Jackson State coaches scouted final 2 opponents at one time

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- The players had the weekend off.

 

The coaching staff? They’re the ones who had the homework.

 

While Jackson State had a bye Saturday, its last two opponents of the regular season – Alabama A&M and Alcorn State – went head to head.

 

So Rick Comegy and his staff traveled to Lorman to not only scout Alabama A&M, which they play in Hunstville on Saturday at 1 p.m., during their bye week also to get a look at Alcorn State, who the Tigers host Nov. 16.

 

A takeaway for Jackson State — don’t let the Bulldogs climb back.

 

The Tigers don’t want to repeat what happened to the Braves (7-3, 5-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference), who blew their chances for a SWAC title. They allowed Alabama A&M (3-6, 3-4) to comeback from a 15-0 deficit and fell in a 19-18 upset.

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The Editor: FAMU's Earl Holmes is Just Getting Started

Dwight Floyd
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TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  With the hiring of Earl Holmes as the next FAMU head football coach last year there was a lot of hype and excitement. He is after all home grown, a graduate of FAMU DRS and Florida A&M University, and an outstanding former NFL player. We all got behind him because we wanted him to succeed. By giving the right kind of support we can still help, but in all ways necessary he’ll have to lead the Rattlers from one of their lowest points in history to meeting the expectations that Florida A&M history requires. Thus, the legacy begins.

After recently reading Coaching Against the Wind, a book by retired FAMU administrator and Professor Eddie Jackson, I am reminded that the all-time FAMU winningest Coach Alonzo S. Jake Gaither inherited a winning program. Not enough people are aware of the legacy of William “Big Bill” Bell. Too many of us would like to think that Jake Gaither and Rudy Hubbard were the only FAMU coaches to distinguish themselves as national champions.

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Claflin Lady Panthers, SCSU Bulldogs take wins in Garden City Classic

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- S.C. State head basketball coach Murray Garvin smiled following Monday’s game against Claflin.

While part of the reason was because he knew he no longer had to put aside having lunch with his coaching counterpart and Claflin head coach Rickey Jackson, the other part may have had something to do with the Bulldogs 67-57 win over the Panthers.

Neither team’s offense shot particularly well in the opening period, but it was South Carolina State that made the most of their opportunities from the field. Led by Jalen White, who scored nine of his 11 points in the first 20 minutes of play, the Bulldogs entered the locker room with a 27-25 lead at the half.

“Jalen White found out that he was starting in the point guard spot two hours before we played,” Garvin said. “Shaquille Mitchell was our starter going into the exhibition game and Shaq got diagnosed with symptoms of strep throat at around 3 o’clock today. So, for Jalen to come in as a true freshman and give us the lift that he did, I commend him for that. He’s worked hard since he’s been here.”

Claflin ended the first half of play shooting 10-33 from the field and 3-20 from behind the 3-point line. Still, the Panthers found themselves in striking distance heading into the second half.

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S.C. State, Claflin teams meet tonight for ‘bragging rights’

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- From a win-loss standpoint, tonight’s basketball doubleheader at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center will not count as it’s considered an exhibition contest.

For neighbors South Carolina State and Claflin University, the Garden City Classic offers much more from a pride standpoint.

With three of the four participants coming off losing seasons and both the Panthers and Lady Panthers with new head coaches (Deonta’ McChester for the women, Ricky Jackson for the men), a victory would provide a positive boost heading into a new season.

“Anytime you have South Carolina State and Clafin in anything, it doesn’t matter whether it’s an exhibition or a regular-season game,” S.C. State men’s basketball coach Murray Garvin said. “It’s bragging rights in the community.”

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Preseason poll: NSU has MEAC's top team, player

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State interim basketball coach Robert Jones isn't putting much stock in the target that's about to be painted onto his team.

But if the Spartans return to the NCAA tournament, they'll have to do it as MEAC favorites.

NSU was picked to finish first in a poll of league coaches and sports information directors expected to be released today. Senior guard Pendarvis Williams was named preseason Player of the Year.

Jones, in his first season on the job after six years as an assistant under former Spartans coach Anthony Evans, said that while being recognized is nice, preseason polls generally have little value.

"At least it shows that we have some talent," said Jones, who returns 11 letter winners from a squad that went 21-12 (16-0 in the MEAC) last season.

"Just because you're picked No. 1 doesn't mean you're going to finish No. 1.Of course, you strive for that."

Williams, a 6-foot-6 Philadelphia native, led the team and finished fourth in the MEAC with 14.3 points per game to earn the league's Player of the Year award last season.

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TSU Tigers to Begin Season With Exhibition on Monday

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- On Monday night, the Tennessee State men’s basketball team will take on Lemoyne-Owen in an exhibition game in preparation of its season opener on Nov. 8. The Tigers will tipoff against the Magicians at 7 p.m. in the Gentry Center before traveling to the University of Hawai’i to take part in the Rainbow Classic.

Coming off a stellar first season at the helm of the Tennessee State men’s basketball program Travis Williams is looking to build the Tigers into a consistent OVC threat year in and year out.

 

The Tigers are coming off an 18-15 season finishing third in the OVC East division with an 11-5 conference record.

 

Williams’ undeniable team leader will be All-OVC point guard Patrick Miller who will now be the Tigers most experienced player on a young team.

 

“When you look at a point guard that’s usually the most important position on the court and to have that caliber of player returning his senior year is going to be a tremendous asset for our team,” Williams said of his veteran floor general.

 

The senior point guard is a potential OVC player of the year candidate who returns to the reigns of an offense that will rely on a lot of newcomers to shoulder heavy production losses. Miller averaged 14.8 points, 5.9 assists per game as well as recording a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Chicago native’s junior season will go down as one of the best for a point guard at TSU after Miller set the single season assist mark with 195.

 

Miller’s record breaking junior season earned him a spot on the All-OVC first team. The 6-1 guard enters the season as just one of two holdovers from the ’12-’13 All-OVC first and second teams and the only member of the first team to return.

 

Coach Williams is now asking his savvy point guard to focus even more attention to another aspect of his game.

 

“He’s been able to show a lot of leadership in helping the younger guys along but I think he’s welcoming the challenge,” said Williams on Miller’s vocal role on this year’s team. “I want him to have more of a voice this year to develop the makeup of this team. He’s been thrust into that role and I think he’s looking forward to that challenge.”

 

The supporting cast around Miller will be a more youthful unit than the senior is used to with the loss of All-OVC second team members Robert Covington and Kellen Thornton as well as Jordan Cyphers and Tashan Frederick to graduation. Overall the Tigers will be replacing 62.2% of their scoring and 44.5 points per game.

 

Coach Travis Williams will turn to both a combination of veteran talent and youthful newcomers to pace the 2013-14 Tigers team.

 

Junior M.J. Rhett will pace the Tigers in the post after a strong sophomore campaign averaging 5.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Rhett’s most impressive performances came at the beginning of 2013, recording back-to-back double-doubles in wins over OVC rivals Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State. The performances earned Rhett the accolade of OVC player of the week for Jan. 7.

 

Seniors Michael Green and Chaed Wiellian will join Rhett in the frontcourt. Both served in reserve roles off the bench backing up the solid performing Thornton and Covington. The two are in line for more playing time this season filling the void left by the former Tigers.

 

Green averaged 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds a game off the bench for TSU a year ago.

 

The guard position will have welcomed depth for Coach Williams’ team with Miller, junior Jay Harris, sophomore Jordan Gaither and the return of Jacquan Nobles. Harris spent last year as a reserve playing behind Miller. During Harris’ sophomore season the Philadelphia native averaged 3.2 points, 1.1 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game.  Harris was a key defender off the bench for the Tigers a season ago.

 

Nobles rejoins the TSU roster after spending the past two seasons away from basketball.  The 6-3 guard began his career for Tennessee State in 2009 earning a spot on the OVC All-Newcomer team that season after averaging 11.2 points per game while shooting 44% from the field. During his second season in Nashville Nobles led the team with 59 three pointers made while averaging 7.5 points per game.

 

Williams will also welcome his first full recruiting class after being named the head coach in 2012. The class includes four freshman and two JUCO transfers.

 

The freshman class is highlighted by the addition of Ugo Mmonu a wiry 6-7 combo guard from Decatur, Ga.

 

“I think he’s an incredible talent his best basketball is ahead of him. He has incredible versatility with the ability to play inside-and-out from multiple positions,” Williams said of the newcomer.

 

Mmonu is joined by fellow freshmen Jamonte Green, Jaylen Reid and Rhyan Townes.

 

Reid is a 6-7 forward who can also play the small forward position and should battle for minutes in the post.

 

Green and Townes will provide viable depth in the backcourt while gaining valuable experience learning from Miller.

 

Kennedy Eubanks and Jaleel Queary round out the recruiting class and will add experience to both the frontcourt (Eubanks) and backcourt (Queary).

 

All of this year’s Tiger team will try to build off of last season’s success in hopes of winning the OVC and clinching a berth in the NCAA Tournament. TSU will begin its quest of achieving those goals on Monday night at 7 p.m.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Football Part of Planning at LeMoyne-Owen College

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The new $13.5 million four-story residence hall at LeMoyne-Owen College that formally opened Friday, Oct. 18, is the latest symbol of growth on the campus of the city’s only historically black college since 2006.

The next indication of that growth could be a football team.

“I have just received the football feasibility study that we are taking a look at,” said LeMoyne-Owen College president Johnnie Watson. “At some point, the board will say yea or nay to that. That’s probably the next thing.”

The idea of a Magicians football team surfaced in 2010 with a feasibility study beginning as well as some efforts to build support for such a team among alumni.

The school has a number of men’s and women’s sports programs but the school is best known for its men’s and women’s basketball teams. And the basketball teams have been an important part of the school’s legacy since Watson was a student there in the late 1950s.

Watson graduated from the college in 1960 and is the first alumni to serve as president of the college in the Soulsville section of South Memphis.

“Probably 50 years ago. That was before I even attended college,” Watson said of the old football program. “Some people want it to return. But certainly we are going to have to look at the economics.”

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Ram Ramblings: Rams dream season nearly came to a crashing halt

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Senior defensive lineman Jermaine Kesler of Winston-Salem State was having a serious flashback to Oct. 30, 2010 at Durham County Stadium.

It was that day when Shaw got a late interception of Kam Smith and went on to a 31-27 win over the Rams. That was the last time the Rams lost to a CIAA opponent, but the scene looked very familiar on Saturday to WSSU’s fans and to Kesler.
                    
This time it was Darnell Evans, who is one of the most talented players in the CIAA, who nearly ruined WSSU’s season. Evans, a senior safety, intercepted a floating deep pass by Rudy Johnson after wide receiver Kenny Patterson had fallen down. Evans then went 88 yards untouched for a touchdown with a little more than eight minutes left in the game.

The Bears had a 24-21 lead and for the first time since 2010 the Rams trailed late in a CIAA game.

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Second-Half Comeback Lifts St. Aug Past Johnson C. Smith on Senior Day

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -- Cyril Davis (R-Fr./Orangeburg, SC) came off the bench in the second half to throw two touchdown passes and Brian Richards (R-Sr./Waldorf, MD) caught six passes for 153 yards and a touchdown as Saint Augustine's University downed Johnson C. Smith University 13-6 in a CIAA football contest at John H. Baker Stadium on Saturday, November 2, 2013. The contest was designated as Senior Day.

"It's Senior Day, and you want to play well," St. Aug Head Coach Michael Costa said. "You want the seniors to go out on a good note. The seniors stepped in and did what they needed to do."

Chris Roberts (R-Soph./Albany, Ga.) recorded 3.5 sacks for the Falcons, who snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the CIAA. The Golden Bulls fell to 4-5 overall and 2-5 in the CIAA after dropping their fourth consecutive game. The Falcons have beaten the Golden Bulls three consecutive times at home.

Davis, playing his first career game, sparked the offense of the Falcons, who trailed 6-0 at halftime. The Falcons took a 7-6 lead in the third quarter on a 65-yard pass from Davis to Chris Dalton (Sr./Statesville, NC) and Michael Lima's (R-Jr./Miami, FL) extra point. On the touchdown play, Dalton turned a short pass into a long run with no defenders in sight to put the Falcons ahead.

The Golden Bulls threatened to re-gain the lead in the fourth quarter. They droved inside the Falcons' 20-yard line, but the Falcons pushed them back to SAU 44-yard line where the Golden Bulls were forced to punt.

The Falcons stretched the lead to 13-6 with 3:25 left on an 89-yard pass from Davis to Richards on their next possession. Davis scrambled to his left to avoid pressure and found a wide-open Richards downfield. Richards caught the pass in stride and ran untouched down the left sideline for the score. The play was the longest this season and one of the longest in school history for the Falcons.

The Golden Bulls drove past midfield on their final possession, but the drive stalled at the Falcons' 48-yard line. Facing fourth down and one, the Golden Bulls were penalized for a false start. On the next play, Kharea Roseboro (R-Jr./Statesville, NC) stopped Kyle Gregg for no gain with a vicious hit on a pass play to give the Falcons possession on downs. Lined up in victory formation, the Falcons ran out the clock for the victory.

Davis threw for 187 yards on 6 of 13 passing for the Falcons and was not sacked. He also threw two interceptions in addition to his two touchdown passes, but his calming presence uplifted the Falcons in the second half.

"He did a good job," Costa said. "Once he starts working more with the first team and gets his timing down, I'm pretty sure he will do even better."

Dalton had three receptions for 91 yards and a score for the Falcons. JJShawn Pinkston (R-Sr./Mooresville, NC) added 46 rushing yards on eight carries.

The Falcons' defense, ranked among the CIAA's best, stymied the Golden Bulls offensive attack until the St. Aug offense got on track. CIAA tackles leader Chaz Robinson (Sr./Hampton, Va.) recorded a game-high nine tackles for the Falcons, who held the Golden Bulls to 73 rushing yards. The Golden Bulls scored 35 or more points in seven of eight games entering Saturday's contest. The Falcons finished with four sacks and picked off three passes – including one each by Jordan Griffin (So./Middletown, DE), Brandon Taylor (Fr./Opelika, AL) and John'ta Cooper (Jr./Cairo, GA).

"I think we played one of the best defensive games we've played in a long time," Costa said.

For the Golden Bulls, Gregg rushed 13 times for 69 yards and Fred Scott caught seven passes for 59 yards. Andrew Alexander competed 13 of 20 passes for 131 yards including a 38-yard scoring pass to LeAnder Barney in the first quarter for the early lead. But Alexander was intercepted once and sacked four times. Keahn Wallace entered for Alexander in the second half and completed 9 of 16 passes but the Falcons intercepted him twice. On defense, the trio of Austin Jacques, Leon Minto and Anthony Allen each finished with five tackles for the Golden Bulls.

Before the contest, 19 football seniors were honored along with nine band seniors. The football seniors were Au'Darius Blackwood (Mooresville, NC), Dalton, Jadarius Dean (Milledgeville, GA), Dante Devouse (Phenix, AL), Javarous Faulk (Macon, GA), Javon Harley (Newark, DE), Bryan Jones (Warner Robins, GA), Jermaine Jones (Wilmington, NC), Newton Miller III (York, PA), Ronald Moore (Greensboro, NC), Alex Munro (Ashburn, VA), Shonquez Nelson (Lake City, SC), Rodricaus Peters (Decatur, GA), Pinkston, Herman Reaves (Miami, FL), Richards, Robinson, Roseboro and Tucker.

The Falcons conclude the regular season against crosstown rival Shaw University at Durham County Stadium in Durham, NC, on Saturday, November 9, 2013. Game time is 1 p.m.

"We have to be ready," Costa said. "It's a rivalry. It's all about us being ready."

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FVSU rolls over Morehouse

FORT VALLEY, Georgia  --  It took Fort Valley State nine games to play like head coach Donald Pittman expected.

Pittman has been preaching glass-full optimism all season, that it was a matter of time before the Wildcats clicked on offense. That time came Saturday night.

Quarterback Malcolm Eady ran and passed the Wildcats up and down the field en route to a 46-19 win over Morehouse at Wildcat Stadium.

Those on hand saw FVSU (4-5, 3-0 SIAC) deal the knockout punch in the second quarter and never let Morehouse (2-7, 0-4) start a rally.

“I would think we’d get rolling faster,” Pittman said. “We didn’t get into sync until later on, but that’s fine.”

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Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/11/02/2753143/fvsu-rolls-over-morehouse.html#storylink=cpy

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Big first quarter lifts Lane Dragons over KSU Thorobreds

JACKSON, Tennessee  -- Lane head coach Derrick Burroughs has been publicly critical of his team’s defense this year.

Saturday, that same defense gave up 450 yards of offense and four touchdowns.

But it also recovered two fumbles in the first quarter and forced two timely interceptions, one late in the game, to help the Dragons knock off visiting Kentucky State on senior day at Lane Field, 38-28.
“The first half, I tell you what, I was proud of them,” Burroughs said. “We showed little remnants of that old defense, but I was proud of the guys.

“I have been very critical, but I don’t want to be critical in a situation like this. They’ve done everything they could do.”

With just over five minutes remaining, Lane held a 31-21 lead over the Thorobr
eds with Kentucky State driving the ball deep into Lane territory.

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Xavier Gold Nuggets build big lead, defeat Langston in opener

The 2013-14 Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team.

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GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- Sophomore guard Whitney Gathright scored a career-best 19 points

It was the season opener for both teams.

Gathright, from New Orleans and a former John Curtis Christian School standout, was 5-of-8 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line in 31 minutes. She scored 11 second-half points and finished with four assists and three steals. Gathright and Danielle Tucker made two 3-pointers apiece, all in the first half.

Paige Gauthier had 16 points, four assists and four steals for the Gold Nuggets, and Tucker had 12 points and seven rebounds. Gauthier scored 14 in the second half.

Lynette Holmes, a transfer from the University of Arizona, and Alex Adekunle scored 19 points apiece for Langston, and Amber Kinlaw had 10. Holmes scored 15 in the second half.

Xavier trailed 11-6 through the first six minutes, then Tucker and Gathright combined for 18 points to rally the Nuggets and give them a 32-25 halftime lead. Freshman Taylor Norman made two free throws to give Xavier its biggest lead, 53-33, with 8:20 remaining.

Three times Langston cut Xavier's lead to four points, all in the final 90 seconds, but did not draw closer. The Lionesses committed four turnovers in the final 2½ minutes.

Xavier outshot Langston 44 to 35.5 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lionesses 43-36. Chelsea Broussard and Emoni Harvey also grabbed seven rebounds for the Nuggets. Harvey, a sophomore guard, more than doubled her previous career best of three rebounds.

Xavier extended its regular-season win streak to 13 games.

Xavier's next game will be its home opener at 4 p.m. Saturday against Spring Hill at the Convocation Center. That game will follow a 2 p.m. matchup between the XU men and Albany State.

Saturday to lead NAIA No. 15 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 69-63 women's basketball victory against Langston.

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

Road to the Honda: Edward Waters College

Council's two-minute drill leads Morgan State to 30-27 win over Hampton

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- After watching a 16-point halftime lead be replaced by a 27-23 fourth quarter deficit against Hampton on Saturday, Morgan State quarterback Robert Council didn't panic when met with a fourth-and-13 from his own 37-yard line.

Instead, with less than three minutes to play, Council completed a 36-yard pass to Antonio Jefferson, extending the Bears' drive. A few plays later, Council's 7-yard touchdown pass to Nate Ingram with 26 seconds remaining gave Morgan a 30-27 lead that the defense held, securing a key Mid-Eastern Conference win before an announced 5,789 at Hughes Stadium.

"We had to score," Ingram said. "In order to win that game, we got to get seven points."

And Council, in just his third start this season, said he was well-prepared for what ought to have been a pressure-packed drive.

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Langston Edges Oklahoma Panhandle State, 20-19

GOODWELL, Oklahoma -- Freshman quarterback Mark Wright continued his dominant play, and the Langston Lions came back from a 13 point 4^th quarter deficit to defeat Panhandle State 20-19.  Panhandle State jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead as the Lions special team woes continued.  Punter David DeHarde had his punt blocked in the first quarter, which Panhandle State recovered in the endzone.

Wright would be the difference maker in the game again, as he completed 19-29 passes for 254 yards.  He also added 135 yards on the ground, including two touchdowns.  A 37-yard scoring run by Wright in the second quarter helped stop the bleeding, but the Aggies came down to score just 2 minutes later to take a 16-6 lead into halftime.

The 3^rd quarter was quiet in terms of scoring.  The Aggies would add a field goal to increase their lead to 19-6 entering the fourth quarter.  The Lions offense then came alive, as Wright found receiver Sheldon Augustine for a 33-yard touchdown pass.  Wright would later score on a crucial quarterback sneak on 4^th down, and DeHarde added the extra point to give the Lions the lead 20-19 with roughly 8 minutes remaining in the game.  The Aggies threatened with under a minute left, but failed to convert a 4^th and 10 to keep their drive alive at midfield.

The Lions defense played steadily all game, and held the Aggies on critical drives in the second half.  The Lions forced 3 turnovers and added 3 sacks.  Middle linebacker John Hunter led the defense with 12 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss.  The Lions secondary was active as well, breaking up 5 passes.

Game Notes:  Oklahoma Panhandle State recently moved to NCAA Division II…At^th to take on Bacone.
tendance at Carl Wooten Field was 978…This gives Langston a 4-game winning streak…The Lions will play in Muskogee on November 9

COURTESY LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS SPORTS INFORMATION

Tuskegee balanced offensive effort puts away Central State

TUSKEGEE, Alabama  -- In a game that Tuskegee never trailed in, the Golden Tigers cruised to a 31-point victory over Central State in the 90th Annual Homecoming game.  The 41-10 victory is the sixth consecutive win for Tuskegee, and sets up another matchup between TU and Miles for the SIAC West Division Championship next Saturday at Cleve L. Abbott Stadium.  The Golden Tigers had 417 yards of offense and 27 first downs for the game.

In spite of the great offensive effort by TU, not a single offensive player finished with even 75 yards individually for the contest.  The running game once again establishd a pattern of whoever the coaching staff felt was hot at the moment, as six Tuskegee players ran for a minimum of 20 yards on the afternoon  A total of 279 yards were gained against the Marauders.

"I thought they did a good job," said Tuskegee coach Willie Slater.  "They did a great job maintaining pass protection, and we were able to rely on the run whenever we needed it.  They are only getting better, and the linemen continue to improve every single week."

Montgomery native Rashard Burkette started for the fourth consecutive week, and Slater's mastery of the two quarterback system showed up in the stats.  Both the Sidney Lanier graduate and junior Justin Nared threw for 60 yards and a touchdown apiece, as they combined to complete six of their 18 passing attempts.

The Tuskegee defense had an outstanding effort, and was led by Reginald Woods.  He had game highs in solo and total tackles (with eight and ten, respectively), while also picking up one of four team interceptions to go with 2.5 sacks and four tackles for a loss.  The Marauders finished the game with 232 total yards, and just 57 of those yards were through the air.  They also had two lost fumbles to add with the four interceptions.

Miles College held up their end of the billing later in the day, as they were able to comeback from three scores down to take the lead for good over Stillman College in Tuscaloosa to earn a 31-30 victory.  Slater said that he expects a hard-fought battle, as games played over the course of the last two seasons have proved.

"It will be a tough game,"  Slater said.  "They always play us tough, and we always manage to have a battle with them.  We know that we have to play at our very best."

But, for this weekend, Coach Slater will look back at the Homecoming celebration and marvel at the strong showing of support.

"There's nothing like a TU Homecoming," Slater said.  "It's hard to believe how many people show up to it each and every year, and I really believe that it has grown.  I can't wait to see what it looks like next year."

Box Score




BY: Michael Stewart, Sports Information Director, Tuskegee University
COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Miles scores three times in fourth quarter to beat Stillman

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama  --  Closing out a game in the fourth quarter is critical in college football.

The Stillman Tigers didn’t do it in a 31-30 loss to the Miles Golden Bears on Saturday night.

 

The Tigers (5-4, 4-3 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) controlled the tempo for the first 30 minutes of play but eased up on the gas pedal, allowing the Golden Bears (5-3, 5-1) to score 21 unanswered points in the last 15 minutes of the game.

 

“We got exposed on the defensive end, and I am very disappointed that we gave up those points,” Stillman coach Teddy Keaton said.

 

Miles sealed the win when wide receiver Antonio Pitts caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Demetrice Price with 17.9 seconds remaining.

 

Price finished 23 of 42 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Tigers quarterback Torrance Moise was sacked by defensive end Braysean Jones on the game’s final play.

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GSU Stadium officially renamed to honor Eddie Robinson

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- An hour before Grambling State University’s homecoming kickoff, hundreds of alumni, students and sports legends gathered around Gate 2 of Robinson Stadium as the stadium built 30 years ago in honor of the late coach was renamed the Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

According to Grambling president Frank G. Pogue, Robinson was still alive when the stadium was built, and the university couldn’t honor him by putting his full name on the historic building where he won most of his football games, including No. 408.



“He was not deceased, and there is a state policy about that,” said Pogue. “He has certainly been deceased long enough, that it had to be changed.”

The idea of renaming the stadium has been in conversation for years, even before Pogue’s tenure, the president said, and the idea was brought to Pogue’s attention just days after he was named president of the institution.

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XU unbeaten in GCAC for third straight regular season

Xavier University of Louisiana's 2013 women's volleyball team
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NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana won 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 25-14 at Dillard on Saturday to conclude a third consecutive unbeaten regular season in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball.

The Gold Nuggets (23-7, 12-0) concluded the regular season with 17 consecutive victories and defeated the Lady Bleu Devils (10-7, 7-5) for the second time in four days. The Nuggets matched their season record for victories set in 2011.

Moira Kirk led Xavier, hitting .619 with 15 kills and two errors in 21 attacks. She also had two blocks. Taylor Reuther had nine kills, hit .389 and served two aces, and Jodi Chatters had 14 digs. Franziska Pirkl and Alexandria Rencher had 16 assists apiece.

Carolyn Baker and Mercades Chevis had 12 kills apiece for Dillard. Chevis had 14 digs, three blocks and two aces.

Dillard's second-set victory snapped Xavier's consecutive-set win streak at 18.

Xavier has a 34-match win streak in the GCAC regular season and has won 40 straight matches, including tournaments, against conference opponents.

Both Xavier and Dillard will compete Thursday in the GCAC Tournament at Little Rock, Ark. The Nuggets will attempt to win the tourney for the third consecutive year. The tournament champion will receive at automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship and play a first-round match Nov. 23.

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

Williams rolls lucky seven: GSU jr. leads Tigers back to win column

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — A man named Williams at quarterback helped rescue Grambling’s somber and chaotic season.

And no, it wasn’t legendary quarterback Doug Williams, nor his son D.J. Williams.

Junior Johnathan Williams, who started in place of a banged up D.J. Williams, totaled seven touchdowns — five passing and two rushing — in a masterful performance to help secure the first victory of the season in a 47-40 win over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday.

Grambling, which snapped an 18-game losing streak to NCAA opponents and a 15-game SWAC losing streak, both dating back to 2011, held on in a wild back-and-forth shootout with former players and alumni in the stands for homecoming.

“I need to thank the man upstairs. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, though,” said Williams, who finished with 316 total yards and accounted for every Grambling score. “It was a must-win situation. I just had to lay it all out on the field.”

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GSU President Pogue: University's challenges reflect state of higher education

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- The recent boycott by our student athletes brought national, and international, attention to the piney woods of Grambling State University.

There was initial shock that a school with our football pedigree could ever forfeit a game, as we did recently when we did not have enough football players to field a team against Jackson State University. I have been saying this for a long time, to anyone who would listen, but the student protest brought to light the fact that our finances are stretched so thin that the basics are no longer guaranteed.

Drastic budget cuts in recent years have pushed many of the nation’s historically black colleges and universities [HBCUs] to the financial brink. Yes, we have reduced athletic budgets, we are buying fewer uniforms, our football teams ride buses instead of flying and we have many more cutbacks. Frankly, that is a small part of our pain. We have furloughed faculty and staff, asked faculty to take on larger teaching loads, trimmed academic degree offerings and delayed building repairs.

And still, we are left with serious needs across our campuses.

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Virginia State Claims CIAA Northern Division Title with 28-0 Win Over Chowan

MURFREESBORO, N.C. -- Virginia State (8-1, 6-0) claimed the CIAA Northern Division title and a trip to the CIAA Championship game and Jordan Anderson became just the fourth Trojan in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season as Virginia State whitewashed Chowan (3-6, 2-4), 28-0, at Garrison Stadium in Murfreesboro, N.C. to extend its winning streak to seven.

With the win, Virginia State will advance to the CIAA Championship game on Nov. 16 in Winston-Salem, N.C. Anderson finished the day with 160 yards giving him 1,021 for the season. He becomes the first Trojan since Taron Hampton rambled for a school-record 1,076 yards in 2008 to reach the 1,000-yard plateau.

Chowan was able to move the ball in the first half but turned the ball over on downs in each of its first three possessions. The Hawks converted just one of six fourth-down conversions in the first half and one of eight for the game.

After a scoreless first quarter, Virginia State struck first when Anderson broke loose, avoided tackles and tip-toed along the sideline 12 yards for a touchdown. Shawn Hunt's extra point gave the Trojans a 7-0 advantage with 5:10 to go before halftime.

Behind the running of Anderson, Virginia State took the opening kick of the second half and marched 75 yards in nine plays culminating in Anderson's one-yard run for a score to up the Trojan lead to 14-0.

The Trojan defense registered its seventh score of the season when Devonte Piggott intercepted a Chowan pass and ran it in from six yards out to boost the Virginia State lead to 21-0 with 4:33 left in the third quarter.

Late in the third quarter, Anderson broke loose and rambled 73 yards for the game's final score. The run gave him more than 1,000 yards rushing on the season.

The 28-0 shutout marked the second time this season the Trojan defense had whitewashed an opponent.

Coach Latrell Scott's team closes out the regular season on Nov. 9 when Vi
rginia State hosts archrival Virginia Union at 2:00 p.m. at Rogers Stadium setting up the league championship game a week later.

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Alabama State Hornets Falls at Kentucky

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LEXINGTON, Kentucky  -- Alabama State University's football team traveled to Lexington to face the University of Kentucky (2-6) looking to become the first member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to defeat a Southeastern Conference (SEC) school, but Kentucky made sure that did not happen in a 48-14 victory.

"This was a great opportunity for our program to come to Lexington and see how we measure up against a SEC opponent in Kentucky and I thought our guys came out with great energy and enthusiasm," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said. "I thought the first quarter, the first couple of plays on offense we had some positive stuff going on, but again it's a game of emotions and there were some penalties that set up back and put us in bad situations. Of course you can't do that against any opponent, let alone an opponent in the SEC."

Isaiah Crowell led the Hornets in rushing with 84 yards on 12 carries and added a touchdown run, but the Hornets only ran for 149 yards against the bigger Wildcats on 38 carries.

ASU's passing game threw for 148 yards as three different Hornets completed passes, but as a team, only completed 12 of 28. Duhart led the group completing eight of his 23 pass attempts for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Jamel Johnson was ASU's leading receiver with five catches for a game-high 97 yards. He also scored on a 68 yard pass from Duhart in the second half. It was the longest reception of his ASU career.

Leland Baker led ASU's defense with 10 stops (8 solo, 2 assists) and added a sack and two tackles for losses. The Hornets defense lived up to its reputation of putting pressure on the offense and finished the game with three sacks (-26 yards) and 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage (-45 yards).

ASU (6-3) hurt itself with five fumbles, losing two and a partially blocked punt. Those problems led to 17 Kentucky points, including a fumble with less than a minute left in the first half which led to a field goal on the final play of the first half, and a fumble on the second play of the second half which led to a touchdown.

Bobby Wenzig continued to show he is healing from an early season injury while averaging 46.1 yards per punt on eight punts. Three of those punts traveled over 50 yards, with a long of 62 yards in the first half.

The first half did not start out the way the Hornets had envisioned as Whitlow broke free from 88 yards to score on the second snap of the game to give the Wildcats a quick 7-0 lead.

ASU was able to even the score at seven when Crowell broke free from 32 yards and went untouched for the score. The scoring drive covered seven plays and 62 yards.

That would be all the scoring ASU would do as UK turned a block punt and a fumble close to the end of the first half into 10 points and a 31-7 halftime lead.

ASU will be back home in the friendly confines of the New ASU Stadium next week when they jump back into Southwestern Athletic Conference action and host Southern University at 1 p.m.

Box Score            

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#13 WSSU Rams Survive 28-24 Over Shaw With Last Minute Touchdown Pass

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- #13 Winston-Salem State's Rudy Johnson found freshman Chase Powell down the left sideline and Powell powered his way into the endzone with :59 remaining, to give the Rams a 28-24 come from behind victory over Shaw University Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem.

With the win, WSSU moves to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in CIAA play, while Shaw falls to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in CIAA play.

 

Both teams were chippy in pregame warmups, and the game even started with a 15 yard penalty on Shaw for unsportsmanlike conduct.

 

Winston-Salem State got on the scoreboard first, midway through the first quarter, when Rudy Johnson found Graham Love in the corner of the endzone to push WSSU out in front, 7-0 after a successful PAT by William Johnson.   The score capped a five play 24 yard drive.

 

The Rams #1 ranked defense was dominate on this day, and early on, the Bears seemed to not be able to block the talented defensive line of the Rams, as WSSU sacked and stayed in the Bears backfield.

WSSU would find paydirt again three minutes later, after the Rams defense held Shaw to a quick three and out. This time, on a fourth and six, Rudy Johnson would find a wide open Chase Powell behind the Bears secondary for a 36 yards touchdown. William Johnson would convert the PAT to give the Rams a 14-0 lead.

 

Midway through the second quarter Winston-Salem State would strike again, as on the last play of an eleven play, 48 yard drive, Rudy Johnson would find Eric Williams open on a quick slant in the endzone for another score giving WSSU a 21-0 advantage, and it looked like the route was on.

 

After a good kickoff return by Shaw, two plays later Trevius Folston found David Jordan open for a 32 yard touchdown, cutting the Rams lead to 21-7.

 

Winston-Salem State would have the opportunity to put points on the board once more before the half, as William Johnson would connect on a 38 yard field goal with 39 seconds left. But Johnson would be roughed on the play, and WSSU head coach Connell Maynor would choose to take the three points off the board, giving the Rams a first down from the Shaw 8 yard line.

 

Maurice Lewis would be stopped short of the goal line on consecutive running plays, and with nine second left, Rudy Johnson would fire a strike to Kenneth Patterson. But Patterson would be flagged for an offensive pass interference penalty, and with less than 10 seconds remaining, it would force a 10 second runoff and end the half with WSSU leading 21-7.

 

Neither team would be able to make any sustainable drives in the third quarter, other than the Shaw Bears, who would have a 40 yard, nine play drive on their second series, that ended with a Andres Magallon 27 yard field goal.

 

Early in the fourth quarter, Shaw would pull even closer, as they would take the second half kickoff and march 88 yards in 13 plays, helped out by a huge pass interference call, and Trevius Folston would find David Johnson for a 18 yard touchdown pass, cutting the Rams lead to 21-17.

 

On the Rams next series, the momentum would swing and not in WSSU's direction, as Rudy Johnson would be picked off for the second time by Shaw's Darnell Evans, but this time Evens would return the interception 88 yards for a pick six, giving Shaw a 24-21 lead with 8:18 remaining.

 

With 3:19 left, and the WSSU faithful fans cheering them on, the Rams would embark on one of the most important drivers of the year.

 

On second and six, Rudy Johnson would find Kenneth Patterson for a 25 yard pass, and a facemask penalty by Shaw gave WSSU 15 more yards moving the ball to the Shaw 38 yard line.

 

After a Shaw timeout with 1:47 left, and WSSU facing a fourth and three, Rudy Johnson would find Chase Powell for a seven yard slant, giving the Rams another first down. And on third and three from the 17 yard line, Johnson would hook up with Powell for the touchdown and game winner, sending the WSSU fans into a frenzy.

 

Shaw would have one more opportunity with less than a minute to play, and they quickly moved the ball into WSSU territory, but on fourth down Folston pass would be incomplete, giving Winston-Salem State the win.

 

It was a game marred by penalties, as WSSU was flagged 15 times for 151 yards and Shaw was hit 16 times for 172 yards. The Rams finished with 342 yards of total offense, while the Bears finished with 238 yards.

 

Offensively for the Rams, Rudy Johnson led the rushing attack with 71 yards on 18 carries, and Maurice Lewis rushed 15 times for 56 yards. Joshua Glisson had six yards on four carries and Chase Powell had one carry for one yard.

 

Rudy Johnson finished 23 of 32 for 208 yards and four touchdowns while also throwing two interceptions.

 

Chase Powell led the receiving corps, with seven catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns, while Kenneth Patterson finished with four catches for 50 yards. Maurice Lewis also finished with four catches (4 yards) and Graham Love had three receptions for 17 yards and one score. Jerry Chandler and Eric Williams had two catches each with Chandler going for 14 yards and Williams having five yards and one touchdown. Joshua Glisson had one catch for 28 yards.

 

Freshman punter/kicker, William Johnson had a solid afternoon with a 33.2 yards per punt average, however, three of his punts were downed inside the 20 yard line. He also converted four of four point after attempts.

 

Defensively, Carlos Fields led the Rams with eight tackles and a half a tackle for a loss, while Alfy Hill and Daniel Mungin had seven tackles each. Hill also had one sack, 3.0 tackles for loss yards and an interception, and Mungin also had a half a tackle for a loss. Casey Davenport recorded four tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry, while Jerome Junior had four tackles and a half a tackle for a loss. Donnie Owens also added four tackles to go with one sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. 

 

Four Rams had three tackles each, with Everett Proctor getting an interception, Jermaine Kelser picking up one tackle for a loss and one forced fumble, and Michael Bloomfield picking up a sack, a tackle for a loss and one forced fumble. Danny Bunn also finished with three tackles. Larry Hearne had two tackles, as did John Rizor who also picked up a half a sack and a half a tackle for a loss.

 

Nine other WSSU defenders had one tackle each with Chris Howze picking up a fumble recovery and Vernon Brandon picking up a pass breakup.

 

Winston-Salem State's win sets up a showdown with Fayetteville State in its regular-season finale on Saturday, November 9^th at Bowman Gray Stadium. The winner will clinch the Southern Division title and play in the CIAA title game versus the Trojans of Virginia State on November 16^th in Bowman Gray Stadium.

 

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Fayetteville State Spoils Livingstone's Homecoming with 34-31 win

SALISBURY, North Carolina  -- Fayetteville State (6-3 overall, 5-1 CIAA) faced a hungry Livingstone (2-7 overall, 1-6 CIAA) who had nothing to lose on their homecoming. The Broncos scored the first touchdown but trailed 14-17 at halftime. The Blue Bears extended their lead to 24-14 after intermission; but FSU remained in close striking distance, regaining the lead late in the third quarter. Falling behind once again in the fourth, Fayetteville State countered with 3:52 left in the game with a 34-31 lead. The Bronco defense made a game winning stand to stop LC on a fourth-and-seven play to secure the final possession and the victory.

Derek Bryant connected on 17 of his 35 pass attempts for 280 yards and one score. Dwayne Lorrick pulled in five receptions for 105 yards and the touchdown pass. Courtney Tate and Joseph McLean led the game with 16 and 15 tackles; respectfully.  

Travis Scales picked off the Blue Bears first pass of the game with a 13-yard return. Four plays later, Colon Bailey walked into the end zone from eight yards out with 12:16 on the clock.  

Livingstone drove to the Broncos 28-yard line on the following possession and missed its 45-yard field goal attempt. The Blue Bears evened the score with 5:15 left in the first quarter and went ahead 10-7 with a 33-yard field goal with 1:03 left.  

After the Broncos failed on a fourth-and-five to start the second quarter on the Blue Bears 25-yard line, Livingstone moved the ball 75 yards in 17 plays for a 17-7 lead. The scoring play was a 22-yard pass from Drew Powell to Jalen Hendricks.  Fayetteville State responded on the next drive with a one yard rushing score by Derek Bryant. The total movement covered 79 yards in 11 plays.

After the extended homecoming intermission, the Blue Bears moved ahead by ten (24-14) with a 34-yard scoring pass from Powell to Miles Harris.

The Broncos closed the gap (24-21) with 2:33 left in the quarter with a three-yard rush by Andre Montgomery. Rendall Mash recovered a LC fumble on the pursuing possession and FSU took a 27-24 lead on a nine-yard pass from Bryant to Lorrick.

Livingstone bounced back with a two-yard rushing touchdown with 6:51 left in the game. The Bronco defense forced its seventh fumble on the game and regained possession at the 4:34 mark.

Jemeryn Jenkins entered the game at the quarterback position and moved the Broncos 41 yards in three plays for the go-ahead lead (34-31). He rushed into the end zone from eight yards out and 3:52 left in the game. Fayetteville State will travel to site of the 2013 CIAA Football Championships and play Winston-Salem State for the Southern Divisional Title and the rights to return for the conference crown.

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