Tuskegee defeats Fort Valley 21-13 in rematch of 2012 SIAC title game

FORT VALLEY, Georgia - Tuskegee defeated Fort Valley State in their fifth consecutive road game to start the 2013 season by a score of 21-13 Saturday, in a rematch of the 2013 SIAC Championship Game.  With the victory came a possible momentum-shifting moment in the 2013 season, as Tuskegee experienced the ultimate agony after being initially exuberant upon taking a lead that they wouldn't surrender in the second quarter.

 

Tyree fumbled a pitch from quarterback Justin Nared but was able to run the pigskin in from 36 yards out to give the Golden Tigers a 14-7 lead.  However, starting Junior Nared sustained a serious injury on what looked to be on his throwing shoulder, and he did not play a down in the game's final two and a half quarters.

A quick drive to start the second half gave the Golden Tigers a 21-7 lead, as Michael D. Thornton ran in the game-clinching touchdown from two yards out.  Jonquez Sanders scored on an eight-yard touchdown run for the Wildcats late in the game, but Tuskegee was able to run the remaining 4:13 in regulation off of the clock.

 

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Fayetteville State Clipps Chowan 35-29 in Triple Overtime

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  -- Fayetteville State (3-2 overall), riding a two-game win streak, clipped the Hawks of Chowan (2-3 overall) 35-29 in triple overtime at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. CIAA Quarterback of the Week Derek Bryant (Carrboro, NC), once again took over the game with 324 passing yards on 22-of-33 attempts and three throwing touchdowns. Juwan Moye hauled in seven receptions for 165 yards and two scores.

"It was an emotional rollercoaster for the most part; but our guys hung in there. We talked about it all week that they (Chowan) were going to be a good football team coming in. I told the guys that it was probably going to come down to the wire; and tonight it did," Head Coach Lawrence Kershaw recaps.

"We were tired of losing in the second half; we came to a conclusion that we have to finish the game. Coach always talks about momentum changers. They are going to have their ups and downs; but we have to keep playing ball and doing what we were told to do", adds junior linebacker John Brown, who finished the game with four tackles for a combined loss of 30 yards.

Fayetteville State gained 587 total yards on offense. The Broncos gained 146 on the ground with 41 attempts and 441 yards through the air. Fayetteville State decreased its penalties to seven for 62 yards.

Chowan (1-1 CIAA) had five turnovers (two fumbles and three interceptions) and were whistled for seven penalties for 164 yards. The Hawks had 330 yards of total offense; which came from 301 yards of passing and 29 yards of rushing.

Fayetteville State, which has a rich history of producing teachers, dedicated today's game to all of the educators in Cumberland County and around the world during the National Educator Appreciation Day. The Broncos, 2-0 in conference play, also donned pink articles within its uniform to help raise the awareness of breast cancer.

The Broncos stalled on its first drive of the game but found the end zone with its second opportunity. On a four-play 75-yard drive, Jemeryn Jenkins slipped would-be tacklers and advanced the ball 49 yards down the field for his longest rush of the season. With the ball on the 24-yard line and facing the red zone, Andre Montgomery dashed up the middle for the first score of the game with 10:47 on the clock. Antonio Mayo nailed the extra point.

The FSU defense forced Chowan into its second three-and-out drive which provided the offense with its third attempt on its own nine-yard line. A pass interference call moved the line of scrimmage to the Broncos 22-yard line. Jenkins continued with the pass attack to move the chains. The starting QB connected with Juwan Moye for 32 yards and FSU's second 1st down of the drive. He found Tevin Clay for another 1st with a 10-yard reception. On the pursuing play, the two linked up again for 18 yards and finally from 11 yards out for the Broncos second touchdown of the game. As the holder for extra-point kicks, Moyer kept the snap for a two-point conversion and 15-0 lead. The nine-play drive covered 91 yards in a little over five minutes.

Late in the second quarter, Chowan scored with 1:19 left before intermission. Willie Hickman snatched a Jenkins pass at the 41-yard line and returned it for a pick-six. Alex Noboa kicked the extra point which led to the 15-7 halftime score.

The Hawks evened the score at 15-15 near the top of the third quarter. Chowan started its successful drive with 10:56 on the clock and the ball on its 18-yard line. Cameron Stover threw the long ball to Robert Holland who ran 45 yards to the Broncos seven-yard line. Dain McFarland finished the drive with a two-yard pass to Ryan Nolan with 7:06 left in the quarter. The drive lasted 11 plays and covered 82 yards.

Derek Bryant took over FSU's offense after the thrown interception in the second quarter and remained under center after intermission. Bryant led the Broncos first drive of the fourth quarter from its four-yard line down to Chowan's 20. The drive accumulated 172 yards but ended without putting points on the boards. FSU missed a 38-yard field goal with 9:14 left in the game.

Fayetteville State gained an advantage with 38 seconds left in the game.

Bryant threw a 20-yard completed pass to Dwayne Lorrick which advanced the score to 22-15. The 79-yard drive took five plays.  Chowan faced 34 seconds left in the game and the ball on its 40-yard line. McFarland threw to Holland for a 21-yard gain and ball placement on the Broncos 39-yard line. McFarland found Nolan for 24 yards which advanced the line of scrimmage to FSU's 15. The Hawks stopped the clock with five seconds left and caught a break on the following play with a pass interference call that placed the ball on the two-yard line with two seconds left.

The Broncos secondary missed an assignment which led to McFarland throwing a touchdown pass to the wide open Holland. The made extra point knotted the score at 22 at the end of regulation.

Chowan faced 34 seconds left in the game and the ball on its 40-yard line. McFarland threw to Holland for a 21-yard gain and ball placement on the Broncos 39-yard line. McFarland found Nolan for 24 yards which advanced the line of scrimmage to FSU's 15. The Hawks stopped the clock with five seconds left and caught a break on the following play with a pass interference call that placed the ball on the two-yard line with two seconds left. The Broncos secondary missed an assignment which led to McFarland throwing a touchdown pass to the wide open Holland. The made extra point knotted the score at 22 at the end of regulation.

Fayetteville State deferred after winning the coin toss which gave Chowan the first possession in overtime. On the Hawks first play, Travis Scales intercepted McFarland pass in the end zone. The Broncos, facing fourth-and-three, missed a 35-yard field goal that sent the game into double-overtime. With the next possession, Bryant completed a nine-yard pass to Antonio Allen to one-up the Hawks 29-22.

The last time Fayetteville State faced extra periods in Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium was in 2009 when the Broncos lost the inaugural Two Rivers Classic to UNC Pembroke.  The one-score advantage vanished when Chowan's Mcfarland threw a six-yard score to Holland. On the second play of the third overtime period, Simeon Marshall intercepted the ball which ended the Hawks chances.

With hopes of ending the game, Bryant incited pandemonium with a ten-yard pass to Juwan Moye which became the game winner.

Final Stats

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MVSU Delta Devils get Revenge upsetting A&M on Homecoming 28-9

NORMAL, Alabama  -- Head coach Anthony Jones could only hang his head as he watch a second straight homecoming loss at the hands of another Mississippi team.

Alabama A&M loss Homecoming 2013 28-9 to Mississippi Valle State University for the second straight year in a row and a first against the Delta Devils since 2006.

The Bulldogs completed a season low four passes on 22 tries between two different quarterbacks. Brandon Wells, who started the contest, finished three of 16 for 56 yards while Chris Leachman went one of six for 21 yards. Wells threw four interceptions partially due to a broken finger while Leachman totaled one turnover after trying to score on a Hail Mary. Well's also ran the ball eight times for 20 yards.

Ball State transfer Barrington Scott rushed for a season high 159 yards on 22 carries with a long of 25 yards. This was his third game with 20 plus carries and his second with 100 plus yards. Brandon Eldemire went 57 yards on 10 touches and the only score for AAMU. Coming off an ACL tear in the spring, Brendon Johnson carried the ball three times for 26 yards.

"When I fumbled the ball I got rolled up on my legs which caused me to let the ball go," Scott mentioned. "No matter what I did it's another loss which does not feel good."

A&M was never in the game offensively posting only one double digit drive and four out of 16 drives that went eight plays or more. Of the 16 drives five ended in interceptions, six ended in punts, while one ended in a fumble, a missed field goal and downs. Eldemire's TD was the only drive that finished with a score.

After the Maroon & White won the toss and chose to defer, Valley scored after three plays to take a 6-0 lead. The Delta Devils then increased their lead after a pick allowed Valley to take a 12-0 lead in the first quarter.

A&M finally got things started when MVSU's punt returner Kenneth Dabney fumbled a punt and recovered it in the end zone giving A&M their second safety of the year.

Valley then scored again on a pick six by Avery Boykins for 52 yards. The Bulldogs finally got things going on Brandon Eldemire's 14 yard rush to put A&M within striking distance 18-9. Unfortunately Valley would add to their lead with a 37 yard field goal to give the Delta Devils a 21-9 advantage at halftime.

The third quarter was played with no one scoring but the fourth showed Valley was the dominate team after another touchdown to seal the deal and give them their first victory of the season.

"Offensively we had our opportunities but we didn't take advantage of them," Jones commented. "A lot of people blame the QB when you lose and congratulate him when you win, that's what comes with the position. We tried different things to help the passing game but we still couldn't make plays."

"When you don't take advantage of your opportunities and don't give yourself a chance then you will not win," said Jones. "We didn't do that today and that's why we didn't win."

A&M falls to 2-4 overall on the year and 2-2 in the Eastern division conference of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

The Maroon & White will hit the road for the remainder of October. First up is a date with the Jaguars of Southern University on Saturday, October 12^th, at 6:00 p.m.



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Howard Mistakes Doom The Bison in Loss to NCCU

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- Greg McGhee and Jonathan Booker put on an impressive offensive play, combining for three touchdowns, but too many mistakes, including two on special teams, proved to be too much to overcome as Howard dropped a 37-28 decision to North Carolina Central in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Greene Stadium.
               
It was the first home game of the season for the Bison (1-4, 0-2 in the MEAC), who entered the game with a five-game win streak.  But the Eagles (3-2, 1-0 in the MEAC) set the tone early by scoring on their first possession.  Idreis Augustus capped off an eight-play drive with a six-yard run.  The PAT attempt was blocked but NCCU held a 6-0 lead. 
              
Howard countered on its first possession when McGhee engineered a 13-play, 78-yard drive that used almost five minutes off the clock.  Booker caught a 20-yard strike from McGhee as the Bison led, 7-6.
               
NCCU came back with another short drive that set up by one of its fine special teams plays on the day.  Dequadis Tucker scored from 17 yards to make, 13-7 early in the second quarter.     
          
But McGhee was not to be outdone.  The junior put together another drive, this time 64 yards on 10 plays.  It ended with McGhee connecting with Stewart Hartman on a 9-yard hookup.

It was Howard's last lead of the game. 
              
It was there that the Eagles began to take control.  With less than two minutes remaining in the half, NCCU's Jordan Reid drove his team 52 yards in 10 plays to set up a 48-yard field goal at the half to give NCCU the lead for good at 16-14 at intermission.
               
The Eagles used that as a momentum builder.  The defense forced the Bison to turn over the ball on downs.  Howard's John Fleck hit a 46 yard punt that Adrian Wilkins field at his own 11, found a seam in the Howard defense and raced 89 yards for the score. 
              
NCCU was not finished.  After Howard had to settle for a field goal attempt on its next possession, the Eagles struck again with a big play on special teams.  Fleck's field goal attempt was blocked and returned 50 yards by Tim Thaniel for a TD that opened a 30-14 advantage at the 5:52 mark of the third quarter. 
              
"We had a lot of missed opportunities," lamented Howard head coach Ray Petty.  "We had a missed field goal and our special teams just wasn't as good as theirs today." 
              
Added NCCU interim head Coach Dwayne Foster.  "We talked all week about special teams and the importance of making something happen in the kicking game.  Whether it was get a big return, block a punt or field goal, these guys stepped up to the challenge of making something happen."  
             
Howard appeared to wake up when McGhee went to work, this time taking his team 90 yards in 15 plays, finishing it off with a 20-yard strike to Booker for their second hookup. 
              
But NCCU was not to be denied.  The visitors put the game away when Reid scored on a 54-yard scamper with 4:24 remaining.
               
The Bison would add a late touchdown when McGhee and Booker got together for the third time on the day from 19 yards out.  McGhee accounted for 366 yards of total offense, going 31 of 48 for 328 yards and a career-high four TD passes.  Booker grabbed a career-high 10 passes for 154 yards and three TDs. 
              
"Overall, tempo was pretty high.  We got line up the way and were moving the ball okay.  But we didn't win and that's what matters.  We fought through all four quarters but we have got to make corrections because we have to get a win." 
              
The Howard defense held the Eagles to 269 yards of total offense, but the Eagles offset that with 270 yards of return yards and three blocked kicks.
               
"We did not ensure protection on the special teams," said Petty. "We did some good things on defense and we moved the ball and scored some points but the two special teams mistakes in the third quarter were crucial because we were never able to recover from it.  We have to find a way to bounce back."    

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

WEEK 6: HBCU Football Schedule and ScoreCard Finals

Saturday, Oct 5, 2013


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OVC
Tennessee State 40, Southeast Missouri State 16

MEAC
Norfolk State 26, Savannah State 24
Morgan State 34, Florida A&M 21 (Homecoming)
North Carolina Central 37, Howard 28
Bethune-Cookman 21, Delaware State 7
South Carolina State 29, North Carolina A&T 24 Watch Replay 

SWAC
Mississippi Valley State 28, Alabama A&M 9
Alcorn State 57, Warner Southern 0 (Homecoming)
Prairie View A&M 31, Grambling State 3 at Dallas
Jackson State 42, Arkansas Pine Bluff  33 
Alabama State 34, Texas Southern 2 

CIAA
Virginia Union 32, Livingstone 25
Virginia State 14, Shaw 10
Winston-Salem State 56, Bowie State 21
Elizabeth City State 26, Saint Augustine’s 25
Johnson C. Smith 49, Lincoln (Pa.) 10
Fayetteville State 35, Chowan 29, 3 OT

SIAC
Kentucky State 49, Alderson-Brodus 20
Miles 27, Benedict 13
West Texas A&M 72, Central State (Ohio) 0  (Homecoming)
Lane 28, Stillman  27
Tuskegee 21, Fort Valley State 13
Clark-Atlanta 21, Morehouse 17


OTHER CONFERENCES & INDEPENDENTS
Ave Maria 48, Concordia-Selma 34 (Homecoming)
Mercyhurst 63, Cheyney 14
Urbana 62 West Virginia State 10 (Homecoming)
Virginia University-Lynchburg 37, Edward Waters 20 (Homecoming)
Emporia State 52, Lincoln (Mo.) 14 (Homecoming)


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Williams sparks B-CU to 21-7 win over Delaware State

DOVER, Delaware  -- After a sluggish first half, Bethune-Cookman needed a spark. So, Quentin Williams provided it.

 

The quarterback came off the bench to start the second half and led 21st-ranked B-CU to a 21-7 victory over Delaware State in its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener Saturday in Dover, Del.

 

“This definitely was a big win today,’’ said safety Nick Addison, whose interception with 4:33 left iced the win for the Wildcats (4-1, 1-0), their 14th in a row against MEAC competition. “We needed this to help us get momentum.’’

 

Williams ran for a 31-yard touchdown and connected with Eddie Poole on a 15-yard TD pass. Williams completed all four of his passes for 86 yards.

 

Poole had four catches for 103 yards, including a 50-yard reception that set up his touchdown grab with 4:40 remaining.

 

“It was good for us to find a way to get it done in the second half,’’ B-CU coach Brian Jenkins said.

The Wildcats went into halftime tied 7-7 and looking for a way to stop the Hornets’ passing attack.

 

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NSU Spartans Survive Late Field Goal Try, Top Savannah State 26-24

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Cameron Marouf  kicked the go-ahead 33-yard field goal with 1:10 left, and the Spartans deflected Savannah State kicker John Barron's 49-yard field goal attempt with 2 seconds left to hold on for a 26-24 win over the Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.

Barron's field goal was tipped at the line by NSU linebacker Lynden Trail and fell harmlessly into the end zone as the Spartans improved to 2-3 overall, 2-0 in the MEAC. The Tigers dropped to 1-5 overall, 0-2 in the MEAC.

Trail had another monster game, finishing with 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two pass breakups. For the second straight week, he made a substantial impact in other areas of the game, catching a touchdown pass for the second game in a row in addition to his blocked field goal at the end.



The Spartans got all they wanted from Savannah State. After a scoreless first quarter, the Tigers struck first on a 26-yard field goal by Barron with 12:46 left in the second quarter. On their next drive, Antonio Bostick capped a four-play, 48-yard drive with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Moore. SSU went for a two-point conversion and failed, keeping the score at 9-0.

SSU began both of its first-half scoring drives in NSU territory after the Spartan offense was backed up deep in its own end and had to punt.

 Box Score

Photo Gallery

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Alcorn Braves Shutout Warner for Homecoming 57-0

LORMAN, Mississippi -- The Braves snapped a two-game losing streak for homecoming and accumulated 589 yards of total offense today as the Braves win homecoming 2013 demolishing Warner University, 57-0.

John Gibbs, Jr. help the Braves get on the board early in the first quarter when he connected with Jordan Payne for a 28-yard touchdown to go up 6-0. Six minutes later Gibbs found senior wide receiver Tavoris Doss for a nine-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 13-0.

The ensuing drive CJ Morgan intercepted a pass and returned it for 50-yard touchdown and to the give the Braves a 20-0 going into the second quarter.

Freshman kicker Haiden McCraney nailed a 27-yard field goal to push the Braves up lead to 23-0.

Gibbs hit sophomore wide receiver LaDarrien Davis for completions of nine and 24 to setup a one-yard run touchdown by senior running back Arnold Walker. The Braves had increased their lead to 31-0 just before the half.

Walker was at his best again after the half pounding the ball on the ground for a 14-yard touchdown continuously increasing the lead to 38-0 with 12:47 to play in the third quarter.

Warner fumbled the ball on a bad snap and the ball ended up in the end zone for the Braves first safety of the season. The score now was 40-0.

Zerick Rollins, Jr. stepped in for Gibbs in the third quarter and hit Felando Warr for a 57-yard strike to give the Braves a 47-0 lead.

Transfer T.J. Menning saw some action at quarterback today as well finding Jordan Payne for his second touchdown of the game. With Payne's touchdown the Braves hit the 50-point mark leading the Royals 54-0. McCraney would score the Braves final points of the game with .30 seconds to play putting a 30-yard field goal through the uprights.

The offense scored majority of the points but it was the defense that shut down the Royals holding them to 65 yards of total offense.

Walker finished the game 111 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns. It was the second time this season that Walker wasn't tackled for a loss. Gibbs posted another solid game completing 14 of 18 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Although he didn't score a touchdown, junior Tollette George racked up 103 yards on seven catches which is the first time a Braves receiver has gone over 100 yards in a single game this season.

Defensively, the Braves were led by freshman Michael Hurns made his presence felt recording a career-high six tackles, one tackle for a loss, and a pass break-up. Defensive back Warren Gatewood recorded his first career interception in the Braves win.

The Braves (4-2, 2-1) are 3-0 at home on the season and return to action next Saturday as they travel to Indianapolis, Ind. to face SWAC foe Grambling State in the 30th Annual Circle City Classic. Kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium is set for 3:00 p.m. (ET).

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Morgan State breaks through vs. Florida A&M, 34-21, in Homecoming game

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley looked to the heavens and smiled as a cooler of Gatorade rushed down his back just minutes before the Bears put the finishing touches on their first victory in a year.

Junior linebacker Cody Acker had just sealed the win by returning an interception 19 yards for a touchdown, allowing Morgan State to snap an 11-game losing streak with a 34-21 victory over Florida A&M before an announced 1,259 in its Homecoming game. Afterward, Bears players and coaches converged in the middle of a raucous locker room to sing the school's fight song.

"It's been a long time," Hill-Eley said. "I just feel excited for these young men. They've been working hard. We needed to have some success to continue to move forward."

Morgan State junior quarterback Seth Higgins (Edgewood) had his most complete game to date. He had 17 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. Higgins also completed 12 of 20 passes for 144 yards and another score with no interceptions.

"The difference is we didn't beat ourselves," Higgins said. "We didn't do anything special except ...

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WSSU rolls to another easy victory

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Winston-Salem State made it look easy in a 56-21 win over Bowie State on Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The 16th-ranked Rams scored on seven of their first nine possessions to win their fourth in a row. The Rams improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the CIAA; the Bulldogs fell to 2-3 and 0-2.

The Bulldogs actually led 7-6 early in the second quarter but that didn’t last long. Quarterback Rudy Johnson scored on a 5-yard run for the Rams and they never trailed after that.

Johnson completed 19 of 35 passed for a career-high 390 yards and four touchdowns; he also rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

Maurice Lewis scored from 2 yards out late in the third quarter to extend the Rams' lead to 49-7.

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Ave Marie Gyrenes Outlasts Concordia (Ala.), 48-34, For Second Consecutive Win

SELMA, Alabama  -- The Ave Maria University football team improved to 2-2 on the season with a 48-34 win at Concordia (Ala. ) on Saturday. Scott Jones had a career day with four rushing touchdowns on the afternoon including the go ahead touchdown with a minute and a half remaining.

With the game knotted at 34, Jones broke through the line and into the endzone for a touchdown with 1:30 remaining to put the Gyrenes ahead. On the ensuing Hornets drive, linebacker Tanneer Bowling returned an interception for a touchdown to secure the win for the Blue and Green.

The Gyrenes got off to a quick start and held a couple score lead for most of the game. But Concordia came back and was able to tie the game with just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter before the Gyrenes pulled away.

Scott Jones finished the day with four touchdowns on the ground. Clayton Uecker completed touchdown passes to Rashad Kelley and Karim Bryant.

On the defensive end, Tanner Bowling had an interception return for a touchdown. Gage Hayes and Mike Baumgardner also had interception for Ave Maria.

The Gyrenes return home next weekend for their first game on the campus of Ave Maria. The Blue and Green will take on Florida Tech at 1 p.m.

By Taylor Hodge
COURTESY AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Today's Alabama State Hornet Sports Report

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HOUSTON, Texas -- The Alabama State University football team has arrived in Houston for today's Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game against Texas Southern University.

The game is big for both teams as ASU continues to fight to stay near the top of the East Division. Meanwhile, TSU has fallen in all four games this year, but have been close in losses to Jackson State and Alabama A&M.

ASU heads into tomorrow's action sporting a 3-2 overall record and 3-1 in the conference. The Hornets lone loss was a seven point defeat at Jackson State.

"We have to stay focused on the task at hand," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said. "We dropped an important game early in the season and we have to play the entire season with our backs against the wall."

"A lot of people look at TSU and don't give them any respect. They have fought through adversity and have gotten better each game and their scores are showing that. They have our attention and they have some of the top talent in the conference. Anyone that sees a film of them can see the talent they have. It is going to be an uphill challenge for us and we have to be ready tomorrow."

TSU is 0-4 overall and 0-3 in the SWAC. Last week the Tigers dropped a 12-10 heart-breaker at Alabama A&M when they missed a field goal late in the game.

ASU continues to be led by junior running back Isaiah Crowell who has rushed for 695 yards through the first five games. He leads the SWAC in scoring with nine touchdowns and just this week was added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List.

ASU's rushing game is averaging 281.6 yards per game and is fifth in the nation in the Football Championship Series (FCS) in that department.

Kourtney Berry and Najee Bright lead an improving defense. Berry has 49 total tackles (23 solo, 29 attempts) and also has five tackles for loss (-32 yards), three sacks (-27 yards), a pass interception, a fumble recovery and has thrown in a quarterback hurry.

Bright has 40 tackles (19 solo, 21 assists). He also has one of the six interceptions the Hornets defense has. He too has recovered a fumble and has broken up a pass.

Chris Terry and Carlton Jones lead the Hornets defensive line. Terry as a team-high seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage (-32 yards) to go along with his two sacks (-18 yards).

Jones has five tackles for loss (-44 yards) and leads the team in sacks with four (-39 yards). Justin Mitchell and Edward Mosley are also having strong seasons along the line as each has registered four tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Mosley has three sacks and Mitchell two.

Saturday's game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the live audio broadcast on WVAS FM 90.7 at 5:45 p.m.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Preview for Bethune-Cookman's game at Delaware State

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Bethune-Cookman (3-1, 0-0), ranked 21st in The Sports Network FCS poll, begins its MEAC title defense against Delaware State (1-3, 1-0). The Hornets held off Savannah State 24-22 last week in their MEAC opener. The Tigers, down 24-9 with 8:11 left, pulled to within two on a touchdown pass with 1:51 on the clock, but a 2-point conversion pass to tie fell incomplete.

3 Keys to the Game

 

1. Clip Hornets’ wings

The Hornets lead the MEAC in passing at 232.2 yards per game. The Wildcats are allowing 150.2 yards through the air.

 

2. Eat up the clock

The Wildcats are 17th in the nation in rushing (234.3 ypg) and are expecting 2012 leading-rusher Isidore Jackson back, after his coach said he missed two games due to in-house “issues.” They should be able to dominate time of possession.

 

3. Take shots down field.  

 

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XU halts Friday, Saturday sports as Karen approaches

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana canceled its Friday and Saturday intercollegiate athletics activities due to the northerly movement of Tropical Storm Karen in the central Gulf of Mexico.

Xavier withdrew its men's and women's cross country teams from Friday's Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitational at Clinton, Miss., and scrubbed a Saturday women's volleyball doubleheader against Dillard and St. Thomas (Texas) at the Convocation Center.

XU cross country coach Joseph Moses said he'll consider adding a meet to the schedule next week to replace the cancellation. The St. Thomas volleyball match will not be rescheduled, but the Dillard match will be. No makeup date, however, has been determined.

The next scheduled competition for Xavier will be a 7 p.m. Tuesday volleyball match against SUNO at The Castle. Both have unbeaten records in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference matches this season.

Xavier's 24-hour emergency information hotline (1-866-520-9852) offers weather-related updates.

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

State Fair Classic: Prairie View A&M now is formidable opponent for Grambling State

DALLAS, Texas -- When Grambling State and Prairie View A&M met from 1987-2008, suspense went missing. Grambling State always won.

But as the programs prepare for Saturday’s annual State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl, it’s the Panthers who have won three of the last four meetings and are soaring after knocking off Stephen F. Austin last weekend, the program’s first win over a Southland Conference team since 1985.

Grambling is 0-5 after firing coach Doug Williams in the second week of the season.

“The biggest thing is it shows the commitment from the university side to give us the scholarships we need to go out and recruit,” said Prairie View coach Heishma Northern, who has been part of the rivalry as an assistant at Grambling and at Prairie View since the 1990s and is in his third season as head coach. “At one time, Grambling was fully funded, but Prairie View may have had walk-ons out there playing and only 20 guys on scholarship.

“Now the tide has pretty much evened out. You don’t know who’s going to win.”

Northern said few outside of the Panthers’ program expected Prairie View (3-2, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic) to top Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches. Quarterback Jerry Lovelocke threw four touchdown passes and ran for three more scores in the 56-48 win. Stephen F. Austin rolled up ...



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SCSU’s Lewis-Freeman shows that he has what it takes to start at running back

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Dondre Lewis-Freeman had a greater appreciation Saturday afternoon for the adage “Good thing comes to those who wait”.

Since arriving to South Carolina State three years ago as an All-State running back out of Hopewell High School in Charlotte, N.C, Lewis-Freeman had patiently bided his time. After redshirting in 2011 and getting just five carries for 17 yards last year, he entered this season resolved to prove himself worthy of playing time.

“I’ve been hungry ever since the moment I stepped in this program,” Lewis-Freeman said. “I knew we had great backs before me and I’ve just been feeding off of them, wanting to start, wanting to play and wanting to continue to win. We have a legacy of winning the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) and I just want to be a part of that.”

With a career-best 140 yards and his first collegiate touchdown in Saturday’s 30-6 win over Hampton, Lewis-Freeman helped the Bulldogs take the first positive step towards regaining the conference title. The performance was also the first 100-yard game by a S.C. State running back since Jalen “Scoot” Simmons rushed for 144 yards against Florida A&M on Oct. 20, 2012.

Shoulder injuries to Simmons, Justin Taylor, freshman Xavier Quick and a season-ending leg injury to Julius Pendergrass opened the door for ...



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SCSU, Pough preparing for classic against Aggies

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Devising a game plan against undefeated North Carolina A&T this Saturday at the Atlanta Football Classic in the Georgia Dome is trying enough for Buddy Pough.

The South Carolina State head football coach’s first challenge is maintaining his team’s success on the ground against an Aggies’ team which leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in rushing defense (83.3 yards allowed per game) and has not allowed a running touchdown in 31 consecutive quarters dating back to last season.

“We’re in the process now of trying to figure out how we can run the football on these guys because they don’t seem to be giving up any rushing yards at all,” said Pough during Monday’s weekly press conference. “But we’ve got a week to get prepared. We’re just kind of at the beginning right now trying to figure some things out, but they are impressive.

“Defensively, they might be as impressive as anybody we’ve seen all year maybe outside of Clemson and maybe Coastal. Both of their linebackers (D’Vonte Grant and Tony Clodfelter) are exceptional players. Their secondary is unbelievable and their upfront guys seem to be well-coached. And offensively, they’re now starting to get a better scheme about themselves.

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Jackson State won't let Arkansas-Pine Bluff throw deep

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JACKSON, Mississippi -- Some plays can’t be forgotten.

For Jackson State, it was the 95-yard touchdown pass by Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Benjamin Anderson that forced overtime in last year’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship. UAPB beat JSU 24-21.

“We work on not getting beat at all, but especially not getting beat deep, in the long balls, especially in the zone coverage,” defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes said.

After last year’s heartbreaking loss, Hayes said the team has worked on not letting that happen, again. The Tigers (3-2, 3-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) and Golden Lions meet Saturday for the first time since the title game last December. And they face the same quarterback who threw that piercing touchdown.

Safety Cameron Loeffler is one of the six returning defensive starters from that game and remembers Anderson. As he should. Jackson State played Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-4, 0-2) twice last season and lost both times.

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MSU Bears Host Florida A&M for Homecoming in Week 6

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Bears (0-5, 0-1) will host Mid-Eastern Conference opponent Florida A&M on Saturday (Oct. 5) in Baltimore (Md.). The game will mark Homecoming for Morgan State as the Bears will attempt to snap an 11-game losing streak dating back to Oct. 13, 2012.

First-year head coach Earl Holmes leads the Rattlers. FAMU (1-3, 0-0) will enter the contest fresh off of a bye week. The last time the Rattlers were in action was on Sept. 21 in when they were pounded by the Ohio State Buckeyes 76-0 in Columbus. Morgan State will look to rebound from a 27-21 home loss against Norfolk State.

Donald Hill-Eley, ranked third among winning coaches at MSU, enters his 12th year as head coach of the Bears. Game time at Hughes Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live by WEAA, 88.9 FM.

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MSU (0-5, 0-1 MEAC) vs. Florida A&M (1-3, 0-0 MEAC)
MSU Homecoming
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 – 1 p.m. ET
Hughes Stadium (10,000)
Baltimore, Md.

THE BROADCAST
Radio: On the radio, "The Voice of the Bears" Lamont Germany will call the play-by-play and Kelvin Bridgers will provide color analysis. The game can be heard on WEAA (88.9 FM) in Baltimore, and on weaa.org.

GAME TIME
The Bears (0-5, 0-1) will host Mid-Eastern Conference opponent Florida A&M on Saturday (Oct. 5) in Baltimore (Md.). The game will mark Homecoming for Morgan State as the Bears will attempt to snap an 11-game losing streak dating back to Oct. 13, 2012. First-year head coach Earl Holmes leads the Rattlers. FAMU (1-3, 0-0) will enter the contest fresh off of a bye week. The last time the Rattlers were in action was on Sept. 21 in when they were pounded by the Ohio State Buckeyes 76-0 in Columbus. Morgan State will look to rebound from a 27-21 home loss against Norfolk State. Donald Hill-Eley, ranked third among winning coaches at MSU, enters his 12th year as head coach of the Bears. Game time at Hughes Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live by WEAA, 88.9 FM.


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THE BEARS-RATTLERS MATCHUP
• The Bears and Rattlers will meet for the 24th time since 1943. Florida A&M leads the series 19-4 and has won the last two meetings against MSU since 2009.
• Last time against the Rattlers (Oct. 30, 2010) … Morgan State rallied from 14 points down, and was driving for the go ahead score but the Bears made a costly mistake. With the ballgame knotted at 17-17, Delonte "Smoke" Williams had his pass intercepted by Jerrell Stewart who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown with 7:17 left in the game. Philip Sylvester added the dagger in the form of an 89-yard touchdown run. MSU sophomore running back David Brown posted a career-high 131 yards on 17 carries.

• The last time the Bears played the Rattlers at Hughes Stadium was on Oct. 31, 2009 ... The Florida A&M Rattlers stopped Morgan State quarterback Carlton Jackson on fourth and inches at the 15 in overtime of a 31-28 victory at Hughes Stadium on Halloween evening. Florida A&M quarterback Curtis Pulley ran 20 times for 231 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

• The last time the Bears defeated Florida A&M at Hughes Stadium was on Oct. 27, 2007 … The Bears came away with a 14-12 victory against Florida A&M in front of a crowd of 3,478. The win marked Morgan State's first against Florida A&M since 1994, snapping the Rattlers 11-game win streak against the Bears. Trailing 14-12 late in the 4th quarter, Florida A&M had a chance to take the lead on a 17-yard field goal attempt by Wesley Taylor. MSU head coach Donald Hill-Eley called for a timeout to "freeze" Taylor, and it apparently worked. Taylor's field goal sailed wide right.

ABOUT THE RATTLERS

• Florida A&M head coach Earl Holmes enters his first year at the helm of the Florida A&M Rattlers. Holmes is one of Florida A&M' greatest defensive players of all time served as the Rattlers' defensive coordinator under legendary Joe Taylor, bringing with him a tremendous passion for the game along with his ties to the program. Known affectionately by family and FAMU fans as "The Hitman," Holmes played for the Rattlers from 1992 to 1995, finishing as the school's all-time leader in tackles.

• Florida A&M finished the 2012 season with a 4-7 overall record and went 4-4 in the MEAC.

• FAMU returns 39 lettermen, including 21 starters from last year's team.

• FAMU QB Damien Fleming entered the season as 2013 Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection. The Jacksonville (Fla.) product has completed 41 of 80 passes for 413 yards with a pair of touchdowns … he has also thrown six interceptions.

• Fleming's favorite target is wideout Lenworth Lennon. The junior has 14 receptions (No. 3 in the MEAC) for 229 yards (ranked No. 4) and a touchdown. He is currently averaging 16.4 yards per catch and 76.3 yards per game.

• FAMU LB Michael Ducre is one of the leaders for the Rattlers defense. Ducre enters this weekend's contest with 34 tackles (24 solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks thru four games.

Omari Albert leads • The Rattlers ground attack. Albert has 32 carries for 104 yards (3.2 avg) and has a touchdown.

• The Bears' offensive unit will face a Rattler pass defense that ranks among the top in the league. FAMU ranks No. 3 in the MEAC in pass defense (144.7/g.

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MVSU softball team GPA one of best in nation

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – The Mississippi Valley State softball team has defined itself as one of the most successful teams on the field over the last decade.

But not only do the Devilettes succeed on the diamond, but also in the classroom as well. And that was proved recently as MVSU was ranked No. 32 in the nation in team GPA, the highest in school history, as released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Valley completed the 2012-13 academic term with a team GPA of 3.378. The Devilettes were one of only two SWAC teams on the list.

To view the entire list, click here.

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Jones at a milestone but wins and losses don't define the man

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - It was four games into the season before win No. 1 rolled around, a 40-10 thumping of Lane College. He'd only win once more in that 1999 season, which was still a humongous improvement considering Morehouse had floundered around at 0-11 the year before he became head coach.

Now, a relatively short time later, Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones is on the cusp of win No. 100.

It could come as soon as Saturday's homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State.

"I know there's a milestone, but the first thing I'm concerned about is Valley because it's our next game, our next conference game, our next opportunity to show what improvements we've made in our football program this season," Jones said.

Jones, now 53, came to Alabama A&M in 2002, where he's won 81 games. He's only 13 wins from leapfrogging the venerable Louis Crews as A&M's all-time winningest coach. A&M has had but two losing seasons in that time and reached the SWAC title game five times, an accomplishment no other team in the SWAC can touch.



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Gray's return excites FAMU Rattlers

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Quinn Gray has been toughing it out since his return from sick leave to resume his role as offensive coordinator with the FAMU football team.

He doesn’t move around the field much, and when he does he gingerly takes each step.

But there is no shortage of enthusiasm to get the Rattlers offense back on track. There is too much that he still has to roll out in the pro-style offense that he introduced this season, he said.

“I think we have to get our kids back on the same page, knowing what they need to do with certain concepts and plays,” Gray said. “Now we have a sense of clarity as it relates to what we are trying to do. There is a sense of normalcy.”

When Gray fell ill while the Rattlers were preparing for their second game on Sept. 7 against Tennessee State, receivers coach Ernie Mills took the lead as Gray’s substitute. It was obvious there were some diversions from what the Rattlers showed offensively in their first game, but Gray credits Mills for what he did to keep things simple until his return.

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ASU Football Ready to Board the Plane to Houston

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State held their final practice in Montgomery before boarding a plane first thing in the morning (Friday) to head to Houston where they will face Texas Southern in a Saturday Southwestern Athletic Conference showdown.

"This is a business trip for us," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said. "It is another opportunity for us to go on the road and play another conference game against a really good team. They have had to overcome some adversity, but just watching them on film, they have great size along the front, both offensively and defensively."

"It will be another challenge for us because there is so much parity in our league. We've been working, the guys are focused and we are looking forward to playing in Texas and have an opportunity to play against a good team."

ASU is looking for more consistency. They have done some things well, but have been unable to find the constant consistency for a full four quarters.

"We have had some good performances by some of our guys," Barlow said. "Our thing is we want to sustain our effort. We have talked about consistently doing a lot of things well as we continue to go. If we can continue to put good performances together by individuals, and with our defense and special teams then we will have an opportunity to have success. So I'm looking forward to watching these guys. They have been working hard all week."

Opening kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game can be heard live on WVAS FM 90.7 beginning with the pregame at 5:45 p.m.



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Pride on line in Morehouse-Clark rivalry

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Devon Mann knows all about the importance of Morehouse’s annual game against Clark Atlanta.

“It’s the biggest game of the season. We can’t lose this game,” said Mann (Newton), Morehouse’s leading receiver. “It’s almost as important as the national championship. It’s a pride thing. We’re playing for the AUC championship. We want to have the AUC crown.”

The Maroon Tigers (2-2) have won the past four meetings with neighboring Clark Atlanta (0-3, 0-2 in the SIAC) in a rivalry that dates to 1905. Saturday’s 7 p.m. game at B.T. Harvey Stadium will be televised on Bounce TV.

First-year Clark coach Kevin Weston has been fully indoctrinated in the what this rivalry means to players from both teams, who see each other around the Atlanta University Center and Atlanta on a daily basis. Many players are from the same high schools and have known each other for years.

“I knew about this rivalry even though I hadn’t ...




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Wilson says SSU Tigers are ready for NSU Spartans

SAVANNAH, Georgia  -- Savannah State University first-year head coach Earnest Wilson III said his football team is beginning to develop an identity, and he is pleased with how the Tigers have practiced this week following a 24-22 loss to Delaware State last Saturday.

SSU (1-4 overall, 0-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) will play Norfolk State (1-3, 1-0) in a MEAC game at 1 p.m. Saturday at William "Dick" Price Stadium in Norfolk, Va. The game will be radio-broadcast by WHCJ 90.3 FM.

"They've responded well," Wilson said of SSU, which scored two touchdowns in the final 5 minutes, 29 seconds against Delaware State but had a two-point conversion pass tipped, allowing the Hornets to escape with a victory. "They know what our goals are. I laid out our goals when I got here and they understand. When you're a coach who doesn't lay out your goals, then the kids don't know and they have no direction. We have direction.

"This is a team that is beginning to make its own image. They're the ones who are upset. They're the ones who are saying, 'We can't give up.' I like what I'm hearing from our players."

Norfolk State is coming off a 27-21 victory at ...

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