West Virginia State Football Rolls to 59-34 Win in Opener

FAIRMONT, West Virginia -- Yellow Jacket fans could finally let loose a sigh of relief followed by a loud cheer Thursday night.
   
The WVSU football team had won its opening game.
   
Third-year Head Coach Jon Anderson looked on as his squad put together an extremely solid effort on both sides of the ball to score a convincing 59-34 victory over host Fairmont State under the lights on a warm and humid evening.
   
Young players proved they have matured, new players showed they have some game, and new offensive coordinator John Pennington's attack proved to be both exciting and effective.
   
And, oh yeah, the already strong defense recorded two safeties and ran back a botched Fairmont extra point kick for two points.
In other word, there was a little bit of everything for Yellow Jacket fans.
   
All of it good.
   
The Yellow Jackets ended up with 509 total yards of offense, 279 on the ground. Besides scoring six points the defense recorded 11 tackles for a loss totaling 43 yards and five sacks for 30 more negative yards.
   
They did not turn the ball over at all and allowed only one sack for a 1-yard loss.
   
The Falcons had won the last five meetings between the programs but it did not take long for the Jackets to show everyone there are more differences between this team and last year's than their new uniforms.
   
After taking the opening kickoff the Yellow Jackets drove 79 yards on nine plays with Tevin Brown topping the drive off with a 17-yard touchdown run at the 11:42 mark.
   
The two-point conversion attempt failed but a few minutes later WVSU senior linebacker Rudy Favard picked up the two points for the Jackets on a safety.
   
The Jackets drove 55 yards on the ensuing possession with Tyrone Barber going in from the 1-yard line for the score.
   
A 13 yard pass from D'von Dorsey to Chase Henderson with 28 seconds remaining gave WVSU a 22-0 lead after the opening period.
   
Just how big was that opening quarter to the Yellow Jackets?
   
The 22 points equaled last year's season high total – for an entire game.
   
The defense added another safety to make it 24-0, Anthony Herrera hit a 38-yard field goal, freshman Tyrone Barber broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run, and Herrera showed that even the WVSU kicking game is looking solid this year by hitting from 45-yards out to make the score 37-7 at halftime.
   
The last time WVSU scored that many points in a half was in the opening game of 2008 when the Jackets went on to win their first five games and reach as high as #21 in the national rankings before finishing 7-3.
   
After kicking off and stopping the Falcons to start the second half the Jackets scored on their opening possession when Akil Washington caught a perfectly placed 37-yard pass from Matt Kinnick to run the score to 44-7.
   
The teams traded scores with the WVSU touchdowns coming on a 5-yard run by Barber and one from 17-yards out by Kelvit Barrett as the third quarter came to an end with the Yellow Jackets leading 57-21.
     
The Falcons pulled to within 57-27 but Stevin Gomez picked up the missed extra point kick at the two yard line and ran it back 98 yards for two points to make it 59-27.
     
Fairmont State added one last touchdown with 3:41 to play to bring the final to 59-34.
     
Senior Will Merritt and junior Mitch Rowell each made eight tackles with sophomore Dennis Gardeck adding seven.
     
Kinnick finished the night 16-of-27 passing for 217 yards and a touchdown.
     
Barber carried 11 times for 103 yards, Tevin Brown 16 for 85, and Barrett 12 for 80.
     
Washington caught four passes for 76 yards and Quinton Gray four for 61 yards.
     
The 279 yards on the ground is the most in a game for WVSU since the Jackets picked up 414 against Charleston on November 12, 2011.
     
The 509 total yards is most since the Yellow Jackets rolled up 630 at Johnson C. Smith on September 3, 2011.
   
The last time a WVSU squad put up more points was when the 2008 squad beat Lincoln, Missouri 67-13 on August 30, 2008.
     
The Yellow Jackets play their home opener on Saturday, September 12 at 1 p.m. against Urbana.
 
 Statistics

COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

#16 Georgia Tech 69, Alcorn State 6

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated the Alcorn State Braves 69-6 to kick off their 2015 campaign. Justin Thomas ran for a score and threw for a score as the option offense was in mid-season form against the Braves. The Jackets were able to rush for 476 yards in the game. Marcus Marshall ripped off TD runs of 49 yards and 64 yards as he led Tech with 184 yards on the ground.

It didn’t take long for the Georgia Tech option game to find its rhythm in the first quarter Thursday against Alcorn State. In fact, the running game was so good it led the Yellow Jackets to a record-setting first 15 minutes of action.

Tech scored four of its five touchdowns on the ground in the first quarter, setting a modern-day record for points in a quarter while opening a 34-0 lead. The previous record of 32 points vs. Chattanooga in 1985 was surpassed with the Jackets doing what they do the best — run the football.

Quarterback Justin Thomas scored on a 13-yard run less than three minutes into the game, capping a five-play, 63-yard drive — all on the ground. Tech followed with a 6-play, 29-yard drive that featured the hard running of B-Back Patrick Skov, who gained 16 yards and bulled into the end zone from the 3 for the Jackets’ second score.

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Culver column: Wood candid in meeting with football fans

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Alex Wood is handling his first game week at Florida A&M the same way he’s handled just about everything that’s come his way since he was announced as the Rattlers’ head football coach in December.

When asked, Wood isn’t shy about letting people know what he thinks about his team. Since Wood’s first news conference, on Dec. 23, he’s let FAMU fans know the Ratters are a work in progress.

Wednesday, during a meeting of the 220 Quarterback Club at New Times Country Buffet on Monroe Street, Wood let 50 FAMU enthusiasts know there is progress being made.

“We’re excited about opening the season,” he said. “It’s been a short time, but at the same time, it’s been a long road. We’ve been taking full advantage of that, trying to get prepared.”



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UNC Pembroke holds off WSSU

PEMBROKE, North Carolina — Winston-Salem State opened its season with a thud against upstart UNC Pembroke.

The Braves’ defense stood tall the entire way in a 17-7 win over the Rams, who lost just their fifth regular-season game in the last six seasons. It was also the second time in the last three seasons the Rams, who were ranked in several top 25 preseason Division II polls, fell short at Grace Johnson Stadium.

“I don’t know what it is about this place but these guys seem to have our number,” said Coach Kienus Boulware of the Rams. “(UNC Pembroke) fought hard and they probably had some revenge on their minds from when we beat them last year in Winston.”

This time around the Rams, who started redshirt freshman Rod Tinsley at quarterback, had some flashes of good play but nothing consistent. The Rams scored on their first possession as Tinsley directed the offense smoothly and hit tight end Anthony Rook with a 12-yard touchdown pass.



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HBCU Football Schedule - Week One (Sept. 3 -6)

ALWAYS WATCH IN 4k HD, WIDE SCREEN

Thursday, September 3, 2015

SIAC
Fort Valley State at Delta State, 6 p.m.

CIAA
Winston-Salem State at UNC Pembroke, 7 p.m.  LIVE VIDEO

MEC
West Virginia State at Fairmont State, 7 p.m.

SWAC
Alcorn State at #16 Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m., TV: ESPN3

Saturday, September 5, 2015

MEAC
Norfolk State at Rutgers, 12 Noon TV: ESPNN
Howard at Appalachian State, 3:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3
Morgan State at Air Force, 3:30 p.m.
Savannah State at Colorado State, 4 p.m.
Bethune-Cookman at Miami (Fla.), 6 p.m. TV: ESPN3
Shaw at North Carolina A&T, 6 p.m.
Saint Augustine's at North Carolina Central, 6 p.m.
Kentucky State at Hampton, 6 p.m.
Delaware State at Liberty, 7 p.m. TV: ESPN3
Florida A&M at South Florida, 7 p.m.   TV: ESPN3

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Arkansas - Pine Bluff vs. South Carolina State, 3:30 p.m., Orlando, FL, Florida Citrus Bowl, MEAC/SWAC CHALLENGE, TV: ESPN

Alabama State at Tennessee State 7:00 p.m., Nashville, NISSAN STADIUM, John Merritt Classic

Saturday, September 5, 2015

SWAC
Grambling State at California, 5 p.m.   TV: PAC12
Alabama A&M at Cincinnati, 7 p.m.   TV: ESPN3
Jackson State at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m.
Southern at Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m.
Mississippi Valley at New Mexico, 7 p.m.
Prairie ViewA&M at Texas Southern, 9 p.m., Labor Day Classic

CIAA
Bowie State at Merrimack. 1 p.m., LIVE VIDEO
Brevard at Virginia Union, 1 p.m.
Lincoln (Pa.) at Cheyney, 1 p.m.,  Annual Battle of the Firsts TV: ESPN3
California (Pa.) at Virginia State, 1 p.m.
Livingstone at Benedict, 4:30 p.m.  Palmetto Capitol City Classic, TV: ASPIRE
Wingate at Johnson C. Smith, 6 p.m.
Shaw at North Carolina A&T, 6 p.m.
Chowan at Fayetteville State, 6 p.m.
Virginia-Lynchburg at Elizabeth City State, 6 p.m.
Saint Augustine's at North Carolina Central, 6 p.m.

SIAC
Central State at Alderson Broaddus, 12 Noon
Clark Atlanta at Tuskegee, 1 p.m.
Lane at Concordia-Selma, 3 p.m.
Livingstone at Benedict, 4:30 p.m., Palmetto Capitol City Classic  TV: ASPIRE
Stillman at West Alabama, 6 p.m.
North Alabama vs. Miles, 6 p.m., Labor Day Golden Classic, Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
Kentucky State at Hampton, 6 p.m.
Edward Waters at Morehouse, 7 p.m.
Valdosta State at Albany State, 7 p.m.

GLVC
Lincoln (Missouri) at Langston, 4 p.m.

All Game Times are shown in Eastern Time Zone


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NSU Spartans football ready to embrace change

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Change is the word at Norfolk State. They have a new head coach, a new offensive scheme, a new quarterback and new starters on defense. The Spartans are thinking change is good.

Latrell Scott is the new head coach, taking over for the retired Pete Adrian. He is hoping to improve on last year's (4-8,4-4) record.

NSU will be severely tested early. They open on the road against three FBS schools. This Saturday it's Rutgers, then ODU and Marshall.

Greg Hankerson has transferred in from Florida Atlantic as the new quarterback. He is a dual threat kind of quarterback.

On defense, the Spartans ranked in the top 5 nationally last year. They have to replace six starters, but have plenty of experience nonetheless.



CONTINUE READING

Southern secondary likely to be primary target

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The bull’s-eye that’s figuratively attached to Southern’s defensive backfield has gotten more eye-catching.

Any Jaguars opponent, especially the first one — Louisiana Tech on Saturday night in Ruston, La. — figures to look at the relative experience of the players in the three layers of Southern’s defense and decide the secondary is the one to take aim at first.

The six starting linemen and linebackers averaged more than 10 starts last season, if you fudge the numbers and factor in the 13 games linebacker Daniel Brown started in his last season — two years ago before he was ineligible last season.

The five starters in the secondary averaged fewer than seven starts last season even before nickelback Rhaheim Ledbetter was subtracted from the equation earlier this week after being declared academically ineligible. Jamal Jenkins will make his first career start in Ledbetter’s place, meaning the unit that’s expected to start Saturday averaged fewer than five starts last season.

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Ex-Bowie track star in a rush to improve at BSU

BOWIE, Maryland  -- When he was in middle school, running track was the last thing on DeAndre Watson's mind. Nowaday for the junior at Bowie State, it's usually at the forefront.

Watson, a former soccer player, made it his goal to compete in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia -- the oldest track and field competition in the country -- during his freshman year at Bowie High School.

Considering his considerable athletic gifts, it didn't take long for Watson to fall in love with the idea of using his speed competitively.

"I always knew I was fast," he said.

Bowie High track and field coach Rich Andrulonis had grown aware of Watson's speed by the time Watson joined the school's team in his junior year. Watson credits Andrulonis for teaching him the basics -- i.e. improving his form and perfecting handoffs during relays.

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Spring Hill Volleyball to open 2015 in Orlando on Friday

MOBILE, Alabama  – The Spring Hill College (SHC) volleyball team began its NCAA Division II and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) era with a bang in 2014 by building an impressive 26-7 overall record and an undefeated 17-0 mark in conference play. Head coach Peggy Martin enters her 7th season at Spring Hill with another strong line up for 2015. "Moving into our second year in the NCAA and the SIAC, I don't see us changing our strategies or tactics," she says. "We will compete at the same high level every time we take the court."

The Badger starting line will undergo some tweaks this season as Spring Hill lost four starting players, but Martin is confident that the players stepping into the roles will be ready for the challenge. "Our starting line-up is still evolving and could change weekly," she says. "But there is strong competition on the floor." Senior setter Mallory Raulerson from McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile has settled into the setter position while fellow senior Virginia Hicks of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be on the right side with sophomore Katelyn Bobinger from McGill-Toolen providing her relief.

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Albany State relying on defense early in the season

ALBANY, Georgia   — The Albany State Rams know that a return trip to the SIAC Championship Game won’t be an easy one and will likely have some bumps in the road. As they navigate the season with a new coach and a new quarterback, they’ll rely on their one constant — the defense.

 

After the first scrimmage last May, interim head coach Dan Land said he doesn’t want to make any drastic changes on that side of the ball and for good reason. As a team, the Rams held opponents to 173 total points and 17.3 points a game and 254.9 total yards of offense last year.

 

“We’re not trying to recreate the wheel here. All we did was took exactly what we had, that we know we’re good at, and just change some things that would best benefit us on defense and on offense,” Land said after the Dirty Blue Defense’s spring scrimmage win. “Normally on offense, we would do more offensive sets and on defense, what we’re doing now is more zone defense…making the quarterback read more.”

 

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NCCU Installs Stadium Seats to Enhance Fan Experience

DURHAM, North Carolina  --  With a continued focus on improving fan experience, North Carolina Central University partnered with Seating Solutions to install new chair-back seats in a prime season ticket section of O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, home of the NCCU Eagles football team.

"I am so excited about our new stadium seats," said NCCU Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree. "This is a part of our continuing efforts to enhance the NCCU fan experience. As we continue to upgrade our facilities we want to show our fans that we appreciate their support of our student-athletes and coaches, and we are dedicated to ensuring they have the best game day experience."



Fans have the opportunity to reserve a chair-back seat by purchasing a three-year Eagle Seat License (ESL). For more details about the ESL, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.

The original goal set by the Department of Athletics was to sell 400 ESLs. As of Sept. 1, 476 ESLs had been sold.

ESLs and season tickets are still available. For ticket information, call the NCCU Ticket Office at 919-530-5170 or visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.

The NCCU football team opens the 2015 season at home inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Sept. 5 versus Saint Augustine's University at 6:00 p.m. in the sixth annual Prince Hall Shriners Diabetes Football Classic.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU Baseball Adds Two Assistant Coaches

DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University baseball head coach Jim Koerner has announced two additions to the coaching staff, A.J. Battisto and Neal Henry.

Koerner says he is looking forward to the impact the new assistant coaches can have on the program.

"We are very excited to have both Neal Henry and A.J. Battisto as a part of our coaching staff," Koerner said.  "Not only do they both bring great baseball experience to our program but they are both first class individuals.  In making these hires I wanted to ensure there was an emphasis on the teaching and player development aspects of coaching, and I believe we have accomplished that.

"Coach Battisto will handle the pitching coach responsibilities as well as being involved with our recruiting efforts, while Coach Henry will primarily be working with the outfielders while handling the bulk of our recruiting coordination responsibilities."

Battisto joins NCCU from the University of New Orleans where he was an assistant coach beginning in August 2014.  During his time there he worked as a pitching and catching coach responsible for coaching techniques, skills and continual arm care, and also served as the head recruiting coordinator.

Prior to coaching at New Orleans, Battisto was a professional baseball player in the Miami Marlins organization from 2007 to 2013.  He was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, and was named to the 2008 Minor League All-Star game and was Team Pitcher of the Year that season in Low-A.  He progressed as high as Triple-A in the 2013 season.

Battisto is a graduate of Georgia Southern University, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in secondary education.

Henry comes to NCCU after serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Palm Beach State College beginning in August 2013.  Along with being the recruiting coordinator, he coached catchers and hitters and served as the third base coach.

Before coaching at Palm Beach State College, Henry was the head coach at Starkville Academy in Starkville, Mississippi from 2009 to 2013.  He was able to lead that team to the championship series of the Mississippi Private School AAA Division 2 conference during his time there, and was named AAA South Baseball Coach of the Year in 2012.  He began his coaching career as an assistant at Madison Ridgeland Academy in Madison, Mississippi in November 2008.

Henry is a graduate of Delta State University.

Corey Gross remains with the staff, and Troy Marrow joins as a student assistant.

"I am also pleased to announce that Troy Marrow will be staying on as part of the Eagle family as a student assistant coach," Koerner said.  "This has been something that we have talked about since I came to campus four years ago, when Troy was just a sophomore.  Troy has all the qualities and attributes that will make for a very successful coaching career.  He will be assisting me with the infielders as well as helping with the hitters and base running.

"Along with the return of Corey Gross for his fourth year, I believe we have all the pieces in place to help our student-athletes reach their personal and team goals."

For more information, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton U. expects better production from the defense this season

HAMPTON, Virginia — The bottom line to Hampton University's 2014 season was 3-9, the program's third consecutive losing record. There were many culprits, from red-zone inefficiency to breakdowns on special teams.

But one issue stood out more than the others.

"We weren't very good on defense last year," said Pirates coach Connell Maynor, whose team opens against Kentucky State on Saturday at Armstrong Stadium. "That's no secret."

How bad? HU gave up 31 points and 397 total yards per game — 10th and ninth, respectively, in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The opposition completed 63 percent of its passes and converted 47 percent of its third-down chances. And the Pirates lost three games in which they scored at least four touchdowns.

Looking back, you can see the reasons. In Maynor's first season, and with new defensive coordinator Kenny Phillips, the Pirates switched from a 4-3 alignment to a 3-4. Then, four weeks into the season, Phillips had to leave with health issues

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Thomas tabbed as next man up in ASU backfield

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State offense has been a ground-oriented attack the past two seasons.

In 2013, Isaiah Crowell rushed for 1,121 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per carry as the Hornets led the SWAC in rushing (231.5 yards/game).

Last season, Malcolm Cyrus rushed for 1,662 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards a carry for the SWAC’s second-best rushing offense (227.8 yards/game).

There will once again be a new look in the Hornets backfield this season, but this time junior Khalid Thomas takes the starring role. The Tallahassee native posted 545 rushing yards and five touchdowns for ASU last season.

Thomas said he looks to make the most out of his opportunity this year.

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New Mexico Opens Football Season with MVSU Delta Devils

New Mexico Game Notes
Mountain West Weekly Notes
SWAC Weekly Notes
Parking Map
Lobo Talk with Bob Davie (Wednesday 7-9 at Chama River)Lobos vs. Mississippi Valley State (Audio Stream)

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico -- There's been plenty leading up to it, but the 2015 football season for The University of New Mexico finally gets under way at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday night when the Lobos will take on the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils from Itta Bena, Miss. at Branch Field at University Stadium.

While most folks associated as fans of the Lobos might not know too much about Mississippi Valley State other than that one pretty famous wide receiver who won a bunch of Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers named Jerry Rice, the coaching staff has certainly been prepping, but there are still some unknowns with the first time opponent.



In speaking of MVSU and head coach Rick Comegy, Davie said, "Last year was his first year at Mississippi Valley State and he had a lot of success at Jackson State. He won the SWAC title his last year at Jackson State. He has his whole coaching staff together, which took him about a year. They are going to line up and throw the heck out of the ball."

In that regard, MVSU might be the FCS equivalent offensively of what UNM might see from future opponents in the non-conference season in Tulsa, Arizona State and New Mexico State. The Delta Devils scored just 17.7 points per game last year, but with new coordinators in place, that is the first stat the team in green is looking to change. Of course, for a UNM defense that went from 43 points allowed vs. non-ranked teams in 2013 to just 28.5 against unranked teams in 2014, a bit of the unknown should be a good test.

"I'm looking for them to run a lot of empty set, no back things. It'll be a good test. With two new coordinators we think we know what they are going to do but we really don't know," said Davie.

With this the first of seven home games, Davie does like how the table is set for his team. The team still has momentum from last year's thriller against Wyoming to close out the campaign, a 36-30 barnburner that UNM won with a goalline stand. It all leads up to the start of year four. Davie is happy to be there.

"I feel pretty good," said Bob Davie to a large media contingent at his weekly press luncheon. "Because the plan has gone as well as I had hoped it would go, so now it's fun to just go play."

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

New coach, same MEAC title goal for Bethune-Cookman

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  -- When Terry Sims was named the new coach at Bethune-Cookman University, he didn’t need to be introduced to his new team nor taken on a tour of the Daytona Beach campus.

Sims knew just about everything he needed to about the Wildcats.

“It has helped tremendously,” said Sims, a B-CU assistant the previous five seasons. “I understand the program, this university, our kids. It makes things a lot easier to go through our day-to-day business because of the familiarity.”

Sims was named the 11th coach in program history just five days after Brian Jenkins left to take over at Alabama State.

In five seasons with the Wildcats, Jenkins won at least a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title four times — including the past three.
 CONTINUE READING

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/state-college-sports/article33576477.html#storylink=cpy

Georgia Tech opens season of high expectations vs. Alcorn State

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Alcorn State can not be overlooked; fortunately for the Yellow Jackets, they know it. The teams will trade blows in the early going before Tech takes control with its relentless ground game.

The defensive line will be Virginia Tech’s biggest asset. “For once I hope they got it right”. How did the Yellow Jackets distinguish themselves from the Wolfpack, and why did you believe they provided you with the best fit at the next level? Previous year we saw Tony Zenon, Deon Hill, B.J. Bostic, Charles Perkins, Dennis Andrews and Broderick Snoddy. “We’ve been in the ACC Championship game three of the seven years we’ve been there”.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will welcome the Alcorn State Braves to Bobby Dodd Stadium for the first game of the season. Georgia Tech was just 79th in the FBS in total defense, giving up 411.3 yards per game. Now, after reaching the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and winning the Orange Bowl, the Yellow Jackets are faced with much higher expectations. Whichever players are most physical and securely block their cornerback assignments best will see the field the most this season, so look for which wideouts best fight to the whistle on Thursday.



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Florida A&M Head Coach Alex Wood "Excited" For Opener Against South Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Three and a half weeks of a rigorous fall camp are over for Florida A&M, and now the fun part starts, as the Rattlers prep for the showdown Saturday with the University of South Florida.

Saturday also marks a new era for the Rattler program, as Alex Wood begins his first season as head coach. On Monday, Wood announced that Carson Royal will start at quarterback, and also said that after a scrimmage like approach to practice on Saturday, other starters were announced.  

One similarity he has noticed is that the Bulls and FAMU boast Florida heavy rosters, and he expects a similar style of play come Saturday. He added as much as he is excited to see where his team stands, he's more excited to just play some football.

"I've been in football since 1962. I was excited that day, and I'm excited today," said Wood on Tuesday during his weekly press conference.



CONTINUE READING

2015 college football preview | MEAC

1. North Carolina A&T (6-2 MEAC, 9-3 overall in 2014)
The Aggies, 1 of 5 teams – yes, five – to share last season’s MEAC title, return RB Tarik Cohen (1,340 yards, 15 TDs), the league’s preseason Player of the Year. Senior CB Tony McRae said the team doesn’t wear the rings it earned from a shared title. “We don’t call that a championship,” he said. “A championship is one winner.”

2. South Carolina State (6-2, 8-4)
The Bulldogs return nine players from an offense that put up 26.6 points per game last season. S.C. State coach Buddy Pugh has a 105-47 record in 13 years at the school, making him one of the MEAC’s longest-serving and most consistent coaches in terms of wins.

3. Bethune-Cookman (6-2, 9-3)
The Wildcats, outright winners of three of the past five MEAC titles, have a new coach in former assistant Terry Sims. Former head coach Brian Jenkins resigned in December after he was alleged to have violated several NCAA rules, including those involving improper benefits to players, practice time limits and bullying.

CONTINUE READING

2015 college football preview | Hampton University

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Remember Jaylian Williamson? The Hampton University quarterback lit up Old Dominion for 407 passing yards and three touchdowns last season, then added 385 yards a week later against William & Mary, then disappeared after a clash with coach Connell Maynor.

Remember QB Jerrell Antoine? He was MEAC Rookie of the Week three times last season but disappeared because there’s a new/old guy back in town.

Remember David Watford? He set a University of Virginia record with 427 passes in a sophomore season (2013), then disappeared when the Cavaliers looked at his 15 interceptions and the team’s 2-10 record and decided there was a cause and effect.

He’s back where it all started, in Hampton.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be able to come home to be around my family, my friends, people I grew up around,” Watford said. “To be able to play in front of my home crowd in my home city – there’s no better feeling.”

CONTINUE READING

Cal Opens 2015 In First Meeting Vs Grambling State

BERKELEY, California -- California opens the 2015 season with its first-ever meeting against Grambling State, which is just seven miles away from Louisiana Tech where Cal head coach Sonny Dykes coached before coming to Berkeley.

The Golden Bears have won 11 of their last 13 home openers, dating back to 2002. Last season, Cal topped Sacramento State, 55-14, in the home opener. Since 2002, the Bears are 9-4 in season openers after last year’s 31-24 victory at Northwestern. In 120 seasons, Cal is 74-42-4 all-time in season openers.

Saturday’s tilt with Grambling State marks the eighth time that Cal will face an FCS opponent. The Bears are 8-0 against FCS teams, with the most recent game last year’s 55-14 victory over Sacramento State.

California Golden Bears vs Grambling State Tigers

Saturday, Sept. 5 | 2:00 pm PT

Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium | Berkeley, CA

TV: Pac-12 Networks - Roxy Bernstein (Play by Play), Mike Pawlawski (Analyst), Drea Avant (Sideline)

Radio: KGO 810 AM – Joe Starkey (Play by Play), Dave Barr (Analyst), Todd McKim (Sideline)

Live Stats: Cal.StatBroadcast.com

Live Audio: TuneIn Radio

SiriusXM Satellite Radio: Sirius (93) and XM (197)

Cal Student Radio: KALX 90.7 FM – Glenn Borok (PlayBy-Play), David Straub (Analyst), Todd Vogel (Analyst)

Series History: First Meeting

Cal Game Notes | Pac-12 Weekly Release | Cal Information Guide | Cal Athletics YouTube | @CalFootball | @CalCoachDykes | Cal_Football Instagram

Tuesday Press Conference Video: Sonny Dykes, Jared Goff, Jalen Jefferson, Bryce Treggs

Inside The Lair Radio Show: Sonny Dykes, Art Kaufman, Daniel Lasco

The 2015 Cal team features players who accounted for over 80 percent of its offense in the following categories in 2014 – passing (99.7%), total offense (99.3%), rushing (98.4%), all-purpose (89.7%), total touchdowns (88.5%) and receiving (84.6%).

Cal enters the 2015 season with its most experienced group under Dykes. The Bears’ roster lists 34 players who made a combined 228 starts last year (Offense 16/111, Defense 17/105, Specialists 1/12). Those figures are a marked improvement from 2014 when Cal entered the year with 28 players having made 164 starts (Offense 17/97; Defense 10/65; Specialists 1/12) in 2013. In 2012, Cal had 14 players who started 120 times the previous season (Offense 7/55; Defense 6/53; Specialists 1/12).

Cal received a single vote in the 2015 AP Top 25 preseason poll. The Bears last garnered top-25 consideration following their 4-1 start last season.

Cal finished the 2014 season with an overall record of 5-7 for a four-win turnaround from 2013 which was its best since the 2002 squad went 7-5 overall after the 2001 club finished 1-10.



National honors candidate junior quarterback Jared Goff is a Heisman Trophy contender and has been named to nearly every watch list for college football’s top player and quarterback awards. Goff is the nation’s second-leading returning passer after ranking fifth in nationally in passing touchdowns (35), passing yards (3,973) and passing yards per game (331.1) last season. He is already the holder of 19 school records.

Senior Trevor Davis is a second-team preseason All-American as a kick returner and on the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award honoring the nation’s most versatile player. Davis equaled NCAA and Pac-12 records in 2014 when he became the 20th player in FBS history and the third in the Pac-12 to bring back two kick returns in a single game on consecutive kick returns at Washington State.

Seven of the eight Cal players who recorded at least 20 catches in 2014 are returning, led by junior wide receiver Kenny Lawler who posted a team-best 54 receptions a year ago. Senior wide receiver Bryce Treggs was right behind with 52 catches. The others on the list are Stephen Anderson (46), Daniel Lasco (33), Maurice Harris (25), Trevor Davis (24) and Darius Powe (20).

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

UAPB unsure who will quarterback against SCSU

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- If there was one thing learned from Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s football media day on Saturday, it was that the quarterback race will come down to the final week, this week.

Picking a starter for the opening game against South Carolina State University may even be a game-time decision when UAPB plays its first contest of the season on Sunday in Orlando, Florida at 3:30 p.m., in front of a nationwide ESPN television crowd.



That game, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, will be the first one since 2010 that Ben Anderson did not enter the week at the top of the UAPB depth chart. The four-year starter wrapped up his stellar four-year career last fall, and left Monte Coleman and his staff a large hole to attempt to fill.

Five quarterbacks have auditioned this fall for the role. Marcus Terrell and Nolan Sorensen have pulled away a bit from the others. Brandon Duncan is still battling to make it a true three-man competition. Freshmen LaEarl Patterson, from Memphis, and Roger Totten II, have gotten their share of the reps, but haven’t done enough to really get into the conversation.

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Fayetteville State RB Andre Montgomery harnesses intensity to become leader

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Running back Andre Montgomery came to Fayetteville State with his hungry edge and dauntless work ethic already in place.

All of that came years ago from the early mornings he spent working with his father, former Goldsboro High School and East Carolina football player Gregory Montgomery.

From pounding out 40-yard sprints, to footwork drills, to practicing how to catch and carry the ball, Gregory made sure his son was going to know how to not only play the position, but also how to work.
Heading into his senior season with the Broncos as their featured back and off-field leader, Montgomery credits his success to the competitive fires that were lit back then.

But he also acknowledges the importance of learning how to dial them back.

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JCSU Football to Host Wingate in Season Opener

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- The Johnson C. Smith University football team will usher in the Kermit Blount era when they open the 2015 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 6:00 p.m. against local rival Wingate at the Irwin Belk Complex.  The game marks the first home night game for JCSU in recent memory.

JCSU comes off a 3-7 campaign in 2014, winning two of their last three, including a 14-10 homecoming win over St. Augustine's  and a 31-14 win over rival Livingstone in the Commemorative Classic.

The game marks the third time that the Bulldogs and Golden Bulls will face off on the gridiron.  Wingate holds a 2-0 lead in the series dating back to 1995.  Wingate won that initial meeting 33-12 as well as the most previous meeting in 2002, 24-0.

The Golden Bulls have history on their side, having won five consecutive home openers, including a 13-6 thriller against Kentucky State in 2014.  Conversely, Wingate has dropped four of their past six season road openers since 2009, including a 28-10 loss at CIAA foe St. Augustine's in 2012.

Fans are encouraged to come take part in FestiBull, a street festival with inflatables, games, face painting and music prior to Saturday's contest.  FestiBull kicks off at 3:00 p.m. on North Summit Avenue, adjacent to the Irwin Belk Complex.

Also new this season is the "Golden Bull Game Zone".  The "Golden Bull Game Zone" includes vendors, FestiBull, and tailgating located on North Summit Avenue.  Ticket scanners will be at all points of entry to North Summit Avenue.  All guests that park in the Brayboy Gym lot and Lot B are required to have a ticket.  Also, patrons are required to have a ticket to enter North Summit Avenue.

Fans can enter the JCSU campus via Beatties Ford Road for general parking, while VIP guests can enter the VIP reserved parking lots via Martin Street.

Ticket sales as well as will call tickets will be available at Brayboy Gym, one and one-half hours prior to kickoff.  This season, no tickets will be sold or distributed at the Irwin Belk Complex.

Tickets are available for Saturday's game by clicking here.

As a reminder, JCSU has the right to check any and all bags before entrance to the facility and strictly prohibits the following items:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Artificial noise makers
• Coolers or other large containers
• Explosives, firearms, or weapons of any kind
• Illegal drugs or paraphernalia
• Outside food or beverages
• Pets (service animals welcome)
• Umbrellas

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson, August win first GCAC weekly awards of 2015

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has dominated the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runner of the Week awards since they were first awarded during the 2008 cross country season. So it's no surprise that XU's Zahri Jackson and Christopher August are the initial recipients in 2015.
    
The GCAC announced the awards Tuesday. Jackson and August were the first XU finishers Friday in the Big Easy Opener at City Park.
    
Jackson — a fifth-year senior from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School — won the women's two-mile race in 14 minutes, 27.3 seconds. It was her fourth collegiate victory and her first since 2012. She led the Gold Nuggets to the team championship.
    
August — a junior from Spring, Texas, and a graduate of Klein Collins High School — was the first collegiate finisher in the men's 5,000-meter race and placed eighth overall. His time of 17:03.6 ranks 15th among XU runners from 2002-15. The Gold Rush placed second in team scoring behind Power Miler Track Club and first among colleges.
    
Jackson is a nine-time GCAC Runner of the Week, and she's two awards from tying former teammate Catherine Fakler's career record. August won for the first time.
    
Xavier has earned 65 GCAC Runner of the Week awards, 38 by the Gold Rush.
    
Next for the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush will be the Southern Miss Invitational at Tatum Park in Hattiesburg, Miss. The men will race at 5:30 p.m., followed by the women at 6. Distance for all will be 5,000 meters.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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