Southern coach Odums waits to see what future holds

NEW ORLEANS — With one final chance to make his case for a more permanent job, Southern interim football coach Dawson Odums got what he absolutely had to have Saturday: A win in the Bayou Classic.

Now, his fate rests in the hands of Athletic Director William Broussard.

Odums and the Jaguars took a commanding lead in the second half against Grambling, then held on for a 38-33 win over archrival Grambling in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

If that was enough for Odums to take over full-time, Broussard wasn’t saying.

He did offer this much: Odums won’t be the only candidate to replace Stump Mitchell, who was reassigned after two-plus seasons and a 6-18 record at SU.

“We’ll proceed to a national search next week,” Broussard said Saturday. “That will give me an opportunity to sit and talk with coach Odums and kind of do a formal review of the season and his performance as the head coach.”

Odums went 4-5 during his nine-game tenure. He took control of the team after its 6-0 home loss to Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 13, then led the Jaguars to three wins over their next four games.



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THE SHOW: 2012 Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands

Southern University takes Bayou Classic 38-33 over Grambling

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana  --  Southern University’s football team took interim head coach Dawson Odums on a thrilling roller-coaster ride of a game in Saturday’s 39th Bayou Classic. He’d like to do it all again next year.

Led by junior quarterback Dray Joseph, from West St. John High, and two St. Augustine graduates, receivers Charles Hawkins and Lee Doss, Southern salvaged a bit of their disappointing season with a 38-33 season-finale victory against Grambling in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome before an announced crowd of 45,980.

The Jaguars got down 14-0, rallied with a 38-6 run engineered by Joseph then had to hold their breath at the end when Grambling had a chance to drive for the winning score.

“I just feel that I want to be the head coach at Southern University and these young men showed why they like my leadership (on Saturday),’’ said Odums, who was named interim coach in September when head coach Stump Mitchell was reassigned after an 0-2 start. “They play hard and for 60 minutes. But I know it’s not my call. Whatever happens we’ll be estatic about it either way because we know put our best foot forward to make these young men better.’’

 

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WSSU coasts in playoff opener

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Second-ranked Winston-Salem State had little trouble in its second-round game of the Division II football playoffs, defeating No. 15 Shippensburg 37-14 in front of just more than 3,000 at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The Rams (12-0) will play Indiana (Pa.) at noon next Saturday in the quarterfinals.

Backup quarterback Anthony Carrothers, playing for injured Kam Smith, completed 19 of 37 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

The Rams racked up 525 yards, the second most allowed this season by the Red Raiders (11-2).

Running back Maurice Lewis (158 yards, two touchdowns) and wide receivers Jameze Massey (167 yards, two touchdown catches) and Jahuann Butler (123 yards receiving) had big games for the Rams.

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NCAA Div. II playoffs: Winston-Salem State beats Shippensburg 37-14

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- It was a disappointing end to a record-breaking season for the Shippensburg Red Raiders.

The Winston-Salem State Rams beat Shippensburg 37-14 Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Ship junior quarterback Zach Zulli tied the D-II single season record with his 54th touchdown pass of the season, to Trevor Harman (Cumberland Valley) for the Raiders' only offensive score of the game, but he did not have good day. Zulli was picked off three times, part of five turnovers by Ship.

Ship finishes the season with an 11-2 mark. Unbeaten and Super Region 1 top-seed WSSU (12-0) will meet IUP -- the Crimson Hawks (12-1) were 17-14 winners over New Haven (Conn.) -- in the national quarterfinals.

 

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Bethune-Cookman starts slow, falls to Coastal Carolina 24-14

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Coastal Carolina scored on three conescutive possessions in the second quarter and then added a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to defeat Bethune-Cookman 24-14 in the first round of the FCS playoffs Saturday at Municipal Stadium.

The loss ends the Wildcats' season at 9-3. It was their fourth playoff loss since 2002 and their second in three seasons. Coastal Carolina (8-4) advances to the second round next week against No. 4 overall seed Old Dominion.

Down 24-0, B-CU scored on Quentin Williams' 74-yard pass to David Blackwell with 6:44 left in the game. Williams, who added a 2-point conversion pass, had just returned after leaving the game in the third quarter following a blindside sack. The Wildcats scored again with 1:22 left on Isidore Jackson's 10-yard run. Williams' 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

Backup quarterback Brodrick Waters led the Wildcats on a long drive following Nick Addison's interception with 3:19 left in the third quarter. Waters' 46-yard option run brought the ball to the Coastal 11. With fourth down at the 5, B-CU lined up for a field goal, but the Wildcats were flagged for a false start before the kick.

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Erves, Simmons lead Gold Rush to victory in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana got double-doubles from Denzell Erves and Anthony Simmons in a 75-61 men's basketball victory Friday against Concordia (Ala.) in the Memphis HBCU Classic at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Erves had 17 points and 10 rebounds -- his sixth double-double of the season and his third in a row -- and Simmons produced his second double-double, 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Wanto Joseph had 14 points and five assists for the Gold Rush (7-1), and Xavier Rogers scored 13.

Zannie Pickens had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Concordia, and Travis Rasco scored 10.

Erves had 11 points and seven rebounds and assisted on Joseph's 3-pointer which gave Xavier a 33-22 halftime lead. Xavier led by double digits for the final 15:09 and four times held a 19-point lead in the final 10 minutes.

Xavier outshot the Hornets 55.4 to 39.7 percent from the floor -- 51.9 to 27.3 percent in the first half -- and outrebounded them 39-27. It was the third time this season the XU men shot 50 percent or higher and the sixth time they had a double-figure rebound advantage. It was the fewest points Xavier allowed this season.

It's the seventh time in Dannton Jackson's 10 seasons that the Gold Rush started the season 7-1 or better. Friday was Jackson's 300th game as XU head coach; his record is 209-91.

Xavier will play Wiley in this same event at 2 p.m. Saturday. A week ago the Gold Rush defeated Wiley 82-77 in overtime during XU's homecoming doubleheader. The next XU home game will be Tuesday.

Box score


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

DWIGHT FLOYD WEEKLY COMMENTARY: FCS Playoffs: What to Expect

BCU in a close one against Coastal
2:00 P.M. EST/ESPN3
Were there to be a prediction it would be a close win by the BCU Wildcats, but it all depends. Considered among the weaker teams in the playoffs the winner will have the opportunity to play Old Dominion and possibly Georgia Southern in-route to the semi-finals.


DWIGHT FLOYD
WEEKLY COMMENTARY
SportsEdit.Org

Coastal Carolina is used to getting off to a very fast start, outscoring opponents 115 to 61 in the first quarter. Bethune has a habit of starting slow and then catching up. BCU opponents outscored them in the first quarter and the rest of the quarters are dominated by the Wildcats. Coastal Carolina has shown that they have enough offense to match up in the final three quarters and maintain the lead. If both teams stay true to form then BCU would lose a close one in an offensive shootout. Should BCU figure out their defensive plan before game starts then it will be BCU’s to win.

Facts
Coastal Carolina defeated North Carolina A&T, the only common opponent of both teams, 28-13 early in the season. The BCU Wildcats defeated the A&T Aggies by a similar score 28-12.

Both teams have a loss this season to an OVC opponent; Coastal Carolina to Eastern Kentucky and BCU to the Tennessee State Tigers. Tennessee State defeated Eastern Kentucky in conference play.

Opponents of both teams have a cumulative losing record, 47-56 for BCU opponents and 49-53 for Coastal Carolina opponents. Given that opponents of FAMU, a team BCU defeated last week, hold a cumulative record of 50-50, this stat may not make a difference.

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THE SHOW: 2012 Alabama State University Turkey Day Classic

Wells lifts WSSU in tournament opener

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin -- Milwaukee Point guard Marcus Wells made a key layup with 1:03 left, and Winston-Salem State hung on to defeated Northern Michigan 78-69 at the Fresh Coast Classic on Friday afternoon.

Wells led the Rams (2-2) with 17 points, Justin Glover added 16, and reserve guard Tyre Desmore scored 12 as the Rams shot 55 percent from the field.

The Rams shot just 63 percent from the foul line (19 of 31) but made enough free throws in the final minute to hold off the Wildcats (1-1).

The score was tied 36-36 at halftime, and the biggest lead in the first half was seven, by the Rams after two Wells’ free throws made it 27-20 with 6:34 remaining.

But Northern followed with an 11-0 run that included three 3-pointers and went up 31-27 when Kendall Jackson hit the third 3, with 4:38 left. Wakefield Ellison ended the run with a layup, and WSSU tied on Kimani Hunt’s layup with 3:25 to play.

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Tuskegee rallies in second half for Xavier Classic victory

NEW ORLEANS — Amelia Dorton, one of four Tuskegee double-digit scorers, had 16 points Friday to help the Tigerettes rally for a 76-62 women's basketball victory against Langston in the Xavier Classic.

Tuskegee (2-3) trailed by 11 points in the 11th minute and 34-33 at halftime but took the lead for good by outscoring Langston 12-2 in the first four minutes of the second half. An 11-3 run extended Tuskegee's lead to 56-45 with 11:23 remaining.

Alannah Vincent scored 13 points, Natasha Williams 11 and Kajuanna Rivers 10 for Tuskegee, an NCAA Division II member. Williams scored all her points in the final 12 minutes. Rayven Sellers had eight points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Amber Coleman had 18 points and eight rebounds for Langston (0-5), ranked 14th in NAIA Division I. Victoria Felix had 11 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, and Tayla Vaughn had 11 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks and three assists.

Langston led for all but 67 seconds of the first half and took its biggest lead, 23-12, on Coleman's 3-point play at 9:46.

Tuskegee outshot Langston 45.3 to 40.7 from the floor — 50 to 31.3 percent in the second half — committed 14 turnovers and gained 27. Langston had a 41-29 rebound advantage.

Tuskegee led by double digits for the final 8:19 and twice led by 16.

Langston, making its eighth consecutive Xavier Classic appearance, lost both its games in the event for the first time since 2004. Xavier defeated the Lionesses 46-38 Thursday. Tuskegee finished 1-1 after losing 88-62 to Wiley. Both Tuskegee and Langston were 2-0 in the 2011 Xavier Classic.

Box score

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

Gold Nuggets rout Texas College for 3rd straight victory

NEW ORLEANS -- Andraquay Quinnine, Whitney Gaston-Loyd and Chelsea Broussard scored 10 points apiece Friday to lead NAIA No. 11 Xavier University of Louisiana in an 84-39 women's basketball victory against Texas College in the Xavier Classic at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (5-1) won both their games in this event and extended their win streak to three games.

Quinnine and Broussard scored six points apiece to lead Xavier to a 33-20 halftime advantage. The Nuggets scored the first 13 points of the second half, five by SiMon Franklin. The final margin was the largest of the game.

Gaston-Loyd, who played nine minutes, made all five of her field-goal attempts.

Xavier outshot the Lady Steers (1-4, 1-1 Xavier Classic) 39.5 to 27.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 55-30. Reserve guard Talon Hixon grabbed a season-high eight rebounds and was one of three XU players with three steals.

Carmen Holcombe had eight points and five rebounds for Xavier, and Danielle Tucker had seven points, six rebounds and a season-best five assists.

Shirley McGowen scored 12 points, including 8-of-11 free throws, for Texas College. Jasmine Becks scored eight.

It was the third time this season and the second consecutive game that Xavier allowed fewer than 40 points.

Xavier will play Mobile at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Convocation Center.


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

B-CU hopes to make deep FCS playoff run

DAYTONA BEACH — Bethune-Cookman hopes today marks the start of a deep run through the Football Championship Subdivsion playoffs.

B-CU (9-2) is hosting Coastal Carolina (7-4) in the FCS playoffs at Municipal Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN 3.com.

"It's a good feeling to be in this position that but there is more football to be played," B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said.

The Wildcats are making their fourth playoff appearance and second in three years. They have never won a playoff. An injury to then-quarterback Matt Johnson hurt the team, contributing to a loss to New Hampshire in the 2010 playoffs.

"We are healthy heading into this one," Jenkins said. "This year we have had very limited injuries. The work in the weight room is paying off too."

A B-CU win would be the first playoff win for a MEAC or HBCU team since 1999 when Florida A&M made the semifinals and North Carolina A&T the quarterfinals. In 1978, FAMU was the only HBCU to win an FCS championship.

"I don't put that weight on my team," Jenkins said. "We do have the support of our conference as calls have come in wishing us well."




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Turkey Day Classic commentary: Ultimate success of stadium is left up to ASU

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Way back in 2001, I wrote a column in which I encouraged Alabama State to build an on-campus stadium.

At the time, a powerful board of trustees member had come up with a plan for the stadium, along with a move up to the NCAA’s top football level.

It was a bold move that was supported by a majority of people on the ASU campus. But it was getting resistance from a couple of board members — one in particular — and eventually that plan fell through.

I assumed it was a dead idea. With the renovations of Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl and the steady deterioration of the SWAC — the conference in which ASU competes — I figured the idea of an on-campus stadium had been pushed to the back burner, maybe even completely off the stove.

I figured wrong.

ASU officially opened the doors to its shiny, new stadium, as it welcomed a packed house to an on-campus Turkey Day Classic against Tuskegee, which the Hornets lost 27-25.

PHOTO ALBUMS:
ASU's 89th Turkey Day Classic Parade

Turkey Day Classic Parade

ASU Hornet Walk

Tuskegee defeats ASU

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Prairie View A&M Tops Navy at the Buzzer, 42-40

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- Prairie View A&M's Carl Blair made a driving layup with no time left to hand the Navy men's basketball a 42-40 setback in the opening round of the South Padre Island Invitational on Friday afternoon.

The loss sends Navy into Saturday's consolation game against Delaware State, starting at 11:45 AM (ET) / 10:45 AM (CT). Navy falls to 2-4 overall, while the Panthers, who are picked to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) title, improve to 3-4 overall.

Navy has now lost two straight games by two points and three of its four losses have come by five points or less.

"We had the exact same scenario as we had the other night against TCU. You have to make one more play," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis. "You can't go 3-of-8 from the free throw line and miss front ends of two one-and-ones. Every time we had a chance to stop the bleeding, we would miss a free throw. You can't let a guy dribble 90 feet for a lay-up to win the game. Those are winning plays you have to make. It's very disappointing, but you have to make basketball plays. Every play matters."

Navy surged out to a 24-12 lead right before halftime, before the Panthers connected on their only three-pointer of the first half to cut the lead to 24-15 at the break.

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THE SHOW: NCCU Sound Machine vs. NCA&T Blue & Gold Marching Machine

FCS First Round: Bethune seeks win for MEAC vs. Coastal Carolina

FCS Playoff First Round Saturday, Nov. 24 Coastal Carolina (7-4) at No. 22 Bethune-Cookman (9-2) Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 24, 2 p.m. ET   Facts & Stats: Site: Larry Kelly Field at Municipal Stadium (10,000) -- Daytona Beach, Fla. Surface: FieldTurf. Television: ESPN3.com. Home Record: Coastal Carolina 3-2; Bethune-Cookman 3-1. Away Record: Coastal Carolina 4-2; Bethune-Cookman 4-1. Neutral Record: Coastal Carolina 0-0; Bethune-Cookman 2-0. Series Record: First Meeting. Conference: Coastal Carolina - Big South; Bethune-Cookman - Mid-Eastern Athletic. Nicknames: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers; Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Head Coaches: Coastal Carolina - Joe Moglia (7-4 at Coastal Carolina and overall); Bethune-Cookman - Brian Jenkins (27-7 at Bethune-Cookman and overall). Playoff Records: Coastal Carolina (0-2); Bethune Cookman (0-3). Previous FCS Playoff Appearances: Coastal Carolina 2 (2006, 10); Bethune-Cookman 3 (2002-03, 10). Sports Network Ranking: Coastal Carolina (NR); Bethune-Cookman (22).   
Game Notes: Despite critics who say there should only be one team from the Big South Conference in the playoffs, if you look at Coastal Carolina's resume, the competition faced has been pretty solid. The Chanticleers' only losses this season came against Eastern Kentucky (8-3), FBS member Toledo (8-3) and two teams also in the playoffs, Appalachian State (8-3) and Stony Brook (9-2).

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Big Blues take on Lander in Currence Classic

BIG BLUE

BLUEFIELD, West Virginia — Bluefield State’s Big Blues basketball team kicks off its home season tonight, taking on Lander University in the nightcap of the Currence Classic at Ned Shott Gymnasium.

Bluefield State is coming off an 89-62 WVIAC loss to Pitt-Johnstown, Tuesday night in its season opener. Antoine Bryant led the Big Blues with 12 points and three assists, while Vincent Rogers came off the bench to drop in 11 points. Samuel Ouedraogo led BSC with six rebounds.

Lander is located in Greenwood, S.C. The Bearcats enter the Classic with a 2-0 record, having defeated Allen and Mars Hill. Lander lost exhibitions against Athletes in Action and Clemson.

BSC head coach Jamaal Jackson knows that the Bearcats will be a tough opponent for the Big Blues.

“They’re from the Peach Belt Conference, a very tough conference,” Jackson noted. “They won 20-plus games last year and one of their players, the two guard, Pruett, averaged 29 points a game last week.”

David Pruett a 6’3” wing was named Peach Belt Player of the Week for his performances in which he scored 32 points against Allen and 28 against Mars Hill. He is Lander’s leading scorer this season.

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Gold Nuggets defeat No. 14 Langston in Xavier Classic

NEW ORLEANS -- Whitney Gaston-Loyd's basket with 14:24 remaining Thursday put Xavier University of Louisiana ahead to stay and started a run which carried the Gold Nuggets to a 46-38 women's basketball victory against Langston in the Xavier Classic at the Convocation Center.

Wiley defeated Tuskegee 88-62, and Texas College beat Dillard 71-63 in Thursday's other games.

Loyd's basket provided Xavier's first points of the half, gave the Nuggets a 28-26 lead and started an 11-2 run. Danielle Tucker scored four points, and Talor Hixon and SiMon Franklin had two assists each during the burst.

It was the second consecutive victory against a ranked NAIA Division I team for Xavier (4-1), which is 11th. Langston (0-4) is No. 14. Xavier has won 44 of its past 47 home games, including 4-of-5 in its first-year home facility.

Gaston-Loyd scored nine points and Tucker eight for Xavier. Amber Coleman scored 12 points for Langston, which never got closer than five points in the final four minutes. Langston's Reyven Osborne grabbed eight rebounds. Tayla Vaughn had six points, seven rebounds and six steals for the Lionesses but also committed nine turnovers.

Tucker also had five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and four steals. Her basket with 9:19 remaining gave Xavier a 37-28 advantage, its largest of the game.

Nine XU players scored to help the Nuggets take a 26-21 halftime lead.

Xavier outshot Langston 33.3 to 28.9 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lionesses 40-32. Xavier committed 29 turnovers -- 16 in the second half -- but gained 32. Langston shot 20 percent from the floor in the second half after shooting 46.2 percent in the first.

Xavier will play Texas College at 2:30 p.m. Friday. Langston will play Tuskegee at 11 a.m., and Dillard will play Wiley at 6 p.m. Also Friday will be two girls high school games: Terrebonne vs. Helen Cox at 1 p.m. and Warren Easton vs. University at 4:30 p.m.

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

Odums, Williams need Bayou Classic victory

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana  --  Dawson Odums and Doug Williams chowed down on shrimp and oyster po-boys in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Tuesday looking like a couple of men who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.

Which, in Odums’ case is actually true, because the Southern interim coach’s future might be riding on the result of Saturday’s Bayou Classic, if it hasn’t already been decided.



Odums could even joke at Tuesday’s press conference promoting the event — saying that the thing he was most nervous about was driving SU Athletic Director William Broussard back to Baton Rouge safely.

Williams presumably has more job security.

But the second year of his second stint as Grambling’s coach has been a 1-9 nightmare, and according to Williams, at least one prominent alumnus is very restless: himself.

“People forget that I’m an alumnus, too,” he said. “This has been a tough year, one that nobody at Grambling is used to.

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Southern QB Dray Joseph gets his chance to shine in Bayou Classic

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana  --  Dray Joseph gets it.

He is a native of Edgard, a small town on the Mississippi River, less than an hour from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

He is a junior at Southern University, now the etched-in-stone starting quarterback after two seasons of flip-flopping roles and inconsistent play.

Bayou Classic

WHO: Southern vs. Grambling

WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Mercedes-Benz
Superdome, New Orleans

TV: NBC

RADIO: WYNK-HD2-FM, 97.7

His dad, Greg, attended Grambling. When Dray Joseph was a kid, they went to the Bayou Classic together.

Sure, the game’s not what it used to be. Joseph knows that. He has seen the dwindling crowds and lived through three rotten seasons with the Jaguars, who take a 3-7 record into Saturday’s showdown against archrival Grambling (1-9).

Judging by the records, this is the worst Bayou Classic matchup since the game began in 1974.

But Joseph gets it. It’s still the Bayou Classic, and Southern hasn’t won it since 2007.

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2012 Harlon Hill Trophy Finalist: Derrick Washington of Tuskegee University

Big Plays Turn 89th Turkey Day Classic Tuskegee's Way

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Tuskegee turned four big plays into 20 points and knocked down a potential game-tying two point conversion with two minutes left to defeat Alabama State 27-25 in the 89^th Turkey Day Classic.

The exciting game between the two rivals was the opening game for the Hornets in their new on-campus stadium, which featured a sellout crowd in the first game.

“This was a blessing to be a part of this game,” Head Coach Reggie Barlow said. “I have been a part of some really big time games with a nice atmosphere, but this one here was outstanding. Kudos to both sides that came and supported the teams. Unfortunately, it did not end the way the Hornets wanted it to end, but we are still proud of our guys, they fought back at the end but at the end we just did not make enough plays.”

Isaiah Crowell's one-yard run with 2:04 left capped a nine-play, 70- yard drive to bring the Hornets to within two points at 27-25. Greg Jenkins two point-conversion was tipped away from T.C. McWilliams in the back of the endzone and Tuskegee (10-1) came away with the victory.

“Just like most teams, everybody has that one play that you work on a whole bunch and it is your bread and butter,” Barlow said. “You may have some other plays, but this was a play we have been working on a bunch. With a play like that, when it is a one-shot deal, you want to give your quarterback a two-type option. If he can't throw it in the flat, you want him to be able to run it or bring the defense up to him and make the throw, but it didn't work out for us and they did a good job stopping it.”

After Bobby Wenzig's 35-yard field goal midway through the third quarter cut the Tigers lead to 16-12, Tuskegee's Derrick Washington took a pitch and ran toward the sideline before pulling up and throwing a halfback pass to Marquel Gardner. The play covered 57 yards and put the ball at ASU's 19. Two plays later Justin Nared hit Kaleep Williams from 16 yards out for a touchdown. Tuskegee went for two and William Buford was able to convert the conversion and gave Tuskegee the largest lead of the game at 24-12.

On the second play of the final quarter, Jenkins found Jarrett Neely from five yards out to cut the lead to 24-19 with plenty of time left.

After that score Tuskegee put together their best drive of the game. The 15-play, 56 yard drive culminated with Eduardo Murillo's 20 yard field goal that put the Tigers up 27-19. The drive took 8:59 off the clock and left ASU with 5:22 to work with leading up to their final score.

Tuskegee was able to turn its first three big plays into scores in the first half on their way to a 16-9 halftime lead. On Tuskegee's first possession, Justin Nared was able to turn a third-and-17 play into a 42-yard long completion to Marquel Gardner. It was a pass that was tipped up in the air and Gardner grabbed the ball while on his back before it could hit the ground. That set the Tigers up on ASU's 22 and Murillo ended the drive with his first field goal of the game from 22 yards out that gave Tuskegee at 3-0 lead.

Tuskegee's next big play was a 61-yard run from Mike Thornton that led to Washington's six yard score. TU's final play, which may have been their biggest, was a 40-yard touchdown pass from Nared to Gardner with only 31 seconds left in the half to give the Tigers their halftime lead.

ASU's first half scores came on a Crowell three-yard run and a Wenzig 23-yard field goal.

The Hornets finished the game with Crowell rushing for a game-high 118 yards to go along with two scores, and Jenkins finished with 106. It is the second time this season the Hornets boasted two 100-yard rushers in a game.


Jenkins had a solid game throwing the ball completing 20 of his 26 passes for one score and 147 yards. ASU finished the game with 375 yards of total offense.

ASU knew coming into the game they had to stop Washington who entered the game with 1,399 yards in the team's first 10 games. After averaging almost 140 yards per game, ASU held Washington to only 95 yards on 22 carries. Nared finished the game completing nine of his 16 passes for 161 yards and the two scores.

“We knew Washington was a really good running back, and even better in person,” Barlow said. “He is an elusive guy, he runs for power and they have a good scheme that fits his running style. He came out and they gave it to him and the goal was to contain this guy. I thought for the most part the guys did a decent job it is just those big plays that ended up getting us at the end.”

The Hornets finish the season at 7-4. It is the third consecutive season the Hornets have produced seven or more wins in a season.

“There is a lot of emotion, of course, after you lose a game,” Barlow said. “Sometimes you want to be mad and jump up and scream, but no one feels worse than those players. I know the fans really, really want to win, but at the end of the day no one feels like they do because they are the one's going through practices and of course they wanted to open up the stadium the right way. So it was a combination of when you face adversity like we all will, you have to find a way to overcome it. This is right down that line and they have to find a way to get past it, pull their heads up and continue to live life.”
Box Score

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NEXT GAME, DEC. 1:. Tuskegee University vs. Elizabeth City State University in the Pioneer Bowl, Columbus, Georgia.  The Hornets season ends at 7-4.

ASU Hornets, TU Tigers prep for Turkey Day Classic

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Rivals Tuskegee and Alabama State are putting the final touches on their game plans in preparation for their Thanksgiving meeting in the 89th Turkey Day Classic.

“I do know they have a very, very talented roster, said Alabama State’s defensive coordinator Cedric Thornton during a conference call last week.











TUSKEGEE U. (9-1, 2012 SIAC CHAMPS) vs. ALABAMA STATE (7-3, 7-2 SWAC)
TV: ESPNU
TIME: 4:00 PM ET

Thornton was filling in for Hornets head coach Reggie Barlow.

“A lot of people look at Tuskegee University and say ‘they’re a Division II school; you’re a Division I school.’ They’re a Division II school, but not in talent. On their roster they have a linebacker that’s a University of Florida transfer. They have a running back that’s a University of Missouri transfer, and an offensive lineman that’s an Arkansas State transfer.”

The Golden Tigers roster features freshman Quavon Taylor, a 6-foot linebacker who transferred in from the University of South Florida. Derrick Washington, a 6-foot running back who transferred in from Mizzou and Chris Tolbert, a 6-foot-5 lineman who transferred in from Arkanasas State.

“I do know that they have very good personnel,” said Willie Slater, coach of the Golden Tigers. “The two quarterbacks that they play, as with their defensive linemen, are pretty good. Plus the level of competition they’ve been playing in Division I is a bit higher than what we are used to in the SIAC.”

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WSSU’s Carrothers welcomes a challenge

Winston-Salem, North Carolina  --  Anthony Carrothers is small for a college quarterback — just 5-8 and 170 pounds — but he has a big appetite for winning.

Carrothers, a redshirt sophomore, could make his first start for No. 2 Winston-Salem State on Saturday, if senior Kam Smith can’t play against No. 15 Shippensburg in the second round of the Division II playoffs.

That might seem to be a daunting assignment for some players, but the confident Carrothers doesn’t shy away from challenges. Kickoff is set for noon at Bowman Gray Stadium.

“I tell people all the time he threw for 10,000 yards in high school, he won a championship as a true freshman at Grambling (State), and I don’t care how tall he is,” Coach Connell Maynor said. “He’s a winner, and he knows how to play quarterback. Winners know how to win, and they know how to get it done.

“That’s why he’s on this football team.”

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Tennessee State Softball Signs Five to National Letters of Intent

Top (l-r): Gearlds, Grace, Shoulders; (l-r): Stansberry and Woodard Courtesy: Tennessee State Athletics   NASHVILLE, Tennessee   -  Tennessee State head softball coach Jeff Dabney has announced the early signing of five high school seniors. The class of 2017 consists of Liz Stansbury from Palmyra, Mo., and four from Tennessee, Courtney Gearlds (Donelson), Alex Grace (Moss), Sydney Shoulders (Hartsville), and Lauren Woodard (Mt. Juliet).   "We were looking to get more athletic and build depth to create constant competition for positions," Dabney said. "We lose two of our better players to graduation and filling the void is going to be tough, so it was important that we brought in capable speed, power, and pitching to make sure the program continues to move forward with the most athletic kids possible."   Courtney Gearlds IF/OF, Donelson, Tenn., McGavock HS/Worth 95 Gearlds is a four-year member of the McGavock High School team under head coach Alana Thomas and was named team MVP in her past two seasons. She is a three-time All-District recipient and has named to the All-Mid State Third Team as a sophomore and junior.   She has also been a member of the volleyball team for all four years and earned All-District distinctions during her junior and senior campaigns. As a senior, she also claimed a spot on the All-Region team.   Gearlds played travel ball for Charlie Gravat and Ricky Ritchie as a member of Worth 95. Her team qualified and competed in Birmingham, Ala., at the 2012 16-U ASA national championships.   Gearlds plans to study Dental Hygiene with aspirations for a career as a dentist.   Coach Dabney on Gearlds "Courtney is a local kid from literally down the street at McClintock. Her initial impact she made with us was her speed. I like people who can run. She put a ball in play and took off and I was interested. She came to camp and showed her athleticism and I liked what I saw. We sat down and talked with her and found out she is my kind of kid. She is competitive, but a really sweet and down to earth person."   Alexandria (Alex) Grace UT, Moss, Tenn., Clay County HS/Diamond Stars   Grace is a four-year member of the softball team at Clay County High School under the tutelage of Richard Boswell and Randall Walker. She has been selected to the All-Conference and All-District teams in all three seasons heading into her senior year of play. Grace guided her team to three consecutive district championships.   As a freshman, she earned a letter in volleyball before joining the basketball squad as a junior and senior. In her first year with basketball, Clay County claimed the 2012 Tennessee State Championship.   Grace plays travel ball for the Diamond Stars and head coach Jerry Woodard. She is undecided in her potential major at TSU.   Coach Dabney on Grace "She is a good find and I feel she has a big upside. She is a raw prospect with all the physical tools to play at this level, but just not the experience. She is a five-foot-ten kid with the ability to play all nine positions and switch hit. I look forward to see where she ends up during her four-years here. She will come in and will be a hard worker and compete. It will be interesting to see how good of a player she becomes as she progresses through our system."   Sydney Shoulders IF, Hartsville, Tenn., Trousdale HS/Tennessee Xplosion Gold   Shoulders has competed for Cecelia Stricker and Trousdale County High School for the past three years. She has been named to the All-District team in all three of her seasons and selected to the district All-Tournament team in her sophomore and junior years.   Shoulders is also a three-year letter winner in basketball and earned the Offensive Award in each year with the team, as well as the defensive award as a junior. She claimed a spot on the district All-Tournament as a freshman and sophomore and named All-District as a junior.   She was a Wendy's High School Heisman finalist and belongs to the Beta Club and the Interact Club. She serves on the student council and is a part of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Future Business Leaders of America. Her travel team, the Tennessee Xplosion, coached by Brian Drake and Murk Thurman, qualified and competed in the ASA 16-Under national tournament in 2012.   Shoulders intends to major in Nursing at TSU. Coach Dabney on Shoulders "She is a local kid and it was a high priority for us to put a stranglehold on local talent. I don't want to have to constantly run to the west coast to get everybody for your team. She is an athletic kid that plays shortstop for her summer team, as well as some outfield. She has a good arm, runs well and has power at the plate. She is also a great student and great students are easy to coach, in my opinion. She is also competitor and I just love everything she does on the field."   Elisabeth (Liz) Stansbury Infield, Palmyra, Mo., Palmyra R-1 HS/Worth Prospects   Stansbury competed all four years for Palmyra R-1 High School and head coach Brian Wosman. She helped guide her squad to conference championships as a freshman and a senior, as well as four straight district championships. As a sophomore, her Palmyra team finished second at the state championships, before coming back the next year to become State Champions. Stansbury and her teammates returned to the state tournament in her season, completing her career with a fourth place finish.   From her sophomore to senior seasons, Stansbury was an All-Conference, All-District and All-Area selection. She was named to the All-Region team as a sophomore and a senior and was named to the Missouri All-State during her sophomore campaign.   Stansbury was selected as an All-Conference and All-District athlete for the discus as a member of three district championship track and field teams. She is in her fourth year as a member of the basketball team, which claimed a conference championship as a junior. She was also a member of the golf team as a sophomore.   Stansbury plays for Cathy Weathered and the Worth Prospects during the summer and stays active as a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a member of the student council, where she has served as secretary and vice president. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Society of Academic Achievment, FCCLA and is on the Principal Liaison Committee. Stansbury also volunteers at the Maple Lawn Nursing Home.   As an incoming freshman, she intends to major in Psychology.   Coach Dabney on Stansbury "She is a Coach (Samantha) Buckner find. Buckner is a picky recruiter and Liz showed those intangibles that kept bringing her back. She is a ball player and at the end of the day, that's what you are looking for. We got the chance to actually be around her when she came to camp, to see what she was like as a person and that just sealed it for me. Coach Buckner gets all the credit for finding her talent wise, but Liz sealed the deal with me, because it is important to find good people for the program. She is a winner and a smart kid that plays the game hard."   Lauren Woodard P/Utility, Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Mount Juliet HS/Nashville Nighthawks   Woodard is entering her fourth year as a member of Brad Rowlette's Mount Juliet HS squad. She hit .333 as a freshman, but was used more as a pitcher as a sophomore as she tallied a 29-7 record. Woodard was used in both capacities as she finished 17-6 in the circle and hit .369 with three homeruns and 41 rbi.   The lefty utility player was selected as Rookie of the Year in 2010 at MJHS. Woodard was named to the All-District team in her sophomore and junior seasons as she guided her squad to back-to-back Sub-State Championships and berths to the TSSAA State Tournament.   Woodard also competed in volleyball in high school as a junior and currently plays her travel softball with Larry Spears and the Nashville Nighthawks. During the 2012 summer, her Illusions 16-U team, coached by Tonia Trrussell Martin, competed in the ASA National Championships in Birmingham. She is also a member of Fellowship Christian Athletes and is active in the community with The Bridge Fellowship.   Woodward intends to major in Special Education and hopes to work with children with special needs.   Coach Dabney on Woodard "She is another local prospect, from Mt. Juliet HS. She brings a left handed bat with power potential and played first base, outfield and pitches. The ability to be versatile is important to a softball program. It also brings a different look to the pitching staff and you have to be different at the higher levels. You have to have pitching to compete and you have to have athletic kids to do special things on our field. Lauren brings all that to the table. She does have a lot of development left to go and has a great upside. We feel she hasn't even come close to reaching her full potential and look forward to watching her grow." "They are all great students, which is important to us as a program," Dabney continued. "They all bring different intangibles to our team, but the main thing is they all fit the perimeters we are looking for in all of our classes; the ability to do multiple things."

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