XU Gold Nuggets receive most points ever in NAIA rankings

By Ed Cassiere, SID, Xavier University of Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana reached new heights Wednesday in the NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 poll. The Gold Nuggets received a school-record 18 points from the panel of 25 coaches and rank 34th.

The previous XU mark for poll points was 14 in the 2008 preseason. This is the 23rd time that the Gold Nuggets received points — the first time was in 2002 — and the fourth time they collected 10 or more points. Three of those double-figure occasions occured this season.

This is the third time this season that the Nuggets rank 34th. They were 37th a week ago with three points.

The XU women qualified automatically for the NAIA National Championships after a resounding victory Saturday in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships at Clinton, Miss. Xavier had the top six finishers — Zahri Jackson, Catherine Fakler, Briana Simms, Hali Yarmush, Hannah Finnegan and Donyé Coleman — in the 5,000-meter race, and Jackson and Fakler became the first Nuggets to run that distance in less than 19 minutes. Jackson (18:54.69) won by about a half-second over Fakler to repeat as GCAC individual champion. Xavier won the team championship for a GCAC-record-tying seventh consecutive season, this time by 63 points over runner-up Edward Waters. Xavier is 33-9 against all opponents this season.

Both XU teams qualified for the national meet, which will be Nov. 17 in Vancouver, Wash. The Gold Nuggets and the Gold Rush will compete at nationals for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in five years.

The final two polls of 2012 will be released Nov. 4 and 22.

NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 Poll(first-place votes in parentheses) Rank Team Points Last 1 Cal State San Marcos (22) 653 1 2 British Columbia 628 2 3 College of Idaho (3) 604 3 4 Olivet Nazarene 599 4 5 Biola 569 5 6 Carroll (Mont.) 547 6 7 Northwest Christian 522 7 8 Westmont 501 8 9 Cornerstone 484 9 10 Oklahoma Baptist 472 11 11 Dordt 440 10 12 Lewis-Clark State 407 13 13 The Master's 394 14 14 Rocky Mountain 361 15 15 Huntington (Ind.) 346 24 16 Concordia (Calif.) 337 16 17 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 319 22 18 St. Francis (Ill.) 296 17 19 Milligan 279 19 20 Concordia (Neb.) 275 23 21 Aquinas 243 12 22 Eastern Oregon 207 21 23 Taylor 174 25 24-tie Northwest 131 RV 24-tie SCAD Savannah 131 NR Others receiving votes: Saint Xavier 130, Indiana Wesleyan 107, Southern Oregon 52, Central Methodist 41, Shawnee State 41, Doane 37, Rogers State 23, Spring Arbor 19, Xavier 18, Park 15, Baker 10, Lee (Tenn)

Gold Rush in preseason top 25 for 3rd consecutive year

NEW ORLEANS — For the third consecutive season, Xavier University of Louisiana earned a spot in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll. Xavier is 19th, its highest preseason ranking since 2007. The poll was announced Tuesday.

The Gold Rush, 23-9 in 2011-12 and the defending Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season co-champion, are in the top 25 for the 12th consecutive time and the 25th time in 26 polls dating to the start of the 2010-11 season. Xavier's highest ranking last season was 18th twice.
 
The next poll will be announced Dec. 4.

The XU men on Tuesday evening conducted their first practice in the new Convocation Center. The building will be dedicated Nov. 3, and the Gold Rush will play Morehouse at 1 p.m. that day. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the XU athletics administration office in The Barn. Call (504) 520-7329 for more information.

The Gold Rush will attempt to reach 20 victories for the third consecutive year and the eighth time in 10 seasons. The Gold Rush have not finished with a losing record since 1989-90.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records are from 2011-12 season) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Concordia (Calif.) (9) 31-7 250 1 2 Oklahoma Baptist (1) 32-5 242 2 3 Georgetown (Ky.) 26-9 231 5 4 Robert Morris (Chicago) 27-5 230 10 5 Rogers State 24-9 211 8 6 Southern Poly 25-7 208 11 7 Our Lady of the Lake 27-8 206 12 8 Westmont 19-9 195 RV 9 Pikeville 17-12 188 RV 10 Columbia (Mo.) 27-7 170 13 11 Lindsey Wilson 21-10 153 14 12 Freed-Hardeman 21-11 145 RV 13-tie Biola 27-9 139 6 13-tie Westminster (Utah) 21-11 139 NR 15 Lee (Tenn.) 20-9 135 18 16 MidAmerica Nazarene 25-9 132 19 17-tie John Brown 24-9 128 17 17-tie Texas Wesleyan 25-8 128 23 19 Xavier 23-9 119 24 20 Cal State San Marcos 19-12 107 NR 21 Evangel 24-10 80 22 22 Martin Methodist 28-7 72 9 23 Montana State Northern 27-7 68 21 24 SUNO 17-14 61 20 25 Cumberlands 20-12 50 RV Others receiving votes: Southwestern Assemblies of God 34, Montana Western 29, Loyola 24, Lubbock Christian 21, Life 20, Tougaloo 15, Campbellsville 9, Missouri Baptist 8, West Virginia Tech 7, LSU-Shreveport 6, Baker 3, Oklahoma City 3.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

XU Nuggets earn highest NAIA preseason rank since 1997

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana was 11th in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday. It's the Gold Nuggets' highest preseason ranking since 1997, when they were seventh.

Xavier, 26-9 in 2011-12, is in the top 25 for the 32nd consecutive time dating to January 2010. It's the Nuggets' longest top-25 streak since 34 straight polls from Jan. 13, 2003-March 8, 2005. It's their highest national ranking since Feb. 15, 2005, when they were 15th.

The Gold Nuggets will visit LSU in a 7 p.m. exhibition Nov. 1, then open the regular season at 3 p.m. on Nov. 3 against Johnson & Wales (Fla.) in XU's Convocation Center. The XU women conducted their first practice in the new facility Tuesday evening.

Five of the Nuggets' first 12 games will be against NAIA teams in the preseason top 25 — No. 5 Westminster (Utah) at home Nov. 17, No. 19 LSU-Shreveport at home Nov. 19, No. 14 Langston at home Nov. 22, No. 25 Faulkner in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Montgomery, Ala., on Dec. 29 and No. 22 Bethel (Tenn.) at home Jan. 2.

Xavier will attempt to win 20 games for the 12th consecutive season, which would extend a school record.

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records are from 2011-12 season) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Lubbock Christian (9) 28-6 280 3 2 Shawnee State 28-6 269 tie-6 3 Freed-Hardeman (2) 28-6 266 5 4 Vanguard 23-7 251 tie-13 5 Westminster (Utah) 23-9 240 15 6 Georgetown (Ky.) 24-10 236 11 7 Westmont 31-4 229 4 8 Rogers State 22-12 216 21 9 Lee (Tenn.) 30-4 209 10 10 Oklahoma City 35-1 196 1 11 Xavier 26-9 192 16 12 Biola 23-11 174 20 13 Campbellsville 20-13 171 25 14 Langston 30-4 168 tie-8 15-tie Lewis-Clark State 29-5 154 12 15-tie MidAmerica Nazarene 25-9 154 22 17 Lindsey Wilson 20-13 135 RV 18 Cumberlands 28-4 120 tie-8 19 LSU-Shreveport 25-9 116 RV 20 Avila 22-11 106 24 21 Columbia (Mo.) 24-10 101 RV 22 Bethel (Tenn.) 15-17 75 NR 23 William Woods 23-10 73 RV 24 Our Lady of the Lake 26-8 71 RV 25 Faulkner 20-10 51 NR Others receiving votes: Loyola 37, Robert Morris (Chicago) 37, The Master's 35, Lyon 32, Cumberland 26, Talladega 25, Carroll (Mont.) 18, Oklahoma Baptist 14, San Diego Christian 8, Benedictine (Kan.) 5, Cal State San Marcos 3.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

THURSDAY: Stillman (4-4) at Miles (7-0)

Stillman (4-4) at Miles (7-0)
Oct. 25 @ 6 pm • Fairfield, Ala.
Sloan Alumni Stadium

Download Complete Stillman Game Notes (PDF)
Link to live stats during game

RIVALY WEEK #2...PROVING TIME...REDEMPTION TIME...BROTHER VERSUS BROTHER...INTRASTATE RIVAL...DIVISIONAL MATCHUP...CRITICAL CONTEST.
A lot of catch phrases can be used to describe the emotion that has built up over this mid-week matchup between Stillman College and Miles College.

With the status of the Western Division hanging in the balance, this Thursday night matchup could go a long way in deciding who will play in the 2012 SIAC Championship. A win by Stillman will add a lot of intrigue to the situation.

With standout performers on both squads ... on both sides of the ball ... expect an emotional contest as the sun sets on Fairfield, Alabama Thursday evening.

Fort Valley State is coming off a 38-12 homecoming victory over Concordia-Selma while Stillman hopes for a rebound after a 16-0 decision against Tuskegee.

STILLMAN'S LAST GAME
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (October 20, 2012) - Despite a strong opening 44 minutes that saw Stillman move the ball on the ground, the Tiger football team dropped a 35-17 decision to the visiting Fort Valley State Wildcats Saturday evening at Stillman Stadium.

With the outcome, FVSU improves to 6-2, 4-1 in SIAC play while Stillman's record is evened at 4-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play.

The Wildcats took the opening possession and marched 63 yards on 11 plays culminating the drive with a one-yard run by Germaine Tait. From the point, the game slowed for both teams as neither team could put together sustained offensive possessions. After an uneventful second quarter, FVSU carried a 7-0 lead into the locker room at intermission.

The third quarter saw the Tigers take the kickoff and march 60 on seven plays with senior kicker Alejandro Huerta connecting on a 37-yard field goal putting Stillman on the board at 7-3. On Stillman's next possession, the Tigers would cap a 8-play, 85-yard drive with a one-yard rush by receiver-then-backup-quarterback Dondre Purnell. On the scoring drive, Purnell would have scrambles of 36 and seven yards before crossing the goal line on the one-yard plunge.

Two possessions later, Stillman would get the ball on its own 16 yard line. Five plays later, a costly fumble would be recovered by FVSU's Thomas Wolfe who would run 43 yards giving the Wildcats a 14-10 lead at the end of three quarters.

In the fourth, FVSU defensive back Dejuan Williams would intercept a Tiger pass attempt and run 60 yards to give FVSU a 21-10 lead. On Stillman's next offensive play, Tiger freshman running back David Johnson would take the handoff and run 75 yards practically untouched to cut the deficit to 21-17.

When FVSU's offense touched the field again, they would travel 62 yards on eight plays with Antonio Henton scoring on a one-yard run to make the game 28-17 in favor of the Wildcats. After a defensive stand, FVSU's Henton would connect with Chris Slaughter on a 44-yard scoring play making the score 35-17.

Stillman would have another offensive possession, but the drive would fall short at the hands of a Jabioas Glenn interception.

For the game, Stillman earned a 203-182 rushing yard advantage while FVSU out gained the Tigers 185-108 in the air.

Individually, Stillman was paced by Purnell, who finished with 10 carries for 103 yards. Johnson had eight carries for 82 yards and Travis Robinson had seven carries for 17 yards. Purnell also passed for 68 yards. Robinson caught four passes for 33 yards. Defensively, Eric Childs had nine tackles in the game while Robert Crosby had eight stops and two pass breakups.

MILES'S LAST GAME
JACKSON, Tennessee—Miles shook off a shaky start and used a big second half to remain unbeaten in SIAC play in its 38-20 win over Lane.

Miles wore down the Dragons with its balanced rushing attack. The Golden Bears, (7-1, 5-0) racked up 402 yards on the ground to extend its winning streak to seven straight games. Devonte Parker-Johnson rushed for a season high 193 yards and a touchdown, while Floyd Graves added 145 yards and two scores to lead the Golden Bears offense. All-SIAC Quarterback David Thomas passed for only 93 yards, but was able to find Antonio Pitts for a 38-yard touchdown to give Miles the go-ahead score late in the third quarter. The senior also rushed for 44 yards and a score.

Lane took a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter, but would eventually run out of gas in the second half. The Dragons were outscored by 18 points in the second half. The team, playing without starting quarterback Chris Rini, were led by backup quarterbacks McKinsley Marbury and Greg Landrum combined 296 yards passing and two touchdowns.

SCOUTING THE BEARS
Miles comes into the contest averaging 38 points per game while allowing 15 points per outing.
Leading the charge is quarterback David Thomas with 288 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He is also completing 63 percent of his pass attempts for over 1,700 yards and ten touchdowns. Floyd Graves is the team's leading rusher averaging 6.8 yards per rush with seven touchdowns. Anton Pitts has 33 receptions for 409 yards and five touchdowns.
On defense, Julanta English has 58 tackles and 1.5 sacks while Reginald Virges has 55 tackles and two interceptions.

TIGER RETURNEES
The Tigers return 42 players from last year's team. Included in the count are:
Quarterback - 1
Offensive Line - 7
Defensive Back - 9
Defensive Line - 8
Wide Receivers - 4
Kickers - 1
Tight Ends - 3
Linebackers - 6
Running Backs - 3


COURTESY STILLMAN COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Tougaloo College basketball coach Lafayette Stribling retires

TOUGALOO, Mississippi -- Dressed in one of his finest suits and saying “it’s been a good ride,” longtime basketball coach Lafayette Stribling announced his retirement from Tougaloo College inside the school’s Kroger Gymnasium Tuesday.

Stribling, who has coached for over 50 years, most coming at Mississippi Valley State University (22 years), closed the book on one of the state’s most illustrious coaching careers in a way that only he could.

He joked about the officals having it in for him and his MVSU team in 1985 when the Delta Devils took a three-point halftime lead into the locker room against then No.1 Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament, he poked fun at Tougaloo College athletic director James Coleman’s “persuading” that ultimately led him to leave MVSU for Tougaloo. He even teased a former Tougaloo basketball player for looking “like a football player,” since graduating.

More than anything, Stribling, who had heart surgery last summer, thanked those that have helped him along the way.



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Winston-Salem Rams can clinch division with win Saturday

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Winston-Salem State has a tangible goal it can reach this weekend.

If the Rams beat Shaw at Durham County Stadium on Saturday they will clinch the CIAA Southern Division title for the second straight season and will punch their ticket to the CIAA championship game.

The Rams (8-0, 5-0 CIAA) are playing their best football of the season, as they showed in a 58-0 rout of Livingstone last Saturday. They have won 13 straight conference games over the last two seasons and are ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II.




"We are playing for a little more this week," Coach Connell Maynor said. "We've been playing for something every week because we want to keep winning…."

Maynor said that while it would be nice to clinch a spot in the CIAA title game, that's not the ultimate goal.

"You have to keep winning to get to the national-championship game and that's what our goal is every week," Maynor said.

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Big games for SWAC, MEAC this weekend

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania  --  This is a huge weekend for black college football in the SWAC and the MEAC, as two games should attract major attention.

In the SWAC, Alabama A&M battles Alabama State in the 71st annual Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. The longstanding HBCU rivalry game should draw between 55,000 to 60,000 fans on Saturday afternoon and is for bragging rights for black college football in Alabama.

There’s a lot riding on this game. Alabama A&M (6-1 overall, 5-1 in SWAC) and Alabama State (4-3 overall, 4-2 league) are both coming off losses. Two weeks ago, Alcorn State nipped Alabama A&M, 21-20 in an upset, while Alabama State dropped a 37-34 decision to Jackson State. The first-place Bulldogs could put some distance between them and the Hornets in the Eastern Division. Conversely, the Hornets could tighten the decision race with a victory.

This game could be decided on the ground. Alabama A&M has a the league’s leading rusher in Kaderius Lacey. Alabama State has a terrific running back in Isaiah Crowell, who is the league’s second-leading rusher.

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Bethune-Cookman hosts surprising Eagles in MEAC showdown for first place

DAYTONA BEACH — Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins smiles when he's asked about North Carolina Central's surprising football success this season.

The Eagles will visit B-CU at 4 p.m. Saturday in a showdown of undefeated Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams.

While the Wildcats (5-2, 4-0) have been a contender since Jenkins took over in 2010 — winning 17 of 20 conference games — the Eagles (5-2, 4-0) were picked to finish ninth in the MEAC preseason coaches' poll and have not had a winning season since 2007.

“If everybody was to go off the (preseason) predictions, then there would be no need to play the games,'' Jenkins said.

He is not surprised in the least to see coach Henry Frazier turn N.C. Central around in just his second season. He knows Frazier has done it before.

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Howard for homecoming: SCSU's Pough expects motivated opponent

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  Saturday’s 27-20 overtime win over Florida A&M did more than lift South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough’s spirits for the first time in two weeks.

While a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and postseason appearance are not in the picture, the Bulldogs still have a purpose in trying to extend a streak of 11 consecutive winning seasons with three games remaining.

At his weekly press conference Monday, Pough said a loss would have been “devastating” to the program’s morale and left the players dispirited for having the distinction as the first S.C. State team since 2000 to post a losing season.

“I’ve got to be happy for our team in the fact that we were able to stave off the losing record deal, because at this point, we didn’t have much of a chance to survive the year with a winning record past that game,” Pough said. “So that was a big part of our weekly preparation in the fact that we were trying to really say our backs were against the wall and the guys went down and played really well I thought.”




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PREVIEW: NCCU Eagles head to Daytona with title in mind

DURHAM, North Carolina — Sole possession of first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will go to the last squad standing after Saturday’s game between N.C. Central and Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla. (4 p.m., WNCU 90.7-FM).

The Eagles have shown that they can handle business on the road, winning their first three MEAC games away from O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

That is a big deal compared to a year ago when the season was almost over when NCCU finally got a conference win against a Delaware State team that joined NCCU and Savannah State at the bottom of the league with 1-7 records.



A year ago, the Eagles did not win a game at home and finished 2-9 overall for its fourth straight losing season.

Coach Henry Frazier III, in his second season at NCCU, would tell anybody that he inherited a football team that simply wasn’t strong enough to finish MEAC games even if it has a lead in the fourth quarter.

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TSU's Scitern Tied For First Heading Into Final Day at APSU

Cameron Scitern

HOPKINSVILLE, Kentucky -- Cameron Scitern shot a career best in the first round of the Austin Peay State University Intercollegiate Monday morning and is tied for first after two rounds. Scitern shot a 3-under 69 before carding a 2-under 70 in the afternoon session on the Par-72, 7,132 yard course at the Links at Novadell on a warm 75 degree day with a solid breeze.

Colin McCarty of SIU-Edwardsville matched Scitern in each round and shares the lead with a 5-under, 139.

The Rockdale, Texas native recorded three birdies over the first 15 holes, but remained at even par. He would make a charge with three consecutive birdies, including the par-5, 590 yard 9th hole, to close out the round. The result was a tie with McCarty for second after the opening round, one shot behind leader 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Golfer of the Year Patrick Newcomb of Murray State.

Scitern opened the second round with a birdie on the par-4 11th, giving him his fourth straight birdie. His pinpoint play resulted in four more birdies during the afternoon, as well as hitting the flag on the par-4 8th with his second shot leaving him with a four foot putt. Scitern and McCarty hold a one-shot lead over Newcomb after 36-holes.

"It was an honor to watch his play today," said head coach Chris Seibel. "Was glad to see him shoot a career round and it helps the team heading into tomorrow's play."

The Tigers (300-297=597, 21-over) enter play on Tuesday in 12th out of 14 teams, 22-shots behind host Austin Peay. TSU is within striking distance of a run to the top half of the field. "We need to play hard and beat the players we are playing against," Seibel said. "If we can accomplish our goal, we move up the field".

James Stepp recorded two straight 3-over 75's for a 6-over 150 and is tied for 42nd. The morning round for Stepp was highlighted by a birdie on the par-5 590 yard 9th hole. The sophomore used a monstrous tee shot and a 4-iron on his second shot to reach the green. His eagle putt missed by six inches before tapping in for the birdie. Stepp stayed steady with 14 pars and registering a birdie on the par-3 17th to close out play.

Andrew Warner (74-77=151) used three birdies to shoot a 2-over and was 27th after the morning session. Warner just missed a hole-in-one on the par-3 7th as his tee shot landed on the green and rolled to within six inches of the cup.

Codie Welborn (82-76=158) recorded a birdie on the par-4 2nd, but struggled to stay even during morning play. Welborn was able to rebound in the afternoon cutting six strokes off his opening score. The Murfreesboro product began the second round with a birdie on the par-4 14th and pared the next nine holes, including the 248 yard par-3 5th. The hole played as the toughest of the day for the competitors with all golfers using a driver or a 3-wood to reach the long hole through a strong head wind. Wellborn, Stepp and Dallas Hill were the only Tigers to notch a par on the challenging 5th.

Hill (82-76=158) shot a 4-over during the second round and improved by six shots from the morning to the afternoon. The sophomore used birdies on the 4th, 8th and 15th to score for TSU, while Shane Sampair, playing as an individual, is 13-over after two roundes. Sampair snared four birdies on the first day of the tournament.

The final round begins with a shotgun start on Tuesday at 9 a.m.

SCORECARD

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Ram Ramblings: CIAA commish ready for all challenges

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Being the commissioner of the CIAA is no easy job. That’s something I’ve learned in the 17 years of covering Winston-Salem State. But I was looking forward to meeting and talking with the new commissioner, Jacqie Carpenter, on Saturday during WSSU’s homecoming.

I interviewed her at length at the Bowman Gray Stadium fieldhouse for a story that will run in Wednesday’s Winston-Salem Journal. She comes across as a very positive person and is excited to steer the CIAA through the good and the bad times.

While she’s the first women CIAA commissioner in the 101-year history she’s also a former student-athlete in the conference. Carpenter, 43, played volleyball and basketball at Hampton so she’s familiar with what it’s like as a student in the CIAA.



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XU's Jackson, Pieri collect GCAC's weekly awards

Zahri Jackson NEW ORLEANS — League cross country champions Zahri Jackson and Matt Pieri of Xavier University of Louisiana are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week for Oct. 15-21. It's the third time this season that each was honored.   Jackson, a sophomore from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, tied a GCAC women's career record with her eighth weekly award. She shares the mark with Kate Imwalle of former member Spring Hill. Pieri's award is his 13th, which extends his GCAC record. No other GCAC male has won more than five times.      Jackson repeated as GCAC individual champion Saturday in Clinton, Miss. She ran 5,000 meters in 18 minutes, 54.69 seconds to break her school record by nearly 21 seconds. The time was the second fastest at the GCAC Championships since 1998.   Matt Pieri Pieri, a senior from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, won the GCAC individual title for the second time in three years. He ran 8,000 meters in 26:54.21 — the fastest at this meet since 2003. His winning margin of nearly 45 seconds was larger than the previous four GCAC Championships combined. Pieri was All-GCAC for the fourth straight year and never finished lower than fourth in this event.      Both the Gold Nuggets and the Gold Rush recorded the first perfect team scores at the GCAC Championships since 1996. Both won team championships for the seventh consecutive year.      Both XU teams will conclude the season Nov. 17 in the NAIA National Championships at Vancouver, Wash. The Nuggets and Rush qualified for nationals for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in five seasons.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Top Six Unchanged in AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll

WACO, Texas -- A second straight loss from Pittsburg State (Kan.) caused a shakeup in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll from No. 7 on down, but the top six teams remained unchanged. Colorado State-Pueblo held onto the No. 1 spot with 24 first-place votes, followed by Winston-Salem State (N.C.) at No. 2 with six first-place votes. New Haven (Conn.), Bloomsburg (Pa.), Northwest Missouri State and Ashland (Ohio) round out the top six.

Missouri Western State rebounded from its first loss of the season to upset then-No. 7t Pittsburg State, 63-14, moving the Griffons up four spots to No. 12. The Gorillas dropped 15 places to No. 22 with the loss. Hillsdale (Mich.) beat then-No. 15 Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), 34-17, and jumped back into the poll at No. 24. Also entering the poll for the first time since 2009 is Charleston (W.Va.). The Golden Eagles, ranked No. 25, recorded a 27-14 victory over West Liberty (W.Va.) to move its record to 7-1.

There are four Top 25 matchups this week, with the first being a Top 10 battle as No. 4 Bloomsburg travels to No. 10 Shippensburg (Pa.) for a pivotal Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contest. The other matchups feature No. 5 Northwest Missouri State traveling to No. 16t Washburn (Kan.), No. 15 Emporia State (Kan.) hosting No. 12 Missouri Western State and No. 23 Grand Valley State (Mich.) traveling to No. 24 Hillsdale.


2012 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll – October 22, 2012

Rank	School (1st votes)	Rec.	Pts.	Prev.	Week Eight	Next Game
1.	Colorado St.-Pueblo (24)	8-0	743	1	D. Black Hills St. (S.D.), 45-13	Oct. 27 at Colorado Mesa
2.	Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (6)	8-0	720	2	D. Livingstone (N.C.), 58-0	Oct. 27 at Shaw (N.C.)
3.	New Haven (Conn.)	7-0	679	3	D. Stonehill (Mass.), 45-41	Oct. 27 vs. Southern Connecticut St.
4.	Bloomsburg (Pa.)	8-0	629	4	D. Cheyney (Pa.), 27-13	Oct. 27 at No. 10 Shippensburg (Pa.)
5.	Northwest Missouri St.	7-1	623	5	D. Missouri Southern St., 38-14	Oct. 27 at No. 16t Washburn (Kan.)
6.	Ashland (Ohio)	8-0	589	6	D. Malone (Ohio), 31-7	Oct. 27 vs. Findlay (Ohio)
7.	Minnesota St.-Mankato	8-0	544	9	D. Winona St. (Minn.), 30-20	Oct. 27 at Wayne St. (Neb.)
8.	Minnesota-Duluth	7-1	537	7t	D. Bemidji St. (Minn.), 30-0	Oct. 27 at Minnesota-Crookston
9.	Henderson St. (Ark.)	8-0	484	11	D. East Central (Okla.), 49-14	Oct. 27 at Southern Arkansas
10.	Shippensburg (Pa.)	8-0	457	13	D. West Chester (Pa.), 42-24	Oct. 27 vs. No. 4 Bloomsburg (Pa.)
11.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	6-1	453	12	D. Abilene Christian (Texas), 35-31	Oct. 27 vs. Eastern New Mexico
12.	Missouri Western St.	7-1	421	16	D. No. 7t Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 63-14	Oct. 25 at No. 15 Emporia St. (Kan.)
13.	California (Pa.)	7-1	390	14	D. Gannon (Pa.), 41-0	Oct. 27 vs. Slippery Rock (Pa.)
14.	West Texas A&M	7-1	365	17	D. Eastern New Mexico, 44-21	Oct. 27 at West Georgia
15.	Emporia St. (Kan.)	8-0	354	18t	D. Truman St. (Mo.), 52-26	Oct. 25 vs. No. 12 Missouri Western St.
16t.	Indiana (Pa.)	7-1	274	20	D. Mercyhurst (Pa.), 31-13	Oct. 27 vs. Clarion (Pa.)
16t.	Washburn (Kan.)	7-1	274	18t	D. Lindenwood (Mo.), 19-16	Oct. 27 vs. No. 5 Northwest Missouri St.
18.	Miles (Ala.)	7-1	209	21	D. Lane (Tenn.), 38-20	Oct. 25 vs. Stillman (Ala.)
19.	Harding (Ark.)	6-1	164	25	D. No. 10 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 34-14	Oct. 27 vs. Arkansas Tech
20.	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	6-1	162	10	Lost to No. 25 Harding (Ark.), 34-14	Oct. 27 at East Central (Okla.)
21.	Sioux Falls (S.D.)	7-1	145	23	D. Augustana (S.D.), 32-31 2OT	Oct. 27 vs. Upper Iowa
22.	Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	5-2	119	7t	Lost to No. 16 Missouri Western St., 63-14	Oct. 27 at Truman St. (Mo.)
23.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	6-2	71	24	D. Northwood (Mich.), 42-28	Oct. 27 at No. 24 Hillsdale (Mich.)
24.	Hillsdale (Mich.)	6-2	62	NR	D. No. 15 Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 34-17	Oct. 27 vs. No. 23 Grand Valley St. (Mich.)
25.	Charleston (W.Va.)	7-1	59	NR	D. West Liberty (W.Va.), 27-14	Oct. 27 at Glenville St. (W.Va.)

Dropped Out: Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.) (15), Michigan Tech (22)

Others Receiving Votes: West Alabama, 52; Wayne St. (Mich.), 36; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 28; Tuskegee (Ala.), 26; Indianapolis (Ind.), 24; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 20; Southern Arkansas, 14; American International (Mass.), 13; Chadron St. (Neb.), 6; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 2; Missouri S&T, 2.


COURTESY AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION

Orangeburg ‘thirsty’ for classic match-up between SCSU, Claflin

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  Monday’s press conference/luncheon highlighting the annual Garden City Basketball Classic match-up between Claflin and South Carolina State University was an affair fitting of two longtime, peaceful neighbors.

A spirit of goodwill and fellowship was exhibited between the two schools’ basketball coaches, athletics directors and other city representatives inside the Maroon and White Room on Claflin’s campus.

It did not, however, stop representatives from this year’s host school from friendly ribbing the visitors, particularly in reminding S.C. State of the last time it played at the Jonas T. Kennedy Center 16 years ago.

“The last scores for the record in the women’s contest was Claflin 64, South Carolina State 59. On the men’s side, it was Claflin University 69, South Carolina State 61,” read Lionel Sabb, Claflin sports information director, at the behest of university President Henry N. Tisdale.

The playful “trash talk” was the closest thing to bulletin board material at the one-hour event. The men’s and women’s head coaches expressed mutual admiration and talked about their expectations for their second time around in the revived classic.

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DWIGHT FLOYD COMMENTARY: Should Tennessee State Drop from the Polls?

Dwight Floyd
"The Editor"
SportsEdit.Org NCAA FCS Fan Poll

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Still trying to figure it out? In week 4 the Eastern Kentucky Colonels of the Ohio Valley Conference was 1-0 in the conference and 3-1 overall. For that same period the Tennessee State Tigers was 1-0 in the conference and 4-0 overall. Yet, Eastern Kentucky was ranked 23 in the official NCAA Coaches Poll while Tennessee State polled 33. In week 6 when an undefeated Tennessee State beat the Colonels their position in the Coaches Poll was reversed with TSU ranked 20 and Eastern Kentucky 23. In the last poll preceding Tennessee State’s first loss, the Tigers ranked a stingy 18 in that same poll and Eastern Kentucky 24. So, with their first loss in week 8 should we expect the Tigers to drop out of the Coaches Poll top 20?

Given the current trend we can probably expect it, but that doesn’t make it right. More respected teams can stand to take a conference loss and still remain in the top 20 and TSU should be no different. At 7-1 they have proven that they are a pretty good team. With one of the fiercest offensive lines in the country they are major contenders in a major-minor division. We will have to wait and see how the coaches and fans feel about the loss.


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Virginia Union Hands Bowie State A Setback Loss

RICHMOND, Virginia  --  Virginia Union University used a 16-point second quarter to gain all the momentum needed en route to a 37-13 victory over Bowie State University on Oct. 20 in Richmond, Virginia.

The win improved Virginia Union’s record to 4-4 overall (2-3 CIAA). Bowie State fell to 4-4 overall (2-3 CIAA).

Redshirt quarterback Jared Johnston led the Bowie State offense with 98 passing yards, completing nine-of-19 passes with one interception before being pulled in the third quarter.

Redshirt sophomore Keith Brown was Bowie State’s top rusher with 68 yards on 18 carries and junior Corwin Acker added 60 rushing yards on 12 carries. Redshirt junior Delante White paced the Bulldogs defense with eight tackles in the loss. Another bright spot for Bowie State was the play of junior Anthony Gary, who recorded two interceptions, two pass breakups and collected five tackles.

The Bowie State defense surrendered 250 total yards in the first half, but only allowed Virginia Union 71 total yards in the second half.

“We had the ball in red zone several times off defensive turnovers but were unable to take advantage of the opportunities”, said Bowie State head coach Damon Wilson.


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Judge rules no jail time in first FAMU hazing death sentencing

"Mercy bears richer fruit than strict justice"

ORLANDO, Florida  --  The first of 12 defendants in the deadly hazing case of Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion was sentenced by an Orlando court on Monday.

Brian Jones, 23, avoided a jail term, but was sentenced to six months of community supervision — a strict monitoring arragement that requires an ankle monitor and frequent check-ins with probation officials — followed by two years of probation. He is also required to do 200 hours of community service, The Associated Press reported.

The band had traveled to Orlando from Tallahassee to perform at a football game when the fellow band members subjected Champion to a severe beating on the bus — in a ritual called "crossing Bus C" — which caused him to fall unconscious, and then die, on Nov. 19, 2011.

Jones, a percussionist, faced up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. But the judge said Jones’ role had been relatively limited.

"This young man's part in this horrible act ... as compared with many others from what I've seen is minimal," said Judge Marc Lubet, ruling in Orange County Court. "It was an isolated incident in this man's life for which he's shown remorse."

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