Howard Parlays Opportunistic Defense and Ground Game Into Win Over Morgan State

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- The defense forced four turnovers and Charles Philyaw rushed for three touchdowns to give Howard University a 28-14 win over Morgan State at Greene Stadium before a homecoming crowd of 7,053.
               
The Bison (3-5, 2-3 in the MEAC) set the tone early on their first possession when quarterback Greg McGhee put together an 18-play, 65-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard plunge by Philyaw.  Howard got a two-point conversion on a pass from the holder on snaps, Richard Aiyegoro to tight end David Wilson for an 8-0 lead.
               
From there, both teams stiffened on defense.  The Bison defense was giving up some plays in the running game, but each time the Bears threatened to score, Howard was able to thwart their attempts to get in the end zone.
               
"They played hard; they stood in there and fought, time and time again" said Howard head coach Ray Petty.  " Morgan State had a great plan offensively, especially running the football on us.  When they got into the Red Zone, our guys stepped up on defense and turned them away."
               
With the offense unable to produce points, Morgan State turned to another option:  punt return specialist Broderick Gager fielded a John Fleck punt at his own 11-yard, eluded several Howard defenders before reversing his field and sprinting 89 yards to his team's first score.  It marked the second time this season that a punt has been returned 89 yards against the Bison.
               
Not to be outdone, Howard a trick of its own on special teams.  Facing a fourth and long at his own 48, Fleck dropped back to take the snap for an apparent punt attempt.  But the sophomore saw an opening in the Morgan State protection, started towards the right sideline and weaved his way 52 for the first TD of his career.
               
The Bison opened the third quarter with the same approach that they used to start the game:  Utilize the running of McGhee, William Parker and Philyaw to control the clock and grind out yards.  The result was a 73-yard drive that was capped by Philyaw's second TD run of the game, this time from seven yards out.  It upped the score to 22-7 with just under nine minutes remaining in the third period.
               
Morgan State would not go away, however.  The Bears, who entered the game on a two-game win streak, took advantage of a poor Fleck punt that traveled only seven yards, giving them a short field at the Howard 13-yard line.  It took them four plays with reserve quarterback Moses Skillon going the final yard to get his team to within 22-14 at the 3:02 mark of the third period.
               
From there, the Bison defense did its part, stopping two Morgan State drives with interceptions.  The second one set up Philyaw's third TD of the day, this one from four yards out.
               
"I think we played well overall," said Howard red-shirt junior safety Cameron Alston, who led all players in tackles with 11, 10 of them unassisted.  "And the biggest thing is when we had opportunity to make plays and get off the field.  We did that this game and as opposed to the last couple of games where we left plays on the field.  It was a good team effort."
               
For the second straight week, the Bison running game proved to be effective.  Against Florida A&M, Howard rushed for a season-high 254 yards.  Against a good Morgan State defense, the Bison ground out a season-high 315 yards.  McGhee led all rushers with 122 yards on 15 carries.  Philyaw, last week's MEAC Rookie of the Week, just missed the century mark with 98 yards and Parker contributed 41.
               
"The offensive line had an outstanding day," praised McGhee, who completed 11 of 21 for 89 yards.  "They did not give up any sacks.  Anthony Philyaw ran the ball well. I ran the ball well.  Give credit to the offensive line.  They did a heck of a job blocking."

Added Petty, "Greg made some outstanding runs and I have been telling people since Day One that this young man Philyaw is going to be special in this conference over the next couple of years."
               
The Bears managed a respectable 206 yards on the ground, but the four turnovers proved to be too much.   
               
"We knew that they were going to come out and play with a lot of energy and they did," said Morgan State head coach Donald Hill Eley.  "They did a good job of stopping us when they had to.  We had a couple of chances in the Red Zone and came away with nothing. Collectively, we did not play well enough to win."

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern U. vs. Alcorn State: Special teams play critical

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Special teams play was a key factor for both Southern and Alcorn State, leaving an indelible mark on the Braves’ 44-38 overtime win Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

There was pinpoint punting placement by Southern’s Paul Randall Soden, long kickoff returns, unusual punt formations, and two blocked punts by the Jaguars’ Demetrius Carter.

“We have guys that have a knack (to block a kick),” Southern coach Dawson Odums said. “That’s what really kept us in the game. It turned out to be 14 points.”

Alcorn took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter, but was unable to move at the Alcorn 16. On fourth-and-8, Carter blocked Haiden McCraney’s punt, and Randall Menard grabbed it and ran in from 6 yards out for the Jaguars first score.

“I was just trying to give great effort,” Carter said. “Trying to make a play for my team. We were down, the momentum shifted. I just gave good effort and ended up getting a block.”

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UAPB Golden Lions Get First Win of the Season, Rolls Past MVSU

ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- Benjamin Anderson threw two touchdowns passes and rushed for two as UAPB finally broke into the win column with a solid 38-18 victory over Mississippi Valley State Saturday night. The Golden Lions improved to 1-7 and 1-5 in SWAC), while MVSU fell to 1-7 and 1-5.

Anderson was 20-of-30 for 269 yards passing. One of his TD strikes was an 86-yard pass to Cody Swain, which was the longest touchdown connection of the afternoon, Anderson also had 22 carries for 123 yards rushing. His two rushing TDs were sneaks from 3 and 2 yards out.

The Golden Lions defense also had its best day of the season, forcing three interceptions, two in the fourth quarter, to snuff out any chance of a comeback. Xavier Lofton also recovered a fumble and returned it for a 55-yard touchdown as the Golden Lions forced four MVSU turnovers.

The Golden Lions got on the board first on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to Swain with 9:09 left in the opening quarter. Tyler Strickland added to the UAPB lead with a 38-yard fieldgoal with 9:40 left in the second quarter to give the Golden Lions a 10-0 lead.

After MVSU cut the lead to 10-6 with a touchdown, UAPB answered on Lofton's fumble return. The defensive touchdown made it 17-6 at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, UAPB added to their lead with Anderson's 3-yard plunge. MVSU answered with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Ivy to Kenneth Dabney. The bomb made it 24-12 with 9:56 left.

The Golden Lions came right back with a 12-play, 81-yard drive to take a commanding 31-12 lead. Anderson capped the drive with his 2-yard run.

The Delta Devils scored another touchdown to make it 31-18, the Golden Lions put the game away with the 86-yard Anderson to Swain hook-up.

The UAPB offense enjoyed their best game of the season, carving up the once stingy MVSU defense with 484 yards. Meanwhile. the Golden Lions defense held MVSU to 296 yards.

The Golden Lions have the week off before hosting Grambling State in the final home game of the season on Nov. 9.

Box Score

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Turnovers halt Texas College in loss to Bacone

NEW CHAPEL HILL, Texas — The Texas College Steers gave 25th-ranked Bacone College Warriors a battle before ultimately losing the war, falling 49-13 Saturday on homecoming at Bulldog Stadium.

The Steers were picked off five times with two of those returned the other way for touchdowns in the final quarter to make the final deficit seem a lot more than it was through three quarters.

“We just had too many turnovers and those two interceptions down deep in their territory really knocked the wind out of us,” TC coach George Cumby said. “Bacone is too good a team to give them anything and we give them the ball six times and twice they scored on the plays, so we have just got to stop killing ourselves with the fumbles, tipped passes that turn into interceptions; and I am still really disappointed with the penalties and the discipline that goes with that.

“You expect those things early in the year but we are still making some very fundamental mistakes that keep getting us beat.”

The Steers led 3-0 on a Erick Trigueros 29-yard field goal, but it was short-lived as Bacone answered with a 19-yard scoring strike from Kyle Coogan to Jamaal Surrell.

As the first quarter was drawing to a close, TC was on the drive again, but an interception on the first play in the second frame was the first of many miscues the Steers would serve up to Bacone. Nick Cannon converted the first of his seven extra points.

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ECSU Vikings steal overtime thriller: Defeat Chowan 37-31

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina  --  It took an extra quarter and a fourth down turnover however Elizabeth City State University held on to defeat Chowan University 37-31 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Garrison Stadium.

After the first half combined for 13 points (ECSU led 10-3 at the intermission), the teams scored 49 points over the 3rd and 4th quarters for 31-31 tie at the end of regulation.

The Hawks won the coin toss but gave ECSU the first crack on offense from the 25 yard line in the sudden death overtime.  Three plays, a first down and a one yard rush by Petey Boone later, Tyrell Houghton found Javoris Bryant in the corner of the end zone from 14 yards out to break the tie, however the extra point flew wide right and ECSU clung to a 37-31 lead.

The Hawks began their do or die drive from the 25 yard line but the ECSU defense was staunch, yielding only a two yard rush on Chowan's second play from scrimmage. After a third and goal pass attempt to Robert Holland fell incomplete the Hawks faced a final shot to tie and win with a successful extra point conversion.

On what turned out to be the final play of the game CU's Ryan Simpson dropped back and fired a 23-yard strike to Antjuan Randall in the end zone. But while he was airborne the Vikings' Lavonte Baker snatched the ball from Randall's grasp for a game sealing interception, simultaneously spoiling the Hawks' Homecoming.

For the second straight week the Vikings put up over 500 yards offense, finishing the afternoon with 567 total yards. Tyrell Houghton threw for 380 yards on 31-40 passing; his most impressive drive of the day came after the Hawks took their first lead, 31-24, with 4:05 remaining in regulation.

Houghton led the Vikings on a 6 play, 66 yard game drive, tying the contest at 31 apiece on a 15 yard touchdown pass to Darrius Wesson. He spread the ball around to nine different receivers and had 4 passing touchdowns on the day; his longest completion of the came after a 5-yard screen pass to Boone went 65 yards for a score at the 7:24 mark in the 3rd quarter.

The Hawks fall to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

ECSU (3-5, CIAA 3-2) will hit the road next Saturday when they travel to Richmond, VA to take on Virginia Union University. Game time is scheduled for 1:00pm at Hovey Field in Richmond, VA.

Follow on Twitter @ECSUVikings and log onto www.ecsuvikings.com for more information.

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Defensive masterpiece: ASU holds Clark Atlanta to 54 total yards in win

ATLANTA, Georgia — For the second straight week the Albany State Golden Rams played in a homecoming game, and though Saturday’s contest at Clark Atlanta took place some 200 miles from Albany, the Rams looked quite at home from the start.

Dominating on both sides of the ball, the Rams cruised to a 30-7 win over Clark, their 12th straight over the Panthers.

 

Unlike some recent results in the series, this one was not in doubt late.

 

Albany State quarterback Frank Rivers passed for 112 yards and rushed for 64 more as the Rams (3-4, 2-1 SIAC) kept their hopes of a berth in the conference championship game alive.

 

“We have all our goals still intact,” linebacker Glen Stanley said. “Two more wins and we’ll be in the conference championship game back here in Atlanta. We just need to play these last two games like it’s the last two games of our life and we can win the championship.”

 

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Southern’s late-game magic runs out against Alcorn State

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- The Southern Jaguars have made a habit this season of falling behind at home and engineering huge comeback wins. 

Not this time.

When Alcorn State’s Arnold Walker scored on the first play of the Braves’ first overtime drive — moments after ASU’s Anthony Williams Jr. ended Southern’s OT possession by intercepting quarterback Dray Joseph — it assured the Braves a 44-38 victory and meant the Jaguars’ run of overtime comeback wins would not reach three.

Having fought back from a third-quarter 31-14 deficit to force overtime through a series of pivotal special teams and defensive plays, SU players and a raucous homecoming crowd appeared animated and confident at the end of regulation.

They had been here before. Dray Joseph’s 329 passing yards and three TDs and the three-catch, 119-yard, two-touchdown night by freshman receiver Randall Menard told them SU had one more comeback win on the way.

This time, though, it was Alcorn making the ...


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Williams, B-CU win homecoming game 14-3 over S.C. State

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -- Quentin Williams passed for a season-high 220 yards and a touchdown and scored on a 6-yard run to lead Bethune-Cookman to a 14-3 victory over South Carolina State in front of a homecoming crowd of 10,421 on Saturday at Municipal Stadium.
             

The Wildcats, who won their 17th Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game in row since 2011, improved to 7-1 this season, 4-0 in the conference, with four games to play. The Bulldogs fell to 5-3, 3-1.

B-CU held S.C. State to 143 yards of offense and forced four turnovers, including two Richard Cue interceptions.

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HU football wins third MEAC game, defeating Delaware State 30-7

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- Looking for its third straight win and a chance to contend for the MEAC regular-season title, the Hampton Pirates served notice to their conference competition Saturday, defeating Delaware State 30-7 at Armstrong Stadium.

With the win, the Pirates (3-5, 3-1 MEAC), who lost their first five games, moved into a second-place tie in the conference with the loser of Saturday's Bethune-Cookman-South Carolina State game.

A first-quarter interception by Pirates cornerback Khambrel McGee gave Hampton its first good field position of the day, at the Hornets' 29. A holding penalty kept the Pirates from gaining momentum, and they settled for a 28-yard field goal by Anthony Prevost.

Later, in the first quarter, a sack by Myles Grooms and Alveron Wright on Delaware State quarterback Cory Murphy led to a fumble recovery by Hampton at the Hornet 9, setting up the Pirates' next score, a 1-yard plunge over the right side by senior tight end Robert Bebek.

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Nuggets beat Tougaloo again, improve win streak to 14

TOUGALOO, Mississippi -- Xavier University of Louisiana increased its school-record women's volleyball win streak to 14 matches Saturday with a 25-17, 25-9, 25-7 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference victory against Tougaloo.

It's the longest overall win streak by an XU team in any sport since women's basketball won 21 in a row during the 2009-10 season.

The Gold Nuggets (20-7, 9-0) defeated the Lady Bulldogs (2-17, 2-8) for the second time in four days and reduced their magic number to two for clinching a third consecutve GCAC regular-season championship.

CeCe Williams had a career-high-tying nine kills for Xavier. Franziska Pirkl served three aces for the second consecutive match. Kerris Crier's 10 digs were a career high, and Darian Harris had a season-high 10 digs.

Xavier reached 20 victories for the third consecutive season. Against GCAC opponents, the Gold Nuggets have won 31 in a row during the regular season and 37 straight overall.

It's the first time since the first week of  September 2003 that the Gold Nuggets' career record has been at .500. They're 95-95 in six seasons and 65-22 during the last three. Xavier first played this sport intercollegiately in 2003 and 2004 and revived the program in 2010.

Tougaloo has lost eight in a row.

Xavier will conclude the regular season next week with three conference matches -- 7 p.m. Monday at home against Philander Smith, 6 p.m. Wednesday at home against Dillard and 1 p.m. Saturday at Dillard -- before competing in the GCAC Tournament the following week as a two-time defending champion.

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

Fakler, Jackson lead XU to repeat GCAC championships

Catherine Fakler

Kwame Jackson

CLINTON, Mississippi -- Xavier University of Louisiana, led by record-setting Catherine Fakler and repeat champion Kwame Jackson, again won the women's and men's team titles at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

The team championships were the eighth in a row for the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush. The XU women have won nine team titles overall, a GCAC record in this sport.

Joseph Moses was voted GCAC Coach of the Year for the eighth consecutive time on the men's side and the fifth straight season and the seventh time in eight years on the women's.

Fakler ran 5,000 meters in a school-record 18 minutes, 8.32 seconds to win the women's race by more than 90 seconds over teammate Donyé Coleman, the runner-up in 19:42.65. Coleman ran her best time as a collegian at this distance.

Jackson ran 8,000 meters in 27:15.84 to win the men's title for the second time in three years. Jackson won by 20 seconds over teammate David Holobowicz (career-best 27:35.28), the runner-up for the second consecutive year.

The top three female and male finishers qualified for the NAIA National Championships at Lawrence, Kan., on Nov. 23. SUNO's Mackola Joseph (20:19.21) was third in the women's race, and Xavier's Brent Kitto was third in 27:52.46 to give the Gold Rush a 1-2-3 finish at this meet for the fifth consecutive year.

The top 10 female and male finishers were named All-GCAC. All seven Gold Nuggets who competed earned that honor; Hannah Finnegan was fourth in 20:26.10, Reeka Belton was fifth in 20:30.78, Hali Yarmush was sixth in 21:01.32, Briana Simms was seventh in 21:28.75, and Danielle Rogers placed ninth in 21:37.22. Joining Jackson, Holobowicz and Kitto on the men's all-conference team were teammates Christopher August (fourth, 28:08.15) and Aaron Yarmush (sixth, 29:55.37).

Coleman is the fourth Gold Nugget to be All-GCAC four times. Fakler, Hali Yarmush and Jackson were All-GCAC for the third time.

Both XU teams missed a chance to repeat to their perfect scores of a year ago, but both came close. The Nuggets scored 18 points to win their title by 55 points over runner-up Dillard, and the Rush scored 16 points to win by 46 over runner-up Edward Waters.

It was the third consecutive year and the fourth time in five years that Xavier produced the GCAC individual women's champion, and it was the fifth straight season that an XU male placed first in the conference. Fakler broke her XU record of 18:41.03 which she set in winning her previous race, the Ram Ramble Invitational at Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 21. Her 5K time is the fastest at this meet since Mobile's Zola Davis won in 17:47 in 1998.

Fakler has finished in the top three in all five meets this season and broken XU records three times. She set the 4K mark of 15:34 in the opener on Aug. 30.

Jackson won for the second time this season and finished in the top six for the fourth time.

Results:  Men    Women

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

Grambling State University football falls to Texas Southern in return from boycott

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University linebacker Steve Orisakwe and his Tiger teammates tasted a bittersweet dish Saturday afternoon, often served by football. They enjoyed the wonderful rapture again of playing the game they loved.

They gave a formidable effort in what he called the best contest they played all year.

But they lost.

Texas Southern quarterback Jamal Small ran 3 yards for a touchdown in overtime to give the Tigers a 23-17 SWAC victory against Grambling in the squad’s first game back after a boycott.

It was a tough loss as Grambling led 17-10 before Texas Southern rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter then ultimately won in overtime.

Orisakwe took the loss hard as did the rest of the team. They lingered, some crying, on the turf of Eddie Robinson Stadium after Small dashed into the end zone.



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Bowie State Dominates Virginia Union with 34-7 Victory

BOWIE, Maryland  --  Bowie State University dominated from beginning to end in a sunny, but very chilly Bulldogs Stadium on Saturday, beating rival Virginia Union University 34-7. The victory snaps a four-game Bowie State losing streak.

The Bulldogs (3-5, 1-4 CIAA) jumped on Virginia Union from the opening kickoff. Redshirt junior Kendall Jefferson returned the kickoff 55 yards to the Virginia Union 45 yard line. Senior Jared Johnston (Dumfries, Va.) connected with sophomore Garry Cropper (Odenton, Md.) for 30 yards on BSU's first play from scrimmage. From there, senior Keith Brown (Temple Hills, Md.) carried the ball three straight plays, scoring from one-yard out. Junior Mario Diaz-Aviles (Washington, D.C.) added the extra point to give the Bulldogs the early 7-0 lead at the 12:59 mark.

Virginia Union (3-5, 3-2 CIAA) tied the score at 7-7 early in the second quarter on a three yard rushing touchdown by Damon Kelly (Orange Park, Md.) and extra point by Troy Krepich (Leesburg, Va.), capping off a nine-play. 41 yard drive.

The Bulldogs put together a 12-play, 82 yard drive on the games very next possession with Brown finding the Panthers end zone again, this time scoring from four yards out.

Bowie State pushed their lead to 21-7 at the 2:09 mark of the second quarter following an interception by junior Anthony McDaniel (Ft. Washington, Md.) at the Panthers 11 yard line. Redshirt junior Khari Lee (Baltimore, Md.) caught a four yard TD bullet for six from Johnston.

Jefferson recorded his seventh touchdown run of the season, scoring on a five yard run with 5:35 left in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs a comfortable 28-7 advantage.

The Bulldogs final points of the game came about following an interception by redshirt sophomore Curtis Pumphrey (Laurel, Md.), his second of the afternoon. Bowie State began the drive at the Virginia Union 35 yard line with 4:21 remaining in the game.

Johnston did most of the damage, rushing for 24 yards and passing for 15 yards, capping off the drive with a seven yard TD run to put the game on ice with 1:19 left on the clock

Brown rushed for 93 yards on 26 carries, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. Johnston went 8-for-20 in the air for 131 yards and a touchdown.

Lee led the Bowie State receivers with four catches for 46 yards and Cropper had to catches for 50 yards.

Senior Delante White (Temple Hills, Md.) led the Bulldogs defense with 13 tackles, while redshirt sophomore Antoine Young added 11 tackles. Senior Dwayne Price (Ft. Washington, Md.) contributed seven tackles and redshirt freshman Kevaugn Townsend (Ft. Washington, Md.) had five tackles in the win.

Eric Shaw (Washington, D.C.) was the leading offensive producer for VUU's Panthers, rushing for 85 yards on 27 carries. Panthers quarterback Kenneth Graham (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) completed 8-of-20 passes for 46 yards. Jamaal Wright caught two of those passes for just six yards. London Byrd (Sanford, Fla.), Tyrell Austin (Miami, Fla.) and Dominique Roane (Richmond, Va.) were tops for the Panthers defense with seven tackles each.

The Bulldogs will return to action on Saturday (November 2nd), taking on The Lincoln University at Bulldogs Stadium at 1 pm. Fifteen seniors will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony.  

Week 9: HBCU ScoreCard

Saturday, October 26, 2013



OVC
#2 Eastern Illinois 34, #21 Tennessee State 16  H

CIAA
Shaw 39, Johnson C. Smith 33  H
#15 Winston-Salem State 40, Livingstone 0 H
Bowie State 34, Virginia Union 7
Virginia State 34, Lincoln (Pa.) 14 H
Fayetteville State 43, Saint Augustine's 19
Elizabeth City State 37, Chowan 31 H O.T.

SIAC
Miles 38, Lane 26  (Thursday)
Stillman 35, Central State (Ohio) 33 (Thursday)
Tuskegee 36, Kentucky State 7
Fort Valley State 52, Concordia -Selma 19  H
Benedict 29, Morehouse 26
Albany State 30, Clark Atlanta 7 H

MEAC
Old Dominion 27, Norfolk State 24
Howard 28, Morgan State 14  H
Hampton 30, Delaware State 7
North Carolina Central 24, Savannah State 10
North Carolina A&T 20, Florida A&M 13 O.T.
Bethune-Cookman 14, South Carolina State 3

SWAC
Arkansas Pine Bluff 38, Mississippi Valley 18 H 
Texas Southern 23, Grambling State 17 O.T.
Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 7
Jackson State 51, Prairie View A&M 38 at Shreveport, La.
Alcorn State 44, Southern 38 O.T.  H

OTHER CONFERENCES AND INDEPENDENTS
Virginia-Wise 18, West Virginia State 10
Edward Waters 38, Apprentice School 21
#7 Bloomsburg 35, Cheyney 7
Fort Hayes State 45, Lincoln (Mo.) 35
Langston 53, Oklahoma Baptist 7
Bacone 49, Texas College 13 H

(H) Homecoming

EWC Tigers Take Bite Out Of Builders 38-21

NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia  -- Freshman quarterback Taron Williams threw for 134 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a team-high 93 yards as visiting Edward Waters College defeated The Apprentice School 38-21 on Saturday afternoon at Apprentice Field.

Apprentice School forced a turnover on the Tigers first possession to set them up on the Builder 47.  That drive finished with a Joseph Hodge two-yard touchdown run to cap a 10-play, 53-yard drive with 10:16 left for a 7-0 Apprentice School lead.

Edward Waters scored as they held the Builders on a fourth down on the Builder 24.  Three plays later Williams found Suwayne Hylton on a 22-yard scoring pass to tie the game with 5:04 left in the first quarter.

The Tigers put two scores on the board in the second quarter as Darryl Campbell scored on a 14-yard run with 13:26 left and Ray Dukes returned a punt 63-yards for a touchdown with nine seconds left in the half to give Edward Waters a 21-7 lead at halftime.

The Builders' special team unit brought the hosts within a touchdown as Tequan Mayfield blocked a punt and Marlon Lane scooped the ball on the Edward Waters 15 and scored for a 21-14 deficit with 4:24 left in the third.

Williams connected with Dukes for a 30-yard touchdown pass for the Tigers with 11:27 left in the game to go up 28-14.  Apprentice School responded with a 65-yard drive finished by a Leonard Leak two-yard run to get back within a touchdown at 28-21 with 9:02 remaining.

The visitors put the game away as Diondre Wynn busted off a 65-yard touchdown run with 7:15 left for a 35-21 lead.  Jerry Martin finished it off for Edward Waters with a 32-yard field goal at the 2:31 mark and a 38-21 score.

Dukes had 284 all-purpose yards for Edward Waters gaining 53 on the ground, 77 in receptions, 84 on kickoff returns and 70 on punt returns.  Williams was 14-of-23 passing as Dukes was his favorite target with nine receptions.

Apprentice School was paced by Hodge with 97 yards while Jonathan Whelan was 12-of-26 for 147 yards and was picked off four times.  Derek Banks was his favorite target catching seven passes for 62 yards.  Brock Bullock had 19 tackles, while Izhia Roundtree added 10 to lead the defense.

BUILDER BITS

• Senior Brock Bullock continued his assault on the tackling record books as he had a game-high 19 tackles.  With those 19 he tied the single season record of Steve Sobczak in 1991 with 109.  Both Bullock and Sobczak had 52 solo and 57 assisted tackles, as Sobczak did it in ten games while Bullock has done it in seven.  Bullock is 22 tackles from the career record of 295 by Sobczak from 1989-91.
• The 97 yards from Hodge is a single-game high this year for an Apprentice School running back.  Leak had 85 against Greensboro College on September 21 as the previous high.
• Lane's scoop-and-score off the Mayfield blocked punt was his second return for a touchdown this year and the sixth time he has scored a touchdown in his career.  He scored on a 92-yard fumble return against Alfred State on September 28.

NEXT UP
The Builders start November with a rematch against Southern Virginia University on November 2 at 1 pm.  The Knights defeated the Builders 34-7 on October 19 in Buena Vista, Va.

FINAL STATS

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TSU: The Battle Begins Upfront

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Oftentimes the key to winning football games starts with the battle in the trenches. For Tennessee State the defensive line has been a huge part of the success of Big Blue this season.

If you look at the tackles for loss leaders in the OVC, the first four names all have one thing in common; they all play for Tennessee State. On the list are defensive lineman Anthony Bass (9.5), Marquaveus Jackson (8.5) and Samquan Evans (8.0) as well as middle linebacker Nick Thrasher (8.5).

“The best pass defense is the pass rush,” said coach Rod Reed. “When you’re able to put pressure on the passer and make him uneasy in the pocket and move things around, it makes things easier for your secondary.”

Not only does the unit rank highly in tackles for loss they also boast the best pass rusher in the conference in Anthony Bass. The Clarksville, Tenn. native has registered 6.0 sacks on the season in his first full year as a starting defensive end.

Although Bass may appear soft spoken off the field, on the field he’s a quarterback’s nightmare.

“I’m all about business once I step on the field,” said Bass about his focus on gamedays. “It’s just a mindset to get to the quarterback.”

But it isn’t just Bass that’s getting to opponents quarterbacks, the unit as a whole has an OVC leading 23 sacks, including four in last week’s 29-15 win over UT Martin. 

Along with Bass’s league leading total, Jackson ranks fifth in the conference with 4.5 sacks and fellow defensive end Antonio Harper has the seventh best league total, 3.5 sacks.

The group has grown together from offseason workouts to where they are now and they say that those long days in the heat built their bond on the field.

“It just shows me the grind in the offseason pays off and that everybody was really working hard to meet one common goal, to win a championship,” said Evans. “I could tell by each of every defensive lineman workouts it was going to be a great season.”

Even when the unit makes mistakes, they know with the teammates around them plays will be made in their place. It’s the ultimate trust.

“I know they got my back all the time,” Evans said about his fellow lineman.  ”I know if I miss my tackle I know somebody is right there like a split second away, not even a split second, like the lowest millisecond you could ever think of."

According to coach Reed the reason for the unit’s success is simple, yet for opposing offenses it’s the most complex to stop.

“They’re relentless, they’re just refusing to be blocked right now,” Reed said.

For defensive coordinators it’s a dream come true to see the time the opponents quarterback has to find open receivers diminishes.

“We’re blessed to have them,” said co-defensive coordinator Justin Roberts.  ”It makes you feel good on the backend knowing you’re going to have pressure on the quarterback and get him to make some bad decisions.”

The Tigers’ defensive backs have capitalized on the mistakes by the pressured signal callers, to a tune of an OVC best eight interceptions, with three returned for touchdowns.

Most importantly the defense as a whole ranks second in total defense nationally for FCS programs. It was only last week the Tigers laid claim to the best defense in the entire country.

‘We’re going to come back and get the number one spot,” said Bass, knowing the challenge that presents itself this afternoon.

Today, the Big Blue defense will face their toughest challenge yet, Eastern Illinois. The Panthers offensive pedigree is just as impressive as the Tigers’ defensive prowess. As a team, their offense is the FCS’ elite team ranking first in total offense and boasting the best quarterback, statistics wise, in the country in Jimmy Garoppolo and the country’s best receiver in Erik Lora.

On the year, the senior signal caller has compiled 2,735 yards passing along with an FCS leading 31 touchdown passes. Graoppolo’s favorite target Erik Lora ranks third in the country with 928 yards receiving and an FCS best 13 touchdowns.

So once again the defensive unit has to prove they’re up to the task, something they’ve done all season, and like all those tasks they expect to exceed expectations just as they’ve done time and time again.

”Our defense is better than their offense that’s all I’m going to say,” Evans said about today’s matchup. ”I hope (Garoppolo) is ready because he’s going to be in a world of trouble come Saturday.”

If the stats are any indication; today’s matchup of strengths should be one for the ages and Tennessee State’s defensive line will be a huge factor in determining the outcome. Which is something they don’t mind at all.

“We’re going to go out and do our jobs and when it’s time for plays to be made by the defensive line, we’re going to go out and make those plays,” Bass said.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Quick read: Alcorn State at Southern

Storyline: Contender or pretender?

Southern has won four of its last five contests, all conference matchups. However, of the four victories, only one has come against a team with a winning conference record (Prairie View). The other teams are a combined 3-12 in conference play. Southern’s lone loss in that stretch came to Eastern Division front-runner Jackson State, which defeated the Jaguars 19-14 last month. Alcorn State, which enters with a 4-1 SWAC record, has yet to defeat a conference foe with a winning record. Saturday presents a big opportunity for both teams to separate the pretenders from the contenders.

Keep an eye on: How SU holds up against the run

Alcorn State boasts the conference’s second-best rusher statistically in Arnold Walker, who averages 88.6 yards per contest. Southern has held up relatively well in recent weeks in stopping the run after a dreadful start to the season. Walker and the Alcorn State rushing attack is perhaps the best unit the Jaguars defense has faced since the Prairie View game and will certainly test Southern to see if the improvement is legitimate.

Key matchup: Southern WRs vs. Alcorn State DBs

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Grambling alumni group approaches ex-Southern coach Pete Richardson

COACH PETE RICHARDSON

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- Can you imagine Pete Richardson coaching Grambling’s football team?

In the black and gold? Not in the blue and gold?

It could happen.

A prominent Grambling alumni group has reached out to Richardson about becoming the school’s next head football coach. And Richardson is considering the opportunity, although he has yet to interview for the job or discuss the position with the athletic director or coaching search committee.

“It would be difficult,” Richardson said. “Especially since I accomplished so much at the other school. To go into a rival situation, it would be a little difficult.”

Richardson has been out of coaching since being fired by Southern in December 2009 with one year left on his contract — and without ever getting to work out of an office in the field house he lobbied so long for the school to build.

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Magic City Classic could be decided in the trenches (w/videos)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -- For all the glitz and glam, the pregame press conferences, the luncheons, the parties and the events, that come along with the Magic City Classic, the game itself, like most others, will likely come down to the action that occurs on the most gory part of the field---the trenches.

Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said his team will face the largest offensive line it's seen thus far this season seen when it squares off against arch rival Alabama A&M in the 72^nd Annual State Farm Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola at historic Legion Field Saturday at 2:30 p.m.



"They're big across the board," Barlow said. "Which means they're going to probably try to pound the ball on us. They've got some big guys and it's going to be a challenge to fight and get off blocks against these big offensive linemen."

And the Bulldogs' (2-5, 2-3) front five will be challenged as well. The Hornets (5-2, 5-1) possess what could be the most mobile, agile and hostile pair of defensive tackles in all of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in juniors 6-foot-3, 305-pound Justin Mitchell and 6-2, 310-pound Derrick Billups.

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Timing works out perfect for Oak Ridge and former coach Elijah Williams, who returns tonight

Following upheaval involving Ricky Watters, Oak Ridge looks for return to normalcy

ORLANDO, Florida (Oct. 18, 2013) --  The Orlando Oak Ridge football team will be under the direction of its third head coach in six games, and fourth in six months, Friday night when Elijah Williams takes over as the Pioneers' coach.

Williams confirmed the hiring Thursday afternoon. He will lead Oak Ridge against East River. 
 
Williams, who guided Oak Ridge to a 30-14 record in four seasons as the head coach, left this past spring to take on the position of running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida A&M in Tallahassee.

The Oak Ridge program has gone through a topsy-turvy change in command during the first two months of the school year and it's a situation to which school officials are hoping to bring a bit more normalcy by bringing back Williams.

The coach happened to be in town this week to deal with a family matter and had dropped by the school for a visit. During that visit the possibility of him returning was presented by school officials. 

Williams, who coached at Oak Ridge from 2008-2012, the first year being as an assistant coach, will also regain his former duties as girls basketball coach for the Pioneers.

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FAMU Running backs coach Williams resigns

Elijah Williams
(Courtesy FAMU Athletics)
 

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  (Oct. 24, 2013) -- One day after Holmes said he expected running backs coach Elijah Williams to return to his staff, FAMU’s athletic department issued a statement saying that Williams has resigned effective immediately. The statement said Williams has a pressing family issue that requires his presence in Orlando.

“I brought him in to help our running backs, and thus far, they have performed well this season,” Holmes said. “At the same time, me being a family man myself, we discussed his situation and it is truly unfortunate. I support his return to central Florida to be with his family.

“It speaks volumes of his character to put his own dreams and aspirations on hold for the betterment of his family.”

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Florida A&M Rattlers band together in players-only meeting

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- With their season in somewhat of a freefall, FAMU’s football players decided to confront their issues head on — without head coach Earl Holmes or any other member of his staff.

“The coaches can say what they have to say, but sometimes you need to hear a different perspective from your peers,” said cornerback Devan Roberts. “As a team, there are some things we need to do together.”

Roberts and his teammates came to that conclusion during an impromptu players-only meeting. He and offensive right guard Ryan Templeton took the lead in the discussion, he said.

It started as they waited for the start of a scheduled team meeting Monday night. With most of the team gathered before Holmes and his staff arrived, they decided to let it all hang out.

Roberts said he and his teammates came to the conclusion that they are getting the right coaching, although some players were still adjusting to new schemes that Holmes and his staff brought in to start the season.

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Hard work starting to pay off for FAMU's Hall

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Dennis Hall came to FAMU with all sorts of accolades as a receiver in 2008. That year he was the guy that a national television audience saw making all sorts of catches when Pahokee High defeated nationally ranked Byrnes High School on ESPN.

 

His recruiting stock soared and Illinois had the lead to sign him. It was too cold and he settled on FAMU, where he had to compete against the likes of Kevin Elliott and Brian Tyms.

 

Hall’s star faded right away and be began to languish, often becoming the brunt of locker-room jokes. He even lost his scholarship, but he got half of it back and was relegated to the practice squad.

Head coach Earl Holmes threatened to take it back this past spring, then the lights came on. Hall didn’t like what he saw.

 

“My classmates were surpassing me and I got tired of my mom coming up here and not seeing me play,” said Hall, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. “Those things motivated me to go back to my ways that I had in high school when I was always a hard worker.”

 

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SC State takes on new MEAC giant Bethune-Cookman

SCSU HEAD COACH BUDDY POUGH

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  — If South Carolina State wants to get back on top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, coach Buddy Pough said it has no choice but to knock off Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.

The Wildcats have won 16 MEAC games in a row, including a 27-14 win over the Bulldogs last season that acted as sort of a passing of the torch from an S.C. State team that won the league title three straight years.

"Bethune is what we used to be. They got to the point where they expect to win any time they play a conference game," Pough said.

S.C. State (5-2, 3-0 MEAC) is in Daytona Beach, Fla., to face the Wildcats (6-1, 3-0), the only other undefeated conference team. The records aren't a fluke. The Wildcats and Bulldogs are first and second in total offense and total defense in the MEAC.

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Struggling Livingstone stands in the way of Rams' 7th straight victory

SALISBURY, North Carolina  -- Coach Connell Maynor of Winston-Salem State tried to promote today’s opponent, Livingstone, but it wasn’t easy.

"They are improved,” he said of the Blue Bears, longtime doormats in the CIAA’s Southern Division.

Maybe so, but are they improved enough to stay with the No. 15-ranked team in NCAA Division II? The answer will come today, when the teams meet at 1 p.m. (WTOB 1380) at Alumni Memorial Stadium in Salisbury.

Based on last season’s numbers, the Blue Bears (2-5, 1-4 CIAA) are slightly improved. However, they’re still last in the Southern Division, and they’ve lost three straight to the Rams (6-1, 4-0 CIAA) by scores of 58-0, 63-7 and 58-0. Also, WSSU is 41-5 since 2010; Livingstone is 5-33.

Interim coach Daryl Williams, Livingstone’s offensive coordinator last season, says it will take time for the Blue Bears to be CIAA contenders. He has more than 30 new players this season, and there have been growing pains, he said.

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