TSU Tigers Return to OVC Play at Austin Peay

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Game 6: Tennessee State (2-1, 1-0) at Austin Peay (2-3, 0-2)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018
Location: Clarksville, Tenn.
Stadium: Fortera Stadium (7,000)
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN3
Audio: 102.1 FM
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Series Information: This is the 21st meeting with the Tigers leading the series, 13-7. The teams first met in 1988, a 16-12 victory for the squad from Clarksville. TSU earned its first win in the series a year later, 38-10. The Govs snapped the Tigers five game win streak in the series in 2017 with a 21-17 win at Nissan Stadium. The prior 11 meetings had run in streaks for the teams. TSU won a trio of games from 1996-2008, only to see the Governors reel off three of their own from 2009-11. The Tigers then went on a five game streak, including a last second 41-40 win in Clarksville in 2016.

Last Meeting: Tennessee State fell at the hands of Austin Peay, 21-17, at the 2017 Homecoming. TSU overcame a 14-3 second-half deficit, taking a 17-14 lead on a 66-yard DeVon Johnson touchdown catch with 10:18 left in the fourth. The Governors responded with a touchdown run with 1:26 left for a 21-17 lead and held the Tigers on their final drive. Senior linebacker Chris Collins tallied 12 tackles to pace the TSU defense, while senior cornerback. Terrell Bonds added his second interception of the season for the Tigers. Quarterback Michael Hughes finished 10-of-19 for 148 yards and a touchdown pass to Johnson. Long snapper Thomas Newberg also caught a touchdown pass from wide receiver Patrick Smith on a trick play in the third quarter.

Head Coach Rod Reed is in his ninth season at the helm of the Tigers and holds a 51-43 record. Coach Reed earned his 50th victory against Bethune-Cookman and became just the third coach in Tiger history to reach the milestone. John Merritt tops the list with 174 victories in his 20 years (1963-83) for a .806 winning percentage (174-35-7), while Harry Kean spent 10 years in charge of TSU from 1944-54 and compiled a 93-15-3 record (.838). The Big Blue is 8-1 in season openers under Reed, including a 17-10 win at FBS opponent Georgia State in 2017. The lone opening day loss came at the hands of Bethune-Cookman, 12-9, at the 2013 John Merritt Classic.

Tennessee State: The Tigers fell short at SEC foe Vanderbilt, 31-27. TSU led by three at halftime before falling behind 24-13 heading into the final stanza. Demry Croft tossed the last of his three touchdown passes to Andrew Knox to help TSU regain the lead. After the Commodores answered the Tigers drove down the field in the waning moments, before the Tigers stalled on the opponent’s 15 yard line. Croft finished the game 22-of-31 for 269 yards and rushed for a team-best 41 yards. The junior transfer currently ranks seventh nationally in passing efficiency (172.7), 13th in completion percentage (67.7%) and 16th in passing yards/completion (14.55). Treon Harris recorded his first 100-yard game as a receiver, hauling in eight passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. Steven Newbold notched his first touchdown of the season on a five-yarder to open the scoring in the game. The offense ranks 11th nationally in passing offense (480.7 yards/game) and has only one interception the year. Dajour Nesbeth had 10 tackles and returned an interception 65 yards to setup the first touchdown of the game. Nesbeth currently ranks third nationally in passes defended (2.3/game) and seventh in interceptions (0.7/game).

Austin Peay: The Governors is 0-2 in OVC play after dropping a 48-32 decision at Jacksonville State. The Govs scored the first nine points of the game and were within one score at the end of the third quarter. Jeremiah Oatsvall threw a career-high four touchdown passes and accounted for 294 yards of total offense (245 passing, 49 rushing) in the contest. Kentel Williams added 54 yards on the ground, as APSU finished with 143 yards rushing. The Governors rank 15th nationally in rushing offense (241.8 yards/game). DJ Montgomery caught a pair of touchdown passes, giving him three on the season. Malik Davis picked off a pass and added eight solo tackles for the game. Austin Peay has recorded an interception in four-straight games. Gunnar Scholato leads the team with 43 tackles. Punter Devin Stuart, ranks first in the OVC in punting average (42.7).

Last 10 Results:2017 - Austin Peay 21, Tennessee State 17
2016 - Tennessee State 41, Austin Peay 40
2015 - Tennessee State 20, Austin Peay 6
2014 - Tennessee State 31, Austin Peay 27
2013 - Tennessee State 31, Austin Peay 6
2012 - Tennessee State 34, Austin Peay 13
2011 - Austin Peay 37, Tennessee State 34
2010 - Austin Peay 26, Tennessee State 23
2009 - Austin Peay 24, Tennessee State 21
2008 - Tennessee State 37, Austin Peay 34

TV: ESPN3. Bob Belvin will serve as play-by-play along with Kevin Ingram who will provide analysis.

Radio: 102.1 FM will carry the game live with Greg Pogue (play-by-play), Albert Dawson (analyst) and Gary Dawson (sideline). Pregame will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Quotes:
TSU HEAD COACH ROD REED(on the support for Christion Abercrombie)
“I’d like to say thank you for all of the outpouring of support by all the coaches around the Ohio Valley Conference and around the nation. We’ve gotten a lot of prayers, a lot of support, a lot of phone calls, a lot of text messages from everybody. It’s been phenomenal with the support you’ve given us here at Tennessee State and me personally. I’d like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the continued prayers for Christion and his family.”

(on Christion Abercrombie)
“He’s a phenomenal guy off the field, first of all. His parents have done a tremendous job of raising him. He has a huge smile and warm heart. He’s a heck of a football player…. He’s just a wonderful kid, and my heart goes out to him.”

(on TSU’s performance at Vanderbilt)
“We went over and I thought our kids played a heck of a game over at Vanderbilt. I thought we gave ourselves an opportunity in the fourth quarter to win. When you play games like that, that’s all you can ask for. We thought we had it going and we gave up a big play late in the fourth quarter. Our offense drove it down again, and then we stalled on the 13 yard line, but our kids played their butts off in spite of a tragic situation going into the half. Our kids maintained focus and gave ourselves an opportunity to win.”

(on TSU’s quarterbacks)
It was the game flow. Demry (Croft) had it going, and I didn’t see a reason at that point to do anything different. We talked about it, and we just decided to leave Demry in. Mike (Hughes) is a big part of this football team and he’s going to be a big part of our offense the rest of the year.

(on TSU’s line play versus Vanderbilt)
I thought we played well up front. I was a little concerned with our defensive line. We had two of our starting defensive linemen out for that game, and some guys came in and did a really credible job in there. We moved them around a little bit. We had to bob and weave a little bit in there, but I thought our linebackers played downhill.”

AUSTIN PEAY HEAD COACH WILL HEALY(on facing TSU)
“I think we’ve won one out of the last 15 (matchups), so I don’t know if you can really call it a rivalry. I think it’s a great matchup obviously with the proximity. I wish all of us played all the Tennessee FCS schools. We know they’re a really good football team. That’s why we’re excited about the game. I think their talent level is exceptional. It’s a game that the last two years for us has been really close. We were very fortunate to win a year ago.”

(on Christion Abercrombie)
“Rod (Reed) has been a guy that’s been really good to me since I’ve been in this league. If I’ve needed advice, I’ve been able to call him and talk to him about things. He’s been extremely hospitable, and now your heart goes out to that program and that staff and those players because of what they’re going through. We’ve been praying (Christion Abercrombie). I think there’s a lot more to life than football, and I think this week is one of those that they’re living through right now. Everybody in that university and that program understands that loud and clear right now. I know their hearts will be heavy this week. Our hearts will be heavy this week. I’m praying for him. I know Rod always creates and preaches that culture. I think they’re living it out now with the support that they’re showing for their teammate. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

(on the challenges TSU presents)
“Obviously, we’ve seen (Micheal) Hughes plenty of times. We faced off against him last year. I think the kid they’ve got playing (Demry Croft) is pretty good. He’s got a really strong arm. He’s accurate. He extends plays. We’ve seen Hughes, so we’re a little more familiar with him. He’s more of the pocket guy with a big arm. I think either one can be successful, and you have to prepare for both. They’re dynamic on offense. Every play, they can make a big play. This is a lot like Jacksonville State last week where it’s the first time they’ve played back-to-back weeks. I’m sure they’re excited to be in a groove a little bit and get some things going. I think both quarterbacks are really good and can beat you, so we have to prepare for both.”

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN THOMAS BURTON
(on facing Austin Peay)
“As long as we lock in mentally and focus on what we need to focus on, I think we can have a good game.”

(on the prospect of being 2-0 in OVC play)
“We want to win every game, but especially in conference play. That would be big for us, especially since we’re about to hit a conference stretch. Staying on top is very important for us.

KICKER ANTONIO ZITA
(on returning to OVC play to face Austin Peay)
“It’s a big game since it’s conference play. Last year, special teams was big in this game. If we do what we did against Eastern Illinois in the second half, then we’ll be fine.”

WIDE RECEIVER STEVEN NEWBOLD
(on building confidence from last week’s game at Vanderbilt)
“We played a great game on Saturday from the start to the finish. The confidence that it brings in for the OVC is just great. Now we see what type of team we have and that the leadership that’s been going on is working.”

(on getting into a rhythm with the offense)
“It was slow in the first two games. I just feel like that because I made a comment about me being a good receiver, and God was just showing me a way to humble myself. That’s all it was. It was a humbling experience.”

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

CAU Lady Panthers Take Over First Place With 3-0 Win Over Albany State

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers volleyball team took over sole possession of first place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's East Division with their 3-0 win over Albany State Thursday.

Heading into the match, the Lady Panthers (6-7, 6-3 SIAC) had shared first place with Albany State (5-13, 5-4 SIAC). But Ashley Elmore had 15 kills and Sierra Nelson finished with 32 assists in leading CAU to their third straight win.

The first set was an epic back-and-forth battle as there were 17 ties, and neither team led by more than three points. The Lady Panthers pulled out the set two ASU errors, along with a Kia Thomas block, lifted CAU to a 31-29 win in the set.

After Nelson opened the second set with a kill, the Lady Panthers never trailed in winning the set 25-21.

BOX SCORE

In the final set, the Lady Panthers scored three of the last four points – two on Elmore kills – to take the final set, 25-22.

Taylor Prude had seven kills and eight digs, while Shaya Shally-Jensen also had seven kills, along with two blocks. Thomas had three aces and three blocks, and Alexis Gaines had seven digs. Brittany Warren-Dancy had five blocks and TiAna Crider had four digs.

The Lady Panthers are back on the road Tuesday, Oct. 9 when they visit Fort Valley State at 6 p.m.

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY PANTHERS SPORTS INFORMATION

North Carolina A&T Seeks 10th Straight Conference Win

No. 11 North Carolina A&T (4-1, 1-0 MEAC) vs. Delaware State (0-4, 0-1 MEAC)
Date: October 6, 2018Time:  7 p.m. EST
City/Venue:  Greensboro, N.C./Alumni Stadium (7,900)
Series:  A&T leads, 24-22-1
TV: ESPN 3
ESPN Triad Radio: Donal Ware (play-by-play); Al Swann (analysts)

Stations: 600 AM/101.5 FM Winston-Salem 1320 AM/93.7 FM Greensboro
1230 AM/104.9 FM High Point 920 AM/104.5 FM Burlington
1200 AM/95.1 FM Burlington
AGGIE VIDEO

Aggie Game NotesListen Live On WSJSESPN 3

AGGIES OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

Position	First Team	Second Team
WR	13 Elijah Bell (Leads the team with 18 receptions.)	86 Jordan McDaniel
LT	73 Marcus Pettiford (As he gets healthier, the offensive line continues to improve.)	75 Bilal Ali
LG	68 Macquel Hardy (He is another lineman who continues to get healthier.)	74 Sylvester Smith
C	62 Malik Johnson (The reigning offensive lineman of the week.)	55 Dacquari Wilson
RG	78 Micah Shaw (Shaw graded out the second-highest during the SCSU game.)	69 Deven Milton
RT	79 Dontae Keys (The right side of the line is becoming strong in the run game.)	77 Breontae Matthews
QB	7 Lamar Raynard (He was 19-for-27 against SCSU.)	10 Kylil Carter
RB	22 Marquell Cartwright (He ran for a season-high 157 yards vs. SCSU.)	30 Jah-Maine Martin
WR	19 Zachary Leslie (Had his first career 100-yard receiving game last week.)	4 Isaiah Hicklin
WR	88 Malik Wilson (He is averaging 11.2 yards per reception.)	23 Amos Williams
WR	81 Ron Hunt (Hunt caught his second TD pass of the season vs. SCSU last week.)	15 Ahmed Bah

AGGIES DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

Position	First Team	Second Team
DE	40 Darryl Johnson, Jr. (He leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss.)	41 Tre Smalls
NG	95 Julian McKnight (McKnight is second on the team with 6.0 TFL's.)	52 Michael Branch
DT	94 Justin Cates (The Aggies front four is a force.)	92 Jermaine Williams
DE	96 Sam Blue (Blue and Johnson are good at getting after the quarterback.)	99 Artavious Richardson
LB	34 Deion Jones (Johnson is a tackling machine.)	44 Julius Reynolds
LB	5 Kiaundric Richardson (He anchors the Aggies defense.)	54 Kyin Howard
LB	9 Antoine Wilder (He is second on the team with 29 tackles.)	27 Justin Philip
FS	33 Jalon Bethea (He has 17 tackles on the season.)	20 Najee Reams
CB	29 Mac McCain III (He did a great job in coverage last week vs. SCSU.)	21 Derrek Williams
ROV	2 Jamaal Darden (Darden leads the team in tackles with 32.)	18 Richie Kittles
CB	14 Timadre Abram (Abram has broken up four passes this season.)	24 Amir McNeil

The Matchup: N.C. A&T goes into Dover, Del., a heavy favorite over the Delaware State Hornets. But the Aggies are playing their third straight winless team and they are 1-1 in those games with a loss to Morgan State, another team they were expected to defeat. The Aggies have won four straight games over the Hornets with the average margin of victory being 26.5 points. The last time the Aggies lost at Alumni Stadium was 24-0 loss in 2012.

The Aggies recovered from their surprising loss to Morgan State by putting together a dominating and impressive second half against S.C. State on Thursday. The Aggies scored 28 unanswered points to win 31-16 over the Bulldogs. They ran up 311 yards rushing and 564 yards of total offense. The Aggies posted 500 yards of offense for the first time since collecting 514 yards at Morgan State on Sept. 23, 2017. The 311 rushing yards marked the eighth time since 2013 the Aggies have run for more than 300 yards. It was the most rushing yards for the Aggies since they ran for 366 against Alcorn State in the 2015 Celebration Bowl.

Delaware State is a program that has struggled over the past few seasons. The Hornets are just 3-17 in their last 20 conference games. They have not had a winning season since 2012. The Hornets are coming off a 54-28 loss to Norfolk State. They are surrendering 53.8 points per game with the fewest points they have allowed is 45 points at St. Francis.

News and Notes:

• The High Point Andrews High School duo of quarterback Lamar Raynard and running back Marquell Cartwright reached more milestones last Thursday. Raynard had his 10thcareer game where he had three touchdown passes or more. Meanwhile, Cartwright had his seventh career 100-yard game. Raynard needs five more touchdown passes to break the school record.
• N.C. A&T’s defense is still among the nation’s best. The Aggies rank 14thin total defense, 10thin scoring defense and fifth in rushing defense.
• N.C. A&T picked up their third weekly honor from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this season when center Malik Johnson was named offensive lineman of the week. Johnson had an overall grade of 85 percent with four knockdown blocks. He had a 100 percent grade on pass protection and he led the way on Jah-Maine Martin’s 40-yard touchdown run against SCSU.
• Their other two weekly honors were Kashon Baker (special teams player of the week, Sept. 10) and Mac McCain III (defensive player of the week, Sept. 3).
• Wide receiver Elijah Bell has caught at least one pass in all 29 games he has played for N.C. A&T. He has 10 games where he has had five catches or more.   

 Opposing Point of View

“A&T is the No. 1 team in black college football, so it is going to be a tough task. I know they travel with a crowd. I know our fans will show up, so I think it’s going to be a sellout. Our fans want to see the 2018 Delaware State team play at home and we want to put on a good show. We’re going to keep practicing as hard as we can and do all we can to get into that win column. A&T is a well-coached, well put together football team. That’s been evident throughout the past few years. They’ve always had a say in who is going to win the MEAC title.”

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XULA at SUNO postponed; Nuggets visit Dillard Monday

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana and SUNO have postponed their Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball match, which had been scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at The Castle.
     
No makeup date has been determined yet.
     
SUNO forfeited a Wednesday home match against city rival Loyola when a second-set injury reduced the Lady Knights' roster to five healthy players. Loyola won 25-18, 11-9.
     
The postponement is the Gold Nuggets' second of the season. Their Sept. 4 GCAC home match against Tougaloo was postponed due to the approach of Tropical Storm Gordon and rescheduled for Oct. 15.
     
Next for the Gold Nuggets (15-4, 6-0) will be a GCAC match at city rival Dillard at 6 p.m. Monday in Dent Hall. Admission will be $5.

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

Claflin University Former Track and Field Athlete Trisana Fairweather Named a 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina — Former Claflin University track athlete Trisana Fairweather has been selected as one of nine finalist for the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The announcement was made by the NCAA via social media Tuesday (Oct. 2) afternoon. The nine finalist will be honored at an awards dinner Oct. 28 in Indianapolis, where the 2018 Woman of the Year will be named.

Finalists were selected from a group of 30 Woman of the Year honorees who will be recognized during the event. This group of 30 includes 10 honorees from each NCAA division and represents a range of sports. Schools nominated a record 581 college athletes for the award.

Fairweather, a native of Hope Bay Port Antonio, Portland Jamaica, graduated Summa Cum Laude in May with a bachelor's in business administration (concentration in accounting) and began pursuing her master's degree in accounting at Indiana University this Fall.

In 2016 Fairweather was the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Champion in the 200 meters and was named the Claflin University Female Athlete of the Year, as well as the institution's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was twice named SIAC Women's Track Athlete of the Year (2015, 2016). She earned seven U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America honors and holds five Claflin track and field individual records, including marks in the 55-meter, 60-meter, 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter events. She also was a member of two relay teams that hold school records — the 4x100 and 4x400.

The Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

**NOTE: FAIRWEATHER COMPETED AS A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE…CLAFLIN NOW COMPETES IN THE CENTRAL INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE**

CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY PANTHERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

PREVIEW: 83rd Annual Tuskegee/Morehouse Classic Set for Saturday

Series history with Morehouse 
* 83 years ago, Morehouse and Tuskegee played for the first time at A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia. The series began in 1902 and TU owns it at 72-27-7

The trend continues 
* With Tuskegee's 17-8 win over Lane College last weekend, the Golden Tigers remain unbeaten all-time against the Dragons.TU is 22-0 overall while head coach Willie Slater is a perfect 12-0

Last time against Morehouse - 2017 
* Jamarcus Ezell scored on a quarterback keeper in overtime and Tuskegee won the 82nd Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic 23-17 

Outscoring the Maroon Tigers 
* Tuskegee has won 20 of the last 24 meetings against Morehouse and has outscored them 189-53 in the last five encounters

Cheatham making strides 
*The four touchdown receptions by Javarrius Cheatham through four weeks is the most by any wideout since Desmond Reece scored four TDs in five weeks back in 2016.



The last time Morehouse defeated Tuskegee 
*The year was 2011:
At the hands of US forces, it was announced by President Barack Obama the death of Osama Bin Laden, The ESPNWATCH app was launched, Spotify made its way to the U.S, and a team that played the very first game inside AJ McClung Statdium in Auburn University won the 2011 BCS National Championship

Tuskegee's Total Defense
*Out of 165 NCAA Division II teams, Tuskegee is ranked third in Total Defense. The Golden Tigers defense is only giving up 216 yards per game

When Morehouse enters the game undefeated  
*Saturday's game against Morehouse College marks the first time since 2010 the Maroon Tigers enter the classic undefeated (5-0). That same year the fell to the Golden Tigers 31-15.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN TIGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Morgan State Cruises Past Rival Coppin State, 3-0

BALTIMORE, Maryland  -- Cristen Coryatt recorded a match-high 15 kills and Kalysia Bates added 13, as Morgan State swept crosstown rival Coppin State, 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-18) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division contest at the Physical Education Complex Arena. The win helped Morgan State improve to 63-11 all-time against Coppin State.

Roi Wallace finished with 31 assists, while Jasmin Hubbard recorded a match-high 13 digs. Zoe McBride and Coryatt tallied nine and eight digs.

Morgan State (10-9, 2-1 MEAC) which hit .267 as a team, was led by Kheanna Landrum, who finished with a match-high .667 with four kills on six attempts and no errors. Bates recorded a .500 hitting percentage and Coryatt finished with a .316.

The Lady Bears had their best set of the evening in the opening set, when they recorded 16 kills and hit for .333.

Coppin State (5-16, 1-2 MEAC) was led by Asia Stennis, who nearly had a double-double with eight kills and nine digs. Marlena Guice totaled 10 digs and Brianna Lang finished with 17 assists to lead the Eagles.

BOX SCORE

The Eagles tallied 23 kills and had 20 attack errors to finish the match with a .034 hitting percentage. Morgan State would limit the Eagles to just four kills and a .000 attack percentage in the second set.

Behind a match-high four service aces by Bates, Morgan State would finish with a total of nine aces for the match. Coppin State had one ace.

Morgan State will be off until next Friday, Oct. 12, when they play host to Delaware State in a MEAC Northern Division match. First serve from Hill Field House will be at 7 p.m. The contest will be the Lady Bears' Lace-Up event.

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Alcorn State Braves Look To Keep Rolling Saturday Against Alabama State on Homecoming

LORMAN, Mississippi -- A series of winning-streaks are on the line Saturday for the Alcorn State University football program when it hosts Alabama State at 2 p.m. at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium on Homecoming.

Alcorn (4-1, 2-0 SWAC) is riding a four-game winning-streak and is looking to win five in a row for the first time since 2003. The Braves are seeking a 3-0 start in conference for the second straight year. Additionally, Alcorn is on a six-game home winning-streak which carried over from last season.

The Braves will be taking on a rested ASU (1-3, 0-1 SWAC) squad that is coming off a bye week. It marks the second time in three weeks that Alcorn is facing a team off a bye after it traveled to Mississippi Valley State for its home-opener; the Braves won the game 56-20.

Alcorn Game Notes | Alabama State Game Notes | Braves All-Access | Live Radio | Live Stats

The Braves are coming off a 20-3 win over Southern to spoil its Homecoming last weekend. The Alcorn defense limited the Jaguars to just 139 yards of offense, including 76 passing and 63 rushing yards.

Alcorn's defense ranks top-five in the FCS in yards, allowing just 242.4 per game. The Braves are also No. 6 in passing defense (142.8 ypg) and red zone defense (.583), 11th in scoring defense (15.8 ppg), 12th in rushing defense (99.6 ypg) and 19th in opponent third down conversions (.296).

Offensively, Alcorn leads the SWAC in scoring (36.2 ppg) and rushing (261.4 ypg). The Braves have scored on 95.2 percent of their red zone trips which is sixth in the nation. Junior Noah Johnson leads the SWAC and ranks top-10 in the country in completion percentage (.686).

Johnson has thrown for 798 yards and five touchdowns this season, and has rushed for 354 yards and five touchdowns. He ranks second in the SWAC in total offense with 230.4 yards per game.

Senior PJ Simmons, the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, is third in the conference in rushing with 82.4 yards per outing. He's totaled 412 yards and three touchdowns this year.

The bye week came at a good time for Alabama State after the Hornets were banged up after their 34-0 defeat to Grambling State. ASU opened the season with a 26-20 victory over Tuskegee but is looking to snap a three-game skid.

The defense has been the strength of the Hornets this year as they rank second in the league, only behind Alcorn, giving up 370.2 yards per game. Kurron Ramsey averages 7.0 tackles per game, while Joshua Hill averages 6.3.

Offensively, Darryl Pearson has taken nearly every snap at quarterback and has thrown for 572 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Ezra Gray has carried the bulk of the ground game and has tallied 212 rushing yards and a touchdown in four games.

Saturday's game can be seen with a subscription on Braves All-Access. It can also be heard live for free on wprl.org or 91.7 FM with Charles Edmond on the call.

NOTES
- Alcorn is attempting to win seven consecutive home games for the first time since the stadium opened; the program won its first 13 home contests from 1992-94. Alcorn is 77-52 all-time at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium which is in its 27th season as the home of the Braves.

- The Braves have won 12 of the last 13 games against SWAC East Division opponents.

- Alcorn is 23-18 all-time against Alabama State. The Braves are looking to beat the Hornets for the fifth year in a row including a 24-10 road victory last season.

- The Braves remained at No. 4 in this week's HBCU Poll and were receiving votes in the Preseason FCS Poll.

- Alcorn has won five SWAC Player of the Week awards in five weeks. Junior Corey McCullough is the reigning SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week, while junior De'Shawn Waller is the reigning SWAC Newcomer of the Week. Junior Javen Morrison was named both the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week and HBCU National Player of the Week after grabbing two interceptions against TSU. Junior Raidarious Anderson has won SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, and senior Johnathon Hauer earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week after the win against LC. Alcorn won 10 SWAC weekly honors last season.

- Alcorn is 10-0 when leading at halftime over the last two seasons.

- Against MVSU, the Braves held a 665-200 edge in total yards and 462-22 in rushing. Simmons rushed for a career-high 210 yards and a touchdown. The Braves won their sixth straight game over the Delta Devils and lead the all-time series 45-15-1. Alcorn has outscored MVSU 318-78 over the last six games.

- The Braves notched a 27-15 victory over Texas Southern in a non-conference game. Alcorn raced out to a 27-0 halftime lead which was too much for the Tigers to overcome. The Braves posted their seventh straight win over TSU in the series.

- In Alcorn's home-opener, the team broke a Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium scoring record by defeating Louisiana College 78-0. It was the second-most lopsided score in school history, only behind a 101-0 victory over Paul Quinn in 1967. Alcorn won its home opener for the sixth year in a row.

- Morrison has been a lockdown cornerback for the Braves and has led the team in interceptions in each of the last two seasons. He's up to eight in his career.

- McCullough is a perfect five-for-five in field goals this year. Last season, he broke the school's single-season field goal record with 17 made.

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2018 #FAMUhomecoming Birthday Block Party

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Alabama A&M Volleyball Defeats Rival Alabama State

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Alabama A&M volleyball team (12-12, 8-0 SWAC) earned a hard-fought 3-1 (25-23, 30-28, 21-25, 25-20) victory over Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Alabama State (9-15, 6-2 SWAC) Thursday in Montgomery.

The win over Alabama State halts a six-match losing streak to the Lady Hornets that dates back to 2015. The Lady Bulldogs continue on an eight-match winning streak in the conference while ASU ends their five-match winning streak.

Jaelin Gant and Terra Brooks both posted double-doubles in the contest. Gant's double-double consisted of 18 kills and 19 digs. Brooks grabbed 18 kills and 14 digs, while freshman Alana Cox added 14 kills for AAMU. Megan Evans had 44 assists in the contest and Mine Centinoz posted 17 digs on the backline.

BOX SCORE

After a back-and-forth first set fell in favor of Alabama A&M, the Lady Hornets flew out of the gate with a 12-3 run to start the second stanza. The Lady Bulldogs managed to shake off the early deficit as Brooks and Gant keyed a quick 4-0 spurt that handed AAMU a 22-21 advantage late. The sides traded points until Cox spiked home a kill, and Meredith Sieck delivered a service ace to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 2-0.

Alabama State claimed the third set with sharp hitting and dominant net defense, but the Lady Bulldogs outhit Alabama State .297 - .089 on their way to the win.

This marks the first home loss for the Lady Hornets in conference play since November 10, 2012.

The Lady Bulldogs will return to action Sunday as they host Jackson State Lady Tigers at the AAMU Student Health and Wellness Center. Match time is set for 4 p.m.

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Happy Birthday FAMU, Celebrating 131 Years of Excellence!

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

MEAC Bowling Lands Five on NTCA Preseason Top 25

WHITEWATER, Wisconsin -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) saw five bowling programs ranked in the 2018-19 preseason National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 Poll that was unveiled on Wednesday.

Maryland Eastern Shore, which competed in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships last season, came in ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll, while Delaware State -- which boasts reigning MEAC Bowler of the Year Alexis Neuer and also competed at the USBC in 2017-18 -- was ranked No. 8.

2018-19 NTCA Preseason Top 25 Poll

Defending MEAC champion, and 2018-19 preseason favorite, North Carolina A&T State was ranked No. 11.

New associate members UAB and Monmouth were also ranked in the preseason poll; the Blazers came in at No. 16, while the Hawks were No. 23.

In addition, Norfolk State was among those also receiving votes.

Defending NCAA national champion Vanderbilt, with 32 first-place votes, is the NTCA's preseason No. 1 team.

The 2018-19 MEAC bowling season will begin the weekend of Oct. 13-14. The first conference meet of the season will be held Nov. 10-11 in Dover, Del.

The 2019 MEAC Bowling Championships will be held March 29-31 in Chesapeake, Virginia.

MEAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces Finalists for Class of 2019

ATLANTA, Georgia – The Black College Football Hall of Fame announced today the 25 Finalists for induction into the Class of 2019 Black College Football Hall of Fame. The list includes 22 players and three coaches.

The Finalists were selected from a field of over 150 nominees by a 12-member Selection Committee composed of prominent journalists, commentators, historians, former NFL General Managers and football executives.

“We congratulate the Finalists for the Class of 2019,” said James “Shack” Harris, Black College Football Co-Founder and 2012 Inductee. “Each of these Finalists made a significant impact on the game of football, both in college and the professional ranks.”

The committee will meet again in the coming weeks to select the six members (five players and one coach) who will be inducted as the Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019.

“The talent that has come from Black College Football programs is incredible,” said Committee Chairman Roscoe Nance, "and that makes selecting the honorees incredibly difficult. Thanks to our Selection Committee for its dedication and commitment and for the tremendous amount time and effort that the members put into making these decisions.”

This year’s inductees will be announced on October 25, 2018. They will be honored during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, on February 16, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, please visit www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org.

At a glance:

• Finalists have been selected from over 150 nominees.
• Player Finalists represent 17 Super Bowl Rings, 11 NFL All-Pro selections and 36 Pro Bowl selections. Coach Finalists represent 11 Black College Football National Championships and 28 Conference Championships.
• The Class of 2019 Inductees will be announced on October 25, 2018.
• Inductees will be honored during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on February 16, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

PLAYER FINALISTS (22 Players)

• Joe “747” Adams (QB, Tennessee State University, 1977-1980)

• Coy Bacon (DL, Jackson State University, 1964-1967)

• Dwaine Board (DE, North Carolina A&T State University, 1975-1978)

• Emerson Boozer (RB, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1962-1965)

• Greg Coleman (P, Florida A&M University, 1972-1975)

• Kevin Dent (S, Jackson State University, 1985-1988)

• Hugh Douglas (DE, Central State University, 1991-1994)

• Donald Driver (WR, Alcorn State University, 1995-1998)

• Earl “Air” Harvey (QB, North Carolina Central University, 1985-1988)

• James Hunter (DB, Grambling State University, 1972-1975)

• Richard “Tombstone” Jackson (DE, Southern University, 1962-1965)

• Henry Lawrence (OL, Florida A&M University, 1970-1973)

• Frank Lewis (WR, Grambling State University, 1967-1970)

• Robert Mathis (LB, Alabama A&M University, 1999-2002)

• Tyrone McGriff (OL, Florida A&M University, 1976-1979)

• John “Big Train” Moody (RB, Morris Brown College, 1939-1941)

• Timmy Newsome (RB/KR, Winston Salem State University, 1976-1979)

• Nate Newton (OL, Florida A&M University, 1979-1982)

• John Taylor (WR, Delaware State University, 1982-1985)

• Johnny Walton (QB, Elizabeth City State University, 1965-1968)

• Erik Williams (OL, Central State University, 1987-1990)

• Roynell Young (DB, Alcorn State University, 1976-1979)

COACH FINALISTS (3 Coaches)

• Willard Bailey (Head Football Coach, Virginia Union 1971-1983 and 1995-2003; Norfolk State 1984-1992; St. Paul’s 2005-2010; Virginia-Lynchburg 2011-2013)

• Arnett “Ace” Mumford (Head Football Coach, Jarvis Christian 1924-1926; Bishop College 1927-1929; Texas College 1931-1935; Southern University 1936-1961)

• Joe Taylor (Howard University 1983; Virginia Union 1984-1991; Hampton University 1992-2007; Florida A&M University 2008-2012)

About the Black College Football Hall of Fame

The Black College Football Hall of Fame was founded in 2009 by African-American pioneers, quarterbacks James Harris and Doug Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). There have been 77 Inductees since inception, including Mel Blount, James Harris, Willie Lanier, Art Shell and Doug Williams, who serve as Trustees.

www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org
www.Twitter.com/BCFHOF
www.Facebook.com/BCFHOF

NCCU Football Weekly Press Conference: Week 6 vs. Howard

DURHAM, North Carolina -- The North Carolina Central University football program held its weekly press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 2 ahead of the Eagles' MEAC contest against Howard on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 2:00 p.m. at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Hear from interim head coach Granville Eastman as he discusses the upcoming game.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Fans Invited to TSU Hoops' Big Blue Madness Oct. 10

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State men's and women's basketball programs are hosting Big Blue Madness, a free unofficial kickoff to the 2018-19 season, Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. in Kean Hall.

Activities throughout the night include player and coaching staff introductions, a 3-point shooting contest, celebrity-judged slam dunk contest, skills challenge and appearances by the Aristocrat of Bands, cheerleaders and Tiger Gems, as well as Aristocrat the Tiger.

The cast of celebrity judges include Nashville's very own Starlito, Trapperman Dale as well as Waffle House Hero James Shaw, Jr. Host Jordan Gaither will be the MC for the night.

Both teams will be available for autographs before the main event at 5:15 p.m. Autograph tables will be set-up in the hallway leading to Kean Hall.



TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Spartans, Rattlers Meet up in Key MEAC Showdown Saturday

NORFOLK, Virginia – The Norfolk State football team (3-1, 1-0 MEAC) plays its first true road MEAC game this Saturday as the Spartans visit Florida A&M (3-2, 2-0 MEAC) in a MEAC matchup of teams atop the league standings. Kickoff from Bragg Memorial Stadium is 4 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida.

GAME NOTES

MEDIA COVERAGE
• Live Video: ESPN3
• Radio: WNSB 91.1 FM (Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon / Color: Matt Michalec)
• Twitter Updates: @NSUSpartans / @NSU_FB

THE SERIES
• Record: FAMU leads 13-3
• Last Meeting: 10-7-17 (NSU 35-28)
• First Meeting: 9-13-97 (FAMU 41-26)

OPENING KICKOFF
• NSU looks to extend its best start since 2011 when the Spartans play a key MEAC game at Florida A&M.
• Both teams are off to fast starts in MEAC play, with FAMU at 2-0 and NSU 1-0.
• Both teams are coming off explosive performances, with NSU topping Delaware State 54-28 and FAMU rolling to a 55-14 win at N.C. Central last week.
• This marks the first of three straight road games where the Spartans play on their opponents' Homecoming.



LAST MEETING
• Larry Bishop's 2-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds left was the game-winner as Norfolk State topped Florida A&M 35-28 on Oct. 7, 2017 at Dick Price Stadium.
• Bishop's first TD of the year came after the Spartans recorded their season-high fifth takeaway of the game. NSU linebacker Kyle Archie forced a fumble which De'Shaan Dixon recovered.
• The Rattlers held a sizeable edge in total offense (485-243).
• NSU scored two defensive touchdowns, a 31-yard fumble return by Archie in the second quarter and a 96-yard fumble return by J.T. Wahee in the fourth.

NSU BY THE NUMBERS
2 - Number of defensive touchdowns NSU scored last week, an 80-yard interception return from Brandon Savage and a 23-yard fumble return by Nigel Chavis.
4 - Number of takeaways last week by the Spartan defense.
15 - Number of catches the last two games by Isaiah Winstead (7 at SCSU, 8 vs. DSU).
233 - Career-high all-purpose yardage last week by Marcus Taylor.
355 - Total offensive yards for NSU quarterback Juwan Carter last week, also a career high.
2005 - The last time the Spartans scored at least 54 points in a game prior to last week.

A WIN OVER FAMU WOULD...
A win this week over FAMU would...
• Give NSU its first 4-1 start since the 2011 season, which culminated in NSU's first MEAC title (since vacated).
• Give the Spartans a 2-0 MEAC start for the third time in the last four years under coach Latrell Scott.
• Be the second straight win for NSU over FAMU, and second straight Spartan win in Tallahassee (with the last coming in 2014.

SPARTANS EARN 2 MORE WEEKLY HONORS
Spartan QB Juwan Carter was named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week and DB Brandon Savage was selected Rookie of the Week following their performances against Delaware State.
• Carter completed 22-of-31 passes for a career-high 318 yards and three TDs. He also ran for 37 yards and another score.
• Savage returned his first career interception 80 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of the win over DSU. He also had three tackles.

SCOUTING THE RATTLERS
Florida A&M enters this week's game on a two-game winning streak following impressive MEAC wins over Savannah State (31-13 on Sept. 22) and N.C. Central (55-14 last week). Those wins came on the heels of back-to-back losses to Troy and Jackson State.

The Rattlers rolled up a season-high 509 yards of total offense last week at NCCU and were balanced in doing so. Quarterback Ryan Stanley passed for 255 yards and four touchdowns, and the FAMU ground game racked for 254 yards. Chad Hunter caught three touchdown passes last week and Hans Supre rushed for 152 yards.

Stanley has a MEAC-high 1,083 passing yards this season. Hunter (21-290) and Xavier Smith (20-261) have been Stanley's favorite targets. Defensively, FAMU has recorded a MEAC-high 15 sacks.

By: Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTANS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

2018 CIAA Football Championship Gridiron Showdown Returns to Salem Football Stadium November 10

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation’s first African American athletic conference, will host its 2018 CIAA Football Championship on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Salem Stadium in Salem-Roanoke, Virginia.   Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm ET. 

Tickets On Sale October 1 at Ticketmaster 

In addition to the exciting gridiron action between the Northern and Southern Division Champions, this year’s championship finale will feature many family-friendly activities to engage attendees – a free Fan Zone including giveaways, interactive events, the Coca-Cola/Food Lion Tailgate Cook Off, and appearances from the always popular cheerleading squads and drumlines from rival schools. 

Tickets for the annual competition between the best collegiate football teams go on sale Monday, October 1. Advance general admission tickets to the Football Championship are $15, advance reserved tickets are $25, both can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com when the site goes live. Special rates for students with school IDs and youth will be available the day of the event for $10. Admission for children ages 7 and under is free. 

Parking is free and fans are encouraged to begin their tailgating festivities at 9:00 am on Saturday, November 10. For more information about the 2018 CIAA Football Championship please visit, TheCIAA.com.

About the CIAA 
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first African American athletic conference and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Chowan University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. For more information on the CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit CIAATournament.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. 

CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS