XU Gold Nuggets win in 4 for season sweep of Belhaven

NEW ORLEANS -- Taylor Reuther had 19 kills Monday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 25-21, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20 women's volleyball victory against Belhaven at The Barn.

The Gold Nuggets (16-6) won their third in a row and snapped the six-match win streak of the Blazers (25-7). Xavier earned its first season sweep of Belhaven; the Nuggets won in four sets Sept. 8 in the championship match of the Belhaven Tournament.

Moira Kirk had 11 kills, Chinedu Echebelem 10 and Claudia Haywood eight for Xavier. Kirk had five blocks, three in the final set.

Taylor Williams had 13 kills, and Morgan Hofacker and Natalie Davis had eight apiece for Belhaven. Hofacker had 14 digs.

More on this story will be posted online at http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/1029.html


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

SWAC Launches Football Championship Website

COMING DECEMBER 8, 2012, 1:00 PM at
 LEGION FIELD
 BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
 

JUDGMENT DAY

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  — The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announces the launch of their new website www.swacfootball.org dedicated to the SWAC annual Football Championship.
 
The new website incorporates options to purchase advance tickets, make travel and hotel arrangements all while providing information about each member institution via link to the school’s site.

The site will serve as a primary source where fans, alumni and students can get the latest news about the SWAC Toyota Football Championship, including a schedule of events for the week.

“The new website will help alumni, fans and students better streamline the process of planning for the SWAC Football Championship. It provides one stop to purchase tickets, make traveling arrangements and allows everyone to keep up-to-date with SWAC football.” commented SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp.

Celebrating its 14^th year, the SWAC Football Championship continues to grow in exposure and attendance. The 2012 Toyota SWAC Football Championship will kick off on Thursday, December 6^th through Saturday, December 8^th, with Game Day held at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

For more information please visit www.swacfootball.org.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.swacfootball.org or at www.southtix.com.

About SWAC

Founded in 1920, the Southwestern Athletic Conference – made up of historically black colleges and universities - and its members are committed to the philosophy of maintaining intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the overall educational program. The conference believes in and subscribes to the fundamental principles of amateurism, institutional control, sound academic standards, financial aid, recruiting, and ethical conduct that govern intercollegiate athletics, and the enforcement of rules and regulations as adopted by the NCAA. Sponsoring 18 sports, the SWAC ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of alumni playing with professional sports teams- particularly in football. For more information about SWAC, visit www.swac.org.

New attitude at S.C. State entering bye week

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  It’s a different mood around the South Carolina State football facilities compared to three weeks ago.

Back-to-back wins and a chance to extend a streak of consecutive winning seasons has dramatically improved the Bulldogs’ morale. Now with a “bye” this Saturday, S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough hopes the extra time will do wonders for his team’s overall health.

“Physically, we’re in kind of a shambles, especially on defense,” said Pough during Monday’s weekly teleconference. “We don’t have any of our linebackers. (Blackville-Hilda graduate) Joe Thomas is out ... Terrell Fitts is out. We’ve got some of our defensive line – (Andrew) Carter and some of that crowd is out. (Defensive back Darius) Drummond’s down (ankle). We’ve got a lot of guys down on defense.

“Offensively, we’re better off that way. (Quarterback Derrick) Wiley is still out (concussion). (Running back) Asheton (Jordan) was away last week with a family deal. We’ve got a couple of guys banged up on the offensive line, but most of our offense is in decent shape.”

Out the injured group, Pough is hopeful of getting back Fitts and Justin Hughes at linebacker and possibly Drummond for the Nov. 10 contest at North Carolina A&T. The Bulldogs had a light practice Sunday, were off Monday and return to work this afternoon.




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NCCU Eagles attempt to put stinging loss in past

DURHAM, North Carolina — Before Saturday’s game between N.C. Central and Bethune-Cookman, Eagles coach Henry Frazier III said a little luck could help his team win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

The Eagles very well may need that rabbit’s foot.

NCCU and Bethune-Cookman entered the contest tied for first place in the MEAC, but the Wildcats’ 42-17 win over the Eagles gave them the league’s top spot.

The matchup pitted NCCU, with the MEAC’s No. 1 rushing defense, against a Bethune-Cookman team that boasted the league’s top rushing offense.

Bethune-Cookman won the ground battle, making the difference in the war.



The Wildcats rushed for 274 yards, 158 from Isidore Jackson, who carried the ball 14 times and scored twice, including a 93-yard touchdown.

Bethune-Cookman had been averaging 229.6 yards and 29 points, but the Wildcats outdid themselves against NCCU, which was the MEAC’s highest-scoring squad heading into the game.

The teams played to a 14-14 halftime stalemate, but Bethune-Cookman cranked up its offense in the second half and outscored NCCU 28-3.

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Running game, D spark Arkansas-Pine Bluff

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  Not much has been written about Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but the Golden Lions (6-2 overall, 5-1 in SWAC) have quietly put together a great season.

UAPB is on top of the league’s Western Division, and its only losses are to Alabama A&M and Tennessee State, two of the nation’s top black college football teams.

UAPB head coach Monte Coleman has succeeded with great defense and a solid running game. Coleman has some of the best defensive players not only in the SWAC, but in the FCS. The linebacker corps has been tremendous, led by Bill Ross (85 total tackles, 44 solos), Jer-ryan Harris (68 total tackles, 33 solo) and Xavier Lofton (65 total tackles, 38 solo). They all do a great job of swarming to the football, and it’s hard to move the ball against them. The Golden Lions don’t give up many big plays and are just fundamentally sound.



Of course, it all starts up front. Defensive end Brandon Thurmond leads the SWAC with 10.5 sacks. Thurmond, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior, is one of the best pass-rushers in the country. In fact, Thurmond and Ross are solid NFL prospects. Ross, a 6-2, 240-pound senior, leads the conference in tackles.

Offensively, the Golden Lions have a reliable running back in Justin Billings. Billings, who has good quickness and can turn the corner, has 76 carries for 406 yards and three touchdowns. He had 18 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown in UAPB’s 10-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State.

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Blue Devils to Welcome Shaw in Exhibition Tuesday

DURHAM, Norrth Carolina  --  The preseason third-ranked Duke women's basketball team will host its first of two exhibition contests on Tuesday, Oct. 30 as the Blue Devils will welcome the reigning NCAA Division II champions Shaw University to Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free to all fans.

Shaw University is located in Raleigh, N.C., and in the CIAA conference. The Lady Bears registered a 29-6 overall record a year ago, including a 15-1 mark in the CIAA. They claimed their first NCAA title last season with an 88-82 victory over Ashland.

The Lady Bears return three starters from their championship squad - Sequoyah Griffin (9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds), Crystal Harris (9.4 points, 6.6 rebounds) and Isayra Diaz (3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds). Jacques Curtis is in his 13th season as head coach and has notched a 273-132 career record.

Duke has been tabbed No. 3 nationally in the Associated Press preseason poll. The No. 3 listing is the highest preseason ranking for the Blue Devils since the 2005-06 campaign.

A reward to fans that attend the exhibition games against Shaw, on Oct. 30, and Queens, on Nov. 4, is the opportunity to purchase individual game tickets before the general public. Tickets officially go on sale on Monday, Nov. 5.

Ticket packages for the 2012-13 season include season ticket packages and the ACC 4-Pack mini-plan amongst other great offers. For more information about these packages and others contact the Duke Ticket Office at (919) 681-2583 or 1-877-375-3853. You can also purchase tickets online at www.GoDuke.com.

COURTESY DUKE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Shaw Releases 2012-2013 Women’s Basketball Schedule

RALEIGH, N.C. – Shaw University today released its 2012-2013 women's basketball schedule. The defending NCAA Division II national champions will face Division I champion Baylor in an exhibition.

"This schedule gives the program additional national exposure, and challenges us each step of the way," said Shaw head coach Jacques Curtis.

The Lady Bears open their schedule with two exhibitions against Division I opponents. On October 30, they travel to Durham to take on nationally ranked #3 Duke, then travel to Waco, Tex., to take on #1 Baylor and the 2011-2012 Player of the Year Brittney Griner on November 5. This is the first time that the Division I national champion will face the Division II national champion.

"This game gives us a national stage and the chance to see – very early in the year – just where we stand," said Curtis.

The meat of the Lady Bears schedule begins in December, when the Lady Bears host a tournament featuring games against Washington Adventist and Nova Southeastern on December 14 and 15. The squad will then take to the road to take on Lynn and Palm Beach Atlantic.

After the Christmas Break, Shaw travels north to participate in the University of District Columbia tournament.

The beginning of 2013 brings the start of CIAA play with a three-game road trip to open the conference season. The Lady Bears then have a five-game homestand before hitting the heart of their CIAA Southern Division schedule beginning with a January 10 matchup against Virginia Union.

They host cross-town rival Saint Augustine's on January 26, and travel to the Lady Falcons on February 16. Their trip to Charlotte to face Johnson C. Smith falls on February 2. They will close out the season on February 23 against JCSU.

The CIAA Tournament begins on February 25, with the championship match to be held on March 2.

The Lady Bears return only three players, one of whom started on the championship team. This year is truly a year of rebuilding.

Shaw opens home play on November 14, taking on Virginia University of Lynchburg. All weekday Shaw home games begin at 6:00 p.m. Tipoff for Saturday games is 2:00 p.m. Home games, except for the Johnson C. Smith matchup, are played at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium on Shaw's campus.

NCAA DIVISION II SHAW UNIVERSITY LADY BEARS 2012-13 SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent		Time/Status
Oct. 30	at Duke		TBA
	Exhibition
Nov. 5	at Baylor		8:00 PM
Nov. 14	Virginia-Lynchburg		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 11	Tusculum		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 14	Washington Adventist		2:00 PM
	Takoma Park, MD
Dec. 15	Nova Southeastern		5:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Dec. 17	at Palm Beach Atlantic		1:00 PM
	Boca Raton, FL
Dec. 19	at Lynn		2:00 PM
	West Palm Beach, FL
Dec. 28	at Goldey-Beacom		2:00 PM
	Wilmington, DE
Dec. 29	vs. Assumption @ Washington, D.C. - UDC		1:00 PM
Dec. 30	vs. Felician @ Washington, D.C.		1:00 PM
	D.C. Winter Classic
Jan. 3	at Elizabeth City State *		5:30 PM
	Elizabeth City, NC
Jan. 5	at Chowan *		5:30 PM
	Murfreesboro, NC
Jan. 7	at Virginia State *		5:30 PM
	Petersburg, VA
Jan. 10	Virginia Union *		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 12	Bowie State *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 14	Lincoln (Pa.) *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 19	Livingstone *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 21	Virginia Union *		6:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 23	at Winston-Salem State *		5:30 PM
Jan. 26	Saint Augustine's *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Jan. 30	Fayetteville State *		5:30 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Feb. 2	at Johnson C. Smith *		7:30 PM
	Charlotte, Nc
Feb. 9	at Livingstone *		5:30 PM
	Salisbury, NC
Feb. 13	Winston-Salem State *		6:00 PM
Feb. 16	at Saint Augustine's *		5:30 PM
	Raleigh, NC
Feb. 20	at Fayetteville State *		5:30 PM
	Fayetteville, NC
Feb. 23	Johnson C. Smith *		2:00 PM
	Raleigh, NC COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

College Basketball Preview - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Philadelphia, PA — OUTLOOK: One of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history came last season from Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference automatic qualifier Norfolk State, and a handful of teams are attempting to stake their claim at dethroning the Spartans here in 2012-13.

Norfolk State shocked the basketball world by defeating No. 2 seed Missouri last year, but it will be hard-pressed to repeat a 26-win season with the loss of perhaps the conference's best big man in Kyle O'Quinn.

Savannah State actually won the MEAC regular season championship, finishing a game ahead of Norfolk State with 13 conference wins. This appears to be the Tigers' year as they return every single player from that squad. Don't sleep on Delaware State however, which looked impressive in league play last year (12-4), and returns the reigning conference Rookie of the Year in Tahj Tate. Bethune-Cookman recovered from a slow start to put together a solid campaign in 2011-12, and if it can piece things together for the whole season it will certainly be in the mix.


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Alabama State to face another high-powered offense Saturday at Prairie View

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State turned in its most impressive defensive performance of the season in its 31-13 defeat of rival Alabama in the 71^st State Farm Magic City Classic Saturday at Birmingham's Legion Field.

The Hornets basically shutout Southwestern Athletic Conference for three quarters after falling behind 13-10 with 14:40 to play in the second and overcame their struggles against the run, limiting the Bulldogs top-rated rushing attack to 29 yards.

The performance earned them their third victory in The Classic since 2004 and second in the past three years. But more importantly it kept their dreams of returning to the Old Gray Lady and playing for a SWAC championship alive.

With the win Alabama State improved to 5-3 (5-2 in the conference). They're tied for first-place in the eastern division with A&M (6-2, 5-2) and a have a half-game lead on Jackson State (4-4-, 4-2), which owns the head-to-head against them.




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College Basketball Preview - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Philadelphia, PA — OUTLOOK: In the Southwestern Athletic Conference a lot changed in the off- season. Conference champion Mississippi Valley State lost its head coach and a bulk of its roster. Texas Southern brought on former Indiana and UAB head coach Mike Davis on an interim basis. Grambling State hired a new coach in Joseph Price, who was an assistant at Lamar and played at Notre Dame. All the turbulence has meant the conference is very much up for grabs among a number of teams trying to make an impact.

 

Jackson State may be in the best position to unseat MVSU with the return of four starters including SWAC Freshman of the Year Kelsey Howard. It would be a quick turnaround for the Tigers, who finished ninth in the SWAC last season. However, if Howard continues to grow and the other returning players do as well, the Tigers will be dangerous. Prairie View A&M also figures to be right in the thick of things with all five starters returning from a team that was second in scoring last season. Southern also can't be ignored after the Jaguars were one of only two teams to have an overall record above .500 last season (17-14), while finishing second in the conference (13-5). Alcorn State has size in the backcourt and will return productive scorer Marquiz Baker, who missed much of last season with a foot injury.

 

The rest of the conference looks poised to have a tough season with just a few teams having enough to have an outside shot at competing for the conference title. Arkansas-Pine Bluff could be a ...

 

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Miles College coach Reginald Ruffin talks matchup against Tuskegee

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  There's about to the a collision in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's western division when Miles College (8-1) hosts Tuskegee University (7-1) Saturday.

 

Both are undefeated at 6-0 in the conference. The winner will advance to the conference championship game in Atlanta on November 10th.
 

I asked Miles coach Reginald Ruffin to give me his initial thoughts on the meeting against his former employer, following the Golden Bears' 49-13 defeat of Stillman this past Thursday.
 

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WSSU's Maynor heading home a winner

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  When Connell Maynor went back home to Fayetteville in 2010, he was a rookie head coach for a Winston-Salem State team coming off a one-win season.

When he returns again Saturday, he'll be accompanied by the most dominant football program in the CIAA.

Much has changed since Maynor left Fayetteville State after a successful 10-year run as an assistant on Kenny Phillips' staff.

The second-ranked Rams (9-0, 6-0 CIAA) already have clinched a berth in the CIAA championship game. They'll close their regular season Saturday against the struggling Broncos.

"I have a lot of family and friends there," Maynor said of Fayetteville. "I think I've proven that I can coach football. I coached there for 10 years, and I've got a lot of history with those guys and Kenny Phillips, and he's like a brother to me."

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FSU Defeats Livingtstone 47-29 on Homecoming

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  Running back Colon Bailey, Jr. broke Fayetteville State’s single-game rushing record as the Broncos celebrated Homecoming with a 47-29 victory over Livingstone (2-7, 2-4 CIAA). Bailey finished with a career-high 288 yards on 36 carries and three touchdowns.

The victory was also historical for Head Coach Kenny Phillips. It was his 75^th career win. In 13 seasons at the helm, he now holds a 75-62 record.

“It’s always good to get a win,” said head coach Kenny Phillips. “The guys are playing hard. They haven’t given up this season. These last three weeks, they have grown as a football team. We came together today as a team and did something in a game that we have been looking to do the entire year. That is to run the football.”

Bailey (Jr., Manteo, NC) averaged eight yards per carry in the contest, and recorded a game-long rush of 40 yards. The 288 yards on the ground breaks the previous record of 265 set by Clifton Davis in 1993. He also eclipsed the 200-yard rushing plateau for the second consecutive game as he ran for 220 last week against Saint Augustine’s.

“Watching Colon run the football the last three weeks has been special; especially, when you’re talking about the last two games. He has rushed for over 200 yards in each of them,” said Phillips. “That doesn’t happen in college football too often with the way teams play defense. My hat is off to him and the offensive line.”

The Broncos (2-7 overall, 1-5 CIAA) rushed for a season-high 376 yards against the Blue Bears. Christopher Hairston (So., Jacksonville, NC) and Andre Montgomery (Fr., Goldsboro, NC) contributed 103 yards on 21 carries as a pair. Hairston finished with 66 yards on 11 touches and Montgomery contributed 37 yards on 10 carries.

Wide receiver Ricardo White (So., Monroe, NC) caught a team-best three catches for 73 yards. White pulled in a 53-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Andreas Hudson (Sr., Philadelphia, PA) that put Fayetteville State ahead 10-7 with 2:34 left in the first quarter.

Hudson had 146 yards passing and two touchdowns on 9-of-13 attempts in the first half. Nick Bynkoski (Fr., Duncan, BC) took over in the second half to see his first collegiate experience. He rushed for his first touchdown to open the second half.

The Broncos’ defense forced Livingstone into five turnovers (one interception, four fumbles) and held it to 337 yards of total offense. Four of the five turnovers led to 24 points for Fayetteville State.

Free safety Michael Johnson (So., Raleigh, NC) led the defense with ten total tackles (seven solo and three assisted), one fumble recovery and one-half tackle for loss. Strong safety Michael Fogg (So., Raleigh, NC) tallied an interception and fumble recovery while finishing with seven tackles (four solo and three assisted).

Fayetteville State will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m. when it hosts #2 Winston-Salem State for Senior Day.

COURTESY FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

THE SHOW: 2012 Magic City Classic Battle of the Bands

Chowan ends VSU's playoff hopes

ETTRICK, Virginia -- Even with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's championship game right under its nose, it proved out of Virginia State's reach.

The Trojans' defense allowed 345 yards, and the offense was unable to overcome a first-half deficit as Chowan defeated Virginia State 33-21 at Rogers Stadium on Saturday. The loss eliminated VSU from contention to play for the CIAA title.

"We didn't play up to par in the first half," said Virginia State coach Andrew Faison. "They were a little bit quicker than we were.  "We didn't tackle well in space and we gave up some big plays."

The Trojans (4-5, 3-3) and Hawks (5-4, 4-2) entered the game tied for second in the Northern Division, one game behind division-leader Elizabeth City State, which defeated Virginia Union 27-21 on Saturday.

"Virginia State is a very fine team and we have the utmost respect for them," said Chowan coach Tim Place.  "This is a big win for us.

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Florida A&M Rattlers face long odds on the road

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.

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Greatest Homecoming On Earth: North Carolina A&T State University Blue & Gold Marching Machine

Enjoy the show in 1080p HD and full screen high definition...




Throwback....NCA&T Homecoming 1993...the start of it all...Golden Delight!!

Lessons Learned: N.C. A&T 30, Norfolk State 9

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.

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Texas Southern Tigers get First Victory in Home Stadium

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 3^rd for homecoming at 2:00 pm in the BBVA Compass Stadium.

Box Score

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

THE SHOW: Sights & Sounds from South Carolina State University Homecoming 2012

S.C. State Bulldogs roast Howard Bison

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.

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FAMU Rattlers Make Clean Sweep In MEAC Cross Country

 

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 can't stop camouflaged Prairie View

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana  -- Prairie View’s camouflage uniforms didn’t fool anyone.

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.

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Magic City Classic - Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 13: Hornets on a high in Magic City

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.”




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This is Our House: Morehouse College NSO 2012

Fort Valley State Wildcats get revenge and remain on track for division title

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. 27^th) 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. 3^rd) 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. 3^rd) 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.

For ticket information to attend the 23^rd Annual Fountain City Classic, visit www.fountaincityclassic.com.

COURTESY FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION