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Virginia Union University's Tarian Donaldson rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown, but Elizabeth City State University downed VUU 17-14 in Elizabeth City, N.C., on October 9.
Donaldson became only the third Panther in the last 10 years to reach the 2,000-yard plateau in his career. The senior running back from Virginia Beach, VA, now has 2,022 career yards. Andre Braxton and Elihu Smith are the other Panthers to rush for more than 2,000 yards in their careers during the last decade.
Elizabeth City State’s football team’s motto this season is “Seal the Deal.” On Saturday, the Vikings had several chances to seal the game and ultimately had to turn to a handful of backups to secure a 17-14 win over Virginia Union.
Fans at Roebuck Stadium Saturday noticed a new structure on the home side. A new chancellor’s suite was installed last week and will remain in place for Elizabeth City State’s final two home games. The building is a temporary structure that filled an immediate need Vikings’ officials saw.
Howard University Bison launched their new website today...the first big project by new assistant director of sports information, JamilahCorbitt. The site is hot and refreshing with connections to the Bison past, present & future athletes. Don't take my word for it, check it out at www.howard-bison.comor click title above. Edward Hill Jr. (Sports Information Director) and JamilahCorbitt are responsible for covering 17 Division I sports for the Bison athletic programs, in addition to keeping this site updated with news articles, photos and other information. So, cut them some slack when you get ready to negatively criticize a hard working two person support staff.
Jamilah is a native Washingtonian and has been on the job less than a month, coming home after serving in the Sports Information department at Alabama A&M University since 2008. Corbitt was assistant SID and the primary media contact for seven Division I sports and secondary contact for eight sports. Go Bison!
Lane College went from the brink of assuring its first win in 17 games to going to overtime in 46.7 seconds. Benedict beat the Dragons 30-23 in overtime at Lane Stadium on Saturday.
Lane (0-6) held a 23-20 lead late in the fourth quarter with the ball on the Benedict 1-yard line. Lane quarterback Tahj Dent appeared to have dived into the end zone for the two-possession lead, but the referees said that Dent fumbled and called a touchback to give Benedict the ball on the 20-yard line with 46.7 seconds remaining. Lane still held the 23-20 lead.
DURHAM, N.C. – Hampton scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and rallied beat North Carolina Central for the second straight year. The Pirates prevailed 27-13 thanks to a 19-yard touchdown reception by Javaris Brown and interception returns of 55 yards by Matt Davis and 68 yards by Ricardo Silva all in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Hampton won its fourth straight game this season and seventh straight over the Eagles in the series that was renewed last season with NCCU's acceptance into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. A year ago, Hampton scored the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter to beat the Eagles. Next season with NCCU gaining full conference membership, the game will count in the MEAC standings.
DURHAM, N.C. -- Hampton's Matt Davis and Ricardo Silva scored on long interception returns as the Pirates rallied with 20 fourth-quarter points for a 27-13 win over N.C. Central on Saturday.
Hampton (4-1) trailed 13-0 with 10:56 left in the first half before Isiah Thomas scored on a 6-yard run to make it 13-7. The Eagles (2-3) missed a 27-yard field-goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.
LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge has shown such great promise since becoming the starter three games ago that the ASU sports information department is trying to think of nicknames for him. But he is still a true freshman. And against Texas Southern’s relentless pressure, you could tell.
The Tigers’ pressure flustered Bridge all game long, forcing him to throw two interceptions, cough up a fumble and take a crucial sack in the final minute of the Braves’ 30-20 loss. Alcorn coach Earnest Collins knew his team was going up against the best defense in the SWAC, and knew they would bring the pressure against Bridge.
LORMAN, Miss. — Marquis Jackson had his second sack of the game, forcing a fumble to prevent a potential game-winning touchdown late in Texas Southern's 30-20 win over Alcorn State on Saturday. The Tigers (3-3, 3-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) led 23-20 when the Braves (3-2, 2-1) were driving in Texas Southern territory.
Was this really about to happen? In the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s game between Southern and Mississippi Valley State, before they pulled away for a 38-20 victory in front of a nervous but happy homecoming crowd of 19,762 inside A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Jaguars had bungled a chance at collecting their first blowout win of the Stump Mitchell era.
Worse yet, the winless Delta Devils had scored back-to-back touchdowns; their sideline was full of life, and they were primed to get the ball back with plenty of time to take their first lead of the season. Was this really about to happen? This was Mississippi Valley. This was winless Mississippi Valley.
The fourth quarter of Saturday’s game between Southern University and Mississippi Valley State proved to be gut-check time for a Jaguars defensive unit that has struggled at times this season. This time, the defense was up to the task shutting out the Delta Devils in the final quarter while Southern tacked on two insurance scores to salt away a 38-20 win at Mumford Stadium.
Southern’s William Griswold kicked a 37-yard field goal to extend the Jaguars’ lead to 24-7 midway through the third quarter, but Valley scored twice to cut the margin to 24-20 entering the fourth. From there, the Southern defense made sure its offense would have plenty of breathing room.
Five games into this first season under Stump Mitchell, Southern is still waiting for a clean, sound performance on special teams. The new coach has certainly noticed.
Saturday night, during the Jaguars’ 38-20 victory over Mississippi Valley State, the Delta Devils’ first touchdown came on another special-teams gaffe, when SU kicker William Griswold tried a 43-yard field goal and drove it low, into the line of scrimmage. Markkus Davis returned it for a 62-yard touchdown. Instead of leading 10-0, the Jaguars found themselves in a 7-7 tie.
In convincing fashion, the Kentucky State football team defeated Central State 41-24 Saturday in Wilburforce, Ohio, improving to 3-4 overall (2-3 SIAC). The ‘Breds opened with a touchdown just eight seconds into the game as Jerrel Noland connected with Jamaree Gordon on a 40-yard pass (PAT missed).
Central threatened to score on its first possession of the game, driving the ball 55 yards on eight plays, but KSU’s Cory Spalding intercepted Jeffrey Brooks’ pass in the end zone and returned it to the 15-yard line.
The Thorobreds were unable to get into Central territory on their next drive and were forced to punt. The Marauders started their second drive with 7:33 to play in the first quarter and on eight plays drove 47 yards, but were left to settle for a field goal (6-3 KSU).
ALBANY, GA — There was something special in the air at Albany State University Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. Maybe it was the cloud of smoke rising from the parking lot, where new and old friends laughed and tailgated together to their heart’s content. Maybe it was the blare of trumpets, echoing from ASU’s and Miles’ bands as they competed for pride and the crowd’s attention.
Or maybe it was a little bit of magic emanating from the fingertips of Rams quarterback Stanley Jennings as he hit receivers for touchdowns — again and again. Whatever the reason, it was a homecoming to remember for Albany State fans as the Rams defeated Miles, 34-7, in front of a capacity crowd to move to No. 1 in the SIAC after Morehouse lost to Tuskegee, 31-15.
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – One of the highlights for thousands in town this weekend and locals is the ASU Homecoming Parade. The parade didn't disappoint it had more music, dance, and floats. "This is my first Homecoming in all of these years," said Clano Stephens. Stephens graduated with the class of 1931. This is his first homecoming, he was the grand marshal.
"I'm enjoying this one immensely it's been really good," said Stephens.
Now 98-years-old he is back to help the university celebrate its 107 year history. "Oh everything has changed since then, but we had a good time, and where the president's office is now we built that when I was here," said Stephens. He graduated from what was Georgia Normal and Agricultural College 85-years ago.
Posed a question about his final hurrah of an extraordinary afternoon Saturday, Anthony Mayes had to pause and think. What? You expect the Jackson State receiver to remember all three of his touchdowns? "Hmmm," Mayes said, scratching his face in thought. "Let me see ... the last one ..." Yep, it was just that kind of day for Mayes - and the rest of JSU's Air Raid offense, too.
Mayes hauled in three scoring passes and quarterback Casey Therriault again sliced easily through an opponent's secondary as Jackson State beat Alabama A&M 30-14, picking up a victory that might just send the Tigers back to Birmingham. For the last four seasons, the winner of the A&M-JSU game has won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division and advanced to Birmingham for the league title game. "It's super big," coach Rick Comegy said afterward. Said Mayes: "We're riding high."
Call it smart. Call it clever. Call it deceitful or unfair. The bottom line is that Alabama A&M played without its starting quarterback Saturday and not many knew it until the backup strolled onto the field for the first play of Jackson State's 30-14 victory at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium..
"It was a well-kept secret," JSU coach Rick Comegy said. A&M coach Anthony Jones kept quarterback Deaunte Mason's injury - a groin pull - out of the media all week. In turn, JSU spent time in practice on defending the triple option, something Mason does well. A&M ran the option twice Saturday.
Kicker Jabril Smith, a Callaway High grad, will miss the rest of the season with a broken ankle, Jackson State coach Rick Comegy confirmed following the Tigers' 30-14 win over Alabama A&M on Saturday.
Smith suffered what was thought to be a mild injury in the win over Mississippi Valley State two weeks ago. Midway through this week, Comegy said he expected him back in two weeks. Smith had surgery on the ankle Oct. 1, and Comegy was made aware later this week that he would not be returning this year. That leaves punter Reed Gallagher...
It's just past lunch time Thursday. John Doyle is sitting in his bustling classroom at Wyoming Park High in Michigan with the phone pressed to his ear, listening intently. He's being read Casey Therriault's statistics through four games as Jackson State's quarterback: 360 yards a game, 28 completions per game, 12 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
"It doesn't surprise me one bit," Doyle said chuckling a bit. "You should see his stats from high school." To Doyle, Therriault's high school coach, the numbers the QB is posting, while head-shakingly good, are the norm.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Howard University head coach Kevin Nickelberry announces the 2010 -11 men's basketball schedule. The Bison open the season with a home game against Bowling Green. Howard will then travel to West Lafayette, IN to take on nationally ranked Purdue on November 14. The rest of the non-conference schedule features a home game against Oregon State on November 14.
A special teams' snafu ended South Carolina State's season last November in Boone, N.C. Almost a year later, a similar surreal miscue enabled the Bulldogs to rally from an early deficit and extend their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference-record winning streak Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
Reserve defensive back Josh McFadden recovered an errant punt by Norfolk State's Troy Muenzer and returned it 47 yards to tie the game at 7-7. S.C. State added 17 more points in the first half and pulled away for a 34-13 victory. "I've never been involved in a play like that," McFadden said. "First time I've ever seen something like that."
SANTEE, S.C. - Slowly but surely, they entered the dimly lit ballroom at the Whitten Inn Friday night. They shook hands, exchanged greetings and shared a laugh or two from memories past. They were Black College National Champions, former South Carolina State Bulldogs brought back together in Santee to receive an honor long overdue - their national title rings.
It was one last chance for the Bulldogs 1976 and 1980 teams to share memories from their playing days.
"It's like the Reverend said earlier," former Bulldogs outside linebacker R.V. Brown said. "For us to receive this 34 years later, we would have not realized the impact that we had being the first school in the state of South Carolina to win a National Championship. We didn't know the value of it at the time, but right now, we know that and we've got that."
ORANGEBURG, S.C - The opening minutes played out to perfection for Norfolk State on Saturday in its game at No. 9 South Carolina State.
Just 59 seconds into the game, Spartan defensive back Ricardo Volcin stepped in front of a sideline pass by Bulldog quarterback Malcolm Long and raced 39 yards into the end zone. After S.C. State was forced to punt on its next possession, Norfolk State appeared on its way to winning for the first time in seven tries at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
With 10:24 remaining in the first quarter, one bizarre special teams miscue turned the momentum and contest quickly back in South Carolina State's favor. A low snap was mishandled by punter Troy Muenzer who, in the process of trying to retrieve the football, illegally kicked it off the ground.
Mackinley Jane Blackwell loves to watch the Ducks. The 5-year-old isn't so much into lakes or ponds, or the Donald and Daisy kind. She takes after dad. So last Saturday, on Norfolk State's bye week, Spartans tight end coach Joe Blackwell went home to Myrtle Beach, S.C., scooped up Mackinley Jane and settled in for what qualifies as quality time in the Blackwell household.
" We sat up and we watched Clemson together," Blackwell said. "Then we watched Oregon" - the Ducks. "For some reason, she really likes Oregon." A first-year tight ends coach at Norfolk State, Blackwell travels back to his home state again today, this time for the Spartans' game at South Carolina State.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State had plenty of chances to administer a knockout blow. The Redhawks failed to deliver despite dominating Tennessee State statistically — yet they lived to tell about it as their remarkable football season continued.
Southeast survived a big rally by the visiting Tigers to hold on for a 19-17 victory Saturday night. “It was a little more exciting than I would like,” said junior quarterback Matt Scheible after the Redhawks built a 19-3 halftime lead. “But these past two years I’ve been here we lose games like this.”
The Redhawks aren’t losing them any longer. They improved to 5-1 overall with the program’s first five-game winning streak since moving up to Division I-AA in 1991. Southeast also continued its best Ohio Valley Conference start since joining the league in 1991. The Redhawks are a first-place 4-0 in OVC play.
Football Hangs on for 19-17 Win Over Tennessee State
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Henry Harris and Matt Scheible each rushed for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown to lead No. 25 Southeast Missouri (5-1, 4-0) to a 19-17 win over Tennessee State (3-3, 0-2) Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 10,316 at Houck Stadium.
Harris averaged 6.5 yards per carry on 29 attempts en route to 188 yards. He became the first in Southeast history to rush for over 100 yards in five-straight games.
Meanwhile, Scheible gained 128 yards on 16 carries. He also completed 5-of-11 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. It marked the second time this season where Scheible ran for over 100 yards in a game.
"Henry and Matt continue to make big plays for us," said Southeast head coach Tony Samuel. "We are playing with a lot of confidence right now. Things got tight at the end tonight, but we never gave up." Southeast put up 19 points in the second quarter and that was the difference in the game, as TSU shutout the Redhawks and rallied for 14 unanswered points in the second half.
Fort Valley State is in the middle of its revenge tour, trying to take care of teams that beat the Wildcats a year ago. They’re 2-for-2. FVSU never trailed and scored in the final minute of the second quarter to take control en route to a 40-16 win Saturday over Clark Atlanta in SIAC action.
The Wildcats won their fourth straight game to improve to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Panthers fell to 3-3 and 3-2.
Now FVSU can focus on one of its two games of the year. Defending SIAC champion Tuskegee visits Fort Valley in six days with the loser all but being eliminated from postseason contention.
GRAMBLING, LA — Grambling State's defense came up with one of its best performances in recent years Saturday despite struggling with penalties at times. And in the end the flags and the Alabama State Hornets (3-3, 3-3) weren't enough to stop the Tigers (4-1, 4-0) from lighting a victory cigar for the fourth consecutive week.
The defense wrapped the game up with one final stop as ASU quarterback Demetric Price dropped back on a fourth-down play from his own 28-yard line with about a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
GRAMBLING, La. -- Zoltan Riazzo kicked three field goals and Anthony Carrothers accounted for a pair of touchdowns as Grambling State handed Alabama State its third consecutive loss on Saturday. The Tigers' freshman quarterback broke open a defensive struggle a minute into the fourth quarter when he hit Larry Donnell with a 4-yard touchdown pass for the game's final points and a 22-7 victory.
"I'm very disappointed," said Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow. "This is our third game in a row we've lost. Our defense played well enough to win this game. We had plenty of chances down in the red zone and couldn't score. We hurt ourselves with penalties and fumbles, especially in the first half when one of our fumbles killed a drive."
It's safe to say Delonte "Smoke" Williams has settled into his new role with the Bears. Morgan's new quarterback ran three touchdowns and scored on a two-point conversion, leading his team to a conference win over the Aggies in front of a homecoming crowd of 21,500 at Aggies Stadium.
The three-touchdown mark by Williams was the most for Morgan State (3-3, 2-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) since former standout Chad Simpson ran for three touchdowns against Savannah State in 2007. "I think I did pretty good today," Williams said. "I feel that the coaching staff did a good job preparing me, and as a result it felt kind of easy out there for me."
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- For the seventh year in a row, the homecoming crowd at N.C. A&T went home unhappy.
Morgan State spoiled the 2010 edition with a 27-14 victory over the Aggies. A&T (0-6, 0-3 MEAC) didn't score in the second half despite being in the red zone four times. The Aggies turned it over on downs twice, lost a fumble and missed a 30-yard field-goal attempt to lose their 10th in a row -- a slide that began at last year's homecoming.
"We've got to be able to finish," coach Alonzo Lee said. "You look at the opportunities, and then we had turnovers and penalties. We had some open receivers that we just didn't hit. Shelton (Morgan) hasn't stepped up. We have to continue to get better at quarterback." The Aggies fumbled three times, losing two. Morgan was intercepted once. Eight penalties cost A&T 72 yards.
Needing to go 92 yards in less than a minute, Lincoln University maneuvered to the Chowan 40 before running out of time, a climactic ending to a record-setting football game at Garrison Stadium. The Lions broke multiple school marks, but penalties and turnovers proved costly as Chowan (2-2, 2-4) held on for a 30-27 CIAA win.
Quarterback Laquan Williams threw for 329 yards, besting the 304 set by Brandon Austin last year on Sep. 12 versus Southern Virginia. Matthew Coston set records in receiving yards (157), receptions (nine) and tied his own record with two touchdown grabs. Overall, Lincoln (0-3, 1-4) outgained the Hawks, 425 yards to 275, 413 of which came through the air.
Chowan Hangs on to Edge Lincoln
MURFREESBORO, N.C. - For the second week in a row the Chowan University football team held on to a late lead to score their second victory of the season. Tonight the Hawks notched a 30-27 win over Lincoln University (Pa) for their second CIAA win of the season. Tonight's win marks the first time since the 1999 season that Chowan has won back-to-back games. Lincoln's Laquan Williams put up big numbers for Lions with 329 yards passing but Chowan's back up quarterback, Ryan Simpson, led the Hawks to two scores in the second half that ultimately decided the game.
Chowan ran 84 plays for 275 total yards while the Lions put up 422 yards of total offense. Laquan Williams tossed four touchdowns for Lincoln, three of which went for more than 50 yards. He had touchdowns completions for 75, 71, and 63 yards on the night and hit two receivers for more than 100 yards.
TUSCALOOSA, AL | Senior wide receiver Fred Rouse caught five passes Saturday night, but every time he touched the football he seemed to cause problems for the Stillman Tigers. Rouse caught two touchdown passes in the first half — one for 72 yards — and Concordia College from Selma held on to defeat Stillman 18-17.
“I knew he was a big-time football player,” said Stillman coach L.C. Cole. “It was just hard for us to stop him with those young freshmen defensive backs. Again, that's where they took advantage of us. It's something we have to keep working on. Rome wasn't built in a day. We have to keep chipping at it, chipping at it, and then it'll turn for us.”
Concordia offered a second chance for Rouse, who was considered one of the nation's top prospects in 2005. He began his college career at Florida State and played in the Orange Bowl as a freshman but was dismissed...
Hold off on making those reservations for the CIAA championship game.
Winston-Salem State had been running roughshod over the CIAA this season but ran into a determined and talented St. Augustine’s team last night at Bowman Gray Stadium.
The Falcons (5-1, 4-0 CIAA) took control of the Southern Division with a 40-35 victory, and gained the inside track to the conference-championship game next month in Durham. Most of the damage the 17th-ranked Rams did was self-inflicted, with a season-high six turnovers. Quarterback Kameron Smith threw five interceptions, and the Falcons took the gifts and unwrapped them as if it was Christmas morning.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- St. Augustine's pulled off one of its biggest wins since restarting football in 2002 with a 40-35 victory over nationally-ranked and previously unbeaten Winston-Salem State on Saturday.
CIAA rushing leader Walter Sanders ran for 121 yards and scored two touchdowns and the Falcons (5-1 overall, 4-0 CIAA) forced six turnovers to gain first place in the CIAA's Southern Division. The win was also the first in five tries against the Rams (6-1, 4-1) since 2002. The Rams are ranked 17th in NCAA Division II.
DAYTONA BEACH — Androse Bell rushed for two touchdowns and Matt Johnson accounted for two scores to lead Bethune-Cookman to a 47-24 win over Delaware State on Saturday. The Wildcats (5-0, 3-0 MEAC) are 5-0 for the fifth time in their 85-year history and first since 2002.
Bell opened the scoring with 4:23 left in the first quarter on a 1-yard run. He added a 3-yard run near the end of the first half to put B-CU ahead 27-2. The Hornets (0-3, 0-5) struggled against the Wildcats defense in the first half, scoring only two after returning a blocked extra point in the first quarter.
Daytona Beach, Fla. --- Bethune-Cookman racked up 590 yards en route to a 47-24 win over Delaware State before 10,151 homecoming fans at Municipal Stadium this afternoon. The Wildcats improved 5-0 overall and pulled into a tie with Hampton for first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with a 3-0 mark in league play. The Hornets fell to 0-5 and 0-3.
Delaware State scored 22 points and collected 291 yards in the second half after trailing 34-2 at the break. Quarterback Matt Johnson completed 16-of-21 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 52 yards and a score, to lead the Bethune-Cookman attack. Johnson was tops in the MEAC in passing average and total offense entering the contest.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- After Bethune-Cookman and Delaware State players prayed on the field together, B-CU coach Brian Jenkins gave DSU coach Al Lavan a big hug. The postgame proceedings sure were a lot different than the last time Jenkins' Wildcats played at Municipal Stadium. This time he got to walk off the field with a big smile on his face.
Two weeks ago, he suffered from dehydration and was carried away on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital. This time he got to celebrate the victory with his players. "I'm proud of the guys and thankful for the fans and always proud of my administration and our president," a beaming Jenkins said. "Right now, it's great to be a Wildcat."
After disposing of the Hornets 47-24 before a homecoming crowd of 10,151 on Saturday, the Wildcats are 5-0 for the first time since 2002.
COLUMBUS, GA -- Nykeem Barton wanted to make his final Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic a lot like all the others in which he has played. The senior running back rushed for three touchdowns and No. 18 Tuskegee's defense squashed a second-half rally to hand No. 16 Morehouse its first loss of the season, 31-15 Saturday at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium.
It was the seventh straight win in the series for Tuskegee (5-1, 4-1 SIAC), which improved to 66-27-7 all-time against Morehouse (5-1, 4-1). Barton scored on a 2-yard run on the Golden Tigers’ first possession and his 7-yard run, and subsequent two-point conversion run, in the second quarter put Tuskegee ahead 21-2 at halftime.
The high-scoring offense failed to launch for the first time this season and Morehouse fell, 31-15, to the Tuskegee Golden Tigers, in the 75th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic.
Morehouse's 15 points and 213 total yards were season lows, for the team that averaged 40 points and 366 yards per game. The Maroon Tigers dropped to 5-1; Tuskegee improved to 5-1.
Tuskegee jumped out to a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. An eight-yard touchdown pass, early in the second quarter, pushed the lead to 13-0. But the Morehouse defense blocked the point-after attempt and Darrius Williams returned the football for a two-point score.
A seven-yard touchdown run gave the Golden Tigers a 21-2 halftime lead. In the third quarter, the teams traded scores. Morehouse linebacker Charlie Wilson blocked a punt that Samuel Gilmore returned 36-yards for a touchdown. Tuskegee kicked a 22-yard field goal.
Bethune Cookman is for real! Hampton is better that most anticipated and South Carolina State is on another collision course for a three-peat of the MEAC championship.
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is now a three-headed race with the other Florida school becoming a legitimate contender for this week. The following week is another story as the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats must travel to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg to face the powerful S.C. State Bulldogs in a MEAC showdown for conference supremacy.
The B-CU offense will be a real test for the Bulldogs--for a quarter or two, but don't expect the Wildcats to match their FCS leading numbers in total offense. The Bulldogs defense recently held FAMU and Norfolk State under six first downs and under 106 yards of total offense for the entire game.
Expect more of the same for Bethune-Cookman, as they get slammed back to reality by Coach Buddy Pough Bulldogs.
Forget the ranking that has the Bulldogs at #9 in the FCS polls. South Carolina State is a legitimate Top 5 program and can beat any of the teams ranked above it.
The Bulldogs will win the conference outright the following week, as the Hampton Pirates take their turn facing the Bulldogs in Dawson Stadium. Thereafter, the Bulldogs will have a diet of light scrimmages and tuneups with Delaware State (0-5), Howard (1-4), Morgan State (2-3) and North Carolina A&T (0-6), who have a combined record of 3-18.
The Bulldogs should be well rested by the time the playoffs start. Now, the rest of the story...
Surprises of the Week: Winston Salem State self-destruct with six turnovers (5 interceptions) and Saint Augustine's Falcons accepts the gifts for a 40-35 road win over the Rams. Texas Southern defense won the battle of turnovers and upset Alcorn State 30-20 on the road to improve to 3-1 in the SWAC race.
Morehouse forgot to bring its high scoring offense and dropped its first game of the season, 31-15 to Tuskegee in the 75th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic. The #16 ranked Maroon Tigers were averaging 40 points per game before running into the Golden Tigers buzz saw defense.
Best Dance Routine of Week: You gotta give it to Lincoln University (Pa.) Marching Band for last week's performance at Howard University. The "Orange Crush dancers" are high energy and the band had a good sound for its size...well I will leave the rest to your own imaginations...see them in the video below.
-beepbeep
SWAC
Texas Southern 30, Alcorn State 20
Jackson State 30, Alabama A&M 14
Grambling State 22, Alabama State 7
Southern 38, Mississippi Valley State 20
Prairie View 21, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6 (Thursday)
MEAC
South Carolina State 34, Norfolk State 13
Hampton 27, North Carolina Central 13
Bethune Cookman 47, Delaware State 24
Morgan State 27, North Carolina A&T 14
Furman 56, Howard 14
Georgia State 55, Savannah State 21
CIAA
Bowie State 16 (O.T.), Saint Paul's 10
Elizabeth City State 17, Virginia Union 14
West Virginia Wesleyan 58, Livingstone 3
Shaw 45, Johnson C. Smith 13
Fayetteville State 21, Virginia State 14
Saint Augustine's 40, Winston Salem State 35
Chowan 30, Lincoln (Pa.) 27
SIAC
Tuskegee 31, Morehouse 15
Albany State 34, Miles 7
Kentucky State 41, Central State (Oh.) 24
Benedict 30 (O.T.), Lane 23
Concordia (Al.) 18, Stillman 17
Fort Valley State 40, Clark Atlanta 16
OVC S.E. Missouri State 19 , Tennessee State 17
OTHERS
Bloomsburg 52, Cheyney (Pa.) 14
Seton Hill 48, West Virginia State 20
Southwest Baptist 62, Lincoln (Mo.) 38
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Several St. Augustine's football players arrived early to practice on Tuesday, pulling on shoulder pads, buckling chin straps and starting drills before coaches even started blowing whistles.
Pushing sleds, running sprints and dropping for push-ups are easier tasks on cool October afternoons. But more than weather, the Falcons' excitement at the drudgery of two-hour practices stems from their 4-1 record - the program's best mark since 2005.
Around mid-afternoon, players shift attention to their 3:30 p.m. practice, an undertaking in past years they accepted with a grunt and a sigh. Annoyance has been replaced with anticipation.
Coach Connell Maynor has seen Winston-Salem State react positively to every situation it has faced this season, and his Rams will have a chance to show their strength again today.
WSSU — 6-0 overall, 4-0 in the CIAA and ranked 17th in the Division II coaches poll — will take on St. Augustine’s (4-1, 3-0) in a key CIAA Southern Division game at 6 p.m. at Bowman Gray Stadium.
“There’s a whole lot riding on it, and I think they are going to react the same way they’ve done since the season started,” Maynor said. “These guys are preparing every day, and no matter who the opponent is, we have to take care of our business. We are at home, so that should help us.”
Walter Sanders rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns and St. Augustine's still needed to recover an onside kick with 18 seconds left to hold off Fayetteville State, 42-36, at Broughton High School in Raleigh Saturday.
The victory kept the Falcons (4-1, 3-0) unbeaten in conference play and helped them keep pace with the juggernaut called Winston-Salem.
The Broncos (1-4, 0-2) looked like the team that won the CIAA championship last year, at least on offense, compiling 376 yards to 394 for St. Augustine's.
Stump Mitchell, the first-year Southern University coach, has a simple but not-so-subtle message for the fiery Jaguars fans who are more than a little frustrated with the team's 1-3 start to the season. "You know what?" Mitchell asked earlier this week, "they have to realize there's a reason for a new coach coming in."
The school fired longtime coach Pete Richardson after last season, ending the coach's 17-year run with SU that included five Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and five black college national titles.
Of all the defensive woes Mississippi Valley State has faced this season, the unit has one positive heading into Saturday night’s game at Southern: sacking quarterbacks.
The Delta Devils lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference in sacks with 12 through four conference games. Overall, Valley ranks second with 13 sacks in all games (five); Texas Southern leads the SWAC with 17 sacks in five games.
As he drew up plans for a complex new defense at Southern University, he dreamed of disguised coverages, a dominant line and blitz after blitz after blitz — all of which added up to a unit that struck fear into the rest of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Four games into this season, however, no one seems scared. This was not Gilbert’s vision.
