UWG Wolves drop wild one at Miles

FAIRFIELD, Alabama - The University of West Georgia football team came up just short in its first road test of the season, suffering a 44-37 setback to Miles College in a wild affair at Albert J. Stone Alumni Stadium in Fairfield, Ala., on Saturday evening.

The Wolves (2-1) saw their final chance drop incomplete on a fourth-and-three attempt from the Miles 13-yard line with 44 seconds remaining, allowing the Golden Bears (2-1) to run out the clock.

Miles, which led from nearly start to finish, delivered the first big blow of the night literally in the opening seconds, using a trick play on a wide receiver reverse pass for a 75-yard touchdown connection from Antonio Pitts to D.J. Fife for the 7-0 lead just 15 seconds into the game.

West Georgia pulled back within one on a pair of Davis Brackett field goals — both from 41 yards out — to make it a 7-6 contest with 4:01 left in the opening quarter.

But after a sluggish start, Miles quarterback David Thomas shook off the cobwebs and ...

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THE SHOW: North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine & Golden Delight

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University "Blue and Gold Marching Machine" plays a mix of hits from female artists, then and now...plus last week's dance routine that was cut out due to time...

Disclaimer: The band pays ASCAP fees and there is never any copyright infringement intended. These performances are for edutainment only.

The show was performed at halftime in the game against Virginia University of Lynchburg in Greensboro, NC. Songs include "Rolling in the Deep," "She Works Hard for the Money," "You Put a Move on My Heart," "I Do," "Do It," "Keep Ya Head Up," and "Chuck Baby." Songs were arranged by yours truly, Mr. Aaron Campbell, Ms. Tyrissa Swilley, and Mr. Johnny Williams, and the band is under the guidance and direction of Dr. Kenneth G. Ruff, Director of Bands.

The BGMM will be traveling to NYC for the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, and we need your help to get there. For information, call (336) 334-7776 for more information on how to support the band or even become a member. (Thomas L. Jones, Jr., Videographer)

A&T's defense dominant again in win

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — Giving up a turnover and a score early in the game didn’t stop N.C. A&T from rolling to a 40-7 win over Virginia University of Lynchburg on Saturday night at Aggie Stadium.

After a pick-six and the conversion kick cut the Aggies’ lead to 14-7, quarterback Lewis Kindle directed a scoring drive that only took 1:08 and concluded with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Graham.

That was all the momentum A&T needed as the Aggies went on to score another touchdown and a field goal and take a 31-7 halftime lead.

“We have a saying that, ‘If something good happens, keep playing. If something bad happens keep playing,’ ” coach Rod Broadway said. “You’re going to give up some plays. We’ve just got to respond, and we came right back and answered. That was a positive for our side. It was a hard-fought and good win.”

It was the second straight shutout for the Aggies’ defense, and Broadway saw ...

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Pine Bluff spoils home debut for Alcorn State, Hopson

LORMAN, Mississippi — Ben Anderson passed for one touchdown and ran for another and Arkansas-Pine Bluff used big plays in the second half to defeat Alcorn State 24-6 Saturday and spoil the home opener for first-year Braves coach Jay Hopson.

The Golden Lions (2-1, 1-1 SWAC), coming off a 14-10 loss to Alabama A&M, led 7-6 at halftime. Anderson completed a 10-yard pass to Dezmond Beverly late in the first quarter to open the scoring.

The Braves scored on a 2-yard run by Anthony Williams III, but kicker Ernesto Santillan fumbled the extra-point attempt.

After Alcorn State (1-2, 1-1 SWAC) drove 67 yards to start the second half, Santillan missed a 30-yard field goal.

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Alabama A&M: Mason, Bulldogs explode past Prairie View

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Quarterback Deaunte Mason said Alabama A&M's offense was like a ticking time bomb. The Bulldogs, who returned 10 starters from last year's team that reached the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game, had struggled mightily through their first two games.

"We capable of exploding at any time," Mason said last week. The Bulldogs exploded Saturday night. Mason accounted for 315 yards in total offense and six touchdowns as A&M outscored Prairie View 42-30 in a shootout at enhanced Louis Crews Stadium before an announced crowd of 5,325.

"It's nice to do it at home in front of our fans," Mason said after completing 22-of-29 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. "If we can keep doing this, we'll scare a lot of teams."

Mason may have scared some of his teammates prior to the game.

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Alabama State 19, Grambling 18: Hornets rally to sting Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Greg Jenkins’ 29-yard touchdown run with 4:15 to play gave Alabama State a 19-18 victory over defending SWAC champion Grambling State on Saturday.

Jenkins’ scoring run was set up by Bobby Wenzig’s 14-yard run from punt formation on fourth and two from the ASU 38-yard line. Three plays later, Jenkins knifed through the Grambling defense for the winning touchdown to complete the eight-play, 70-yard drive.



“(Special teams coach John) Hendrick and Bobby did a great job of recognizing that we could do that,” head coach Reggie Barlow said of the play call. “We trusted Bobby to make the call on it.”

The Hornets’ defense allowed just one first down on Grambling’s final drive and stopped the Tigers on downs with 2:48 remaining.

“We were a battle tested team ...


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Fired TSU football coach sues university officials

HOUSTON, Texas - Former Texas Southern University head football coach Johnnie Cole, fired last year amid an NCAA investigation, has sued school officials he claims provided negative information that thwarted his current job search.

The defamation suit, filed this week in Harris County District Court, names TSU President John Rudley, Athletic Director Charles McClelland and TSU Board Chairman Glenn Lewis as defendants.

Through university spokeswoman Eva Pickens, TSU General Counsel Andrew Hughey said school officials had not been served with the lawsuit and had no comment. "If and when we are served, we may have a statement at that time," she said.

According to the lawsuit, Cole and school officials signed an agreement in April 2011 that would prohibit TSU representatives from discussing the coach's tenure except for dates of employment.



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Jackson State's Clayton Moore has hand in 6 TDs in SWAC win

HOUSTON, Texas -- Clayton Moore passed for three touchdowns and ran for three more to lead the Jackson State Tigers over the Texas Southern Tigers 45-35.

Moore ran for 101 yards and completed 18 of 36 passes for 363 yards. Moore connected with Rico Richardson on a 44-yard pass for a touchdown. Richardson caught two other passes for touchdowns.

Texas Southern (1-2, 1-1 SWAC) led 21-14 at halftime, but Jackson State scored 17 points in the third quarter.

Rudolph Johnson ran for ...

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Jackson State storms back

HOUSTON — For weeks, all Clayton Moore asked for was an opportunity.  Since transferring to Jackson State from Akron University over the summer, the junior quarterback had spent the first two weeks of the season toting a clipboard and watching from the sideline as the Tigers' offense struggled to find any semblance of consistency.

When most might have complained, he kept quiet.  He also kept working.  "I have to get better every day," Moore said earlier this week.

Given the start Saturday in JSU's SWAC opener at Texas Southern, Moore didn't disappoint. Instead, he threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 121 yards and three more touchdowns to help lead the Tigers to a 45-35 win in the first football game played in Texas Southern's new BBVA Compass Stadium.

Afterward, Moore peeked his head into the media interview room unsure of exactly where he was supposed to go. "I've only done this once before," Moore said.

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TSU falls in debut at BBVA Compass

Texas Southern wanted to make its inaugural game at BBVA Compass Stadium a night to remember. The game was memorable, but TSU fans might want to forget the outcome.

TSU rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to take a lead, but Jackson State surged back in the closing minutes to spoil the Tigers' home opener with a 45-35 victory Saturday night.

TSU (1-2, 1-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) went up 35-31 when running back Edward Perkins-Loving scored on a 5-yard run with 9:31 left.

But Jackson State (1-2, 1-0) quickly regrouped, with quarterback Clayton Moore diving into the end zone from 5 yards out to put his team ahead for good with 6:03 remaining.

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UC Bearcats cruise past Delaware State Hornets, 23-7

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The University of Cincinnati Bearcats won’t have any problem figuring out what to work on during their bye week next week. Ball security will no doubt be the focal point after the Bearcats overcame six turnovers to turn back Delaware State, 23-7, Saturday night before 27,112 fans at Nippert Stadium.

“Obviously, not our best tonight,” said UC coach Butch Jones, “but I thought we showed some maturity at the end and grinded the win out. You can’t turn the ball over, especially in the red zone and we did that. There’s going to be a lot to teach off of.”

The Bearcats (2-0) won their fifth straight game overall dating to last season, their 22nd straight against a non-league opponent at Nippert Stadium and their 10th straight over a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.

UC running back George Winn went over the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career late in the third quarter and finished with 147 yards on 24 carries.

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Akron Zips Downs Morgan State Bears 66-6 in Record Fashion

AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron head coach Terry Bowden got win No. 1 in the Blue and Gold in record fashion as the Zips set or tied six team and two individual school records, in addition to one conference mark, in a 66-6 win over Morgan State on Saturday at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.

Akron's 66 points and 753 yards of total offense broke a nine-year mark set on Sept. 20, 2003, against Howard (65 points, 692 yards). The Zips also finished with a program-best 43 first downs, also in that contest against Howard. UA set a school record for completions as well with 44.

Akron (1-2) also set the program and Mid-American Conference mark for passing yards (565) and posted the third-most offensive yards in league history with 753. Akron's 59 pass attempts tied the UA school mark.

Dalton Williams finished the game connecting on 37-of-48 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns. His 94 completions over the last three games broke Charlie Frye's school record in that category (89). He also set the single-game completions mark, besting Frye's 36 against Kent State on Aug. 28, 2003.

Kyle Pohl completed 7-of-10 passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns in relief of Williams.

Jawon Chisholm led all rushers with 129 yards on 18 carries. It was his fifth-career 100-yard game on the ground (four in 2011). Conor Hundley added two rushing touchdowns while Marquelo Suel had 99 yards on six catches.

Morgan State (1-2) opened the second half with a three-and-out and the Zips would capitalize, driving 75 yards on 12 plays for the first points of the second half. Robert Stein connected on a 24-yard chip shot to increase Akron's lead to 24-6 with 9:39 on the third-quarter clock.

Following the second-consecutive three-and-out of the half for the Bears, the Zips went 74 yards on four plays with Williams connecting with Andrew Pratt for a 42-yard touchdown. The extra point would give Akron a 31-6 lead with 7:06 left in the quarter.

The Akron offense continued to move down the field, as Akron scored on its third-straight drive when Hundley scored on an 11-yard draw for a 38-6 lead. The TD run capped off a five-play, 75-yard drive.

Pohl entered the game late in the third quarter for Williams and connected with Jerrod Dillard for 28 yards on his first attempt of the game for an Akron touchdown. The score sent the game into the fourth quarter with the Zips leading, 45-6.



UA added three more scores in the fourth quarter, with Pratt catching his second TD of the day (37 yards) and Dee Frieson catching Pohl's third scoring toss (18 yards). The Akron defense added a score with Nick Rossi returning a fumble 29 yards for a touchdown.

The Zips opened the game with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that covered 4:08 on the clock. Williams connected with Tyrell Goodman for 17 yards to cap off the series. Chisholm accounted for 35 yards on the ground during the march down field.

Following a Morgan State field goal to cut the Akron lead to 7-3, UA would answer with its first rushing touchdown of the season. Starting on their own 25, Williams would carry the Zips down the field. Hundley punched it in from one yard out for his first collegiate touchdown, giving UA a 14-3 advantage with 3:14 remaining in the first quarter. The drive covered 75 yards on 12 plays and chewed up 2:58 on the clock.

UA added to its lead in the second quarter when Williams connected with Rhyne Ladrach for a 12-yard TD pass with 11:28 left in the half. The catch was the first TD of Ladrach's career and the ninth on the year for Williams.

An illegal hit to the head kept Morgan State's next drive alive following a near interception by the Zips. The Bears' drive would eventually stall at the Akron 26. MSU settled for a field goal, cutting the UA lead to 21-6 at the 7:47 mark.

Following a missed field goal by MSU's Ervin Gonzalez, the Zips drove 60 yards to the Bears 18 yard line. However, Stein would hit the right upright to send the game into halftime with Akron leading, 21-6.

Albert Presley led the Akron defense with six tackles, followed by Johnny Robinson's five.

Akron travels to SEC foe and nationally-ranked Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 22, for a Comcast Sports South/ESPN3/ESPN Game Plan telecast. The contest is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.



Zips Notebook: Dalton Williams entered the contest ranked second in the nation with seven TD passes, trailing only USC's Matt Barkley (10) ... Williams now has 10 TDs through the air ... Williams completed 30 passes against UCF in Week 1 and 27 at FIU in Week 2 ... Charlie Frye's previous record of 89 completions over three games included 36 against Kent State, 31 at Wisconsin and 22 versus Eastern Michigan ... Jawon Chisholm last reached the century mark on the ground against Central Michigan on Oct. 29, 2011 (130) ... the other time the Zips scored 65 points against was Eastern Michigan in triple overtime (Nov. 24, 2011).

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF AKRON ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

SSU Tigers reap benefits from two-game stretch of moneyball

SAVANNAH, Georgia - After enduring two of the most highly publicized and meaningless blowouts in the history of college football during the first two weeks of the season, Savannah State is ready to move on and figure out what it was worth to be steamrolled by Oklahoma State and Florida State and hounded by the national sports media.

In the same span that the Tigers were losing to the Cowboys and Seminoles by a combined score of 139-0 in roughly seven quarters of play, there were 14 other games between Football Bowl Subdivision teams and Football Championship Subdivision teams decided by a margin of more than 40 points. Fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member Florida A&M was humbled 69-13 by Oklahoma last Saturday, and MEAC member South Carolina State’s next two games are certain defeats at Arizona and Texas A&M.

But none of the other FCS scrimmages for hire headlined ESPN Gameday or commanded the allegedly largest point spread in college football history. When FBS programs around the country were bullying their FCS little brothers, what made Savannah State’s beatings such a compelling story?

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SIAC Battle of the Bands: Tuskegee University

Arizona Wildcats rout South Carolina State Bulldogs 56-0

TUSON, Arizona - The Arizona Wildcats have a 24-hour rule. Win or lose, forget about the previous game. Nobody needs that long to savor, digest and then flush the 56-0 victory over South Carolina State at Arizona Stadium on Saturday night.  “I may need an hour,” said senior center Kyle Quinn.

No doubt, the game against the lower-division Bulldogs was nice. Lots of statistical tidbits that will go into the record book: A school-record 43 first downs; a school-record 102 snaps from scrimmage; 689 yards, the second-most in school history.  No serious injuries. The program’s first shutout since the 2008 season-opener vs. Idaho.

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UA Report: Cats win big

When you schedule an FCS school, you hope to shell out a few hundred thousand dollars, get a guaranteed win and essentially have a glorified scrimmage. The plan worked well for Arizona on Saturday night, as they beat South Carolina State 56-0.

It was the first shutout since a 70-0 thrashing of Idaho in 2008.

Publicly the Wildcats gave the Bulldogs their due, but privately the coaching staff had to hope for a routine win and a chance to dip into the bench and get a look at a number of second and third teamers. They were able to do just that.

Although Arizona was not quite as sharp in first half as one would like, they were efficient enough. They scored on four of seven possessions, and also had a missed field goal and turned the ball over inside Bulldog territory.

The Wildcats took a 7-0 lead on their first possession and never looked back. The Cats marched 75 yards in just nine plays and capped the drive with a 15-yard scoring toss to Richard Morrison.

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Norfolk State loses to Howard 37-36 in overtime

NORFOLK, Virginia - The most automatic part of football has become the most problematic for Norfolk State. The Spartans practiced extra points all week. They moved two bigger players onto the line. None of it mattered.

Everett Goldberg's extra-point attempt in overtime was blocked by Julien David, sentencing the Spartans to a 37-36 loss to Howard. It was the third extra point and fifth kick NSU (2-1) has had blocked in three weeks.

PHOTO GALLERY: View all 10 photos

"We thought we fixed it," NSU coach Pete Adrian said. "It's pretty apparent we didn't."

Three Howard (2-1) players pushed into the backfield. Goldberg's kick appeared to come off his foot low. The ball fell short. The Bison celebrated on one side, the Spartans squatted on the other.

"It's football," senior Terrence Pugh said. "It happens. It's life. It's a man's game. It's tough, but that's why we play it. We have to swallow the bitter pill."

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TSU rolls in return to Hale Stadium

.NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Mike German didn’t start in Tennessee State’s historic return to Hale Stadium, but he was there when it mattered most to lead the Tigers to a 34-14 win over Austin Peay.

A crowd of 14,264 saw the first game played at the 61-year-old stadium in 14 years. TSU moved its home games to LP Field in 1999 but renovated its on-campus stadium as part of its 100-year anniversary.

German, a sophomore who had started 10 consecutive games, was benched for the first series as punishment for an undisclosed violation of a team rule. Redshirt freshman Ryan Turnage started, and TSU (3-0, 1-0 OVC) failed to pick up a first down on its first possession.

After he came in, German launched the passing game and helped the offense overcome the trouble it was having with its normally reliable rushing attack.

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Tigers Victorious In Return To Hale Stadium

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State returned to Hale Stadium in grand fashion as they defeated Austin Peay 34-14 to open up Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday afternoon.

The crowd of 14,264 saw Austin Peay take an early 7-0 lead as quarterback Jake Ryan connected with receiver Devin Starks, who made a one-handed catch, for a 20-yard touchdown. Three plays earlier, TSU was called for a roughing the kicker penalty on an Austin Peay punt near mid-field, which extended the drive.

The Tigers would get on the scoreboard for the first time via the foot of Jamin Godfrey as he made a 43-yard field goal in the final minute of the first quarter. TSU took their first lead of the contest when quarterback Michael German found receiver Travis James in the right corner of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown. The scoring play was set up by a 15-yard Austin Peay personal foul penalty the play before.

The Tigers led 9-7 after the missed extra point. With 3:32 left until halftime, the Govs connection of Ryan and Stark struck again, this time from eight yards out to give Austin Peay a 14-9 halftime advantage. Ryan finished 25-of-48 for 271 yards and two touchdowns, while Stark had nine catches to go along with a game-high 124 yards and two touchdowns.  

 
The only score of the third quarter went to Tennessee State as Trabis Ward scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, this one coming from two yards out.

German found Weldon Garlington for the 2-point conversion to give the Tigers a 17-14 lead that they would not relinquish. On the drive, Travis James set a new career-high with his sixth catch of the game. The senior from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., finished with a career best nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown to become the first TSU player with over 100 receiving yards in a game this season.  

Early in the fourth quarter, German threw a four yard touchdown pass to full back Johntae Gleaves to give TSU a 10 point advantage. For the senior, it was the 14th catch of his career and his second touchdown. With 7:06 left in the 4th quarter, Godfrey hit his second field goal of the game, this one from 39 yards out, to extend the TSU lead to 27-14.

Steven Godbolt III intercepted a Austin Peay pass in the end zone with 4:44 remaining in the game to end a Governors drive. It was his third interception of the season and continued his streak of one interception in each game this season.

The final score of the game saw German throw a 51 yard catch and run touchdown to A.C. Leonard to make it 34-14 with 2:12 left in the game. Leonard finished with five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. German had a career best 27 completions in addition to a career-high 318 yards and three touchdowns. The three scores tied his career best that he set last season vs. UT Martin. 

Tennessee State travels to Daytona Beach, Fla., next week to take on Bethune-Cookman (2-1) from the MEAC. Kick off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST. 

Notes: TSU starts the season 3-0 for the first time since starting the 2008 season 4-0 ... The only other touchdown of Johntae Gleaves' career was against North Carolina A&T on Oct. 2, 2010 ... The 14,264 fans is the 21st largest crowd in Hale Stadium history ... This is the fifth straight game that TSU has not allowed a 100 yard rusher ... TSU is the only undefeated team left in the OVC ... The Tigers now lead the all-time series vs. Austin Peay 9-6 ... Austin Peay has now lost five games in a row, including seven in a row in the OVC ... The 20 point Tiger win broke a streak of four straight games between TSU and Austin Peay that were decided by exactly three points.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

THE SHOW: TSU Aristocrat of Band at On Campus Hale Stadium

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands performs on the the field at halftime of the football game against the Austin Peay State University Governors at Hale Stadium. This is the first collegiate football game played in Hale Stadium since the fall of 1998, after which the Tigers played their home games at their new home in the downtown stadium now known as LP Field. (Cass Teague, Videographer).

Florida A&M Rattlers top Hampton for first win of 2012

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - For two years, James Owens had been trying to make the statement that he finally did Saturday afternoon at Bragg Stadium — the same Bragg Stadiuim where FAMU played its first home game without the sounds of the Marching 100 in the background.

Owens made it difficult for fans to think about how their Marching 100 is serving an indefinite suspension. He racked up 157 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 44-20 victory over the Pirates before of crowd 17,871.

It was a huge win for a FAMU team that had dropped its first two games, a first since 2007. The victory was even bigger, considering that it gives the Rattlers a 1-0 mark in the MEAC.

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Players credit fans for help in victory

Pamela Scott stayed until the very end of Florida A&M’s 44-20 rout of the Hampton Pirates Saturday night in Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Many Florida A&M fans have a reputation for leaving football games after the halftime performances from the much-renowned Marching 100.

The band – now suspended following the November hazing death of drum major Robert Champion – was not in its usual place in the stands.

Instead thousands of students took up the call to ignite fans. The crowd measured at 17,871 and at its best created enough noise to put the 420-student band to shame.

“I’ve been coming to football games since the 1960s,” Scott, a 1975 FAMU grad, said. “I think everybody was having a great time. I didn’t even miss the band. I’m sorry to say it but I didn’t. I’m just a real football fan.”

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2012 Road To The SIAC Championship

Virginia State tops Benedict in Palmetto Capital City Classic

COLUMBIA, South Carolina - The Benedict Tigers gained a season-high 335 yards of total offense, but the defense wasn't up to the challenge as the Virginia State University Trojans took a 30-20 victory over the Tigers in the 11th annual Palmetto Capital City Classic at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

The Tigers, now 0-3 on the season, gave up five plays of 20 or more yards, including a pair of long touchdown passes from Virginia State quarterback LaMonta Green, who finished the game completing 12-of-19 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

The Trojans, who improved to 1-2 on the season, also had 149 yards rushing, including a 51-yard run by Lamont Britt.

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Benedict golf: Bowen is no typical college coach

COLUMBIA, South Carolina - look around Craig Bowen’s tiny office on the third floor of Benedict’s Charlie A. Johnson Stadium suggests a typical college golf coach’s dwelling. A closer look suggests something more.

Dominating one wall, next to a black-and-white photo of a young Bowen playing golf, is an enlarged color shot of Tiger Woods and a cigar-chomping Michael Jordan, shot during their pro-am round at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte several years ago. Not a surprising office adornment for a coach at a historically black college.

Except for this: the photo includes Woods’ and Jordan’s signatures. There’s also a newspaper clipping on the wall with a photo of Woods and Bowen together, smiling, obviously familiar.

No, Craig Bowen is not your typical college golf coach, let alone one in his second season. His resume includes stints as ...

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Tuskegee 45, Lane College 17: Golden Tigers take care of business early

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- It was a home opener everyone could enjoy. Coach Willie Slater’s offense scored early and often enough, the defense turned turnovers into points and the second and third-string players were able to see significant action over the final two quarters of Saturday’s matchup against Lane College.

Now who could complain with results like that?

Derrick Washington scored three rushing touchdowns and safety William Buford had a pair of interceptions to spotlight a dominating first-half performance in Tuskegee’s 45-17 convincing victory over Lane in the SIAC opener for both schools.

“I thought the effort was really good, especially in the first half,” Slater said. “(Going up big) makes it fun at halftime, that’s for sure. We just wanted to maintain our composure coming out in the second half. I would’ve liked it if we could’ve continued drives (after the half).”



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Fort Valley State tops Clark Atlanta in SIAC opener

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- Sometimes, the right opponent at the right time can be like medicine. For Fort Valley State, Clark Atlanta was just that.

The Wildcats took control early with a steady offense and played four solid quarters on defense en route to a 26-3 win Saturday night over the Panthers in the SIAC opener for both teams.

The Wildcats improved to 2-1 overall while the Panthers fell to 1-2.

“The hustle,” FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said of his favorite sight of the evening. “You like the hustle.”

FVSU is back home in six days to host Benedict.

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Winston-Salem State dominates Morehouse, 51-21, in Cleveland Classic

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The battle between the halftime bands during the 2012 Cleveland Classic football game had competition in making Cleveland Browns Stadium a “House of Funk” Saturday.

With an electric offense, the Winston-Salem State (WSSU) Rams defeated the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers, 51-21, at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Rams senior QB Kameron Smith threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns. Smith needed 75 yards passing to become the all-time leading passer in WSSU history. WSSU solidified its No. 8 ranking in the Division II Top 25 poll. Smith led the Rams to 977 yards of offense.

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Morehouse College battles Winston-Salem State University gallery

Rams have no problems with Maroon Tigers

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Fifth-ranked Winston-Salem State flexed its muscles Saturday in a decisive 55-21 victory against Morehouse at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The game, billed as the Cleveland Classic, wasn't much of a classic as the Rams (3-0) dominated early and often. They led 21-7 after the first quarter and 28-7 at halftime and forced the Maroon Tigers (1-2) into four turnovers.

The Rams rolled up 677 yards of offense and improved to 11-1 on the road in three seasons under coach Connell Maynor.

"I'm very happy with the win," Maynor said by telephone. "The guys know all about respecting all and fearing none, but they went on the big stage here in Cleveland and did some great things."

Up 28-7 to start the second half, the Rams forced a fumble by running back David Carter and converted it into a touchdown, scoring on a 3-yard pass from quarterback Kameron Smith to tight end Jerry Chandler. Alejandro Suarez's extra point made it 35-7.

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Johnson C. Smith survives scare to earn season’s first win

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - It wasn’t a laugher by a long shot. But Johnson C. Smith’s first football victory of the season, a 23-18 win over Concordia College on Saturday afternoon at Eddie McGirt Field, gives the Golden Bulls some momentum going into next week’s start of CIAA play.

“It doesn’t matter how you get it, as long as you get it,” Johnson C. Smith wide receiver Matthew Jeffries said. The Golden Bulls (1-2) had to get this one by coming back from a four-point halftime deficit with a big second-half defensive effort.

“You can’t underestimate any opponent,” said Jeffries, who caught five passes for 68 yards. “Our defense stepped up, and our offense made big plays when we needed them.”

Quarterback Keahn Wallace, who wasn’t supposed to play because of a heel injury, completed 16-of-28 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. He entered the game in relief of his usual backup quarterback Andre Alexander, who threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter before ...

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Edward Waters 42, Livingstone 36

SALISBURY, North Carolina - The engine and transmission are in place at Livingstone, but the Blue Bears may need to get their brakes checked.  That was the storyline again Saturday at Alumni Stadium, where LC scored enough points to win - yet didn't.

"We're working too hard," coach Elvin James said after winless Livingstone dropped a 42-36 decision to Edward Waters. "Thirty-six points? That should be enough to win in the CIAA. But that's what happens when you dig yourself a big hole."

The hole in question was a 28-7 deficit the Blue Bears (0-3) fell into early in the second quarter. It left their defenders a long way from happy.



"We weren't settled in," defensive end Wesley Jackson said. "Our alignments weren't right. We're switching to a new scheme (under new defensive coordinator Sherman Simmons) and trying to make progress in the right direction. Once we got settled in, we played a lot better."

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