Chris Carlson: Five things we (NSU) learned vs. Howard

NORFOLK, Virginia - You can’t spot anyone 20 points – It was hard to watch the way Norfolk State did virtually whatever it wanted in the second half and think that the better team won at Dick Price Stadium. Norfolk State was the group we expect in the second half rallying from a 30-7 deficit. The Spartans outgained Howard by 100 yards, but played so poorly in the first half they could only force overtime. Once into the crap-shoot extra-period NSU was bitten by a special teams miscue. Howard was a MEAC bottom-feeder for some time and, even now, is probably just a little above the mid-point. Give any team a 20-point edge and you’re unlikely to make a comeback.

The Spartans need to win out against the MEAC – The season isn’t over for the Spartans, but the upset loss made defending their MEAC title much more difficult. Howard still has to play at South Carolina State and host Florida A&M, so the Bison could still lose a game. The last two MEAC champions have both had a conference loss, so one defeat doesn’t eliminate a team. But with road games still to come against South Carolina State and Bethune-Cookman, a rivalry game vs. Hampton and a contest with tougher-than-expected Delaware State, NSU has no more margin for error. As Howard’s victory proved, the MEAC is a deeper league than it’s been in some time.



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Ram Ramblings: WSSU remains at No. 5 in poll, but....

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - As I do every week I check the AFCA Division II football poll and I found something interesting today.

Winston-Salem State, which is 3-0 and coming off a 55-21 win over Morehouse, remained at No. 5 in the poll. Top-ranked Pittsburg State, which is in Kansas, had 29 of the 30 first-place votes in the poll.

The other first-place vote went to the Rams.

When I called the folks who run the poll I wanted to find out which coach voted WSSU No. 1 but they don’t divulge that top-secret information.

The AFCA poll is put out each week by the American Football Coaches Association and is voted on by Division II coaches.

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Split Grambling State rushing attack meager

GRAMBLING — The running back battle between Dawrence Roberts and Jeremy Runner continued Saturday night against Alabama State, but only one thing seemed to be clear.

The Tigers' offensive line was no match for the Alabama State defense in a 19-18 loss.

Grambling gained 78 yards on 35 attempts, which is 2.2 yards per carry.

Roberts, a junior who was named the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, looked like he wanted his job back with a 30-yard run on his first carry.

He made several tacklers miss, and he finished the run in a strong fashion.

But on the same drive, GSU couldn't punch in a score with a first down from the 1-yard line. That series of plays included three Roberts' carries, which included a toss play for minus-3.

Roberts finished with 33 yards on seven carries.

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Fayetteville State gets first win of the season

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina - After losing its first two games on the road, some home cooking wound up doing Fayetteville State some good in getting on the winning track.

The Broncos defeated Virginia Union 28-17, picking up their first win of the season. Fayetteville State (1-2) trailed after three quarters, but outscored its opponent 14-0 in the final 15 minutes.

"We just knew we had to come out of this game with a win," Fayetteville State quarterback Chauncey Concepcion said. "As a team, we knew that we weren't leaving here without a victory."

Virginia Union (2-1) took an early lead midway through the first quarter. Denzel Duchenne returned a Fayetteville State punt 75 yards to the Broncos 16. Jerrell Washington scored on a run one play later.

The Broncos countered on their next drive with Concepcion finding Kasunn Williams on a screen for a 48-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7 late in the first.

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Kentucky State gets first win over Lincoln

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Kentucky State’s football team bounced back from its loss last week against Kentucky Wesleyan with a 35-23 win over Lincoln University, Saturday.

Trailing 3-0 after the first quarter the Thorobreds (1-1) rolled up 22 points in the second period to lead 22-16 at halftime. KSU had 342 yards on offense while its defense held the Lions to 199 yards.

Lincoln (0-3) led 3-0 on a 28-yard field goal by Kyle Jaski, but the Thorobreds took a 6-3 lead early in the second quarter on a 5-yard run by Justin Williams. The Lions retook the lead 10-6 about three minutes later when Charles Green ran in from one yard out and Jaski kicked the extra point.

Lincoln extended its lead to 16-6 when Green caught a 5-yard pass from Matt Coston, but the point-after kick was blocked and KSU’s Grandson Brown returned it for two points, making the score 16-8.

In the final 5½ minutes of the first half ...

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Late turnovers, missed PATs costly in ASU’s 13-12 loss to Elizabeth City

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina — The lack of an adequate kicking game proved costly to Albany State Saturday night as the Golden Rams dropped a 13-12 decision to Elizabeth City State (N.C.).

Ultimately the game was decided by field goals and point-after conversion kicks. The Vikings (1-2) made them. Albany State (1-2) didn’t.

ECSU’s Brett Symonds, who missed a 32-yard field goal in the first half, drilled field goals of 44 and 29 yards in the second and third quarters as the Vikings rallied to a 6-6 tie, then banged home the all-important PAT to culminate a 95-yard drive that produced the winning touchdown on a 5-yard run by Daront’e McNeill with 8:39 left to play.

Meanwhile, Zachary Holley missed on both of his point-after attempts for the Rams, who dipped below .500 for the first time in five seasons.

ECSU Sound of Class Marching Band , 9/15/12

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Florida A&M Rattlers believe 'sky's the limit'

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Coach Joe Taylor was glad for the win but clearly wasn’t satisfied after Saturday’s home opener, which drew an impressive crowd of 17,851 to Bragg Stadium.

What they saw was just as surprising as their presence at a game in which the suspended Marching 100 didn’t make an appearance. The Rattlers had their biggest offensive output of the season with 489 yards of total offense in a 44-20 victory over Hampton University.

Taylor was happy for that. But little nagging mistakes, such as penalties and turnovers, bothered him.

“We can get better because we made a lot of mistakes,” Taylor said afterward. “We threw an interception down in the goal line.



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Fleming bringing back memories

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - On the second play of the first series against Hampton University on Saturday, FAMU quarterback Damien Fleming was in trouble. His receivers were covered and the pocket was breaking down.

Fleming dashed to his left, then to his right. His lone opening was straight up the middle, and the elusive Fleming gained enough yards for a first down. Three plays later, Fleming found Travis Harvey on the receiving end of a 24-yard touchdown catch to give FAMU a 6-0 on its opening drive.

Fleming used the ground and air to do the damage, bringing back memories of former dual-threat quarterback Curtis Pulley. Pulley, the Rattlers’ starter three years ago, was most dangerous on his feet. And Fleming is proving to be just that in his sophomore season. He had 29 rushing yards in the first half against Hampton, second behind James Owens’ breakout performance of 93 yards.



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S.C. State basketball schedule announced

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - “We worked our tails off to make sure that what happened last year never happens again.” — South Carolina State men’s basketball coach Tim Carter

Bulldog fans going through tough times right now with the struggles of the football team can only hope it’s not the case starting in November when their attention turns to basketball.

Needless to say, the rallying cry for this year’s team should be “Can only go up.” Last season represented a historic nadir not only for the S.C. State men’s basketball program but head coach Carter as well.

Here’s an unpleasant recap of what was the school’s worst men’s basketball season ever:

• 0-16 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play (first time in school history and fifth time a MEAC team has gone winless)
• Worst record in school history (5-26)
• Only three Division I victories (second-lowest number in nation)
• Second-lowest RPI rating among 344 NCAA Division I teams (.3397), just .0069 ahead of last-place Binghamton
• School-record 16-game losing streak and active eight-game losing streak.

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Mitchell reassigned, Odums named interim coach

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Less than 24 hours following a devastating and demoralizing 6-0 loss to Mississippi Valley on ESPNU, Southern head football coach Stump Mitchell has been reassigned to other administrative duties within the athletics department, Southern athletics director Dr. William Broussard announced late Friday afternoon.

Defensive coordinator Dawson Odums, who is in his second year of the Jaguars coaching staff, willl assume the post of interim head coach for the duration of the 2012 season.

"After making a recommendation to [Chancellor James Llorens] and upon his acceptance of that recommendation, I spoke with head football coach Stump Mitchell late this afternoon and notified him that he will be reassigned to other administrative duties within the athletic department," said Broussard.

"I would like to personally thank coach Mitchell for his service and his commitment to Southern University athletics and wish him well in all of his future endeavors. I also urge our fans to continue to stand united with the staff and the student-athletes on the Jaguars football team."

Mitchell, in his third season at Southern, finished with a 6-18 overall record during his tenure but his successful navigation of the football program through NCAA Academic Progress Rate penalties emerged as one of his most notable accomplishments as head coach.

The former NFL player and assistant coach made his Southern coaching debut defeating Delaware State in a 37-31 comeback win in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge but finished 2-9 in 2010.

Last season, despite losing four games by a combined margin of 13 points, Southern entered the annual Bayou Classic with a shot to force a tie for first place but were upended 36-12. The Jaguars finished 4-7.

The search for Southern's next head coach will not commence until the conclusion of the 2012 season.

"It will give us some time to evaluate the coaching staff and take a closer look at what kind of progress we make for the rest of the season.

Odums and the Jaguars willl look to quickly regroup and refocus as Southern prepares to battle heated rival Jackson State on Saturday in Jackson, Miss. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

NCCU’s Reid handed the reins

DURHAM, North Carolina -- The backup tag has been lifted from N.C. Central quarterback Jordan Reid. Reid on Saturday in Wallace Wade Stadium won the starting job during a 54-17 loss to Duke.

NCCU coach Henry Frazier III said Reid will get first-team reps in practice as the Eagles prepare to get into their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule this weekend on the road in Georgia against Savannah State.

Starting Reid under center is a no-brainer, Frazier said.

“Man, if I don’t put Jordan out there, they’re going to run me out of town,” Frazier said. “I was born at night, not last night. We’ll throw Jordan out there, we’ll hand the ball to him and give him a week of running with the starters and let him have his opportunity.”

Reid in the first quarter against Duke replaced NCCU quarteback Matt Goggans on the Eagles’ fourth offensive possession, and the redshirt junior came out throwing darts, finishing the game with a career-high 218 passing yards.

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DUKE WINS ALL 3 PHASES

DURHAM — Black helmets. Black jerseys. Black pants.

Dressing dark for the first time, Duke left N.C. Central blacked out in an 54-17 Blue Devils football win before a crowd of 22,829 at Wallace Wade Stadium Saturday night.

Duke wore black uniforms once last year, losing 23-21 to Richmond in the season-opening game. But the team added newly designed black helmets to the ensemble for the second installment of the Bull City Gridiron Classic against cross-town rival NCCU and found better results.

For the first time in eight years, Duke (2-1) scored touchdowns in the same game on offense, defense and special teams.

The 37-point margin of victory is the largest of Duke coach David Cutcliffe’s tenure, which began in 2008.  “To get to 2-1 was important,” Cutcliffe said. “To get better was important. I think the thing I like most about the win is I think we got better in the second half.”

Duke benefited from an imperfect performance from NCCU (1-2), which lost for the second week in a row. The Eagles were called for 10 penalties, costing them 70 yards. NCCU also threw two interceptions, with Duke receiver Ross Cockrell notching both and returning one for a touchdown. NCCU also turned it over a third time with a fumble.

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Miami rolls past Bethune-Cookman at empty Sun Life Stadium

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Echoing through Sun Life Stadium, the UM alma mater serenaded those who stuck it out Saturday afternoon.

There weren't many. But the crowd — well below the announced 39,435 fans —witnessed another flash of what could be the future of Miami football.

Shedding memories of last week's 39-point loss, Miami efficiently dispatched Bethune-Cookman 38-10. The score, however, was not nearly as significant who did the damage. Freshman running back Duke Johnson's four touchdowns came three different ways as the Hurricanes overcame yet another slow start.

His 95-yard kickoff return meant Miami trailed for just 12 seconds of the first quarter against the over-matched opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision. Johnson added a touchdown catch and two more on the ground to ping the hype meter again.

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Miami's Johnson scores four TDs as 'Canes top Bethune-Cookman

MIAMI – Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins sat in front a small gathering of reporters in the underbelly of Sun Life Stadium Saturday evening following his team's 38-10 loss to Miami – the picture of misery.

As he spoke about the game between his Wildcats (2-1) and the Hurricanes (2-1), Jenkins often reached up to massage and contort his face and, at times, looked to the ceiling with his eyes closed. He cursed a little, raised his voice and, at one point, apologized for it all.

He refused to make players available for the postgame media press conference, stopping them en route and sending them back to the locker room, according to B-CU Assistant Sports Information Director Michael Stambaugh.

“He did not want the players to comment on the game,” Stambaugh said.

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Bowie State earns dramatic OT victory

BOWIE, Maryland - For the second time in three games this season, the Bowie State University football team experienced high drama.

Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs used a furious fourth-quarter rally to force overtime, where they earned a 24-17 victory against visiting Fairmont State (W.Va.). After falling behind 17-0 with 11 minutes, 46 seconds left to play, the Bulldogs came back to tie the score.

Tyrae Reid tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Corwin Acker with 10:43 left. Mario Diaz-Aviles hit a 24-yard field goal with 6:06 to go. Reid then connected with Douglas McNeil on a 31-yard touchdown pass with 2:15 left, and the extra point by Diaz-Aviles tied the score at 17-17.

In overtime, where teams alternate possessions starting 25 yards from the end zone, Bowie State picked up a first down at the 15-yard line and scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Reid to Acker on a third and 7 from the 12.

Needing a touchdown and extra point to force a second overtime period, Fairmont State advanced to the Bowie State 11-yard line, but tossed an incomplete pass on fourth down, ending the game.

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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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