Grambling hosts Alcorn State in SWAC showdown

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- A contest between the two best college football teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) as it pits East versus the West will take place on Saturday as Grambling State gears up to face Alcorn State. Kickoff from Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium is set for 2 p.m. and it is the Breast Cancer Awareness game so fans are encouraged to wear pink.

The game can be viewed via live stream on the SWAC Digital Network (Stan Lewter and Santoria Black) and Grambling State will broadcast on the Grambling State Sports Radio Network, which can be can be heard in Ruston (KPCH 99.3 FM) and in Monroe (KJMG 97.3FM). The Tigers' broadcast crew of Ossie Clark and Nick Harrison will call all of the action.

Although coming off a bye week, Grambling State (5-1 overall, 2-0 SWAC) enters Saturday’s game with a five-game winning streak, including a 34-21 win over Prairie View A&M in the 94th Annual Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic. Alcorn State (5-2, 3-0) comes into the contest off two straight SWAC victories and is riding a four-game winning streak.

“Both teams are playing great football at this time, so you can’t ask for a better time to play against each other, a better chance and a better opportunity,” Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said.

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GameDay preview: Tuskegee at Kentucky State

THE GAME

WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Alumni Stadium, Frankfort, Kentucky

RECORDS: TU (5-2, 3-0 SIAC), KSU (2-5, 1-1 SIAC)

ON THE AIR: Radio — www.goldentigersports.com.

TWITTER: @MGMsports @MyTUAthletics, @TUGolden Tigers, @TuskegeeUniv

HASHTAG: #Tuskegee

NOTEBOOK



Tuskegee earned a 33-7 win over Jackson State in last week's 5th Quarter Classic in Mobile. Tuskegee has now won four of its last five games and three in a row heading into Saturday's SIAC West game against Kentucky State. ... The Tigers will be looking to avenge last year's 10-9 loss to the Thorobreds, which knocked them out of SIAC title contention. Kentucky State blocked a potential game-tying extra point attempt and a potential game-winning field goal in the final two minutes. Kentucky State now leads the all-time series 15-12. ... The Thorobreds, who have their homecoming this week, are coming off a 35-0 loss to Miles last Saturday. KSU has lost three straight games. ... Kentucky State running back Brett Sylve rushed for 107 yards against Miles. Sylve is fourth in the SIAC at 94.4 rushing yards per game. ... The game matches the two worst scoring offenses in the SIAC. Tuskegee is ninth at 19.3 points per game while Kentucky State is last at 18.4 points per game.

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Commemorating125 Years of Black College Football

DII AFCA Coaches Top 25 Football Rankings: Virginia State #21, Bowie State #23

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Week 7 final scores shook up the CIAA Northern Division, but gained two teams national exposure. As announced Tuesday, Virginia State University ranks No. 21 while Bowie State University holds the No. 23 spot in the NCAA Division II American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) rankings.

Power houses No. 23 Bowie State and No. 21 Virginia State went head-to-head last Saturday in a Northern Division rival matchup. The Trojans proved their dominance with a 47-35 victory, which was aired nationally on live television via Aspire TV. Prior to this contest, the Trojans were not featured in the AFCA football rankings while Bowie State held the No. 14 spot.



The Trojans remain undefeated with a 6-0 overall record and moved to the No. 1 spot in the CIAA Northern Division. The Bulldogs slid to No. 3 in the North and now hold a 6-1 overall record.

BSU and VSU will resume CIAA play on Saturday, October 21, 2017. The Trojans will hit the road as they travel to face the Lions of Lincoln (PA) University. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. The Bulldogs will welcome the Virginia Union University Panthers for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff contest.

Rankings - AFCA Coaches

RANK	SCHOOL	RECORD	POINTS	PREVIOUS
1	Northwest Missouri State (34)	7-0	850	1
2	Shepherd (WV)	6-0	791	2
3	Indiana (Pa)	7-0	782	3
4	Minnesota State	7-0	754	4
5	Midwestern State	5-0	682	6
6	Indianapolis	7-0	678	5
7	Grand Valley State	6-1	635	7
8	Fort Hays State	7-0	616	8
9	Central Washington	7-0	572	10
10	Texas A&M-Commerce	5-1	541	11
11	Winona State	7-0	494	13
12	Ferris State	5-1	424	15
13	Ashland	6-1	423	16
14	Assumption	6-0	406	17
15	Sioux Falls	6-1	352	18
16	Colorado Mesa	6-1	307	20
17	Slippery Rock	6-1	288	9
18	West Alabamagoo	6-1	271	23
19	Delta State	6-1	263	21
20	Wingate	6-0	243	24
21	Virginia State	6-0	165	NR
22	Humboldt State	5-1	154	25
23	Bowie State	6-1	95	14
24	Eastern New Mexico	6-1	66	NR
25	Southeastern Oklahoma State	6-1	64	19

CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Freshman firepower helps XULA throttle Lady Panthers

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Freshmen Lauryn Taylor, Kayla Black and Vivica Price-Spraggins combined to hit .605 Tuesday and lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 25-13, 25-10, 25-12 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball victory against Philander Smith.

The Gold Nuggets (17-2, 9-0) can clinch a tie for their seventh consecutive GCAC regular-season championship with a victory Saturday in a 1 p.m. match at Talladega or a Dillard loss Monday at Tougaloo.

Taylor had 11 kills and hit .556, both career highs, in 18 attacks. Black had 10 kills — her 10th match in double figures — and hit a career-best .529 in 17 attacks. Price-Spraggins hit .875 — seven kills and no errors in eight attacks — and raised her team-best season percentage to .374.

XULA had 14 kills in each set and for the match hit .393, its second-highest percentage of the season and its best on an opponent's floor in three years.

BOX SCORE

Black, Juliana Tomasoni and Tiffany Phillips served three aces apiece. Anna Dalla Vecchia had 11 digs to reach double figures for the 16th time this season, and Black and Adili Rikondja had two blocks apiece. Eva Le Guillou had 20 assists, and Phillips had 12.

XULA stretched its win streak to seven and exceeded its victory total of last season, when it was 16-17.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Cincinnati to host Alabama A&M in 2018

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The Cincinnati Bearcats will host the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in 2018, the school has indicated in their upcoming game notes.

Cincinnati will host Alabama A&M at Nippert Stadium on Sept. 15, 2018. The game will be the second meeting between the two schools following UC’s 52-10 win back in 2015.

Alabama A&M is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). So far this season, the Bulldogs are 3-4 overall and 3-1 in SWAC play.

The addition of Alabama A&M completes Cincinnati’s non-conference schedule for the 2018 season. The Bearcats are also scheduled to travel to UCLA (Sept. 1) and Miami Ohio (Sept. 8; at Paul Brown Stadium) and host Ohio (Sept. 22).

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WSSU scrambling after shocking loss to St. Aug's

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State finds itself in rare territory this week after getting upset 17-14 by St. Aug’s in Raleigh on Saturday.

Offensive lineman Tim Samuels of the Rams came to the weekly news conference on Tuesday afternoon and was asked about the loss.

“I’m still shocked,” Samuels said about only the second loss to a Southern Division team in the last seven seasons.

There were a lot of shocked Rams as the Falcons rallied to score the winning touchdown on Demetrius Lewis’ 9-yard pass to Sam Boyd with 39 seconds left in the game.

Coach Kienus Boulware of the Rams said the goal this week in practice is to regain any kind of confidence they can. At 4-3 and 1-1 in the Southern Division, the Rams aren’t eliminated from the division, but they will need help as they try to win the division for the seventh straight year.

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Virginia State Football Preview: Trojans go for 7-0 at Lincoln (PA)

ETTRICK, Virginia - They’re unbeaten, they’re #1 in their division and they’re 6-0 for the first time since 1970.

This Saturday, the Virginia State Trojans will hit the road and challenge Lincoln (PA) in a bid to improve to 7-0 and earn their 11th straight victory.

Lincoln (PA), sitting at 0-7, is still seeking its first win of 2017 and is hosting Virginia State for its Homecoming Game.

Game time is Saturday, Oct. 21, 1 p.m. at Lincoln University, Pa.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Virginia State (6-0) at Lincoln (0-7)

Date: Saturday, October 21, 2017

Time: 1 p.m.

Live Stats: http://www.lulions.com/schedule.aspx?path=football

Location: Lincoln University (Pa.)

SERIES HISTORY SINCE 2008: Virginia State leads 9-0

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S.C. State Bulldogs a bit road weary after early losses

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina --To put it mildly, the road has not been kind to the South Carolina State football team this season.

Through three games away from Orangeburg, the Bulldogs (2-4 overall, 1-3 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play) have tallied three losses, including this past Saturday's 12-9 defeat against the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Florida.



S.C. State has now lost to Southern, North Carolina Central and Bethune-Cookman on the road by a combined total of 14 points.

With another road game on the schedule for this Saturday, at Delaware State (0-6, 0-4) at 2 p.m., Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough is assessing the state of his team and program, while looking to make any possible adjustments.

"We went down and lost a tough battle to Bethune-Cookman down in Daytona Beach," Pough said at his weekly press conference on Monday. "We spent most of the day yesterday (Sunday) trying to figure ourselves out.

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Wins, losses are what matter to Wood with four games left in FAMU's season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The games have been closer compared to head coach Alex Wood’s first two seasons at the helm, but for the second season in a row, the Rattlers have two wins through seven games.

In Wood’s first season at the helm, the team had just one win through seven games – it was the only win the team would get in 2015.

There are other metrics involved – graduation, on-field performance, etc. – but at the end of the day, Wood said he, like FAMU fans, judges his team based off wins and losses.

Right now, the Rattlers (2-5, 1-3 MEAC) have too many losses. FAMU will try to stop a three-game skid on Saturday at Hampton (4-2, 3-0 MEAC).

“That’s our business, the bottom line,” Wood said about wins and losses.

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Barlow leads Virginia State back into NCAA D-II Top 25

HEAD COACH REGGIE BARLOW
VSU TROJANS FOOTBALL

PETERSBURG, Virginia -- Virginia State has resurfaced in the national rankings under Reggie Barlow.

The Trojans cracked the AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 after last week’s 47-35 win over then-No. 14-ranked Bowie State.

Ranked 21st in the poll, Virginia State (6-0, 4-0 CIAA) plays Lincoln (0-7, 0-4) Saturday.

Barlow, who was fired at Alabama State in 2014 as the university’s winningest coach (49-42 in eight seasons), is 15-2 at Virginia State since taking the job in May 2016.

VSU was last ranked Dec. 22, 2014. The Trojans won the CIAA and reached the NCAA D-II playoffs that season with Latrell Scott as its head coach.

The now Norfolk State coach went 19-4 in two seasons at Virginia State.

The Trojans finished 6-4 in 2015, but lost its head coach when Byron Thweatt left after one season to coach linebackers at FCS school James Madison.

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Eruption: ASU celebrates first win of 2017 season

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State finally had reason to rejoice.

Nine days after losing their head coach, the Hornets won their first game of the season, 23-16, at winless Texas Southern last week.

“Those young men erupted,” ASU interim head coach Donald Hill-Eley said during Monday’s SWAC coaches teleconference.

“This was the first opportunity for them to get fruit from their labor of all the conditioning they’ve done since last year. They were very excited and I was excited for them.”

ASU started the season 0-5 after going 4-7 the previous season. Brian Jenkins, who came to ASU after winning 46 games in five seasons at Bethune-Cookman, was fired after losing 24-10 to Alcorn State at home on a Thursday night on ESPNU.

The Hornets went 10-17 in 2 1/2 seasons under Jenkins.

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JSU's Derrick McCall will call offensive plays against Southern

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Tony Hughes finally pulled the trigger Tuesday, elevating wide receivers coach Derrick McCall to co-offensive coordinator and putting him in charge of calling offensive plays going forward.

"I met with each coach individually and we all feel like this is what's best for the team," Hughes said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. "I don't want to go into it much further than that, because we don't want to tip our hand to Southern for this weekend's game."

Hughes did add that he will let McCall make the call on which player personnel he wants to use, saying he and his staff would meet as a group to make final decisions headed into Saturday's 6 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium.

Chad Germany, McCall's co-coordinator who was formerly in charge of calling games, will take on the added role of coaching wide receivers and will be responsible for signaling in the plays and making substitution calls on the sidelines.

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Can you dig this? Nuggets improve to 8-0 in GCAC

TOUGALOO, Mississippi — Xavier University of Louisiana's defense, led by freshman libero Anna Dalla Vecchia, sparkled again in a 25-14, 25-13, 25-17 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball victory against Tougaloo.

Dalla Vecchia had 31 digs — 13 in the final set — to tie a XULA match record and help the Gold Nuggets (16-2, 8-0) win their sixth in a row. They knocked the Lady Bulldogs (16-9, 7-3) out of second place.

XULA got double-doubles from Juliana Tomasoni (10 kills, 13 digs) and Tiffany Phillips (21 assists, 10 digs). Tougaloo hit minus-.008 in 125 attacks and became the third XULA conference opponent in the last four matches to finish with more attack errors than kills. No GCAC opponent has hit better than .092 against XULA this season.

The Gold Nuggets will stay on the road and play GCAC opponent Philander Smith at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Little Rock, Ark.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

College Baseball Central Podcast: Talking SWAC and MEAC Baseball with Michael Coker

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- In this episode of the College Baseball Central Podcast, Joe Healy talks baseball in the SWAC and MEAC with Michael Coker of Black College Nines.

The headline from these two conferences in 2017 was obviously the postseason run by Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats enjoyed a fantastic run in the Gainesville Regional, forcing the eventual national champion Florida Gators to a deciding seventh game before bowing out. Head coach Jason Beverlin has done an outstanding job of building upon the success that the program enjoyed under Mervyl Melendez.



In the SWAC, it feels like the league is fairly wide open. Alabama State it still well-stocked with talent. Texas Southern was a 2017 regional team and always plays well when it counts the most. Jackson State is as consistent as just about any program in the conference, and Grambling won their division last year. And that’s to say nothing of a program like Southern, which made a high-profile head coaching hire in bringing in Kerrick Jackson to replace the legendary Roger Cador.

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Why it’s so important that this football team (NCCU) beat a 1-5 non-conference opponent

DURHAM, North Carolina -- There’s not a lot Jerry Mack hasn’t accomplished in his four years as the head football coach at N.C. Central.

Mack, 36, has won three MEAC championships, becoming the first coach in school history to win 24 games in his first three years. Last season he led the Eagles to their first national ranking as a Division I-FCS program, finishing No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll. After N.C. Central’s first outright MEAC title in 2016, Mack led the team to its first bowl game since making the switch to Division I in 2011.



This season, N.C. Central is off to a 4-1 start and is 3-0 in the MEAC. Since starting at NCCU in 2014, Mack has gone 29-12 and 24-3 record in conference play. But for all he has accomplished, Mack, until this past weekend, still had one more thing to check off his list: beating a non-conference opponent.

N.C. Central this past Saturday finally did just that by beating Gardner-Webb (1-5) from the Big South 24-17, in the fifth meeting between the two in-state schools. The win goes a long way in helping the national reputation of N.C. Central, which entered the game ranked No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll.

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Unbeaten North Carolina A&T 'on the right track' after seventh victory

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — The seventh win didn’t come easy.

On the road at Florida A&M, playing in front of a standing-room-only homecoming crowd in a stadium that seats 25,500, N.C. A&T looked vulnerable in its 31-20 victory over the Rattlers on Saturday.

The Aggies lost three turnovers, including quarterback Lamar Raynard’s second and third interceptions of the season, and committed a season-high eight penalties for 64 yards.

And yet, it was still win No. 7. The Aggies are 7-0 for the first time since 1943 and just the third time in the program’s 93-year history.

“Man, let’s don’t take these wins for granted,” A&T coach Rod Broadway said today. “Winning is hard. Sometimes we get in a comfort zone where we think this (7-0 start) is the norm. Well, this isn’t normal. These guys are doing something special.”

Now comes the most difficult game of the season. A&T (7-0, 4-0 MEAC) will host Bethune-Cookman (3-3, 2-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Aggie Stadium.

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Grambling State has 'chip on shoulder' entering Alcorn State game

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- When you’re talking champ versus champ, breath’s not wasted on clichés or coach speak.

Fourth-year Grambling State head football coach Broderick Fobbs could’ve doled out the politically correct banter Monday morning at his weekly press conference, where he previewed the reigning SWAC champion Tigers’ big showdown with Alcorn State, the league’s champion the year prior, coming up Saturday at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

The Braves defeated the G-Men, 49-21, for the title in 2015, and maybe that still doesn’t quite sit well with Fobbs. Or maybe it’s from last season’s SWAC championship game where Alcorn raced out to a 17-0 halftime advantage – a stark difference from the regular season meeting where GSU dominated, 43-18 – before his Tigers roared back to win, 27-20, in the final minutes.

Likely reasoning is a combination of the two. But any way it’s sliced, Grambling State (5-1, 2-0), now ranked 17th in the FCS Coaches Poll, has entered Alcorn State week with a chip on its shoulder.

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JSU AD: Tony Hughes still the right man for the job at Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State director of athletics Wheeler Brown gave Tiger football coach Tony Hughes a vote of confidence Monday morning, despite the team's 0-6 start.

Reached by phone, Brown said he understands the frustration fans feel towards the program, which is off to its worst start since 1969 following Saturday's 33-7 loss to Division II Tuskegee.

"I don't think the kids or the coaches have quit," Brown said. "I hope we can work to rectify those things that have kept us from being successful on the field, but my support hasn't wavered and at the end of the day, I still think coach Hughes is the man for the job."

The Tigers are set to host Southern University this weekend at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

The athletic department decided to postpone Monday's regularly scheduled football press conference to Tuesday, prompting many to believe there may be a shakeup within the coaching staff.

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The 16th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands Returns to Rock Atlanta

Polls are now open for the public to vote for their favorite marching bands to perform in the 16th annual HBOB Invitational Showcase.

TORRANCE, California – Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) will make its highly-anticipated return to Atlanta on January 27, 2018, when eight marching bands from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) take the field to dazzle fans with their music, choreography and pageantry. The polls are now open for the public to vote for their favorite marching bands to perform in the 16th annual HBOB Invitational Showcase.

Beginning today, fans can visit http://www.hondabattleofthebands.com/the-bands and vote daily to help select the eight bands that will perform at the 2018 Invitational Showcase. Voting will close on Friday, October 20 at midnight Eastern.

“For more than 15 years, Honda Battle of the Bands has provided a stage for exceptional marching bands—a hallmark of HBCU culture,” said Stephan Morikawa, Vice President, Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility for Honda. “Honda is honored to celebrate these student musicians and their teamwork, and we look forward to their dynamic performances come January.”

This year’s theme, March On: Dream Together, highlights the distinctive culture of HBCUs—both on and off the field. It is a culture that impacts and inspires far beyond its community. In addition to music education, HBOB celebrates everything from the rich history and traditions of HBCUs to the life-long connections that fuel future leaders.

In the last two years, the HBOB Invitational Showcase has attracted a combined audience of nearly 120,000 fans via the live show and online livestream. Tickets for the anticipated event start at $10 and will be available for purchase on October 16 at HondaBattleoftheBands.com.

In addition to the marching bands, the 2018 Invitational Showcase will also feature the fourth-annual HBCU Power of Dreams Award. Honda established the award to honor extraordinary individuals who are positively affecting the lives of others and moving the HBCU community forward. Members of the HBCU community will have the opportunity to nominate an exceptional individual who is making a difference in the community. Honda will recognize the winner in a ceremony during the event.

For more information on Honda Battle of the Bands and to buy tickets, visit www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com. To join the social media conversation, use #HBOB and visit the following social media handles for official updates:

Facebook – Facebook.com/HondaBattleoftheBands
Twitter – @The_Honda / Twitter.com/The_Honda
Instagram – @the_honda / Instagram.com/the_honda

About Honda
Honda seeks to be a company that society wants to exist, creating products and technologies that improve the lives of people while minimizing the environmental impacts of its products and business operations to ensure a sustainable future for society. Honda is also committed to making positive contributions to the communities where we do business, to socially responsible business practices and to the promotion of diversity in our workforce. From our involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to our support of pediatric brain tumor research, and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where we live and work.

Honda supports a variety of initiatives aimed at advancing education and creating experiences of discovery that help young people see and achieve their own dreams. Honda's partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund is one of many programs demonstrating Honda's commitment to the Latino community and to helping young people access The Power of Dreams.

NCCU Football Defeats Gardner-Webb to Extend Record Home Win Streak

DURHAM, North Carolina  – No. 25 North Carolina Central University amassed 409 yards of total offense, including a season-high 333 passing yards by freshman quarterback Chauncey Caldwell, to lift the Eagles past Gardner-Webb University by a score of 24-17 inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

The nationally-ranked Eagles extend their school record home win streak to 11 games.

Sophomore wide receiver Xavier McKoy made the most of his three catches, finishing with 139 receiving yards, including an 89-yard touchdown on the third-longest pass play in NCCU history.



Senior receiver Jacen Murphy collected a game-high seven receptions for 64 yards, while freshman Nique Martin caught three passes for 66 yards with a 57-yard touchdown.

Defensively, safeties Davanta Reynolds and Alden McClellon topped NCCU with eight tackles apiece. The lone takeaway by the Eagles was a fumble recovery by linebacker De'Niro Laster that was forced by defensive end Kawuan Cox to halt the Runnin' Bulldogs' opening drive of the contest.

NCCU's kicking game played a big factor in Saturday's outcome. Aedan Johnson made a 40-yard field goal and Nathaniel Tilque placed five of his seven punts inside the 10-yard line with a long of 52 yards.

BOX SCORE

Gardner-Webb (1-5) was led by senior quarterback Tyrell Maxwell, who accounted for 303 total yards with 138 yards passing and 165 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Linebacker Kenyatta Dunbar recorded 10 tackles with a sack and an interception.

Up next, NCCU (5-1) returns to MEAC action by hosting Norfolk State University on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. The Eagles have won 18 consecutive conference games.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

HBCU Football Judgement Day Scoreboard - Week 7

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017

OVC
Austin Peay 21, Tennessee State 17

MEAC
Morgan State 48, Savannah State 28
Hampton 16, Norfolk State 14, Battle of the Bay
Howard 52, Delaware State 23
North Carolina Central 24, Gardner-Webb 17
North Carolina A&T 31, Florida A&M 20
Bethune-Cookman 12, South Carolina State 9

SWAC
Alabama State 23, Texas Southern 16
Alcorn State 34, Prairie View 21
Central State (OH) 40, Arkansas Pine Bluff 35
Alabama A&M 49,  Mississippi Valley 14
Tuskegee 33, Jackson State 7, 5th Quarter Classic



CIAA
Virginia State 47, Bowie State 35
Virginia Union 35, Chowan 10
Shaw 35, Livingstone 14
Fayetteville State 41, Johnson C. Smith 16
Saint Augustine's 17, Winston-Salem State 14
Elizabeth City State 56, Lincoln (PA)18

OTHER CONF.
Langston 44, Texas College 17
West Virginia State 47, Concord 29
Webber International 16, Edward Waters 9
Shippensburg 56, Cheyney 0
Missouri S&T 37, Lincoln (MO) 3

SIAC
Central State (OH) 40, Arkansas Pine Bluff 35
Tuskegee 33, Jackson State 7
Albany State 34, Morehouse 10
Fort Valley State 37, Lane College 14
Miles 35, Kentucky State 0
Benedict 14, Clark Atlanta 3

Late Surge Sparks Albany State Golden Rams To Homecoming Win Over Morehouse

ALBANY, Georgia -- Albany State University rallied from a one point halftime deficit to earn a 34-10 Homecoming victory over Morehouse College before a national audience Saturday afternoon at ASU Coliseum.

With the victory ASU extends its win streak against Morehouse to nine games.

The Maroon Tigers fall to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in SIAC play while the Golden Rams raise their mark to 5-2 and 3-0 in SIAC play.

Both defenses pitched impressive performances on Saturday, especially in the first half where the two teams combined for just 107 yards of total offense. The Maroon Tigers ran 33 plays for just 36 yards while the ASU offense had 25 plays for 71 yards. Albany State and Morehouse made a concerted effort and was successful at shutting down the other team's running game as each finished with just 5 yards on the ground in the first half. Additionally the defenses accounted for their team's first touchdown of the afternoon.

The defensive units also kept the pressure on the game's signal callers; ASU and MHC quarterbacks were sacked a combined 13 times in the contest. The Golden Rams were led by Marquez Thomas' 12 tackles (7 solo) 2 sacks (loss of 15 yards) and two quarterback hurries.

After trailing 10-9 at the intermission the Golden Rams held Morehouse scoreless in the second half. The ASU defense did not allow a third down conversion over the third and fourth quarters and in the final 15 minutes the Golden Rams had two takeaways while limiting the Maroon Tigers to -3 yards rushing.

With 4:47 left in the third quarter, Albany State reclaimed the lead on a 10 play, 66 yard drive with a 3 yard TD pass from Chancellor Johnson to Quadrey Simmons. The Golden Rams broke the game open with an 18 point third quarter, beginning with a 73 yard rushing score by Kelan Fraise with 7:05 remaining. ASU padded their lead, after a two point conversion on a Johnson pass to McKinley Habersham, at 24-10. The Albany State defense forced a fumble on Morehouse's ensuing possession and 2 plays and 25 seconds later Habersham broke for a 49 yard scoring run giving the Golden Rams a 31-10 advantage.

The visitors coughed it up again on their next drive and the Golden Rams capitalized with a 39 yard field goal from Gabriel Ballinas with 2:18 left for the final point spread.

The frenzied finish was antithesis of the first half of play where neither offense could gain any ground, mostly due to the respective teams' defenses. With the exception of a 35 yard field goal from MHC's Fernando Sdelamora at the 4:31 mark of the second quarter, the rest of the first half scoring came from defensive play and a miscue on special teams.

BOX SCORE

Jaylin Boyd took a 57 yard interception to the house for the game's first score, before Sdelamora's field goal made the score 7-3 in favor of ASU.

At the 14:06 mark and the Maroon Tigers in punt formation against their own goal line, the snap went out the back of the end zone for a safety and a 9-3 Golden Ram lead. That lead was short-lived however when two plays after they received the free kick, Cameron Mill picked off a pass by Chancellor Johnson and 59 yards later found his way to the end zone to put his team in front 10-9.

Albany State will return to action on October 21st as they travel to take on Clark-Atlanta for the Panthers' Homecoming. The game, which will be broadcast on ESPN3, is scheduled for a 2pm kickoff. Follow us on Twitter @ASUGoldenRams and visit www.asugoldenrams.come for up-to-date information on Albany State Athletics.

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICAITONS

West Virginia State Dominate in Road Win

ATHENS, West Virginia  --  It did not take long for this year's Yellow Jacket football team to show host Concord that scheduling them for a Homecoming opponent might not have been a very good idea.

The Jackets' Dionta Brown took the opening kickoff and ran it back to the WVSU 25.

Senior quarterback Matt Kinnick hit Quinton Gray for a quick seven yards, Brown ran for seven, and then Kinnick connected with Tyrell Henderson on a 1-yard scoring strike to put the Jackets ahead 7-0 just one minute and one second into the game.

The Yellow Jackets never let up on the way to 33-7 halftime lead and 47-29 victory to improve to 4-3 on the season.

The WVSU offense displayed the best balance it has this year picking up 258 yards through the air and 255 on the ground.

Especially impressive was that the ground game with WVSU rushing leader Calil Wilkins.

Wilkins, who is averaging 120 yards a game, twisted an ankle in the previous contest and is listed as day to day.

Juawan Etheredge ran 17 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Brown carried the ball 11 times for 88 yards and a score while Kinnick had 67 yards on just seven runs.

Kinnick was 19-28 throwing for 231 yards. He also caught a 27 yard touchdown pass on s trick play from backup quarterback Austin Hensley for WVSU'S second score of the game.

Gray finished with eight catches for 77 yards.

By the final horn the Yellow Jackets had a whopping 513 yards of offense to the Mountain Lions' 308.

Next up for WVSU is a home contest against West Liberty Saturday.

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WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

North Carolina A&T Aggies Win at FAMU's Homecoming, Improve to 7-0

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- North Carolina A&T needed the type of win it received on Saturday evening against Florida A&M at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Not only for the fact that the 31-20 win in front a homecoming sellout crowd of 25,607 helped the Aggies improve to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. But also, because the win was not cosmetically pleasing.

The Aggies turned the ball over three times, were out gained 171-65 in total offense in the second half and were penalized eight times. But they won, they are in first place in the MEAC and three of their final four regular-season games are at home in Aggie Stadium as they seek their third MEAC title in four years.

“Every great team I've known has had to win a game like this,” said N.C. A&T coach Rod Broadway. “We didn't play our best, we actually played really bad in spots. But despite not playing well, we can come back next week and get better knowing we got a win.”

When the Aggies were good – specifically the second quarter – they were really good. N.C. A&T compiled 159 yards of offense, held the Rattlers (2-5, 1-3 MEAC) to 29 yards and kept the ball 12 of the 15 minutes allotted in a quarter. The Aggies were also 5-for-5 on third-down conversions in the second quarter. Those factors helped the Aggies turn a 7-7 first-quarter tie into a 28-7 halftime lead.

The Aggies got there by putting together two long second-quarter drives. The game’s momentum shifted toward N.C. A&T when Aggies redshirt junior quarterback Lamar Raynard found senior Khris Gardin for a tough 8-yard catch on 3rd-and-6 from the Aggies 40-yard line. Gardin’s catch was followed by graduate tight end Trey Scott’s 18-yard reception to put the Aggies in FAMU territory at the 48.

A 5-yard run by junior running back Marquell Cartwright, a 15-yard reception on a quick slant by sophomore Elijah Bell moved the Aggies to the FAMU 14. Graduate running back Jamari Smith ended the 8-play, 64-yard drive with a 14-yard TD reception on a screen pass from Raynard. The Aggies next drive included 10 plays, 85 yards and ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass to fifth-year receiver Xavier Griffin. It was Griffin’s third touchdown in as many games. Griffin’s touchdown was set up by a rollout pass to Scott for 31 yards.

Jeremy Taylor’s 32-yard interception return set up the Aggies final touchdown of the half as the Aggies took over 1st-and-10 from the FAMU 15. Five plays later, Bell caught a quick slant from Raynard. Raynard threw for 140 yards in the quarter, his second-best quarter in terms of passing yards on the season after throwing for 145 yards in the first quarter against Charlotte on Sept. 16.

“He is getting better every week,” Broadway said about Raynard. “He is really smart, he gets the ball out of his hands well and he makes plays. For us to be successful he has to continue to grow and get better.”

Raynard and the offense didn’t have the ball much in the second half, specifically in the fourth quarter. The Rattlers had the ball for 9 ½ minutes in the fourth quarter and went 3-for-4 on third down conversions. Plus, FAMU made 13 first downs compared to N.C. A&T’s four in the second half.

“We couldn’t get them stopped, especially on third and long,” said Broadway about the Aggies second-half effort. “We had some real dumb penalties that really hurt. Our penalties helped them stay on the field quite a bit, and we have to tackle better.”

Missed tackles on FAMU’s opening kickoff return of the second half gave the Rattlers the ball at their own 45. Three plays later following a 45-yard run from Devin Bowers, the Rattlers would score on a 1-yard touchdown by Bowers to get within two touchdowns at 28-14. The Aggies turned the ball over on their first possession of the second half as Jules Dornevil intercepted Raynard at the FAMU 21. But Aggies linebacker Kia Richardson returned the favor for N.C. A&T by intercepting FAMU quarterback Ryan Stanley. Richardson’s INT return gave the Aggies the ball at the FAMU 14, setting up a 22-yard field goal from Noel Ruiz for the Aggies final points of the game.

Despite putting together two long drives in the second half, the Rattlers were only able to come away with one more touchdown as the Aggies won their sixth straight over the Rattlers. The Aggies are also 7-0 for the first time in 74 years.

Raynard finished his day 20-for-32 for 215 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Bell caught six of those passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. Bell is now one touchdown shy of breaking the Aggies single-season touchdown receptions record. Raynard is 152 yards shy of becoming the fifth player in school history to throw for 2,000 yards in a season. Redshirt freshman Najee Reams and fifth-year safety Jeremy Taylor led the Aggies defensively. Reams finished with eight tackles and Taylor had five tackles, an interception and a pass break up.

N.C. A&T will go after 8-0 next week when they welcome the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats to Aggie Stadium for a 1 p.m., Saturday contest. The game will air live on ESPN3 and will be aired on tape delay on ESPNU at 10 p.m.

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NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION