TSU Football Takes Down UT Martin, 31-28, in Overtime Thriller

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Game 9: Tennessee State 31, UT Martin 28 (OVERTIME)
Records: TSU (4-5, 3-4 OVC), UTM (2-9, 2-6 OVC)
Venue: William H. Jasper Stadium
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 62
Kickoff Time: 2:04 p.m.
Attendance: 3,618

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee State football team capped the 2018 season in style with a 31-28 overtime victory over UT Martin on Senior Day at Hale Stadium in Ohio Valley Conference play.

With the score tied at 25-25 at the end of regulation, TSU (4-5, 3-4 OVC) forced UT Martin (2-9, 2-6 OVC) into a field goal on the first possession of overtime. Getting the ball back, TSU redshirt junior quarterback Cameron Rosendahl hit DeVon Johnson in the back of the endzone from four yards out for the game-winning touchdown. It was the third touchdown connection between Rosendahl and Johnson on the night.

In his first career start, Rosendahl finished 15-of-22 for 170 yards and three touchdowns.

Freshman linebacker Jahsun Bryant finished with a team-high 11 tackles for TSU, while junior cornerback Dajour Nesbeth had an interception and eight tackles on the night.

FIRST QUARTER

• Tennessee State forced a three-and-out on the UT Martin’s second drive, but a roughing the kicker call gave the visitors a new set of downs.
• The defense stood tall as Jahsun Bryant stopped a Skyhawk runner behind the line of scrimmage for a four yard loss.
• Cameron Rosendahl picked up a first down on an 11 yard rush on the next possession, before Kaleb Mosley’s third punt.
• On the Skyhawks next series, Jeremiah Caine and Raymond Horton teamed to stop UTM short of the yard to gain on a fourth down attempt.
• UTM outgained the Tigers 51-45 in a scoreless quarter. 

SECOND QUARTER

• The Tigers scored first with a 34 yard field goal off the foot of Antonio Zita on the opening drive.
• TSU 11 rushes for 34 yards to get in range for Zita’s 10th field goal of the season.
• After the teams traded three-and-outs, Mosley booted a career long 50 yard punt which went out of bounds at the one yard line.
• On the next play, dell Porter shot around the right side of line and hit the Skyhawks Ty Brown in the end zone for a safety, giving TSU a 5-0 advantage with 4:57 remaining in the half.
• On the ensuing kickoff, DeVon Johnson broke around the left side for a 37 yard return to midfield.
• Two plays later Rosendahl hit Johnson for a 47 yard touchdown pass.
• Johnson out leaped a pair of defenders and fought his way the final seven yards and reaching the ball across the goal line for his fourth score of the season.
• Rosendahl’s first touchdown pass as a Tiger made the score 12-0.
• UTM kicked a 19 yard field goal on the last play of the half to cut the lead to nine, 12-3.
• TSU outgained UTM, 93-75, in the quarter. 

THIRD QUARTER

• With just under 10 minutes in the quarter, Dajour Nesbeth intercepted a Joe Hudson pass and returned it 27 yards to the Skyhawks 11.
• The Tigers added to their lead with a 22 yard field goal by Zita, increasing the lead to 15-3.
• UTM responded with a 75 yard touchdown pass on a third-and-long to make the score 15-10 with 6:24 on the clock.
• The Tigers closed out the quarter using all 6:24 and headed into the final stanza with a first and goal at the UTM five.
• On the drive, Rosendahl completed a 15 yard pass to Shawn McColley for a first down to start the series.
• The Tigers took advantage of a pass interference call on a second and 17 to keep the drive alive.
• Rosendahl then teamed with Steven Newbold for 16 yards and 10 to Johnson, moving the ball to the 10.
• UTM outgained the Tigers 103-44 in the quarter. 

FOURTH QUARTER

• The Big Blue capped off a 15 play, 56 yard drive with a 27 yard field goal by Zita.
• The kicker’s third conversion of the game came at the end of an eight minute drive.
• UT Martin completed a 32 yard pass for a touchdown on a fourth down attempt to move within two points with 9:54 remaining in regulation.
• The Skyhawks tied the game, 18-18, on a two-point conversion.
• TSU wasted no time breaking the tie as the moved 72 yards in six plays, needing just over two minutes to take a 25-18 lead.
• Rosendahl completed three straight passes, the final going for 28 yards to Johnson for his second touchdown of the game.
• The Tiger defense seemed to close out the contest with 2:28 remaining as Dante Ferguson and Justin Culpepper met at the quarterback for a sack to force a turnover in downs.
• UT Martin forced a stop and started their final drive with 46 seconds remaining in regulation.
• The Skyhawks completed a 43 yard pass for a touchdown with 10 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 25-25 and force overtime. 

WHAT'S NEXTThis marked the final game of the 2018 season. Tennessee State will open the 2019 season on Aug. 31, as they host Hampton University in the John Merritt Classic.

GAME NOTES

• Chris Rowland, DeVon Johnson, LaQuarius Cook and Thomas Burton were captains for TSU.
• UT Martin won the coin toss and elected to defer the opening kickoff.
• Redshirt junior Cameron Rosendahl made his first career start at quarterback and threw the first three touchdowns of his TSU career.
• Freshman Caleb Mosley booted a 50-yard punt. It is the longest of his career.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Rush fall to CAU Panthers in overtime homecoming thriller

NEW ORLEANS — Jalen Mitchell scored 11 points in overtime Saturday to lead Clark Atlanta to an 85-77 men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
     
It was XULA's homecoming game, which attracted 2,252 fans.
     
The Panthers (1-3) made three consecutive 3-pointers in overtime, the first by Ian Roach at 3:32 to put them ahead to stay, 67-66. Mitchell followed with 3-pointers on the next two possessions. Two Mitchell free throws with 33 seconds remaining made it 82-70.
     
Clark Atlanta rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation, but it was XULA that forced overtime when Rayshawn Mart made two free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining.
     
Shelvick Henry scored 22 points, and Mitchell had 18 points and six assists for Clark Atlanta, an NCAA Division II tournament qualifier last season. Romaine Thomas had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Roach scored 13, and Austin Donaldson had 10.
     
Johnell Lane had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Gold Rush (4-3), ranked 23rd in the NAIA. Mart scored 17 points, and Ed Carter had 15 points and six assists. William Loyd had nine points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
     
Clark Atlanta, aided by 13 XULA turnovers, led 35-28 at halftime. The Gold Rush finished with a season-worst 25 turnovers.
     
"We lacked focus and attention to details down the stretch," XULA coach Alfred Williams said. "We gave up two transition 3's in overtime, which was a big momentum swing.
     
"Ray (Mart) did a nice job fighting back to get us into overtime, but at the end of the day we've got to pay attention to the details a little more. It was a great crowd and atmosphere for homecoming, but Clark Atlanta played harder than we did."
     
XULA allowed its most points ever in an overtime period, 23. The previous mark was 21 against Tougaloo in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at Jacksonville, Fla., on March 5, 2011.



BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 2,252 
    
The Panthers gave George Lynch his first head-coaching victory. Lynch played 12 NBA seasons, three (2002-05) with the New Orleans Hornets.
     
The loss was the third in a row for the Gold Rush and the first for Williams in seven overtime decisions as XULA's head coach.
     
XULA will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to play NAIA No. 10 William Carey at 7 p.m. Monday. It wlll be a doubleheader; the Carey women will play XULA's Gold Nuggets at 5 p.m.

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

Vaughan, Ashmore lead XULA runners at NAIA nationals

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Maliya Vaughan and Jordan Ashmore were Xavier University of Louisiana's fastest finishers Friday at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships at Seminole Valley Park.
     
Vaughan was the XULA women's fastest finisher for the third consecutive year. She ran 5,000 meters in 21 minutes, 51.4 seconds to place 320th out of 340 runners. Ashmore, a freshman, led the XULA men with an 8K time of 29:51.3 and finished 320th out of 330 runners.
     
The Gold Nuggets' other finishers were Taylor Price, 330th in 22:29.3; Brianna Pace, 331st in 22:35.7; Ky'Reon McBride, 336th in 24:37.8; and Mariah Cox, 338th in 25:47.4.
     
Also finishing for the Gold Rush were Francis Patterson, 321st in 30:01.8; Camren Sewell, 326th in 31:35.7; Kadeem Burton, 328th in 34:03.2; Darrick Williams, 329th in 35:28.5; and Langston Scott, 330th in 38:44.1.
     
Ashmore's time ranks 17th and Patterson's 20th among Gold Rush runners at nationals and seventh and ninth, respectively, among freshmen.
     
The XULA women were 36th in team scoring with 1,211 points. Oregon Tech scored 126 points to win the team title, its first, by six points over Madonna and eight points over Taylor. Point Park's Anna Shields was individual champion in 17:15.9.
     
The Gold Rush were 36th in the men's division with 1,228 points. Oklahoma City scored 116 points to win its fourth national team title in the last six seasons. Cornerstone's Colin De Young was individual champion in 24:12.4.

Results:  Men    Women
     
Skies were overcast, and temperatures were in the mid-30s at the start of the meet. This was the 16th Gold Rush appearance at NAIA nationals and the 12th for the Gold Nuggets. Eight of the men's appearances and nine of the women's were the result of automatic team qualification in conference or regional meets.
     
Honored Thursday as XULA's NAIA Champions of Character recipients were Vaughan and Williams. Pace, who concluded her collegiate cross country career at this meet, was named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete for the second consecutive year.
     
Coach Yhann Plummer's distance runners will resume competition in early March during the outdoor track and field season.

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

Hampton Pirates Ends Transition Season With 44-17 Win Over Knights

FINAL SCORE: Hampton 44, Saint Andrews 17
RECORDS: Hampton 7-3; Saint Andrews 2-7
LOCATION: Armstrong Stadium – Hampton, Va.
IN BRIEF: Senior Delmon Williams accounted for four touchdowns and threw for 269 yards as the Pirates defeated St. Andrews on Senior Day.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Hampton got on the board in the first quarter as Will Robinson capped a 62-yard, five-play drive with a nine yard scoring run to lead 8-0 at the 8:22 mark.
• The Pirates pushed the lead to 14-0 as Williams threw his first touchdown pass on the day to Antonio Graham for a 12-yard scoring strike.  The two-point pass failed and Hampton held a 14-0 lead with 2:52 left in the quarter.
• St. Andrews took advantage of some Hampton turnovers to score 17 straight points.  Dennis Leggett scored on an 11-yard run at 12:03, Chris Decker on a 57-yard run at 9:53 and then a Jordan Vitale 31-yard field goal with 5:33 left put the Knights up 17-14.
• Williams put Hampton back up 30-17 to close the first half after a pair of one-yard touchdown runs and two point conversion passes.
• In the third, Robinson got his second touchdown of the night on Hampton's first possession with a 19-yard run with 12:52 left to lead 36-17.
• The final touchdown of the 2018 season was a 62-yard scoring strike from Williams to Jadakis Bonds with 3:29 left in the third for a 44-17 lead.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Will Robinson ran 12 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns.  He finished the year with 799 yards to lead the team.
• Hampton ended the year with a six-game winning streak which is the longest since the 2005 team went 11-0 in the regular season.
• Williams finished with 2.035 yards passing this year which ranks him sixth on the single-season passing yards list.
• He also ended with 22 touchdown passes which is the second most in a single-season in Hampton history and the NCAA Division I-AA mark for the Pirates.  The school record was 25 by Matt Montgomery in 1992.
• Byron Barney caught a team-high five passes for 44 yards.  Alec Dana caught 94 yards in his two receptions, while Graham and Robinson each had two catches.
• For the third straight week, Jayso'n Davidson had a career-high in tackles with 14, including 1.5 sacks.  Chaka Diarrassouba had 12 tackles, while Davonte Spruill also had 12 tackles.  Kapri Doucethad six, including two sacks and three tackles for loss.

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.

Delaware State Hornets End Season With Win Over Virginia - Lynchburg Dragons

DOVER, Delaware -- Delaware State third-string quarterback Shayne Smith completed 16-of-19 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start to lead Delaware State to a 41-7 win over Virginia University of Lynchburg in the Hornets’ 2018 finale at Alumni Stadium this afternoon. DSU won three of its last four games to end the season with a 3-8 overall record, its most wins since posting a 5-6 mark in 2013.

Senior wide receiver Taronn Selby had eight catches for a career-best 155 yards and two touchdowns in his final game with the Hornets. Fellow senior Brycen Alleyne rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries to highlight the Hornets’ 306-yard rushing attack.

Delaware State’s defense allowed just 145 total yards and recorded four interceptions, its most since also picking off four passes vs. Concord in a 62-0 victory in 2006.

BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 856

The Hornets needed just four plays to score on the opening possession of the game. Smith connected with Selby on a 39-yard pass and run to the endzone to give DSU a 6-0 lead just 1:30 into the game. An attempted two-point run after the score was unsuccessful.

Alleyne scored back-to-back touchdowns in the first quarter to give the Hornets a 20-0 lead.

Selby scored his second touchdown of the game on a 30-yard catch and sideline-to-sideline run to stretch the lead to 41-0 at the half.

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Bethune-Cookman Downs FAMU, 33-19

ORLANDO, Florida – Bethune-Cookman proved Ocho Cinco wrong about extending its Florida Blue Florida Classic winning streak to ocho…err…eight wins. The Wildcats scored the game's final 16 points for a 33-19 victory over Florida A&M before a Camping World Stadium crowd of 52,142 Saturday evening.

They will not rise, they shall not rise. I take it to 'em. I do my thang! @CoachDHayes1 #BEATFAMU #8ballcornerpocket#eightinarow pic.twitter.com/LpbWp2oOfI

— Corliss Fingers (@CorlissFingers) November 17, 2018

Tydarius Peters made two (2) fourth quarter interceptions, including a 90-yard interception return for touchdown with 17 seconds remaining to continue the Wildcats winning ways in HBCU's "Premier Football Classic" as well as to end an injury-prone season at 7-5 (5-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) with a third consecutive nail biter.

In addition to Peters' late play, Bethune-Cookman used a 99-yard Tupac Isme burst, a blocked point-after for two points – the team's third of its kind on the year (most by any FCS on the campaign), and two pass plays of 40 yards or longer to set up touchdowns to deny the Rattlers a share of the MEAC championship. North Carolina A&T won the title outright with a 45-0 defeat of North Carolina A&T in Durham.

Florida A&M took a 19-17 lead on Ryan Stanley's 9-yard touchdown pass to George Webb with 37 seconds remaining in the third quarter. But on the ensuing PAT, Vernon Walker III scooped up the blocked kick and returned it for two points to tie the game.

BOX SCORE

BCU responded with a five-play, 75-yard drive that featured a 44-yard David Israel to Malique Jackson completion that set up first-and-goal. Fellow quarterback Jabari Dunham scored two plays later to give the Wildcats a 26-19 lead with 13:53 left in the game.

Congratulations, again, to @CoachTerrySims and the @bethunecookman #Wildcats. Here's a final word... #HailWildcats pic.twitter.com/nVROh1cLwY

— Florida Classic (@FloridaClassic) November 17, 2018

From there, it was the defense, as Peters' two interceptions stopped FAMU drives inside the Wildcats 25-yard line.

BCU trailed 13-7 at halftime, but regained the lead in grand fashion when Isme, sprung by a block from Jonathon Thomas, registered the longest running play in school history on his touchdown to make it 14-13.

The lead increased to 17-13 when Uriel Hernandez booted a 44-yard field goal with 6:13 left on a drive set up by a Trevor Merritt interception.

Israel got the Wildcats on the board in the second quarter on a 1-yard keeper that made it 7-3 with 8:40 left in the first half. A 48-yard pass to Steffon Francois, who was able to get one foot in on the sideline, put the Wildcats in scoring position.

Israel finished 12 of 23 for 216 yards as he managed an offense that produced 417 total yards, but more importantly, had zero (0) turnovers.

Isme gained 107 yards on just five carries and also caught one pass for 12. Jimmie Robinson finished with 41 yards rushing, adding a pass reception for nine yards and 43 yards on a return. Keavon Mitchell led BCU receivers with four catches for 63 yards.

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

Golatt Accounts for 4 TDs to lead Bears over Norfolk State, 44-27

DJ Golatt completed 17 of 23 passes for 3 TDs, and ran for 156 yards on 20 carries and scored a TD.#MORGvsNSU #MEAC #ESPN3 pic.twitter.com/Xasx5lAXHe

— Morgan State Bears (@MorganStBears) November 17, 2018

NORFOLK, Virginia – DJ Golatt Jr. threw three touchdowns, and ran for a touchdown and the Bears dominated Norfolk State 44-27 on Saturday in their season finale. Morgan State wrapped the season with back to back wins and will head into the offseason on a high note.

Golatt, a redshirt freshman, has thrown three touchdown passes in each of his last two games. He was 17 of 23 for 168 yards and had one pass intercepted. He also ran for 156 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

With the win, the Bears also posted its first win against the Spartans since a 29-20 win during Norfolk State's Homecoming on Nov. 4, 2006.

Norfolk State leads the all-time series record at 20-11 since 1965.

The Bears looked as efficient as they have all season. The offense struggled most of the season, but DJ Golatt had the offense rolling.

Morgan State (4-7, 3-4 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) moved the ball right down the field on the opening drive with a good mix of running and passing to drive deep into Spartans territory. Golatt connected with senior wideout Manasseh Bailey on a post play for a 10-yard touchdown. The extra point by senior Alex Raya gave the Bears an early 7-0 lead with 9:31 in the first quarter.

The Spartans (4-6, 2-5) wasted little time in responding. It only took three plays before sophomore quarterback Juwan Carter, the reigning MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, hooked up with speedy wideout Marcus Taylor down the seam for a 71-yard score. Josh Nardon's point after attempt sailed wide left. The Bears led 7-6 with 8:32 left in first quarter.

The Bears were back on the move on the ensuing drive. Alex Raya capped an 11-play 43-yard drive by connected on a 39-yard field goal to extend to a 10-6 lead to end first quarter scoring.

The Bears ground game was on full display throughout the day, especially on the QB keeper plays. Golatt had 93 yards on 13 carries in the first half.

Sophomore running back David Adeleke rambled for a season-high 66 yards on 15 carries. Freshman Jalen Jackson had three carries for 63 yards, most notably an explosive 50-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 44-19 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Carter was picked off by redshirt junior Dominick Trigg who returned it 57 yards for a touchdown to help give the Bears a 17-6 lead with 11:39 left to go in the half. It was Trigg's third interception of the season, and the team's league leading 14th pick of the season.

The Spartans put in backup quarterback D'Andre Thomas, but just two plays into the drive he was pounded by hard-hitting redshirt junior Rico Kennedy. As a result, Thomas was assisted off the field favoring his shoulder. Carter was brought back in to handle the signal calling duties for the rest of the contest.

A big third down conversion on a 14-yard pass to freshman tight end Xavier Gravette helped setup a 10-yard TD run by Golatt (2:04). MSU went into the halftime break with a 24-6 lead.

The Bears continued to light up the scoreboard in the second half. Golatt tossed a TD pass to a wide open Gravette to increase the cushion to 30-6 with 10:05 left in the third quarter. He also Golatt tossed a jump pass for a touchdown to Gravette to extend to a 38-12 lead.

The Spartans had most of their offensive success come long after the Bears starting defensive unit was pulled in order to give the reserves some game experience.

BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 3,437

When it was done, both teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense. Morgan State finished with 504 total yards, and the Bears' aggressive offensive line (aka. The Trench Mob) helped pave the way for a season-high 333 yards on the ground.

It was the largest margin of victory against the Spartans since posting a 58-28 win in Norfolk in 2004.

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY BEARS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Prairie View A&M Panthers Rout Alabama State Hornets

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Prairie View A&M football team scored touchdowns on eight of its first nine possessions in a 66-13 rout of Alabama State Saturday at Panther Stadium.

The Panthers gained 673 yards total offense in scoring 60+ points for the second time this season, a feat not accomplished since 1951. In that season, PVAMU won 64-0 over Sam Huston (now Huston-Tillotson) and Bishop College 72-0 in the first two games of the season.

SCORE UPDATE: #PVAMUFootball 66 vs. ASU 13 with 7:13 remaining in the 4th Q. CLICK TO WATCH all of the #PVAMUFootball GAME DAY Action LIVE from the Hill https://t.co/5eIdto21ty pic.twitter.com/Qkqoaz0NDO

— PVAMU Panthers (@PVAMUPanthers) November 17, 2018

Jalen Morton accounted for six touchdowns, passing for 290 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 196 yards and two touchdowns. It was Morton's second six-touchdown game of the season, as he rushed for a school-record tying four touchdowns while passing for two others in a 62-13 win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 22.

Dawonya Tucker rushed 19 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns and also caught two passes for 25 yards and a touchdown. Tucker now has 1,030 yards this season and is the first PVAMU player to rush for 1,000 yards since Johnta' Hebert's 1,063 yards in 2014.

Markcus Hardy (three receptions, 95 yards) Tristen Wallace (three receptions, 65 yards), and Kalen Riles (two receptions, 32 yards) each caught touchdown passes in the game.

Defensively, the Panthers limited Alabama St. to 280 total yards, forcing three turnovers.

"I thought it was a great performance by our kids," said PVAMU head coach Eric Dooley. "They came out and they played hard. A lot of times, you think you don't have anything to play for. As a team, we have to build momentum. I don't want to put this season to rest, but we have to build momentum into the next year because this is what we are expected to do. I was pleased by the effort and the execution in all three phases of the game."

Prairie View A&M scored on its first three drives of the game. A nine-play, 74-yard drive ended with Wallace's 19-yard touchdown catch in the far corner of the end zone for a 7-0 lead just over two minutes into the game.

Following an Alabama State touchdown, the Panthers drove 71 yards in only five plays as Riles caught a 27-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the end zone for a 14-6 lead with 8:47 to play in the opening quarter.

The PVAMU defense forced a three-and-out, leading to the third touchdown in the opening 10+ minutes of the game. A nine-play, 84-yard drive ended with Morton's 32-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers a 21-6 lead 4:53 to play in the first quarter.

BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 3,025

Prairie View A&M then scored touchdowns on five straight drives following an interception to break the game open. Tucker ended the next two possessions with scoring runs (6,1) to help extend to a 35-6 lead with just under nine minutes to play until halftime. Caleb Broach's 16-yard scoring run with 2:36 to play preceded Hardy's 41-yard touchdown reception to give the Panthers a 49-6 halftime lead.

A six-play, season-long 97-yard touchdown drive, ended with Morton's 37-yard touchdown run and 56-6 lead with 11:17 to play in the third quarter.

Prairie View A&M will conclude the 2018 season hosting Texas Southern next Saturday at 1 p.m., with a live video stream at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork. Tickets are available at pvpanthers.com/tickets.

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Alcorn Captures Fifth Consecutive SWAC East Division Title, Clinches Home Field for SWAC Championship

LORMAN, Mississippi  – A dominant second half secured the fifth straight SWAC East Division crown for the Alcorn State University football program as the Braves defeated Jackson State 24-3 Saturday in the Soul Bowl on Senior Day.

With the win, the Braves (8-3, 6-1 SWAC) wrapped-up home field advantage for the SWAC Championship. It will be the first-ever SWAC Championship game at a host institution.

Alcorn and JSU (5-5, 4-3 SWAC) were tied 3-3 at the half when the Braves scored 21 unanswered and shutout the Tigers in the second half. The go-ahead touchdown came on the first series of the third quarter as senior P.J. Simmons ran it in from eight yards.

Alcorn 24, JSU 3 - Final.

The Braves have clinched home field for the SWAC Championship #FearTheBrave pic.twitter.com/VcvQTkoaef

— Alcorn Sports (@BRAVESSPORTS) November 17, 2018

The Braves increased the lead to 17-3 late in the third on a 47-yard touchdown pass to freshman Juan Anthony. Alcorn put an exclamation point on the game with a 31-yard pick-six by junior Taurence Wilson.

Junior quarterback Noah Johnson threw for 177 yards and a touchdown. Anthony was the top target with four catches for 67 yards.

On the ground, junior De'Shawn Waller rushed for a game-high 124 yards. Simmons ended with 67 yards and a score.

The tackles were evenly dispersed for the Alcorn defense. Junior Solomon Muhammad wrapped-up a team-high eight, while junior Daylon Burks matched his career-high with six tackles.

The Braves out-gained the Tigers 394-195 in total offense, including a 217-92 edge in rushing. Alcorn also controlled the clock with a 35:06-24:54 advantage in time of possession.

JSU's Jarrad Hayes was limited to a 9-of-17 passing mark with 103 yards and an interception. On defense, Darrius Woods turned in a game-high 14 tackles, while Alex Tonea had 10.

After a scoreless first quarter, JSU got on the board first with a 44-yard field goal by Christian Jacquemin. It was setup by a 15-yard rush by Hayes on 3rd-and-23 which moved the Tigers into field goal range.

The Braves evened it 3-3 on their final possession of the half. A 15-yard rush by Johnson got it going, and an 11-yard pass to Waller on 3rd-and-10 kept the series alive. Alcorn took a couple shots toward the end zone with time running out, but settled for a deep 46-yarder from junior Corey McCullough which was good. It was a season-long for McCullough.

Since Alcorn won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, it got the ball again to start the third. The Braves capitalized with an 8-play, 72-yard drive that was capped by the 8-yard score by Simmons through the middle. The key plays were a 17-yard reception by junior Tavares Johnson and a 19-yard reception by Waller.

The Tigers were threatening to answer on the ensuing series after getting to the Alcorn 26. Though, on 3rd-and-6 Hayes was sacked by senior Sterling Shippy for a loss of 11 yards which pushed JSU out of field goal range. It resulted in a punt.

The Braves scored again on their next series to make it a 17-3 game at the 2:03 mark. Waller ran for 20 yards to near midfield, and Johnson connected with Anthony for 47 yards for the touchdown.

Trailing by 14 in the fourth, the Tigers looked to throw the ball as Hayes danced around the pocket on the first play, but ultimately threw a pressured pass to his right that Wilson cut in front of and returned to the house. It was the cherry-on-top for Alcorn's second half and made it a 24-7 game with 8:07 left.

JSU made one final push after a pass to Ramone Ward went for 43 yards to the Alcorn 17. However, on the very next play, sophomore Qwnnterrio Cole stripped Hayes of the ball cleanly and dove on the fumble to cause a turnover.

The Braves will now await the winner of the Southern vs. Grambling contest on Nov. 24 to find out who they play in the SWAC Championship game on Dec. 1. Alcorn defeated both teams earlier this season with a 20-3 win over SU and a 33-26 victory over GSU.

BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 21,312

NOTES
- The Braves were already the first team to ever play in four consecutive SWAC Championship games and will now make it five.

- Alcorn improved to 14-2 against SWAC East Division opponents over the last four seasons.

- The Braves entered the game ranked top-10 in the FCS in time of possession (33:00) and will improve their tally after keeping the ball for 35:06.

- It marked the third time this year that Alcorn held the opposition to three points or less. It defeated Louisiana College 78-0 in the home-opener and Southern 20-3 on the road. It was also the fourth time the Braves did not allow a defensive touchdown, as Prairie View A&M only scored on a special teams play in a 27-13 decision.

- With a touchdown pass in the game, Johnson is now tied at No. 8 all-time in school history with Marcus Taylor for his career with 30. Johnson was added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List after the team's last game at New Mexico State; the award goes to the best player in FCS.

- Waller has rushed for at least 100 yards in five of the last six games.

- Alcorn improved to 4-1 at home this year and 79-53 all-time at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.

- The Braves are ranked No. 2 in this week's HBCU Poll and are receiving 90 votes in the FCS Coaches Poll. JSU is No. 8 in the HBCU Poll.

- Anthony's 67 receiving yards and 47-yard reception were both career-highs. His previous bests were 60 yards and a 24-yard reception against Alabama State earlier this year.

- Alcorn's captains were Shippy, Waller and senior Matthew Stewart. The Braves won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.

Quoting Alcorn head coach Fred McNair
Opening Statement
"I thought coming out in the first half we played tough, but we just couldn't finish drives. Based off the first half I knew we had to come out in the second half with something better. We didn't execute in the first half, but we came out in the second and did. The defense played outstanding. We got some big stops and a pick-six by Wilson. These guys work hard every day at practice and they deserve this. Everything goes to these young men that are playing the game."

On the second half
"We came out with our fast tempo and it gave us a chance to do some of the things we couldn't do in the first half. We started getting the ball outside to our receivers on the bubble screens. We completed some gashes in the middle and we got into a whole different play scheme then we had in the first half. All I said was close your eyes and think about the second half of the New Mexico State game. I didn't have to say anything else and they went out and played how they were supposed to."

On what the win means to him
"Anytime it comes down to me personally and this football program I can never say enough about the guys behind the scenes. These young guys have to put up with me every day at practice. It's always special when you talk about the SWAC East championship with this being the fifth one in a row. It's also special to win here at home."

Quoting junior quarterback Noah Johnson
On the momentum shift in the second half
"We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot in the first half. It was more about our offense shooting ourselves in the foot than their defense. I can't wait until we put together a full 60-minute ball game. We haven't played a full ball game all year and we've been winning. I can't wait to see a full 60-minute game."

Quoting junior defensive back Taurence Wilson
On his pick-six
"It's all a part of the process. Coach said if we just trust the system we'll be successful as players. Their offense was everything we watched throughout the week. All credit to film study, there was nothing coming at me that I didn't see."

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BRAVES ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Bethune, Alabama A&M defense dominate Mississippi Valley

ITTA BENA, Mississippi — Yurik Bethune was on a mission.

His goal:

Knock Mississippi Valley's quarterback into the turf as many times possible.

Well, mission accomplished.

Bethune constantly was in the backfield creating havoc as Alabama A&M cruised past Mississippi Valley State 42-14 Saturday afternoon in a SWAC football game.

With the win, Alabama A&M (6-5) completed its first winning season since 2012.

"I wanted to go out with a bang," Bethune said. "Well, I think we did just that. We finished this season off the right way."

Bethune entered the game as one of the SWAC's top edge rushers.

The senior defensive tackle lived up to his reputation.

Early in the first quarter, Bethune came off the edge to sack Mississippi Valley quarterback Jett Even — which turned out to be a recurring theme.

Bethune finished the day with a season-high 3.5 sacks. He also recorded six tackles.

But Bethune was not the only Alabama A&M defender who was getting to the quarterback. Pressure was coming from everywhere.
Alabama A&M's defense recorded a season-high seven sacks. Davonta Jackson finished with two sacks, and Michael Edmonds had one.

The constant pressure stymied Mississippi Valley's offense. The Delta Devils (1-8) only managed only managed 217 yards of offense, with a pedestrian 161 through the air.

"That might be the best we played all year," Alabama A&M cornerback Michael Mills said. "And that's exactly what we needed. We closed this out with a lot of positives as we head into the offseason.

"Everyone sees the potential we have here with this team. Everyone here understands what we're capable of doing."
Mississippi Valley scored on the game's opening possession when Even threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Stetson Moore.

The lead, however, did not last long.

Jordan Bentley rushed for three touchdowns, and Trevon Walters added two more as Alabama A&M raced to a commanding lead.
Bentley scored on runs of 43, 17 and two yards, while Walters scored on a pair of 2-yard runs.

Bentley led Alabama A&M with 71 yards on six carries.

BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 1879

Aqeel Glass passed for 208 yards and a touchdown, completing 10 of 19 attempts. Zabrian Moore caught three passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, while Marceles Clash caught five passes for 88 yards.

"This was a great way to close out the season," Walters said. "This might have been my last college game, but it was a good day. I got a chance to rush for two touchdowns, and enjoy one last win with these teammates."

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

S.C. State Lady Bulldogs Win Home Opener Over Charleston Southern Bucs

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  — Senior guard Jakayvea Akins poured in team-high 21 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead South Carolina State to a, 67-58, home-opener victory over visiting Charleston Southern Friday (Nov. 16th ) at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

"I am so proud of the team played tonight," said first-year head coach Audra Smith. "We got down 12-points at one point and we kept fighting and stuck with it and was able to pull out the victory at home."

"When we were down I told my players that we have to pick up our defensive efforts and get back and defend," said Smith. "I am just glad we were able to stay focused down the stretch. Now we will enjoy this win for a little while and get ready for Presbyterian on next week."

The first-half was pretty much even with South Carolina State leading 31-30 during intermission.

CSU came out strong in the third quarter jumping out to an 11-point lead off a jumper by Rachel Burns with 3:10 remaining left. A turnover by senior guard Kyesha Lewis put the Bucs in scoring position to move ahead, 39-51 at the 9:24 mark in the fourth quarter.

BOX SCORE

A jumper by Akins followed by a 3-pointer by senior guard Kemoni Jenkins sparked a 15-3 run to tie the game 54-54 with 3:45 remaining in regulation. Akins responded tossing in six of her 21 points in the closing minutes to give South Carolina State the victory.

Senior forward Jaquanna Murray had a solid day rebounding with an game-high 21 rebounds, four points and two blocks. Jenkins chipped in 13 and Rhein Beamon added 10, six rebounds and three assist on the night.

CSU was led by Ke'Asia Jackson with 22 points, while teammate Weknyne Dumorne added 11 in the loss.

South Carolina State returns to action Tuesday (Nov.20th) on the road at Presbyterian. Tipoff is 6 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

Florida Blue Florida Classic McDonald's Half-Time Show 2018

ATTENDANCE: 52,142

North Carolina A&T State Aggies Beat WSSU Rams In Renewed Rivalry Game

EAST GREENSBORO, North Carolina  – Forget the Division I and Division II labels associated with North Carolina A&T and Winston-Salem State.

The Aggie/Rams rivalry is still a thing. It was renewed again through women’s basketball Friday night with the DII Rams giving the Aggies a scare before succumbing to N.C. A&T, 60-56 in front of a great crowd at Corbett Sports Center.

“Regardless of how we performed, a win is a win,” said N.C. A&T coach Tarrell Robison. “It is up to us to learn from this and get better. Winston-Salem State University came in here, brought their fans, and made this a true rivalry game. It was great playing in front of a crowd like this early in the season. I think it will only benefit us moving forward.”

Robinson’s crew played without his top two scorers in juniors C’coriea Foy and Cinia McCray. Their absences allowed Robinson to see some of his young talents. Freshman Charme Lilly led the Aggies with 18 points and five steals. Junior Alexus Lessears finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Freshman Taya Jones came off the bench and hit two 3-pointers.

“We got to see a lot of people play in this environment. We got to see who responded and who didn’t,” said Robinson. “Lilly was a very talented and skilled young lady coming out of high school. She was highly decorated in terms of all-state and player of the year, so we knew the type of player we had coming in. It was good to see her have a good performance. I thought Taya put together a couple of good practices to give herself an opportunity to play tonight.”

As the Aggies march toward conference play, Robinson also thought it was positive that the Aggies got a chance to build their bench while two of his standouts heal. He did not like seeing his team shoot 4-for-28 from the line, however.

The Aggies woes at the line helped the Rams stay in the game. WSSU trailed 46-44 going into the fourth quarter and the Rams even took the lead at 47-46 a minute into the fourth. The Aggies used their two bigs to regain the lead as junior Le’on Hill threw the ball down to Lessears for a layup. N.C. A&T junior guard Mikaya Wilson followed that with a steal and rocket pass to sophomore Morgan Batie in transition for a corner jump shot to give the Aggies a 50-47 lead.

BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 2729

Another Wilson steal led to a transition basket for Hill. Wilson continued her defensive torture over the Rams with a steal and layup to complete the Aggies 8-0 run. WSSU halted the Aggies run temporarily with two Teara Johnson free throws. But the Aggies scored the next five points to take a 59-49 lead as Hill followed a Charnise Tyler miss with 4:38 to play in the game. It was the Aggies final field goal, but it was enough to hold off the determined Rams.

N.C. A&T (1-2) scored the first nine points of the game. They took their biggest lead of the half at 28-18 with 1:08 remaining in the first half before a Johnson bucket sent the Rams into the locker room down 28-20. Johnson led the Rams with 17 points.

“We’ve got to get back in the gym and put in the hours and time to get better,” said Robinson. “Right now, I think that is what is missing from this group. They think you can get it all in practice and you can’t. We have a good group of young women, they will learn from this, they will start to adjust and do the things necessary to move forward.”

N.C. A&T returns to action 11 a.m., Tuesday to play the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, Va.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Friday Night Florida Classic BOTB Showcase 2018

VIDEOGRAPHER: SHOWTIME WEB

Head Basketball Coach Ty Grace Inks Top Local Talent and Southern Gem

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University women's basketball head coach Ty Grace has announced the signings of two players, Makayla Minett and Iyanna Warren, for the 2018-19 early signing period.

"I'm very excited to have Makayla and Iyanna join our program! They will be great additions to an experienced team next season. They both bring a wealth of talent and skill that will only make our team better."

Minett is a 6'3" senior forward out of Pearl High School in Pearl, MS. Before transferring to Pearl for her senior season, she played at Pelahatchie High School. There she averaged 17.2 points and 14.8 rebounds. Currently she is coached by Jason Kennedy at Pearl High School. Additionally, Minett played for the successful Mac Irvin Lady Fire club team. Minett was named to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen, which recognizes the top 12 players in the state of Mississippi.

"Makayla's size and mobility gives her tremendous advantage against other post players. Her ability to protect the rim , as well as hit the 15-17 foot shot will certainly allow her to be a force and matchup problem on the floor. I can't wait to coach her next season!"

Local Maryland talent Iyanna Warren is a 5'4" point guard coming from Oxon Hill High School where she averaged 15.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 4.7 apg. She is coached by Devone Williams. Warren also played on the AAU circuit with Team Durant. She received Honorable Mention for the D.C.-area's 2018 Winter All-Met Team. Last season she led Oxon Hill to a 22-1 season in which she contributed 271 points.

"Iyanna is a shifty guard and playmaker. Her ability to create for others is a great asset that she will flourish in. She has the ability to score off the bounce and knock shots down from the outside. Iyanna is a triple threat player who will be a great floor general for our team!"

Minett and Warren who are also high achieving students in the classroom have exceptionally high grade point averages amid their basketball obligations. "These young ladies are great examples of the type of student-athletes we want at Howard University. They excel on the court and more importantly in the classroom. Both Iyanna and Makayla boast a 4.0 GPA, or better. You can't ask for a better duo."

About Howard University Athletics
The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 19 NCAA Division I men and women varsity sports. The programs represent six conferences: the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA), Sun Belt Conference, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference. Visit www.hubison.com to learn more.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Saturday, 11/17/18 -- HBCU Basketball Television Schedule

MEN BASKETBALL

Fayetteville State at Wingate, 2 PM, ESPN3
Bethune-Cookman at Miami, 2 PM, ACC NETWORK
Prairie View A&M at Lamar, 3PM, ESPN3
Southern at George Mason, 4 PM, ESPN+
Fisk at Tennessee State, 8 PM, ESPN+
Arkansas Pine Bluff at Southern Illinois, 8 PM, ESPN3
Norfolk State at Stony Brook, 8:30 PM, ESPN3

WOMEN BASKETBALL
Stillman at North Alabama, 2 PM, ESPN+
Chicago State at Morehead State, 5:05 PM, ESPN+

ALL GAMES START TIME SHOWN IN EASTERN TIME ZONE

Howard Bison Hot Start Downs UMass Men’s Hoops 68-63

AMHERST, Massachusetts – A quick start for Howard led the Bison to a 68-63 win over the UMass men's basketball team on Friday night at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen bridged a 17-to-0 run between the halves to pull within two, but could not overcome Howard's 50-percent shooting effort in the first half.

Luwane Pipkins posted his second career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds while coming close to a triple-double with eight assists. Jonathan Laurent also reached double figures for UMass (2-2) with 16 points. Carl Pierre and Sy Chatman each scored nine points.

The Bison (4-0) had four players in double figures led by 19 points from Charles Williams and 17 points from R.J. Cole. Akuwovo Ogheneyole had a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 14 points, while Chad Lott had 12 points.

Howard started the game on a hot streak hitting 5-of-7 from the field to jump out to an 11-2 lead within the first 3:12 of play. The Bison lead grew to 39-20 with 3:49 to go as Howard shot 14-of-28 (50%) for the first half.

UMass closed the opening stanza with six straight points to narrow the gap to 39-26 at the intermission.

That momentum carried into the second half as the Minutemen scored 11 straight to cut Howard's lead to 39-37 with 17:26 to go. Seven of those points came from Laurent, while Pierre added a three pointer as well to draw the Mullins Center crowd back to life.

The Bison then used a 12-to-2 run to re-establish a double-figure lead before a Pipkins lay-up halted the momentum. UMass then used a nine-point spurt to pull within six, 56-50, with 5:12 remaining.

The teams traded baskets before Howard hit four straight free throws to regain a 62-52 lead. The Minutemen strung together another short burst with a dunk from Rashaan Holloway, a triple from Pierre and a lay-up from Curtis Cobb cut the deficit to three with 2:03 to go.

Howard continued to keep separation but a Laurent dunk with 59 seconds left kept it a one-possession game, 66-63.

BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 2048

UMass had a pair of chances at three-pointers with under 16 seconds to go, but Howard was able to haul in the defensive rebound and convert two free throws after being fouled to stop the clock. Cobb had one final look as time expired for a three-pointer but it too was off as the horn sounded.

The Minutemen will return to action on Monday, Nov. 19 for its second game of the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational when UMass hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the Mullins Center (7 PM).

For complete coverage of the UMass basketball team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassBasketball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Road To The Championship HBCU Football Schedule: Week 12

WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY RED SEA OF SOUND MARCHING BAND 


SATURDAY, November 17, 2018

MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (MEAC)
Bryant at Howard, 1 PM, TV: ESPN3
Morgan State at Norfolk State, 1 PM, TV: ESPN3
Savannah State at South Carolina State, 1:30 PM, TV: ESPN3
Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M at Orlando, FL,  2 PM, TV: ESPN
    Classic/ESPN3, 40th Florida Blue Florida Classic
North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central, 2 PM, TV: ESPN3(Live),
    ESPNU(TD 10:30 PM)
Virginia University Lynchburg at Delaware State, 2 PM,  TV: ESPN3

BIG SOUTH
Saint Andrews at Hampton, 1 PM, TV: ESPN+  Listen  Stats

OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE
Tennessee-Martin at Tennessee State, 3 PM, TV: ESPN+

SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SWAC)
Alabama State at Prairie View A&M, 2 PM, Video: PV Sports Network
Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State, 2 PM
Jackson State at Alcorn State, 3 PM, Video: Braves All-Access, Stats  Listen
Arkansas Pine Bluff at Texas Southern, 8:30 PM, TV: AT&T SportsNet, Stats

NCAA D2 FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS - CIAA
West Alabama at Bowie State, 12 Noon, LIVE VIDEO: theciaasn.com

NAIA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - First Round
*Langston (Oklahoma) (9-1) at Kansas Wesleyan (11-0), 2 PM, LIVE Video   Stats
*Sooner Athletic Conference Champions (SAC)


BENEDICT COLLEGE MARCHING TIGER BAND OF DISTINCTION

MEAC STANDINGS AS OF 11/12/18
1. Florida A&M Rattlers 5-1 MEAC, 6-4 Overall 
2. North Carolina A&T State 5-1 MEAC, 8-2 Overall (A&T Lost To FAMU)
3. Bethune-Cookman 4-2 MEAC, 6-5 Overall
4. South Carolina State, 3-2 MEAC, 4-5 Overall

SWAC STANDINGS AS OF 11/12/18
EAST Division 
1. Alcorn State, 6-1 SWAC, 7-3 Overall
2. Jackson State, 4-2 SWAC, 5-4 Overall

WEST Division (TBD**)
1. Southern, 5-1 SWAC, 6-3 Overall
2. Grambling State, 5-2 SWAC, 6-4 Overall
**Grambling State vs. Southern at 45th Annual Bayou Classic, 11/24/18

ALL GAME TIMES ARE STATED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE 



MASS BANDS: Benedict College, Johnson C. Smith, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central, South Carolina State and Winston-Salem State University Marching Bands

NCCU Football Weekly Press Conference: Week 12 vs North Carolina A&T

The North Carolina Central University football program held its weekly press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 13 ahead of the Eagles' annual rivalry game with North Carolina A&T. Hear from interim head coach Granville Eastman and student-athlete Nick Leverett as they discuss the rivalry, and the previous game with Bethune-Cookman.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION