Defense, Big Second Half Powers Rams to 34-14 Win at Johnson C. Smith

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Winston-Salem State Rams (2-3, 1-2 CIAA) clicked on all cylinders when the team took a 34-14 road win over the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls (2-3, 1-2 CIAA), Saturday afternoon. The Rams defense forced four turnovers and totaled 387 yards of total offense to claim a win in their Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division opener.

The Rams showed some steady improvement with another solid effort from all phases of the game. The Rams compiled 387 yards of total offense and scored a season-high 34 points in the win while holding Johnson C. Smith to 237 yards of total offense and just two touchdowns. WSSU senior running back Kerrion Moore powered the Rams to the win behind 193 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. Freshman quarterback Dominique Graves made his first career start and completed seven-of-17 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the Rams were led by senior linebacker Patrick Green who finished the game with five total tackles with a tackle for a loss. Junior safety Daryus Skinner led the WSSU secondary with a pair of interceptions. The Rams also took a pair of fumbles from the Golden Bulls for four total turnovers in the game.

It didn't take long for the Rams to take control of the game as the team struck early. The Rams forced and recovered a fumble on the very first play of the game. The team wasted no time as Moore rushed 43 yards for the first touchdown of the game. With the PAT kick from freshman Riley Robbins, the Rams went ahead, 7-0 with 14:39 left in the first quarter. The Rams added another touchdown on their next possession when Moore struck again with a 17-yard touchdown run. The missed PAT kick left the Rams on top, 13-0 with 11:27 left in the first quarter. Johnson C. Smith answered with a five-yard touchdown pass to cut the WSSU lead to six points, 13-7 with 8:28 left in the first quarter. Both teams would turn up their defensive efforts in the second quarter with neither team scoring. The effort left the Rams taking a 13-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

BOX SCORE
VIDEO

The second half belonged to the Rams with the team outscoring the Golden Bulls, 21-7. WSSU struck first when redshirt-freshman running back Antwoin Pittman took a two-yard run into the endzone for a touchdown. The PAT kick left the Rams on top, 20-7 with 10:26 left in the third quarter. The Rams added to their lead when senior wide receiver William Walton took a pass from Graves 43 yards for the team's fourth touchdown of the day. The PAT kick left the Rams on top, 27-7. Johnson C. Smith would not quite go away as the team took a three-yard run into the endzone and cut into the WSSU lead, 27-14. Moore would put the game away with a 43-yard touchdown run to leave the final score 34-14.

With the win, the Rams improve to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in CIAA play. The team also opens CIAA Southern Division play with a 1-0 record. The Rams will return to action next Saturday when the team hosts the Saint Augustine's Falcons in a 1:30 p.m. game.

WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Bethune-Cookman Takes Down Mississippi Valley State, 41-27

Wildcats win 11th consecutive Homecoming game

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman turned the momentum of Saturday's Homecoming game on a dime with five cents change as the Wildcats downed Mississippi Valley State 41-27 before a crowd of 10,278 at Daytona Stadium.

Redshirt junior quarterback Akevious Williams accounted for three touchdowns as the Wildcats (3-3) turned a 14-0 deficit into a 28-14 lead in an eight-minute span of the second quarter.

After Williams' 55-yard strike to Keavon Mitchell put the Wildcats on the scoreboard, BCU used two short-field possessions and Trevor Merritt's 49-yard pick-six to take control of the contest.

Malique Jackson's 7-yard reverse tied the game at 14 with 7:16 remaining in the first half after Bethune-Cookman started on the Mississippi Valley 32 following a short punt. Williams kept the drive alive courtesy an 11-yard on fourth down run.

Marquis Hendrix's interception set up the next Wildcats score, a 19-yarder from Williams to Jimmie Robinson that made it 21-14 in favor of the Maroon and Gold with 6:21 left in the first half.

Merritt's score concluded the Wildcats run and made it a two-score advantage at the break.

Mississippi Valley State (0-4) capitalized on Wildcats turnovers deep in their own territory to close to within one touchdown twice in the second half – the last when Dejerric Bryant connected with Quinn McElfresh on a 7-yarder with 5:02 remaining in the contest.

Kennedy Ndukwe and Donald Johnson IV interceptions helped the Wildcats put the Delta Devils away down the stretch.

BOX SCORE

Isaac Washington added an insurance touchdown -- his first career score -- on a 6-yard run.

From his quarterback position, Akevious Williams finished 11 of 24 for 123 yards in the air while rushing for 54 and a third quarter touchdown.

Isaac Washington and LaDerrien Wilson led the Wildcats ground attack with 71 and 67 yards, respectively. Mitchell had four catches for 80 yards.

BCU Senior punter Javaunie Francis averaged 46 yards on five punts, including a 57-yarder and 65-yarder in the fourth quarter that helped the Wildcats defense pin the Delta Devils deep on two occasions.

BCU has now won two games on the spin and 11 consecutive Homecoming contests dating back to 2007.

The Wildcats travel to South Carolina State next Saturday in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).



BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Benedict Tigers Run Past Virginia Lynchburg, 30-16

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- The Benedict College Tigers got a pair of second-half touchdown runs from Phillip Brown and defeated the Virginia University of Lynchburg Dragons 30-16 on Saturday afternoon in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

Benedict improves to 4-1 overall on the season with its fourth straight victory. The Dragons fall to 3-3 overall.

Brown, Benedict's back-up quarterback, saw action as a running back in last week's win over Central State, and continued in that role on Saturday, as well as taking a couple of snaps under center when Dominique Harris sat out a couple of plays after being roughed up on a tackle. Brown finished the game with a team-high 91 yards rushing on seven carries and two touchdowns.

The Tigers had a 14-13 lead at the half, and changed tactics for the second half. Benedict attempted just two passes the entire second half – completing one with the other attempt intercepted – and ran the ball 29 times for 181 yards.

"That was the game plan," Benedict head coach Mike White said. "The coaches got together and thought we could run it."

White said the coaching staff knew Brown was too good of an athlete to keep on the bench and wanted to get him some opportunities with the ball.

"He's a playmaker," White said. "We want to try and throw him some passes and get him running the football."

The Tigers took the second-half kickoff and drove 57 yards on 11 plays to get a 25-yard field goal from Rigoberto Tinoco to make it 17-13 with 5:33 remaining on the clock. Later in the third quarter, Brown took the handoff on first down, slipped through the opening in the line, and raced 72 yards for the score to put the Tigers ahead 23-13 with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Dragons added a 39-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 23-16.

After Traviontae Brown intercepted a VUL pass on the Dragons' next series, the Tigers took over at their own 36-yard line and drove 64 yards on 10 plays, keeping the ball on the ground the entire time and chewing up 6:22 off the clock. Brown carried in from 11-yards out for the score and Tinoco's PAT made it 30-16 with just 26 seconds left in the game.

Benedict got on the board first as Harris completed a 40-yard pass to Danye Washington to set up a 15-yard scoring throw to Washington for a 7-0 Benedict lead in the first quarter. The Dragons answered with a 93-yard kickoff return to tie the game at 7-7.

VUL took a 13-7 lead with 1:27 left in the first quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by To'mas Newman.

Robert Cummings intercepted a pass and 27-yard return in the second quarter that led to a nine-yard touchdown run by Raheem Jennings to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead with 10 minutes to go until halftime. Benedict held that lead into the locker room.

"We looked so ugly in the first half. We've got to try and clean up a lot of things. That was real ugly," White said. "It was similar to last week where we had a lot of opportunities and good field position, but did nothing with it."

Benedict held the VUL passing game in check, limiting three different Dragon quarterbacks to 9-of-24 passing for 78 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Benedict's nationally-ranked run defense limited the Dragons to 66 yards rushing on 35 attempts.

BOX SCORE

Amari Andrews led the defense with seven tackles, while Darryl Rolle had five. Collins Tensley recorded five tackles, with 2.5 sacks.

The Tigers return to SIAC action next week, traveling to Atlanta to take on the Clark Atlanta Panthers. After that, Benedict returns home for Homecoming on Oct. 20 to take on undefeated Morehouse College.

BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Another homecoming, another Alabama State victory

After a perfect snap by Garrett Shelton and hold by Anthony Craven, Hanson calmly drilled a 37-yard field goal down the middle sending Alcorn State fans to the tunnels with a hard-fought 28-25 five overtime victory by Alabama State.

FINAL STATS
ATTENDANCE: 19,445

The win was the fourth consecutive homecoming victory for Alabama State (2-3, 1-1 SWAC), including the third straight on the road since last season.

The Hornets quieted the crowd early in Lorman with their opening drive that went 88 yards in just six plays, and was orchestrated by KHA'Darris Davis in his first collegiate start. Wallace Corker caught a second pass from Davis, made the first defender miss and raced down the sideline for a 42-yard gain and set the Hornets up at the Alcorn State 16. The very next play, Davis dropped back and hit Joe Williams IV on the same play, and Williams made the defender miss and dove into the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 12:40 remaining in the first quarter.

Alabama State wasted little time in getting on the board, doing so with 6:57 remaining in the opening quarter by using just two plays. The last was a 45-yard run up the middle by Ezra Gray for a 14-0 Alabama State lead.

After Alcorn State scored in the first to pull within a touchdown, the Braves tied it up late with a 22-yard touchdown run by Del'Shawn Waller with 12:26 remaining in regulation. They had a chance to win in regulation, but a field goal by Corey McCullough, one of six missed on the day by the Braves' kicker, was wide right.

Neither team scored in the first two overtimes, but Alcorn State struck first when Waller scored from 21 yards out and the two-point conversion was good for a 22-14 lead. However, Alabama State was able to answer with a six-yard pass from Davis to Michael Jefferson, before they tied it up on the two-point conversion pass to Tyrek Allen. The two teams traded field goals in the fourth overtime, before a McCullough miss set the stage for Hanson.

Davis finished the day 20-for-36 with one interception and 155 yards through the air, while connecting on a pair of touchdowns. Corker led the Hornets with three receptions, while five others each had a pair. Gray led the rushing attack with 78 yards on 20 carries.

Defensively, Darron Johnson led the Hornets with 14 tackles, including a tackle for loss and was in on a sack. Joshua Hill finished with 11 and Kurron Ramsey 10 in the in. Alabama State finished the night with eight tackles for loss and a sack, while also forcing three turnovers – including a pair of interceptions. They also had a goal line stand during the contest in which Alcorn State lost a yard on three plays, before fumbling the football on third down.

Alabama State returns to action next weekend at Ladd-Peebles Stadium against South Alabama. Kick is set for 4 pm and can be seen on ESPN3, and the game can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network beginning at 3:30 pm in Mobile.

Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University football, please follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateFB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Lowe's Career Day Leads Langston Past Texas Wesleyan

Photo by Na'Tiana Stocker
Langston University Athletics

FORT WORTH, Texas – Jaylen Lowe threw for a season-high 413 yards and five touchdowns as the No. 13 Langston Lions defeated Texas Wesleyan 55-31 Saturday night.

Isaiah Shaputis led the aerial attack once again with 71 yards receiving and one touchdown for the Lions (4-1, 4-0 SAC), who have won 17 straight conference games dating back to the 2016 season.

Langston led 14-0 early in the first quarter after Michael Colston scored on a 34-yard punt return and Shaputis hauled in a four-yard touchdown. The Rams rallied with two straight touchdowns and a field goal to take the lead 18-14 at the 14:56 mark in the second quarter.

Lowe answered the call with three straight touchdown passes of 36, 33 and 24 yards to Felix McCorkle, Michael Andrade and Cameron Booty to put Langston on top 35-18 with 6:41 remaining in the second quarter. Following, a 64-yard touchdown pass from the Rams, Lowe tacked on his fifth touchdown pass of the half with a 17-yard pass to Daylon Person putting the Lions ahead 42-24 at halftime.

Following  a scoreless third quarter, Langston tacked on two more touchdowns on the ground from Lowe on a five-yard score and John Marcus-Carruthers on a 16-yard run to increased their lead 55-24. The last score came on a six-yard touchdown by Texas Wesleyan's Desmond Nisby to make 55-31.

Bootly led the ground game with 75 yards on eight carries, Brenden Ettienne finished with 43 yards on six carries and Lowe picked up 39 yards on the ground.

BOX SCORE

Defensively, Craig Evan led the way with nine total tackles including two sacks. JaQuan Richmond tied with Evans for the lead in total tackles with nine and added one pass breakup.

The Lions racked up over 500 yards of total offense for the third time this season. Lowe set season and career highs in a Langston uniform with 413 passing yards and five touchdown passes.

Langston (4-1, 4-0) travels to face No. 19 Arizona Christian next Saturday in Phoenix, Ariz. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Benedict Lady Tigers Finish 6th At HBCU Challenge

CARY, North Carolina   – The Benedict College women's cross country team finished 6th out of 14 teams at the Great American Cross Country Festival HBCU Challenge on Saturday.

Dawnell Colleymore ran exceptionally well in her debut for Benedict, finishing third overall with a lifetime-best time of 19:11 in the 5K. This is the fastest women's 5K time by a Benedict runner during coach Frank Hyland's tenure.

Becky Dionisio was Benedict's second runner with a season-best time of 21:51.8 to finish 31st overall. Teammate Naila Harris ran a season-best time of 23:19, while Sorenya Miller clocked a personal-best time of 23:38. Pauline Cobb came in with a season-best time of 24:21.

Benedict will compete at the Queen's University Challenge in Charlotte on Friday afternoon.

BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Tigers Drop 49-34 Road Decision at APSU

PHOTO GALLERY | BOX SCORE (PDF)

Game 4: Tennessee State 34, Austin Peay 49
Records: TSU (2-2, 1-1 OVC), APSU (3-3, 1-2 OVC)
Venue: Fortera Stadium
Location: Clarksville, Tenn.
Weather: Clear, 86
Kickoff Time: 6:10 p.m.
Attendance: 12,201

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee --- Playing in front of a Fortera Stadium record crowd of 12,201, the Tennessee State football team was handed a 49-34 defeat at Austin Peay on Saturday night. The loss was the first for TSU in Ohio Valley Conference play this season.

TSU (2-2, 1-1 OVC) tied the score at 21-21 with 3:43 left in the first half before the Govs (3-3, 1-2 OVC) outscored the Tigers 28-13 the rest of the game.

For the second week in a row, quarterback Demry Croft tossed three touchdown passes - all in the first half. Chris Rowland, who had a career-high 179 receiving yards on 11 receptions, caught three touchdowns.

TSU’s defense was led by nine tackles from Vincent Sellers and eight from LaQuarius Cook.

TOTALS

• TSU outgained APSU in total yards, 489-447
• The Tigers threw for 325 yards and rushed for 164
• TSU amassed 29 first downs and held APSU to 18
• The defense held the Govs to 5-of-14 on third down conversions
• The Big Blue recorded nine tackles for loss by 13 different players
• TSU held on to the ball for 33:43 opposed to 26:17 for Austin Peay
• The TSU defense forced six three-and-outs

INDIVIDUAL

• Demry Croft started his fourth consecutive game for the Tigers
• Croft finished 17-of-36 for 248 yards, three touchdowns and one interception
• Croft added 35 yards on the ground
• Micheal Hughes played in the third and fourth quarters
• Hughes completed seven of 15 pass attempts for 77 yards and a touchdown
• Chris Rowland registered career highs in receptions (11), yards (179) and touchdowns (3)
• Rowland picked up 34 yards on punt returns to give him 213 all-purpose yards
• Aaron Cauthen earned his first career touchdown on a three yard reception in the second quarter
• Shawn McColley led all rushers with 78 yards on 11 carries
• Vincent Sellers led the Tigers with nine tackles
• LaQuarius Cook followed with eight, just ahead of Jahsun Bryant and Terry Straughter who finished with seven

FIRST QUARTER

• The Tigers turned over the ball on their second series giving Austin Peay at the TSU 19.
• The defense stood strong and forced a field goal attempt three plays later.
• Malik Abdul-Haqq got a hand on the ball, blocking the 43 yard field goal attempt.
• On the play, LaQuarius Cook gathered up the ball at the goal line and returned the ball 40 yards.
• After a three and out, punter Kaleb Mosley hit a career long 48 yard punt to the APSU 12.
• The Govs proceeded to travel 88 yards in seven plays for the first touchdown of the game.
• The Tigers responded on the very drive, moving 74 yards in eight plays, scoring a touchdown on the last play of the quarter.
• TSU took advantage of a personal foul to advance to the TSU 48.
• The Big Blue used the legs of Demry Croft and Earl Harrison, as well as a pass to Al-Malik Moore to reach the Govs 23.
• The Tigers evened the score as Croft hit a diving Chris Rowland in the end zone for a 23 yard touchdown pass.

SECOND QUARTER

• Austin Peay took advantage of great field position after a TSU punt, needing just 27 yards to retake the lead, 14-7, on a three yard rush.
• The Tigers started the next drive with competitions of 17 yards to Abdul-Haqq and 18 yards to Miles Cavitt.
• Croft called his own number and ran for 25 yards to the APSU 12.
• Two plays later, Croft scrambled to the right and found Aaron Cauthen for a three-yard scoring pass to even the score at 14-14.
• The Tigers stopped the Govs on their next drive, but was stopped on a fourth down attempt at midfield.
• The game would see three touchdowns in the next two minutes and 11 seconds of the game.
• Austin Peay started with a 45 yard pass to the Tigers five and scored on the next play to take a 21-14 lead.
• TSU responded on its first play from scrimmage as Croft hit Rowland at the TSU 45, allowing the junior receiver to outrun the defense for a 65 yard touchdown.
• Austin Peay came back with its own big strike, a 73 yard pass play to the TSU one.
• The Govs took a 28-21 lead one play later with 2:18 remaining in the half.
• Croft hit DeVon Johnson for 16 yards and Treon Harris for another 15 yards, as the Tigers advanced to the Govs 32.
• The TSU threat ended as they lost their second fumble of the half, entering the locker room at halftime down 28-21. 

THIRD QUARTER

• The Tiger defense forced a three-and-out to open the second half.
• The offense took advantage of a Governor pass interference to move into field goal range.
• Antonio Zita converted on a 38 yarder to bring the Tigers closer at 28-24.
• Austin Peay used a 10 play, 83 yard drive to increase their lead to 11, 35-24.
• The Govs added another touchdown after a TSU turnover, increasing the score to 42-24.
• After a Major Bellamy 38 yard kick-off return, Micheal Hughes entered to guide the Tigers.
• Hughes completed his first pass attempt for 10 yards to Rowland.
• After a pair of runs by Shawn McColley, Hughes found Rowland across the middle for 30 yards to the APSU 20.
• The Tigers would get as close as the five, but had to settle for a Zita, 33 yard field goal to make the score 42-27 with 16 seconds remaining in the quarter. 

FOURTH QUARTER 

• The Tigers pulled within one possession early in the fourth quarter with a 10 play, 62 yard scoring drive.
• Hughes connected on a pair of passes to Harris and another to Rowland to move into the red zone.
• The drive concluded as Hughes found Rowland in the front right corner of the end zone, giving the receiver three touchdowns on the night.
• The defense forced its third consecutive three-and-out giving the Tigers the ball at their own 34.
• APSU turned the Tigers fourth fumble of the game into a touchdown to extend their lead to 49-34.

NOTES

• Saturday’s game aired live on ESPN3.
• TSU’s captains were Demry Croft, Micheal Hughes, LaQuarius Cook and Thomas Burton. TSU’s captains carried Christion Abercrombie's "6" jersey out to the coin toss.
• TSU won the coin toss and decided to receive the opening kickoff.
• TSU is 13-8 in the all-time series versus Austin Peay.
• Tennessee State is receiving votes in the most recent STATS Top 25 and AFCA Coaches Top 25.
• In TSU’s two Ohio Valley Conference games, the Tigers have blocked two field goals.
• Tight end Aaron Cauthen made his first career start for TSU. Cauthen recorded his first career touchdown in the second quarter.
• TSU quarterback Demry Croft tossed three first-half touchdowns, matching his three touchdown performance last week versus Vanderbilt.
• Wide receiver Chris Rowland picked up his second career game with 100-yards receiving.
• Safety LaQuarius Cook moved into sole possession of 10th place on TSU’s all-time tackles list.
• TSU ran 94 total plays on offense. Since the start of the 2016 season, TSU has run 80 or more plays in a game three times (two have been this season). The Tigers ran 88 plays during a win at Eastern Illinois on Sept. 22, 2018.

WHAT’S NEXTTSU closes out their roadtrip with a game at Murray State on Oct. 13 game  at 1 p.m. 

QUOTESRUNNING BACK SHAWN MCCOLLEY(on the offense)
“I thought we did well. We just started messing up on dropping the ball and fumbling. I just feel like we have to work on that more moving forward. Other than that, I thought the offense did great.”

(on his big runs)
“Just anything I could get. There were open holes, and I ran through them. If I can shed someone off, I’m doing that. Just anything I can do to help the team win.”

LINEBACKER TERRY STRAUGHTER(on the defense)
“We flew around. We played well, but there were some minor mistakes that put us in the situation we were in. We have a lot to clean up and it all starts Monday.”

(on starting in place of the injured Christion Abercrombie)
“With the incident, everything came fast for me. I had to get in the playbook a little more. I always tried to stay ready, so I had to step up.”

(on moving forward)
“I feel like from the mistakes, we’re going to learn. Me being a first-time starter, I feel like I’ll be more comfortable next week.”

TIGHT END AARON CAUTHEN(on scoring his first career touchdown)
“It feels great. I’ve been waiting on this since I got here. And I actually told a couple of guys, last week, I was in the end zone when Knox caught that ball and I told them, ‘Next game, I’m scoring.’ And I did.” 

(breaking down his touchdown catch)
“Just get in the end zone. The play was actually a run play, passing wasn’t even in the picture, but I saw Demry (Croft) scrambling, so I got to the end zone like I’m coached to do, got to the front pylon, he threw it to me, and I made a play.”

(on the team’s energy)
“It was rough. Coming in knowing we should have won the game [versus Vanderbilt], I think we played down to the level of our competition, and that’s one thing that we need to work on. We need to go and play every team like they’re Vanderbilt. We had a great game last week. That didn’t carry over to this week, unfortunately. We have a lot of work to do.”

SAFETY LAQUARIUS COOK(on the defense)
“We could have played a lot better from the running to the passing defense. We could have done a lot better than we did.”

(on putting it behind them)
“You have to use this as a learning curve. Learn from our mistakes and then go out and play hard in the next one. Don’t make the same mistakes again."

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Road To The Championship HBCU Football Scoreboard Week 6

SATURDAY, October 6, 2018

CIAA
Chowan 42, Bowie State 23 
Virginia Union 90, Lincoln (PA) 0
Winston-Salem State 34, Johnson C. Smith 14
Fayetteville State 29, Shaw 16
Saint Augustine's 26, Livingston 15
Virginia State 41, Elizabeth City State 19 

SIAC
Benedict 30, Virginia University Lynchburg 16 
Morehouse 30, Tuskegee  24  3OT
Albany State 35. Catawba 21
Miles 41, Central State (OH) 20
Clark Atlanta 21, Fort Valley State 19

BIG SOUTH
Hampton 41, Lane College 8

OVC
Austin Peay 49, Tennessee State 34 

MEAC
Savannah State 23, Charleston Southern 3
South Carolina State 21, Morgan State 18
North Carolina Central 40, Howard 35 
Florida A&M 17, Norfolk State 0
Bethune-Cookman 41, Mississippi Valley State 27
North Carolina A&T State 34, Delaware State 6

OTHER HBCU
Edward Waters 33, Warner 30 OT
West Virginia State 61, Kentucky State 42
Quincy 14, Lincoln (MO) 13

SAGU 48, Texas College 28

Langston 55, Texas Wesleyan 31

SWAC
Alabama State 28, Alcorn State 25  5OT
Jackson State 30, Arkansas Pine Bluff 27
Alabama A&M 42, Texas Southern 21
Grambling State 62, Oklahoma Panhandle State 7

Caldwell Sparks NCCU in Shootout Win over Howard

DURHAM, North Carolina – North Carolina Central University sophomore quarterback Chauncey Caldwell amassed a career-high 464 yards of total offense, including a career-best 153 rushing yards and the game-winning touchdown run with 24 seconds left in the game, to lead the Eagles to a 40-35 conference victory over Howard University inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Saturday.

Caldwell completed 24-of-38 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns, while his counterpart, Howard quarterback Caylin Newton, threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns on 24-for-39 passing.



The two MEAC squads exploded for 1,126 combined yards of total offense. The visiting Bison tallied 598 total yards, while NCCU registered 528 total yards.

During a first half in which neither team punted, NCCU held a 24-19 advantage at intermission.

The outcome came down to the final possession for each team. NCCU forced a punt and took over at its own 34-yard line with 3:08 remaining in the contest. Caldwell engineered a nine-play drive, passing for 34 yards and rushing for 42 yards, including the go-ahead score from three yards out.

Although there were only 24 ticks left on the clock, Howard responded. Newton completed back-to-back passes of 13 and 30 yards, plus tacked on 15 more yards for a roughing the passer penalty to move the Bison to the NCCU 17-yard line. Newton's next pass to the end zone sailed over the intended receiver and into the hands of NCCU defensive back Marcus Martin for the game-clinching interception.



Offensively for NCCU, Isaiah Totten recorded 57 rushing yards and a touchdown to contribute to the Eagles' 217 ground yards, while also catching five passes for 25 yards. Several receivers had big days for NCCU. Nique Martin led the way with seven receptions for 85 yards, followed by Daeshawn Stephens with four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, E.J. Hicks with four grabs for 54 yards and a score, and Xavier McKoy with three receptions for 68 yards and a one-handed touchdown catch.

NCCU placekicker Adam Lippe made two clutch 42-yard field goals and converted all four extra-point kicks.

Senior safety Davanta Reynolds led the NCCU defense with 12 tackles, including an assisted takedown for a loss, and a pass break-up. Anthony Sherrill and Jaquell Taylor chipped in seven stops each.

BOX SCORE

A pair of Howard receivers posted big numbers. Jequez Ezzard collected eight receptions for 174 yards and three touchdowns, while Kyle Anthony caught nine passes for 147 yards. Running back Khalid Dorsey contributed 83 rushing yards and a score. Safety Jayson Robinson recorded a game-high 14 tackles for the Bison.

NCCU (2-3, 1-1 MEAC) has a week off before traveling to Norfolk State on Oct. 20. Howard (1-3, 1-1 MEAC) hosts Delaware State on Oct. 13.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Quincy Edges Lincoln (Mo.), 14-13, in Homecoming Thriller

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- Quincy scored touchdowns at the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third and stopped the Lincoln football team on a late fourth quarter drive to edge the Blue Tigers, 14-13, on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 6).

Kimbo Ferguson led Lincoln with 102 rushing yards while Blake Tibbs contributed 37 receiving yards and 18 more yards on the ground. Henry Ogala completed nine passes for 148 yards and a touchdown.

Lincoln (2-4, 1-2 GLVC) scored on each of its first two drives, including opening the scoring with a 47-yard field goal by Fernando Ramirez. Lincoln added 43-yard field goal on its second drive, and held a 6-0 lead at the end of the opening stanza.

Quincy (2-4, 1-1 GLVC) got on the board with 2:13 remaining in the half on a three-yard run following a 47-yard completion on third-and-seven. The Hawks converted the extra point and forced an LU three-and-out to take a one-point lead at halftime.

The Hawks drove down the field on the first drive of the second half, with most of the yardage coming on a 75-yard reception down to the Lincoln two-yard line. The Blue Tiger defense held strong on first and second downs, but a one-yard rush on third down gave Quincy an eight-point advantage.

The Blue Tigers answered on their first drive of the half, with Ogala connecting with Justin Korakakos on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Lincoln elected to kick the extra point and pull within one of the Hawks. LU's defense held strong afterwards, holding the Hawks to just 68 yards for the remainder of the contest.

BOX SCORE

Lincoln had an opportunity to take the lead in the final period, as the offense sustained a long, time-consuming drive to get down to the Quincy 33. The 17-play drive used up 9:58 of the clock and covered 59 yards before a 50-yard field goal attempt fell just short.

Saint Durassaint led the LU defense with 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries. Joseph Madrigal forced and recovered a fumble and had a tackle for loss to go with seven takedowns, and Amani Nelson added six tackles.

The Blue Tigers will begin a four-game road trip next Saturday (Oct. 13) with a visit to Truman State in Kirksville, Mo. for a 2:00 p.m. CT contest.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI MEDIA RELATIONS

Records Fall in Virginia Union Panthers' 90-0 Win over Lincoln

RICHMOND, Virginia -- Virginia Union scored a single-game school record 12 touchdowns en route to a 90-0 rout of visiting Lincoln University on Saturday, October 6, at Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.

In front of a homecoming crowd of 7,000 fans, the Panthers recorded the most points of any Virginia Union team in a game since a 1916 contest against Saint Paul's College. The blowout victory showcased the Panthers' talent and depth on offense, defense and special teams. Nine different Panthers scored TDs.

The Panthers racked up a school-record 494 yards rushing, bettering the record of 490 set against Virginia State University in 2009, the nine rushing touchdowns bettered the old record of eight set against Saint Paul's in 1950, and the previous record of 11 total touchdowns set against Lincoln in 2014.

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"When you play as a unit, you will see success in all three phases of the game," first-year Union coach Dr. Alvin Parker said. "It was nice to see so many different guys make plays today. I appreciate the hunger of the whole team."

While the Panthers used the game as an opportunity to give reserve players a chance to see action, it was the usual team leaders that set the tone.

The Panthers' leading rusher, Hopewell graduate Tabyus Taylor, found the end zone first on a 4-yard run in the first quarter. Taylor churned out 235 yards — 25 shy of the school record — and scored three touchdowns on 23 carries. Top return man Jaiden Reavis (Highland Springs) returned a punt 45 yards for a TD, his second special teams touchdown in two weeks, and caught a 39-yard TD pass from Darius Taylor in the first half. Darius Taylor scored the team's other first-half touchdown on a 21-yard scramble in the second quarter.

The second half featured more outstanding play as the Panthers scored 28 points in the third quarter and 34 in the fourth. They finished with 673 yards.

"The whole week, Coach Parker has kept us away from a lot of the homecoming festivities to keep us focused on our goal of being 4-1," Tabyus Taylor said. "From the starters to the last person on the bench, we all played a great game."

The Panthers also played their most complete defensive game of the season. Lincoln was held to 47 rushing yards and nine first downs. Union forced 11 punts, three turnover on downs and five fumbles. More than 20 players recorded at least one tackle. Sterling Hammond had the defensive highlight of the day when he scooped up a fumble, stiff-armed the would-be tackler and ran 26 yards for a touchdown on the first drive of the second half.

"The coaches emphasized being around the ball on defense all week," said Hammond who is the first Panther to have multiple fumble recoveries (two) in a game since 2010. "Our main goal was to just stay focused on our opponent, and during this busy homecoming week, we did that."

Virginia Union's 90-point victory over Lincoln solidifies it as a legitimate contender for the CIAA championship.

"Our goal is to perform on the national level, but we have to win the division and the [CIAA] championship game first," Parker said. "I'm proud of the guys and how everyone got a chance to contribute to the win."

Virginia Union now travels to Murfreesboro, N.C., to face Chowan University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 13.

VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY PANTHERS SPORTS INFORMATION

ASU Golden Rams Defeat Catawba College 35-21 On The Road

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- Albany State University rolled up a season high 500 yards in route to a 35-21 win over Catawba College Saturday afternoon at Shuford Stadium.

With the victory, ASU evens its record at 3-3 overall while the Indians drop their second home game of the season to fall to 1-4 overall.

The Golden Rams' backfield featured to 100 yard rushers in Saturday's non-conference tilt. Tracey Scott racked up a season high 190 yards on 15 carries and McKinley Habersham chipped in 106 yards on the ground on 17 touches. Albany State finished the day with 385 yards rushing, six yards shy of Catawba's total offensive output (391).

The bulk of Catawba's offensive attack came through the air and courtesy of starting quarterback Ken Avent who finished the day with 239 yards and two touchdowns on 19 of 32 attempts.

Leading 27-21 after two quarters, the Albany State defense held the Indian scoreless in the second half. On three of Catawba's four second half drives, the Indians did not cross midfield and on what would be their final drive of the game, Aaron Davis intercepted Avent's pass at the ASU 19 with 36 seconds left, to seal the win for the Golden Rams.

The only score of the second half came with 2:14 left in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Scott. ASU completed a two-point conversion for the final point spread.

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The Golden Rams scored on their first two possessions on the game. Their first drive went 72 yards in 6 plays and was capped with a 17-yard scoring strike from Kelias Williams to Chris Hunt. After the extra point missed its mark, the Indians took the lead on the game's ensuing drive; a one yard rushing score from Kenyatta Green followed by a PAT from Lee Brackman put Catawba in front for the first time in the contest.

Tracy Scott responded for the Rams, taking the first snap of the next possession 75 yards for a score and a ASU a 13-7 advantage with six minutes left in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, Catawba pulled back in front by a point, 14-13, on a 36-yard passing touchdown from Avent to Devonte Tanksley at the 11:15 mark. The Golden Rams next score came after Martery Brown recovered a fumble (forced by Coemba Jones) at the Catawba 27-yard line. Five plays later, McKinley Habersham found the end zone from two yards out and with the PAT, the Golden Rams went up 20-14.

The ASU defense came up big on the Indians' next possession, stopping a fourth and one at the Rams' 37-yard line. After Kelan Fraise's rush took the ball 21 yards to the Catawba 42, Mike Green hauled in a touchdown reception from that distance to give the Golden Rams a 27-14 lead with 3:20 left in the first half.

The Indians orchestrated a four-play, 64-yard drive in just 90 seconds to make the score 27-21 right before the first half expired.

Brown, Jones and Antonio Leroy led the Golden Rams' defensive effort with ten tackles apiece.

Albany State will return to action on Saturday, October 13thwhen they travel to face off against Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC battle is set to kickoff at 6pm.

SCSU Bulldogs Win On The Road Over Morgan State 21-18

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The South Carolina State Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak in an, 21-18, victory over Morgan State on the road at Hughes Stadium.

"This was a big win for our team and our program on the road against a good Morgan State team," said head coach Buddy Pough. "I have to take my hats off to Morgan they fought hard until the end and didn't make it easy for us."

"I am so proud of the way we stay focused until the en
d," said Pough. "I always said we have a very young team and I finally see some players that can make big plays and step up when needed during a game."

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It's been recent years since the Bulldogs came from behind to pull off an upset victory over the Bears at home.

South Carolina State jumped out early on a 11-yard touchdown run by sophomore Jarius Jenkins at the 6:13 mark in the first quarter. Morgan State responded off a 34-yard pass from Corey Holmes to DeAndre Harris to close out the quarter to push the lead 11-7 over the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs responded off a 1-yard punch by red-shirt sophomore Tyrece Nick with the only score in the second quarter with 6:01 left. South Carolina State led 14-11 during intermission.

In the second-half, both teams played tight on defense to remain scoreless entering the fourth quarter, until junior running back Jordan Riggins scored on a 13-yard scamper to give the Bears an 18-14 advantage with 10:55 remaining.

Morgan State made one final attempt with 1:06 left inside Bulldog territory. Junior quarterback Deandre Harris led the charge pushing the Bears inside the SC State 29-yard line with 0:20 seconds remaining.

Harris one last attempt at the end zone fell short after freshman defensive back Scott Robinson, Jr's. interception secured the 21-18 victory for South Carolina State to improve to 1-4 overall, 1-1 in the MEAC.

Nick finished throwing 11-of-21 for 139-yards and a touchdown, while freshman wide receiver finished with three (3) catches for 50-yards. Freshman defensive back Duane Nichols spearheaded the defensive with eight (8) tackles and senior Alex Brown and junior linebacker Lane Jones chipped in seven (7) in the win.

Next up South Carolina State returns home for a two-game stint beginning with Bethune-Cookman on YOUTH/ROTC DAY Saturday (Oct. 13th) at Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium. Kickoff is 2 p.m.

For more information on South Carolina State Athletics visit www.scsuathletics.com or call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

A Beautiful Day for a Homecoming Victory, West Virginia State Jackets Win 61-42

INSTITUTE, West Virginia -- The sun was shining, the sky a clear blue, and the temperature hovered in the mid-80's Saturday afternoon in Institute.

Throw in an exciting 61-42 Yellow Jacket win and there was plenty for the large Homecoming crowd to enjoy.

Including the second most points scored by a WVSU squad since records have been kept. The most being 67 in the 2008 season opener against Lincoln, Missouri.

Kentucky State did cause a little early concern when the Thorobreds got on the board first on a Michael Nero 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play of the game.


WVSU responded with a 10-yard scramble by quarterback Faustino Saucedo to make the score 7-7 and from that point on the action was close to non-stop though the Jackets never trailed again.

Sophomore Calil Wilkins found paydirt from 20-yards out for a 14-7 WVSU lead. Jasper Jude came in for just a few plays when Saucedo was sbriefly haken up on a sack and threw an 18-yard scoring strike to A.J. Barrette to make it 21-7.

The Thorobreds came back to make it 21-14 but Yellow Jacket kick returner Carl Garmon field the ensuing kickoff at his six and ran it back all teh way to run the score to 28-14.

Kentucky State answered again to make it 28-21. Senior Aaron Ball drove a 44-yard field goal straight down the middle with just before halftime to make the score 31-31 at the break.

The scoring pace only speeded up in the third quarter with the Thorobreds getting the first points to pull within 31-28 with 13:04 left in the third.

But the Yellow Jackets took over from there. They gradually slowed the Thorobreds' running game and totally shut down their passing game allowing only four completions in 18 attempts for 27 yards.

It only took three plays for WVSU to answer the visitors and go ahead 38-28 as Wilkins broke tackle after tackle to pound his way to a 39-yard touchdown.

After a Kentucky State turnover it only took one snap for Saucedo to find Jamal Brown for an 18-yard score.

Wilkins closed out the wild third period with another 20-yard run through defenders to the endzone

The defense forced another fumble with the ball deep in Kentucky State territory early in the fourth and the Jackets capitalized a few plays later with Garmon diving in from the one to run the score to 61-35 and dash whatever hopes the visitors still had.

Wilkins carried 13 times for 166 yards and did not see any real action in the fourth quarter. Garmon had 56 on 10 carries and Dylan Lucas 40 yards on seven attempts.

The Jackets threw just 20 passes completing 10. Jude was 2-for-2 in his brief relief stint for 39 yards. A.J. Barrette caught four passes for 79 yards to lead the receiving corp.

Moises Valcarcel had 12 tackles, Robert Branch 11, and Joe Stoneman 10 to pace the defense.
WVSU hosts Concord Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Yellow Jackets' next contest.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hampton Pirates Football Topples Lane 41-8

FINAL SCORE: Hampton 41, Lane 8
RECORDS: Hampton 2-3, Lane 0-5
LOCATION: Armstrong Stadium – Hampton, Va.

IN BRIEF: Senior Delmon Williams became the first quarterback in the last 34 years to run for 100 yards and throw for 300 in a game throwing a career high four touchdown passes as Hampton defeated Lane 41-8.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Williams threw for 321 yards going 15-of-21 with a career best four touchdowns.  He also ran for a career high 115 yards in 11 carries.
• He is the first Hampton player in the NCAA D1 era to run for 100 yards and throw for 300 in a single game.  His four touchdown passes are the most in a game since David Watford threw for four in the 2015 season finale at Savannah State.
• Ronald Bell shared team lead in receptions with four for 137 yards including an 85-yard touchdown reception.  The 85-yard touchdown pass was the second longest in school history behind a 90-yard completion from David Legree to Isaiah Thomas on Nov. 21, 2009.
• Hampton had 572 yards of total offense in the game which is the most in a game since they amassed 551 against Delaware State on Oct. 8, 2016.
• Evan Lomax's 46-yard field goal with 14:21 left in the half was the third longest in school history trailing the record holder by five yards as Adam Brown hit a 51-yarder against Howard in 2016.
• Will Robinson ran for a season-high 98 yards on seven carries including a 71-yard scamper which helped set up the 18-yard scoring pass from Williams to Byron Barney.
• Barney had four receptions for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

HOW THEY SCORED

• Hampton took the opening possession and marched 72 yards in 10 plays before settling for a Lomax 33-yard field goal for an early 3-0 lead at 9:29 of the first.
• The defense stepped up and scored the next touchdown as Kapri Doucet picked up a fumble and rambled 60 yards for a 10-0 Hampton lead with 7:38 remaining in the first quarter.
• Williams struck for the first of his four touchdown passes connecting with Bell on the 85-yard touchdown strike for a 17-0 advantage with 4:21 remaining in the opening quarter.
• Lomax provi9ded the only points of the second quarter on his 46-yard field goal 39 seconds into the stanza as Hampton took a 20-0 lead into halftime.
• In the third quarter Hampton forced a Lane punt on the opening possession and struck quickly as Williams found yron Barney for the first of two touchdown passes with this one being an 18-yard strike to lead 27-0 with 12:02 left in the quarter.
• Lane got on the board capping a 55-yard scoring drive as Justin Hill scored on a three-yard run.  The two-point conversion pass was good for a 27-8 Hampton lead with 6:59 left in the quarter.
• Williams and Barney connected again on a 41-yard scoring pass to finish a four-play, 69-yard drive and give the host a 34-8 lead with 5:11 left in the third quarter.
• Williams connected with Antonio Graham on a nine-yard fade route in the corner of the end zone to give the Pirates a 41-8 margin with 8:48 left.

NEXT UP
Hampton goes on the road now to face Presbyterian College on October 13 at noon in Clinton, S.C.
For more information on Hampton University football, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY PIRATES ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS