Southern Heritage Classic Statement and Refund Information

MEMPHIS, Tennessee  -- Saturday, September 8, 2018, the 29th Annual Southern Heritage Classic football game was cancelled in response to inclement weather, which included lightning. We appreciate the support of the thousands of fans who purchased tickets to see Jackson State University and Tennessee State University compete, once again. Ticket holders, who wish to receive a refund, can bring their tickets to their point of purchase. Refund information is listed below for each location. 

TENNESSEE STATE TICKET OFFICE

Refunds will be issued beginning Tuesday, September 11th. For more information, contact the Tennessee State Ticket Office at 615-963-5841.

TICKETMASTER

Refunds will be issued beginning Monday, September 10th. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000.

LIBERTY BOWL MEMORIAL STADIUM

Refunds will be issued at the stadium box office Tuesday, September 11th – Thursday, September 13th from 10 am – 6 pm CST. Those who cannot return to the box office, must mail their tickets to the following address to receive a refund: 

For more information, contact the Southern Heritage Classic at 901-398-6655 or 1-800-332-1991. 

We look forward to having everyone join us September 11 -15, 2019 for the 30th Annual Southern Heritage Classic.
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Official Statement from the founder of the Southern Heritage Classic

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Former Savannah State Tigers Pitcher Called Up To Play For Washington Nationals

masn Nationals.

WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Former Savannah State University baseball player Kyle McGowin was called up from the minor leagues and will soon make his major league debut with the Washington Nationals.

McGowin spent the 2018 season in the Nationals farm system, working his way up from Class A.

McGowin started the season in Advanced A with Potomac. There he appeared in two games and had a 1-1 record. He pitched 11 innings and struck out 14 batters and had a 4.09 earned run average.

From Potomac he went to AA where he played at Harrisburg. While at Harrisburg, he pitched 78 innings and struck out 94 batters. He had a 3.69 ERA and a 4-3 record while appearing in 13 games.

His last stop was at AAA Syracuse.

In his eight starts with the Chiefs since being called up in July, McGowin went 3-2 with a 1.20 ERA and held batters to a .147 batting average, striking out 44 in 52.2 innings pitched.

Kyle McGowin
SSU TIGERS - 2013
SSU Athletics

McGowin was drafted in the fifth round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft out of Savannah State University by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2013.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound, Sag Harbor, N.Y., native, pitched the Tigers to their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship in 2013, and the program's first Division I NCAA Regional bid.

During the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament, he was named the tournament's Outstanding Performer after he pitched all ten innings of the championship game, recording 11 strikeouts.

That same year, he was named First team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

During the regular season he had an 1.49 ERA in 96 1/3 innings pitched and a 12-1 record. He led the MEAC in strikeouts (111) and wins, and was ranked sixth nationally after the end of the regular season.

SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Coppin State Women's Basketball 2018-19 Schedule Released

   
 VIEW FULL SCHEDULE HERE

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Coppin State women's basketball program released its 2018-19 schedule today with local rival UMBC highlighting the only home game of the non-conference slate. The Eagles will spend most of its non-conference competition on the road, including battles with five NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago (Virginia, Minnesota, Maryland, Florida Gulf Coast and runner-up Mississippi State).

Television information and game times will be announced at a later date. If you don't want to miss out on all MEACtion, season tickets are available for as low as $75! This provides access to both the women and the men's games and are available for purchase online now at coppinstatesports.com.

The Lady Eagles will begin the 2018-19 season taking th e country roads to West Virginia as it battles a Mountaineer squad who made the WNIT Final Four a season ago on November 6th. CSU will then return to Maryland to face Brenda Freese's Terrapins in College Park. The perennial powerhouse finished last season 16th in the AP Poll while the game will take place on November 9th.

Coppin will participate in its one and only non-conference tilt at the PEC, on Wednesday November 14th, as it fights for bragging rights against UMBC.

The ladies will next test will surely be a challenge, as four days later it heads to Starkville, Mississippi to take on last year's championship game runner-up. Mississippi State lost to Notre Dame in overtime of the 2017-18 national championship, falling on an immaculate buzzer-beater that will go down in March Madness lore.
 
Coppin State will get a well-needed two weeks off for the Thanksgiving holiday before kicking it into high gear with a span of five games over the first two weeks of December. CSU will head back to West Virginia to take on Marshall on December 1st, before turning around and tipping off in Charlottesville against second round participant UVA the next night.

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(CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

Coppin then heads north to face Ohio University (December 8th), Round of 32 qualifier Minnesota (December 12th) and Niagara (December 15th).

The Lady Eagles follow-up its wintry tour with a getaway tournament to sunny Fort Myers, FL for the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU classic hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University. CSU will face the host Eagles (who were NCAA Tournament bound a season ago) on December 19th, before rounding out the two-day trip with the UAB Blazers on the 20th. 
 
Coppin's last non-conference opponent of the campaign takes the Eagles to familiar territory (Norfolk, Virginia) as it dukes it out with the Monarchs of Old Dominion.
 
MEAC action will open with Savannah State coming to town for its final visit to Baltimore as a division I opponent on January 5th. The Lady Eagles will follow that by heading across the Bay Bridge to face Delaware State (January 7th). The Eagles will stay in the PEC for the ladies next two matchups, bringing Norfolk State (January 12th) and South Carolina State (January 14th) to town.
 
Next, Coppin will then head down to the Tar Heel State for the weekend to face the Eagles of North Carolina Central (January 19th), followed by the 2018 MEAC champion Aggies of North Carolina A&T (January 21st). Shortly thereafter, Coppin State can enjoy Charm City for the next two weeks as it hosts Florida A&M (January 26th), Bethune-Cookman (January 28th), and crosstown rival Morgan State (February 2nd).
 
Coppin women's basketball will head off on it's longest road trip of the MEAC slate, as it travels to coastal foes Savannah State (February 9th), South Carolina State (February 11th), and Maryland Eastern Shore (February 16th). The Eagles come home for its final two home games of the year, battling Howard in the annual homecoming game on February 23rd, before culminating the senior's farewell tour with Delaware State on February 25th.

Coppin State will round out the regular season on the road once again, heading to Norfolk for a date with the Spartans of NSU (March 2nd), before ending the 2018-19 campaign on the East Side at Morgan State.
 
The MEAC Tournament will be held in the Norfolk Scope Arena March 11 – 16 in Norfolk, VA.
 
Coppin returns four players from last season including Second Team All-MEAC Chance Graham, junior Oliwadamilola Oloyede, and sophomores Tsahai Corbie (redshirted) and November 21st MEAC Rookie of the Week, Maraiyah Smith.
 
Head Coach Dewayne Burroughs brought in two Division II transfers from Roberts Wesleyan (Brooke Fields) and University of the District of Columbia (Kaiya Coleman). Burroughs added a talented freshmen class as well with Diamond Adams, E'Mya Price, Jalynda Salley, Elan Wali, and Jania Wright all fighting for playing time.
 
The Coppin State Lady Eagles play in the Physical Education Complex Arena on the campus of Coppin State University and is led by third year head coach Dewayne Burroughs.

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATONS 

Gold Nuggets blank LSUA to conclude SLU tournament

HAMMOND, Louisiana. — Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis won all its matches against LSU-Alexandria Sunday on the second and final day of the Green and Gold Invitational.
     
The Gold Nuggets' Charlene Goreau and Farah Baklouti defeated Patricia Perez and Patricia Martinez 8-0 in the lone doubles match. In singles, Mariia Borodii beat Miljana Milojevic 8-3 — that was a matchup of NAIA All-Americans from 2018 — Yi Chen Pao beat Katheryne Campos 8-1, and Lacee Ancar defeated Marie Cool 8-2.

The event's modified duals — four singles matches and one doubles match — will count only for individual season statistics. Intercollegiate Tennis Association rules require dual matches to consist of six singles matches and three doubles matches.
     
XULA was 3-1 as a team in the modified duals. On Saturday the Gold Nuggets defeated Jackson State and city rival Loyola and lost to Southeastern Louisiana. Individually, all five XULA players finished 3-1 for the weekend.
    
 It was XULA's first event of the fall semester. Next for the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush will be the HBCU National Championships Sept. 20-22 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Spring Hill College Athletic Director Jim Hall Accepts Post at Carroll University

MOBILE, Alabama – Spring Hill College (SHC) Athletic Director Jim Hall will be stepping aside from his position at the College as of October 12 to assume the role of Athletic Director at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
 
"Leaving SHC is definitely bittersweet," said Hall. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my nine years on The Hill and take great pride in the advancements and accomplishments we have made. Now that the NCAA transition is complete, our teams are positioned for a lot of success in the years to come and I look forward to following their progress."
 
Since coming to The Hill in October 2009 from the University of Great Falls in Montana, Hall led the SHC efforts to join the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) as Spring Hill became the first non-Historically Black College or University member of the SIAC in its 100-year history. He then led the SHC transition from the NAIA into full NCAA Division II membership in July 2018. Hall also directed the addition of men's and women's Outdoor Track & Field and Beach Volleyball as NCAA varsity sports, the implementation of junior varsity programs and a focus on growth in intercollegiate club sports.
 
"Jim Hall's leadership was instrumental in the College attaining full NCAA Division II membership," said Dr. E. Joseph Lee, interim President of Spring Hill College. "His focus on success is reflected in the significant growth of our Badger Athletics program both on and off the field. We wish Jim and his family all the best in their new opportunity."

BY JIM STENNETT
SPRING HILL COLLEGE BADGER ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Week 2: HBCU Marching Bands Half-Time Show & Stands

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UMES Volleyball Wins Henson's Hawk Invite

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- A grueling weekend went the way of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team on Saturday (Sept. 8). The Hawks won their finale against the Hampton Pirates 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-11) to claim The 2018 Henson's Hawk Invitational at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

"We proved this weekend that we can handle adversity." Hawks coach Trevor Callarman said. "We battled back in different sets and executed in tough situations."

Senior Lucia Babic (Sisak, Croatia) earned her 1,000 career kill at the 18-7 mark in set two, becoming the fifth player in Hawk history to reach the achievement. She finished the match with 16 kills and a .438 hitting percentage.

`It takes a lot of hard word to reach this mark." Babic said. "My teammates helped a lot in making this happen, and winning certainly helps!"

Babic currently trails Jana Milin, Whitney Johnson, Caylin Woodward, and Maline Vaitai on the school's kill list. She stands 70 kills short of Vaitai for fourth place.

"Congrats to Lucia on her 1,000th kill." Callarman said. "She is the epitome of what it means to be a Hawk and has earned this achievement."

Other top performers for the Hawks included a double-double of 13 kills and 10 digs by senior Rachel Kayongo (Northridge, California), and nine digs from senior Koya Sowells (Missouri City, Texas). Babic, Kayongo and Sowells were all named to The Henson's All-Tournament Team.

The Hawks achieved their highest attack percentage of the year with a .337 average. That is the highest average since November 10th of last year.

Hampton (5-5) won the first set, thanks to a ferocious six point rally with Sasha Saric on the service. Maryland Eastern Shore (3-6) countered with a decisive nine point win in set two.

The Shore built up a 15-9 lead, then fended off a Pirate attack to take a 2-1 lead with a three point set win. In set four, the Hawks' early edge stood up. After Hampton tied the score at 17 all, Eastern Shore took two of the next three volleys to win, 25-21.

The upcoming week will be a busy one for the Hawks. They will challenge Lehigh on Tuesday (Sept. 11) in Bethlehem before traveling to Colorado for the Denver Invitational next weekend.

The Henson's All-Tournament Team
Lucia Babic (MVP) - Maryland Eastern Shore
Rachel Kayongo - Maryland Eastern Shore
Koya Sowells - Maryland Eastern Shore
Kyndall Nicholas - Hampton
Sasha Saric - Hampton
Sidney Colvey - St. Francis Brooklyn
Kyra Marshall - South Carolina State

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Maryland Eastern Shore Cross Country Impress in Season Opener at Delaware State

SMYRNA, Delaware — Junior Hector Cime (Parksley, Virginia) led the men’s cross country team, and senior Neus Quinonero (Valencia, Spain) led the women during the 2018 season opener at the Delaware State Hornet Invite on Saturday (Sept. 8) in Smyrna. The men’s team won the meet with 37 points while the women’s team came in second at 50 points.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the team considering the youthfulness of the group, especially on the women’s squad.” Coach Damion Drummond said. “This begins the years of Hawk dominance across the board. Lets claim, achieve and receive it!”

Cime won the men’s event with a time of 17:11 flat. Quinonero placed fourth in the women’s meet, earning a 21:07.4 clip.

Junior John Akakeya (Staten Island, New York) and sophomore Ngoy Yamitshi (Germantown, Maryland) were right behind Cime. Akakeya placed second in 17:11.8 and Yamitshi earned a time of 18:03.6 to finish fourth.

On the women’s side, senior Luan Gabriel (Roseau, Dominica) earned a top ten spot by running a  23:04.7, and freshman Arianna Krcik (Pasadena, Maryland) ran the meet in 24:03.7 to finish 10th in her collegiate debut.

The men’s squad beat runner-up Delaware State by 11 points while Morgan State eclipsed the women’s side, earning a meet best 26 points to earn the win.

Maryland Eastern Shore will run in Princess Anne next Saturday (Sept. 15) during the Cappy Anderson Invitational.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Coppin State Men’s Basketball Releases 2018-19 Season Schedule

CSU EAGLES MEN'S SCHEDULE
ROSTER

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Eight teams that played in postseason tournaments, including five NCAA Tournament qualifiers highlight the 2018-19 Coppin State men's basketball schedule which was released on Tuesday morning.  The Eagles will play host to one of those teams, UMBC, for their home opener on Monday, December 3, before also welcoming Tennessee State to the Physical Education Complex Arena on Sunday, December 9.

Television information and game times will be announced at a later date. If you don't want to miss out on all MEACtion, season tickets are available for as low as $75! This provides access to both the women and the men's games and are available for purchase online now at coppinstatesports.com.

Coppin opens up the season with eight-straight road games, tipping off the new campaign at Wisconsin on Tuesday, November 6.  Four days later, the Eagles will travel to Dayton four its first of four matchups that are part of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis.  A matchup at Virginia on November 16 is also part of the preseason tournament, as is a trip to Wofford College over the Thanksgiving break where CSU takes on the host Terriers and Charleston Southern.

Just prior to traveling to Wofford, the Eagles will also travel to NIT Tournament participant Rider on November 19.

Rounding out the November slate is a trip to James Madison on November 29 before Coppin's home opener against the Retrievers, who made history last season by becoming the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
In between the pair of CSU home games is another short trip to Richmond on December 9.

Following the Eagles' home matchup with the Tigers, Coppin closes out it non-conference schedule with road games against UNC-Greensboro (December 12), Louisiana-Monroe (December 21), Houston (December 23) and Notre Dame (December 29).  All four of those teams made a postseason tournament last season with the Spartans and Cougars making the NCAA Tournament, the Fighting Irish in the NIT and the Warhawks in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT).
The Eagles open MEAC play at home on January 5 against Savannah State on January 12, one of five home-and-home series' during the season.  Coppin will also play a home-and-home against Delaware State, Norfolk State, South Carolina State and Morgan State.

February's slate opens with a date against crosstown rival Morgan State on February 2 and closes out with Homecoming on February 23 against Howard and Senior Night against Delaware State on February 25.

To close out the regular season, the Eagles travel to Norfolk State on March 2 and Morgan State on March 7 before heading to the Norfolk Scope Arena for the MEAC Tournament from March 11-16.

All CSU home games, and selected road games, will be broadcast on WNST 1570AM as well Fox Sports Williamsport.

Coppin returns three starters from last year's squad, including Third Team All-MEAC selection Lamar Morgan, along with fellow seniors Chad Andrews-Fulton and Cedric Council.  The Eagles, who are led by second-year head coach Juan Dixon, also boast the return of redshirt sophomore Dejuan Clayton who led CSU in scoring during the 2016-17 season and missed most of last year with an injury.

COPPINS STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

PVAMU Panthers Lose Another Close Battle vs. #4 Sam Houston

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Prairie View A&M football team lost at #4 Sam Houston 41-32 Saturday night at Bowers Stadium.

"I thought it was a hard-fought game," said PVAMU head coach Eric Dooley. "Unfortunately we came up a little short. We just have to go back to the drawing board to correct some mistakes we had and get ready to face a good UNLV football team."

RB Dawonya Tucker posted his second straight 200-yard rushing game, rushing 21 times for a career—high 245 yards and two touchdowns.

The game was delayed approximately 35 minutes late in the first quarter due to lightning.



Tucker scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 14-yard run to take a 9-3 lead with just over seven minutes to play in the first quarter.

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Following consecutive touchdowns by Sam Houston to put the Bearkats ahead 17-9, Prairie View A&M scored back-to-back touchdowns of its own. Jaylen Harris returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to one. On the next offensive series, Tucker scored on a 25-yard run to put PVAMU ahead 23-17 with just over six minutes to play in the first half.

Sam Houston scored twice in the final 1:26 of the second quarter to take a 27-23 lead into halftime. After the Bearkats extended to a 34-23 lead in the third quarter, the Panthers made a fourth-quarter run.

Zach Elder's 27-yard field goal cut the PVAMU deficit to 34-26 less than two minutes into the final period before the Panthers scored a touchdown on their next offensive possession. A six-play, 73-yard drive ended with a 40-yard scoring pass from Morton to Zarrian Holcombe with 9:04 remaining, but the two-point conversion try was ruled incomplete.

The Bearkats scored with just over a minute remaining for the final margin.

"I know that they are going to fight," Dooley said of his teams' effort and near-comeback. "I know they are going to lay it on the line. Unfortunately we had some things that didn't go our way. That's all a part of football. It's growing pains right now, things we have to build off of, and continue to move forward."

Prairie View A&M returns to action next Saturday at 9 p.m. CT. The game can be viewed online on the Mountain West Network. The Panther Sports Network radio broadcast begins with Countdown To Kickoff at 8:30 p.m. online at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork.

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Sims Five Touchdown Passes Leads Morehouse To 42-20 Win Over Lane

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Sophomore quarterback Michael Sims (Detroit, MI) was firing on all cylinders as he threw a career-high five touchdown passes in Morehouse's 42-20 victory over SIAC conference foe, Lane College, Saturday afternoon in Jackson, Tenn.

The Maroon Tigers improve to 2-0 on the season while the Dragons fall to 0-2.

After starting off slow and falling behind 6-0 through the first quarter the MHC high-octane offense regrouped and scored 14 points in each of the remaining quarters for the convincing victory.

The teams traded punts early on and with 5:55 remaining in the first quarter the Dragons struck first when running back Joshua Jeffrey broke out on a 58-yard touchdown giving LC the early 6-0 lead. Morehouse got going in the start of the second quarter when Sims led the offense on a six-play, 69 yard drive, that took one minute and 51 seconds as he found senior Amyr Smith (Atlanta, GA) in the left corner of the endzone on a 25-yard touchdown pass giving MHC a 7-6 lead. Jeffrey would strike again this time from 68-yards out putting Lane on top 12-6. The Maroon Tigers responded and with just 35 seconds remaining before the end of the half Sims connected with senior tight-end Ryan Edwards(Atlanta, GA) on a 12-yard TD pass giving MHC a 14-12 lead before going into the locker room.

The second-half was all Morehouse. With 4:29 remaining in the third quarter junior wide receiver Tremell Gooden (Atlanta, GA) made an acrobatic catch in the back of the endzone giving MHC a 21-12 advantage. After forcing a turnover on the next possession it didn't take long for the Maroon Tigers to get back in the endzone as MHC for the second consecutive week went into their back of tricks as Sims found sophomore running back Santo Dunn (Griffin, GA) by himself on a triple reverse from 28 yards out extending the Morehouse lead to 28-12.

With 12:19 remaining in the game Sims threw his fifth touchdown pass of the game as he connected with Edwards for the second time on a 15-yard strick down the seam making the score 35-12. Sophomore running back, Frank Bailey, Jr. (Atlanta, GA) would close out the Maroon Tiger scoring when he plunged it in from two-yards out increasing the MHC lead to 42-12. Lane would add a late touchdown and two-point conversion for the final 42-20 score.

Sims finished the day 13-of-23 for 243 yards passing and five touchdowns while also rushing for 39 yards on six carries. Six different receivers caught passes and were led by Edwards who caught three passes for 36 yards and two touchdowns and Gooden who also caught three balls for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively Morehouse was again led by junior linebacker Julien Turner (Pickerington, OH) who finished with 10 tackles (five solo) and junior defensive back Edward Nelson (Chester, PA) who finished with eight tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and one forced fumble on the day. Freshman safety Ben Goins (Winterhaven, FL) again had a strong performance finishing with eight tackles while junior transfer, Kelvin Murray chipped in with four tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and an interception.

The MHC offense outgained LC 363-to-259 and were 3-for-3 in the redzone. After allowing almost 500 passing yards the previous week, the Maroon Tiger defense buckled down and held Lane to just 106 passing yards this week.

Morehouse welcomes SIAC western division foe Central State University (OH) this upcoming Saturday Sept. 15 for their home opener. The game has been tabbed as the BLACKOUT game. Kick-off is set for 5 p.m. at B.T. Harvey Stadium.

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MOREHOUSE COLLEGE MAROON TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern falls apart in second half at Louisiana Tech

RUSTON, Louisiana — For a brief moment, it looked like the impossible had a chance.

And then came halftime.

Before the game devolved into a 54-17 blowout, Southern came out swinging against Louisiana Tech, at one point in the second quarter closing to 21-14 after coming into the game 0-11 against FBS opponents in program history.

The Jaguars were rolling. They were 2 for 2 on fourth downs, calling trick plays for deep gains and not letting Bulldogs quarterback J’Mar Smith get too comfortable in the pocket.

But the inevitable deterioration of momentum and the physical wearing down of both Southern's offense and defense spelled doom for the FCS vs. FBS upset bid.

Louisiana Tech (2-0) pushed its advantage to 31-14 by halftime, and Southern was outscored 23-3 in the second half with the closest it ever came to sniffing the end zone a 22-yard field goal from kicker Cesar Barajas.

The once promising day of quarterback John Lampley fell stagnant under the crushing speed and depth of the Bulldogs, limiting him to seven completions after the break — far behind what would be needed to keep pace with Smith and the surging Tech offense.



CONTINUE READING

No. 12 JSU Trounces Mississippi Valley State in Home Opener

JACKSONVILLE, Alabama -- No. 12 Jacksonville State tied a school record with eight rushing touchdowns and allowed the fewest rushing yards in history in its 71-0 rout of Mississippi Valley State Saturday night.

The Gamecocks (1-1) dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference visitors from the opening series.

Jacksonville State recorded the second-highest total yardage in school history (654) and limited the Delta Devils to minus-8 yards rushing on 24 attempts to establish a new school mark before a Band Day crowd of 21,864 at Burgess-Snow Field.

The 71-point margin of victory was the largest of the school's modern football era; the 1928 Gamecocks defeated Bowdon 75-0.

"I thought we got off to a good start in both the first quarter and the third quarter," said Jacksonville State head coach John Grass. "Both sides of the ball, and the kicking game, played well early. It set the tone for the game.



"We didn't have any turnovers and we cleaned up the penalties. I was very, very pleased."

The Gamecocks' eight rushing TDs equaled the record set in 2001 in a 72-10 win over Cumberland.

Jacksonville State scored touchdowns on 10 of its 14 possessions. Backup running back Uriah West ran for three second-half TDs, quarterback Zerrick Cooper continued his hot start with a pair of long touchdown passes to Josh Pearson, and Michael Matthews added two rushing TDs.

The Gamecocks' 654 total yards came with one of tying the most productive outing in JSU history.

MVSU (0-2) was limited to 133 total yards. The minus-8 yards allowed by Jacksonville State's defense eclipsed the previous mark of minus-3 set in 2017 versus Murray State.

Cooper – one of three JSU quarterbacks to see action – completed 12 of 17 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns while running four times for 27 yards, including a 1-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone just before halftime.

Pearson was on the receiving end of Cooper's two touchdown passes, a 75-yard strike midway through the second quarter and a 38-yard TD reception late in the first quarter. The junior receiver from Decatur now has three touchdowns and 260 yards through two games.

Backup quarterback Zion Webb saw extensive playing time as well. He completed four of nine throws for 73 yards and added another 59 yards on seven carries. Third-stringer QB Chappelle Wade got in the game in the fourth and attempted two passes, completing one.

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Jaelen Greene led the Gamecocks' ground attack with 87 yards on 11 rushes. Eight different players ran it as Jacksonville State rolled up 368 rushing yards on 55 carries (6.7 yards per run).

Linebacker Jalen Choice recorded six tackles to lead Jacksonville State's defense in that category for the second straight game.

Traco Williams had the Gamecocks' only interception, returning it 45 yards to set up JSU's third touchdown.

Jacksonville State has another open date next Saturday and starts its Ohio Valley Conference slate on Sept. 22 at home against Tennessee Tech. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Valdosta State Blazers Strong Start Too Much for Fort Valley State Wildcats in Okefenokee Classic

WAYCROSS, Georgia –– In a much anticipated national ESPN3 broadcast, a tough Wildcats opening 12 minutes proved to be too much Saturday night. Valdosta State found the end zone three times in the first quarter and held off a charging Fort Valley State team from the end zone for a 55-6 football final in the Okefenokee Classic.

The receiving votes Blazers (2-0) scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions to open the 21-0 lead after a quarter. The Wildcats (0-2) had their bright spots, including three long drives, but they were only able to come away with two Abisai Gutierrez field goals in three attempts for the night's points.



Offensively, Fort Valley State totaled 153 yards of total offense. Quarterback Slade Jarman threw for 152 yards on 15 of 27 attempts, but he was sacked five times. Lorenzo Smothers pulled in six of those passes for 91 yards, including a 34-yarder early in the third quarter. Jamari Clark added 38 yards on the ground from 11 carries.

Valdosta State recorded 537 yards of total offense with over half of those coming in the second half. Camron Young paced the FVSU defense with nine tackles, while Zach Anderson added seven stops, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

The Wildcats continue their season-opening road swing next Saturday, Sept. 15. FVSU opens Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at Miles College in a 6 p.m. kickoff.

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FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN RAMS SPORTS INFORMATION

Slow start hinders Kentucky State Thorobreds

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- A slow start and a pair of goal line stands prevented the Kentucky State University football team from securing the victory in their home opener Saturday, falling to McKendree 34-17 at Alumni Stadium.

"We got off to a very poor start; we made some mistake defensively, let some guys go free," said Kentucky State head coach John L. Smith. "We have to be much smarter, and play better to begin with. But, I was proud of how our guys fought back.

"We got (inside the 20), and didn't get in from the redzone. You lose by three scores, and we get down there one more time, and it becomes a different ballgame. We have to get better with our red zone offense and make sure we get the ball in the endzone. That is on us as coaches and we have to plan better. We are disappointed in a loss, and anytime you lose, you are disappointed."

Playing without starting running back Brett Sylve, the Thorobreds rushing attack still managed to rack up 247 yards on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Jules St. Ge (Lakeland, FL) eclipsed the 100-yard barrier for the second straight game with 108 yards on 14 attempts. St. Ge added 101 yards passing on 14-of-22 passing with one touchdown and zero interceptions.

Senior Demetrius Anderson (Indianapolis, IN) led the team with five catches for 48 yards and one touchdown. Junior running back Malik Saunders added 41 yards on four receptions.

BOX SCORE

Junior running back Tyrone Wilkerson finished with 54 yards on 10 carries.

The Bearcats opened the game by scoring on their first two possession with quarterback Reece Metcalf completing all eight of his attempts on the two scoring drives. KSU quickly halved its deficit with a 13-play, 77-yard drive which was culminated with a 12-yard touchdown pass from St. Ge to Anderson.

Following a missed field goal, St. Ge put the Thorobreds in the red zone with a 60-yard gallop. But a penalty stemmed the tide of the drive, and KSU settled for a 26-yard field goal by senior Turner Warren (Louisville, KY).

Both teams traded punts before the Bearcats' offense rediscovered its offensive rhythm. McKendree scored a pair of touchdowns in the last five minutes to take a 17-point advantage, 27-10, into the locker room.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, however, Kentucky State was turned away on the doorsteps of paydirt on its first drive of the quarter. The Thorobreds drove 79 yards on 11 plays, but was stuffed on fourth and goal from the one.

Another explosive play enabled the Bearcats to add to their lead as a 65-yard run was responsible for the final offensive touchdown of the contest.

Junior running back Michael Nero (Louisville, KY) took the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for KSU's first special teams score of the season.

Senior Matthew Bizimana (Louisville, KY) tallied 13 tackles, while junior linebacker Myrthel Stewart (Glenwood, IL) finished with 10 stops.

Kentucky State (0-2 overall) travels to Owensboro 7 p.m. Saturday for another non-conference game, facing Kentucky Wesleyan (0-2 overall).

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY THOROBREDS SPORTS INFORMATION