Alabama A&M: Martin, Pearl have strong ties to Tuskegee

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Twenty-one years ago, Jay Martin and Cedric Pearl played in arguably the greatest game in the Alabama A&M/Tuskegee rivalry.

On Saturday, Martin and Pearl, now A&M assistants, will try to beat their alma mater.

The Bulldogs (0-2) will host the Golden Tigers (0-1) in the second annual Louis Crews Classic. Kickoff is 6 p.m. from Louis Crews Stadium and the game can be heard on 90.9 FM.

"I have passion for Tuskegee, but A&M pays our bills ...

READ MORE

JCSU looks for defensive improvement vs. Virginia State

Charlotte, NC - Johnson C. Smith scores in bunches – and so do Golden Bulls opponents. The Golden Bulls, who play CIAA North foe Virginia State Saturday at McGirt Field, have outscored 99-65 in the first two games, but are 1-1 after a 38-35 overtime loss last week against Brevard. For the second straight week, JCSU allowed more than 400 yards but that liability has been offset by an offense that’s averaging better than 536.5 per game.

“I’m extremely proud of those guys because they didn’t give up,” Golden Bulls head coach Steve Aycock said. “The one thing I take from this is our kids have got to learn how to close. “We could’ve put them away in the fourth quarter and nailed the coffin shut and got out of there with a victory.”

The Golden Bulls’ main concern from the start has been defense, which was overhauled after allowing an average of 405 yards and 39 points a game last year. They’re still struggling at 452 per contest, and opponents are averaging 229.5 per game on the ground.

READ MORE

K-State prepares to open conference play against Stillman

Frankfort, KY - Kentucky State’s football team will put its unbeaten record on the line when it hosts Stillman College Saturday night at Alumni Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Saturday’s game will be the conference opener for both teams.

Stillman comes into the game at 1-1, having won at home against Shaw 16-13 to open the season and falling to Samford 48-6 last week in Birmingham, Ala. Freshman quarterback Dondre Purnell has led the Stillman offense with his arm and his feet.

In the win against Shaw, Purnell rushed for 130 yards on 14 carries and scored one touchdown. He was 5-for-6 passing in that game.

READ MORE

Southern's football team bracing for a tough test in Jackson State

Baton Rouge, LA - After a 21-6 victory against Alabama A&M last weekend, Southern is preparing for the biggest home game in Coach Stump Mitchell's two seasons, as Jackson State comes to A.W. Mumford Stadium for a 6 p.m. game Saturday.

"It's going to be a big game," Southern quarterback Dray Joseph said. "No matter where the game is located, when it's Jackson State versus Southern, it's important. We could be playing this at a high school stadium, and the magnitude of the game would still be great."




Jackson State (2-0, 0-0 SWAC) was picked to win the SWAC's Eastern Division in the preseason and returns Walter Payton Award finalist and preseason SWAC Player of the Year Casey Therriault, a senior quarterback.

Therriault, who passed for nearly ...

READ MORE

Valley Delta Devils readies for Alcorn Braves

ITTA BENA, Miss. — Karl Morgan knows what it feels like to be a winner. At North Alabama, as the team's defensive coordinator, he helped lead the Lions to a 55-10 record during his five-year stint. But after 14 games at Mississippi Valley State, the Delta Devil head coach is experiencing the other end of the football spectrum.

MVSU (0-2) enters Saturday's game at Alcorn State (0-2) on a 13-game losing skid that dates back to November 2009. "It's an adjustment," said Morgan, "that I hope I don't get too used to."

Like last year, Valley has yet to score a touchdown as they enter their third game of the season. The Devils' nine points have come thanks to the foot of Carlos Sanchez, who converted three field goals in their season-opening loss to Alabama State.

Morgan, who is in his second year at the helm, said last Saturday's 39-0 loss to Murray State took a toll on him — even more than it did his players.



READ MORE

Senior steps up to lead Stillman defense

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Jarell Thomas was listening when Stillman College football coach Teddy Keaton talked to his seniors about leaving a legacy. Keaton, a Stillman graduate, is in his first season as head coach. Thomas wants to go out as a winner.

“I approached this season with a goal in mind,” said Thomas, an outside linebacker from Dothan. “The goal was to accomplish something that we haven’t accomplished in a while, and that’s to win over five games. During the summer workouts and all that, I just strived for the best.”

Thomas’ best was evident in the opener, when the Tigers defeated Shaw 16-13. Thomas was chosen as the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week. His contributions included 11 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry.

READ MORE

FVSU's McAllister looking to settle into starting role

FORT VALLEY, GA -- Quarterback hasn’t been a stable position at Fort Valley State since Donald Pittman took over. The FVSU head coach thought those days were over when the 2011 season beckoned, with Antonio Henton and W.J. McAllister bringing size, athleticism, strong arms and some experience to the position.

The quarterbacks showed potential in a season-opening 28-22 loss to FCS member Florida A&M, and then Henton led the Wildcats to a game-opening touchdown Saturday against 11th-ranked Delta State.

Any feeling that things might be settled were gone about 10 minutes later when Henton went down with a knee injury. He came back briefly in the third quarter and re-injured it.



McAllister knew what he was in for upon relieving Henton: the same aggressive and smothering attack that basically knocked Henton out of the game in the first place.
Now, the offense is in McAllister’s hands.

READ MORE