XU Nuggets repeat as GCAC champion; Echebelem is MVP

Chinedu Echebelem
2012 GCAC MVP

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Xavier University of Louisiana's women's volleyball team defeated Tougaloo 25-15, 25-13, 25-16 Saturday to win the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament for the second consecutive year.

The Gold Nuggets (22-7, 4-0 tournament) became the first HBCU to qualify for the NAIA National Championship in consecutive seasons. They'll play a first-round match next Saturday against an opponent to be announced.

Xavier's Chinedu Echebelem was chosen tournament MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Moira Kirk and Taylor Reuther. All three are sophomores.

"It is an amazing feeling to be able to accomplish the same thing we did last year," said Christabell Hamilton, whose Gold Nuggets are 28-0 against GCAC opponents during her two seasons as coach. "I am very proud of my team and their hard work since August."

Tougaloo had less than an hour to prepare for Xavier after rallying for a five-set semifinal victory against SUNO. The Lady Bulldogs (23-14) won the final two sets. They turned an 11-6 deficit into a 15-13 fifth-set victory which earned them their first berth in the final and denied SUNO a third consecutive appearance in the championship round.

Xavier never trailed against Tougaloo until 1-0 and 2-1 in the third set. The Nuggets led 4-0 and 10-4 in the opening set and 7-1 and 13-3 in the middle set. They scored five consecutive points in the final set to build a 10-4 lead.

"Tougaloo was tired by the time they played us," Hamilton said. "They had some main players go down with injuries from the previous match and during ours, and that was a factor. However, we played very well. We controlled momentum the whole time, and we were able to play all of our players."

Echebelem excelled despite knee injuries which kept her out of the opening tournament match Thursday against Philander Smith. Echebelem played the final three matches, and "she played great," Hamilton said. "She's the kind of kid every coach wants to have on their team. I admire her fight and her love for the game and her teammates."

Echebelem said she was given the option to sit out the tournament, but she declined. "I fought through my pain for my team," Echebelem said. "All my teammates worked together to win the championship."

Hamilton used Echebelem on the front row only and subbed in CeCe Williams when Echebelem rotated to the back row.

The Nuggets have won six in a row, 9-of-10 and 17 of their last 20 matches.

For the second consecutive year, all three of XU's fall teams won conference championships. The men's and women's cross country teams each won seventh consecutive GCAC titles in October. The volleyball Nuggets, in their fifth season of intercollegiate competition, are 45-14 during Hamilton's tenure. They were 30-73 the first three seasons.


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

Alcorn State Braves Send the TSU Tigers Packing with their Tails Between their Legs

ALCORN STATE, MS --The Alcorn State Braves welcomed the Tigers of Texas Southern to the beautiful greens of 1000 ASU Drive. Today's game served as high school day as well as military and first responders' appreciation day. Under bright lights and gorgeous skies at Dwight Fisher Field the Braves delivered a show stopping explosive performance on offense and defense. You would have to be here to experience the electric atmosphere and crisp breeze setting the tone for exciting football action. Weather…..ideal for any football lover! Today's match up is the first game back at Spinks-Casem since the Braves two game winning streak against the Jaguars of Southern University.

The first quarter of action was a showcase and birthday highlight reel for senior wide receiver Terrance Lewis. Rookie quarterback John Gibbs connected with Lewis via air on an eight yard pass for an early Braves touchdown with 11:27. The drive went seven plays for sixty-five yards in 3:17 for a first quarter score of 7-0.

In the second quarter, the Tigers got on the scoreboard off the foot of senior kicker Robert Hersh with a forty yard field goal with 8:57 left in the quarter. The drive went eight plays for fifty-seven yards in 3:37 for a score of 7-3. The Braves responded with a successful scoring drive of their own. With 4:19 on the clock freshman quarterback Jordan Payne connected with senior wide receiver Nick Brooks for a nine yard pass and the PAT was good by sophomore kicker Ernesto Santillan for a score of 14-3. The drive went five plays and fifty-seven yards in 1:29. With more back and forth scoring between the teams Texas Southern scored their first touchdown with Rudolph Johnson hitting James Davis for a nineteen yard pass with 0:34 on the clock. The scoring drive was ten plays and seventy-four yards in 3:41. The score at the half was 14-10.



After going in down at the half the last two games, head coach Jay Hopson was elated to deliver not a motivational speech instead a resounding rally of the troops highlighting the team word of the season “execution”.

The third quarter saw Texas Southern edging a come-back; scoring first in the second half the Tigers' James Davis reached the end zone off a pass from Johnson for twenty-two yards. That drive was four plays for thirty-seven yards in 2:52. With 12:06 on the clock the score was 17-14, Texas Southern leading. The Braves quickly responded by putting our work horse….running back sensation senior Arnold Walker to work. On a two yard run in thirteen plays and sixty yards the Braves scored again. The clock read 7:03 and the score to end the quarter was 21-17.

Welcome to the fourth quarter, with all fours in the air the team was more than ready to put the icing on the cake and the win in the books. As in the previous quarter TSU scored first with a quarterback keeper run Johnson broke the plane with a forty-six yard run and the PAT was good by Hersh. The drive went four plays and eighty yards in 1:44 with 14:46 on the clock. The score was 24-21 with TSU looking to seal the deal. The Braves quickly responded with Walker pounding into the end zone at the 12:37 mark on a one yard run. The PAT by Santillan was no good leaving the Braves with a score of 27-24. The Braves went nine plays and seventy-five yards in 2:09. After the clinic Walker and Lewis put on Tollete George joined the party with a forty-one yard pass by Gibbs for the final score of the game with 1:46 left. The drive was eight plays and seventy-one yards in 3:56. Your final score from Spinks-Casem was 34-24. The Braves improve to 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

"I thought the guys executed when they had to and did enough to win the game. I'd like to eliminate the penalities but overall we ran and threw the ball effectively. I thought Arnold Walker ran the ball extremely hard and he brought life and energy to this unit", said offensive coordinator Willie Simmons.

The Braves will be back in action next weekend at home against arch-rival Jackson State University in the Magnolia Heritage Classic: Return of the Soul Bowl. Kick-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. We advise you all to get here early because you don't want to miss this thrilling finale from Dwight Fisher Field!




COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Stillman ends 2012 season with 28-26 homecoming win against Concordia-Selma

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama --- Since Sunday, the theme surrounding homecoming activities at Stillman was, "Stillman: Soaring". As the week closed out, indeed the Tigers needed to soar to put a more than favorable cap on the season.

Following the lead of senior wide receiver Damian Ford, the Tigers downed Concordia-Selma 28-26 Saturday afternoon at Stillman Stadium.

The senior from Birmingham scored on two pass plays and a punt return as the Tigers avenged last season's homecoming defeat.

Stillman (6-5) took the opening drive and marched 65 yards on six plays, ending the drive with a 24-yard pass play from freshman Joshua Straughan to senior Damian Ford. Concordia would answer with a 12-play, 64-yard drive ending with quarterback Keith Ray running in from three yards out. The Hornets (5-4) would score again on a 79-yard pass play from Ray to Jeremy Morris to give Concordia a 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Late in the second quarter, senior receiver Jamal Rodman scored on a 30-yard pass and catch to put Stillman in front 14-12. However, the Hornets would get a late score, a 15-yard pass play from Ray to David Hampton with 19 seconds remaining in the half. Concordia took a 18-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.




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Trei Mitchell’s mother dies before last chance to see him play

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana --  This was supposed to be the biggest game of the year for Sanja Mitchell.

It was supposed to be the last time the 43-year-old mother of two would see her son, Trei Mitchell, play football in A.W. Mumford Stadium — the same venue the former Southern Lab Kitten made a name for himself as a hole-opening offensive lineman.

“This was supposed to be her Super Bowl,” said Sanja’s sister, Tonja Myles. “She loved to see Trei play football. She was his biggest fan.”

For the first time in his life, Trei Mitchell is without the woman that molded him into the young man he is today. So, it’s no surprise the past two weeks have been extremely challenging.

Especially Saturday, as the Baton Rouge native returned home for the first time since his mother succumbed to a heart attack on Oct. 24 and helped his team pick up a bittersweet 31-30 win.

“It would have been something special,” Mitchell said ...

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Alabama State still alive in SWAC East race

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Southern’s football team has long since dropped out of the running for a spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game.

Alabama State, which survived Saturday’s trip to A.W. Mumford Stadium, holding on for a 31-30 victory, is still very much in the race.

But the Hornets need help.

Alabama State (7-3, 7-2 SWAC) wrapped up conference play with Saturday’s win. The Hornets, who are idle this week before their annual Turkey Day Classic against Tuskegee, must hope for Jackson State to lose Saturday at Alcorn State.

If JSU loses, Alabama State will represent the Eastern Division in the title game at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 8. JSU holds the head-to-head tiebreaker against ASU, thanks to a 37-34 win on Oct. 13.

On the other side, Arkansas-Pine Bluff clinched the West title last week.

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FAMU wins its 'Holmescoming'

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  A scene that is rarely witnessed after a FAMU football game unfolded Saturday night at Bragg Stadium for the first time in more than a decade.

Right after Rattlers got a stunning 22-21 homecoming victory over North Carolina Central, the second-ranked team in the MEAC, acting coach Earl Holmes was doused with Gatorade. Still soaking wet, the players hoisted him on their shoulders amid a deafening cheer from the crowd of 14,768 that had witnessed the Rattlers win a homecoming game for the first time in two seasons.

“When you talk about love you just can’t talk about it,” Holmes said afterward. “You’ve got to show it and those guys showed love today.

“We play for each other; from week to week, day to day and hour to hour. At the end of the day we are modern gladiators.”

It’s been an emotional past seven days for the Rattlers. They found out last Saturday that former coach Joe Taylor would retire at the end of the season. Four days later, Taylor decided that he would step aside immediately.

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Varnadore's kicks lift FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  As FAMU drove toward the North Carolina Central end zone, kicker Chase Varnadore appeared a little antsy on the sideline.

His number was called after the Rattlers took two unsuccessful shots at the end zone. With two minutes left in the fourth quarter and FAMU down by two points, Varnadore knew he couldn’t miss.

He didn’t, either, driving the 36-yard attempt straight through the upright to secure a 22-21 victory for the Rattlers in their homecoming game at Bragg Stadium.

“I was real eager to get in there,” Varnadore said. “I kept pacing and going, ‘please just get me within range.’ I’m just thankful that the offense got down there and gave me an opportunity to make it.”

The win wasn’t all that Varnadore celebrated. He became the first FAMU kicker to hit five field goals in one game since his coach Juan Vasquez did it against Morgan State University in 2000.

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Week 11, HBCU Championship Football Saturday

SIAC Championship
Tuskegee 55, Fort Valley State 24

CIAA Championship
Winston-Salem State 34, Elizabeth City State 19

SIAC
Stillman 28, Concordia-Selma 26 (homecoming)

SWAC
**Arkansas Pine Bluff 24, Grambling State 17
Alabama State 31, Southern U. 30
Jackson State 35, Alabama A&M 21
Alcorn State 34, Texas Southern 24
Mississippi Valley State 22, Prairie View A&M 20

MEAC
Florida A&M 22, North Carolina Central 21 (homecoming)
North Carolina A&T 17, South Carolina State 7
*Bethune-Cookman 49, Savannah State 7
Delaware State 35, Hampton 27
Norfolk State 30, Morgan State 0
Georgia Southern 69, Howard U. 26

OTHERS
Central State (Ohio) 51, Kentucky Wesleyan 7
North Greenville 10, Virginia University of Lynchburg
Langston 27, Oklahoma Panhandle State 20
Charleston U. 62, West Virginia State 0
Lock Haven 15, Cheyney 7
SW Baptist 43, Lincoln (Mo.) 12
Southern Virginia 17, Edward Waters 10
SW Assemblies of God 24, Texas College 13

 
** 2012 SWAC West Division Champions
*  2012 MEAC Champions