Joe Taylor Steps Down Immediately As FAMU Head Football Coach

HEAD COACH JOE TAYLOR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  (11/7/12) -- Florida A&M University (FAMU) head football coach Joseph "Joe" Taylor announced today that he will officially retire from coaching the Rattlers effective immediately.

"With the enormous amount of coverage that my retirement has been receiving, I felt it was best to step aside and let the team focus on the last two games," Taylor said. "With me it has always been about the student-athletes not me. I want to thank FAMU for the opportunity they gave me to finish out my coaching career here at this fine institution. I wish them well in their future endeavors."

"Coach Taylor and I both decided it was best for him to step aside, so that the team can focus on the last two games of the season," said FAMU Athletic Director Derek Horne. "We want to thank Coach Taylor for his years of service here at FAMU and wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Horne also stated that Taylor would transition into a role of advising the athletic department on improving the overall football operations until the end of his contract in January of 2013.  FAMU alumnus and defensive coordinator Earl Holmes will take on the day-to-day operations of the Rattler football program.

"I want to thank Coach Joe Taylor again for all of his support of the university through the football program," said FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson. "He has had enormous success as a coach. He has helped many athletes to create a balance between their academic progression and what is required to create a successful program. With this recent development, we must complete the last two games of the season without him. We know that it will not be easy for our student athletes, but I'm encouraging them to work with the new leadership and continue to perform at their highest level."

Taylor finishes his illustrious coaching career with 233-96-4, tying him with former Southern University Coach Arnett "Ace" Mumford and placing him third among historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) coaches in career wins. Ahead of Taylor is John "Big John" Merritt of Tennessee State with 235 career wins, who ranks second. Eddie Robinson leads the list of HBCU coaches with 408 career wins.

In five seasons at FAMU, Taylor compiled a 35-19 record, tying legendary coach Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither with nine wins in his first season as head coach, the third most wins in school history. He surpassed Gaither, after the 2010 season, as the Rattlers went 8-3 and winning a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship (MEAC) with Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State, becoming the first coach in school history to record 25 wins in his first three seasons.

Taylor, in his first season as head coach of the Rattlers, led FAMU to a 9-3 season in 2008, after the Rattlers finished the previous season 3-8 in 2007. In 2009 and 2010, Taylor led the Rattlers to back-to-back 8-3 seasons as the Rattlers reeled off six straight wins and knocked off an undefeated Bethune-Cookman team in the annual 31st Florida Blue Florida Classic at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., in 2010.

His 2009 team produced the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year in Curtis Pulley and the Division I FCS All-Time Punt Returner for TDs in LeRoy Vann, who finished his career with eight (8) TD runbacks, surpassing Kenny Shedd (1989-92) of University of Northern Iowa, while tying the NCAA single season TD punt return record with five (5) set by North Carolina A&T's Curtis DeLoatch in 2001. He also finished his career with 11 total TDs on kick returns, including the three (3) on kickoffs he tallied in 2008.

A man of great faith, Taylor has been the mentor to several young coaches who have joined the ranks during his career. Well respected in the athletics community, Taylor has graduated more than 60 players in the first four years at FAMU. Coaching the Rattlers through their NCAA probation, Taylor managed to find success off the field, recruiting athletes that would win FAMU the NCAA award for biggest APR improvement in the MEAC in 2009.

Taylor departs with an impressive resume of accolades. He has won four Black College National Championships, graduated hundreds of athletes over his 40-year career, sent several players to the professional ranks and most importantly has helped influence the lives of thousands of productive citizens.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Rams hope to add exclamation point to perfect season

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  For the second straight year, the Winston-Salem State University Rams capped off a perfect regular season on Saturday with a 41-8 win over Fayetteville State.

WSSU used another stifling defensive effort in limiting the Broncos to just 154 yards. Fayetteville State was held to just six first downs and was just one of 13 on third downs.

The Rams are now focused on Elizabeth City State University. They will face the team Saturday for the CIAA Championship on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Durham County Stadium.

In other football news, Matthew Browning, a redshirt freshman defensive back, has been named to the 2012 CIAA Football All-Rookie team. The Charlotte native finished the 2012 regular season with 24 tackles, 1.5 tackles for lost yardage, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups.

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Frazier, NCCU get one more chance vs. Taylor

DURHAM, North Carolina  — This likely will be N.C. Central coach Henry Frazier III’s last time going against Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor, who announced his retirement this past week before the Rattlers’ game against N.C. A&T.

Frazier said he has head to head with Taylor twice and lost both times.

Taylor, who has the most wins in the history of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, said he is not stepping away from the game because FAMU (3-6, 3-3 MEAC) is struggling. Taylor said he and his wife agreed, during the 2011 Christmas holidays, that 40 years on the sidelines was enough.

Taylor, who has coached at Howard and Hampton in the MEAC and Virginia Union in the CIAA, has won 233 games during his career.

Complete Game Notes (PDF) 
   



“It’s kind of a melancholy feeling, so to speak, because he’s one of the best that’s ever done this thing,” Frazier said.

But Frazier said he, with all due respect, is going to try to beat the pants off Taylor on Saturday (3 p.m., WNCU 90.7-FM).

“I wish him nothing but the best after Saturday,” Frazier said.

A win by NCCU (6-3, 5-1) would equal ...

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OBAMA VICTORY SPEECH: 'THE BEST IS YET TO COME'

CHICAGO, Illinois  --  President Barack Obama said early Wednesday the American people have "picked ourselves up" and fought back during tough economic times, declaring after winning re-election that the "best is yet to come."

Obama said he wants to meet with Republican rival Mitt Romney to discuss how they can work together. He says they may have "battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply."

The president rolled to a second term over Romney, winning more than 300 electoral votes.

Obama was welcomed by thunderous applause as he arrived on stage at McCormick Place in his hometown, joined by first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia.

Obama sounded a conciliatory tone after his victory, saying he has learned from those who supported him and those who opposed him. And he says he returns to Washington "more determined" and "more inspired."

He said he's hoping to work with Republicans to solve the nation's problems.

He spoke to a cheering crowd shortly after Romney told supporters in Boston that it's time for the nation to unite behind the president.

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Defending champ XU Nuggets to play host team in 1st round

Xavier will attempt to win its second consecutive GCAC Tournament.

 

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball team will play Philander Smith at 10 a.m. Thursday in the first match of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at Philander's Mims Gym in Little Rock, Ark.

The Gold Nuggets (18-7) finished 10-0 in the GCAC to win their second consecutive regular-season championship. They're the defending champion of the GCAC Tournament after winning all four of their matches a year ago in Nashville, Tenn.

All eight conference members qualified for the three-day, double-elimination event. Xavier is the No. 1 seed from the South Division, and Philander Smith is seeded fourth from the North Division. The tournament winner will receive the GCAC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, which will begin Nov. 17 with 12 first-round matches at campus sites.

The other first-round matchups Thursday will be Edward Waters (No. 4 South) vs. Tougaloo (No. 1 North) at noon, Talladega (No. 2 North) vs. Dillard (No. 3 South) at 2 p.m. and SUNO (No. 2 South) vs. Fisk (No. 3 North) at 4 p.m.

If Xavier defeats Philander Smith, it will play the Talladega-Dillard winner at 6 p.m. Thursday. If Philander Smith defeats Xavier, the Gold Nuggets' second match would start at 8:30 a.m. Friday — in the losers bracket against the Tougaloo-Edward Waters loser. A first-round loss would require Xavier to win three matches Friday and three more times Saturday to repeat as champion.

Sophomores Taylor Reuther (286 kills, 66 aces, 251 digs), Moira Kirk (197 kills, .308 hitting percentage, 23 aces, 69 blocks) and Chinedu Echebelem (211 kills, 220 digs) are, like last year, the Gold Nuggets' leaders. Freshman Jodi Chatters, recruited as a setter, became the Nuggets' libero late in the season and will enter the tournament with a streak of eight consecutive matches with 10 or more digs — the longest streak since Xavier reinstated volleyball in 2010. Three more freshmen recorded 100 or more digs, including Franziska Pirkl, who has 116 digs, 663 assists and 36 aces.

Xavier got eight kills apiece from Kerris Crier, Reuther and Echebelem and won 25-17, 25-15, 25-5 at Philander Smith on Sept. 29 in their other meeting this season.

The Gold Nuggets defeated SUNO 25-12, 25-17, 25-20 in the 2011 tournament final. Xavier rallied for a 21-25, 17-25, 25-15, 25-12, 15-7 victory against SUNO at The Barn last week to clinch the regular-season championship.


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

S.C. State's Pough hopes defense recouped for rival A&T, push for winning year

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  Even after a season-best overall team performance for homecoming, the bye week could not have come a better time for South Carolina State.

Bulldogs’ head football coach Buddy Pough could not fathom the effort it would have taken from his coaching staff to get the players ready last weekend to face an improved North Carolina A&T.

“We couldn’t have played Saturday if we had to play,” he said at Monday’s weekly press conference.

“It would have been such a tough time just getting enough people together to put out on the field to play. We think we were better off having the time off.”



Pough was especially concerned about some of his key defensive players who were either out against Howard or not close to 100 percent. While linebacker Joe Thomas of Blackville-Hilda remains doubtful, S.C. State (4-5, 3-3) is hopeful of getting back Justin Hughes and Bandit Terrell Fitts for Saturday’s game.

As the defense convalesced, the offense spent the idle week continuing to refine their execution. Quarterback Richard Cue is coming off a school-record 417-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Bison, but faces an Aggies’ defense that has not allowed a touchdown in eight straight quarters overall and 10 straight at home.

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

The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University "Blue and Gold Marching Machine" sends the praises up and features the University Gospel Choir, under the direction of Mr. Ron Jones.

FAMU Lady Rattlers 'ballers hopeful of a championship season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The Lady Rattlers finished the 2011-12 season with 22 wins and eight losses, after starting the season off with a crushing blow.  Even with the lost of two of their top players, Antonia Bennett and Qiana Donald, the Lady Rattlers envision even greater success than last year.

Check out what Florida A&M Women's Basketball Coach LeDawn Gibson had to say about her team this year, and their goals and expectation going into the season.

The Lady Rattlers will hit the floor for their first game of the 2012-13 season against Jacksonville at Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday, Nov. 9.

Howard vs. Georgia Southern Preview: #7 FCS ranked Eagles host Bison in non-conference tilt

STATESBORO, Georgia  --  The Georgia Southern Eagles will look to get back on the right track this weekend when they host the Howard Bison in a non-conference tilt.

Georgia Southern (7-2, 6-2 Southern) suffered a tough 31-28 loss to the Appalachian State Mountaineers this past weekend. The Eagles led 28-24 heading into the fourth quarter, but gave up a touchdown and could not put any more points on the board. The loss closed the Eagles' lead in the Southern Conference to a half-game over the Mountaineers and Wofford, but they are secured at least a share of the conference title.

Howard (6-3, 5-2 MEAC) defeated the Hampton Pirates 20-10 on Saturday. The Bison are 1½ games behind Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC.

Georgia Southern has been bolstered by a powerful rushing attack that is racking up 387.0 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Jerick McKinnon leads the team in rushing with 915 yards and eight touchdowns. The Eagles will face a pretty tough rushing defense in Howard, which is giving up 142.8 rushing yards per game.


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FVSU Wildcats rise to number five in region rankings

FORT VALLEY, Georgia  --  After a convincing win over the Golden Rams of Albany State University in the 23^rd Annual Fountain City Classic on Saturday, November 3^rd, the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) rose in this week's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Regional Rankings. Ranked sixth last week, FVSU rose to the fifth spot in the Super Region 2 rankings in the next to final poll of the season.
 

With only the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship game remaining, if the Wildcats can maintain fifth place or higher, they will be assured of a berth in the NCAA Division II Region Play-offs which begin on Saturday, November 17^th. The top six finishers of Super Region 2 advance to the play-offs. FVSU's last post-season appearance was in 2001.

To view the top ten teams from all four Super Regions, visit:

SUPER REGIONS RANKINGS

Chowan Hawks set four-year mark

MURFREESBORO,North Carolina  –  From ‘Little Big Man’ to ‘Big Man On Campus’ – as doing the little things made everything else come up huge.

Chowan closed out its 2012 football season with a 35-19 drubbing of fellow Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) member Lincoln University on Hall Of Fame Day.

In fact, fans who witnessed the game may have been watching the play of a future Jim Garrison Hall of Famer.

Senior running back Elliot Smalls – all five-foot-seven inches, 185 pounds of him – used the Lincoln defense as his launching pad and blasted his way to a Chowan football single game rushing record with 200 yards on the ground in the win.

Smalls’ accomplishment eclipsed the old record of 197 yards rushing in a game set by Jawarren Cowles in 2002 against Christopher Newport. Smalls averaged over eight yards per carry on 24 carries and also scored a pair of touchdowns.

“This is just an incredible dream for me and my fellow seniors,” said the exhausted Raleigh native and fifth-year senior after the game as he was mobbed by family, friends, coaches and teammates.

“We stuck to it,” he added with a smile. ”All the time we thought about leaving, but we believed in the coaches and we believed in ourselves. We put in the sacrifice and it all paid off.”

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Tuskegee still not ranked in NCAA poll after defeat of No. 1 Miles

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  --  Despite its 27-17 victory at previous No. 1 Miles this past Saturday, Tuskegee still failed to crack the NCAA Division II Region 2 poll Monday.

Miles slipped to No. 2 behind now top-ranked Valdosta St. (Ga.)

Fort Valley State (Ga.), which the Golden Tigers downed 49-18 back in Week 4, is ranked fifth.

The Tigers will face the Wildcats again in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship game at Lakewood Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m.

Tuskegee (8-1, 7-0), riding an eight-game winning streak, got plenty of love in two other national polls.

It's ranked No. 16, up from 23rd a week ago, in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll. Miles dropped to No. 23 from No. 15, following the loss.


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Fayetteville State, Campbell fire football coaches

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  The man who restored Fayetteville State to football prominence has coached his last game for the Broncos.

Kenny Phillips, who led FSU to three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles and more wins than anyone in school history, will be reassigned to another job within the athletic department, school officials confirmed Monday.

"We are working out the final details of it right now,'' athletic spokesman Adrian Ferguson said. "What I can say is he is being reassigned within the department.''

Phillips was not the only region coach to lose his job Monday. Campbell fired Dale Steele after nearly five seasons but he will coach the Camels in their final two games this year.

FSU athletic director, Edward McLean, declined comment about Phillips' situation. McLean said he would have more to say about the situation after a press release was sent out today.

Phillips, who has a year remaining on his contract with FSU, was still trying to come to grips with being removed from the job he'd held for 13 seasons.

"I haven't had time to digest what went down today,'' Phillips said when reached by phone Monday night. "I don't know how to describe it. It was odd and awkward, if you ask me.

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Delta Devils end 5-game losing streak to Alcorn State

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – For the first time since 2006, Mississippi Valley State sent Alcorn State home with a loss.

The Delta Devils upended the Braves 33-9 Saturday at Rice-Totten Stadium using a stout defensive effort and a dominating rushing attack to end a five-game losing streak to the Braves. MVSU last defeated Alcorn in 2006.

Despite outgaining the Delta Devils 289 to 247, MVSU (3-6, 3-4 SWAC) raced past Alcorn (3-6, 3-4 SWAC) to end a two-game losing streak.

“We won the game, that’s the bottom line,” said MVSU head coach Karl Morgan.

MVSU senior running back Trey Bateaste rushed for three first half touchdowns that gave the Delta Devils a 20-3 halftime lead.

Valley quarterback Garrick Jones scrambled for a 16-yard TD near the end of the third quarter to give the Delta Devils a powering 27-3 lead.

The Braves scored its only TD late in the fourth quarter on a 55-yard strike from John Gibbs to Anthony Williams III.

MVSU sophomore running back Cortez Frizell put the finishing touches on the victory with a 45-yard TD run with 36 seconds left in the game.




“It was good to finish the way we finished,” said Morgan.

Frizell led Valley in rushing with 63 yards on seven carries while Bateaste added 59 yards and three TDs on 12 attempts.

Julian Stafford finished with three catches for 57 yards.

MVSU senior linebacker Keven Woods had another dominating defensive outing, leading the Delta Devils with eight tackles and two sacks. Jeremy Langston and Leployer Franklin had eight tackles apiece for Valley.

Alcorn State quarterback Gibbs led the Braves in rushing with 68 yards on 11 carries. He finished 13of-35 through the air for 162 yards with a TD and two interceptions.

MVSU’s Carlos Hollis and Keven Eugene each had an interception.

MVSU will be at home next Saturday at 1 p.m. against Prairie View.

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
VISIT: MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: MVSUSPORTS.COM

Jackson State flattens Grambling, 53-17

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Jackson State’s five-game losing streak to SWAC rival Grambling State is officially a thing of the past.

And it wasn’t even close.

JSU scored 32 unanswered points in the first half, Clayton Moore threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns and senior Rico Richardson had 115 receiving yards in a 53-17 victory today at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium.

“I’m just happy with the way the kids responded,” JSU coach Rick Comegy said. “I was just happy and pleased to see us come out here and not let a fired up Grambling team take it to us because they’ve been beating us for a quite a few years.”

JSU relished the opportunity to kick the host Tigers while they’re down. GSU fell to 1-8 overall and remained winless (0-7) in SWAC play.

JSU (5-4, 5-2 SWAC) hosts Alabama A&M (7-2, 6-2 SWAC) next Saturday in what will be a critical Eastern Division game. JSU can clinch the division with a win over the Bulldogs. The Tigers can still clinch the division with a loss if Alabama A&M loses one of its remaining games.




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Alabama State reserve QB Daniel Duhart named SWAC Newcomer of the Week

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  It would've been hard for things to look worse for Alabama State early on at Prairie View A&M this past Saturday.

With their Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game hopes on the line, the Hornets were down 14. Then, senior Greg Jenkins, the Hornets second-year starter at quarterback and the conference's reining Offensive Player of the Week, went down with an injury.

Insert 6-foot sophomore Daniel Duhart.

The Macon, Ga. native led the Bulldogs to 20 second-quarter points on their way to a 35-21 win at Blackshear Field. He completed 22 of 31 passing attempts for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns and was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week Monday.

 

"We've got a lot of confidence in him," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said of Duhart during Monday's SWAC coaches' teleconference. "This guy is a pinpoint passer, really cerebral, smart guy, understands the game and we gave him the opportunity to play. He took ownership of the offense and did some really good things for us."

 

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DWIGHT FLOYD COMMENTARY: Head Coaching Job Vacancy

DWIGHT FLOYD
"The Editor"
SportsEdit.Org

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- The anticipated head coaching vacancy at Florida A&M University is just one of many yet to come.

Picking the right person is crucial and should involve more than chasing after the old and familiar. One of the complaints by fans is that HBCUs tend to recruit within the “chitlings circuit” and are reluctant to go after the unknown and perhaps better candidate.

 If you were given the privilege of interviewing candidates to fill the vacancy what questions would you ask; or are you one of those persons who for some reason feel qualified to take the head coaching job yourself?

 Well here’s your chance to see if you qualify for a personal interview. Answer the simple questionnaire (written interview) below and see where you stand. The responses are not retained in our database and you may retry as many times as you like. This is not an official interview and it won’t get you a job. It will give you a few things to think about though.

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Tennessee State Tigers' OVC hopes take a hit

MURRAY, KY. — Murray State’s ticking time-bomb offense finally exploded against Tennessee State on Saturday and left the No. 18 Tigers in shambles.

The Racers scored the last 29 points in a 12-minute span to come from behind and beat TSU 49-28 at Roy Stewart Stadium before a crowd of 3,112.

TSU (8-2, 4-2 OVC) shouldn’t have been surprised. The Racers scored 44 points in the first 27:50 last year on their way to a 58-27 rout.

“They just got into a rhythm,” said TSU safety Daniel Fitzpatrick, who led TSU with 10 tackles. “They’re a deadly team when they get into a rhythm. We kept them out of it up until that point, but that doesn’t matter. If you don’t keep them out of it the whole game you saw what can happen.”

The Tigers were without sophomore defensive back Steven Godbolt, who suffered a concussion last week. Godbolt came into the game leading the OVC with six interceptions.

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TSU coach: Injuries to starters didn't lose this game

MURRAY, Kentucky  --  Tennessee State was short-handed with cornerback Steven Godbolt sidelined with a concussion and offensive tackle Rogers Gaines out with a sprained ankle, but coach Rod Reed refused to blame the 49-28 loss to Murray State on injuries.

Strong safety Daniel Fitzpatrick also was nursing a shoulder injury, which kept him out of contact practice last week, but he led the Tigers with 10 tackles, all solos.

Starting free safety David Van Dyke injured his knee but was able to continue.

It was the most significant injuries TSU has had to deal with in any game this season.

“We were missing some guys, but injuries weren’t the reason we lost,” Reed said. “(Murray) did a better job of coaching in the second half than we did. We made some minor adjustments, and I guess they adjusted a little better than we did.”

Reed said Godbolt, who leads the OVC with six interceptions and has 41 tackles, will not practice next week because the Tigers have a bye on Saturday.

 

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Special Teams Magic Lifts NCCU Eagles to Double OT Win Over Delaware State Hornets

DURHAM, North Carolina  —  North Carolina Central University took advantage of clutch special teams plays to pull out a 23-20 double-overtime victory over Delaware State University, thrilling a sellout homecoming crowd of 12,742 fans inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, N.C.

The win pushed the Eagles into second place in the MEAC standings and clinched the program’s first winning season since 2007.

NCCU senior running back and return specialist Arthur Goforth started the special teams highlights with a dazzling 92-yard punt return for a touchdown, the longest in school history, to give the Eagles a 17-10 lead in the third quarter.

Delaware State took advantage of an NCCU fumble by driving 42 yards on eight plays to tie the score at 17-17 with one tick on the clock in the third stanza.

As the contest slipped into overtime, DSU kicker Mitchell Ward, who missed a 21-yard field goal with 3:11 left in regulation, converted a 25-yard field goal on the first possession of the first overtime to provide the Hornets with their first lead of the day.

When NCCU got the ball, the Hornets’ fifth sack of the contest pushed the Eagles back to the 29-yard line, forcing sophomore kicker Oleg Parent to try a 46-yard field goal to extend the game. With the homecoming crowd on its feet, Parent nailed the career-long three-pointer to force a second overtime.

Parent came through again for NCCU when he connected on his third field goal of the afternoon from 26 yards out to put the Eagles ahead by three points after the opening possession of the second overtime.



On DSU’s possession, NCCU senior defensive end Xavier Proctor sacked Hornets’ quarterback Nick Elko, moving the ball back to the 17-yard line. Needing a field goal to send the contest into a third overtime session, Ward’s 34-yard kick was blocked by redshirt senior defensive back Malik Cromartie, the fifth blocked kick of his NCCU career, igniting a swarming celebration on the home field.

Cromartie, who also blocked a field goal in last year’s 14-7 win at Delaware State, topped the NCCU defense with 12 tackles (9 solo) and four pass break-ups. Junior linebacker Tazmon Foster contributed 10 stops, including a sack, while Proctor recorded nine takedowns with two hits for a loss, including that critical sack in overtime.

Goforth, who ranks second in the conference in all-purpose yards, added to his total with 225 all-purpose yards on Saturday. The electrifying senior amassed a team-best 61 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, 57 kickoff return yards and 92 yards on the recording-breaking punt return. Goforth now has six career special teams touchdowns with three kickoff return scores and three punt return visits to the end zone.

NCCU redshirt junior quarterback Jordan Reid completed 18-of-27 passes for 126 yards, including a 3-yard lob to a leaping Jonathan Nicely for a second-quarter touchdown. Redshirt senior receiver Decona Roberts led the Eagles with five receptions for 65 yards, while senior tight end Detwan Robinson, redshirt senior Geovonie Irvine and Goforth each had three catches.

Elko’s efficient play at quarterback for the Hornets continued, as the senior completed 35-of-56 passes for 305 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown to senior receiver Justin Wilson to tie the score at 10-10 in the second quarter. Wilson finished with 12 receptions for 138 yards.

DSU’s defense, which collected three interceptions and a fumble recovery, was topped by sophomore Joe Boyd with a game-high nine tackles. Rookie Terrick Colston posted 11 stops, including an assisted takedown for a loss, along with an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Hornets.

NCCU improves to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the MEAC, while DSU falls to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in league play.

Next week, the Eagles travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to face Florida A&M. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m., as the Rattlers host homecoming.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Leffall Helps Howard Overpower Hampton

Washington, DC —- Terrence Leffall rushed for a career-high 182 yards and two touchdowns to lead Howard University to a 20-10 win over Hampton University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Greene Stadium. The win improves the Bison's record to 6-3 and 5-2 in the MEAC while the Pirates fall to 2-6 and 2-4 in the MEAC.

Both teams got off to a slow start as the winds and defenses dictated the early flow of the game. The Bison offense finally got some rhythm as the offensive line and Leffall began to have some success. With the 5-10, 210-pound senior finding gapping holes in the middle of the Pirates defense, Howard got on the board first following a 74-yard, 11-play drive that was capped off by a junior quarterback Randy Liggins' six-yard run after a beautiful play fake to Leffall. The conversion attempt failed and the Bison led, 6-0 with just 50 seconds left in the first quarter.

Liggins started for McGhee and had an efficient game, completing 6 of 12 passes for 58 yards and adding 27 yards rushing and a TD.

"I found out late in the week that I would start," explained Liggins, who has yet to throw an interception this season.

"We preach execution and ball control. The line did a great job today in protection and creating running lanes."

Added Howard head coach Gary Harrell, "We came out old fashion by establishing the run." "Randy did a good job and was able to get us in control of the game."

Both teams had opportunities in the second quarter but potential scoring drives were aborted due to missed opportunities. Howard was finally able to capitalize when freshman defensive lineman Damon Gresham Chisholm forced and recovered a fumble at the Pirates 15-yard line. It took Howard three plays with Leffall bolted in from 18 yards out to make it, 13-0 Howard with 4:23 left in the second quarter.

The Pirates responded by mounting a 10-play, 69-yard drive, but the Howard defense forced the visitors to settle for a 23-yard Taurean Durham field goal to make it 13-3 at the half.

Hampton used the momentum to narrow the deficit to 13-10 early in the third quarter when freshman quarterback Brian Swain finished off a 70-yard drive with a 33-yard scamper up the middle.

"Our defense has to be able to get off the field on third and fourth downs," lamented Harrell. "We have had problems in that area and we have to get better."

Both teams held serve through the rest of the game until sophomore quarterback Greg McGhee engineered a 12-play, 72-yard drive that was capped off with an eight-yard run by Leffall, his second of the day. That was all that the Bison defense needed as it shut down the Hampton offense to preserve the win.

Leffall, who set a school record for carries with 42 in last year's win over Hampton, has now rushed for over 100 yards in each of the games in which he has played this season.

"We followed the game plan," said Leffall. "They trusted me with the ball to win the game today. The offensive line did a great job. It makes my job easy when they block like that."

The Bison defense was led by junior safety Julien David, who tallied 9 tackles, junior linebacker Tabrian Resby, who had 8, and Gresham Chisholm, who finished with four tackles, 3 for losses, 3 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Hampton was led on offense by freshman quarterback Brian Swain, who led his team with 105 yards rushing and was 13 of 23 passing for 91 yards.

GAME NOTES: The win insures that Howard will record its first winning season since 2004…the Bison defense forced 5 Pirate fumbles and recovered two…the offense topped the 200-yard mark for the fifth straight game.

NEXT UP: The Bison travel to Statesboro, Ga to take on the Number 1 ranked team in the FCS, Georgia Southern next Saturday at 2 pm.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Rush beat Carver, move to 2-0 for 11th consecutive season

NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Simmons scored 20 points, and freshman reserve RJ Daniels made three consecutive 3-pointers late in the first half Sunday to spark NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana in an 88-68 men's basketball victory against Carver College.

The Gold Rush (2-0) defeated an Atlanta opponent for the second consecutive day in XU's new Convocation Center. Xavier beat Morehouse 80-66 Saturday. It's the 11th consecutive season that Xavier won its first two games.

Simmons, a two-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference forward, was 7-of-8 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the line in 26 minutes. He scored 14 second-half points.

Daniels made three consecutive 3-pointers in less than two minutes. His first trey put Xavier ahead to stay, 26-24. Xavier led 41-34 at halftime and by 24 points five times in the final seven minutes.

Nick Haywood scored 18 points for the Gold Rush. Wanto Joseph had 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Daniels and Denzell Erves scored 11 apiece, and Erves grabbed 11 rebounds for his second double-double in as many days.

Nickolas Hood scored 24 points, Joe Comer 19 and Julian Bratton 15 for Carver (0-3).

Xavier committed 24 turnovers, 11 more than Carver, but outrebounded the Cougars 43-17 and outshot the Cougars 59.6 to 44.2 percent from the floor. Daniels made all four of his shots, and freshman John Gibson was 3-of-3 in the final six minutes.

Xavier will play Jarvis Christian at 6 p.m. Friday in the Big Easy Classic at the Convocation Center. Spring Hill will meet Tuskegee at 4 p.m. in the opening game.

More on this game will be posted online at http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/1104.html


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

Tuskegee RB Derrick Washington rushes for 208 yards in 27-17 win at Miles College

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  Big time players. Big time games. Big time plays.
The adage is trite. The adage is true.

And when a running back explodes for a 208 yards on 22 carries on the road against a top-ranked opponent with a spot in the conference title game on the line like Tuskegee's Derrick Washington did in the Golden Tigers' 27-17 triumph at Miles College Saturday, it fits like spandex.

The 6-foot, 215-pounder got it going early, bolting for a 39-yard run on his first carry of the game to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

When he got off the ground, he held his hand to his mouth and motioned as if he was feeding himself as he ran back to the Golden Tigers' huddle.

"I'm eating," he said, explaining the celebration. "I want them to feed me because I'm eating. That broke the tone. The line had been talking all week that I needed 33 yards and I'm sure that was over 33 yards to get a 1,000. We just did it right there."

Washington did it all night to help the Golden Tigers' capture their eighth straight victory.

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 2-Minute Drill: Tuskegee 27, Miles College 17

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  --  WHY TUSKEGEE WON...

Derrick Washington had a lot to do with it.  Washington, a Missouri transfer, looked like a man, a grown man, playing against boys all day Saturday. He had 229 all-purpose yards, rushing for 208 on 22 carries and catching a pair of passes for 21 yards. Quite simply he made every play his team needed him to when they needed him to, especially on third down.

"That's a great football player," Tuskegee coach Willie Slater said. "That's all a part of it. You got a great football player you need to use him."

KEY MOMENT

Trailing 21-14 with less than six minutes go, Miles looked as if it was all set to tie the game up. The Golden Bears had driven the ball from the 50-yard line to the Tuskegee 16. However, Miles running back Floyd Graves fumbled an option pitch from quarterback David Thomas and Golden Tigers linebacker Quavon Taylor recovered to thwart Miles' best chance at tying the game in the second half.

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Saint Augustine's Falcons rally to edge Shaw 43-42 on last play of game!

RALEIGH, N.C. – Saint Augustine's University ended the regular season in thrilling fashion.

Brian Richards (R-Jr./Waldorf, Md.) caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Alex Munro (So./Ashburn, Va.) with no time remaining as the Falcons rallied for a 43-42 CIAA football victory over their crosstown nemesis Shaw University before 2,500 fans at Saint Augustine's University Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bears and gave the Falcons (6-4 overall, 4-3 CIAA) their second winning record in three seasons. The Falcons also stayed unbeaten at home on campus in three games.

"It was one heck of a game by all the guys," St. Aug Head Coach Michael Costa said. "It was about dealing with adversity. On defense, we lose two starting linebackers and guys stepped up. The quarterback goes down and the backup steps up. It was a team effort. The most important thing is we finished."

The Falcons drove nearly the entire length of the field to snatch victory away from the Bears (4-6, 3-4 CIAA), who led the entire game until the final score. The game-winning drive started on the Falcons' 2 with 1:07 remaining in the contest and no timeouts. Aided by two Shaw penalties and a 50-yard catch by Falcon standout Tyron Laughinghouse (Sr./Greenville, N.C.), the Falcons were in striking distance.

The Bears were flagged twice more for holding Laughinghouse on pass plays which put the ball on the Shaw 15 with three seconds left. Munro, subbing in the fourth quarter for an injured Teddy Bacote (Jr./Hampton, Va.), was cool as a cucumber under immense pressure on the final play as he found Richards in the end zone. Richards was draped by a Shaw defender but clamped on to Munro's pass as he fell in the end zone for the winning score. Seconds later, teammates mobbed him on turf as the Falcon fans roared in jubilation in the stands. Moments later, several players doused Head Coach Michael Costa with water in the traditional victory bath.



 "In the end, [Shaw] got fooled," Costa said. "They thought we were going to [Laughinghouse] but someone else stepped up and made the big play."

It was a fitting ending to a wild game. Both teams provided offensive fireworks as they combined for 911 yards. The Falcons set season highs in points and total offensive yards (469). Both Munro and Bacote combined for 307 passing yards and three passing touchdowns while Laughinghouse had seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown in his final regular season game as a Falcon. Roderick Davenport (Orangeburg, S.C.) rushed for a career high 112 yards and two touchdowns while Jermaine Jones (R-Jr./Wilmington, N.C.) and Rowdy Batchelor (R-Sr./Jacksonville, N.C.) each scored a touchdown.

The Falcons relied on an explosive offense to offset the Bears' passing attack. James Stallons threw for 412 yards and six touchdowns on 27 of 54 passing to keep the Bears ahead until the final play. Nick Jones had eight receptions for 104 yards, but the Falcons held standout freshman rusher Marquise Grizzle to minus one yard. The Bears amassed 442 offensive yards.

Victory appeared to be in the Bears' grasp when Stallons found David Jordan on a short pass for a 42-30 lead with 3:52 left., the Bears second 12-point lead in the contest. The Falcons answered quickly with a Munro touchdown pass to Jones with 1:36 left.

Trailing by five points and needing the ball back, the Falcons forced the Bears to punt on the ensuing drive. Stallons, who doubled as a punter, pinned the Falcons with a nice punt near the Falcons' own goal line. Needing a touchdown, the Falcons faced a tough task with no timeouts but Munro engineered the seven play, 98-yard drive for a great Falcon win over their rival on Senior Day.

Both Laughinghouse and defensive end Javarous Faulk (Jr./Macon, Ga.) achieved milestones during the game. Laughinghouse, the university's all-time leader in reception yardage, became the school single-season touchdown leader (16), and Faulk recorded a sack to share the school single-season mark (13) with former Falcon great Alex Hall.

The sack capped an outstanding game for Faulk, who is hearing impaired. He tied for team-high honors with six tackles including two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Linebacker Carlton Butts (So./Thomasville, Ga.) also had six tackles in addition to a forced fumble. Both Chaz Robinson (Jr./Hampton, Va.) and Bryan Jones (R-Jr./Warner Robins, Ga.) each intercepted a pass. For Shaw, Quintero Long totaled a game-high 12 tackles and Keith Lomon added 11.

Before the contest, ten football seniors were honored. They were defensive back Jermaine Browne (St. Croix, US Virgin Islands), defensive end Romeo Deloatch (Redshirt Jr./Hampton, Va.), offensive lineman Stedman Gardner (Gastonia, N.C.), wide receiver Franklin James (Hampton, Va.),center Rory Nixon (Hampton, Va.) defensive end Joe Reed (Anderson, S.C.), running back Deonte Toliver (Gaithersburg, Md.), defensive back Derrick Manning (Waldorf, Md.), Laughinghouse and Batchelor.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU's Taylor focused on local recruits

Rattlers' football roster features 22 players from Big Bend schools

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M's recruiting philosophy under coach Joe Taylor has focused on local talent. In fact, 22 players – 17 from Tallahassee – listed on the Rattlers' current roster played high school football in the Big Bend.

Local prep coaches are hopeful that pipeline continues following Saturday's news of Taylor's announcement to retire at the conclusion of the season. The Rattlers played at North Carolina A&T on Saturday.

Taylor's decision, ending his tenure after five years at FAMU, also caught prep coaches off guard.

"I am shocked," FAMU High coach Ira Reynolds said.

"I look at this man's resume, all he has ever done is win. I like coach Taylor and, in my opinion, he's a good coach. I am not sure what prompted him to make this decision. I think it's a loss for the university."

Florida High has an area-high five players at Florida A&M, including senior safety John Ojo, sophomore kicker Chase Varnadore and sophomore receiver Dewayne Harvey. Ojo, considered one of the team's top defensive players, has missed a majority of the season following surgery (turf toe).

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Lamar column: Taylor gave FAMU time to get it right

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  A 3-6 record hasn’t exactly endeared Joe Taylor to the FAMU football program’s loyal – and passionate – extended family this season. After spending as many years as he has in the coaching profession, even Taylor can respect that summation.

Winning games, after all, often trumps everything else in this bottom-line business.

That’s why Taylor’s announcement that he would retire at season’s end as FAMU’s football coach showed the true character of the man who is so beloved by so many of his peers and even more of his players – both past and present.

The guy is a professional, in every sense of the word. He reminded everyone of that once again Saturday morning, as he first told his players of the decision that has been weighing on him in recent weeks.

Joe Taylor saved Florida A&M University from what could have been a sticky situation this offseason. His contract was set to expire at season’s end and, as Taylor surely knows, his return to the Rattlers’ program could have been a hot-button topic among fans, boosters, administrators and other stakeholders.

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