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TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The task of finishing this season with a winning record is looking a little arduous for FAMU heaving into the final three games of the season. Just as tough are the Rattlers’ chances of staying in the MEAC title conversation.
But there is still a sense of optimism around the Galimore Fieldhouse, although the Rattlers are faced with having to win out on the road where they’ve struggled mightily.
Coach Joe Taylor is convinced that with a little “alignment, assignment and execution,” as coaches like to say, there is hope.
The players agree, but they also think that the intangible of battling against fans of the home teams that they’ll face also is a huge factor.
After having last weekend off, they resume play at North Carolina A&T on Saturday, then return to Bragg Stadium for homecoming against North Carolina Central before going to Orlando to face Bethune-Cookman University in the season finale.
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- You got to win homecoming: Head coach Rod Broadway said that's one of the first things the higher-ups told him when they hired him to head the A&T program at the beginning of 2011.
The Aggies had, after all, lost seven straight homecoming games.
You can just tell how important the game is to this fanbase. Not only does the stadium fill up with about 6,000 to 8,000 more people than the average home game -- 20.356 showed up yesterday -- but all the tailgate areas around the stadium are packed as well.
This is the weekend of the year in which the most A&T eyes are on their football program. And they need to see a win.
The Aggies' sluggish start didn't give the fans much to cheer about in the first half -- aside from D'Vonte Graham's field goal return for a touchdown -- but you can tell they were willing to get into it if the team gave them even the slightest impetus.
HOUSTON, Texas -- It didn’t come easy, but the Texas Southern Tigers have captured their first victory in their new home. TSU beat Grambling State 23-20 in the BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday.
The TSU Tigers started strong and finished focused to get the win.
Texas Sothern took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Rudy Johnson got the drive started with two rushes for 28 yards. Johnson then took his attack to the air by connecting with Fred Plummer twice for 14 yard and 25 yard gains. TSU capped the drive with a 1 yard touchdown pass to James Davis.
TSU got on the board again in the second quarter when Johnson finished a 13 yard drive with a 5 yard touchdown pass to Davis. The kick was good and Texas Southern held a 14-0 lead with 10:28 left in the half.
Grambling State scored on two big plays before the end of the first half. Frank Rivers hit Jeremy Hernandez for a 24 yard touchdown pass. Rivers completed his second touchdown pass of the game to Anthony McGhee to tie the game 14-14 going into the half.
Grambling picked up another big play in third quarter when Rivers connected with Musa Mahmud for a 60 yard touchdown pass. They missed the extra point and GSU led 20-14.
The Texas Southern’s defense got the Tigers back on the score board when Eric Brown took an interception 21 yards for the score. Two penalties pushed the Tigers back and they missed the extra point. The game was tied 20-20.
Texas Southern took the lead and the locked down the win with 4:14 left in the fourth quarters when Robert Hersh kicked a 32 yard field goal.
Johnson played his first complete game as the signal caller. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed for 59 yards. Plummer had 3 catches for 36 yards and Davis had two touchdown grabs. Edward Perkins-Loving carried the ball 19 times for 128 yards.
William Parker led the defense with 10 tackles 1 TFL and a forced fumble. Brown had three tackles and an interception for a TD.
The Tigers improve to 2-4 in conference. TSU will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, November 3rd for homecoming at 2:00 pm in the BBVA Compass Stadium.
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- South Carolina State fans came close to granting head football coach Buddy Pough’s wish for 20,000 fans inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium for Saturday’s Homecoming matchup against Howard.
The 19.167 fans in attendance along were “rewarded” by witnessing the best statistical single-game performance by a Bulldog quarterback in the program’s 105-year history.
In leading S.C. State to a 41-23 win over the Bison, junior Richard Cue threw for a career-best 417 yards on 26-40 passing and four touchdowns. The Florence native broke the single-game passing yards and completions mark, both set by Brett Young in a 2004 overtime win over Morgan State (387 yards, 24 completions), while tying a touchdown total shared by four other former Bulldog quarterbacks.
“Glory be to God,” Cue said. “From my teammates, from the lineman to the receivers to the running backs, none of it would have been possible.”
Cue rallied the Bulldogs from a 3-point first-quarter deficit by completing 11-14 passes and two touchdowns in the second quarter. He then provided a cushion to the lead in the fourth quarter when he connected with Tyler McDonald for a career-best 97-yard touchdown reception.
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland (Oct.27) -- The
FAMU Rattlers and Lady Rattlers took home the first MEAC cross country
championships in over a decade as both teams swept the races this morning on the
campus of the University Maryland Eastern Shore.
The Lady Rattlers last won a cross country championship in 2001 under then
coach Rey Robinson, but the men's team had not won in 24 years, winning last in
1988, during the tenure of legendary coach Bobby Lang. Men's coach Wayne Angel and women's coach Darlene Moore had to go a full year with a chip on
their shoulders after both placing second in the 2011 MEAC championship.
The Lady Rattlers used a team of conference unknowns to bolster their roster.
Simone Durden, the team's leader, took third place overall running the 5K race
in 19:08.68. One of the biggest improvements from last season was Clarriccia
Golden, who came in second for the Lady Rattlers, placing 13th overall. She
completed the course in 19:38.20, besting teammate Chandelic Jackson by one place. Jackson navigated
the course in 19:42.70.
The next two places would be occupied by newcomers Effiey Kosgei and Zenia
George. Kosgei finished 16th overall (19:45.06), while George finished 17th in
19:45.70. Ciera Williams placed 35th overall (20:34.68), Ariel Allen (20:40.40) finished 36th and Cynthia
Chelelgo finished 44th at 21:08.03 to close out the team.
Coach Darlene Moore was named the 2012 MEAC Most
Outstanding coach for the team's performance. "We were so close last year. We
went out and recruited the runners we needed to bring this home. I am very
pleased with the way our young ladies performed, allowing us to bring this
championship back to FAMU," Moore said.
For their top 15 finishes, Durden, Golden and Jackson were named to the 2012
All-MEAC squad.
On the men's side, sophomore Elias Chesire continued to impress. He was named
the co-Most Outstanding Athlete for the 2012 MEAC Outdoor Track and Field
Championsip, but left nothing to chance today, taking first place and winning
the 2012 MEAC Cross Country Most Outstanding Athlete. Chesire finished the 8K
race in 24:54.96, just ahead of teammate Shuaib Winters. Winters, who was the
2010 MEAC Cross Country Most Outstanding Athlete, finished in 24:56.89.
Newcomers Kevin Marindich and Antony Kimaiyo finished fifth and sixth
respectively. Marindich ran 25:35.26, while Kimaiyo finished in 25:49.77.
Sophomore Dieumy Duclos, who finished 14th overall locked up
the championship for the Rattlers with a 26:29.45 time. Lamere Buchanon (26:37.58) placed 16th overall,
while Isaiah Coleman finished in 29:09.86.
Five Rattlers made the All-MEAC team for their top 15 finishes. Chesire,
Winters, Kimaiyo, Marindich and Duclos all earned the honor.
Angel, also earned MEAC Most Outstanding Coach for the team's victory today.
"It was a bitter pill to swallow last year, but we knew what we had to do and we
went out recruited and we put in the miles. We were on a mission and they
accomplished it. My hats off to them," Angel said.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Southern could see the Panthers, it just couldn’t stop them.
For the second week in a row, the Jaguars defense was gashed and gutted for a season-worst performance, giving up so many yards and points that even a good day for the SU offense wasn’t enough to keep up.
PV exploded in the fourth quarter, turning a back-and-forth affair into a 49-29 win in front of an unannounced crowd at Independence Stadium for the Shreveport Classic.
Prairie View racked up a gaudy 645 yards, riding a massive performance from quarterback Deauntre Smiley to take full control of a game with four second-half lead changes.
“We couldn’t stop them,” SU interim coach Dawson Odums said. “We couldn’t get them off the field. (Smiley) made some runs, and we missed tackles. It’s the second week in a row where a running quarterback has given us problems, and we have to fix that.”
Smiley finished with 398 yards and four touchdowns on 29-of-38 passing, and he added another 170 yards and a touchdown on only 14 carries.
BIRMINGHAM. Alabama — In the face of adversity, Alabama State stood tall with a championship-caliber performance that throttled Alabama A&M 31-13 in the 71st Magic City Classic at Legion Field on Saturday afternoon.
“We realize we haven’t played a complete game all season,” said Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow. “Our guys stepped up to the challenge. Defensively, they were outstanding.”
With three players dealing with family losses, the Hornets’ defense reeling from a 533-yard performance by Jackson State in their last game and an Alabama State offense struggling to find consistency, the underdog Hornets defied the odds with their best performance since pounding the Bulldogs in the 2010 Magic City Classic.
“We bonded,” said defensive most valuable player Jimmy Daniels. “We bonded all week and did everything together and came out here and it showed. We played as one. (The offense) came out fast paced and they were with it. They put up points. But with the field goal they put up, we could have won 3-0. We were assignment, fly to the ball and finish.”
ATLANTA, Georgia - After losing to the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College (MHC) last season 49-12, the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) enjoyed nothing more than spoiling this year’s homecoming game for the Maroon Tigers today (Oct. 27th) with a 26-19 win at B.T. Harvey Stadium. In addition to the sweet taste of revenge, the win put the Wildcats (7-2, 5-1 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)) just one game away from the SIAC East Division Title.
“This was a big win for us, said FVSU Quarterback Antonio Henton. It gives us a lot of confidence going into the game next week. We just want to take it one game at a time and play four quarters.”
The Wildcats will meet the Golden Rams of Albany State University next Saturday (Nov. 3rd) in the 23rd Annual Fountain City Classic in Columbus, GA. In addition to the intangible bragging rights associated with the game, the most tangible feature in this year’s matchup is that the winner will claim the East Division Title.
In the win against MHC, the Wildcats used a heavy dose of the run on their first possession for the game’s first score. After four straight runs up the middle, the Wildcats capped a six-play, 52 yard drive with a five yard touchdown run by freshman running back Germaine Tait. The extra point attempt was blocked but FVSU had its first lead of the game, 6-0.
The early lead by the Wildcats was overcome by the Maroon Tigers at the 9:45 mark in the second quarter when Elijah Anderson recovered a Wildcat fumble and returned it 68 yards for a MHC touchdown. After the converted extra point, MHC took its first and only lead of the game, 7-6.
Approximately three minutes later, the Wildcats re-claimed the lead when Henton climaxed a five-play, 59 yard drive with a 33-yard touchdown run. With the extra point by place kicker Justin Rosenbaum, FVSU led 13-7.
With less than two minutes to play before halftime, Wildcat Head Coach Donald Pittman took a gamble on a fourth down play which paid huge dividends for FVSU. Facing fourth and two, Henton reached out to his favorite receiver Christopher Slaughter. Slaughter answered with a 44-yard touchdown catch. His grab and Rosenbaum’s extra point pushed the Wildcat lead to 20-7.
“On the touchdown pass, we had something different called, said Henton. Coach told me to check off the play. I did and we found what we were looking for after a great route by Chris. That was good momentum for us going into halftime.”
FVSU tacked on another touchdown early in the third quarter. After taking over on offense at the MHC 48 yard line, the Wildcats wasted little time covering the distance. A 37-yard pass from Henton to Slaughter was followed by the 11-yard touchdown strike from Henton to junior wide receiver Rashad Tukes. Although the two point conversion attempt failed, the Wildcats stretched their lead to 26-7.
After the Tukes touchdown, it appeared as if the Wildcats would cruise to an easy victory. However, the Maroon Tigers clawed their way back into the game. A five-play, 62 yard drive capped by a touchdown run by running back David Carter cut the Wildcat lead to 26-13 with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter. With 1:20 left in the third, the lead was cut even further when a Wildcat fumble was recovered and returned 97 yards by Devon Mann for a MHC touchdown.
With the Wildcat lead now down to 26-19 and a full quarter of football left, hope was abounding in the Maroon Tiger camp that a homecoming comeback was imminent. That hope was almost realized. With under a minute left to play the Maroon Tigers recovered a fumble on the Wildcat 20 yard line; putting them in position to tie the game or take the lead. However FVSU linebacker Lerron Furr intercepted a MHC pass on the 11-yard line with 29 seconds left to secure the win for the Wildcats.
Furr ended the game with eight tackles and a sack while Bernard Little finished with a game-high 13 total tackles; four of which were tackles for losses. FVSU defense came into the game ranked second in the nation (NCAA Division II) with 89 total tackles for a loss.
Offensively, Henton threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns while Slaughter had 120 yards receiving. Freshman Germaine Tait had his first 100 yard rushing performance as he ran for 116 yards on 22 carries.
In next Saturday’s (Nov. 3rd) Fountain City Classic, the Wildcats will face an old nemesis in the Golden Rams of Albany State University with each eyeing the SIAC East Division Title. The stakes will be high at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium when the game kicks off at 2 p.m. in Columbus, GA.
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania – Bowie State spoiled the Homecoming for Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, routing the Lions 45-9. The victory snaps a Bowie State two-game slide and improves the Bulldogs record to 5-4 overall (2-4 CIAA).
Senior Tyrae Reid, Jr. completed 16-of-28 passes for a team-high 238 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Douglas McNeil, III led the Bulldogs receivers with a game-high 112 yards on four catches and redshirt freshman James Brown added 43 reception yards on four catches. Junior transfer Corwin Acker led the Bulldogs on the ground with 74 rushing yards (six carries) and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were led by redshirt freshman Curtis Pumphrey with nine total tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.
Lincoln quarterback Doug Cook threw for a game-high 276 yards, completing 24-of-49 passes and one touchdown. Cook was intercepted twice and sacked twice in the loss. Matt Coston hauled in nine passes for a team-high 109 yards.
Bowie State scored the games' first points of the afternoon, when redshirt sophomore Mario Diaz-Aviles booted a 29 yard field goal at the 3:26 mark of the first quarter for a 3-0 Bulldogs lead. Lincoln used a 7-play, 72 yard drive to tie the game at 3-3 on a 22-yard field goal by Kyle Jaski with 47 seconds left in the opening period.
With 13:36 left in the second quarter, Bowie State senior Ridwan Cole caught a screen pass from Reid an ran 22 yards down the Bulldogs sideline for a touchdown. Diaz-Aviles added the extra point for a 10-3 lead. Pumphrey returned a Lincoln punt 68 yards to push the Bulldogs lead to 17-3. The Bulldogs increased the lead to 24-3 on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Ramono Flowers.
Lincoln's Doug Cook connected with Kester Lewis on a 15 yards pass and catch with one second remaining in the first half, trimming the Lions deficit to 24-9.
Lincoln (1-8, 1-5 CIAA) fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and promptly took advantage of the Lions miscue with BSU's Acker rumbling 33 yards to paydirt. Diaz-Aviles added the extra point, extending the Bowie State lead to 31-9 at the 14:06 mark of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs defense comes through again on Lincoln's very next possession, as junior Quentin Walker picked off a Cook pass and returned it for a 19 yard Bowie State touchdown, giving the visitors a 38-9 stronghold.
Reid found a streaking McNeil for a 48 touchdown to end the third quarter, padding the Bulldogs lead at 45-9.
The Bulldogs will close out the 2012 season next Saturday (November 3), hosting the Elizabeth City State University Vikings. Prior to Saturday's 1 pm kickoff, 12 Bowie State senior football seniors will be recognized in a special pregame presentation.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Theatrics was a constant theme at the Magic City Classic halftime show.
Alabama State University and Alabama A&M took the field ripping through selections from pop radio while performing intricate and exciting routines.
Magic City Classic celebrity ambassador and funk legend Bootsy Collins kicked things off by greeting the crowd and leading them in a chant of the chorus of P-Funk All-Stars’ “We Want the Funk.” “I’d just like to say thank you to everybody for coming out and keeping funk alive,” he told the crowd.
Alabama State began their set, which included songs from rapper Lil Wayne. Alabama A&M soon followed with a melody of hits from Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.
James Pittman enjoyed each school’s technique. “We came here from Atlanta, Georgia so we know what a good band sounds like,” he said. “We just saw two fantastic bands. We enjoyed the crispness of Alabama State, the energy of Alabama A&M. It was fantastic. “
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Brian Jenkins rarely shows the type of emotion that he did following his Bethune-Cookman Wildcats' 42-17 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over North Carolina Central on Saturday.
Shortly after the final whistle, Jenkins marched over to the sidelines at Municipal Stadium and took a microphone from Wildcats' athletic director Lynn Thompson. He thanked the fans, gave a shout out to the band and even got a little sway going during the school's fight song.
In his postgame presser, he said someone told him he should let his team see him smile a little more. Of course, in typical Jenkins' fashion, he was not smiling at the time that he said as much. But down on the field he did, and for good reason – with the win over North Carolina Central (5-3, 4-1), B-CU (6-2, 5-0) took sole possession of first-place in the MEAC.
The Wildcats will have to lose twice in their final three games against teams that have a combined seven wins – Morgan State, Savannah State and Florida A&M – to potentially fall short of a conference title.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State waited until time ran out to score a touchdown, and that was enough to beat Tennessee Tech on Saturday.
The Tigers rallied for a 22-21 win at Hale Stadium, and some in the crowd of 11,373 spilled onto the field to join the players in a celebration.
With one second left and TSU at Tech’s 6, Mike German rolled right and had to avoid two defenders before being forced to throw the ball to tight end A.C. Leonard, who caught it despite being covered in the back of the end zone.
Jamin Godfrey’s extra point kick gave TSU (8-1, 4-1 OVC) the victory.
“The last play was designed for a corner route toward the back pylon and another route to the front pylon,” German said. “You stretch the defense out and see who gets open. If nobody gets open you put the ball in the end zone to one of your best players and see what he can do with it. As you saw, he came up with a touchdown.”
Head Coach Rod Reed, Kicker Jamin Godfrey, QB Michael German and TE A.C. Leonard talk to the media after the Tigers 22-21 victory on the last play of the game vs. Tennessee Tech to improve to 8-1 on the season.
WILBERFORCE, Ohio -- Jahan L. Culbreath has been appointed athletic director for Marauder athletics at Central State University. Culbreath has more than 20 years of experience in Athletic coaching and administration that includes, assistant athletic director of development, athletic liaison for football operations, and head men's and women's track and field/cross country coaching. He has held athletic appointments at the University of Minnesota, Reebok International Limited, Stoughton, Massachusetts, and Kenny Bee, Inc., of New York, New York.|
Culbreath is a 1992 graduate of Central State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication. Jahan was appointed interim athletic director in June 2012 following his position as associate director of athletics and student wellness at Central State University. “I am excited about the opportunity to build on the foundation, and legacy in place. We have a strong program, and I look forward to bringing my energy, and enthusiasm to serve the University,” said Jahan Culbreath.
Central State University's President Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond said; "Mr. Culbreath brings a wealth of expertise in athletic leadership, athletic student development, and philanthropy."
The appointment was effective October 25, 2012.
SIAC membership
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Council of Presidents unanimously approved the application of Central State University as an associate football member of the SIAC, effective July 1, 2013.
"Central State University is so pleased, and excited to be received as an associate member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference," said Central State University President, Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond. "The affiliation for our football program will promote great enthusiasm and energy for our alumni, students, and the entire CSU family! We look forward to participating as a SIAC member with 'sister' SIAC institutions." she said.
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Juice was loose for J.C. Smith’s homecoming.
Senior receiver Matthew Jeffries scored a career-best three touchdowns on seven receptions in the Golden Bulls’ 27-21 CIAA South win against St. Augustine’s Saturday at McGirt Field. The victory was J.C. Smith’s third in a row, which was last accomplished in 2006 and put the Golden Bulls (5-4, 4-2 CIAA) one away from back-to-back plus winning seasons for the first time since 1973.
“I’ve never caught three (touchdowns in a game) in my life,” Jeffries said. “This day means a lot. It’s my last homecoming. I enjoyed every bit of it.”
The 6-4, 205-pound Jeffries took advantage of physical mismatches against St. Augustine’s smaller defensive back, going high to snag passes when J.C. Smith needed big plays. Jeffries and quarterback Keahn Wallace, who hit 16-of-27 passes for 316 yards and four scores, exploited that difference in single coverage to keep the Falcons (5-4, 3-3) honest.
“In practice this week, my coach told me I just had to make plays,” Jeffries said. “I knew they were going to try to be physical with me. My teammates held me up all week and (Wallace) threw great passes to me.”
NEW ORLEANS — Taylor Reuther had 10 kills, six aces and six digs and hit .500
Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-11, 25-9, 25-11 Gulf
Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball victory against Talladega at The
Barn.
The Gold Nuggets (15-6 overall, 8-0 GCAC) won for the 10th time in
12 matches and pushed their all-time home record above .500 for the first time
in the program's five-year history. Xavier is 25-24 at The Barn, 12-4 since the
start of the 2011 season.
Xavier has won 18 consecutive GCAC
regular-season matches since the start of 2011. The Nuggets can clinch a second
consecutive GCAC regular-season championship with a victory at home Thursday
against city rival SUNO.
Reuther produced kills on each of her first
seven attacks and hit .500 or better for the sixth time this season. She reached
double-figure kills for the fourth consecutive match and the 12th time this
season, both team bests. Reuther, the NAIA's second-ranked server, had six aces
for the second consecutive match.
Kerris Crier, Chinedu Echebelem and
Jodi Hill had four kills apiece for Xavier. Jodi Chatters had 12 digs — her
fourth consecutive match in double figures — and Echebelem had eight.
Talladega (18-11, 5-3) lost in conference for the second time in three
days.
Crier recorded all her kills, plus three blocks, during a 17-1
first-set run which erased Talladega's 7-6 lead. It was the Lady Tornadoes'
final lead of the match.
All 13 available Nuggets played. Crier and
Moira Kirk started but did not play after the first set. Kirk, the Nuggets' best
blocker, had two kills and two aces, but her streak of 40 consecutive matches
with a block ended.
Xavier's next match will start at 7 p.m. Monday
against Belhaven at The Barn. The Nuggets will play four times next week to
close the regular season, then travel to Little Rock, Ark., for the GCAC
Tournament the following week.
MEAC
Bethune-Cookman 42, North Carolina Central 17
South Carolina State 41, Howard 23
North Carolina A&T 30, Norfolk State 9
Hampton U. 21, Savannah State 13
Delaware State 28, Morgan State 23 (Thursday)
SWAC
Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 13 at Birmingham, Magic City Classic
Arkansas - Pine Bluff 10, Mississippi Valley State 0
Prairie View A&M 49, Southern U. 20 at Shreveport Classic
Texas Southern 23, Grambling State 20
SIAC
Albany State (Ga.) 24, Benedict 13 at Augusta City Classic
Tuskegee 14, Clark-Atlanta U. 0
Fort Valley State 26, Morehouse 19
Lane 28, Kentucky State 14
Miles 49, Stillman 13 (Thursday)
CIAA
Winston-Salem State 62, Shaw 31
Chowan 33, Virginia State 21
Elizabeth City State 27, Virginia Union 21
Bowie State 45, Lincoln (Pa.) 9
Johnson C. Smith U. 27, Saint Augustine's U. 21
Fayetteville State 47, Livingstone 29
OTHER
Central State (Ohio) 32, Quincy 16
Point U. 48, Newport News Apprentice 14
Charleston Southern 42, Edward Waters 7
Central Oklahoma 56, Lincoln (Mo.) 25
McMurry 29, Langston 11
West Virginia Wesleyan 42, West Virginia State 14
West Chester 59, Cheyney 14
Texas College 31, Concordia-Selma 20
DURHAM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State continued its drive to perfection with a convincing 62-31
win over Shaw on Saturday afternoon at Durham County Stadium.
The Rams, ranked second in NCAA Division II, clinched the CIAA's Southern
Division and improved to 15-1 on the road in Coach Connell Maynor's three
seasons. The Rams scored on quarterback Kameron Smith's 11-yard run on their
first possession and never looked back.
Smith had another outstanding game for the Rams, going 23 of 36 for a
career-best 363 yards and six touchdowns. He has 13 touchdown passes in his last
two games.
Scoring on passes from Smith in the first half were Jahuann Butler (two
touchdowns), along with Jamal Williams, Jameze Massey and tight end Jamie
DeGeare. By halftime the Rams were in command at 41-9.
Butler had eight catches for 120 yards and Massey had three catches for 114
yards.
AUGUSTA, Georgia -- After years of speculation and anticipation, Paine College President, Dr. George
C. Bradley, formally announced plans to revive football at the 131 year-old
Liberal Arts Institution that sits in the heart of Augusta, Georgia. During
the fall meeting of the Paine College Board of Trustees, the governing body
voted unanimously to revive the sport that has been absent for fifty years.
“The wheels are in motion to have a full football program by 2014,” said Tim
Duncan, Athletics Director during his address to faculty, staff, students and
alumni who attended the morning press conference held on the front lawn of
Haygood-Holsey Hall, Friday, October 26th. He went on to say that as early as
2013, the College had plans to recruit a Coach to lead the program and expected
to acquire student athletes to participate in Club Ball during the fall 2013
semester.
Attorney Sharyn Doanes Bergin, President of the Paine College National Alumni
Association, commented that she was ecstatic about the revival of football at
her Alma Mater. She commented that the football program would spur alumni
participation on many levels. Annie Rogers, President of the Augusta Alumni
Chapter, learning of the new development, said “There is nothing like college
football, especially at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).
I welcome the day that I can experience college football at Paine College.”
A feasibility study was implemented in September 2011 and during the process,
students, alumni and members of the Central Savannah River Area community (CSRA)
were surveyed. The survey examined annual operating costs, infrastructure
needs, initial expenses to start a team, staffing needs, and a timetable for
implementing a football team. Of particular note, constituents who were
surveyed overwhelmingly were in favor of starting a football program at
Paine.
Historically, Paine College athletics has consistently placed emphasis on
academic excellence. Paine’s 1951 football team produced two college
presidents, an Assistant Vice Chancellor for the University System of Georgia,
five athletes who earned doctoral degrees, one of which was a Geologist at the
University of Chicago, and several athletes who earned graduate degrees. The
2012 valedictorian was a Paine College student-athlete. The College will
continue to emphasize academic excellence within its football program.
Historian Mallory Millender believes that a football program will
tremendously improve the quality of campus life, pride and morale. “One of the
first questions that students from other colleges and universities ask of a
Paine student is: “tell me about your football program or tell me about your
Marching Band. The Paine student often responds “we don’t have one.”
“We expect football will increase the College’s economic impact on the
community,” said Dr. Elias Etinge, Vice President of Student affairs. “Equally
important, is that football will enhance campus life”
Implementing a successful football program is impacted by timing. Paine will
open the new state-of-the-art Health Education Activities Learning (HEAL)
Complex, the new home for the Department of Athletics in early 2013. Keeping
aligned with the Institution’s Strategic Plan, the College is looking to develop
housing and residential facilities in anticipation of increased enrollment.
“This is an exciting day for all of the fans, alumni, and supporters of Paine
College,” said Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner Greg
Moore. “We are thrilled about the prospect of Paine College launching a new
football program. The SIAC Community congratulates President Bradley and
Athletic Director Tim Duncan for their new development.”
“The Augusta Sports Council (Council) is thrilled that Paine College will
field a football team beginning in 2014,” said Brinsley Thigpen, CEO for the
Council. “In addition to the exciting spectator opportunities, it will offer
our local residents; the visiting teams and fans will provide a positive
influence to our local economy by once again increasing visitor spending due to
sports tourism. The addition of football is evidence of the continued growth and
success of the Paine College Athletics Department and the interest and support
of sports in Augusta.” “We look forward to supporting them in this exciting
endeavor,” said Thigpen.
“Overall football will impact every area of the College,” said Duncan.
Football will facilitate increased opportunities for fundraising, improve
student school spirit, enhance the visibility of the College, and create
opportunities for the College to start a Marching Band and Drumline”
For more information, please contact Kimberly May, Sports Information
Director, at 706.821.8379, Kmay@paine.edu,
or Leah Suggs, Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing, at
706.821.8322, Lsuggs@paine.edu.
Tim Duncan (left) with mascot
Leon the Lion (right), holding a Paine College football helmet.
DURHAM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State just might have its hands full today against Shaw at
Durham County Stadium.
The Rams have lost three games in Coach Connell Maynor's three seasons, one
of them to Shaw, in 2010.
The Rams — 8-0 overall and ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II poll — have
yet to be tested in CIAA play, outscoring opponents 212-47 in five games. Last
week, they barely broke a sweat routing Livingstone 58-0.
Robert Massey, in his first season as Shaw's head coach after two seasons as
the defensive coordinator, said that his Bears match up well with the Rams.
Shaw is a coming off a 35-20 loss to Johnson C. Smith, a defeat Massey needed
time to put behind.
"I pouted a little more than usual," he said. "But then I realized this is a
great opportunity for us this week to play the No. 2 team in the country. And I
think when you look back at how the games have gone between our two schools, the
games have been good."
ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- Hello, offensive continuity.
The Elizabeth City State football team spent most of
the season trying to find it and, after back-to-back routs, Vikings coach
Waverly Tillar hopes it is here to stay.
“We’ve been talking about continuity all year and it
has been lacking,” he said. “It couldn’t have gotten here at a better time.”
That’s because ECSU, despite its earlier offensive
problems, is close to securing a Northern Division title and a return to the
CIAA championship game. If the Vikings win their last two games, beginning with
today’s home season finale against Virginia Union, they will have achieved their
major preseason goal.
“We’ve finally got the momentum we’ve been waiting
on,” Tillar said. “Hats off to (offensive coordinator) Alvin Parker and the
offensive line that is coming through down the stretch.”
Rattlers, conference rivals dealing with parity in league
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Considering all that was said about which team would win the MEAC football championship, North Carolina Central University isn’t supposed to be leading the standings.
Bethune-Cookman University in second place? OK the Wildcats get that considering how strong they’ve been in the past two previous seasons.
But Howard University sitting in third place wasn’t even supposed to be by a long shot. After all, the Bison are only in their second season of rebuilding under first-time head coach Gary Harrell. The predicted eight-place finish seemed to be more appropriate for Howard.
MEAC Standings
• Bethune Cookman (5-2 overall, 4-0 conference) • North Carolina Central (5-2, 4-0) • Howard (5-2, 4-1) • Delaware State (5-3, 4-1) • Florida A&M (3-5, 3-2) • Morgan State (3-5, 2-3) • South Carolina State (3-5, 2-3) • Hampton (1-5, 1-3) • Savannah State (1-6, 0-4) • Norfolk State (2-6, 0-5)
So now that the entire league is turned upside down – literally when you see the team (Norfolk State University) that was favored to win sitting in seventh place and the team picked to finish ninth leading the conference standings.
Even FAMU, which traditionally sits near the top of the league around this time of the season, is in a downward spiral in fifth place.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The task of finishing this season with a winning record is looking a little arduous for FAMU heaving into the final three games of the season. Just as tough are the Rattlers’ chances of staying in the MEAC title conversation.
