Florida A&M Rattlers earn hefty payday for game

COLUMBUS, OHIO — While it might seem that scheduling a FCS school is an easy thing to do when it comes to playing a FBS program, that’s hardly the case, according the man responsible for scheduling at Ohio State.

Martin Jarmond, executive associated athletic director in-charge of scheduling for the Buckeyes, said games like the one Saturday only happen if teams are available.

Negotiations could be a little heady, he said.

Never mind that the bigger program almost always wins.

“You can’t worry about the things that aren’t in your control,” Jarmond said, while watching the Buckeyes hand FAMU a 76-0 loss.

“The hard part about scheduling is you do it so many years in advance so it’s hard to have a crystal ball as to what a team or a matchup is going to be.

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FAMU High to honor Ferrell: Coach plans to retire former player's jersey

Jonathan Ferrell

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- FAMU High football coach Ira Reynolds plans to retire former player Jonathan Ferrell’s No. 28 jersey.

Ferrell, 24, a 2007 graduate of FAMU High who also played two seasons at Florida A&M (2009-10), was shot and killed by a police officer in Charlotte, N.C., early Saturday morning.

Reynolds, who coached Ferrell and his younger brother Willie Ferrell, admitted it has been a difficult week to concentrate on football.

The winless Rattlers (0-3) are at home Friday against Mayo Lafayette (2-0).

“On one hand, we are devastated by his death,” Reynolds said.

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FVSU Wildcats Win 12-9 in 2 OT Over Clark-Atlanta Panthers

ATLANTA, Georgia  -- The Fort Valley State University Wildcats win their first game of the season on the back of junior running back Nikilous McDaniels (Warner Robins, GA / Northside) as they defeat the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University in 2OT (12-9) on Saturday, September 21 in Atlanta, GA at Panther Stadium before a crowd of 1,793.

FVSU improves its overall record to 1-2 and 1-0 in the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), while CAU falls to 3-0 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

The Wildcats and Panthers would go almost two quarters without a score, and then at the 4:53 mark, McDaniels went up the middle for an 11- yard touchdown to give the Wildcats a 6-point advantage capping off an 11 play, 95- yard drive. Freshman place kicker Chris Ward (Macon, GA / Southside) kick attempt failed. (6-0)

The Panthers tied the game with 6:31 left in the third quarter, as Montavio Taylor grabbed a 14-yard pass from Trenton Earl to clear an 8 play, 57-yard drive. Austin Casillas kick was blocked by junior defensive end Marvon Danzie (Grovetown, GA / Grovetown). (6-6)

Both team had chances to win in the fourth quarter, but each missed winning field goals to send the game to overtime.
CAU won the toss and deferred to FVSU in the first overtime, and 4 plays, 8-yards later Wards field goal attempt from 34-yards were missed. On CAU's attempt Casillas field goal attempt from 39-yards was blocked and recovered by FVSU's freshman defensive tackle Anthony DeMunn (Columbus, GA / Shaw) to end the first overtime.

CAU received the football first in the 2OT, 4 plays; 7-yards later Casillas 36-yard field goal was good, giving the Panthers the lead. (9-6)

In FVSU's turn, McDaniels had runs of 10, 5 and 8-yard runs, before senior quarterback Eugene Smith (Pensacola, FL / Pensacola) finished the 7 play, 25-yard drive with a 5 and 1-yard run for the win. (12-9)

McDaniels led the Wildcats in rushing with 89-yards on 16 carries and one touchdown, freshman quarterback / running back Malcolm Eady (Swainsboro) had 46-yards, junior running back Michael Bellamy with 22-yards and Smith added 16-yards and one touchdown. Freshman wide receiver's Justin Jordan and junior Kyle Taylor (College Park, GA /North Clayton) led the team 2 catches each for 40 and 20-yards.

Defensively, senior linebackers DeRon and LeRon Furr (Columbus, GA) led the team in tackles as DeRon had a game high 17 tackles and 0ne pass break-up; LeRon ended with 11 tackles, 4.5 tackle-for-losses and recovered two fumbles. Senior defensive tackle Bernard Little (Eatonton, GA / Putnman County) had 13 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-losses for 18-yards and a forced fumble.

The Wildcats out gained the Panthers in rushing and passing with 161 to 131 yards on the ground and 75 to 57 yards in the air for a total of 236 to 188 total yards of offensive.

FVSU will travel to Augusta, GA on Saturday, September 28 to play Benedict College in the Augusta Football Classic at 2 pm. CAU is idle.

Box Score

COURTESY FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Tennessee State Pushes Aside Tennessee Tech, 41-21

Cookeville, Tenn. – The Tennessee State football team scored 34 unanswered points and survived a late rally to defeat Tennessee Tech, 41-21, Saturday night in front of 10,044 spectators and a national ESPN3 audience.

 

The TSU offense set season highs in total yards (438), passing yards (343) and points (41) on the way to the first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season.

 

A.C. Leonard caught five passes for a career-high 122 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Samquan Evans paced the TSU defense, setting a personal-best with eight stops and added 2.5 tackles for loss.

 

Tennessee Tech (2-2, 0-1 OVC) took the ball 79 yards down the field on the game’s opening drive and TTU center James Normand recovered a fumble in the end zone to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 7-0, with nine minutes left in the first period.

 

The touchdown signified the first points that the Big Blue defense had surrendered in the first quarter this season and the first time since last year’s game against TTU that the Tigers had allowed a touchdown on the opponent’s opening possession.

 

TSU (3-1, 1-0 OVC) answered on its first offensive series as quarterback Ronald Butler architected an impressive eight-play, 79 yard touchdown drive that ended in a 47-yard pass to Ryan Mitchell.

Butler’s scoring toss knotted the score at seven apiece, was TSU’s first touchdown pass of the season and the first of his and Mitchell’s careers.

 

Later in the quarter, a 43-yard punt by Leon Holderhead forced the TTU offense to start on its own one-yard line. On the Golden Eagles’ first play, running back Ladarius Vanlier coughed up the ball and TSU’s Nick Thrasher recovered, inches from the goal line.

 

On TSU’s ensuing possession, Broughton ran the ball up the right side, broke an arm tackle and forced his way into the end zone. The rushing score and PAT that followed put TSU ahead, 14-7, to start the second quarter.

 

Broughton finished the contest with 28 carries for 86 yards for a 3.1 yard per carry average.

 

After a three-and-out by TTU, Big Blue got the ball and marched it 46 yards down the field. Butler keyed the drive, completing all three of his passes for 27 yards. A sack stalled the drive in Tennessee Tech territory, but the Tigers still salvaged a 39-yard field goal by Jamin Godfrey that gave TSU a ten-point cushion with 8:24 to go before halftime.

A 52-yard field goal try by Godfrey just prior to halftime fell short and TSU went into the locker room holding a 17-7 lead.

 

Butler’s 139 passing yards at the break were the most for TSU in any full game this season.

Michael German came in at quarterback to begin the second half, but his first two drives under center did not result in points.

 

At the 9:22 mark in the third quarter and with the TTU offense on the move, TSU safety David Van Dyke picked up his FCS-leading fourth interception of the season.

 

This time, German led a scoring drive on TSU’s next offensive series that ended with a 22-yard field goal by Godfrey. The kick made the score 20-7 with 5:24 left in the third period.

 

The Tigers struck pay dirt again on their following possession as German completed a deep pass to Leonard for an 80-yard touchdown. The bomb put TSU up by 20 and nearly doubled German’s 42 yards that he tallied against Jackson State.

 

German found Leonard again early in the fourth quarter and this one also went for a touchdown. Leonard’s three-yard grab capped off a nine-play drive that spanned 58 yards and put the Tigers up 34-7. German was 3-of-5 on the drive for 43 yards.

 

TTU scored a touchdown with 7:27 left in the game and recovered a fumble on TSU’s next offensive play. The turnover set up another TTU touchdown with just over two minutes left to pull Tech within 13 at 34-21.

 

TSU eventually iced the game when German found Lavatiae Kelly wide open for a 43-yard pass and catch that resulted in the game’s final touchdown.

 

German finished 8-of-14 for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Kelly had a game-high six grabs for a career-high 95 yards.

 

Tennessee State will take a week off from OVC competition when the squad travels to St. Louis, Mo. for a matchup with Central State in the Gateway Classic on Sept. 28.

 

    Final Box

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU Nuggets rally from 2 sets down for first-ever win at Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. -- Xavier University of Louisiana rallied from a two-set deficit for a 20-25, 19-25, 25-20, 26-24, 15-13 women's volleyball victory against Mobile on Saturday.

It was the Gold Nuggets' first-ever victory at Mobile and their first-ever five-set victory on an opponent's floor. Xavier (10-7) has a season-high four-match win streak.

"The first two sets our energy and communication were lacking. The third set we found a spark about halfway through," XU coach Hannah Lawing said. "It was like the girls decided at that moment that they knew they could win and they were going to.

"(Assistant coach) Kenny (Marroccoli) and I have been telling the girls all season that we need to control the things we can control: communication, celebration, energy, attitude. The last three sets we exceeded those requirements as well as played smart and effectively."

Before Saturday, Xavier was 0-5 in five-set matches on opponents' floors. It's the fourth time in the Gold Nuggets' six seasons that they won after dropping the first two sets.

Xavier also set a school record with its fifth victory this season after losing the first set. Before Saturday, the Gold Nuggets were 2-38 on opponents' courts when dropping the first set.

Xavier snapped the season-high four-match win streak of Mobile (10-8) and ended the Lady Rams' five-match home win streak.

Xavier will travel next weekend for Gulf Coast Athletic Conference matches at Edward Waters and Talladega. The Gold Nuggets' next home matches will be Oct. 5 against Dillard and St. Thomas (Texas).

NOTES: Starting time of the Edward Waters match next Saturday was moved up two hours to 11 a.m. EDT . . . Middle blocker Kerris Crier will be honored in a Senior Night ceremony prior to the Gold Nuggets' 6 p.m. match Oct. 18 against Avila . . . The Nuggets' Dig Pink match for breast cancer awareness will start at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 against SUNO.

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

XU Rush win team, individual titles at HBCU Championships

JONESBORO, Ga. -- Xavier University of Louisiana sophomore Kyle Montrel defeated North Carolina Central's Daniil Gerasimov 6-2, 6-4 Saturday to win the men's singles A flight at the HBCU National Tennis Championships and lead the Gold Rush to its first-ever team title in this event.

Montrel became the second Gold Rush player in three years to win the singles championship in the A flight. His final three victories came against NCAA Division I opponents. Xavier is an NAIA member.

The XU men earned the team championship on a combination of matches won and bracket byes. The three-day tournament ended after rain canceled a few of the matches. Neither of the men's doubles flights were completed, and none of the three Gold Rush teams had been eliminated.

"The guys had an awesome weekend. With so many new guys, I'm happy about the way they are blending together and forming a bond," XU coach Alan Green said. "The Nuggets played well, too, and I'm excited about how well our freshmen played. This has the makings of a special year for us if we can keep this up."

XU freshman Tushar Mandlekar lost 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to Florida A&M's Zack Evenden in the men's B flight singles final. Another freshman, Sha'Nel Bruins, lost 6-0, 6-3 to Southern's top-seeded Morgan Taylor in the women's C singles semifinals.

Nikita Soifer and Jordan Harrell, seeded first in men's B doubles, defeated Bluefield State's fourth-seeded Vlad Catlan and Connor Pickering 8-2 in the semifinals. Montrel and Mandlekar led Bluefield State's Vishwesh Sinha and Aziz Yuldashev 4-3 in their A doubles semifinal when rain stopped it.

Xavier will play host to the USTA/ITA South Regional Championships, a three-day tournament which will start Friday at the XU Tennis Center and City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center.


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

Fakler wins, breaks Xavier 5K record at Fort Worth meet

Catherine Fakler

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Catherine Fakler ran 5,000 meters in a Xavier University of Louisiana-record 18 minutes, 41.03 seconds Saturday to win the women's division of the Ram Ramble Invitational cross country meet.

Fakler, a junior, beat 35 runners and broke the previous XU mark of 18:54.69 set by Zahri Jackson at the 2012 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships. Fakler is the Gold Nuggets' record holder at three distances, including 15:34 for 4,000 meters in the Mississippi College Opener on Aug. 30. Fakler has XU's three fastest 6K times and broke that record twice in 2012.

Jackson, a junior, is not competing this season because of injury.

Fakler is the first XU woman to win a regular-season race since Jackson at the 2011 University of Dallas Invitational.

Jackson's brother Kwame led the Gold Rush in the men's race. He finished sixth in a field of 27, and his 27:40.42 is the 15th-fastest 8K by an XU male in the last 11 seasons.

Also finishing for the Gold Nuggets were Donyé Coleman (seventh place, 21:09.49), Reeka Belton (ninth, 21:17.91), Hannah Finnegan (10th, 21:27.26), Hali Yarmush (13th, 21:48.02) and Danielle Rogers (24th, 23:11.94).

The other Gold Rush finishers were Brent Kitto (10th, 28:50.59), Christopher August (11th, 29:28.31), David Holobowicz (13th, 29:46.43), Aaron Yarmush (14th, 30:39.52), Charles Shaw (23rd, 31:55.28), Javon Mead (25th, 33:12.25) and Emmanuel Detiege (26th, 33:57.39).

The Gold Nuggets scored 40 points, and the Gold Rush had 43 to finish second in their respective team standings. UT Brownsville won both team championships, and UTB's David Guillen was the men's individual champion in 26:20.19.

Both XU teams will compete Friday in the Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitational at Clinton, Miss. It will be the Gold Nuggets' and Gold Rush's final meet before returning to Clinton to defend their titles in the GCAC Championships on Oct. 26.

Results:  Men    Women
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Second Half Offensive Explosion, Big Defensive Stops Fuels PVAMU's 28-26 Win Over Alabama A&M

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas  --  For the second straight week, the Prairie View A&M Panthers had their fans on the edge of their seats. Unlike last week, the Panthers came up with the big defensive play late in the game as they overcame a 12-point halftime deficit en route to a 28-26 win over Alabama A&M in their home opener at Blackshear Stadium on Saturday.

Things looked bleak for the Panthers after a half of play as Alabama A&M totaled nearly 295 yards on offense while the Panthers, who netted 700-plus offensive yards last weekend, only managed 96 yards at the half. Alabama A&M rode the legs of their running back tandem in Barrington Scott and Brandon Eldemire as the duo both scored in the first quarter en route to 211 rushing yards at the half

Whatever Prairie View A&M head coach Heishma Northern said in the locker room at the half must've resonated with the Panthers as they came out clicking on all cylinders in the second half.



The Panthers opened the second half with a 10-play, 57-yard drive which was highlighted by two long runs from Courtney Brown. Quarterback De'Auntre Smiley scored PV's first touchdown of the night with a one-yard rush for a 12-6 margin followed by Chris Barrick's PAT for the 12-7 deficit.

The Panther defense forced a three-and-out on its next possession and wasted no time in taking the lead as Smiley broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run at the 8:24 mark. The PAT was good as the Panthers claimed a 14-12 lead midway through the third quarter.

Once again, the Panther defense forced a three-and-out and the offense continued to click as running back Johnta' Hebert logged a 30-yard gain on a drive which was culminated by a 26-yard pitch-and-catch from Jerry Lovelocke to Brown. Barrick's PAT sailed thru the uprights as the team claimed a 21-12 advantage with 2:54 remaining.

Alabama A&M found success with its passing game to open the fourth quarter as quarterback Jaymason Lee connected with Jonathan Dorsey for a 13-yard touchdown reception with 13 minutes left. However, the Panther offense quickly responded on the ensuing drive as Brown broke free for a 49-yard run which set up a critical 5-yard touchdown reception from Lovelocke to wideout Gabe Dunlap at the 9:57 mark. The PAT was good as the Panthers led by two possessions at 28-19.

Once again, fans had to find their oxygen masks as Alabama A&M found success via the run on its next drive. The Bulldogs had runs of 33 and 11 yards to move into scoring position and capitalized on the opportunity as Lee found Demario Ross for a 9-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was successful as Alabama A&M trailed 28-26 with 6:35 left in the contest.

The Panthers began to slow down offensively as they were forced to punt on their next drive. However, the defense picked up the slack as safety David Metcalf intercepted Lee at the PV 30 and raced 24 yards to the AAMU 46. The Panthers failed to pick up a first down on their next drive and gave AAMU life once again as they received the ball at the PV 11 with 56 seconds remaining.

The defense came up big on its final drive of the night as they forced Lee to throw two straight incomplete passes followed by defensive tackle Michael Daniel's sack to the AAMU 6. On the final play, Desmond Gardiner iced the game as he picked off Lee for the game-clinching interception with no time remaining.

The Panthers finished Saturday's contest with 358 total yards offensively with 148 via the air and 210 coming on the ground. Brown led the Panthers with 116 rushing yards while also catching four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, senior defensive end Liki Porotesano led the Panthers with nine tackles and a half-tackle for loss.


The Panthers close out the month of September next weekend with a non-conference trip to Nacogdoches, Texas to face the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. inside Homer Bryce Stadium on the SFA campus.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

N.C. police shooting (of former FAMU football student-athlete) goes to state attorney general

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina’s attorney general said Thursday that his office will handle the prosecution of a police officer charged with fatally shooting an unarmed man. Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray said he requested the state’s help because before he was elected, Murray was a partner in the law firm representing the officer and he didn’t want to give the appearance of impropriety.

Authorities say Jonathan Ferrell was shot 10 times early on Sept. 14 by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Randall Kerrick. Police have said Ferrell may have been seeking help after a car wreck when he went to a home and knocked on the door, frightening a woman into calling 911 because she thought he was trying to break in.

"This case is clearly a tragedy and we will work to bring it to a just resolution,” said Attorney General Roy Cooper. “We have accepted the Mecklenburg District Attorney’s request to take over the prosecution of this case.”

He said the Special Prosecutions unit will handle the case in the courts and State Bureau of Investigation agents will conduct an independent investigation.

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DA in Jonathan Ferrell case recuses himself

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The district attorney in Charlotte, N.C., has recused himself from the case against a police officer charged in the killing of Jonathan Ferrell, an unarmed man the officer shot to death last weekend. Mecklenburg District Attorney Andrew Murray has referred the case to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, saying that he wanted to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest.

Before becoming district attorney in 2010, Murray was in private practice with a pair of defense attorney’s now representing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Randall Kerrick who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Ferrell’s killing. Murray had been a partner with George Laughrun and Michael Greene for 14 years before being elected to the district attorney’s office.

Kerrick is accused of gunning down Ferrell in a bizarre episode in which a panicked woman called 911 to report Ferrell as a robber when he showed up on her doorstep looking for help after his car crashed along a nearby road.

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Meet Jonathan Ferrell, The Ex-Football Player Shot Dead By Police In Charlotte, NC

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Former Florida A&M University football player Jonathan Ferrell was shot dead by a police officer Saturday morning in Charlotte, N.C., as he ran toward police seeking help after surviving a car accident. It’s a tragic story, and one that has led to the cop who shot Ferrell, one Randall Kerrick, being charged with voluntary manslaughter.

But it’s not just a story, it’s also the day that a young man lost his life under terrible circumstances, and as more people find out about his death, it’s worth taking a step back and considering just who Jonathan Ferrell was.

First of all, it seems that he was a caring person, as Ferrell was nicknamed “the shepherd” because of the way he cared for the people he knew and loved, according to The Nation.

Those loved ones include a grieving mother, Georgia Ferrell, who says she has forgiven Kerrick for killing her son, who would have been 25 years old in October.

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Albany State Rams Get Coach Mike White 100th Career Win

ALBANY, Georgia  -- It was rainy, sloppy and for the few fans who braved the wet weather to watch it, Saturday’s game between Albany State and Elizabeth City State was likely a little boring for the first half.

 

But it was also exactly what the Rams needed.

 

ASU wore out Elizabeth City in the second half for a 34-13 victory to get into the win column for the first time this year, giving Rams coach Mike White his 100th career win.

 

“To reach that milestone is huge, and it’s nice to have that,” White said. “I just wanted us to play better. I wanted that more than anything, and the 100th win had to come with it.”

 

The victory also prevented ASU (1-2) from falling to 0-3 for the first time since White’s first season as head coach in 2000.

 

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Alcorn Braves Knock Off Defending SWAC Champs UAPB, 21-16

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  -- After a tough home win against Mississippi Valley, the Braves managed to pick up another key SWAC victory on the road at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Braves accounted for 385 yards of total offense to defeat the Golden Lions 21-16 tonight at Golden Lion Stadium.

The Braves scored on their first drive on 18-yard pass from John Gibbs, Jr. to Tollette George with 10:03 to play in the 1^st quarter.

On UAPB's ensuing drive, kicker Tyler Strickland nailed a 33-yard field goal to cut the Braves lead to 7-3 with 04:34 to go in the 1^st quarter.

The Braves failed to score twice inside the red zone on an interception thrown by Gibbs and a fumble by senior Arnold Walker. UAPB attempted a 57-yard field goal just before the half but it was blocked by defensive back Anthony Williams, Jr. The Braves went into the locker room at the break with a 7-3 lead.

Less than two minutes after the half, junior running back Joe Price scampered for a 53-yard touchdown to extend the Braves lead to 14-3.

UAPB fired back with a 46-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah Young but failed to convert on the two-point conversion narrowing the Braves lead to 14-9 with 9:50 to play in the 3^rd quarter.

The Braves marched down the field once again and Walker was able to power in for the score on a 5-yard run pushing the Braves lead back to 21-9 with 11:56 to go in the game.

UAPB responded quickly on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Benjamin Anderson to Isaiah Ferguson with 9:07 left to play. The Golden Lions drive took eight plays for 49 yards in 2:56.

The Braves turned the ball over on downs and UAPB took over with 2:07 to play in the game. UAPB's Anderson ran 43 yards but the play was called back on a holding penalty. Three plays later, Anderson connected with LaDarius Eckwood on a 40-yard pass to put the Golden Lions inside the Alcorn 10. Transfer CJ Morgan stripped the ball from running Jeremiah Young to push the Golden Lions back to the 15 yard line. The Braves then forced three consecutive incompletions to hold on for the victory.

Walker finished the game with 82 yards and one touchdown to lead the Braves. Quinton Cantue and Jestin Williams both recorded a career-high 11 tackles in the Braves win.

Up next for the Braves (3-1, 2-0) is a trip to Montgomery to face Alabama State in another SWAC East showdown. Kickoff is staged for 5:30 p.m. at the New ASU Football Stadium.

Box Score

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

South Carolina State routs Benedict, 59-6

WATCH IN 720p HD, WIDE SCREEN

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Saturday saw another “Classic” performance at Williams-Brice Stadium by South Carolina State against Benedict College.

The Bulldogs’ 59-7 rout was the largest margin of victory in the 12-year history of the Palmetto Capital City Classic. Playing before an unannounced crowd which appeared smaller than past “Classic” games at the venue, S.C. State continued its dominant defensive play in collecting three turnovers and holding the Tigers to 57 rushing yards to improve to 2-2 on the season.

Senior Joe Thomas of Blackville-Hilda led the team in tackles again with 10, while left defensive end Andrew Carter had seven tackles and two of S.C. State’s five sacks of Benedict quarterback Marcus Graham to earn team game MVP honors.

“They were big and strong up front,” Benedict head coach James Moody said. “They controlled the line of scrimmage. You win that game at the line of scrimmage, it’s tough for offense or defense to get anything going. They’re a strong, strong very good football team.”

Linebacker Shaquan Brock also accounted for a score on a 55-yard interception return, one of three picks of Graham collected in the second quarter.

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Alabama State Hornets Rout Grambling State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- The Alabama State football team routed Grambling State 52-21 Saturday night as the Hornets win for the first time in New ASU Stadium.

Alabama State (2-2 overall, 2-1 SWAC) ran 97 plays and gained 667 yards total offense in beating Grambling (0-4, 0-2) for the third straight time for the first time in the series history.

Isaiah Crowell rushed 14 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and Malcolm Cyrus ran 19 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns as Alabama State won its second straight game.

"I'm excited for our players and our coaches," head coach Reggie Barlow said. "They worked really hard all summer, and working hard to put on a performance like this. It's a blessing that we are in the position to be able to coach these guys. They've been working really hard. This team has a lot of character. We've had a lot of adversity, but we stayed with it and we're proud of them."

After The Tigers scored on its second possession to take a 7-0 lead, Alabama State scored 28 consecutive points. On their final possession of the first quarter, the Hornets drove 45 yards in seven plays, all on the ground. Cyrus capped the drive with a five-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 with just over a minute to play in the period.

Alabama State scored three touchdowns in a span of just over 5 ½ minutes in the second quarter. The Hornets put together back-to-back 70+yard scoring drives. Myles Everett caught a 28-yard touchdown pass to end a five-play, 75-yard possession to give the Hornets the lead. Crowell capped off a 10-play, 79-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run. LB Daerius Washington's 19-yard interception return completed the flurry of points and gave Alabama State a 28-7 lead it would take to halftime.

In the second half, Grambling scored a pair of touchdowns in less than a minute to cut its deficit to 28-21 midway through the third period. However, Alabama State regained control on the ensuing drive, a six-play, 76-yard possession capped by a 26-yard Cyrus scoring run to give the Hornets a 35-21 lead they would take to the final period.

Alabama State scored on its first three possessions of the fourth quarter. Crowell added a 28-yard touchdown run, Arsenio Favor scored from one yard out, and Bobby Wenzig added a 22-yard field goal for the final margin.

"We just played with passion," Barlow said. "We talked about it before the game that it was important to get off to a fast start. When you feel like you are better than a team, you have to force your will on them and take their will away. That's what these guys did today. They played fast, they played physical. Our defensive front got after the quarterback, running game-wise, we ran it well."

The Hornets host Alcorn State next Saturday at 5 p.m. at the New ASU Stadium.

 

Box Score

 

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern stands tall against Mississippi Valley

ITTA BENA, Mississippi — Dawson Odums might flip on the film and see a slew of corrections flickering on the screen in his office Sunday.

But he was in a forgiving mood ahead of a ride back to the Bluff on Saturday.

Standing outside the cramped locker room of Rice-Totten Stadium, the Southern coach declared his tolerance was softened by the 17-7 victory against Mississippi Valley State, one where a defense that has had its troubles this season almost pitched a shutout and a timely passing game picked up a sluggish ground attack.

“When it’s all said and done, no matter how many you win by,” Odums said, “what we try and tell our guys (is), the ‘W’ is important.”

None of the 3,986 fans would award style points to Southern (2-2, 2-0 SWAC) or Valley (0-4, 0-2), though.

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Southern cornerback D’Andre Woodland makes plays while filling in for Virgil Williams

ITTA BENA, Mississippi — Southern worked during the week hoping Virgil Williams, one of its senior captains and a top cornerback in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, would be healthy enough to play.

However, it was announced Friday he wouldn’t be able to play.

So, Southern turned to junior D’Andre Woodland.

And step up Woodland did.

“I think (Woodland) did an outstanding job,” coach Dawson Odums said. “It’s hard to replace No. 7. He’s valuable. We miss him, and he would make our defense a lot better.”

In replacing the Jaguars’ best defensive player, Woodland compiled six tackles, including two for loss, a pass breakup and a key fumble recovery early in the first quarter.

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Southern enjoys best first half of season at Valley

ITTA BENA, Miss. — After being outscored 86-26 in the first halves of three games this season, Southern was able to reverse its early game struggles Saturday.

Southern took a 3-0 lead into halftime after kicker Greg Pittman connected on a 22-yard field goal with 1:44 to play in the half in what eventually became a 17-7 victory.

Pittman’s field goal was set up by a 45-yard pass from quarterback Dray Joseph to wide receiver Willie Quinn on third-and-12 from the Jaguars’ 28.

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Week 4: HBCU Football ScoreCard Finals

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013

SWAC
Jackson State 35, Texas Southern 7  Highlights  » Thursday
Southern 17, Mississippi Valley State 7 
Alabama State 52, Grambling State 21
Prairie View A&M 28, Alabama A&M 26
Alcorn State 21, Arkansas Pine Bluff 16 

OVC
Tennessee State 41, Tennessee Tech 21 ESPN Highlights  »  Watch Replay 

MEAC
#4Ohio State 76, Florida A&M 0  ESPN Highlights  »  ESPN Photos
#4Towson 35, North Carolina Central 17 
#1(FCS) North Dakota State 51, Delaware State 0  ESPN Highlights  »Watch Replay 
Charleston Southern 20, Norfolk State 12 
South Carolina State 59, Benedict 6
#8 Florida State  54, Bethune-Cookman  6  ESPN Highlights  »  Watch Replay 
Coastal Carolina 50, Hampton 17 
Western Kentucky 58, Morgan State 17  ESPN Highlights  »  Watch Replay 
#16 Miami (Florida) 77, Savannah State 7  ESPN Highlights  »  Watch Replay 

CIAA
Winston-Salem State 35, Tuskegee 13 at Cleveland, Ohio 
Bowie State 16, Concord 10 
Sacred Heart 78, Chowan 35
UNC Pembroke 41, Shaw  20 at Wilmington, N.C. 
St. Augustine’s 35, Stillman 7 
Livingstone 23, Edward Waters 20
St. Francis, Pa. 38, Lincoln, Pa. 7 
Johnson C. Smith 35, Davidson 22
Virginia State 41, Kentucky State 0 
Albany State 27, Elizabeth City State 7 
Fayetteville State 21,Virginia Union 7 

OTHER CONFERENCES AND INDEPENDENTS
West Liberty 9, West Virginia State 0 
Bowie State 16, Concord 10
UNC Pembroke 41, Shaw 20 at Wilmington, N.C.  
Hardin-Simmons 66, Texas College 34 
Missouri Southern 59, Lincoln, Mo. 10 
Lock Haven 12, Cheyney 10
Nicholls State 42, Langston 22
Millsaps 38, Point U. 17
Southern Virginia 33, Virginia University Lynchburg 30 

SIAC
Taylor 27, Lane 21 
Winston-Salem State 35, Tuskegee 13 
St. Augustine’s 35, Stillman 7 
Virginia State 41, Kentucky State 0 
Fort Valley State 12, Clark Atlanta 9  2OT
South Carolina State 59,  Benedict College 6 
Morehouse 42, Central State (Ohio) 20 
Concordia-Selma at Miles College Canceled
Albany State 34, Elizabeth City State 13

All Game Times are stated in Eastern Time Zone


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Morehouse wins a wild Chicago Football Classic

CHICAGO, Illinois  -- Start with two desperate, winless Division II teams, add a new offensive coordinator for one side, a third-string freshman quarterback for the other. Then bring them to Soldier Field. What do you get?

Chaos. Lots of it.

In a game with two blocked kicks, four missed field goals and an interception returned for a touchdown by a 310-pound defensive lineman, Morehouse prevailed 42-20 against Central State on Saturday in the Chicago Football Classic, an annual game featuring historically black colleges and universities.

Freshman Monqavious Johnson showed flashes of talent and dashes of inexperience as he guided the Maroon Tigers (1-2, 1-0 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) to a much-needed first win.

"I just went out there, remained calm, kept my composure and just had fun," he said. "I need to limit my mistakes and capitalize off the opponents' mistakes."

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Bowie Bulldogs Hold On For 16-10 Home Opening Win Over Concord (W.Va.)

BOWIE, Maryland  -- Playing at home for the first time this season, the Bowie State University Bulldogs football team had to hold until the very end before claiming a 16-10 victory over the Concord University Mountain Lions.

The loss, Concord's first of the season, drops the Mountain Lions' record to 2-1 overall on the year. Bowie State improves to 2-1 with the victory. As a team, Concord held advantages over Bowie State in first downs (16-9), total yards (266-208) and passing yards (175-42).

Redshirt junior Keith Brown (Temple Hills, Md.) rushed for a career-high 149 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead Bowie State on offense. Redshirt sophomore Antoine Young (Washington, D.C.) racked up a game-high 14 total tackles to pace the Bulldogs defense. Redshirt sophomore Curtis Pumphrey (Laurel, Md.) was credited with eight total tackles on the afternoon and fellow redshirt sophomore Paxton Queen added six total tackles.

The Mountain Lions were led by junior wide receiver Darrick Williams (Baltimore, Md.) who caught eight passes for 67 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Tiko Henderson (Lancaster, Va.) caught five passes for 49 yards.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Brian Novak (College Park, Md.) went 22-for-47 for 175 yards. Novak also ran for 29 yards and a touchdown. Fellow redshirt freshman Sam Wright (Roanoke, Va.) ran for a team-best 33 yards on 14 attempts.

Defensively, Concord was paced by junior defensive lineman Keith Ferguson (Bluefield, W.Va.), who made 10 tackles including two tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Gary Saylor (New Market, Md.) added eight stops while senior linebacker Jake Lilly (Bluefield, W.Va.) and sophomore defensive lineman Ervin Moore (Lancaster, S.C.) each chipped in seven tackles.

After trading possessions for much of the first quarter, Concord was able to strike first midway through the first quarter with a 24-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Andy Ellington Scott Depot, W.Va.), capping off a 12-play, 39-yard drive which featured two successful fourth-down conversions for the Mountain Lions.
Box Score    

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Davidson's Carkhuff Breaks Passing Records in Loss to JCSU

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Davidson senior quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff threw for a school record 464 yards, but Johnson C. Smith used big plays and a relentless pass rush to defeat the Wildcats, 35-22, in non-conference football action Saturday afternoon in Irwin Belk Complex.

Davidson (0-3) was the first to score, but Johnson C. Smith (3-0) scored the next four touchdowns to take control of the game. The Golden Bulls countered Carkhuff's prolific passing by sacking him 13 times for 93 yards, led by Jovantay Williams with 3.5. Anthony Allen also made a game-high 17 tackles for JCSU, including 1.5 sacks. Additionally, the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs twice in the red zone and were penalized 11 times for 127 yards.

Carkhuff completed 26 of 39 passing attempts for 464 yards and two touchdowns, becoming Davidson's career passing leader with 9,531 yards. He also moved past current head coach and 2003 graduate Paul Nichols into second place on Davidson's career touchdown list with his 51st and 52nd touchdown passes. Also enjoying career days were William Morris, who caught eight passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, Garrett Diehl, who caught five passes for a career high 79 yards, and #A.J. Pignone# who had career highs rushing for 92 yards and his first career rushing touchdown, as well as catching three passes for 66 yards and his first career receiving touchdown.

For the Golden Bulls, Keahn Wallace completed 22 of 42 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were over 30 yards. Chris Patterson was his top target, catching nine passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. LeAnder Barney rushed for 135 yards on 22 catches to lead JCSU on the ground.

The game started off slow as both teams punted on their first three drives, before the Wildcats drove 90 yards on seven plays to score first late in the first quarter. A 21-yard run by Pignone and a 51-yard reception by Garrett Diehl keyed the drive, and then Pignone rushed into the end zone from 11 yards out with 2:31 remaining. A rush on the point-after attempt by Trey Huelskamp gave the 'Cats two points for an early 8-0 lead.

The Golden Bulls answered on their next possession though as Wallace connected with Patterson on a 36-yard touchdown to make it an 8-7 game. Davidson reached the JCSU five on its next drive, but Carkhuff was sacked on third down for a loss of nine and failed convert on 4th-and-goal from the 14. JCSU drove down the field from there and Wallace capped a 12-play, 86-yard drive with a leap over the linemen from inside the one with 9:50 remaining in the second quarter. He then connected with Avius Capers on JCSU's next possession on a 35-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline for a 21-8 lead with 6:57 to go in the half.

The score would remain the same until Denzel Hartley scored for JCSU on a four-yard touchdown run with 8:57 remaining in the third quarter. Davidson punter John Cook had pinned the Bulls on their own two-yardline, but a 77-yard reception by Patterson moved JCSU from its own 18 to the Davidson five.
           
JCSU nearly scored on its next drive, but Myles Atkins made a stop on 4th-and-goal at the one. Davidson drove 97 yards, aided by a 49-yard reception by Morris and a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, but was stopped on 4th-and-goal at the two.

The 'Cats finally cut into JCSU's 28-8 lead with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Morris and another successful two-point conversion with 13:32 remaining in the game, but JCSU answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Patterson. Pignone scored on a 61-yard touchdown reception with 1:19 remaining for the final margin.

The game concluded non-conference play for Davidson for the season. The Wildcats will open their Pioneer Football League slate Saturday at Morehead State.

Notes: Mills Ariail '94 served as an honorary captain for Davidson … Carkhuff's previous career high for passing yards in a game was 427, which came against Johnson C. Smith in 2011 … The previous single-game passing yards record was 431, set by Damion White vs. Coastal Carolina on September 4, 2011 … The previous career passing yards leader was Ryan Alexander '08, who threw for 9,376 yards … The all-time series between Davidson and JCSU is now even at 2-2.

Box Score

COURTESY DAVIDSON COLLEGE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

No. 4 Towson Tigers Avoid Upset Bid at NCCU, 35-17

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- Junior Terrance West for 139 yards on 31 carries and scored two touchdowns as No. 4 Towson University avoided an  upset bid by North Carolina Central (2-2) and won its eighth game in a row, a 35-17 victory over the Eagles at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

 

The Tigers, who outscored their opponents by a 132-33 margin in their first three games, didn’t clinch the win over North Carolina Central until freshman Darius Victor scored on a 10-yard run with 1:35 remaining in the game.

 

“We got a wake-up call,” admitted Coach Rob Ambrose. “We made more mistakes today than we did in our first three games. Nobody on our team played well and the players all know it. We won this game because we stayed together as a team and worked together. But we did enough to win and now we’re 4-0.”

 

COURTESY TOWSON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Sacred Heart Victorious Over Chowan on Homecoming

FAIRFIELD, Connecticut --  The Sacred Heart Pioneers scored a program record 78 points on their way to a convincing 78-35 victory over the Chowan University Hawks Saturday afternoon on Homecoming weekend at Campus Field.

The previous all-time SHU record for points was 62 points scored in a 1995 Sacred Heart victory over Curry College.  Sacred Heart improves to 4-0 this time for the first time since 2008.

Sophomore quarterback R.J Noel (Lowell, MA) completed 9 of 15 passes and tossed three touchdowns, as he stays unbeaten in a Pioneer uniform.

Junior running back Keshaudas Spence (Dorchester, MA) ran for 78 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. Senior Tino Perrina (Reading, MA) added 74 yards on the ground.

Senior Greg Moore (Newark, NJ) recorded a career high 111 yards receiving and a touchdown.
On special teams, Senior wide receiver Robert Dim (Sicklerville,NJ) blocked two punts, both of which led to Pioneer touchdowns. Dim blocked three punts last season.

Sacred Heart scored a school record 50 points in the first half, taking a 50-21 lead into halftime.

SHU found themselves in a hole early, as Chowan scored a touchdown on their first offensive play to quickly quiet the homecoming crowd. Quarterback Cameron Stover faked a bubble screen on the left side and then found Anthony Clanton down the sideline for a 68-yard touchdown.

Chowan added to their early lead after a failed Sacred Heart snap on a punt gave the Hawks a first and goal on the nine-yard line.  On the next play, Stover found Robert Holland in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown to give Chowan the 14-0 lead.

Down 14-0, SHU immediately fired back, scoring 36 unanswered points to seize control of the game.  Noel hooked up with Dube from 23 yards out to give Sacred Heart its first score of the game.  Dube snuck behind the Chowan safety for a walk-in touchdown.

Following a Denis Regan (Philadelphia, PA) interception and subsequent 22-yard return, junior running back Sean Bell (Medford Lakes, NJ) ran in for a touchdown from five yards out to score Sacred Heart's second touchdown.

Special teams came up with the big play for SHU's next score.  Freshman wide out David Berment (Dorchester, MA) returned a Robert Dim blocked punt 6 yards for a touchdown to give SHU the 22-14 lead.

Noel found Dube again for a touchdown in the second quarter, this time from 15 yards out to give the Pioneers a 29-14 lead.

After both teams exchanged punts, Dim struck again on special teams, this time blocking a punt to give Sacred Heart a first and ten at the Chowan 21-yard line. After an 11-yard reception by Moore, Spence rambled in from four yards out to give SHU the 36-14 lead.

Spence scored his second touchdown of the game and junior Gordon Hill (Sicklerville, NJ) intercepted a pass and returned it 44 yards to the house to cap Sacred Heart's scoring at 50 points in the first half.

To start the second half, Sacred Heart scored touchdowns on back-to-back fumble recoveries. First, it was sophomore linebacker Kellen Sperduto (Oldwick, NJ) ripping the ball out of Chowan running back DaSean Martin's hands and returning it 20 yards to the end zone. Next, it was junior Preston Sanford (Birmingham, AL) picking up and returning a Denis Regan forced fumble 40 yards to the end zone.

In the win, The Sacred Heart defense recorded 12 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.

Sacred Heart looks for five in a row next weekend when they travel to take on the Bucknell Bison next Saturday night.

BOX SCORE  Video

COURTESY SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Cleveland Classic: Winston-Salem dominates Tuskegee, 35-13

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tuskegee scored a touchdown on the very first play from scrimmage Saturday at the 2013 Cleveland Classic at FirstEnergy Stadium. For the rest of the game, it was all Winston-Salem State.

The Rams, 19th-ranked in Division II, improved to 2-1 with five unanswered touchdowns – two in the first quarter and two in the third quarter – with a 35-13 win over the 17th-ranked Golden Tigers (2-1), handing Tuskegee its first loss.

“We played well in all three aspects – offense, defense and special teams,” Winston-Salem coach Connell Maynor said. “We gave up that first big play, but we recovered and played Ram defense the rest of the way. Offensively, we established ourselves with two long drives for scores, and I think that kind of changed the momentum and changed the tone of the game.”

The Rams gained 222 yards on the ground and 245 yards through the air, outgaining Tuskegee 467-286.

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A Saturday afternoon with a breeze: Ohio State coasts past Florida A&M, 76-0

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jordan Hall bounced to his right and extended his forearm to thwart off any potential tacklers. He had one body in his way: the referee.

The poor official took Hall's elbow to his side before being buried by a Florida A&M defender in pursuit. He also proved to be the only obstacle standing in Ohio State's path on Saturday.

The Buckeyes battered the Rattlers, 76-0 at The Horseshoe, behind a school-record six touchdown passes from quarterback Kenny Guiton.

Ohio State paid Florida A&M $900,000 to make the trek to Columbus. The Buckeyes got their money's worth.

ESPN Highlights  » 

 
Guiton tossed all six of his scores in the first half. Playing in place of Braxton Miller for the second consecutive week, Guiton became the first quarterback in program history to throw for four or more touchdowns in each of his first two starts.

Urban Meyer's bunch tallied five first-quarter touchdowns. An errant Guiton pass on Ohio State's opening drive resulted in an interception in the end zone, but Florida A&M's Patrick Aiken attempted a return and fumbled the ball back to the Buckeyes on the three-yard line. Hall punched it in on the ensuing snap.

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Bethune-Cookman excited about opportunity to play Florida State

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -- Normally when Bethune-Cookman steps up in competition, coach Brian Jenkins will downplay the magnitude of the game while throwing in an apology to his opponent, as in, “No offense to (opponent here), but we treat this game like any other game.''

But this week, Jenkins went all Vince Dooley on Florida State, going as far as saying he thinks the No. 8 Seminoles are “destined to win a national championship.''

FSU (2-0) will host B-CU (3-0) at 6 p.m. today at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. And the usually stoic Wildcats, who are coming off their first win against a top-tier Division I opponent, seem genuinely excited to step into one of college football's most venerated arenas.

 

“You get a chance to go up against one of the best programs not only in the state but in the nation and you've got to get excited about that opportunity and the 'what if,' '' Jenkins said. “A lot of fans are excited. Everybody's excited. There's excitement in the air for our program and for our university, period.''

 

The Wildcats enter the game riding high after trouncing Florida International 34-13 last week. Now the stakes go up as they will face one of the top teams in the nation.

 

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PVAMU Panther Football Prepares For Home Opener This Weekend

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

OPPONENT: Alabama A&M

TIME: 6:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Prairie View, Texas

WEATHER:   http://www.weather.com/weather/tomorrow/Prairie+View+TX+77446:4:US

PV GAME NOTES: Click Here

AAMU GAME NOTES: TBA

INTERNET VIDEO:  http://pvpanthers.com/showcase/

RADIO: KPVU 91.3 FM (Leonard Moon)

INTERNET RADIO: http://129.207.137.200/kpvulive

LIVE STATS: Click Here

FACEBOOK: Prairie View A&M Panther Athletics

TWITTER: PVAthletics

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M ROSTER: www.pvpanthers.com/roster.aspx?path=football

AAMU ROSTER: http://aamusports.com/roster.aspx?path=football

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Prairie View A&M returns home to the friendly confines of Blackshear Field for the first time this season as they host the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a key SWAC match-up on Saturday evening at 6 p.m.  Both teams enter the game looking to get back on the winning track as both fell in contrasting fashions last weekend on the road.

The Panthers are coming off an emotional double overtime loss to Southern last weekend in Baton Rouge, La. while Alabama A&M fell to South Carolina State in a non-conference match-up.  Prairie View A&M enters today's game looking to snap a two-game slide to the Bulldogs which dates back to 2011.  When A&M entered the SWAC in 1999, the contest was scheduled in September until 2004 when the series was pushed back to the end of the season.  Prairie View A&M began to have success against the Bulldogs when playing in November as they rattled off six straight wins until 2011. 

When playing in September, the series favors AAMU as they're 5-0 against the Panthers during that span.

Offensively, the Panthers feature a balanced attack led by junior quarterback Jerry Lovelocke (755 yards passing, 3 TDs), running back Courtney Brown (114 ypg, 5 TD), running back Johnta' Hebert (72 ypg, 4 TD) and wide receiver Deandre Cooper (21 receptions).  Defensively, linebackers Raheem Cardwell, Jerome Howard and Jamespaul Bryant lead the way with 37, 26 and 19 tackles, respectively.  Howard has a team-high three sacks and six tackles for loss.



COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Perceived role as big favorite worries S.C. State’s Pough

COLUMBIA, South Carolina  -- A big favorite against a smaller Palmetto State school hungry to pull a major upset, only to get eventually overwhelmed by the larger, more resourceful larger school.

South Carolina State played the underdog role two weeks ago when it traveled to Memorial Stadium to face third-ranked Clemson. Despite the Bulldogs’ best effort, the Tigers dominated from the outset to pull off a 52-13 victory.

Different Tiger, different role for S.C. State today at Williams-Brice Stadium. This time, it’s the Bulldogs who enjoy the perceived personnel advantages against a Division II Benedict College team it has defeated 11 straight times and defeated by an average of 43.3 points in the previous three Palmetto Capital City Classic meetings.

The Goliath mantle is something S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough has been reluctant to wear entering today’s game. In fact, he sees a closer gap competitively between Benedict and S.C. State as compared to his team and Clemson.



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