classic against the Aggies (0-4) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Indiana Black Expo all for this game

It's yet to be seen if a high school football game will become a permanent part of the Circle City Classic weekend, but event officials said Friday night's showdown at Lucas Oil Stadium between Class 5A second-ranked and defending state champion Warren Central (5-1) and top-ranked Carmel (6-0) will provide a boost in exposure and enthusiasm to the festivities.

The Circle City Classic, a joint collaboration between Indiana Black Expo Inc. and the Indiana Sports Corp., has been played as a college game every year since 1984; this year's game pits North Carolina A&T against Tennessee State at 4 p.m. Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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Mississippi State Bulldogs Host Alcorn State Saturday In SEC-SWAC Showdown

STARKVILLE, Miss. - After last week’s 24-12 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs, Mississippi State seeks to carry its momentum into this Saturday’s game against the Alcorn State Braves. Kick time between the instate opponents is set for 11 a.m. CT at Davis Wade Stadium . The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net.

Last week, MSU quarterback Chris Relf had a career high 257 total offensive yards and two touchdowns through the air. The Bulldogs were able to compile 314 yards of total offense while Vick Ballard rushed for 65 yards and crossed the goal line for his fifth touchdown of the season.

Avoiding Ole Miss-type trap, Dawgs prep for Alcorn

Mississippi State will face Alcorn State this week in an in-state showdown that features the first ever pairing of these two schools but the second matchup between an SEC and a SWAC team - the first being MSU and Jackson State last season.

That contest ended in a 45-7 dismantling of the Tigers of Jackson State, and fans should expect some of the same out of this game. However, the Bulldogs feel they must stay focused and avoid a letdown like ...

Bulldogs know not to overlook unsung Braves

STARKVILLE — Coach Dan Mullen and Mississippi State are not underestimating or overlooking Alcorn State.

The warning shots have been fired and not necessarily from Lorman, the home of the Braves. Mullen and the players at MSU (2-2) have seen all the upsets inside and outside the state this year and realize nothing can be taken for granted.

TV: 11 AM CT/12:00 ET, Fox Sports Net

Internet: ESPN3.com

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Lincoln vs. Howard: A Rivalry Revisited

WASHINGTON, DC - This is a non-conference game between the Lions of Lincoln University from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) against the Bison of Howard University from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Lions (1-3 overall, 0-2 in) are coming off a 52-21 home loss to Saint Augustine's this past Saturday while the Bison (0-4, 0-3 in the MEAC) dropped a 20-3 decision to Morgan State University this past Saturday in the New York Urban League Football Classic at the Meadowlands.

CLICK HERE for complete game notes

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