UWA Wins Playoff Opener Over Miles, 41-7

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Gary Johnston rushed for 154 yards and West Alabama rolled up 578 yards of total offense on the way to a 41-7 NCAA Division II Football First Round Playoff victory over Miles College Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers, who also limited Miles to 30 points below its season average, improved to 9-3 overall and travel to Valdosta State for a second-round matchup against the Blazers on Saturday. This will be UWA's second trip to Valdosta State this season. The Tigers posted a 39-28 victory over VSU on Sept. 22. Miles ended its season at 8-3.

“We executed well all day long and our defense played extremely well after the first drive,” UWA head coach Will Hall said. “That's kind of been our M.O. all year that people have something schemed against us and then Coach (Robert) Henry gets them to the sidelines and makes the adjustments that make us the defense we are.

“Offensively we have hit our stride over the last few weeks and have been extremely efficient,” Hall said. “We are built for 60 minutes. We are not a throw it 65 times a game team. We are 60-minute team that's going to pound you as the game wears on, but we did start fast today and that was good to see.”

Johnston, a junior from Gulf Shores, Ala., picked up his 154 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 22 carries while also completing 10-of-15 passes for 90 yards.

Freshman running back George Michael Rowe of Prattville, Ala., contributed 84 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries for the Tigers. Both of Rowe's scoring runs came in the fourth quarter from 16 and nine yards.

“Another great effort by Gary today. I don't know if he got tacked by the first guy all day,” Hall said. “That's something we talk about with our skills guys. If you are good player you don't get tackled by the first guy.”

West Alabama struck first when Kyle Caldwell found Malik Lofton on a 40-yard touchdown pass to cap a nine-play, 87-yard drive on its first possession. Johnston put UWA up 14-0 on a 31-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. Johnston's run came on a fourth-down conversion attempt by the Tigers.

“Our offensive line and receivers did a great job all day,” Johnston said. “If we can just make one person miss then it puts us in a good situation as runners.”

Miles threatened for the first time midway through the second period, but the drive stalled at the UWA 15 yard line, forcing a 32-yard field goal try. Ryan Jones blocked Patton Chambers attempt to end the threat. The blocked field goal was the fifth by the Tigers this season.

“Coach Henry just told us to slow down. We were already in the right position, but we were over pursuing and they were hitting cutbacks for a few big plays,” safety Otha Foster said. “Our defense has been good at keeping people from scoring all year.”

West Alabama, who leads the nation in pass defense and came into the game fourth in the land in total defense, limited two Miles quarterbacks to just 8-of-20 passing for 104 yards. The Tigers recorded four tackles for loss and a sack.

“We had some penalties that stoned some drives and we were in the red zone three or four times and didn't get in,” Miles head coach Reginald Ruffin said. “Those are points and the name of the game is the one who has the most points at the end of the game wins.”

West Alabama made it 21-0 with 5:04 to play in the first half when Johnston rambled in from 3 yards out to cap a 10-play, 78-yard drive following the blocked field goal.

The Tigers missed an opportunity to stretch the lead on the final play of the first half, but Ryne Smith's 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked, ending his NCAA-record field goals made streak at 24.

West Alabama marched 77 yards on 13 plays to open the second half. Johnston's third rushing touchdown of the game, this one from the 1-yard line, gave the Tigers a 27-0 lead after the extra point sailed wide left.

Miles avoided the shutout when Denzel Veale scampered in from 5 yards out after a pass interference penalty on fourth down kept the Miles drive alive at the UWA 2 yard line. Veale's score capped an 11-play, 78-yards drive that took 3:38 to play.

“West Alabama did a great job of keeping us out of the end zone. We had our shots,” Ruffin said. “Defensively, we couldn't do anything to stop the quarterback (Johnston). We knew he was a good player and that they had a good core of receivers and a good offensive line.”

Lofton had five receptions for 82 yards to pace UWA receivers. Marcus Brown and Curt Amacker had four catches each. Javae Swindle rushed for 72 yards on just five carries for the Tigers.

Foster finished with seven total tackles, including one for a loss. Jones and Deon Lacey had five each.

Floyd Graves led Golden Bear rushers with 69 yards on 10 carries. Tyrrell Kinder recorded nine tackles to lead Miles.


COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Lenoir-Rhyne wins first postseason game since 1962, tops Fort Valley State

HICKORY, North Carolina  –  The Lenoir-Rhyne Football Team (9-2) advanced to the second round of the 2012 NCAA Division II Playoffs with a 21-6 victory over Fort Valley State (8-4) Saturday afternoon at Moretz Stadium.

L-R, winners of eight straight games, moves on to face Carson-Newman (8-2) next Saturday at Noon in Jefferson City, Tenn.

The two South Atlantic Conference squads faced off on September 15 with the Eagles prevailing by a 47-23 score at home. L-R has not lost since the setback to Carson-Newman.

L-R sophomore fullback Isaiah Whitaker (Salisbury, N.C.) rushed for a game-high 117 yards with two scores to lead the Bears in their first postseason appearance in 50 years.

Junior defensive back Michael Green (Kingsland, Ga.) added a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown as L-R won its first postseason game since a 20-7 win over Northern State (S.D.) at home on December 1, 1962. The 1962 squad would eventually fall in the NAIA National Championship game.

Whitaker's 57-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter proved to be the lone score in the first half for either squad.

Whitaker's second score of the contest, a one-yard run, was set up by a 99-yard kickoff return by sophomore halfback Jarrod Spears (Bunnlevel, N.C.) to start the second half.

The Bears pushed the advantage to 21-0 on Green's interception return for a score with three minutes remaining in the third quarter before the Wildcats finally got on the board in the final stanza.

Fort Valley State quarterback Antonio Henton (Fort Valley, Ga.) found wideout Stephen Stroman (Lithonia, Ga.) for an 11-yard touchdown reception with 9:57 remaining in the contest. Henton finished with 242 yards passing in the losing effort.

Lenoir-Rhyne, which rushed for 243 yards in the game, held Fort Valley State on downs in the Wildcats' final drive of the contest and possessed the ball for the last five minutes to take the win.

Senior linebacker Demetrius Green (Cedartown, Ga.) led the defense with a game-high 12 tackles as the Bears held the Wildcats without a score four times in the red zone.

Lenoir-Rhyne also won its 12th straight game at home and picked up its most wins in the regular season since an 11-1 mark during the 1962 campaign.

Box Score

COURTESY LENOIR RHYNE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Auburn 51, Alabama A&M 7

AUBURN, Alabama  --  An Auburn offense that has struggled most of the season had its best game of the year Saturday in a 51-7 win over Alabama A&M on Senior Night in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Tre Mason led the onslaught with 181 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries, and senior Onterio McCalebb also went over the 100-yard mark and scored twice on 15 rushes.

True freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace finished 10-of-18 for 171 yards and a touchdown.

Trent Fisher even got in on the scoring, intercepting a pass and returning it 60 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring for the Tigers with 2:38 remaining.

Auburn (3-8) will look for its first SEC win of the season in its final game next week at No. 4 Alabama.

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Jackson State routs Alcorn, earns spot in SWAC title game

LORMAN, Mississippi — The Soul Bowl returned to the Alcorn State campus Saturday, but Jackson State maintained its dominance in the series.

JSU scored 14 points off Alcorn turnovers to start the second half and rolled to a 37-11 victory over the Braves Saturday at Spinks-Casem Stadium. On a day that started with Alcorn trumpeting the series’ return to the Braves’ campus after an 18-year run in Jackson, it ended with the Tigers walking out Eastern Division champions and on their way to the SWAC championship game for the first time since 2008.

“I’m happy for the kids and Jackson State and our administration,” JSU coach Rick Comegy said. “We didn’t play as well in the first half as we did the second half, but I’m glad they responded and came out and got the win.”

JSU junior running back Tommy Gooden was named the game’s overall MVP after rushing for two touchdowns and 68 yards. Fellow running mate Rakeem Sims earned offensive MVP honors after running for a game-high 152 yards and one touchdown. Joseph LeBeau, who led JSU with eight tackles, including 3 for a loss and two sacks, was the defensive MVP.



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Florida A&M University Makes Progress with Anti-Hazing

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - The Rattler News Service has an in depth conversation with FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson about changes on campus since the death of drum major Robert Champion last November. Dr. Robinson gives insight on when positions such as the special assistant to the president for anti-hazing will be filled and other measures that have been taken to study and change hazing - behavior that begins in many high school bands. He also discusses he Marching 100 future.

 

Bethune-Cookman rallies for 21-16 win over FAMU in Florida Classic

ORLANDO, Florida  --  Florida A&M (4-7, 4-4 MEAC) flirted with a big upset of rival Bethune-Cookman (9-2, 8-0 MEAC) during the annual Florida Classic at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

The Rattlers earned a 10-7 halftime advantage, but the Wildcats took control of the contest in the second half.

B-CU eventually scored a 21-16 win over FAMU. The Wildcats, who have already clinched the Mid-Eastern Atlantic title and are ranked No. 24 in the latest FCS Top 25 poll, were heavy favorites in the contest. They didn't look the part until the pivotal second half.

Wildcat Isidore Jackson rushed for a 34-yard touchdown and Sven Hurd hit the extra point, giving Bethune Cookman a 14-10 lead with 3:13 left in the third quarter.

The Wildcats tacked on another big touchdown in the fourth quarter. Andronicus Lovette rush for 1 yard touchdown. Hurd hit the extra point to give B-CU a comfortable 21-10 lead.

FAMU didn't give up. Damien Fleming passed to Dewayne Harvey for a 37-yard touchdown. B-CU blocked the ensuing extra point to make the score 21-16 with 8:04 left in the game.

B-CU's defense held on for the win.

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Texas Southern Tigers Work Extra Hours to Capture Their 74-71 Win over ULL

HOUSTON, Texas -- Texas Southern men’s basketball head coach Mike Davis and his fighting Tigers gave the TSU fans quite a show in the 2012-13 season home opener against Louisiana-Lafayette in the H&PE Arena. The Tigers took their first win under Coach Davis in grand fashion in a 74-71 overtime win.

TSU started strong by taking a 29-19 lead in the first half with SWAC Preseason Player of the Year, Omar Strong leading the way with 8 points. Newcomer Ray Penn had 7 points.

The Tigers were force to fight off a charge by Louisiana-Lafayette in the second half. The Ragin’ Cajuns closed the 10 point gap and tied the game at 65-65 with two clutch free-throws with no time left on the clock.

ULL jumped out to a 71-70 lead on overtime but Dexter Ellington hit two free-throws to give the Tigers a one point lead with 39 seconds left to play. Kyrie Sutton sealed the deal with two-free throws at the seven second mark to put TSU up by three put away Louisiana-Lafayette’s hope of a second comeback.

Penn lead the Tigers with 17 points and 4 assists. Strong and Fred Sturdivant finished the game with 14 points each. Sturdivant added 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
 
COURTESY: Rodney Bush, TSU Sports Information Director