Frazier Gives Defense Edge After NCCU Spring Football Game

DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – With five sacks and three interceptions, including a pick returned for a touchdown, new North Carolina Central University head coach Henry Frazier III gave the defensive squad the victory in the Maroon vs. Gray Spring Football Game on Saturday afternoon at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

“I definitely thought the defense won,” said Frazier. “I thought we hit, I thought we played clean and played hard.

“The offense was able to get into the red zone three or four times, but we left some points off the board and the defense made the plays and got two red zone turnovers. I am an offensive guy, so it’s hard for me to give the nod to the defense, but they did play well.”



Sophomore defensive back Malik Cromartie was responsible for both red zone turnovers. The Elizabethtown, N.C. native saved a touchdown with his first pick by ripping the pigskin away from 6-4 receiver Jonathan Nicely as he was falling to the end zone turf. Cromartie’s second interception was also in the end zone off of a deflected pass.

The contest ended with an interception by redshirt freshman Jeremy Bellamy, who raced 41 yards for a touchdown.

Junior linebacker Brandon Outlaw led the maroon squad with six tackles, including a pair of sacks. Defensive back Tyrique Williams added four stops, while lineman Chase Tripp tallied three takedowns. Junior defensive back Fred Ominde contributed two tackles with a sack and a pass break-up.

Sophomore quarterback Jordan Reid executed 35 plays in three possessions in the first half, completing 9-of-13 passes for 108 yards with two interceptions. Junior signal caller Michael Johnson took 23 snaps in five series, completing 5-of-12 throws for 79 yards with an interception and a six-yard touchdown toss to sophomore receiver Earl Pridgen.

By Kyle Serba, Associate A.D. for Media Relations

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Run defense shines at TSU football scrimmage

Run defense shines at TSU football scrimmage

The scoreboard favored the Offense but Tennessee State University Coach Rod Reed praised the Defense in Saturday's Blue and White Spring Game. The scoring system used to award points to each unit gave the offense a 61-37 victory over the defense, but many of those points were scored late in the contest at Hale Stadium before an estimated crowd of 3,500.

"The No. 1 thing you've got to do in any defense is stop the run," Reed said. "Our offense hangs its hat on running the ball, so for us to come out and do a good job against the run really pleases me."

The defense stifled the running game well into the second quarter, holding it to minus-4 yards on 14 carries. By halftime the offense had only 20 yards on 19 carries, and the defense was leading 23-17.  The two quarterbacks — senior starter Jeremy Perry and redshirt freshman Michael German — were not allowed to be hit, so the truest test was the running game against the defense.

TSU receiver embraces change to new position

The decision to change positions in football can be difficult. Tennessee State offensive coordinator Mike Jones made it easy for Jamal Ramsey, a transfer from Middle Tennessee State, who has moved from quarterback to wide receiver during spring practice.

"If he stays at quarterback he probably would never see the field," Jones said. "If he goes to wide receiver he's got a great opportunity to see the field. I asked him which one did he want to play? He said he wanted to play wide receiver and we're happy to have him at that position."

The Tigers need receivers more than quarterbacks as they look to improve their passing game after finishing seventh in the OVC last year (165.6 yards per game).

Blue Team Prevails 61-37 Over White In Spring Game

On a sunny and festive day that saw over 3,500 fans and the "Aristocrat of Bands" come to "The Hole" of Hale Stadium, the Tennessee State University "Blue" team (offense) prevailed 61-37 over the "White" team (defense) in the 2011 Spring game.

Utilizing a point system that rewarded the defense points for such things as interceptions, fumbles and third down stops, the defense took a 25-21 lead into the halftime. The defense gained fifteen points on three interceptions alone as they stymied the offensive attack.

In the second half, however, the offense came alive scoring thirty points on two touchdowns and a field goal along with gaining scoring points on several plays over twenty yards. Key among the 20-plus yard plays were long pass receptions by Brandon Brown (49 yds) and Travis James (30 yds).

Spring Game Stats

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Videographer: MarchingsportHD; Tennessee State University Marching Band (2011)- Honda Battle of the Bands

McGriff, Southern Rally To Gain Split With Grambling

Baton Rouge, LA - Southern baseball coach Roger Cador said his third baseman, Cameron McGriff, had been so solid on defense that he couldn’t afford to keep McGriff out of the starting lineup. Even though McGriff had struggled at the plate. A lot. When Saturday’s doubleheader against Grambling began, McGriff had a .160 batting average.

By the bottom of the 10th inning of the second game, when he stepped to the plate with one out and teammate Kevin Williams on first base, McGriff’s season average had dropped to .125. He was 0-for-7 on the day. “I’d been taking bad swings for a long time,” he said. Somehow, however, McGriff came through when the Jaguars absolutely needed him to.

McGriff laced a triple down the right-field line, easily scoring Williams and giving Southern a 9-8 win in the second game of its doubleheader with Grambling.

Box Score: Grambling vs. Southern


Videographer: AaronMychael; 2011 NFL Draft Prospect Jordan Miller/DT  Pro Day

SOFTBALL: SU edges Grambling, 3-2

The Southern softball team scored runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings, and Michael Pless pitched a five-hitter as the Lady Jaguars edged Grambling 3-2 in the first game of their Southwestern Athletic Conference series Friday.

Southern (10-21, 4-5) scored one run each in the first, fourth and fifth innings. Gailyn Thibeaux, Audrey Phillips and Shabanese Brown each had RBIs.

Grambling (10-15, 3-6) scored twice in the sixth inning but stranded two runners in the top of the seventh.

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Delaware State Hornets Equestrian Team to Battle for 2011 National Championship

Waco, TX - The field is now set after the Varsity Equestrian Selection Committee chose the 2011 Varsity Equestrian National Championship (VENC) seeds. This year’s championship will be held April 14-16, 2011, in Waco, TX, and is expected to provide plenty of excitement throughout the competition as the top 12 teams in the country battle it out for the overall national championship title.

In the hunter seat bracket, Auburn University was selected as the No. 1 seed, followed by The University of Georgia as the No. 2 seed. Host institution, Baylor University, will be the third seed, followed by Big 12 foe, Oklahoma State University. Texas A&M University will be seeded fifth, followed by The University of South Carolina (6), Fresno State University (7), Kansas State University (8), Texas Christian University (9), University of Tennessee-Martin (10), Delaware State University (11) and New Mexico State University (12).

On the western side, Texas A&M University earned the No. 1 seed after an impressive 11-1 season. Oklahoma State University will be seeded in the No. 2 spot, followed by Auburn University in the third seed. The University of Georgia rounds out the team who earned a bye with the No. 4 seed. The University of South Carolina will start in the fifth seed, followed by Texas Christian (6), Kansas State (7), Baylor University (8), New Mexico State University (9), University of Tennessee-Martin (10), Fresno State University (11) and Delaware State University (12).

2011 DSU Equestrian Team (Roster - Click Here)
(Photo: DSU SID/Mike Baker)

Complete brackets are available at www.varsityequestrian.com. You can also follow along during the competition at www.baylorbears.com.

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New offense improves, defense doesn’t in SCSU’s second scrimmage

South Carolina State Bulldogs Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough

Orangeburg, S.C. - Derrick Wiley dropped back in the pocket, scanned the field and took off.

Like a blur, the fleet-footed quarterback from North Carolina hit a seam in the defense, bounced to the outside and scooted up the sideline for a first down. Four plays into S.C. State's second scrimmage of the spring Saturday, the first apparent passing play called, Wiley was on the run.

All indications heading into the team's April 16 spring game are that such will become the norm in 2011. The Bulldogs passed the ball during Saturday's scrimmage, which lasted just under an hour and a half, but they ran it more. And, when they ran it, they did so with a spread-option, up-tempo style attack similar to the one employed by Oregon.

SC State Conducts Second Scrimmage

ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State's second scrimmage of the spring was cut short after approximately 90 minutes Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Coach Buddy Pough called the scrimmage after center Tristan Bellamy, who has taken virtually every snap in spring drills, developed cramps. Backup center Erskine Johnson was slowed by an allergy.

'We wanted to go longer,” Pough said “But we have so many linemen out and Tristan (Bellamy) came up with cramps and Erskine (Johnson) has a little bit of an allergy issue so we decided to cut it short.”

During the one hour and 30-minute workout, the Bulldog offense was very effective at times as both junior Derrick Wiley and redshirt sophomore Richard Cue combined to direct several scoring drives against the usually vaunted SC State defense. Pough was glad to see the offense sustain its momentum from earlier in the week; however, he was disappointed that the defense was not very effective.

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SSU sweeps FAMU in baseball

Savannah, GA - Savannah State University swept Florida A&M, 6-5 and 3-2, in a baseball doubleheader Saturday at Tiger Field. SSU (19-15) scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the first game. The Tigers’ Matt Nowacki was 2-for-3, including a home run and two RBIs, and Matt Oglesby was 1-for-5 with two RBIs.

SSU starter Kevin Herlihy earned the win, striking out six, walking one and allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits in nine innings.

In the second game, the Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win. Kyle McGowin earned the win for SSU, striking out eight, walking three and allowing two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings.

Savannah State Rallies Past FAMU

SAVANNAH, Ga. (April 9) - Savannah State used a pair of late inning rallies to rally past the Florida A&M University Baseball as they won game one 6-5 and game two 3-2 in a doubleheader here Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field.

In the first game, the Tigers score three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for the come from behind win. FAMU (10-24) finished with nine hits, while SSU (19-15) finished with seven. The Rattlers had three players to finish with two hits each in Tobi Adeyemi, Cory Franklin and David Duncan, while Matthew Nowacki finished with two hits lead the Tigers.

Kevin Herlighy picked the win for SSU as he went the distance giving up nine hits, four earned runs and striking out six in nine innings on the mound.

Stephen Dollar (2-2) received the loss for FAMU as he gave up one hits, three earned runs, and striking out one in two-thirds innings of relief. A two-run homer by Jarryd Reid gave the Rattlers a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.


Videographer: GCubeVision
Tiger Talk Live is Savannah State University's first live television show! Geno & Dferg claw at the issues and trending topics that affects your everyday college students. What makes this show special? You! Not only is it a talk show but it's also an interactive show between Savannah State University students & our host. You can Tweet us @SSUTigerTalk or Facebook us your ideas & comments for the show!

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Howard's Lackey Scores Three in Loss to Jacksonville

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard lacrosse team returned to Greene Stadium after a six-game road campaign, marking their first National Lacrosse Conference match at home. The Lady Bison (3-10, 0-6 NLC) faced off against NLC leader Jacksonville, but were unable to overcome the Dolphin’s (11-4, 6-0 NLC) 15-goal first half lead and eventually fell 22-6.

Howard contained the NLC’s No. 1 team in the opening minutes of the game as the Dolphins scattered only two scores in the first ten minutes of play. HU surrendered the draw control advantage (12-5), allowing Jacksonville to score 13 additional goals by the end of the first.

Cynithia Smalls was the only member of the Bison to score in the first half where she sliced JU’s 8-goal run.

Senior Desiree Cox was shutout of the first half and attempted to score within the final minutes, but was unable to convert her two shots into points on the board.

After JU scored two early goals in the second, the control of the game transitioned into the hands of the Lady Bison. Until the final five minutes left in regulation, HU held Jacksonville to three goals and led 5-3 in the half.

Ashley Lawrence was the first to score for the Bison and Courtland Lackey went on to add three goals. Cheryse Cox also chimed in, nailing Howard’s fourth goal of the game.

The Dolphins would regain an offensive momentum however, and went on a 4-0 run in the final two minutes, concluding the game at 22-6.



Howard tallied 12 groundballs compared to JU’s seven but were outshot, 39-16. Ashley Foote led Howard with seven groundballs while Lackey led with five shots.

Up next the Lady Bison will take on Detroit Mercy for their final away game on April 16 at noon before returning back to Greene Stadium for the season finale against Fresno State at 7 p.m. For more information on the Howard lacrosse team, visit www.howard-bison.com.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University

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