Miles College to Host SIAC Football Championship Game

The 2018 SIAC Football Championship is going mobile! Fans get your tickets today to witness the action of the most exciting football championship in NCAA DII! #WePlayHard https://t.co/lsiW4ALGHp pic.twitter.com/70E2iGDNTD

— The SIAC (@TheSIAC) October 18, 2018

FAIRFIELD, Alabama  -- Albany State University Golden Rams (7-3) will carry a seven-game win streak into the SIAC Football Championship next Saturday, Nov. 10 when it travels to SIAC West Champion Miles College. Kickoff is 3 p.m. ET in Fairfield, Alabama. The Golden Rams defeated the Miles, 30-24, earlier this season.

Miles College Golden Bears defeated Tuskegee 31-27 in front of a capacity Senior Day crowd at Sloan-Alumni Stadium. The win made Miles (4-6, 4-2 SIAC West) the SIAC Western Division winners and earned it a spot in the league championship game.

Up Next:

2018 SIAC Football Championship Game
Date: November 10, 2018
Time: 2 pm CST
Location: Miles College (Sloan-Alumni Stadium)
 
Football Championship Game - Coach Press Conference
Date: November 9, 2018
Time: 12 noon CST
Location: Miles College
 
Please note that this game is expected to sell quickly, please ensure that your credentials and tickets are purchased/requested ASAP!
 
For all credentials to access the game and the press conference, please fill out the form here.
 
For all ticket inquiries, see link here.
 
To get the latest information and updates on the 2018 SIAC Football Championship, click here.
 
SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

CIAA Commissioner McWilliams Selected as Charlotte 2018 Power 15 Award Recipient Presented by Walker's Legacy

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Walker’s Legacy, the largest digital platform for multicultural women in business and entrepreneurship, will honor fifteen (15) women leaders of Charlotte as a part of a national awards program.

Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams announced her selection as a 2018 Power15 Award honoree presented by Walker’s Legacy, a global platform for the professional and entrepreneurial multicultural woman. Presented in partnership with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and AARP, the Power 15 Award recognizes notable community and business leaders who thrive in an array of industries including social entrepreneurship, business, technology, media, and real estate among others.

"We are honored to recognize Commissioner McWilliams with this year’s 2018 Power 15 Award,” said Natalie Madeira Cofield, founder, and CEO, Walker’s Legacy. “We recognize the imperative role multicultural women in business have on our society and economy alike and are excited to celebrate her work and the transformative impact she has in Charlotte”

“I am humbled to be recognized by Walker’s Legacy and to be included with the other influential women being highlighted this year”, McWilliams said. “It is reaffirming to be honored as a servant leader in the advancement and promotion of the great work of the conference, our member institutions and especially our students.”

This national honor celebrates a total of 150 multicultural women across 10 major cities. Past honorees include Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor of the City of Atlanta, GA; Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, Executive Vice President of Entertainment Diversity, Inclusion, and Communications at CBS Entertainment; and Miko Branch, co-founder of Miss Jessie’s, among others.

About Commissioner McWilliams:
Now in her seventh year at the helm of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA), McWilliams is a sought-after speaker and is recognized on a local, regional and national level. As the first African American female commissioner in the NCAA, McWilliams has served on numerous boards, and currently sits on Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards, John B. McLendon Foundation Board, NCAA Board of Governor’s Cultural Diversity Committee, Hampton Nation Advisory Board, M&F Advisory Board and the Black Enterprise Charlotte Convention Steering Committee.  She is active in her church community and chairs the HBCU initiative committee for the Crown Jewel’s LINKS of Charlotte, of which she is a member.

About Walker’s Legacy:
Walker’s Legacy is a digital platform for the professional and entrepreneurial multicultural woman. We exist to inspire, equip, and engage through thought-provoking content, educational programming and a global community.

About the Walker’s Legacy 2018 Power 15 Awards: The Walker’s Legacy Power 15 Awards is a national effort by the organization to recognize the achievements of notable business and community leaders.  In partnership with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and AARP, this recognition celebrates multicultural women who thrive in an array of industries including social entrepreneurship, business, technology, media, and real estate among others.

CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS 

Road to Salem: Bowie State and Fayetteville State Punch Ticket to 2018 CIAA Football Championship

SALEM, Virginia – The 2018 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Football Championship is set to include the Northern Division Champion Bulldogs of Bowie State University and the Southern Division Champion Broncos of Fayetteville State University, upon the completion of regular season play today. The CIAA Football Championship will kick off at 1:00 PM ET at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia on Saturday, November 10. Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
 
The Southern Division title was secured by the Broncos on October 27th. Fayetteville State defeated Livingstone College 45-7 while division rival Winston-Salem State University was knocked out of contention by Shaw University, 21-26. The Broncos awaited their opponent until the final day of CIAA football regular season play on November 3rd. With their 49-7 victory over Elizabeth City State University, the Bulldogs secured their advancement to the conference championship game. Both the Broncos and Bulldogs finished the regular season 5-1 in conference play and 4-1 in their respective divisions.
 
CIAA Northern and Southern Division winners are determined by the highest percentage of conference games won based on the six-game required schedule.
 
Fayetteville State will appear in the championship game for the second consecutive season after being defeated last year by the Trojans of Virginia State University, 42-19. Bowie State last appeared in the championship in 2016 when they were too defeated by their opponent, Winston-Salem State, 43-33. Fayetteville State’s last conference football title was earned in 2009. Bowie State seeks their first recognized conference football trophy, after their 1989 championship title was vacated due to the participation of an ineligible player.
 
Before the on-field action begins between the Broncos and Bulldogs, fans are invited to tailgate and attend the free, family-friendly Fan Zone from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET. This year’s Fan Zone will include contests, prizes and giveaways, activities, drumline and cheer squads, plus final judging for the Food Lion/Coca-Cola Tailgate Cook-Off. Fans are also encouraged to begin tailgating festivities at 9:00 am. All parking is free.
 
Tickets for this annual competition between the CIAA’s best football teams are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. Advanced tickets are available at $25 for reserved seating and $15 for general admission. Tickets bought on game day will be priced at $35 for reserved seating and $25 for general admission. Bring 5 non-perishable food items for a Food Lion Canned Food Drive to receive $5 off on-site admission.

Special rates for students with school IDs and youth will be available on game day for $10. Free admission is available for children ages 7 and under.
 
For more information about the 2018 CIAA Football Championship, including hotel options, please visit TheCIAA.com.

CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATION

2018 CIAA Volleyball Championship Bracket Set

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- With the conclusion of regular season conference play today, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces its official 2018 Volleyball Championship bracket. First round matches will be hosted on campus on November 6, 2018 with advancing teams playing in the semi-finals on November 9 at Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA. The championship match will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10.

Eight (8) teams will fight for the 2018 CIAA Volleyball Championship title. Representing the Northern Division will be No. 1 Virginia State University, No. 2 Virginia Union University, No. 3 Chowan University, and No. 4 Elizabeth City State University. The participating Southern Division teams include No. 1 Shaw University, No. 2 Fayetteville State University, No. 3 Winston-Salem State University, and No. 4 Johnson C. Smith University.

The Trojans of Virginia State University clinched the Northern Division Champion title on November 2 with their 3-1 victory over the Vikings of Elizabeth City State. The Trojans title is earned with a 13-4 record in conference play and 7-2 Northern Division record. Virginia Union and Chowan completed the regular season tied at 11-6 in CIAA competition and 8-2 in the division. The Panthers and Hawks split victories during the season, but the Panthers earn the No. 2 seed with a +2 point spread advantage.

The Lady Bears of Shaw University were the first to lock themselves in to this year's championship bracket, earning their Southern Division Champion title on October 27. The defending champion Lady Bears completed the regular season 16-2 in CIAA play and 10-2 in the South. The No. 2 seed came down to the final game of the season between Fayetteville State and Winston-Salem State. With FSU's victory, the Broncos and Rams both finished the season with 14-3 conference records, but the tie was given to Fayetteville State due to a better Southern Division record.

First round of championship competition will open on November 6 at 6:00 p.m. on the campuses of Virginia State, Virginia Union, Shaw, and Fayetteville State. Semi-finals matches are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 9 while the championship match will tip off at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10. The 2018 CIAA Volleyball Championship at Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia is free and open to the public. An exclusive t-shirt giveaway will be available on Nov. 10 to attendees with student IDs or their CIAA Football Championship game ticket, available while supplies last.

For more Volleyball Championship information, visit TheCIAA.com or follow the Conference on Facebook (The CIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), and Instagram (@CIAASports).




CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Nuggets, 14-0 in GCAC, win 8th straight championship

TOUGALOO, Mississippi — Xavier University of Louisiana put the finishing touches on an eighth consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball regular-season championship with a 25-19, 25-13, 27-25 victory Sunday against Tougaloo.
     
The Gold Nuggets (24-6, 14-0) will be the No. 1 seed in the GCAC Tournament Friday and Saturday at SUNO's The Castle. XULA will have a first-round bye and play in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday. The final is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. XULA will attempt to win the conference tournament for the eighth consecutive season.
     
XULA clinched a share of the GCAC regular-season title by winning its home finale Thursday against Tougaloo. By winning Sunday, the Gold Nuggets denied Tougaloo (18-14, 12-2) a shot at sharing the regular-season championship. The Lady Bulldogs finished second, their highest standing in six years. They'll be seeded second at the tournament.
     
Eva Le Guillou had 45 assists — a XULA record for a three-set match — Kayla Black had 20 kills, Vivica Price-Spraggins 11 and Jaida Dowd nine for the Gold Nuggets. XULA outhit Tougaloo .228 to .155 and had advantages of 48-30 in kills, 7-1 in aces and 44-33 in digs.
     
Black and Taylor Ducros had 11 digs apiece. Dowd and Ducros served two aces apiece, and Price-Spraggins and Adili Rikondja each had two blocks.
     
"I'm very proud of our team and all the hard work they put in to win this championship," second-year head coach Pat Kendrick said. "We evolved, we matured, we made adjustments throughout the season.
     
"But obviously we're not finished yet. We're looking forward to the conference tournament and defending that title. Hopefully we'll put together two great matches and qualify again for (NAIA) nationals."

BOX SCORE
     
Formilan's ace capped a 7-1 run that erased Tougaloo's only first-set lead, 12-11. The Gold Nuggets led wire-to-wire in the second set, led by Dowd's ace and five kills, but Black's nine third-set kills nearly went for naught when the Lady Bulldogs rallied from a 22-17 deficit and served for the set at 25-24. But XULA won on its second match point when Black and Price-Spraggins blocked ShonTaesha Zeigler's attack.
     
"We started strong, played hard and communicated the whole time those first two sets. We focused on what we were supposed to do," Black said. "The end of the third set we got distracted or a little complacent. We made too many errors. We need to learn how to finish strong no matter who we're playing or what's going on around us."
     
Carolyne Edwards had 11 kills, eight digs and three blocks for Tougaloo. Megan Besecker, who missed the Thursday match because of an ankle injury, had nine kills but hit .132, more than 100 points lower than her season percentage. Ranked No. 6 in the NAIA with 63 aces, Besecker served none against the Gold Nuggets.
     
NOTES:  The 24 victories are the Gold Nuggets' most ever in the regular season. The previous mark was 23 in 2013 . . . The previous record for assists in a three-set match was 43 by Franziska Pirkl at home against SUNO on Oct. 31, 2015. Pirkl is now a XULA assistant coach . . . Le Guillou became the second Gold Nugget to reach 900 assists in a season. She has 938; Korey Fondel set the XULA record of 993 in 2004 . . . The Gold Nuggets have won 78-of-79 sets against GCAC regular-season opponents during Kendrick's tenure, including the last 41 in a row — a XULA record.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
XULAgold.com
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Howard wins 2018 SWAC Soccer Tournament Championship

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – In a tale of two halves, Howard won its third Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament, besting Grambling State 1-0 for the 2018 title Sunday afternoon at the Prairie View A&M Soccer Complex.

This is the third title for coach Brent Leiba’s Lady Bison, and the first since 2015. Howard joins Mississippi Valley State as the only programs to win three SWAC Women’s Soccer Tournament championships.

After being shut down for much of the match, Howard finally broke through as tournament Most Valuable Player Jordan Taylor got behind the Grambling defense to settle a Thalia Boucher pass and blast one over the reach of Hanna Johnson at the 52nd minute. The mark ended the Lady Tigers’ shutout streak at 901 minutes and was Taylor’s second goal of the tournament.

From that point, momentum shifted with Howard (13-6-1) putting Grambling on its heels, outshooting the top-seeded Lady Tigers 9-5 in the final 45 – compared to an 11-0 edge for Grambling in the first half. The Bison had a pair of chances but were unable to convert. However, the Lady Tigers were unable to revive the offensive pressure with which they dominated the first half, ultimately falling just short of its third soccer tournament crown.

Grambling (14-8) was quick out of the gate upon first touch and managed an open look at the goal just seven minutes in after a header by Chloe Robinson just made it over the reach of Howard keeper Alayah Hightower. However, Bison defender Marley Christian was there to clean it up, as a sliding strike prevented the goal.

The Lady Tigers continued to stay the aggressive route, as Florence David managed to get a header on a corner kick, but the shot was just wide of the twine. Undeterred, Grambling kept the Bison on their heels with constant pressure, but Howard remained strong at the point of attack.

Alyssa Ozuna had perhaps the best opening of the half for Grambling, but her shot went off the right crossbar just out of range for Hightower.

Grambling edged Howard 16-9 in shots taken, with a 10-5 advantage in tries on goal. Hightower made nine saves for a clean sheet. Grambling had five corner kicks to Howard’s two.

The Lady Bison will find out who they will play to open the 2018 NCAA College Cup tomorrow at 3:30 PM central time.

BOX SCORE

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
Begona Bravo, Texas Southern
Briana Norwood, Texas Southern
Chimoa Eriken, Southern
Jasmine Smith, Grambling
Kailey Pena, Grambling
Thalia Boucher, Howard
Makela Davidson, Howard
Florence David, Grambling
Jordan Taylor, Howard (2018 SWAC Soccer Tournament Most Valuable Player)
Haileigh Adams, Grambling
Alayah Hightower, Howard


SWAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Glass has career day as AAMU Bulldogs cruise past Golden Lions

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Aqeel Glass walked off the field with a wide smile stretched across his face.

For good reason.

The Alabama A&M quarterback enjoyed a career day.

Glass set a new career high in passing yards as Alabama A&M cruised past Arkansas-Pine Bluff 45-14 Saturday afternoon in a SWAC football game.

Glass, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from St. Louis, passed for 359 yards and three touchdowns.

"And I feel like I left some plays on the field," Glass said. "But it still was a good day. We had a lot of big plays and were able to move the ball pretty much all afternoon. I'll definitely take it."

Glass completed 21 of 42 attempts with one interception.

For Alabama A&M, big plays were a prominent theme. All three of the Glass' passing touchdowns were on plays of 30 yards or longer.

Alabama A&M (5-4, 3-2 in SWAC) never trailed.

Glass connected with Zabrian Moore in the back of the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and a few minutes later, he threw a screen pass to Nathaniel Dell, who weaved his way through defenders as he sprinted 42 yards for a score.

Glass' third touchdown pass was a 56-yard catch and run by Octayvious Miles.

But Glass was not the only Alabama A&M player enjoying big plays.

Senior running back Trevon Walters rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries — averaging 12.7 yards per touch. He scored on a 72-yard run early in the third quarter that gave the Bulldogs a 21-0 lead.

"I was blessed with some great opportunities," Walters said. "Our guys up front did a great job. They created running lanes and I did my part to make it count."

Alabama A&M dominated from start to finish.

Defensively, Alabama A&M did not budge, especially on third down. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-8) only converted three of 17 third-down opportunities — with all three coming late in the second half.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Skyler Perry constantly was under pressure. He only was sacked one time, but he consistently was pressured out of the pocket and forced throw the ball while under duress.

BOX SCORE

ATTENDANCE: 13,500

The constant pressure even resulted in a forced turnover. In the fourth quarter, Alabama A&M defensive lineman Quantravis Kelly delivered a hard hit to Perry as he released the ball, forcing an errant pass that was intercepted by Rhomel Fields.

Yurik Bethune finished with three tackles for loss and a sack for Alabama A&M, while defensive tackle Eli Jackson had five tackles. Fields and Dylan Hamilton each had 8.5 tackles.

Alabama A&M hosts Grambling State next week in the Bulldogs' final home game of the season.

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Bayou Classic will name SWAC West champs

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The defending Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Champions, Grambling State football team started the 2018 season slowly.

The G-Men (4-4, overall), have been tested this season.

GSU lost two conference games throughout the first eight contests of the season.

GSU has not suffered two conference losses in a single season since 2014.

However, up and down play from conference opponents Alcorn State, Southern University and Prairie View A&M has left the door open for the Tigers to defend their crown.

Midway through the season GSU fell to the third spot in the West Division.

After help from SWAC rival Alcorn State who defeated Prairie View A&M, the Tigers jumped to the number two spot in SWAC West standings behind Southern University.

The G-Men are set to take on Southern Jaguars for the 2018 Bayou Classic to be held Saturday, Nov. 24, at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Kickoff from is set at 4 p.m.

The Tigers are the defending SWAC Champions and have worn that crown since the 2014 season.

GSU rallied for a 30-21 victory over Southern University in the 2017 Bayou Classic, after an 11-yard touchdown run by Martez Carter to give the G-Men the victory.

Grambling holds a one game all-time lead in the series, 33-32, over the Jaguars.

Head coach Broderick Fobbs is 3-1 against Southern.

A win for either team will crown the 2018 SWAC West champion.

The winner will participate in the Dec. 1, SWAC Championship game held at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. The SWAC Football Championship will be nationally televised on ESPNU.

The winner of the game is set to advance and represent the SWAC in the Celebration Bowl Saturday, Dec. 15 in Atlanta.

By Joshua Bell
THE GRAMBLINITE
www.TheGramblinite.com

HBCU Battle of the Band Field Shows -- Week 10

Nuggets hold on to beat Langston, improve to 3-0

NEW ORLEANS — Freshman Kyla Duncan had game highs of 22 points and eight rebounds Saturday, and Xavier University of Louisiana held on for a 75-71 women's basketball victory against Langston in the Xavier Classic.
     

The Gold Nuggets (3-0) will play city rival Loyola, ranked 17th in the NAIA, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at XULA's Convocation Center.
     

Duncan scored the most points by a XULA freshman since Johnna Williams had 23 against Belhaven on Feb. 9, 2008. Duncan was 11-of-16 from the floor in 26 minutes.
     

Jas Hill had 17 points and Mikayla Bates 10 for XULA.

BOX SCORE

Tennia Hill and Jhordyn Patton scored 21 points apiece for Langston (1-1). Orionna Shirley had nine assists but also committed nine turnovers.
     

An Essence Wells 3-pointer at 1:50 of the third quarter put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 55-53. XULA maintained a single-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter and closed the scoring when Maya Trench — fouled after her rebound of Hill's missed free throw — made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining.
     

Langston committed 29 turnovers, eight in the fourth quarter.
     

It's the first time in 16 years that the Gold Nuggets reached 75 points in each of the first three games of the season. XULA averaged 64.9 points per game last season.

    

XULA is 29-5 all-time in the Xavier Classic, 8-3 in this event against Langston. The Gold Nuggets have a nine-game win streak in regular-season games.
     

Coach Bo Browder's Gold Nuggets were the only 2-0 team in this event. LSU-Alexandria, led by Danyale Bayonne's 21 points and Courtney Dawsey's 14 points and 10 assists, defeated Florida Memorial 91-73 in Saturday's opening game. LSUA and Langston finished 1-1, and Florida Memorial was 0-2.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
XULAgold.com
twitter.com/xulagold
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Rush close fall season with 2 runner-up finishes

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis produced runners-up in singles and doubles Saturday at its XULA Invitational.
     
Samir Chikhaoui of the Gold Rush, top seeded in singles, lost 9-8 (7-4) to William Carey's third-seeded Enzo Simon in the final. XULA's Santiago Perez and Pierre Andrieu, seeded second in doubles, fell 6-2 in the final to top-seeded Galileo Cabrales and Tiger Cheung of city rival Loyola.
     
Chikhaoui won 8-3 in the quarterfinals against Loyola's Chris Formaux and 8-4 in the semifinals against William Carey's Hugo Robuchon. Perez and Andrieu defeated Robuchon and Simon 6-2 in the semifinals.

Results
     
It was the final event of the fall season for the Gold Rush. Beginning in January, the XULA men and women will play dual matches and attempt to qualify again for the NAIA National Championship tournament in May. Both XULA teams were national semifinalists last season, and the Gold Rush were NAIA runner-up in 2016 and 2017.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
XULAgold.com
twitter.com/xulagold
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Road To The Championship HBCU Football Scoreboard, Week 10

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2018

CIAA
Shaw 27, Saint Augustine's 10
Livingstone 20. Johnson C. Smith 9
Chowan 56, Lincoln (PA) 27 
Bowie State 49, Elizabeth City State 7
Virginia Union 46, Virginia State 19 
Winston-Salem State 51, Fayetteville State 21

SIAC
Central State (OH) 45, Lane 22 
Miles 31, Tuskegee 27 
Clark Atlanta 30, Morehouse 13 
Benedict 18, Kentucky State 0
Albany State  40, Fort Valley State 6

OTHER CONFERENCES
West Virginia State 31, Urbana 28
Tarleton State 59, Lincoln (MO) 3
Oklahoma Panhandle State 42, Texas College 0 at 

BIG SOUTH
Hampton 51, SUNY Maritime 10

OVC
Southeast Missouri State 38,Tennessee State 21 

SWAC
Jackson State 34, Prairie View A&M 28 
Grambling State 24, Mississippi Valley State 19 
Alabama State 30, Texas Southern 21 
Alabama A&M 45, Arkansas Pine Bluff 14
New Mexico State 52, Alcorn State 42 

MEAC
Howard 31, Florida A&M 23
North Carolina A&T State 37, Norfolk State 20 
Delaware State 25, Savannah State 6
North Carolina Central 52, Edward Waters 12
Bethune-Cookman 30, Morgan State 28

Late Defensive Stand lifts Grambling State past MVSU

FB: FINAL SCORE UPSET - Jackson State defeats Prairie View A@M, 34-28, which means the @theswac West Division Championship will be decided at the @BayouClassic74 #RespectTheG #grambling #gramblingstate #gramblingstateuniversity #WhyNotGrambling

— GSU Athletics (@GSU_TIGERS) November 3, 2018

GRAMBLING, Louisiana | The Grambling State University defense came up with two big plays in the fourth quarter as the Tigers escaped with a 24-19 victory over Mississippi Valley State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game during Homecoming and Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

With Saturday's win against Mississippi Valley State, and Prairie View A&M's loss to Jackson State, the SWAC West Division title will come down to a showdown on Nov. 24 against Southern in the 45th Annual Bayou Classic at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La.



Grambling State (5-4 overall, 4-2 SWAC) led 24-19 in the fourth quarter, but got a key 4th down stop at its own 2 when Danquarian Fields broke up a pass to turn the ball over on downs. After a GSU punt, De'Andre Hogues forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the MVSU 49. The Tigers nearly ran the remaining four minutes off the clock before defeating the Delta Devils.

"What we have to understand is that we are going to get everyone's best game," Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs said. "Regardless of the record and regardless of who we are facing, you better be ready to play. We're thinking and looking at film, but not playing with passion and the way we're supposed to be playing. The thing that has really troubled me is how we're going about playing the game. We've got to do a better job. Good thing is that we were able to come out with a win."

Mississippi Valley State (1-7, 1-4) took the opening kickoff and marched 62 yards in eight plays as Dejerric Bryant scored on a 7-yard run as the extra point was blocked, giving the Delta Devils a 6-0 advantage with 10:50 left in the opening quarter.

Grambling State answered with a 15-play, 62-yard drive as the Tigers settled for a 34-yard Marc Orozco field goal to close the gap to 6-3 with 4:45 remaining in the first.

The Tigers took the lead for good early in the second quarter as Geremy Hickbottom connected with Darrell Clark for a 35-yard touchdown pass to give Grambling State a 10-6 lead with 12:54 remaining in the first half.

On the very next drive, the Tigers extend the lead to 17-6, as Devante Davis caught a 15-yard pass from Hickbottom, with 7:45 left in the second. However, Mississippi Valley State cut the deficit to 17-13 after a John Derrick Smith 5-yard touchdown run with just over a minute before half.

Grambling State took the opening drive of the second half and went 74 yards in seven plays as Kobe' Ross caught a 47-yard touchdown strike from Hickbottom to push the lead to 24-13, but a Booker Chambers 22-yard touchdown reception from Fowler closed the margin to 24-19, with 6:23 left in the third quarter.



ATTENDANCE: 14,215

BOX SCORE

Turning Point
Grambling State led, 24-19, with 12:35 remaining, Mississippi Valley State put together a 12-play drive and moved the ball to the GSU 2.

The Delta Devils were forced to use all three timeouts during the drive and on 4th down at the Tiger 2, Christian Sutton got the ball on a reverse and his pass, intended for Chris Fowler, was broken up in the end zone by Danquarian Fields to keep the Tigers in front by five points.

After a GSU punt on its next drive, Mississippi Valley State got the ball with 4:32 remaining and appeared poised for one final drive. However, Isaiah Robinson coughed the ball up at the Delta Devils 47 and De'Andre Hogues came up with the loose ball to preserve the homecoming victory.

Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 18 first downs and 445 total yards of offense
> Johntavious Robinson rushed for a career-high 130 yards on 17 carries
> Geremy Hickbottom went 12 of 24 passing for 208 yards and three touchdowns
> Devante Davis caught three passes for 91 yards and one score
> Kobe' Ross tallied two receptions for 54 yards and one touchdown
> Darrell Clark added 35 yards on one catch, with one score
> Danquarian Fields paced the Tiger defense with nine total tackles, including six solo stops and one fumble recovery
> De'Andre Hogues added seven tackles and one forced fumble
> Mississippi Valley State recorded 21 first downs and 306 total yards of offense
> John Derrick Smith rushed for 53 yards on eight carries, with one score
> Chris Fowler was 7 of 8 passing for 88 yards and one touchdown
> Dejerric Bryant was 2 of 6 passing for 19 yards
> Darrion Harper caught four passes for 30 yards
> Booker Chambers registered 37 yards on two catches, with one score
> Tracy Thompkins led the Delta Devils defense with 15 tackles, including seven solo stops

News & Notes
> The Tigers honored 18 seniors before Saturday's game during Senior Day
> This was the 62nd meeting between Grambling State and Mississippi Valley State
> Grambling State improved to 54-5-2 all-time against Mississippi Valley State
> GSU pushed its home winning streak to 13 games with the win.
> The Tigers wore the all-red jerseys for the first time during the Broderick Fobbs era
> Head coach Broderick Fobbs is just six victories shy of 50 for his collegiate coaching career
> With Jackson State defeating Prairie View A&M, 34-28, on Saturday, the SWAC West Division title will be decided at the 45th Annual Bayou Classic

Up Next
The Tigers will travel to Huntsville, Ala. Next Saturday for a non-conference game against Alabama A&M. Kickoff against the Bulldogs at Louis Crews Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

AAMU Bulldogs Down UAPB Golden Lions 45-14

BULLDOG NATION w/ The victory!!! @aamufb pic.twitter.com/TFi5FyBsqu

— Ala. A&M Athletics (@AAMUBulldogs) November 3, 2018

Bethune-Cookman Staves Off Morgan State, 30-28

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Jimmie Robinson ran for a career-best 208 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman defeated Morgan State, 30-28 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup at Hughes Stadium.

#MORGvsBCU #MEAC #ESPN3 pic.twitter.com/bFkIr7W5GD

— Morgan State Bears (@MorganStBears) November 4, 2018

As winds circulated around Hughes Stadium throughout the contest, and gusts reaching upwards of near 30 miles per hour, Bethune-Cookman looked to the ground game to get things going against the elements. Quarterbacks David Israel and Jabari Dunham shared time behind center for the Wildcats, but it was a season-high 314 yards on the ground that led the Maroon and Gold to its sixth win on the spin against the homestanding Bears.

After a 38-yard punt from Javaunie Francis pinned Morgan State (2-7, 1-4 MEAC) at its own 1 yard line, Bethune-Cookman redshirt senior defensive end Kevin Thompson surged through the line to record the Wildcats second safety of the season, stopping MSU running back Joshua Chase in the end zone to give his team a 2-0 lead midway through the opening stanza.

Bethune-Cookman (5-5, 3-2 MEAC) would record its first offensive score of the afternoon when senior running back Jimmie Robinson broke through the defense for a 61-yard rush to the end zone with 4:08 remaining on the clock in the first quarter. Added the extra point from Uriel Hernandez, and BCU led 9-0.

For the Maroon and Gold, it was the team's sixth one-play scoring drive of the campaign.

However, Robinson would make it seven on the Wildcats first possession of the second quarter.

The Palm Coast, Florida native and Mercer transfer escaped the Bears defense again for a 60-yard run to increase the Wildcats advantage at 16-0 with 13:18 showing on the clock.

Morgan State would engineer its best drive of the half to chip into the score just before the half.

A pair of passes from J.R. Golatt ended with a 28-yard strike to top target Manasseh Bailey in the end zone, allowing MSU to pull within 16-8, following the two-point conversion pass from Golatt to Bailey once again.

In the third quarter, BCU stretched the lead at 23-8 when, once again, Jimmie Robinson broke loose for his third (3rd) 60-plus yard scoring play of the afternoon – this one going for 65 yards following an incomplete pass from Jabari Dunham seeking running back Isaac Washington.

The Bears would answer on the next drive, using six plays to drive 73 yards in 2:04 off the clock, cultivating with Golatt's two-yard rush and the score. The big play to setup the eventual Golatt touchdown run was a 52-yard burst from William King down to the Wildcats' two yard line.

That score from Golatt brought the Bears to within 23-15 heading into the fourth quarter.

Morgan State would inch closer on its first drive of the fourth quarter, seeing Golatt connect with receiver Xavier Gravette for 15 yards and the score. The two-point conversion attempt from Alex Raya was denied, and the Wildcats clung to a 23-21 advantage.

BCU used its longest scoring drive of the day on the next possession, giving the Wildcats some breathing room with 8:33 left in the fourth quarter.

A 10-play, 75-yard drive that spanned just over five minutes ended with a 16-yard scoring run from Tupac Isme, giving the visitors from Daytona Beach a 30-21 edge following the kick from Hernandez.

Morgan State answered on the ensuing possession when Golatt registered his third passing touchdown of the afternoon, this one connecting with Daylen Baldwin for 21 yards. The kick from Raya pulled the Bears to within 30-28 with just under six minutes remaining.

The Wildcats defense would be called into action once again late in the game in order to seal the win for Head Coach Terry Sims (his fourth against the Bears as a collegiate head coach).

Golatt went deep down the field looking for his favorite target in the form of Bailey, but it would be safety Trevor Merritt stepping in front of the pass to post his team-leading third interception of the year with an acrobatic catch at the BCU 38 yard line and just seconds remaining.

Two quarterback kneels from BCU's Dunham saw the Cats escape with the win, and keeping BCU very-much in the title hunt following Florida A&M's upset loss at Howard earlier in the day.

Robinson led all ball carriers with 208 yards on 11 carries, adding his game-high three touchdowns. Dunham added 57 yards from his quarterback position.

Dunham would finish 4-for-8 passing ion the game for 26 yards, while starter David Israel was just 0-for-4 passing.

Passes for the Cats were hauled in by Francois (13 yards), Isme (5 yards), Keavon Mitchell (4 yards) and Washington (4 yards), respectfully.

The BCU defense was headed up by Devin James with six tackles and a sack, followed by Elliott Miller, Vernon Walker II and Marques Ford with five tackles each. Ford added a sack and a quarterback pressure as well.

Bethune-Cookman returns home to Daytona Stadium for its next contest against North Carolina Central on Thursday, Nov. 8. The game will serve as "Senior Appreciation Night" and kick off at 7 p.m., with the contest televised on ESPNU.

BOX SCORE

ATTENDANCE: 2,008

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

PVAMU Panthers' Comeback Falls Short At Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi – The Prairie View A&M University football team's comeback at Jackson State came up short in a 34-28 loss Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

"I thought we came out in the first half and didn't play our brand of football," said PVAMU head coach Eric Dooley. "We weren't flying around, and as I've said before, we have to be able to stop the run. Most importantly, we weren't able to put the ball in the end zone. We had a couple of opportunities to score and we let them slip away."

FINAL SCORE: #PVAMUFootball 28 vs. JSU 34
CLICK to LISTEN to the Post Game Show on the PVAMU Sports Network https://t.co/bO9wPbhQ9Q pic.twitter.com/G7xDTNoNbz

— PVAMU Panthers (@PVAMUPanthers) November 3, 2018

QB Trazon Connley nearly rallied the Panthers from a 24-0 second-quarter deficit. Playing the final three quarters, Connley completed 19 of 30 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed 12 times for 110 yards and one touchdown in leading four touchdown drives.

"We had been working that (scenario) all during practice, because we wanted to see some competition just to spark (starting QB) Jalen (Morton) a little bit," Dooley said. "I thought it did, but Jalen didn't come out with a strong game in the first couple of series that he had. Trazon came in like he's been there before. He played exceptionally well for us. I was pleased to see that for him."

Connley got PVAMU on the board prior to halftime. His six-yard scoring pass to Markcus Hardy with six seconds to play cut the Panthers' deficit to 24-7 at intermission.

After a JSU field goal, Connley led a four-play, 81-yard drive capped off by his 72-yard scoring run to make the score 27-14 with just under six minutes to play in the third quarter.

Following a Jackson State touchdown, the Panthers answered in the fourth quarter. A 10-play, 65-yard drive ended with the first of two Connley-to-Zarrian Holcombe touchdown passes that again made it a two-score game at 34-21 with 11:41 remaining.

Late in the period, a nine-play, 54-yard drive ended with a Connley to Holcombe 11-yard scoring pass with 2:45 remaining for the final margin. JSU recovered the on-side kick and ran out the clock.

"I'm proud of the players because they did come out in the second half and show that they will fight, and they will fight to the end," Dooley said. "They gave it a good run at the end, but of course we didn't have the ending results that we wanted. There's still a lot of things we have to work on. We make no excuses. We'll just buckle up and go back to work."

BOX SCORE

ATTENDANCE: 21,729

Following an open date, Prairie View A&M football returns to action Saturday, Nov. 17 vs. Alabama State at 1 p.m. at Panther Stadium.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY PANTHERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

NCCU Soars to Homecoming Win over Edward Waters

FINAL SCORE: #NCCUfootball 52, Edward Waters 12. Kawuan Cox (7) named Homecoming Defensive MVP. Photo by KeShawn Ennis.#NCCU #EaglePride #EagleEra #NCCUhomecoming2018 @BlueCrossNC pic.twitter.com/cOYZbjgzIK

— NCCU Athletics (@NCCUAthletics) November 3, 2018

DURHAM, North Carolina -- North Carolina Central University kept its homecoming festivities going as the Eagles dominated on the gridiron defeating Edward Waters College 52-12 inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Saturday.

NCCU created 559 total yards, the 10th most in school history. The Eagles finished with 379 rushing yards, their highest rushing total since 2003, and their fourth straight contest with at least 200 ground yards.

The Eagles started the game off with a quick scoring drive with junior quarterback Naiil Ramadan throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Nique Martin.

The first half was all NCCU with the Eagles having a 17-0 lead at the intermission. NCCU was not just controlling the offensive side of things, the Eagles defense only gave up 20 total yards of offense to the Tigers in the half.

The second half was no different than the first with the NCCU offense putting up points and defense being stingy.

Ramadan finished the day completing 8-of-15 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.

Redshirt-freshman quarterback Dominique Shoffner also took snaps for the Eagles, finishing the contest by completing 5-of-9 passes for 82 yards and a score. Shoffner also added 41 yards on the ground.

Kawuan Cox (defensive) & Isaiah Totten (offensive) named #NCCUfootball Homecoming Game MVPs. Photo by Dyann Busse.#NCCU #EaglePride #EagleEra #NCCUhomecoming2018 pic.twitter.com/2E48COxlrT

— NCCU Athletics (@NCCUAthletics) November 4, 2018

NCCU had three running backs rush for more than 100 yards to contribute to their historic offensive day.

Sophomore running back Isaiah Totten led the Eagles in rushing with 133 yards on 11 carries and two scores.

Also adding to the Eagles ground attack was junior running back Tyquan Watson, who had 113 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns.

In addition to Totten and Watson, freshman running back Mashion Powell ended the game with 101 yards on the ground and a score.

The NCCU defense held the Edward Waters offense in check for the entire game, only allowing 172 yards of total offense to the Tigers. The Eagles defense was led in tackles by multiple players, including defensive lineman Kawuan Cox who had five total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss. Also having five total tackles for the Eagles was linebacker Branden Bailey.

NCCU's defense also managed to create 11 tackles for loss and four sacks as a unit.

For Edward Waters, the Tigers offense was led by freshman quarterback Derrick Jones, who finished the game 12 for 22 passing with 132 yards and two touchdown tosses.

Also making contributions for the Tigers offense was wide receiver Kamaree Noble, who had four receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.

BOX SCORE

ATTENDANCE: 11,968

NCCU (4-4) travels to Daytona Beach, Florida, for a Thursday night showdown at Bethune-Cookman on ESPNU (Nov. 8), while Edward Waters (4-6) hosts Webber International next Saturday (Nov 10).

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION