Grambling State Tigers rallies to beat Jackson State, 26-23

Jackson, Mississippi -- Grambling State pulled off a late comeback and last-second defensive stand to take a 26-23 win over Jackson State in Jackson on Saturday.

Sophomore running back Dawrence Roberts scampered to paydirt from 10 yards out against a stacked Jackson State defensive line with 1:24 remaining to put Grambling up by three points. But the game was far from over with high-powered quarterback Casey Therriault behind center for JSU.

Therriault moved the home-standing JSU Tigers within scoring position in the final minute. Jackson State opted to go for the win as opposed to a field goal and overtime, but Theriault's pass to the corner of the end zone as time expired was overthrown.

"The most important thing is the way you finish and that's something we've done a good job of the past four weeks," a Gatorade-soaked GSU coach Doug Williams said. "The Grambling-Jackson State rivalry has always been big and a big part of (Southwestern Athletic Conference) football, and with (JSU) celebrating its football centennial, we knew this was going to be a big one."

READ MORE

Special teams play leaves J-State kicking itself

The words rolled off of Jackson State coach Rick Comegy's lips with the most disgusting tone. "Putrid," he said, referring to the Tigers' special teams play during Saturday's 26-23 loss to Grambling.

 JSU allowed a whopping 213 yards on six kickoff returns, muffed a third punt return this season and missed a late field goal. Grambling's average field position after a JSU kickoff? The 44-yard line.

The G-men returned the first kickoff to the JSU 20-yard line, a 56-yard return that eventually led to a field goal.

Part of the kickoff troubles can be blamed on injury. Kris Selita, the team's normal kickoff specialist and punter, didn't play because of an injury to his plant leg.

READ MORE

Grambling loss knocks JSU from black college title picture

Time has expired on Jackson State's bid for a black college national championship.

The Tigers tossed away a chance at a game-tying field goal Saturday, deciding not to use a timeout and allowing time to run out during a last-second throw to the end zone in a 26-23 loss to pesky conference rival Grambling.

This, a fourth straight defeat to Grambling (5-4), might burn the most.

Jackson State (7-2) entered as the No. 1 black college team in the country, three wins away from winning a mythical black college national title.

READ MORE

B-CU takes down Morgan State for homecoming win

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Jackie Wilson ran for three touchdowns and passed for 186 yards as Bethune-Cookman treated a near-capacity crowd of 9,649 to a 49-23 homecoming victory over Morgan State today at Municipal Stadium.

Jonathan Moment added two touchdown runs, including a 28-yard scamper that gave the Wildcats a 14-10 halftime lead. The Wildcats turned the game into a rout with three third-quarter touchdowns, including Wilson's 45-yard run with 26 seconds left in the quarter that put B-CU up 35-10.

The Wildcats, 6-3, 4-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, won their fourth consecutive game while knocking Morgan State (5-4, 4-2) out of first place in the MEAC standings. Isidore Jackson led the Wildcats in rushing with 93 yards and added a touchdown run. Moment added 78 yards rushing, while Wilson ran for 74 yards.

READ MORE

Wilson, Moment combine for 5 touchdowns for happy Bethune-Cookman homecoming

DAYTONA BEACH -- Quarterback Jackie Wilson was nearly beat out for the starting spot last week in practice. Fullback Johnathan Moment was told he'd have a greater role than usual Saturday.

The duo combined for five touchdowns as Bethune-Cookman rolled up 476 yards of offense, including 290 on the ground, to dispatch Morgan State 49-23 Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of 9,649 at Municipal Stadium.

B-CU's fourth consecutive victory kept alive its slim hopes of claiming a piece of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title for the second year in a row.

Now the Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 MEAC) will become big Morgan State fans for a week. A victory by the Bears (5-4, 4-2) over Norfolk State next week would force a multiple-team tie for first place with two losses apiece.

Photo Gallery

READ MORE

FAMU Rattlers hold off N.C. A&T, remain in postseason hunt

Tallahassee, Florida -- The little children who surrounded Florida A&M receiver Kevin Elliott in pursuit of autographs knew he had done something big in the game that they'd just watched at Bragg Stadium, although they might not understand the significance of the outcome.

Elliott just smiled and kept signing. The rest of his teammates were all smiles too Saturday night, as well they should after handing North Carolina A&T a 26-20 loss on Senior Day.

The victory gives FAMU a 6-3 overall record and put the Rattlers at 4-2 in the MEAC standings. The win, which eliminated the resurging Aggies from contention for the league title, puts FAMU in a four-way tie for second place.

They must win their two remaining game to have any chance of tying leader Norfolk State (8-2, 6-1) or at least finishing second in the standings.

READ MORE



FAMU's Fleming efficient early in his tenure

Finding a quarterback to finish out the season for the Florida A&M football team has been a bit tricky during the past three years. Last year, Austin Trainor finished the last six games, replacing Martin Ukpai.

Trainor was replaced this season by freshman Damien Fleming after four starts. But there is one consistency that Taylor's quarterbacks can brag about going back to his first season in 2008. Three of them have had at least an 80-percent completion rate.

In 2008, Eddie Battle didn't miss a pass against South Carolina State in 11 attempts, and the following year Curtis Pulley hit 17-of-21 against Winston-Salem State for 80.9 percent. Fleming is the latest to do so, completing 34-of-40 passes for 85 percent against South Carolina State.

Of the three quarterbacks, Fleming reached the 80-percent mark the fastest. He did it in his fourth game as a freshman, while Battle was a junior and Pulley was a senior.

READ MORE

NSU clinches 1st MEAC title with win over Savannah State

Hampton, Virginia -- The Norfolk State football team clinched a share of its first-ever MEAC title with a 45-3 road win over Savannah State (1-8, 1-5) on Saturday. The Spartans (8-2, 6-1) can win the MEAC championship outright, and clinch a spot in the FCS playoffs, with a road win over Morgan State next Saturday.

Spartans quarterback Chris Walley completed 20 of 25 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with receiver Derrick Demps five times for 106 yards.

Kicker Ryan Estep set a single-season record with his 16th field goal, while wide receiver Keith Johnson went 85 yards on a reverse, the longest run from scrimmage in NSU history.

READ MORE

Norfolk rolls past Savannah State

The song remained the same for the struggling Savannah State Tigers as they faced off against the Norfolk State Spartans at Ted Wright stadium Saturday.

Three touchdowns in the first quarter by Norfolk State propelled the visitors to a dominating 45-3 win and a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

“All week long, we thought we were the better football team, just with the records and personnel,” Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian said. “We had to make sure we played good, tough football on both sides of the ball. We knew they were going to play hard, which they did. We’re just happy to get the win.”

READ MORE

Demps, Walley key Spartans to share of first MEAC title

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Chris Walley and Derrick Demps put the offense on track, put on shows for their family and put rings on the fingers of the Norfolk State Spartans.

Together, the Florida-born players led the Spartans to a 45-3 win at Savannah State, clinching a share of the Spartans' first MEAC title. It's the first football title of any kind for NSU since it won the CIAA in 1984. Norfolk State can win the championship outright, and the FCS playoff spot that comes with it, with a win at Morgan State next weekend.

"Obviously, it's nice to do it for the first time," head coach Pete Adrian said. "But we're not done yet. We know that."

Walley completed 20 of 25 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 72 yards and two more scores. Demps caught five passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

READ MORE



SAVANNAH, GA - Quarterback Chris Walley accounted for 343 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, and visiting Norfolk State clinched at least a share of its first-ever MEAC football title with a 45-3 win over Savannah State on Saturday evening at T.A. Wright Stadium.

The win is the Spartans’ eighth of the season and sixth in MEAC play, tying the 2007 team for the most of each in school history. NSU (8-2, 6-1) still must win at Morgan State next Saturday to clinch its first outright MEAC championship and earn the conference’s automatic berth in the FCS playoffs. NSU rolled up a season-high 559 yards of total offense while holding the Tigers (1-8, 1-5) to 45, the lowest by a Spartan opponent in the Pete Adrian era. Five of NSU’s seven scoring drives lasted 70 seconds or less.

READ MORE

Shaw Bears hold on to pick off St. Aug's Falcons

DURHAM, North Carolina -- On paper, Shaw and St. Augustine's are out of the CIAA title race, but that's just paper. When these two teams get together - in any sport - fireworks are sure to spark.

Saturday was no different as the Bears scored the only touchdown in the second half for a 20-16 come-from-behind win. But that's just part of the story. After the game, the two coaches - St. Augustine's Michael Costa and Darrell Asberry - had to be separated, and St. Aug's President Dianne Boardley Suber and Asberry also had words.

The Falcons (4-6) were frustrated after being intercepted seven times between their two quarterbacks. Still, Shaw needed a last-minute defensive stop to seal the win.

Leading 20-14 with 7 minutes, 15 seconds left in the game after an interception by Shaw safety Rico Brown, St. Aug's got a safety after a holding penalty call on the Bears in the end zone. But the Falcons couldn't capitalize any further.



READ MORE

WSSU is perfect this season by beating UNC Pembroke

Rams are 10-0 with CIAA title game coming up on Saturday

PEMBROKE, North Carolina – After seeing every one of WSSU’s games this season I saw something different earlier this afternoon in the 34-7 win over UNC Pembroke.

For the first time this season the Rams let the clock be their friend and kept chipping away at the Braves’ defense. The results were staggering especially when the Rams had a season-best 18-play drive that chewed up nearly eight minutes in the second quarter.

The Braves weren’t going to allow the Rams to win on big plays, so the Rams didn’t have any big plays. Just a lot of little plays that worked and with it the Rams completed a perfect regular season. At 10-0 the Rams have assured themselves a spot in the playoffs even if they lose to Elizabeth City State on Saturday in the CIAA championship game.

What was impressive in this game was how effective the Rams were in running the ball and mixing in short passes. Quarterback Kameron Smith and the rest of the offense never had a turnover and just a few penalties.

READ MORE

CIAA Football: Johnson C. Smith 31, Livingstone 0

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — The 2011 Livingstone football season came to an end Saturday as the Blue Bears fell 31-0 to the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls in the 3rd Annual Commemorative Classic hosted at Memorial Stadium.

Livingstone finished 1-10.

On the opening drive for Johnson C. Smith, the Golden Bulls set up for a 50-yard field goal attempt, but senior Devonta Harmon broke through the front line and blocked the attempt. The ball was returned by fellow senior Jerrell Gaynor Golden Bull 30 yard line. Despite the momentum and the solid field position, the Livingstone offense turned the ball over on downs after only four plays.

Johnson C. Smith broke through on its first drive of the second quarter, an eight-play, 77-yard drive together for a 7-0 lead.

READ MORE




Golden Bulls finish season strong

Johnson C. Smith University closed a break-even season with a breakout win. The Golden Bulls rolled past CIAA rival Livingstone 31-0 in the Commemorative Classic Saturday at Memorial Stadium. It was Johnson C. Smith's third straight victory in a series that dates back to 1892.

The Golden Bulls (5-5, 4-3) dominated after a scoreless first quarter, limiting Livingstone to 102 yards total offense and creating momentum-crushing stops on special teams.

"This year we definitely tried to step up our defense up and special teams," said defensive end Dylan Steele, who was named Johnson C. Smith's most outstanding player after returning his first collegiate interception 81 yards for a score and recording a sack. "Last year, we were near the bottom of everything (statistically). This year we wanted to step it up."


R&B artist Ruben Studdard performs during the Johnson C. Smith - Livingstone halftime show on 11/5/2011.

READ MORE