Alcorn State, Tuskegee Remain On Top in Week 3 of HSRN Polls

HARTLEY, Delaware  –  Alcorn State University and Tuskegee University held on to the top spots following the third full week of HBCU football action.   The Braves of ASU remained in the top FCS position while TU’s Golden Tigers were unanimously picked #1 in DivisionII/NAIA HSRN Football Polls.

 

In the Division I FCS poll, Alcorn State celebrated “Family and Friends Day” by demolishing Mississippi Valley State, 55-14, in their home opener at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

North Carolina A&T moved up to second place followed by South Carolina State, Southern and Bethune-Cookman.

 

In Division II, Tuskegee’s 28-13 win over Winston-Salem State left no doubt about their strength in the division.  The Golden Tigers are undefeated and captured all the first place votes of the HSRN pollsters.

 

Virginia Union and Virginia State tied for second place leading a strong representation for the CIAA.  Elizabeth City has moved into third place followed by Bowie State and Livingstone.  Chowan enters the poll at #7 following their stunning defeat of Delaware State, 31-30, in Dover.

www.HSRN.com

 

Division I FCS
	School (First Place Votes)	Record	Pts	Last Week
1	Alcorn State (11)	2-1	134	1
2	North Carolina A&T	2-1	120	3
3	South Carolina State (2)	2-1	107	5
4	Southern	2-1	81	6T
5	Bethune-Cookman	2-1	79	4
6	Hampton	2-1	62	6T
7	Tennessee State (1)	2-1	60	2
8	Prairie View A&M	2-1	44	9
9	Texas Southern	2-1	19	10
10	North Carolina Central	1-2	13	8
	Others receiving votes
	Grambling St., Alabama St., Morgan St., Jackson St..
	Alabama A&M, Ark-Pine Bluff, Norfolk St.

    

Division II/NAIA
	School (First Place Votes)	Record	Pts	Last Week
1	Tuskegee (12)	3-0	120	1
2T	Virginia Union	2-1	78	2
2T	Virginia State	2-1	78	3
4	Elizabeth City State	2-0	66	5
5	Bowie State	2-1	50	4
6	Livingstone	1-0	44	6
7	Chowan	2-1	37	NR
8	Morehouse	2-1	36	8
9	Albany State	1-2	32	NR
10	Winston-Salem State	0-3	28	7
	Others receiving votes
	Fort Valley St., Central St., Lane, Fayetteville St. Lincoln (Pa) Johnson C. Smith, Kentucky St. Miles, Benedict, Cheyney West Virginia St.

About HSRN:

HSRN (Heritage Sports Radio Network) is the national leader in live radio broadcasts of mid-major athletics. HSRN combines innovative programming and production with a vast broadcast network. The SiriusXM platform avails partners of HSRN exposure on the world's largest radio broadcaster as measured by revenue and exposure to 28.3 million subscribers. In addition to SiriusXM, HSRN is available on terrestrial radio affiliates, smartphones and other connected devices as well as online at HSRN.com.

  
BY ERIC MOORE

HERITAGE SPORTS RADIO NETWORK, LLC

Xavier puts NAIA-leading win streak on line against DU

NEW ORLEANS -- The NAIA confirmed it Monday: Xavier University of Louisiana has the association's longest active conference win streak in women's volleyball.

The Gold Nuggets will put that 51-match win streak -- ninth longest in NAIA history -- on the line Tuesday when longtime city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard visits. Starting time will be 7 p.m. at XU's Convocation Center, and admission is free.

Columbia (Mo.) holds the NAIA record of 159 consecutive regular-season conference victories and also shares ninth place with Xavier. Next on the list for Xavier to catch are Taylor (Ind.), which won 53 in a row, and Northwestern (Iowa) at 58.

The NAIA's win-streak list does not include conference tournaments. Xavier has won 62 straight against GCAC opponents, regular season and tournament, since a five-set loss to SUNO in the semifinals of the GCAC Tournament on Nov. 13, 2010.

Xavier, 7-4 this season and 3-0 in the GCAC, has won five straight overall. Third-year coach Hannah Lawing said focus and unity have been the keys to success.

"We are making a lot of progress," said Lawing, who is 34-0 against GCAC opponents, 29-0 in the regular season. "We have a lot of depth, and our practices have gotten more intense. We have people competing at each position for starting spots, and it's fun to watch.

"This group has figured out the balance between being all-business on the court while playing loose and not getting uptight. That was something our team last year struggled with."

Xavier is the only GCAC team with five players with 70 or more kills. CeCe Williams has 87, Taylor Reuther 81, Claudia Haywood 75, Ruby Hunt-Thompson 71 and Jodi Hill 70. Hunt-Thompson is a freshman, and the other four are seniors.

Chelsea Wilkinson has 65 kills and Ty Howard 53 for Dillard (2-9, 1-0), and Demetria Horton has 154 digs. The Lady Bleu Devils won 2-of-3 matches after losing their first eight and won 25-12, 25-16, 25-11 at home against Tougaloo in their GCAC opener Friday. Xavier beat Tougaloo 25-7, 25-9, 25-16 at home Saturday.

The Gold Nuggets were 2-0 a year ago against Dillard, winning 25-18, 25-16, 25-10 at home and 25-23, 25-21, 25-17 at DU.

Xavier will visit its other GCAC city rival, SUNO, at 6 p.m. Friday.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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2015 SWAC Football Teleconference - Week 4

Alabama A&M - James Spady

Alabama State - Brian Jenkins

Alcorn State - Jay Hopson

Jackson State  - Harold Jackson

Mississippi Valley State - Rick Comegy

Prairie View A&M - Willie Simmons

Grambling State - Broderick Fobbs

Southern - Dawson Odums

Texas Southern - Darrell Asberry

Arkansas-Pine Bluff - Monte Coleman

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Convicted FAMU hazer crusades against culture of abuse

University of West Florida boasts stringent hazing policies, plans activities for Hazing Prevention Week

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Before Dante Martin, Caleb Jackson and Robert Champion became household names, there was Michael Morton.

In the spring of 2006, Morton had it all.

Weeks from graduating from Florida A&M University with a degree in engineering on a full-ride scholarship. Job offer at Pepsi's Dallas plant in hand. A child on the way.

That all changed in 2007, when Morton, then 23, and his fellow Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother, Jason Harris, were the first two people sentenced under Florida's tougher 2005 hazing law after an initiation beating that landed a pledge on a surgical table with a broken eardrum.

The stricter law made hazing that leads to serious bodily injury a felony, regardless of a victim's consent. The two men, who had been viewed by many as models of FAMU's student success, spent two years in prison before an appeals court overturned their convictions and freed them in 2009. They pleaded no contest to felony hazing and were sentenced to time served.

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FAMU settles hazing lawsuit spawned by death of drum major Robert Champion

ORLANDO, Florida -- The family of Robert Champion — the Florida A&M University drum major killed in a hazing ritual in Orlando — settled a lawsuit against the university, accepting $1.1 million and an apology, according to documents obtained Friday by the Orlando Sentinel.

The university will pay $300,000 through the Florida Department of Financial Services, the maximum allowed without a claims bill that would have required the Florida Legislature's approval.

An insurance company for the Rosen Plaza hotel will pay $800,000 to the drum major's estate. The hazing occurred on a bus parked at the hotel where the marching band was staying.

FAMU also will honor Champion by renaming the marching band's anti-hazing program for the drum major and dedicating a commemorative plaque in his memory in the band room on FAMU's campus, the student union, or "The Patch," as the band's practice field is known.

The Champions can choose the plaque's location, according to the agreement.

Champion, 26, died Nov. 19, 2011, after the hazing that followed a performance at the Citrus Bowl that was part of the Florida Classic weekend, an annual football game and band competition with its in-state rival, Bethune-Cookman University.

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East: Southern’s high-flying offense spells trouble for the rest of the SWAC

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- If someone is going to deny Southern a third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title, that team is probably going to have to score an awful lot of points when it faces the Jaguars.

Southern has scored 100 points in its first two SWAC games, splitting the total evenly between its 19-point win at home against Jackson State on Saturday and its 37-point win nine days earlier at Mississippi Valley State.

That certainly doesn’t mean 50 points is going to be the norm. Valley is one of the least talented teams in the SWAC, and Jackson State, though more talented than its fellow Magnolia State team, has looked like a lost group since Harold Jackson replaced Rick Comegy as head coach before last season.

Nonetheless, it’s obvious the Jaguars are going to be extremely difficult to defend. It’s not just the point totals or the 675 yards they accumulated against JSU; it’s also the comfort with which they have moved the ball through the air and on the ground.

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FAMU Rattlers looking to fix problems before first home game

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M finally plays its first home game Saturday against Tennessee State after a rough three-game road trip to start the season. That excitement aside, the Rattlers have a host of problems to fix before debuting at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

The Rattlers were blown out in all three games to start the season, including a 36-0 shutout loss in at South Carolina State on ESPNU Thursday. It was the first time FAMU failed to score since losing 76-0 to Ohio State in 2013.

FAMU coach Alex Wood said the coaching staff is looking for solutions on offense. Through three games, the Rattlers have scored 24 points and haven’t thrown a touchdown pass.

FAMU is one of eight teams in all of FCS football without a touchdown pass this season.


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

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'Classic' back in Circle City for 32nd year

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- It's that time of year again — the leaves are turning, the breeze is blowing, and the Circle City Classic is bringing marching bands, football fans and supporters of the Black community and Indiana's youth to Indianapolis for the 32nd consecutive year.

The annual "Classic" — put on by Indiana Black Expo and Indiana Sports Corp. — raises funds for college scholarships for deserving Hoosier students. According to the Classic's website, proceeds from the event have funded more than $3 million in scholarships.

There are several events planned for the Classic, including the Miss Circle City Classic Coronation, a prayer service and a pep rally, all culminating with the main events on Sept. 26 — a parade, tailgating, football game and marching band competition.

Here's what you need to know for the big day, Sept. 26:

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Circle City Class Schedule of Events

Date/Time	Event	Location
Friday, September 25, 2015, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.	NCAA Circle City Classic Coaches Luncheon	Lucas Oil Stadium	Learn More
Friday, September 25, 2015, 7 p.m.–9 p.m.	Friday Nite Classic Cabaret	Indiana Convention Center	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.	Circle City Classic Parade	Downtown Parade Route	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 12 p.m.–3 p.m.	Circle City Classic Fan Fest (Tailgate)	Lucas Oil Stadium	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 3 p.m.–6 p.m.	Circle City Classic	Lucas Oil Stadium	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.	Circle City Classic Pep Rally	Monument Circle	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 7:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.	Circle City Classic Comedy Jam	Old National Centre	Learn More
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 11 p.m.–1 p.m.	Circle City Classic Comedy Jam	Old National Centre

Tickets are available at the Indiana Black Expo Box Office, the Lucas Oil Stadium Box Office, through Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Alcorn State Annihilates Mississippi Valley

LORMAN, Mississippi  -- Valley State why it’s the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Saturday in its 55-14 win.

The Braves (2-1, 2-0 SWAC) ran an efficient offense and defense and more than doubled the total yards gained — 494 to 191 — while having the ball 10 minutes less than the Delta Devils.

The defense held Valley to 2-of-15 on third down conversions.

“I really thought we played well on both sides of the ball,” said Alcorn coach Jay Hopson.

“Offensively we had some good early drives. We have a few things we have to correct like every game but as a whole, a pretty good day.” Alcorn came out early on offense and blew the crowd away. At the end of the first quarter, the Braves already had 173 total yards on 15 plays.



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Grice Scores Thrice in Zips' 52-9 Win over Savannah State

AKRON, Ohio– Senior nose tackle Cody Grice (Akron, Ohio) scored three of the Zips' seven touchdowns in Akron's first win of the season, defeating Savannah State, 52-9, Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.

The Zips improved to 1-2 overall, while Savannah State dropped to 0-2.

Akron's run game led the charge for the Zips' offense, scoring five times and collecting 291 total yards on the ground. Grice owned a team-high and career-high three touchdowns. Senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) ran for a team-high 120 yards on 11 attempts with one score, marking the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career.

Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) completed 12-of-20 passes for 207 yards with a touchdown through the air and 11 rushes for 67 yards and touchdown on the ground. Sophomore QB Tra'Von Chapman (Kent, Ohio) also saw action for the Zips and was 6-for-13 for 128 yards and a score.

Savannah State played two quarterbacks, David Handler and Arshon Spaulding, who threw for a combined 128 yards and one interception.



| PHOTO GALLERY |BOXSCORE (PDF) |POSTGAME NOTES | QUOTES

Defensively, senior LB Dylan Evans (Nazareth, Pa.) recorded a team-high nine tackles, four solo and one for a loss, and four break-ups for Akron. Junior CB DeAndre Scott (Frederick, Md.) picked off Handler for his second interception of the year and the Zips forced one fumble.

Akron outgained Savannah State, 626-202. The Zips picked up 31 first downs and converted 7-of-13 third downs. The Tigers totaled just 14 first downs and were 6-of-17 on third down.

The Zips received the ball to start the game and marched down the field 75 yards for an opening-drive touchdown. Chapman completed all three of his pass attempts for 70 yards and rushed twice for four yards. With the ball on the one-yard line, Grice powered his way into the end zone for the Zips' first touchdown and his first of the year.

Savannah State took advantage of Akron's first interception of the year and put three points on the board to cut the Zips lead to 7-3.

Akron senior Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) attempted a field goal with 9:44 remaining in the second quarter. The kick was blocked by Savannah State and returned for an 81-yard touchdown. The Tigers attempted a two-point conversion and were stopped short of the goal line.

Woodson entered the ball game in the second quarter (9:27) and led the Zips on an eight-play, 66-yard scoring-drive. Woodson completed a pass to a diving Hundley for 17 yards putting the ball on the two-yard line. Grice took the direct snap, hit the hole, and went untouched over the goal line for his second score of the afternoon.

The offense extended the Akron lead to 21-9 with Grice's third touchdown of the contest. Once again, Grice lined up behind the center and dashed across the goal line for a four-yard touchdown.
Grice's three touchdowns in the first half are a career-high and his third multi-score game. Grice now owns seven touchdowns in his collegiate career.

With five ticks left on the clock, Imani Davis (Miami, Fla.) caught a pass in stride from Woodson for 33 yards and a touchdown. Davis' catch was the longest catch of his career. The drive lasted only 32 second and four plays. The Zips entered the locker room at halftime ahead, 28-9.

In the second half, the Zips' second drive resulted in a 21-yard field goal from Stein, to increase the Akron lead to 31-9.

During Akron's next possession, the Zips ran the ball four out of five plays. The drive ended with an 18-yard touchdown run by Hundley.

A 28-yard completion to sophomore Anthony Young set up a one-yard touchdown run for Woodson, his first rushing TD of the game, second total.

The Zips scored one last time to close out the contest with 2:40 to play in the fourth quarter. Chapman found sophomore WR Jerome Lane (Akron, Ohio), who sprinted to the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown.

Next week the Zips travel to Lafayette, La., for their final non-conference game of the year against Louisiana. Kick off will be at 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) on ESPN3.

THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Texas Southern Holds Off UAPB for 24-20 Win

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  In their Southwestern Athletic Conference home opener, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Football fell to Texas Southern, 24-20 here Saturday night at Golden Lion Stadium.

UAPB scored on their very first possession of the game with a big run by Bryan Handley for 21 yards, a 19 yard pass reception from Marcus Terrell to Kyle Coleman and a 17 yard reception to John Hawkins from Terrell.  Then just three plays later, Nicholas Woodfork punched it from two yards giving the Golden Lions, a 7-0, capping a 13-play, 80-yard drive, taking 6:41 off of the clock, with 4:57 left to go in the first quarter.

The Golden Lions increased their lead to 10-0 on a 29-yard field goal by Jamie Gillan with 9:58 left in the second quarter.

TSU cut UAPB's lead to 10-7, when Johnathan Bowen connected with Derrick Griffin from 48 yards out with 8:07 left in the second, capping a five-play, 72-yard, drive by the Tigers.

Clyde Lee set up TSU's second TD of the game  as he block  an UAPB punt, setting up a Darrell Robinson two-yard TD run with 12:41 left in the third, giving the Tigers, a 14-13 lead.

A Jaimon Peterson 89-yard kickoff return setup UAPB's next score as Woodfork scored his second TD of the game, giving the Golden Lions a 20-14 lead with 11:50 left in the third.

TSU reclaimed the lead on a Robinson two-yard run with 7:37 left in the third, giving the Tigers a 21-20 lead.

The Tigers added to their lead on a 22-yard field goal by Eric Medina, giving TSU a 24-20 lead.

On their final possession of the game, UAPB marched the length of the field to the TSU 19 yard line.    But could not convert a fourth and five as TSU intercepted the ball in the end zone, securing the Tigers the 24-20 victory.

Handley led the Golden Lions ground attack as he finished with 53 yards on 12 carries, followed by Terrell with 50 yards rushing on 11 carries.

Terrell finished the contest with 189 yards passing by completing 18 passes in 32 attempts with two interceptions.

Willie Young led the Golden Lion receivers with 76 yards receiving on seven receptions with his longest catch being for 23 yards.

Both Kyle Walker and Willie Duncan as they both finished with eight tackles apiece, while Walker tallied one sack and Duncan finished with one quarterback hurry.

TSU was led by Robinson with 57 yards on 16 carries with two TDs.

Johnathan Bowen led the Tigers' aerial attack as he passed for 178 yards by completing 12 passes in 24 attempts with one TD and one interceptions, while Larry Clark led the TSU receivers with 48 yards on three receptions.

UAPB will return to action on Saturday, September 26 as they will travel to Normal, Ala., to take on Alabama A&M in the Louis Crews Classic in a 2 p.m. start.

Box Score

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Hold Off Lane Dragons, 7-3

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman held off upset-minded Lane College on Saturday evening, using a hard-fought 7-3 win over the visiting Dragons in front of 6,781 fans inside Municipal Stadium. The game was the home debut for first-year head coach Terry Sims and the 2015 Wildcats.

One week after a 56-53 win at Grambling State, which was one of the highest scoring road games in program history, Bethune-Cookman (2-1) needed two (2) fourth quarter defensive stands to preserve the victory in one of the lowest scoring home tilts the Wildcats have played.

GAME LINKS
Game Stats	Pregame Notes
Postgame Notes	Press Conference
Postgame Quotes	Photo Gallery

The combined 10 points made this the lowest scoring collegiate game at Municipal Stadium since it opened in 1988. The previous low was a 10-3 Bethune-Cookman victory over Howard on September 16, 198It was also the first time the Wildcats failed to reach double figures at home since a 24-3 loss to South Carolina State on September 12, 2009.

“We’ll take the win,” Sims said. “But we’ll continue to work to play more disciplined, detailed football.”

After giving up a combined 98 points in the first two games, the young Wildcats defense registered a positive. This was the first time since a 14-3 win against South Carolina State on Homecoming 2013 (October 26) that a Wildcats opponent did not reach the end zone.

“We can feel good about that,” Sims said. “We knew the defense was going to have those ‘bend but don’t break moments’ with nine new guys, and it will take us a bit to get everything together.”

After stopping a Wildcats scoring drive with an interception, Lane (1-2) closed to 7-3 on Carlos Moore’s 28-yard field goal with 6:38 remaining in the contest. The Dragons had a first-and-goal on the B-CU 7, but Donald Smith threw Gerald Gaines for a seven-yard loss that set the tone for the next three plays.

However, the Dragons immediately got the ball back after a muffed kickoff by the Wildcats, but Moore missed a 48-yard attempt three plays later. Lane had one last possession with two minutes remaining, but a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Anthony Jordan's 9-yard second quarter scamper was the lone Bethune-Cookman score. The graduate – playing as a senior on the field – rushed for 74 yards, while redshirt senior quarterback Quentin Williams went 14-of-19 for 168 yards through the air, as the Wildcats put up 395 total yards of offense. Still, the Cats failed to capitalize on three of four red zone opportunities.

In the third quarter, B-CU got down to the Dragons 2-yard line on the strength of runs of 12- and 25-yards, respectively, and a 28-yard Williams to Jontavious Carter completion. But after a holding penalty negated a huge B-CU run deep inside the Dragons red zone, a fumble eventually ended the threat.

B-CU would later march from its own nine to the Lane one. But after a seven-yard loss, Williams was picked off by Ira George-Coat for a touchback.

Jordan’s score was set up by a 33-yard Michael D. Jones run and a 28-yard Williams to Frank Brown connection on a six-play, 81-yard drive that made 7-0 with 9:23 remaining in the first half.

Jones and Williams each finished with 70 and 63 yards rushing, respectively. Brown’s six catches for 55 yards paced six Wildcats receivers that tallied at least a single catch. The defense was guided by Robert Way and Smith with nine tackles each, and it was linebacker Atreyu Farrior supplying 1.5 sacks.

The Cats will look to continue their current two-game winning streak next weekend when they open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play against Savannah State at Municipal Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.

For the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow us on Twitter, @BCUGridIron. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Bethune-Cookman Wildcats app for your Droid or iPhone.



COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alex McGough thrives as FIU Panthers top NCCU Eagles

MIAMI, Florida -- The only lightning involved with FIU football the first two seasons under Ron Turner halted games at FIU Stadium. On Saturday night, lightning from the Panthers powered a 39-14 win against North Carolina Central.

A 64-yard bomb to sophomore wide receiver Dennis Turner built FIU’s lead to 12-0. Two touchdowns in 21 seconds, the second a 26-yard run by freshman Anthony Jones, blew out FIU’s lead to 26-7. Another third-and-long conversion, this one via a 20-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Thomas Owens, fueled the touchdown drive to a 32-14 bulge.

Along with completing 22 of 36 for 242 yards and three touchdowns, sophomore quarterback Alex McGough ran for 77 yards on eight carries, including runs of 29 and 27 yards.



“That’s one thing we’re doing through the first three games that we haven’t had here is some big-play capability,” FIU coach Ron Turner said. “And the good news is we’ve got a lot of guys doing it.”

FIU moved to 2-1, only the second time the Panthers have been above .500 after three games since moving to the FBS level in 2005. The other time, in 2011, the Panthers won eight games and went to their second consecutive bowl game.

The Panthers rolled up 490 yards of offense while holding North Carolina Central to 209. Starting quarterback Malcolm Bell completed only 3 of 7 passes for 22 yards before getting yanked after Niko Gonzalez’s second-quarter interception, the first of three by FIU.

CONTINUE READING 

North Carolina A&T Wins As Defense Stifles Elon

ELON, North Carolina – Redshirt junior defensive lineman Marquis Ragland went Captain Obvious on everyone after North Carolina A&T’s 14-7 win over Elon Saturday night in non-conference football play at Rhodes Stadium. “If they can’t score, they can’t win,” Ragland said about the close contest.

Although obvious it certainly was effective against the Phoenix. The Aggies, who have won three straight over the Phoenix, allowed only 231 yards of offense, 88 rushing, and didn’t allow the Phoenix to score until the fourth quarter.

“That was a good football game,” said A&T head coach Rod Broadway. “It was a hard-fought football game and there were some licks being passed out there. I would have hoped to have scored a few more points, but Elon played well. You have to give them credit. You've got to give us some credit too because our guys hung in there and did what we had to do to win the ballgame.”



As stellar as N.C. A&T’s defense was, the Phoenix ‘D’ had its moments too. N.C. A&T preseason All-American running back Tarik Cohen only had nine yards rushing in the first half and did not have a single yard rushing in the second quarter. Cohen finished with 96 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

 The Aggies (2-1) only compiled 16 total yards over their first five drives while the Phoenix (1-2) only had one drive better than 30 yards over the first three quarters of the game.

Elon finally figured out the Aggies defense after freshman place kicker Steven Sawicki missed a 34-yard field goal. The Phoenix took over at its own 20-yard line with 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter and executed a seven-play, 80-yard drive that included a 27-yard completion from Connor Christiansen to Demitri Allison. It culminated with Christiansen scoring on a 16-yard run off a read option play where he got the Aggies to buy the inside fake before running into the end zone untouched with 13:58 remaining in the game. The touchdown marked the first time Elon has scored a touchdown against A&T in eight quarters.

“We made a lot of mistakes out there,” said Broadway about a defense 13 minutes away from a shutout. “They played hard, they made some plays and they hung in there pretty good. But we blew so many calls defensive front wise.”

After the Phoenix scored, both teams became stingy again. Each team had two drives apiece over the next six minutes but combined to run only 11 plays including an interception by Elon’s Greg Liggs, Jr., at the Elon 5 with 9:29 to play. But the Phoenix were not able to get out from their own end zone, giving the Aggies good field position at the 50-yard line after the punt.

Senior quarterback Kwashaun Quick and Cohen took over. They accounted for all the Aggies yardage on a 7-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Cohen scoring from 13 yards out to give A&T a 14-7 lead. The Phoenix did get the ball at their own 47 on the ensuing kickoff and were able to convert a 4^th-and-8, but the Aggies defense halted the drive at the N.C. A&T 39 to clinch the win.
“We couldn’t afford to take a play off the whole game,” said Ragland who finished with a team-high nine tackles. “The offense wasn’t scoring so we knew we had to make plays. The score was low but they still made too many plays. We can be better.”

N.C. A&T’s offense did score in the first half after a missed 50-yard field John Gallagher gave the Aggies the ball at the Elon 33. Quick rushed for 31 yards on a 12-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to junior Denzel Keyes with 1:27 remaining in the first half.

A&T will take next week off before playing exclusively MEAC games starting with a game at Hampton at 2p.m., on Oct. 3.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling Makes A Comeback, Win Big Over Alabama State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- The G-Men gave Alabama State University some big payback after the Hornets beat the Tigers last season and each of the last four years with a big win, 34-10.

The Grambling State University  football team G-Men left the ASU Stadium with their first SWAC win of the season.

"I think our kids played well," said head coach Broderick Fobbs, "and we ran the ball well, which is good because it keeps the defense off the field."

While ASU gave up 34 points, the G-Men's defense held ASU to only 3 points until less than 3 minutes left in the game when  the Hornets scored their only touchdown.

GSU remembered the Hornets' sting last year, and that was on their minds as they entered Saturday's game. "They started the losing streak, and that's what I remember," said offensive line Coach Reginald Nelson at a Monday news conference.

Defenses on both teams took over the first quarter, leaving Alabama State leading by 3 after a 33-yard field goal.

An early second quarter touchdown by running back Verlan Hunter at 14:00 turned things around.

On the G-Men's next possession, Ka'Jandre Domino forced another 6 points for GSU, and he finished the night with 50 yards and a touchdown.

At halftime, Grambling led 14-3.

A couple touchdowns late in the third quarter by Chad Williams and Chester Rogers gave Grambling a cushion for the win.

"The turnover early in the third quarter allowed us to put some more points on the board," said Fobbs after the game. "I think it somewhat sealed the door."

Quarterback Johnathan Williams threw for over 200 yards with four touchdowns.

Fobbs put his starting  quarterback's play in context. "I thought he played well in some spots. I still think from time to time he presses the ball too much and he's always trying to make a play and I think that's what makes him good, but it also can get you in trouble a little bit."

Freshmen quarterback Trevon Cherry had the opportunity to take the field in the second half. "I wanted to get him in there, you know, get some snaps because it's always good to have a backup.

Coming off their first win of the season, Grambling State will take on Prairie View A&M University at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, Saturday at 4 p.m.

By KASSANDRA MERRITT

COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAMU Panthers Win Wild Shootout Over AAMU 53-49

WALLER, Texas – Prairie View A&M kept fans on the edge of their seats from start-to-finish as they withstood a furious second half rally by Alabama A&M to claim a 53-49 win in an offensive shootout at Waller ISD Stadium.

 

AAMU came out and set the tone via the run on its opening drive as they marched 75 yards in seven plays to claim an early 7-0 lead following De'Angelo Ballard's 5-yard touchdown run and the PAT.  The Panthers were forced to punt on their opening possession but the PVAMU defense responded and forced AAMU's second drive to end with a punt which followed with PVAMU's second punt of the night on its second possession.

 

After an AAMU punt, the Panther offense finally broke through as wideout Nick Pitre became quarterback Trey Green's favorite target as Pitre caught a 12-yard first down pass and a 38-yard touchdown strike on consecutive plays for a 7-7 tie after the PAT.  AAMU would answer with 2-yard touchdown run from Tevin McKenzie to lead 14-7 very early in the second quarter but the Green to Pitre connection struck again as the Lake Charles, La. native needed only one play to strike big as he caught an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive to bring PVAMU within one at 14-13 followed by Owen Hoolihan's game-tying PAT.

The Panther defense forced an AAMU punt on the ensuing possession and the offense went back to work as the running game came alive and moved the Panthers down the field.  Seven plays into the drive, Green threw his third touchdown of the night as he found wideout Raymond Jackson on a 29-yard touchdown reception.  Hoolihan's PAT was blocked as the Panthers now led 20-14 at the 11:20 mark.

 

AAMU continued to struggle against the Panther defense as they were forced to punt once again and the Panther offense made the most of their next situation as they were pinned back at their own 1.  The Green-to-Pitre connection on 2^nd-and-10 got the Panthers out of their jam as a 30-yard reception gave PVAMU plenty of field to work with.  From there, the Panthers turned to Green to march down the field as he connected with four receivers and the team converted three 3^rd down conversions as Courtney Brown capped off the 15-play, 99-yard drive with a 12-yard run for a 26-14 lead as the PAT failed.

 

PVAMU opened the second half with a bang as Johnta' Hebert showed why he's an all-American kick returner as he returned the opening kickoff 84 yards to the AAMU 12.  One play later, Green hit Pitre for the third time of the night as PVAMU was coasting with a 33-14 lead 21 seconds into the third quarter.

 

However, AAMU refused to go down easily as they converted two third down conversions with the latter ending with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Ballard to Octayvius Miles followed by the PAT for a 33-21 PVAMU lead.  The Panthers punted on their next drive and once again on 3^rd-and-9, Ballard threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to draw AAMU within five points (33-28) after the PAT.  With momentum all the way in AAMU's corner, the Panthers avoided a major mistake as they fumbled the ensuing kickoff but received new life as the play was wiped away thanks to a Bulldog penalty.

 

With new life, the Panthers mixed up the run and pass to perfection as they marched 70 yards in 13 plays as De'Auntre Smiley scored from 2 yards out.  The PAT was good as PVAMU led 40-28 with 3:13 remaining.

 

Both teams would trade punts as the fourth quarter approached and AAMU struck first in the final stanza as Ballard converted a key 4^th down run into a touchdown as AAMU trailed 40-35.  After a big kickoff return by Tommie Robins, the Panthers responded and was on the verge of punching it in but Green's pass from the AAMU 5 sailed into multiple coverage and was picked off.   AAMU converted a 4^th down play on the ensuing drive and used the momentum to pull ahead for the first time since the second quarter after Harvey Harris' 2-yard jump into the end zone.

 

Trailing 43-40 with less than five minutes remaining, PVAMU dug deep as Hebert returned the kickoff 48 yards to the AAMU 44 for solid field position.  The Panthers appeared to convert their first 3^rd down conversion of the drive as Hebert rushed all way to the AAMU 1 but a spot holding penalty put PVAMU in a negative predicament as it was now 3^rd-and-11.  On the next play, Pitre caught a 9-yard pass from Green and was two yards short but a late unsportsmanlike penalty from AAMU turned the tide as Brown took advantage of the new set of downs and rushed 21 yards for the touchdown and a 47-43 lead after the PAT.

 

The Panther defense turned up the heat with a strip sack on the next possession and it took Brown only two plays to increase the lead to 53-43 with 2:14 remaining.  Once again though, AAMU would use 3^rd down magic with two big conversions to set up a 53-yard strike from Ballard to O'Darius Williams.  The PAT failed as PVAMU recovered the onside kick and escaped with the emotional win and its second straight comeback victory over AAMU.

 

PVAMU finished with 522 total yards with 349 coming via the air and 173 on the ground.  Green threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-40 passing while Brown rushed for 114 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns.  Pitre exploded for 196 yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns.  Foster Brown II had a team-high seven tackles.

 

The State Fair Classic is now on the horizon as the Panthers will head to Dallas to face Grambling State at 4 p.m. in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 26 in the 90^th anniversary of the game.

 

BOX SCORE

 

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

24th-Ranked Tuskegee Golden Tigers Defeat Winston-Salem

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

TUSKEGEE, Alabama | The 24th-ranked Tuskegee University Golden Tigers used all three phases of the game to beat Winston-Salem State 28-13 at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium in front of a national audience.

Winston-Salem State (0-3) struck first in the contest as they drove the ball down the field in 11 plays. The drive took 77 yards and used 6:21 of the first quarter, when it ended with a Tyree Massey eight-yard touchdown run. However, the drive stalled after three plays and the Rams were bailed out with a roughing the kicker penalty that allowed the drive to continue.

Although the Rams scored first, it was the last they scored until the fourth quarter.

Tuskegee (3-0) used a stingy defense to allow just two field goals late in the game, and finished by allowing just 152 yards over the next three quarters to Winston-Salem.

Winston-Salem State held the lead through the first quarter, the first time this season that the Golden Tigers have trailed after the opening stanza. But it didn't take long for Tuskegee to respond.

The Golden Tigers got the ball with 11:14 to play in the half and marched down the field in just four plays. The drive covered 42 yards and ended with a touchdown pass, but not from the quarterback. Facing a second down from the Winston-Salem 24 yard line, quarterback Kevin Lacey tossed the ball back to Dennis Norfleet who then in turn launched a pass in which freshman Javarrius Cheatham out jumped the defender for the touchdown.

The touchdown was the first of Cheatham's career and tied the game up with 9:11 remaining in the half.

After the defense stuffed a Winston-Salem drive again, the offense got the ball on their own 42-yard line and marched down the field. This time Lacey hit senior Marquel Gardner over the middle, and the senior bounced off a tackle and ran into the end zone for an 18-yard score. The touchdown gave Tuskegee a one-touchdown lead heading into halftime, 14-7.

The Golden Tigers outgained Winston-Salem State 180-47 in yards in the second quarter to grab the lead.

Tuskegee didn't waste any time coming out in the second half putting points on the board as they drove 75 yards on the opening drive for a score. The Golden Tigers used a mix of run and pass to get down inside the five-yard line before Jerome Lewis dove in from a yard out to give the Golden Tigers an insurmountable 21-7 lead early in the second half.

After a pair of field goals trimmed the lead to 21-13, the Golden Tigers were forced to punt the ball with less then three minutes to play. The punt by Kemuel Lawrence hit at the one-yard line where Reggie Wilkins attempted to field it. However, the ball bounced off of his hands into the hands of Tuskegee's Travis Hawkins for an apparent touchdown. After the referees deemed the ball down at the one, Lewis ran in for his second touchdown of the game, and the final score of the contest.

Tuskegee dominated the game as they outgained Winston-Salem State 368-229 on offense and picked up 22 first downs.

Lacey led the way for Tuskegee with 78 yards on the ground, on just nine carries, and completed 13 of his 26 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Norfleet finished the day with 52 yards on eight carries and added a 24-yard scoring strike through the air. Desmond Reece led all receivers with three catches for 38 yards, while three others each picked up a pair.

Senior Jewell Ratliff paced the defense with 15 tackles, including a sack and a pair of tackles for loss. Michael Robinson added nine tackles, Jason Ashley and Osband Thompson each added eight, and safety Jonah McCutcheon picked up an interception in the victory.

Lawrence had another outstanding day kicking the ball as he finished with five punts for an average of 45 yards, and also connected on all four of his extra points.

Tuskegee returns to action next weekend as they open up conference play in Jackson, Tenn. against Lane. It will be first of three consecutive games on the road for the Golden Tigers.

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on Twitter @MyTUAthletics and like us on Facebook.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Virginia State Special Teams Dominate Trojan End Zone

ETTRICK, Virginia  --  Special Teams dominated the end zone for the Trojans to push them past Kentucky State University 14 - 7. "A football team is like a spear. You have offense on the top of the spear, defense on the bottom, but what makes that tip is the special teams. That's the point, that's the dagger, and that's how you finish the game," said Head Coach Byron Thweatt.

The Trojans special teams were responsible for the Trojans 14 points of the contest. With,3:10,remaining in the third quarter, the Trojans defense forced the Thorobreds to punt on 4th down and 3. Senior wide receiver Jaivon Smallwood (Virginia Beach, VA) returned the 32 yard punt for a 44 yard touchdown. Smallwood's punt return gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead to end the third quarter.

"The guys did a good job blocking for me. I just made the run, and they did the rest," said Smallwood.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Thorobreds are locked down by the Trojan defense and forced to punt on 4th down and 20 after a pair of sacks by sophomore linebacker Brandon Lynch (Norfolk, VA) and junior linebacker Geo Feggins (South Hill, VA).

With,2:04,remaining in the fourth quarter Junior cornerback Trevon Byron (Virginia Beach, VA) blocks the punt and recovers the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

Scoreless and trailing by two touchdowns, the Thorobreds completed a pass to Charles Johnson for a 36 yard gain on 2nd down and 10 in the fourth quarter . The Thorobreds were able to get down the field after three complete passes to get to the VSU 13 yard line. On 1st down and 10 at the VSU 13 yard line, the Thorobreds were able to get into the end zone on a 13 yard pass from Alex Spriggs to Bryan Henderson with only 34 seconds remaining on the game clock.

The Thorobreds attempt an onside kick with 34 seconds remaining in the game, but the Trojans were quick to recover the kick and close out the ball game with their first home victory of the season.,

Offensively Jaivon Smallwood led the Trojans in receptions with 46 yards on 5 receptions. Trent Cannon added 93 yards on on 18 carries. Trevon Byron led the Trojan defense with 8 solo tackles. Geo Feggins also contributed 6 tackles (5 solo) and 2.5 sacks for losses.

Today's victory was cheered on by members of the army from, Ft. Lee Military base as the Trojans celebrated their annual Military Appreciation Day at Rogers Stadium.

Next week the Trojans will host Fayetteville State University at Rogers Stadium at 12 p.m , The contest will be broadcasted live by the Sinc
lair Broadcast Group and ASN (American Sports Network).
Box Score

Sports Information GA- Shalyn Moore
COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Chowan Hawks Survive Late Rally, Earn Historic Win over Delaware State

DOVER, Delaware -- The Chowan University football team held off a late rally by Delaware State University and took home a thrilling 31-30 victory against the Hornets on Saturday afternoon.  The victory was the first win over an NCAA Division I opponent for the football team in program history.  The Hawks improve to 2-1 on the season with the win while the Hornets drop to 0-3 on the year.

Head Coach Tim Place noted, "Today's victory is a good win for the program, the athletic department and for Chowan University.  I'm proud of my staff and all of our young student-athletes in the program.  We will be back at it tomorrow and we will be getting ready for Saint Augustine's University."

Chowan tallied 503 total offensive yards in the contest while holding Delaware State to 266 yards over the course of the competition. Randall Dixon threw for 200 yards in the win, completing 13 of 22 passes for two touchdowns.  He connected with five different Chowan receivers including Kaine Lombard seven times for 95 yards and one touchdown, Damian Ellis three times for 64 yards, and Anthony Elliot twice for 51 yards and one touchdown.   Marcus Hampton led the Hawks on the ground with 29 carries for 126 yards and one touchdown while Tyree Lee tallied eight carries for 64 yards highlighted by one touchdown run.

Willie Thompson had five total tackles in the win for Chowan (four solo, one assisted) followed by Demetrius Newberry with four tackles (three solo, one assisted).  The Hawks' defense accounted for three tackles for loss (14 yards), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception (17 yards), and six pass breakups.

 Jamaal Jackson led the effort for the Hornets with 16 carries for 81 yards and one touchdown while Esayah Obada completed a mere seven passes out of 21 attempts for 71 yards and one touchdown.  Gil Rivera entered the game in-relief and threw one touchdown pass in the setback.  Aris Scott had two receptions for a team-high 38 yards while Malik Golson accounted for a Delaware State score with two receptions totaling 20 yards.

Jihad Abdur-Rahman totaled 13 tackles in the setback (seven solo, six assisted), leading all players in the contest.  Malik Harris followed with 12 tackles (six solo, six assisted), one tackle for loss (four yards) and one interception (46 yards).

The Hawks wasted no time grabbing control of the momentum, scoring each of their first three possessions of the game.

 With 12:21 on the clock in the first quarter, Lee's three yard touchdown run capped a four play, 66 yard drive to quickly leave the Hornets trailing.  Nick Hahula made good on the point after attempt to give Chowan a 7-0 advantage less than four minutes into the game.  Dixon later found Anthony Elliot on an 11 yard pass with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter and Hahula's point after attempt was good to give Chowan a comfortable 14-0 lead. At the start of the second quarter, a five play, 54 yard drive concluded with Dixon's 23 yard pass to Lombard and another score for the Chowan Blue and White.  The successful point after attempt pushed the Hawks ahead 21-0.

Down but not out, the Hornets rallied to score 14 unanswered points before halftime to cut the deficit to 21-14.

At the start of the third quarter, the Hornets and Hawks exchanged field goals, making the score 24-17.  Chowan responded at the 5:58 mark in the third quarter when Torell Saffold intercepted a pass from Obado and returned it 17 yards to Delaware State's 24-yard line.  The Hawks capitalized on the situation and used eight plays before Hampton's one yard touchdown run lifted Chowan to a 30-17 advantage.  Hahula's point after attempt was good, leaving the Hornets trailing 31-17 by the end of the third quarter.

Delaware State opened the fourth quarter with a three play, 51 yard touchdown drive to put the Hornets back within striking distance.  The point after attempt was good, making the score 31-24 with 13:33 left in the game.

The Hornets forced the Hawks to turn the ball over on downs with just under two minutes remaining in the contest and the ball at the Delaware State 31-yard line.  A 69 yard drive highlighted by Rivera's seven yard touchdown pass to Kamal Abrams made the score 31-30 with under one minute to play.  The point after attempt missed wide right, giving the Hawks all they would need to secure the historic victory.
Chowan looks to continue the momentum on Saturday, September 26^th when the Hawks begin CIAA play against Saint Augustine's University.  Kick-off is slated for 1:00pm.  Saturday's contest is Chowan's home opener and is also the annual Hall of Fame game.

Box Score

 

COURTESY CHOWAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Norfolk State Spartans Fall at Marshall in Final MEAC Tuneup

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia – Chase Litton passed for 270 yards and four touchdowns and Devon Johnson ran for 122 yards as Marshall topped Norfolk State 45-7 in the Spartans' final non-conference game of the season on Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

NSU (0-3) opened the game with a crisp 75-yard scoring drive, capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Greg Hankerson Jr. to Gerard Johnson. But it was all Marshall (2-1) after that, as the Thundering Herd scored the game's final 45 points en route to victory. The Thundering Herd were the third straight Division I FBS opponent to begin the year for NSU.

For the second time in three games this year, the Spartans took the game's opening kickoff and drove for a touchdown. On the second play of the game, Hankerson found Johnson for a 40-yard pass play into Marshall territory. Those two would hook up on the seventh and final play of the drive as well for a 14-yard TD pass on 3rd-and-3, getting NSU on the board just 3:02 into the contest.

Marshall answered quickly with a 38-yard Nick Smith field goal, then took a 10-7 lead on Litton's 13-yard TD pass to Deandre Reaves with four seconds left in the first quarter.

Reaves and Litton hooked up again early in the second, punctuating a quick six-play drive with a 36-yard touchdown hookup to extend the Herd's lead to 17-7.



The Herd's next drive went 83 yards in 13 plays and ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Devon Johnson with 4:48 remaining in the second quarter.

Litton added an 11-yard TD pass to Davonte Allen and Keion Davis scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter. A 25-yard Litton-to-Justin Hunt TD pass in the fourth quarter capped the scoring.

Hankerson passed for 95 yards and a touchdown in a little over three quarters of work. Johnson had a season-high 99 all-purpose yards (65 receiving, 34 rushing) and a score for the Spartans. Johnson and Isaac White had three receptions each.

Linebacker Deon King did yeoman's work again on defense for the Spartans, tallying 21 tackles to match his career high from last week at ODU. The FCS leader in total tackles coming in became the first Spartan since Kevin Talley in 2004 to amass back-to-back 20-tackle games. Cornerback D'Metrius Williams made six tackles, one for loss, deflected two passes and forced a fumble. Fellow cornerback Sandy Chapman notched a fourth-quarter interception for the defense.

NSU will finally play its home opener next Saturday when the Spartans welcome rival Hampton to Dick Price Stadium for a 4 p.m. kickoff. The game will also be NSU's MEAC opener.

Box Score

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS