HSRN National Player of the Week Fan Poll Nominees

WEEK-TEN HSRN NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK FAN POLL NOMINEES

Hartly, DE – Each week, HSRN will announce a national player of the week from both the top DI-FCS and Division II action and fan voting will make the pick. The Fan Poll winner will be announced Wednesday afternoon.

The top performances each week will be selected and the fans across the country will get a chance to cast their vote for who they think had the best game. The Fan Poll is designed to get fans involved with the excitement of the HBCU college football action. Fans are asked to log on to HSRN.com and cast their vote for the top performance. Fans can vote on the poll today (Monday, Nov. 1) thru (Wednesday, Nov. 3) until 2pm ET. The nominees are:

Div. I FCS
Andrew Pitts – Alabama State – RB – 5’10, 195 – FR/Montgomery, AL
Pitts picked up 122 yards on six carries, including a 47 yard touchdown run. He was HSRN’s Game of the Week MVP as the Hornets defeated Alabama A&M 31-10 in front of 61, 879 Magic City Classic fans.

Chris Merrill – South Carolina State – RB – 5’9, 190 – SO/Simpsonville, SC
Merrill rushed for a career high 160 yards on 21 carries, including touchdown runs for 12 and 23 yards and also caught two passes for 23 yards, finishing the game with 183 all purpose yards. The Bulldogs defeated Delaware St. 38-21.

Casey Therriault – Jackson State – QB – 6’3, 205 – JR/Wyoming Park, MI
Therriault completed 27 of 39 passes for 291 yards and rushed 26 yards, including a touchdown run from one yard out. He finished the game with 317 total offensive yards and the Tigers defeated Prairie View 30-13 in front of 23, 701 homecoming fans.

Phil Sylvester – Florida A&M – RB – 5’10, 195 – SR/Marianna, FL
Sylvester rushed 192 yards on 19 carries, including touchdown runs for 14 and 88 yards. In front of 30, 459 homecoming fans, his 88 yard touchdown with 3:04 left, put the game away for the Rattlers giving them a 31-17 win over Morgan St.

Div. II
Kevin Atkins – Shaw – QB – 6’2, 216 – SR/Durham, NC
Atkins completed 13 of 24 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns, also rushed for 46 yards on nine carries including the five yard game winning touchdown run with 1:59 left in the game. That TD gave the Bears their first lead of the game and a 31-27 win over Winston Salem State.

Stanley Jennings – Albany State – QB – 6’2, 235 – JR/Marietta, GA
Jennings completed 14 of 22 passes for 279 yards, including touchdown passes for six, 60 and 70 yards. The Golden Rams defeated Stillman 44-5.

Daronte McNeil – Elizabeth City State – RB – 6’2, 215 – SO/Elizabeth City, NC
McNeil rushed for 290 yards on 11 carries, including two 97 yard touchdown runs. He set school records for yards in a game and in a season (1,241). The Vikings defeated Chowan 55-14.

Nykeem Barton – Tuskegee – RB – 5’11, 213 – SR/Brewton, AL
Barton picked up 130 yards on 11 carries, including touchdown runs for two, four and 29 yards. The Golden Tigers defeated Kentucky St. 45-21.

VOTE AT: HSRN.com



It’s Bethune Cookman At #1 In Division I-FCS
Albany State Unanimous Again In Division II

(Hartly, DE) – It’s Bethune Cookman on top in Division I FCS and Albany State is the unanimous choice again in Div. II, in this week’s HSRN Top - 10 Polls. Each week during the 2010 season HSRN staff and writers, along with selected media representatives, will rank Historical Black College Football Championship Sub-Division (FCS) Division I and NCAA Division II teams.

Division I-FCS Top-10

#	Schools (1st Place Votes)	2010 Record	Total Points	Previous Rank
1.	Bethune Cookman (18)	8-0	207	1
2.	Grambling State (3)	7-1	192	2
3.	South Carolina State	6-2	168	3
4.	Texas Southern	5-3	137	5
5.	Jackson State	6-2	134	7
6.	Florida A&M	5-3	93	8
7.	Alabama State	5-3	69	9
8.	Prairie View A&M	5-4	65	4
9.	Hampton	5-3	62	6
10.	Alcorn State	4-4	20	NR
	Others Receiving votes: Morgan St. (4-4) 6, Ark. Pine Bluff (4-4) 2

Division II

#	Schools (1st Place Votes)	2110 Record	Total Points	Previous Rank
1.	Albany State (21)	9-0	210	1
2.	Ft. Valley State	8-1	188	2
3.	St. Augustine’s	8-1	166	4
4.	Shaw	7-2	135	6
5.	Tuskegee	7-2	134	5
6.	Winston Salem State	8-2	98	3
7.	Virginia State	7-2	86	7
8.	Morehouse	7-2	68	8
9.	Bowie State	5-4	39	9
10.	Langston	5-3	20	10
	Others Receiving vote: Elizabeth City St. (5-4) 6

HSRN.com Press Release 11/1/10

2010 CIAA Volleyball Championship Tournament Starts on November 4th

Hampton, VA -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Fall Championship Weekend begins on November 4th. This year's Volleyball Championship Luncheon will be held at the Newport News Marriott at the City Center on Thursday, November 4th; 12:30pm. Craig Lenniger, Tour Commissioner of the Stop.Watch.Sports Volleyball Summer Series and Beach Volleyball Leagues will address this year's attendees.



Day one of volleyball championship pool play will begin on Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Boo Williams Sportsplex, Hampton, Virginia.

Friday match times: 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm.
Saturday - Volleyball Clinic- 1:00-3:00pm - Open to the Public!
Saturday - Semi-Finals match times: 5:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday - Championship: 1:00pm

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

RELATED LINK:
www.theciaa.com

CIAA Member Institutions
NORTHERN DIVISION
Bowie State
Chowan
Elizabeth City State
Lincoln (PA)
Saint Paul's
Virginia State
Virginia Union

SOUTHERN DIVISION
Fayetteville State
Johnson C. Smith
Livingstone
Saint Augustine's
Shaw
Winston-Salem State

Week 9: Pretenders vs. Contenders

What an exciting week of HBCU football!

Winston Salem State received the e-mail late, but nevertheless they will be spending Thanksgiving Weekend at home after falling to the Shaw Bears 31-27. The Rams had an outstanding season on their return to the CIAA, finishing with a 8-2 record and getting a few coaches upset with their ability to recruit Division I skilled players.

Bethune-Cookman may provide the best opportunity for the MEAC to break its string of losses in the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats are 8-0, 5-0 MEAC and should win the conference championship outright in the next three weeks. We don't see Hampton, who fell to two year old program, Old Dominion Monarchs 28-14, stopping the Wildcats offense. The next opponent for B-CU, the Howard Bison will have to play their best defensive game of the decade to stop the Wildcats from scoring 85 points.

So, that leaves only the Florida A&M Rattlers standing in the way of the Wildcats undefeated regular season. Whatever first year Coach Brian Jenkins put in the players head, the Wildcats will not beat themselves with silly penalties nor play to the level of their competition. This is the best coached HBCU team we have seen for sometime. So, go Wildcats!

South Carolina State offense is getting un-tracked and was able to escape Delaware State 38-21. If the Bulldogs and Rattlers keep winning, they may become the MEAC's second team in the FCS playoffs. We do not see FAMU making the playoffs, unless they run the table and defeat B-CU in the Florida Classic on November 20. There are many scenarios, so it is best we just sit back and watch how this unfolds over the next three week in the MEAC.

For sure, Morgan State is out of the race with the 31-17 loss to the Rattlers yesterday, but is strong enough to knockoff Hampton and take S.C. State to the wire. Anything is possible when you have a field goal kicker that can hit it from 47 yards like the Bears' Kemar Scarlett



Grambling State 35-25 win over Coach Monte Coleman's solid University of Arkasas Pine Bluff squad in the Literacy Classic confirms that the best defensive and offensive team maybe Grambling--not Bethune Cookman. I know most SWAC fans can't wait to see Grambling State vs. Bethune-Cookman in next year MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Saint Augustine's Falcons continues to roll toward the CIAA championship with a 33-0 defeat of the Livingstone Blue Bears. Fort Valley State--what are you thinking? Lane Dragons held an 18-14 lead until the 4th quarter, and finally the Wildcats took care of business to walk away with a 31-18 win. Albany State continues to play like the SIAC champions, stopping Stillman 44-5.

Great to see the attendance skyrocket over Week 9, with homecomings and classics dominating this week schedule. The Magic City Classic had 61,879 attend the game at Legion Field, Birmingham; Jackson State vs. Prairie View had 23,701 for the Tigers homecoming game; North Carolina Central scheduled Division II, NAIA Edward Waters in a guaranteed win and the Eagles did not disappoint with a 20-7 win before 13,562 homecoming fans.

Florida A&M had its best homecoming crowd since the Coach Joe Taylor era started, with 30,459 in Bragg Memorial Stadium. GSU and UAPB attracted a respectable 29,373 to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the Literacy Classic and Alcorn State vs. Southern game had 18, 075, in Lorman. The Howard Bison vs. Norfolk State packed in 7,086 to Greene Stadium for Howard's homecoming.

Hope everyone had a great time! Now, the rest of the story...



SIAC
Albany State 44, Stillman 5
Morehouse 17, Clark Atlanta 7
Fort Valley State 31, Lane 18
Tuskegee 45, Kentucky State 21
Kentucky Wesleyan 40, Miles 28

CIAA
Benedict 41, Concordia 14
Fayetteville State 64, Johnson C. Smith
Saint Paul's 16 O.T., Lincoln (Pa.) 13
Shaw 31, Winston Salem State 27
Virginia State 35, Virginia Union 7
Saint Augustine's 33, Livingstone 0
Elizabeth City State 55, Chowan 14

OTHERS
Langston 31, Lincoln (Mo.) 21
E. Stroudsburg 58, Cheyney 14
Shepherd 56, West Virginia State 19
Lambuth 42, Central State (Ohio) 6

SWAC
Grambling State 35, Arkansas - Pine Bluff 25, Literacy Classic
Jackson State 30, Prairie View A&M 13
Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 10, Magic City Classic
Texas Southern 38, Mississippi Valley State 7
Alcorn State 27, Southern 20

MEAC
Florida A&M 31, Morgan State 17
Bethune Cookman 67, North Carolina A&T 17, Thursday game
Old Dominion 28, Hampton 14
North Carolina Central 20, Edward Waters 7
South Carolina State 38, Delaware State 21
Norfolk State 10, Howard 9

Weekend Half-Time Shows:

Florida A&M University Incomparable Marching 100 is the best band in the WORLD! The Rattlers performance on homecoming Saturday will leave you speechless. There is no better homecoming like a FAMU Homecoming with ole school Rattlers! That field exit and delay of game call is a Marching 100 classic! You will also notice that the Marching 100 needs no gimmicky Tuxedo's or show girls to put on an entertaining, exceptional musical and marching performance. Hubba Doc!

Magic City Classic: Alabama State wins when lights go out for team and come on for Pitts

The lights went out on Alabama State Tuesday, in the middle of a nighttime practice. Just a few days later, the lights went on for talented, but fumble-prone running back Andrew Pitts.

The combination led to an easy 31-10 Magic City Classic victory against rival Alabama A&M Saturday afternoon at Legion Field before a reported crowd of 61,879 fans.

First the blackout: The campus-wide power outage hit in the midst of Tuesday drills, the most physical, routinely, of a game week. "Guys were out there in pitch dark and they still kept running drills," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. "That's when I knew the game was won."

Magic City Classic at Legion Field Gallery

Hornets whip Bulldogs to snap losing streak

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Korey Morrison walked off the field wondering what had happened. So did Frank Kearse. In fact, a number of Alabama A&M's seniors, who had never lost to Alabama State in the Magic City Classic, did the same thing.

The Bulldogs, who had beaten the Hornets five straight times, saw their winning streak come to an end Saturday in the 69th edition of the largest black college football classic at Legion Field.




Alabama A&M fails to energize things in Magic City Classic

BIRMINGHAM, AL -- And once again they came by the thousands, for the football and the food, the music and the socializing, blessed by gorgeous weather and fueled by million-watt energy.

The Magic City Classic isn't a football game. It's an event. Sixty-nine editions of it now, between a pair of universities with so much in common -- and so much common disdain.

ALABAMA STATE 31, ALABAMA A&M 10: Hornets snap five-game Magic City Classic slide

BIRMINGHAM, AL -- Somebody turned out the lights on Alabama State Tuesday night. The Hornets responded with their best performance of the season on Saturday afternoon, bashing Alabama A&M 31-10 in front of 61,879 fans at Legion Field in the 69th Magic City Classic.

The Hornet defense forced four turnovers, and the offense rolled up a season-high 212 yards on the ground as Alabama State dominated the Bulldogs in surprisingly easy fashion to snap a five-game losing streak in the series.

Grading the Bulldogs

Offense: F - The Bulldogs turned the ball over four times [- one fumble and three interceptions [- and managed only 210 yards in total offense.

Defense: F - Alabama A&M tackle Frank Kearse and company, which had allowed just 95 yards rushing per game, gave up 212 against an Alabama State team that averaged just 88 yards on the ground coming into the game.

Magic City Classic Parade gets celebration on track in Birmingham

It was the "band"-standing, not the grandstanding that drew the crowds to the Magic City Classic parade in downtown Birmingham this morning.

With elections just three days away, the parade had its share of candidates running for local and statewide offices. There were even elected officials not currently running that will likely be looking for votes in the future.

The 69th Magic City Classic Parade Gallery


Attendance: 61,879
READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Late defensive stand ends Alcorn's four-game slide

LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State accomplished what it needed to Saturday against Southern University by snapping a four-game losing skid. But the game ended up being much closer than Alcorn would have liked.With just one touchdown in the second half, the Braves survived a late Jaguars surge with a last-minute defensive stop to escape with a 27-20 win.

“A win is a win is a win, and I’ll take it any way I can, but (we still made) mistakes,” Braves head coach Earnest Collins said. “Today, the difference in the mistakes we made the last few weeks is, we had a better defense out there to make up for it.”

Jags just short again

LORMAN, Miss. — Four yards.

On a beautiful sun-drenched afternoon in the Mississippi woods, after Southern had made so many mistakes, fallen asleep and fallen 24 points behind Alcorn State in the second half of yet another college football game to remember, the late-arriving, late-thriving Jaguars found themselves 4 yards away from a game-tying touchdown.

With less than a minute remaining in the Braves’ 27-20 thriller of a victory, both teams lined up for the most crucial play of all.Southern, still searching for its first big win under a new coaching staff, faced a fourth-and-goal at the 4.

Joseph comes alive in second half

LORMAN, Miss. — In the first half, he hurried throws, scrambled away from trouble, and watched as his receivers dropped a handful of on-the-money passes.

This was not how Southern quarterback Dray Joseph envisioned his first college start. Early on, in a heartbreaking, down-to-the-wire 27-20 loss at Alcorn State on Saturday, Joseph looked exactly like what he was: A true freshman who wanted to win it all by himself.

“He just had to calm down,” SU quarterbacks coach Ted White said. “He’s played in a couple games, but he still hasn’t had a lot of snaps. Until you get in there, in real live action, that’s when your experience starts to gather.”

Revitalized running game

LORMAN, Miss. — A renewed focus on the rushing game, and contributions from untapped sources played key roles for Alcorn State on Saturday afternoon at Jack Spinks Stadium.

Terrance Lewis and Jaquez Caldwell each scored touchdowns as Alcorn State held off a late Southern rally en route to a 27-20 win.

Before this week, Lewis had primarily played wide receiver while Caldwell had seen most of his action at running back, but those things changed against Southern.

Alcorn holds off late Southern rally, wins 27-20

Alcorn State jumped to a 24-point third quarter lead, then held off a frantic Southern comeback for a 27-20 Southwestern Athletic Conference win Saturay at Lorman, Mississippi.A fourth-and-goal pass by Southern's Dray Joseph got the Jaguars down to the Alcorn 1-yard line in the game's last minute, but fullback Lee Mitchell was tackled just short of tying the game.

Alcorn (4-4, 3-3 in the SWAC) led 27-3 after Terrance Lewis' 1-yard touchdown run with 10:26 left in the third quarter. But the Jaguars (2-6, 1-5) stormed back with a 5-yard touchdown run by Sylvester Nzekwe, a 22-yard field goal by William Griswold, who also kicked a 49-yarder in the first quarter, and a 54-yard run by Corey Cushingberry.

Attendance: 18,075

READ MORE, CLICK TITLES

Jackson State handles Prairie View A&M 30-13

Casey Therriault threw for 291 yards and a touchdown as Jackson State beat Prairie View A&M 30-13 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game Saturday night. Therriault, who leads Football Championship Subdivision passers with 335 yards per game, gave the Tigers (6-2, 4-2) a 7-0 lead with a 10-yard pass to Marcellos Wilder. He completed 27 of 39.

With Jackson State leading 14-3 at halftime, Kyle Mathews kicked his second field goal for the Panthers (5-4, 4-3), a 25-yarder, after Michael Benson returned the second-half kickoff 63 yards. A Tigers safety made it 16-6 when Milton Patterson stopped Donald Babers in the end zone.



JSU's much-criticized Darkside Defense returns to old form

Forget those plentiful passing yards, those tantalizing touchdown tosses and those crazy, sometimes comical catches. Jackson State's Air Raid offense might be well and good, but the program's once-vaunted defense has returned. The Darkside Defense - as they say - is back.

"It feels great," defensive end Donavan Robinson said. "Finally got our title back."
Behind its best defensive performance in 20 games, Jackson State denied Prairie View A&M an offensive touchdown and crushed the Panthers 30-13 on Saturday.

Attendance: 23,701

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Big plays move Grambling past UAPB

Monte Coleman expresses almost weekly his fondness for wide receiver Raymond Webber. On Saturday, his chosen adjective was “special.” Arkansas-Pine Bluff ’s breakout star nearly brought the team back from a four touchdown deficit in an eventual 35-25 loss to Grambling State in front of an announced crowd of 29,373 at War Memorial Stadium.

The senior caught 9 passes for 243 yards with 1 touchdown, and his 71 receptions for the season set a new UAPB record. But it wasn’t enough to cancel out a second-quarter flurry that saw Grambling State score three times in just over four minutes and erase UAPB’s 10-point lead.

“[Webber] has been very special for us this year,” Coleman said. “He’s definitely ...

Webber Becomes UAPB All-Time Receiving Leader In Loss To GSU

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Josh Boudreaux completed 24 of 41 passes for 438 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-4, 3-3) setting a new school record for passing yards in a game and wide receiver Raymond Webber had nine receptions for 243 yards and a TD but it wasn’t enough as Grambling State defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 35-25 on Saturday in the Delta Classic 4 Literacy.

Attendance: 29,373

READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.

FAMU Rattlers hit home run with 31-17 victory

Big plays, local stars helps FAMU top Morgan State on homecoming

It wasn’t so much about Homecoming or even coming home for the Florida A&M football team. Nope, Saturday’s 31-17 victory over Morgan State was more about who stayed home for the Rattlers.

From an unlikely star who simply held his ground and made the game’s biggest play to a homegrown Rattler who ignited the crowd with another electric ...

Late Turnover, Seals Bears Fate

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Morgan State rallied from 14 points down, and was driving for the go ahead score but the Bears made a costly mistake.

With the ballgame knotted at 17-17, Delonte Williams had his pass intercepted by Jerrell Stewart who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown with 7:17 left in the game. Philip Sylvester added the dagger in the form of an 89 yard touchdown run, and now the Bears Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title shot hopes seem dim.

Attendance: 30,459

READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.



Stewart, FAMU defense do part for win

Defensive back Jerral Stewart knew he had blown the coverage the moment that Chuka Okakpu went airborne. Okakpu landed in the end zone with a touchdown that put Morgan State back into the game against Florida A&M.

The Bragg Stadium crowd of 30,459 fans went quiet. Stewart went back to the sidelines with a burning desire. He felt he had to have some redemption — not just for himself but for the FAMU seniors who will not play another homecoming game.

Sylvester again breaks 100 yards on ground for Rattlers »

It's hard to talk about the talents of Philip Sylvester without mentioning his speed. That was trademark when the Florida A&M running back burst onto the scene in 2007. It was also on full display Saturday afternoon as the senior used his trademark to average 10.1 yards per carry.

His 88-yard touchdown run up the far sideline, blowing past the Morgan State secondary, with 3:04 remaining in the fourth quarter capped off an afternoon where he ran for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

Ukpai remains calm despite different field positions

No matter where Florida A&M got a drive started Saturday afternoon, quarterback Martin Ukpai refused to flinch. Twice during the Rattlers' 31-17 victory over Morgan State, Ukpai had to get the offense started from inside its own 5-yard line.

"You always want to have the same attitude no matter where," Ukpai said. "You always want to maintain composure and run big plays. The only thing I thought about was making sure we got the play off."

Homecoming carries strong sentiment for FAMU's Sands

Chris Sands' mind was made up this past summer. He just wasn't sure exactly when he'd get the tattoo. Not just any tattoo, mind you. It had to have some significance. He settled on a rattlesnake, imprinting it in his skin on his huge right shoulder.

Call it baptism as a Rattler, but please don't call it a fad. Not this tattoo because this one has huge sentimental value for Florida A&M's 6-foot-8, 315-pound offensive lineman. He wanted it because it stood for ....

FAMU homecoming a celebration of 'the people, the band, the heritage'

Pamela Tolson, director of media relations at Florida A&M University, said this year's homecoming was one of the most memorable. "It's truly been a great week," she said during Saturday's game. "Just look at the stadium — it's filled to capacity and there are people still walking around outside."
"Everyone knows there is no homecoming like a Rattler homecoming — and...

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Kirk Franklin and the FAMU Gospel Choir 10/30/10, "How Great is our God."