XU's Jackson, Pieri chosen GCAC Runners of the Week

Zahri Jackson

Matt Pieri

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana cross country standouts Zahri Jackson and Matt Pieri are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week for Oct. 3-9.

Jackson, a freshman from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, set an XU women's record with her fourth GCAC award of the season. Pieri, a junior from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, also won for the fourth time this season and extended to 10 his GCAC career record of weekly awards.

Jackson ran 6,000 meters in 25 minutes, 10.63 seconds Saturday to win the University of Dallas Invitational by nearly 55 seconds and lead the Gold Nuggets to the team championship, their first in the regular season since 2008. Pieri ran 8,000 meters in 28:00.55 to place third and lead the XU men to the team championship.

"That was a difficult course we ran on — the steepest hills we've faced since I've been at Xavier," seventh-year coach Joseph Moses said. "But in spite of the tough conditions, Zahri and Matt still ran well."

Both XU teams will compete next in the GCAC Championships at Clinton, Miss., on Oct. 22. Both the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush are five-time defending team champions, and Pieri is a defending individual champion.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Bethune-Cookman to host inaugural Biker Classic

Morgan State vs. NCCU to Kick-Off at 4 p.m. in Durham

DURHAM, North Carolina -- The Bears will face new conference member North Carolina Central when they hit the gridiron on Saturday (Oct. 15) at O'Kelly Riddick Stadium. The Eagles are coming off of a 49-38 heartbreaking loss at South Carolina State, and will attempt to snap a 3-game losing streak. MSU will try to make it two wins in a row following a 44-17 offensive explosion against Savannah State during last week's Homecoming festivities. Game time at O'Kelly Riddick Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. and there will be a live radio broadcast of the game on WEAA, 88.9 FM.



THE BEAR-EAGLES MATCHUP
• The Bears and Tigers will meet for the 36th time in history ... Morgan leads the series 21-12-2.
• During their last matchup, MSU RB Devan James rushed for 114 yards and touchdown and the Bears collected a school record six interceptions, three returned for touchdowns, en route to a 49-7 win over North Carolina Central on Sept, 14, 2008 at Hughes Stadium.
• The last time the two teams met in Durham was on October 10, 1981. MSU defeated the Eagles 35-27 during Thomas Morris' first and only stint as the Bears head coach. The Bears finished the season with a 4-5 record.

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Hometown showdown between Old Dominion and Norfolk State?

Norfolk, Virginia -- Picture this: Thanksgiving weekend.

Perfect fall weather. And a playoff game between Old Dominion and Norfolk State at Foreman Field. It could be a reality. With both teams hot, ODU athletic director Wood Selig is moving forward with plans to make an official bid to host a first-round playoff game in this season's NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. Selig said he will meet with a number of school officials today to discuss the prospects. The NCAA requires a minimum bid of $30,000 to host a first- or second-round game.

"I think it would be an interesting game in the fact that we just signed a six-year contract to play Norfolk State" beginning in 2013, Selig said. "It would be a great preview for what's coming down the road."

Selig received the NCAA's 40-page prechampionship manual Monday and believes the site selection criteria play to ODU's strengths.

Blount enjoying life at Delaware State

Dover, Delaware - Kermit Blount had no plans to give up on coaching. Relieved of his job in 2009 after a 1-10 finish in his 16th season at Winston-Salem State, Blount remained positive about his future.

He completed the obligations of his contract in 2010, spending the final year helping new athletics director Bill Hayes raise money, then landed the head-coaching job at Delaware State. His 2-4 Hornets will play Saturday at N.C. A&T.

"I'm doing what I love," Blount said recently. "You know my passion is coaching." Blount, WSSU's career leader in victories (91-87-3) and a 30-year veteran, said finding the right situation for him and his wife, Ava, was a key to his taking the job at Delaware State.

He has surrounded himself with assistants he can trust ...

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SSU NOTEBOOK: Tigers trying to regroup, get ready for FAMU

FLORIDA A&M (3-3, 1-2 MEAC) AT SAVANNAH STATE (1-5, 1-2 MEAC)

Savannah, Georgia -- It’s just past the midpoint of Savannah State’s football season. The Tigers have lost five of their six games, including the last two against teams expected to be in the lower half of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings.

First-year coach Steve Davenport said it was time for his players to regroup when they called a team meeting Monday. “Obviously, we’re disappointed, collectively,” Davenport said. “We had higher ideals than we’re meeting right now.”

There was some excitement after SSU defeated North Carolina Central in its first conference game two weeks ago. But the Tigers struggled in a 34-14 loss to Howard, snapping the Bison’s 29-game conference losing streak.

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Pough happy with performance, looks forward to Georgia State

Orangeburg, South Carolina -- Saturday's victory over North Carolina Central did not just save South Carolina State's season.

For South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough, it was another eye-opener into the team's quality young depth and ability to respond to adversity.

"It was a struggle, but it was a good struggle," said Pough at Monday's weekly press conference. "When you get a situation where you're faced with adversity and you find a way to overcome it, it makes you feel good about ourselves. We've got work to do. Don't think in the smallest form that we don't understand what our issues are. But at the same time, I am proud of our guys that we got through it and I like our team and I hope I can get them back healthy."



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