Grambling State's backup QB leads comeback effort in State Fair Classic win

DALLAS, Texas -- It was a toss-up, really, which team would take home the 2014 Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic title. Grambling State entered the game having won its first game of the season just last weekend, while winless Prairie View A&M had dominated the annual meeting the past three years.

But in the end, momentum trumped history Saturday as Grambling State won 26-20 at the Cotton Bowl.

Grambling played catch up the entire game before notching its first lead toward the end of the third quarter on senior running back Juwan Martin’s 8-yard touchdown run that also proved to be the winning score.

Making the win even more impressive was the fact that Grambling was without its starting quarterback, redshirt freshman Stephen Johnson, who injured his ankle after leading the team to victory last weekend over Jackson State.

And then about halfway through the first quarter, Grambling was without its second choice when senior quarterback D.J. Williams left the game with a knee injury. So the job went to redshirt junior Johnathan Williams.

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S.C. State comes from behind to beat Hampton 17-10

HAMPTON, Virginia — Hampton University and South Carolina State each left sunny Armstrong Stadium with plenty of regrets over botched plays and missed opportunities. A conference road victory eases the sting considerably.

While S.C. State finally converted those chances, the Pirates’ red-zone execution again lacked in a wrenching 17-10 loss Saturday in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

“They made a couple more plays than we did,” HU coach Connell Maynor said. “We left some plays out there on the field. When it comes down to it, they made more plays than we did. We don’t make excuses. We had 60 minutes to prove we were better and we didn’t do it.”

South Carolina State (3-2, 1-0 MEAC) scored two touchdowns in a wild fourth quarter, the second on Jalen Simmons’ 1-yard stroll into the end zone with 1:09 remaining for the eventual winning points.

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A&T Aggies Earn First Conference Win, Beat Howard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Carolina A&T put the ball in the hands of a true freshman Saturday afternoon and then relied on its defense to secure an important 38-22 conference win over Howard at Greene Memorial Stadium.

A few Bison (1-4, 0-2 MEAC) dropped passes – 11 to be exact – helped along the way. The Aggies (4-1, 1-0) will take what they can get after winning without the nation’s sixth-leading rusher in sophomore Tarik Cohen and playing the entire second half without starting quarterback Kwashaun Quick who left due to injury.

Instead the Aggies turned to High Point, N.C., freshman Marquell Cartwright to carry the ball in place of Cohen, while freshman Hasaan Klugh took care of the quarterbacking duties for Quick. Cartwright finished with 135 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries. In only two quarters of play, Quick threw for 200 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 14-for-23 passing. He also caught a 3-yard touchdown pass in the first half.

But it was the Aggies defense that remained steadfast despite watching a 28-7 lead dwindled into a 28-22 lead with three minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Cartwright gave his defense a boost by bursting through a humungous hole on the left side to score on a 16-yard touchdown with a minute left in the third quarter to put A&T ahead 35-22.



“I’m so proud of our guys because they just keep overcoming a lot,” said A&T head coach Rod Broadway. “Tarik couldn’t play today. Our quarterback only played a half, but guys just keep rising up and playing for us. That’s a good sign to have as a football team.”

MEAC preseason offensive player of the year Greg McGhee tested A&T’s toughness throughout the afternoon. McGhee closed out the third quarter with a 50 yard run after scrambling around in the pocket to break free. McGhee complemented the 50-yard run with a 10-yard run to the Aggies 4-yard line to open the fourth quarter. But a 5-yard false start penalty, a 1-yard run and three straight incompletions, including a drop in the end zone kept the Bison from scoring.

“He’s a heckuva a player. I’m glad he is gone,” said Broadway about the senior signal caller who threw for 237 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 20-for-44 passing.

Howard’s next possession resulted in a three-and-out before junior cornerback Tony McRae would all but seal the game by intercepting a McGhee pass and returning it 23 yards to the Bison 36. The Aggies came into the game leading the nation in interceptions. McRae’s pick was the team’s 11th. Nine plays after the turnover, sophomore Cody Jones connected on a 40-yard field goal to put A&T in front by 16.

“I thought we should have had 35 or 42 points in the first half,” said Broadway. “We had few too many mistakes that cost us. But any time you can get up 28-7, it’s big for you. Despite what they did to us on that first drive, our defense ended up playing well.”

The Bison took the game’s opening drive 76 yards on seven plays and closed the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run from McGhee. The Aggies offense looked unstoppable for the remainder of the first half. Senior Desmond Lawrence turned a short pass into a 49-yard touchdown receptions thanks to his sprinter’s speed as the Aggies tied the game at 7. A&T used a little trickery as a double reverse turned into a 3-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman receiver Caleb Gabriel to Quick on a 4th-and-goal from the 3.

The Aggies scored on three straight possessions to close the first quarter as Cartwright broke through for an 11-yard touchdown run. Junior Darren Bullock closed out A&T’s first-half scoring as Quick found him wide open on a post pattern. After catching the ball, Bullock made a move toward the middle of the field at the 20 to score on the 46-yard catch and run to put A&T ahead 28-7 before Howard scored nine straight to close out the first half trailing 28-16.

Redshirt sophomore nose guard Marquis Ragland led the Aggies with five tackles (all unassisted), two tackles for loss, a sack and he blocked an extra point. Redshirt junior Denzel Jones added a team-high 10 tackles.

“We’re glad to come up here and get out of here with a win but it was costly,” said Broadway. “We have a number of injuries, so we just have to go back and prepare for South Carolina State the best way we know how.”

The Aggies return to Atlanta to face the Bulldogs in the 26th annual Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome. S.C. State won last year’s matchup in Atlanta, 29-24.

BOX SCORE: A&T 38, Howard 22

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Pough lowkey on getting 100th career win, looks for repeat performance from new QB against Hampton

HAMPTON, Virginia — Don’t expect confetti or balloons flying over the South Carolina State sidelines should head coach Buddy Pough earn career win 100th at his alma mater this afternoon.

Even if today’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener against Hampton took place at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium rather than Armstrong Stadium, the achievement would continue to receive low-key treatment from Pough.

“Hopefully, it will happen in a way where we can let it go into the sunset,” said Pough, whose record at S.C. State stands at 99-45.

A week after leading the Bulldogs (2-2) to a 17-7 win over previously ranked Furman, quarterback TeDarius Wiley will remain in the lead role. The North Carolina native was given the nod based on his error-free play against the Paladins and former starter Adrian Kollack Jr. remaining sidelined with his left shoulder injury.



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Sidney Lanier retires jersey of former standout Reggie Barlow

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- Current Alabama State University head coach and former Sidney Lanier High School player Reggie Barlow received a big honor this week as the Poets retired his #8 jersey during a ceremony on Thursday.

"[Current] Coach C.J. Harris and the Booster Club reached out to me and told me that was something they wanted to do," Barlow said. "Obviously I was honored and I do know the tradition and the history and all the great people that have been through Lanier High School and not just athletes. We have had people that have turned out to be lawyers, doctors, mayors, just really top of the line folks. It was a blessing to be honored and have the jersey retired."

Barlow earned All-State honors as a member of the Poets football team, and from there he went on to be an All-SWAC player at Alabama State.



"We didn't win a lot of games (at Lanier)," Barlow said. "I think they looked at the body of work with me being there and being All-State, and coming over here (ASU) and doing what I was able to do here and of course in the NFL. Maybe it was just an accumulation of all those things that have happened to me in my sports career."

After playing in college, Barlow was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft.

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Week 5: HBCU Football Schedule

ALWAY WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN 

SATURDAY, September 27, 2014

OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE
Florida A&M at Tennessee State (Homecoming), 7 PM, FREE Live Video

MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
North Carolina A&T at Howard, 1 PM
South Carolina State at Hampton, 2 PM
Morgan State at Norfolk State, 4 PM
Florida Tech at Bethune-Cookman, 4 PM
Savannah State at Delaware State, 6 PM
Florida A&M at Tennessee State (Homecoming), 7 PM,  FREE Live Video 

SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley, 5 PM
Prairie View vs. Grambling State at Dallas (State Fair Classic), 5 PM
Southern at Alcorn State, 5 PM, ESPN3
Texas Southern at Alabama State, 6 PM
Jackson State at Arkansas Pine Bluff, 7 PM



OTHER CONFERENCES
Fairmont State at West Virginia State, 1 PM
Point U. at Edward Waters, 2 PM
Langston at Hardin-Simmons, 2 PM
West Georgia at Clark Atlanta, 2 PM
Oklahoma Panhandle State at Texas College, 3 PM
Florida Tech at Bethune-Cookman, 4 PM
Virginia University Lynchburg at Saint Francis (Pa.), 4 PM
Central State (Ohio) at Delta State, 6 PM
Cheyney at Kutztown, 6 PM
Concordia College at West Alabama, 7 PM
Lincoln (Mo.) at Truman State, 8 PM

CENTRAL INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Lincoln (Pa.) at Shaw, 1 PM
Bowie State at Livingstone, 1 PM
Chowan at Saint Augustine's, 1:30 PM
Virginia Union at Johnson C. Smith, 2 PM
Fayetteville State at Virginia State, 2 PM
Elizabeth City State at Winston-Salem State, 6 PM

SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Lane at Tuskegee, 1 PM
West Georgia at Clark Atlanta, 2 PM
Morehouse at Paine, 2 PM
Kentucky State at Stillman, 3 PM
Fort Valley State at Benedict, 6 PM
Central State (Ohio) at Delta State, 6 PM
Miles College at Albany State, 7 PM

ALL GAMES EASTERN TIME ZONE

5 from XU reach regional singles round of 16

NEW ORLEANS -- Five singles players from Xavier University of Louisiana, including top-seeded Nour Abbes, advanced to the round of 16 Friday at the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional Championships at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center.

Abbes, a sophomore who is 22-0 in singles at Xavier, defeated Brenau's Snezhana Kiseleva 6-0, 6-1 and will play Auburn Montgomery's Claudine Maheu at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Also advancing from XU were Brion Flowers and Sha'Nel Bruins in the women's main draw and Tushar Mandlekar and Adam Albrecht in the men's. Mandlekar won twice, including a 6-3, 6-1 decision in the round of 32 against Mobile's Marcio Dal Pont, an honorable-mention NAIA All-American last season.

XU doubles teams of Abbes-Carmen Nelson, Bruins-Brandi Nelson and Mandlekar-Kevin Chaouat advanced to the quarterfinals. Reaching the round of 16 were Albrecht-Nikita Soifer and Flowers-Dasia Harris.

Soifer, seeded fourth in men's singles, lost 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 to AUM's Francisco Mendieta in the round of 32.

All round-of-16 main-draw singles matches will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at City Park, followed by singles consolation rounds at 10:15 and 12:30 p.m., main-draw singles quarterfinals at 11 and doubles at 1:30. Semifinals and finals in the main draw will be conducted Sunday at XU Tennis Center.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold
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GCAC awards: Jackson ties record, Fakler extends hers

 Kwame Jackson and Catherine Fakler

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Kwame Jackson tied a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's cross country career record when he was named GCAC Runner of the Week for Sept. 15-21. It's the 13th time that Jackson has been honored.

Earning the GCAC women's award was Xavier's Catherine Fakler, who extended her career record to 11. Jackson and Fakler have won four times apiece in as many weeks this season.

Jackson is from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School. Fakler is from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School. Both are XU seniors.

Jackson, who shares the GCAC men's record with former teammate Matt Pieri, finished 11th out of 54 runners in the LSU Invitational at Baton Rouge, La. He ran 5,000 meters in 16 minutes, 15.94 seconds — the Gold Rush's fifth-fastest 5K of the past 12 seasons.

Fakler ran her 5K in 19:10.99 to place eighth out of 48 women. Her time was the eighth fastest in Gold Nuggets history.

Both XU teams earned their highest-ever finish at the LSU Invitational. The Nuggets placed third, and the Rush placed fourth. Both teams finished ahead of a pair of NCAA Division I opponents. Xavier is an NAIA member.

Xavier will compete Saturday in the McNeese Cowboy Stampede at Lake Charles, La.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold
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GAME DAY CENTRAL HUB: Florida A&M at Tennessee State

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS        FAMU Game Notes    LP Field (NFL) Bag Policy    TSU Game Notes

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  – Be prepared as the Rattlers take on the Tigers of Tennessee State, Sat., Sept.27 at 6 p.m. (CST) 7 p.m. (EST) at LP Field.

Watching On The Web: Tennessee State is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), who produces webcasts of sporting events for its member institutions.  To watch the game online, visit: http://www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com/watch/?Live=1795

Listening on the Radio: WHBX 96.1 JAMZ Tallahassee is our flagship radiostation.  The radio station can be heard locally in Tallahassee and surrounding areas on 96.1-FM.  If you are not in the immediate area, you can log on and listen to the call of the game by play-by-play announcer Joshua Jackson and color analyst Michael Smith, by navigating to www.961JAMZ.com.  In addition, the station is on iHeart radio, where you can listen in on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Log on to iHeart radio and find WHBX 96.1 Tallahassee.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU sweeps Loyola; Dillard visits Saturday

NEW ORLEANS -- Chinedu Echebelem's third double-double of the season, 10 kills and 13 digs, led Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-21, 25-19, 27-25 women's volleyball victory against Loyola on Friday at XU's  Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (7-2), winner of seven straight, will play another city rival, Dillard, at noon Saturday at the  Convocation Center.

Echebelem also matched her career high of four blocks. She had a kill and teamed with Jodi Hill for a pair of blocks in Xavier's 12-3 run to end the match. The Gold Nuggets trailed 22-15 in the third set and fought off four set points.

Hill ended the match with an ace. Hill, CeCe Williams and Claudia Haywood had eight kills apiece, and Hill had a career-high six blocks. Jada Broussard had seven kills.

XU's Darian Harris had 17 digs and reached double figures for the eighth consecutive time.

Eva Allen had 16 kills and Lauren Brand eight for the Wolf Pack (6-10), and Becca Burnett had 10 digs.

Xavier, beating Loyola for the fourth consecutive time, rallied from 4-0 and 16-13 first-set deficits.

Xavier outhit Loyola .252 to .216 for the match and had advantages of 45-41 in kills, 55-42 in digs and 10-3 in blocks. The Gold Nuggets' blocks were a season high.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Tennessee State: Ed Temple To Be Honored With Statue

ED TEMPLE
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Mayor Karl Dean will join friends and supporters of legendary TSU and U.S. Olympic women’s track coach Ed Temple at a reception Tuesday, Sept. 30, to announce the creation of a statue honoring Temple.

The event will be held at 5 p.m. in the main atrium at Bridgestone Arena. Pete Weber, voice of the Nashville Predators, will moderate a discussion with Coach Temple following remarks from Mayor Dean and Bo Roberts, who has led the effort for this statue for more than 15 years. Nationally renowned sports sculptor Brian Hanlon will be on hand to unveil a model of the statue.

The reception will announce the creation of a statue honoring Coach Temple, including an announcement of the statue’s location, a model of the statue and a call for fundraising support.

Temple was head women's track and field coach at Tennessee State University for 44 years. During his coaching career at Tennessee State University, forty members of the famed Tigerbelle teams have represented their countries in Olympic competition. Coach Temple has led the team to 34 national titles, and eight Tigerbelles have been inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, including Wilma Rudolph, Edith McGuire, Wyomia Tyus, and Chandra Cheeseborough, the current coach at TSU.

Temple has been inducted into at least nine Hall of Fames, including one from his alma mater Tennessee State University.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

A&T Aggies Open Conference Season At Howard

North Carolina A&T (3-1, 0-0 MEAC) vs. Howard (1-3, 0-1 MEAC)
Date: Sept. 27, 2014
Time: 1 p.m.
Facility: Greene Memorial Stadium
Series: A&T leads, 25-20-2
Media: WNAA, 90.1 FM; Play-by-play – Spencer Gwynn; Analyst – Billy Covington and Al Swann

Aggies Overview: North Carolina A&T heads to the nation’s capital to open the conference season against Howard University. The Aggies are 2-1 under head coach Rod Broadway in conference openers with the team’s only loss coming in a 21-18 defeat at home against Morgan State on Sept. 27, 2012. The last time the Aggies opened the conference season on the road, they came away with a 24-3 win over Morgan State in Baltimore on Oct. 1, 2011. The Aggies are 7-10-1 at Greene Memorial Stadium. A&T will face a tough challenge in the MEAC’s preseason offensive player of the year Greg McGhee, the Bison’s starting quarterback. A&T’s secondary looks up to the challenge. Their 10 interceptions lead the nation, and cornerback Donald Mattocks leads the country in picks per game (1.3). On the offensive end, the Aggies will be looking for the offensive diversity that allowed junior quarterback Kwashaun Quick to connect with 10 different receivers versus Chowan last week.

Howard Overview: McGhee has played three games against A&T in his career. He has thrown for 662 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions on 59-for-116 (.509) passing in those games. This season McGhee has completed 48.3 percent of his passes for 614 yards and two touchdowns. Against Division II Morehouse he was 16-for-30 for 149 yards and two touchdowns. At the start of the season, the Bison also featured a superstar sophomore running back in Anthony Philyaw, but he has not played this season. Instead the running game has been put in the hands of McGhee, Aquanius Freeman, Terrance Tusan and William Parker. Each player has at least 25 carries this season with McGhee leading the way with 61. McGhee had 95 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 20 carries in the Bison’s 38-35 loss to Morgan State at MetLife Stadium last week. The Bison rank third in the conference in total offense and ninth in total defense.

News & Notes:

A&T scored a school record 42 points in one quarter, which was the second quarter against Chowan. The Aggies also scored a school-record 52 first-half points against the Hawks.
The Aggies had a few more records in their win over the Hawks. Donald Mattocks tied Alonza Barnett’s school record with three interceptions in one game. The Aggies also picked off a school record five passes.

The Aggies 59-0 win was the fourth-biggest shutout win in school history. Head coach Rod Broadway owns two of the Aggies’ biggest shutout wins after his 2012 team defeated West Virginia State 77-0.

A&T lost 35-28 in its last trip to Greene Memorial Stadium after giving up an 82-yard kickoff return, fumbling at the Bison’s 1-yard line and failing to score after having 1st-and-goal from the Bison 3 in overtime.

They said what?

“A&T coming to town is always exciting for the campus. The student population and the campus love when this type of team comes to town. Coach Broadway and his staff have the Aggies playing well. They are very explosive and they make big plays. The quarterback (Kwashaun Quick) has done a good job and of course the running back is outstanding. But they also do a good job on defense in terms of creating turnovers, and their special teams are outstanding. They are a tough matchup.”

Howard head coach Gary Harrell on playing A&T

“We are sort of in a similar position we were in three years ago when we went up there. We were 4-2 when we went up there at that time. We weren’t a very good football team. We thought we were fairly good, but we got up there and got embarrassed. Now we’re sitting here 3-1, taking a team up there that I know is a better football team, but we’ve got to play the best game we’ve played all year. That loss (three years ago) changed the course of our football season, so we’re going to go up there and play hard and hopefully we want put ourselves in a position that we put ourselves in the first year I was here because we only won one more game the rest of the year.”

A&T head coach Rod Broadway on the Aggies 35-28 overtime loss in 2011

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU's Abbes is No. 1 seed at ITA/USTA NAIA regional

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's tennis teams will have three seeded singles players and one doubles seed in the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional Championships.
    
For the second consecutive year, Xavier will play host to the three-day event. The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. Friday at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center (5900 Marconi Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124). Competition will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday at City Park, with the semifinals and championship matches on Sunday at XU Tennis Center (3619 Pine St., New Orleans LA 70125).
    
XU sophomore Nour Abbes is the No. 1 women's singles seed, and junior teammate Brion Flowers is No. 8. Senior Nikita Soifer is No. 4 in men's singles. The women's doubles team of Abbes and senior Carmen Nelson is seeded fourth.
    
Abbes, 21-0 in her XU singles career, was the A-flight champion at the HBCU National Championships in Jonesboro, Ga., last week. Flowers and Kourtney Howell, a senior last year, won the 2013 South Regional doubles championship. Flowers is paired with redshirt freshman Dasia Harris this week.
    
Also competing will be the men's and women's teams of Auburn Montgomery, Belhaven, Georgia Gwinnett, Loyola, Point and William Carey, the women of Brenau and the men of Mobile. Georgia Gwinnett's men and women in May won the NAIA's national team championships.
    
The No. 1 men's seeds are Georgia Gwinnett's Jordan Cox in singles and Cox and Matias Hatem in doubles. Auburn Montgomery's Paula Diaz and Anna Rudolfova are the top-seeded women's doubles team.
    
Main-draw champions in singles and doubles will qualify for the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships at Sumter, S.C., from Oct. 9-12.

Tournament home page
     
Here's the complete list of seeds:

Men's Singles
1. Jordan Cox, Georgia Gwinnett
2. Nicolas Pinones, Auburn Montgomery
3. Matias Hatem, Georgia Gwinnett
4. Nikita Soifer, Xavier
5. Othmane Lalami, Auburn Montgomery
6. Birkir Gunnarsson, Auburn Montgomery
7. Ricky Keppeler, William Carey
8. Jefferson Nino, Belhaven

Women's Singles
1. Nour Abbes, Xavier
2. Valeria Podda, Georgia Gwinnett
3. Maria Perdomo-Medina, Brenau
4. Judith van Fraaijenhoven, Georgia Gwinnett
5. Alice Baudeign, Auburn Montgomery
6. Paula Diaz, Auburn Montgomery
7. Chiara Di Salvo, Georgia Gwinnett
8. Brion Flowers, Xavier

Men's Doubles
1. Jordan Cox-Matias Hatem, Georgia Gwinnett
2. Birkir Gunnarsson-Francisco Mendieta, Auburn Montgomery
3. Nicolas Pinones-Miguel Grifol, Auburn Montgomery
4. Nick Van Amerom-Marcio Dal Pont, Mobile

Women's Doubles
1. Paula Diaz-Anna Rudolfova, Auburn Montgomery
2. Valeria Podda-Chiara Di Salvo, Georgia Gwinnett
3. Maria Perdomo-Medina - Patricia Recalde, Brenau
4. Nour Abbes-Carmen Nelson, Xavier


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold
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ASU Hornets' Ponder turns up aggression on defense

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- He's certainly paid his dues, waiting five years for this opportunity.

When Dionte Ponder became the third starting cornerback in four games for the Hornets, the senior had a sense of urgency to do the job correctly.

"The coaches wanted us to be a little more aggressive," Ponder said. "We've been getting some bad comments about the secondary, so we've got to pretty much show everybody we're not the weak link of the defense. We can compete with anyone.



"So I just took it upon myself. I just felt like the guy in front of me, I have to limit him in what he can do and stop him from making catches and touchdowns."

The tactic worked. Alabama State's defensive starters pitched a shutout against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on national television last week (the reserves gave up a late touchdown) gaining a little redemption for a much-maligned secondary.

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Grambling takes newly discovered confidence to Dallas

ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

DALLAS, Texas -- Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs can finally get down to business now that he has his first-career win with the Tigers.

With the monkey off his back following a 40-35 victory over rival Jackson State, Fobbs takes his Tigers to Dallas on Saturday for a clash with Prairie View A&M.

“It feels great,” Fobbs said earlier this week about the win. “Anytime you can come away victorious from a football game, it’s great. You put so much time into it from January up until this point that you need a little bit of sugar and getting a little bit of a taste of how it feels helps us and gives us the confidence we need in order to continue and grow.”

Until the win over JSU, Grambling was stuck in a dire 2-23 stretch dating back to 2012. The Tigers could be on the verge of reclaiming their role in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which can start with a 2-0 record Saturday.

CONTINUE READING

Jackson State looking at a multipurpose stadium

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- If the concept outlined in a dome feasibility study Jackson State University commissioned is to become reality, it will require public financial help.

One source is more likely than the other.

The study recommended a 35,000 seat, domed multipurpose complex on the school's campus west of downtown Jackson.

The estimated cost of construction lies between $250 million and $280 million. The dome's annual operating deficit would hover around $400,000. That's where the need for some kind of public financing would arrive.

CONTINUE READING

Stopping Anderson main focus for JSU defense

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- When linebacker Ted Terrell was a freshman playing in the SWAC title game in 2012, he faced Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Ben Anderson.

Two years later, after watching film on UAPB this past week, Terrell didn't notice much change in the stud signal caller.

But there was one difference in the Lions' offense that the Tigers hope to take advantage of in Saturday's game.

"One thing I can say about him now is that he doesn't have as many choices as he did then with his receivers," Terrell said.

In 2012 championship game, Anderson spread the ball, hitting six different receivers for 225 passing yards, en route to the 24-21 victory.

The Lions (1-2, 0-1 SWAC) do return Isiah Ferguson and Willie Young from that game. But both missed much of the 2013 season because they weren't cleared. Three games into the season, both seem to be working their way back to consistency.

CONTINUE READING

Southern University football vs. Alcorn State game capsule

When/Where: Saturday at Jack Spinks Stadium in Lorman, Mississippi.

Television: The game will be shown online on ESPN3.

Radio: WYNK 97.7 FM

Coaches: Alcorn St. - Jay Hopson (third season as head coach, 16-11). Southern -- Dawson Odums (second season as head coach, was interim in 2012, 15-11).

Southern: Southern (2-2) looks to continue its good start in SWAC play after a 34-24 victory against Prairie View A&M last Saturday. Southern was able to win the turnover battle in the game and went on a 17-0 run in the second and third quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Jaguars were led by freshman quarterback Austin Howard, who before Saturday's game had been splitting time with redshirt freshman Deonte Shorts. Howard threw for 116 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

CONTINUE READING

NSU and HU get ready for MEAC openers

HAMPTON ROADS, Virginia -- Norfolk State and Hampton both open MEAC play this Saturday afternoon. The Spartans host Morgan State at 4:00 in the 67th annual Fish Bowl Classic.

Coach Pete Adrian’s team is coming off of an 0-4 non-conference start to the season. NSU lost to Maine, Liberty, William and Mary and Buffalo, but those games don’t mean much now that it’s MEAC games from here on out.

Saturday’s opponent, Morgan State, has averaged 30 points per game this season and has won two games in a row, including a 38-35 conference win over Howard.

“Morgan is one of the top rushing teams in the country,” said Pete Adrian. “They rush about 370 yards rushing a game and that’s outstanding which is 7th in the country and they are 50% on third down conversions, so we will have to try to keep them off the field as much as possible.”

Hampton opens its MEAC slate Saturday at 2:00 against South Carolina State. The Pirates picked up their first win of the season this past weekend, beating division 2 Miles College.



CONTINUE READING

Former NFL player Ricardo Silva (Hampton University) now teaches high school

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Similarities between NFL players and high school teachers might not seem numerous. However Ricardo Silva, who formerly played for the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers, recently began a new job teaching geometry.

According to the Detroit Lions, Silva joined the Lions from 2011 to 2012 after graduating first team All-MEAC at Hampton University. Later, the football star became a free agent who played briefly for the Panthers in 2013.

Silva’s athletic career could have continued. Jobs playing football in Canada or coaching at a college were offered to him, The Washington Post reports.

Surprisingly, those alluring offers were turned down by Silva. Instead, he joined Teach for America, which is a corps of teachers striving to impact and improve the education of all children especially those in poverty. He is teaching 10th grade geometry at Ballou High School in Washington, D.C.

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Regular MEAC tourneys to stay at Scope through 2018

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Norfolk State's trip to the MEAC basketball tournament will continue to be short, and the city's mayor couldn't be happier about it.

The league's men's and women's tournaments will remain at Scope for an additional three years, keeping the event in the city through 2018, MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas announced Thursday.

Thomas made the announcement in an outdoor ceremony attended by many MEAC coaches and city officials in the shadow of the USS Wisconsin at Nauticus.

Mayor Paul Fraim, who spoke at the ceremony, said retaining the event was a financial coup for the city.

"It's substantial," Fraim said.

"There are thousands of visitors who come and enjoy Norfolk and everything that we have to offer as well as attending the tournament."

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TSU to Host FAMU For Homecoming, Saturday

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NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- On Saturday, the Tennessee State football team will host Florida A&M for homecoming at LP Field at 6 p.m.

Scouting TSU
The Tigers are on a two-game winning streak after defeating Tennessee Tech, 10-7, last weekend. TSU held the Golden Eagles to just 150 yards of total offense and five of TTU’s 16 series were three-and-outs.

Scouting FAMU
For Florida A&M, the Rattlers enter today’s game at 0-3, having just lost to Coastal Carolina, 48-3. FAMU fell behind early to the Chanticleers and its passing game could not get the squad back into the ballgame as Rattler quarterbacks completed 14-of-30 passes for only 116 yards.

Three Keys to the Game

Hit a Homerun on Offense
The Tennessee State offense did not find the end zone once last Saturday and averaged just three yards per play against the Golden Eagles. Those numbers would have looked a lot better if the Tigers could have found a little more room to make a big play. TSU had only one play of over 20 yards on Saturday, a Stephen Hopkins run in the fourth quarter. The Big Blue offense also had one drive of over 35 yards and six three-and-outs. Perhaps longer passes or trick plays could help the Tigers generate more production against Florida A&M.

Shutdown the Run
FAMU boats a pair of talented backs that are averaging over four yards per carry in Gerald Hearns and Tysean Holloway. Last week against the now No. 3 Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina, Hearns totaled 101 yards and Holloway averaged 8.1 yards per rush and was not taken down in the backfield once. This season, the Tigers’ rush defense is ranked seventh in the nation and first in the OVC in terms of yards per game (79.5). That trend must continue this weekend to keep the Rattler offense off of the field.

Avoid Penalties
Big Blue has committed 36 penalties through the first four games of the season, a number that is tied eighth most in the FCS. FAMU meanwhile, has only been flagged 18 times, ranking the Rattlers 32nd out of 121 teams in fewest penalties. For an offense that has scored three points in the last six quarters, TSU starting a drive first-and-long is not ideal. Big Blue must cut down on mental mistakes to maximize its opportunities this Saturday.

The Tigers are 27-25-1 in the series and have won the last three meetings including 2013’s 27-7 victory in Tallahassee.

TSU is also 64-14-5 in homecoming contests and Saturday marks the earliest homecoming in the football program’s history.



COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Virginia State's Smallwood Takes Big Step Forward

ETTRICK, Virginia — When the 2014 campaign began for the Virginia State University football team, there was a legitimate question being asked from those around the program. Who would step up to replace the lost production from Jordan Anderson after his record-breaking season?

And through three games — two of those disappointing losses — it hasn't been a running back replacing the yardage, but a returning wide receiver who is finally fulfilling the talent he always had. Jaivon Smallwood has always had the physical gifts to be a dominant wideout no matter what level of football he played.

The 6-foot-2 Virginia Beach native led the Trojans in most receiving categories last season, improving upon his numbers from his freshman campaign. Smallwood showed off his concise route-running and soft-hands during a 10-win season for Virginia State. Yet, it was clear there was another level the young receiver had not yet reached.



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Fayetteville State senior defensive back Michael Johnson is gaining interest from NFL scouts

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- With his team preparing for its CIAA football opener, senior standout Michael Johnson serves as an indirect link to Fayetteville State's last conference title.

Free safety has become a prominent position for the Broncos, who benefited from Jeff Gowdy's strong play during their 2009 championship run. Andre Lyles was a sophomore understudy that year, and he entered 2011 as a preseason All-American at the same position.

Lyles' senior year coincided with the freshman season for Johnson, who learned from his highly acclaimed teammate and has developed into a pro prospect.

"That's the beauty of watching guys evolve, and it does ...

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Onward to conference play

PHOTO COURTESY MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania  --  It started on the red turf at Eastern Washington in August, and it's gotten hotter ever since. 

Upsets, last-second wins, dominating performances, great cross-sectional matchups. 

Yet the action will only get better as FCS teams jump into their conference schedule. 

That portion of the season has arrived for most teams. The majority of the remaining games are within conference play. 

Most of the preseason favorites are still in position to win conference titles, but most of the others have different beliefs. 

As we move into conference play, there has been plenty of foreshadowing for what to expect over the next two months. 

MEAC - It appears to be a three-team title race between defending co-champs Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T, which almost beat Coastal Carolina. Unfortunately, Bethune and A&T aren't scheduled to face each other, so it's not a level playing field for up-and-down South Carolina State. The early conference leader is Morgan State, and the Bears have been quite impressive under first-year coach Lee Hull. The other seven teams are a combined 3-23 to date. 

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