Bulldog Buzz: Alabama A&M at Alcorn State

WHAT: Alabama A&M at Alcorn State
WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Jack Spinks Stadium, Lorman, Miss.
LINE: N/A

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE:

If Alabama A&M can at least play the spoiler role in the SWAC East. Alcorn is 5-1 in the SWAC, trailing Jackson State (7-0) and Alabama State (6-1). A loss would all but eliminate the Braves from contention.

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR:

1. Any semblance of offense from A&M. Struggling all year, the Bulldogs now face the second-stingiest defense in the SWAC and on their home turf. However, Alcorn has been more vulnerable to the run than the pass, which can be promising for an A&M team that has run well and has breakaway speed.

2. A lot of kicking. Both A&M and Alcorn are among the best defenses on third down. Meanwhile, A&M's offense is one of the worst on third-down conversions. This shapes up as a low-scoring game.

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Johnson puts emphasis on defense for FAMU Rattlers

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Clemon Johnson is convinced that he’s got plenty of shooters on his FAMU men’s basketball team. So for the past few weeks since preseason practice began, he’s been harping on the D-word.

Defense.

“They got the message that they’ve got to shoot the ball, but they’ve got to understand that for us to win ballgames we’ve got to play defense,” Johnson said. “I’ve told them that if they want to be on the floor they’ve got to learn to play defense. I’m looking for those individuals that can stop people from putting the ball in the basket.”

Johnson has good reason to be pleading to his players to pressure the ball more than they ever did. FAMU was the worst team defensively in the MEAC last season, finishing the season ranked 13th.

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Despite offensive struggles, Alabama A&M Bulldogs refusing to play the blame game (Mark McCarter column)

 HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - You could imagine the bumper stickers:
"Don't Blame Me. I Play Defense."

Alabama A&M is going to Alcorn State Saturday in still another under Bulldog position. It has lost three in a row and sits at 2-6, 2-4 in the SWAC, with four games remaining.

Despite the record, statistically Alabama A&M has the best defense in the SWAC. It has allowed the fewest points and fewest yards. Its opponents have the fewest first downs and A&M is second-best in preventing third-down conversions.

By the same token, its offense is last in scoring and pass efficiency, seventh in total offense.

A&M would seem a football equivalent of those two theatrical masks, one with the broad smile, the other scrunched up in anguish.

As young as this team may be, there is a certain maturity present. Outwardly, at least, the players aren't playing the blame game.

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Early to rise, Alabama A&M Bulldogs looking to reverse basketball fortunes

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  --  Pre-dawn wake-up calls are right up there with pop quizzes and trolling for parking places when it comes to favorite things for college students.

And, Alabama A&M basketball coach Willie Hayes even confessed, "the coach doesn't want to come to the gym at 5 a.m. either."

However, for the sake of time management and team unity, to assure all his players can be at every practice without their classroom schedules interfering, the Bulldogs have been working out at 5 a.m. as they prepare for the 2013-14 season.

"The guys are kinda mad at me," Hayes said.

They're also responding to the demands, returning to the gym later in the day for weight training and to work on free throws.

Hayes, the former A&M standout now beginning his third season as head coach, is brimming with ...

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FAMU players, coaches hope for strong finish

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- While there is an obvious sense of urgency as FAMU football players approach the remaining four games on their schedule, their fans are calling for the intervention of a higher power to help them through.

Take the man who called the Democrat newsroom late Monday night trying to find someone to discuss the Rattlers’ struggles. He was brief, only expressing his concern about their ability to win another game this season.

“Have a good night,” he said, “and God bless FAMU.”



It has come to that, and the Rattlers obviously know it, considering the go-for-broke attitude that they had during Tuesday’s practice.

“We are all trying to finish strong and play the way the coaches tell us to play,” said safety Devan Roberts. “There is a sense of urgency because FAMU is known for its winning tradition. Even though we have a couple teams left on the schedule that are winning, we just want to play spoilers.

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Magic City Classic Win, Cross Country Three-Peat Highlight ASU Hornet Sports Report

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Another State Farm Magic City Classic win and the third straight SWAC Women's Cross Country championship highlight this week's new Alabama State University Hornet Sports Report television show.

The show also highlights the 2013 SWAC East Champion soccer team completing SWAC play undefeated, volleyball finishing October with a 9-2 record, and updates on the bowling and basketball teams.

Launched in late September to spotlight the academic and athletic accomplishments of nearly 400 student-athletes in 18 Division I programs, the program also features a compliance tip of the week, increasing the knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations for all Hornet student-athletes, staff, alumni, and supporters of Alabama State University.

"We are excited to debut this new program to spotlight the accomplishments of our student-athletes, both in competition and in the classroom," Interim Athletic Director Melvin Hines said. "This show will profile our great students-athletes, coaches, programs and our University."

The show airs Thursdays on demand at bamastatesports.com and locally in Montgomery on WFRZ-TV Friday evenings at 9:30 p.m.

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Penalties continue to hurt FAMU's momentum

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- There is a segment of daily practice for the FAMU football team that offensive coordinator Quinn Gray wishes he didn’t have to go through. But at the rate that the Rattlers have been committing penalties, there is no escaping it.

Up until this week, FAMU was tied for being the most penalized team in the MEAC. Going into this week’s game at Norfolk State, the Rattlers are the fifth in penalties in the league.

“We practice them, not to get penalties, but they are part of the game,” Gray said. “We have to practice every situation and that’s one of them where we do find time to put that in practice.”

Penalties have killed drives that started with plenty of promise for the offense in almost every game. They haven’t been whistled as many times as they were in the opening games of the season when they had 15 for 160 yards, but they’ve had plenty.

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Alabama State blows out Hungtindon 94-69 in exhibition

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State made light work of Division III Huntingdon College in a 94-69 win in exhibition action at the Acadome Thursday night.

The Hornets got big scoring outputs from juniors Luther Page and DeMarcus Robinson.

Page, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound forward led the way for the Hornets with 22 points on perfect 8-for-8 shooting from the field to go along with seven rebounds. Robinson, a 5-10, 165-pound JUCO transfer added 21 points while dropping five assists.

Jamel Waters scored 14 and dished out seven assists and high-flyer Bobby Brown chimed in with 11 in a winning effort.

"Some of the good tonight was we got out and ran hard," ASU coach Lewis Jackson said. "We got out and had some easy baskets in transition and that is something we have been working on, getting the ball out fast and going. We shared the ball a little bit and had a good number of assists."

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Norfolk State Spartans Welcome Florida A&M Rattlers to Dick Price Stadium for Homecoming

By Mark Sutton Photography

Game Notes | Live Video | Live Stats | Live Audio | Twitter Updates

NORFOLK, Virginia - Norfolk State hosts Florida A&M this Saturday for the Spartans' 2013 Homecoming game. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium.

The Spartans will be looking to move over .500 in MEAC play against the Rattlers, a team NSU has not faced since 2010.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU dropped its third straight game in dramatic fashion last Saturday, falling to cross-town foe Old Dominion, 27-24. The Monarchs' Jarod Brown kicked the game-winning 24-yard field goal as time expired to cap a thriller. The Spartans rallied from a 17-3 second-quarter deficit by scoring 21 unanswered. Malik Stokes – the third Spartan quarterback to see action against ODU – threw a touchdown pass and ran for another to help NSU take a 24-17 lead early in the fourth. But ODU scored the game's final 10 points to spoil NSU's upset bid. Stokes passed for 87 yards and rushed for 38 while accounting for two touchdowns. Rolandan Finch, the MEAC's leader in total rushing yards, rushed for 97 and added 36 receiving yards.

Finch has a conference-best 687 rushing yards and is second in the league at 85.9 rushing yards per game. He also ranks third in the MEAC with 105.4 all-purpose yards per game. Tight end Joseph Hawkins is seventh in the MEAC with 29 receptions (3.6 per game). After recording his second straight double-digit tackle game with 11 last week against ODU, junior linebacker Marcell Coke is now tied for sixth in the MEAC with 76 tackles. Sophomore linebacker/end Deon King continues to pace the MEAC and ranks second in the nation with 15.5 tackles for loss.



SCOUTING THE RATTLERS
Florida A&M lost its second straight ballgame last Saturday in a 20-13 overtime decision to North Carolina A&T in Tallahassee. Tarik Cohen ran for 210 yards and three touchdowns for N.C. A&T, including the game-winning 8-yard scoring run in overtime. It appeared as though the Rattlers were going to pull out the win in a low-scoring affair when Damien Fleming found Dewayne Harvey on an 8-yard TD pass with 19 seconds remaining, capping a 96-yard scoring drive. That tied the game at 13-all, but FAMU's Chase Varnadore missed the extra point, sending the game into overtime. The Aggies got the ball first in OT and scored on Cohen's third TD. FAMU had the chance to answer, but Fleming was intercepted by Isaiah Martin to end the game.

The Rattlers were outgained 274-179, including 256-57 on the ground. FAMU's other touchdown came on Shaun Ward's 17-yard interception return in the third quarter.

Like NSU, the Rattlers have struggled on offense this year. Fleming, the MEAC Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year, is averaging just 112 yards per game through the air and has been intercepted 12 times. FAMU is last in the MEAC in total offense, averaging just 218.8 yards per game.

THE SERIES
• FAMU leads the series with NSU 12-1. The Spartans' only win was a 33-27 victory at FAMU in 2007.
• The Rattlers are 6-0 against NSU all-time at Dick Price Stadium.
• FAMU's last four wins at NSU have been by a total of 13 points.



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Ave Maria Gyrenes Football Readies For Coach Wyatt and Edward Waters On Senior Day

AVE MARIA, Florida -- The Ave Maria football team will host Edward Waters (Fla.) on Saturday in the team's final home football game of the season. Prior to the game, Ave Maria will honor its seven seniors as well as the nine players that remain from the inaugural season of Ave Maria football.

Seniors Ethan Manos, Colin Behm, Kyle Van Duser, Scott Ruane, Matt Novak, Richard Shockley and Gage Hayes will be honored before the game beginning at 12:30 p.m. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Edward Waters comes in with a 1-7 overall record. After dropping their first seven contests of the season, Edward Waters defeated Apprentice School, 38-21, last weekend for its first win of the season.

Ave Maria is coming off a 28-13 win against Webber International. Edward Waters fell to Webber 49-9 on Oct. 12.

Darryl Campbell leads the rushing attack for Edward Waters averaging 49.3 yards per carry this season. He is tied for second on the team with three rushing touchdowns. Cleve Williams has five rushing touchdowns to lead the Tigers.

The Tigers use a two-quarterback system with Reymond Berhane and Taron Williams. Berhane has thrown for more yards (592) and more touchdowns (5) than Williams but he has also thrown more interceptions (8) than Williams (6).

Four different receivers have caught a pair of touchdown passes this season for the Tigers. Ray Dukes leads the wide receiving corps in receptions (23) and yards (330).

Dukes is also a threat on kickoff and punt returns. He averages 14.8 yards per return on punts and 25.7 yards per return on kickoffs. He has returned on punt for a touchdown this season.

Ray Dukes had 284 all-purpose yards as visiting Edward Waters, playing its first game under interim coach Alvin Wyatt, won for the first time this season. Dukes had a 63-yard punt return for a score and caught a 30-yard TD pass from Taron Williams. Diondre Wynn added a 65-yard TD run in the fourth quarter as EWC scored the game’s last 10 points to pull away from Newport News Apprentice.

By Taylor Hodge
COURTESY AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Woody: Scott on way back at VSU

Scott is running a Division I-quality program at the Division II level.

ETTRICK, Virginia — We live in an imperfect world. People make mistakes.

What they do after the mistake is important.

Latrell Scott made a mistake while he was the football coach at the University of Richmond and resigned.

At Virginia State University, Scott has been given a second chance. He’s making the most of it.

The Trojans, picked to finish 10th in the 12-team CIAA, are 7-1, 5-0 in the conference and in first place in the league’s Northern Division.

Scott was the coach at Richmond in 2010 and until a week before the season-opening game in 2011.

On Aug. 23, 2011, a driving under the influence charge, his second since 2004, changed his life.

Scott immediately resigned as Richmond’s coach. In that November, he was found guilty of driving while intoxicated and sentenced to 10 days in jail.

Even before the trial, Scott had begun work to change his life. He went to counseling, choosing group sessions over individual meetings.

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Spoken 4 Communications Communications Preview: Bethune-Cookman vs. North Carolina Central

Spoken 4 Communications "Because Every Child Deserves to be Heard" previews the fifth meeting between North Carolina Central University and Bethune-Cookman. Chris Hooks chats with NCCU head coach Dwayne Foster to break down what the Eagles must do to break a two-game skid at home. Be sure to tune in to the Denny's of Durham Pregame Show beginning at 11:30 a.m. as the NCCU Sports Network crew will countdown to kickoff.

For more information on Spoken 4 Communications, check out the website at www.spoken-4.com




COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Salutes Veterans at Nov. 9 Game

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State University Athletics will be hosting a Veterans Appreciation Day to thank those who have served their community and their country. There will be events throughout the day to help and to honor our veterans ending with special presentations before and during the WSSU Ram's football game against Fayetteville State University at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The first 500 veterans participating in the Veterans Fair can receive a free ticket to the football game, purchase three additional tickets at the discounted price of $10 and enjoy a free lunch.

There will be a Veterans Fair from 9 a.m. until noon at the Reserve Center, 1245 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem (across from Bowman Gray Stadium), as well as the Veterans Administration will be providing a variety of information on benefits. The VA Hospital will be on site to do screenings, healthcare education and enrollment, and there will also be free flu shots for the first 200 veterans.

Veterans can pick up a free ticket to the WSSU football game and you can purchase up to three discounted tickets for family members at $10 each. The tickets are good for entrance to the game and for the Meal of Honor cookout at the Chancellor's Hospitality Tent in the field house parking lot. A game ticket is required for entry to that lot and will serve as your ticket for lunch. Please bring your DD214 or Veterans ID Card with you for verification.

Veterans can park for free at the Anderson Center, and Lot Q (Reynolds Park Road) on campus and there will be shuttle service to the Veterans Fair and from the Fair to the Hospitality Tent. There will also be cadet escorts for those who want to walk across the street from the Reserve Center to the stadium. At the end of the game, please gather at the West Ticket Gate for shuttle service back to your vehicle. Handicapped parking will be in the lot at the Reserve Center.

From video tributes to our veterans and a special National Anthem presentation, we will be honoring those of you who have served. At the end of half-time, the WSSU Red Sea of Sound Marching Band will play a medley of all the songs connected to the different military branches.

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Defense still stellar for struggling Fort Valley State

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- Donald Pittman and Steve Spurrier have something in common.
Both arrived at their current positions with reputations based on offense.

And both have ended up overseeing programs that are better on defense.

Like South Carolina under Spurrier, Fort Valley State under Pittman has been consistently stronger on defense.

More often than not, there has been some help from the offense, but not so much this season for the 3-5 Wildcats.

And even without many full-time assistant coaches, there are the Wildcats again among Division II’s leaders in a variety of categories.

“That’s the thing,” Pittman said. “These guys have been here awhile. It’s a seasoned group.”

Of the top 10 FVSU tacklers, four are seniors and four are juniors with two sophomores. And the defensive wealth is spread around, after LeRon Furr. The senior from Columbus by way of Oklahoma State tops FVSU with 60 tackles, 16.5 for loss and three sacks.



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Savannah State coach expects no letdown from S.C. State Bulldogs

SAVANNAH, Georgia – Earnest Wilson III holds his coaching “elders” in high regard.

The first-year head coach at Savannah State is preparing to play host this Saturday to South Carolina State, which is led by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s co-longest tenured sideline leader Buddy Pough. He’s expecting nothing short of a difficult challenge awaiting his Tigers at Ted Wright Stadium.

“The old man Mr. Pough is coming to town,” Wilson said at Tuesday’s weekly MEAC teleconference. “Great coach, great team. He’s having a pretty good year. Their guys come off the football both offensively and defensively very well. I think, hopefully, we can play them tough and be around in the fourth quarter with a chance to win.

“Hopefully, they’re a potential (Football Championship Subdivision) playoff team for the MEAC. But we’re going to have to be on our game in order to win this. Like I said, he’s a great coach with a great staff. We have to be ready to play.”

Savannah State is 1-11 all-time against the Bulldogs, but ...

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Newly-resurrected team holds first alumni game

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- “That first year was crazy – we almost didn’t have a team at all,” said Markley, referencing the fact that the school had to scramble to field a team in time to rejoin the CIAA conference. “But we were like a family – we kind of got to know each other off the bat.”

Over the course of that first season, Markley and his teammates fought for a position in the conference, battling a public perception that the young team didn’t have what it took to be successful while pulling off 30 wins.

“We started bonding and we started winning – people didn’t expect us to,” recalled Markley, who graduated last year. “It was probably the most fun baseball team I’ve ever been a part of.”

The team, the first WSSU baseball team in nearly 40 years, claimed the 2011 CIAA Championship and repeated that feat in 2012 and 2013 championships.

Coach Kevin Ritsche and 18 other former Rams played in the school’s first Alumni Baseball Game on Sunday at BB&T Ballpark. Head Coach Kevin Ritsche conceived the game, which pitted alumni against current players – as a means of connecting his players to the team’s recent but storied past. Ritsche, a two-time CIAA Coach of the Year, said he invited players who represented WSSU prior to the program’s end in 1973, but received no takers, leaving the Alumni Game in the hands of recent graduates.

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Week 10: HBCU Football Schedule & ScoreCard

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From Homecoming... Courtesy of the N.C.A&T State University BGMM Media Team...

Last Week
Bethune-Cookman (4-0) moved into sole position of first place in the MEAC with a 14-3 win over South Carolina State (3-1). With the win, the Wildcats extended its conference win streak to 17 games. After starting out 0-5, Hampton has rebounded to record a three-game win streak in conference play and is currently tied at second place with S.C. State. NCCU return specialist Adrian Wilkins leads the FCS in punt returns for TDs. Last week Wilkins recorded his fourth return touchdown for the season with two punt returns for TDs and 2 kick returns for TDs.   READ MORE

The SWAC is the only league in the FCS that has three teams with 4 (or more) wins in a row. Clayton Moore accounted for five touchdowns to keep Jackson State (7-2, 7-0) unbeaten in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Moore passed for 235 yards and four touchdowns including three to Zach Pendleton in the first half. He also rushed for 104 yards, a score, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Ben Anderson accounted for four touchdwons to lift the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to a 38-18 win over Mississippi Valley State at Rice-Totten Stadium on Saturday. Anderson threw two touchdowns passes and rushed for two more to help UAPB (1-7, 1-5) earn its first win of the season. READ MORE

Friday, November 1, 2013

SWAC
Southern at Texas Southern, 9PM

Saturday, November 2, 2013

MEAC
Bethune-Cookman at North Carolina Central, 12 Noon, TV: ESPNews
Virginia University Lynchburg at North Carolina A&T, 1 PM, H
Hampton at Morgan State, 1 PM
Florida A&M at Norfolk State, 2 PM, H
South Carolina State at Savannah State, 2 PM
Howard at Delaware State, 2 PM

OVC
Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky, 1 PM  TV: ESPN3

SWAC
Mississippi Valley State at Grambling State, 3PM, H
Alabama A&M at Alcorn State, 5PM
Alabama State at Kentucky, 7:30PM, TV: ESPN GAMEPLAN/ESPN3

SIAC
Kentucky State at Lane, 2PM
Central State at Tuskegee, 2PM H
Benedict at Albany State, 2PM
Miles at Stillman, 5PM
Shorter at Clark Atlanta, 6PM
Morehouse at Fort Valley State, 6PM

OTHER CONFERENCES AND INDEPENDENTS
West Chester at Cheyney, 12Noon
Edward Waters at Ave Marie, 1 PM
Notre Dame College at West Virginia State, 1PM
Georgia Military at Concordia-Selma, 2PM
Langston at Oklahoma Panhandle State, 3PM
Lincoln (Mo.) at Central Oklahoma, 3PM
Texas College at Houston Baptist, 8PM


CIAA
Virgina State at Chowan, 1PM
Elizabeth City State at Virginia Union, 1PM
Lincoln (Pa.) at Bowie State, 1PM
Shaw at Winston-Salem State, 1:30PM
Johnson C. Smith at Saint Augustine's, 1:30PM
Fayetteville State at Livingstone, 1:30PM

(H)  Homecoming
Game Times are stated in Eastern Time Zone


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TSU Tigers Look to Rebound at Eastern Kentucky

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GAME NOTES | WATCH LIVE | LISTEN LIVE | LIVE STATS

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – After dropping last week’s contest to Eastern Illinois, 34-16, the Tennessee State football team looks to get back to its winning ways this weekend when the squad travels to Eastern Kentucky for a tilt with the Colonels.

 

The loss at the hands of the Panthers was the first in Ohio Valley Conference play for the Tigers (7-2, 4-1 OVC) this season, and ended their seven-game winning streak.

 

There were some bright spots for the TSU defense as junior linebacker Nick Thrasher notched a game-high 10 tackles (seven solo) and forced a fumble. He is now sixth in the league in tackles with 68.

 

Defensive ends Antonio Harper and Anthony Bass also came up big for Tennessee State, combining for 11 stops, four tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery. Bass is fifth in the nation in sacks with 7.5, while Harper is third in the OVC in the category with five.

 

Offensively, TSU was forced to throw the ball more than usual in hopes of a comeback, and Ronald Butler reaped the benefits. The Tallahassee, Fla. native set career-highs in completions (24), attempts (45), yards (212), carries (nine) and was turnover free. The first-year starter has turned in a solid 2013 campaign, holding a 61 percent completion rate and a nine-to-three touchdown to interception ratio.

 

Senior running back Tim Broughton continued his charge for the OVC rushing title against the Panthers, gaining 93 yards on the ground on just 16 carries. Broughton has had at least 80 yards in each of TSU’s past eight contests and is first in the league with 918 yards.

 

Running lanes for Broughton and the Tigers could be few and far between against EKU (5-3, 3-1 OVC) as the Colonels are tops in the conference in rushing defense (103 yards per game). Eastern Kentucky also ranks second in total defense, directly behind TSU.

 

EKU’s unit doesn’t have a single standout; rather it has been a team-wide effort with five players recording at least 30 stops on the year. Tyler Horn is the high man with 37 tackles and has also picked off a pass and forced a fumble.

 

Quarterback Jared McClain has led the Colonel offense this season and has accounted for 1,480 total yards, good enough for fourth in the conference. The dual-threat junior has thrown nine touchdowns on the year and has run for a team-best six more.

 

The Tigers are 5-20 all-time against Eastern Kentucky, but have won three of the last four meetings including last year’s thrilling, 23-20, victory in Nashville.

TSU will face off against EKU on ESPN3 on Saturday, Nov. 2 with kickoff slated for 12:04 central time.

 

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COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

ASU Braves Thursday Night Game Versus Prairie View Not Televised

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

LORMAN, Mississippi -- The Alcorn State vs. Prairie View A&M football game on Thursday November 7, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. will not be televised next week.

The game is being marketed as, "A White Out for The Braves Night Out" and all fans and alumni are encouraged to come out and support the Braves by wearing their favorite Alcorn white t-shirts/sweatshirts. We will also be honoring local education and emergency first responders throughout the game.

Local school students in official school uniforms or with a valid school ID from the Vicksburg-Warren School District, Claiborne County School District, Jefferson County School District and Adams County Schools along with emergency personnel— policemen, firemen, emergency medical technicians, paramedics — with Employer ID or in Official Uniform can enter the game free of charge through Gate 8 of Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium. All game attendees will also receive free glow sticks upon entering the gate.

All other General Admission tickets will be $5. General Parking and Premium Parking along with Tailgating will be discounted to $5. RV parking is $15.

Alcorn Faculty and Staff are encouraged to purchase game tickets which includes an invitation to the President's Tailgate Tent where food and drinks will be served and they can pick up their Holiday Turkey Gift from the University at the end of halftime.

The Show Me the Money Punt, Pass and Kick Student Competition will take center stage during halftime festivities. Two students will have the opportunity to kick a 25-yard field goal and win $500 each in cash that will be added to their ASU Gold Cards.

Come out and cheer on your Alcorn State Braves Football Team for this fun, festive and family-friendly evening.


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Young Texas Southern team wary of Southern

HOUSTON, Texas  -- The Southern football team travels to Houston for the second time this season, this time to take on Texas Southern.

The Jaguars are hopeful they’ll make one more trip.

Southern (4-4, 4-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) takes on the Tigers at 8 p.m. Friday night under the lights of BBVA Compass Stadium, the new home for TSU football and the MLS’ Houston Dynamo.

Both teams are coming off emotional overtime contests. Texas Southern (2-6, 2-5) prevailed 20-17 over Grambling. The thrill-a-minute Jaguars were unable to stage another come-from-behind victory, falling to Alcorn State 44-38 at homecoming.

The Tigers enter Saturday ranked in the bottom half of every major statistical category in the SWAC. Yet Texas Southern will present a challenge because of the defense’s ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks; one of the conference’s best punters; and quarterback Homer Causey, the kind of dual-threat quarterback that’s given the Jaguar defense trouble this season.

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Fakler, Jackson collect their fifth GCAC awards of season

Kwame Jackson

Catherine Fakler

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana juniors Catherine Fakler and Kwame Jackson, the individual champions Saturday at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Cross Country Champions, are the GCAC Runners of the Week for Oct. 21-27.

It's more of the same for both runners, who tied XU season records with their fifth GCAC weekly awards of 2013. Jackson has nine career GCAC awards, and Fakler has seven.

Fakler set a school record of 18 minutes, 8.32 seconds at 5,000 meters to win the women's GCAC title by more than 90 seconds. Jackson then won the men's race for the second time in three years. His 8K time was 27:15.84, and he won by nearly 20 seconds.

Xavier won both GCAC team championships for the eighth consecutive year.

Fakler is from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School. Jackson is from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School.

Fakler matched the five GCAC awards of Zahri Jackson, Kwame's younger sister, from 2011. Kwame Jackson shares the XU men's record with Mark Dotson (2009) and Matt Pieri (2010).

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

Delaware State Return Home to Face the Howard Bison

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL - Game 9
HORNETS (3-5; 3-2 MEAC)
vs.
HOWARD BISON (3-5; 2-3 MEAC)
SAT., NOV. 2, 2013 - 2:00 p.m.
ALUMNI STADIUM - DOVER, DELAWARE
HALL OF FAME DAY

THE GAME
Delaware State welcomes long-time rival Howard University to Alumni Stadium for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest. The Hornets (3-5 overall; 3-2 MEAC) are trying to rebound from a 30-7 loss to Hampton last weekend.



DSU trailed 10-0 before capping off a 15-play, 90-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Cory Murphy to Milton Williams III to pull to within 10-7 with 49 seconds left in the second quarter. The Hornets were outscored 20-0 in the second half.

Hampton used two big plays, a 79-yard run and 75-yard pass, to highlight its second half scoring.
Delaware State receiver Malik Golson topped all players with nine receptions for 80 yards in the contest. The nine catches tied his career high. DSU defensive backs J.R. Robinson and Joe Boyd had interceptions in the contest, the second of the season for each.

Howard (3-5; 2-3) brings a two-game win streak into the contest. The Bison are coming off a 28-14 homecoming victory over Morgan State last Saturday. Howard’s defense forced four turnovers and Charles Philyaw rushed for three touchdowns to highlight the win. The Bison scored on their first possession when Philyaw capped off an 18-play, 65-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. He also scored on a seven-yard run in the third quarter and a four-yard run with 1:07 left to play. Howard racked.

THE SERIES
The Hornets and Bison are meeting for the 56th consecutive year and 70th time overall, making it Delaware State's oldest rivalry. Howard won last year’s meting 41-34 to snap a five –game DSU win streak in the series. The Hornets led by 21 points early in the third quarter but was outscored 38-10 the rest of the way in a 41-34 loss to the Bison in the 2012 meeting in Washington, D.C.  The last time the teams met at Alumni Stadium, Delaware State scored the winning touchdown with 2:18 left to play in a 39-36 victory in 2011. The Hornets hold a 35-33-1 lead in the all-time series.

 

HORNETS DROP IN MEAC RACE
Delaware State is still alive in the 2013 MEAC championship race, although last week’s loss to Hampton was a serious blow to the Hornets’ title hopes, DSU is currently fourth place in the current MEAC standings with a 3-2 league record, 

 

Defending champ Bethune-Cookman hoods the top spot with a 4-0 mark, Hampton and South Carolina State are tied for second at 3-1.

 

There’s a logjam behind the Hornets for fifth place. No. Carolina Central, Morgan State and Norfolk State are tied for fifth at 2-2. 

Delaware State, a charter member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), is in its 43^th season of league play. The Hornets have an all-time record of 127-146-1 in MEAC contests.

 

Delaware State has won or shared six MEAC championships. The Hornets claimed outright MEAC titles in 1985, 1989 and 2007, while sharing the crown in 1987, 1988 and 1991. Delaware State was tied for third place in the MEAC with a 5-3 mark in 2012. 

 

COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern developing receiver depth to complement Lee Doss

HOUSTON, Texas  -- The Southern receiving corps is perhaps best known for the work of Lee Doss.

It’s easy to understand why Doss is the face of the group. He’s a senior.

He’s an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection. In two games earlier this season, he scored five touchdowns.

And defenses have rightfully shifted their attention to the playmaking wideout.

Yet the Jaguars are about more than just Doss. They have having a plethora of young, upcoming talent in the cupboard.



Newcomers Willie Quinn and Randall Menard and sophomores Justin Morgan, Nico Talbert and Mike Jones have benefited from the attention Doss has drawn this season, providing big plays on the perimeter Southern.

“We have a great group of kids that just want to come out and compete,” wide receivers coach Chris Coleman said. “Those guys have come in and taken their God-given abilities and maximized it through film study and through repetitions on the practice field, and buying into what the coaches are teaching.”

Quinn’s effect was apparent early this season, when he managed to haul in touchdown passes in of the first three game.

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New Alabama State assistant makes debut

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- When Alabama State tips off the 2013-14 season against Huntingdon College in an exhibition game tonight at the Acadome, they’ll be a new face on the Hornet bench.

Michael Curry, an assistant on former Troy coach Don Maestri’s staff for seven years, will replace longtime assistant Courtney Stephens.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have coach Curry join our staff,” Hornets coach Lewis Jackson said. “He’s been good for us. He has a lot of contacts and works well with the student-athletes. We’re excited to have him in the program.”

Jackson made the decision to replace Stephens at the end of the 2012-13 season but withheld comment because of his long friendship with the former Hornet player.

“Coach Stephens had been a real blessing for us,” Jackson said. “He’s been with our team since I’ve been here and has done a lot for the program. We just felt it was the right time for a coaching change to get some new blood in here. But he was a great guy who did a lot for the program.”



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Video: Southern coach Dawson Odums' Tuesday press conference