Eastern Michigan beats Howard 41-9 in game postponed by thunderstorms

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University football team had to wait 17 hours to finally get on the field to play its 2011 home opener, but in the end the wait was worth it for the Eagles in a 41-9 win over a visiting Howard University team Sunday, Sept. 4, here in Rynearson Stadium.

Eastern and season-opening opponent Howard University both went through pre-game warmups on Saturday, Sept. 3, before a series of lightning strikes forced both teams into their respective locker rooms just after 6 p.m.

The teams did not return to the field Saturday as the storm, with lightning and rain present, swept through the area for most of the evening, forcing the postponement of the game until Sunday, Sept. 4, at noon.

Despite the long wait to get back on the field, the Eagles responded with a strong effort on both sides of the ball to post the 32-point win.



Senior tailback Dominique Sherrer (Cincinnati, Ohio-Colerain) came up with an electrifying 77-yard run from scrimmage in the third quarter to give the Eagles a comfortable 34-9 lead with 14:05 left in the third quarter.

That Sherrer run, the first touchdown of his career, was the second longest for an EMU player in Rynearson Stadium-history and tied for the fifth-best single-rush effort in the EMU rushing record book.

Box score

Photo Gallery.

Re-Watch the Game.
Coach English Postgame Audio.
Buche/Cudworth Postgame Audio.

READ MORE

EASTERN MICHIGAN USES RUNNING GAME TO GET BY HOWARD

Ypsilanti, MI—September 4--Eastern Michigan parlayed its power running game and good field positon into a 41-9 win over Howard University in a non-conference game at Rynearson Stadium. The game had been scheduled for Saturday but the weather conditions forced the change to Sunday.

The game marked the debut of Howard head coach Gary “Flea” Harrell, who was a standout performer at wide receiver and kick returner from 1990-93.

The Bison struck first when sophomore safety Julian David stepped in front of an EMU receiver, wrestled the pass from him, and raced 29 yards for his first career touchdown less than five minutes into the game. Howard failed to convert on the PAT, but led, 6-0.

The Eagles (1-0) responded with a short drive but the Howard defense stiffened and forced the hosts into a Kody Fulkerson 45-yard field goal, making it 6-3 at the 7:43 mark of the first quarter.

The Bison (0-1) countered with a drive of its own, going 44 yards in nine plays before settling for a 39-yard field by sophomore placekicker Parker Munoz.

READ MORE

JCSU bust open season with 64-27 win over West Virginia State

Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University football ignited with a 64-27 season opener win against West Virginia State University on Saturday afternoon inside the Irwin Belk Complex. J.C. Smith is 1-0 for the first time since their 24-0 season opening win over Edward Waters in 2007; prior to the coaching leadership from Steven Aycock.

Believe it or not, this game started off a little shaky for the Golden Bulls. With just two plays, the Yellow Jackets had put a touchdown on the scoreboard. After a rush for no gain, Ricky Phillips connected with Ervin Kent for a 74 yard touchdown reception for a 7-0 WVSU lead. It would be the last time Johnson C. Smith trailed in the game.

The Golden Bulls did not flinch after the opposition's score; they calmly put together a drive down the field with three first downs. This drive was led and capped off by freshman quarterback Keahn Wallace (Homestead, FL) with a seven yard TD pass to sophomore receiver Avius Capers (Charlotte, NC). Senior defensive tackle Rashad Dukes (Charlotte, NC) put in some work with two tackles on a three and out on the next WVSU possession.

Yet another freshman came up big, this time receiver William (B.J.) Trimble (Fayetteville, GA) returned a punt 70 yards to the house for a 14-7 JCSU advantage. West Virginia State managed to produce another score on the following drive off a 25 yard touchdown rush from LeFloyd Phillip.



READ MORE

Norfolk State Labor Day Classic Tail Gate Party 2011

Lane Dragons get first win since 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Lane’s football team made history on Saturday. The Dragons traveled to Edward Waters in Florida and came away with a 17-10 win, their first victory since November of 2008.

Lane took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Ryan Bullock hit a 22-yard field goal about eight minutes into the game. No one scored after that until Darren Henry ran 16 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Lane scored about three minutes later when Alan Ferguson took a quarterback keeper over the goal line from a yard out. The Dragons scored on the quick possession after the defense recovered a fumble on about the Edward Waters 35-yard line.

READ MORE

NSU dominates in 6th straight win over Virginia State

Norfolk, VA - No more replays. No more jokes. Safety Ricardo Volcin put an end to all of them late in the first half, breaking on an out route and returning an interception 46 yards for a touchdown and breaking open a 37-3 win for Norfolk State in the Labor Day Classic.

Head coach Pete Adrian estimated NSU dropped five interceptions the previous year. "He replayed it at least 30 times," Volcin said. "Every time I came in, he was making gestures like, 'Oh, I can't catch a ball. Oh, I need stick 'em or something.' "

It was the sixth consecutive win in the Labor Day Classic series for Norfolk State over rival Virginia State, with the Spartans winning by an average of 26 points.

If there were fans who believed, themselves, that the Trojans had a chance before the opening kickoff, Volcin's return convinced them otherwise. The Trojans had been thoroughly outplayed by that point but trailed just 13-0, twice reducing long NSU drives to field goals.




READ MORE

Virginia University of Lynchburg football team plays first game in decades

Lynchburg, VA - Deep in the third quarter, with zero points on the scoreboard, Virginia University of Lynchburg’s football team pulled off a clutch pass that put the ball in the end zone. “Touchdooooown” boomed the announcer at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. to a crowd almost 12,000 spectators.

The contingent of about 200 fans from Lynchburg erupted into cheers.

“They’re coming back, boy. The Dragon’s on the prowl,” said VUL president Ralph Reavis from his perch in the bleachers. Though the VUL Dragons ultimately lost to North Carolina A&T, 38 to 7, the team made history by playing its first game in over five decades.

In 1954, VUL — a small, historically black college nestled behind Campbell Avenue — disbanded its football team. The revival of the football program is part of a large-scale effort to bring back sports on campus. VUL plans to launch a total of 13 men’s and women’s sports teams this year.

READ MORE

UNC-Pembroke tops Fayetteville State, 33-27, to claim 3rd straight Two Rivers Classic

Fayetteville, NC - UNC-Pembroke senior linebacker Fred Williams weaved through a maze of bodies and located the Two Rivers Classic trophy, which was hoisted above the heads of several teammates.

Williams, a Terry Sanford High School graduate, couldn't resist the urge. With a 33-27 victory against Fayetteville State in hand, he applied his lips to the coveted hardware.

"This rivalry means a lot to me," Williams said. "Just to win it three years in a row, it's something special, so I had to get that kiss in at the end."

UNC-Pembroke improved to 3-0 in the brief series, going ahead for good on a 15-yard touchdown run by Travis Daniels with ...

READ MORE