Benedict Looks For First Win Against Lane

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Much like the prescribed therapy plan between Dr. Leo Marvin and Bill Murray's character Bob Wiley in the comedy "What About Bob?", the 2015 Benedict College football season has been all about taking baby steps.

Each week head coach Mike White is looking for his young team to show a little bit of improvement from the previous week.

The Tigers took a step forward last week. Despite eventually losing 32-19 to Kentucky State, the Tigers had their first lead of the season and were tied heading into the fourth quarter.

Benedict Gameday
Benedict (0-5) vs. Lane (1-4) at Lucy Laney High School Stadium, Augusta, Ga.
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
Radio: WLXC Kiss 103.1 FM
Streaming: www.kiss-1031.com

White and the 0-5 Tigers will be looking for another positive step forward when they take on the 1-4 Lane Dragons on Saturday in the annual Augusta City Classic. Kickoff at Lucy Laney High School Stadium is 2 p.m.

"We had a couple of series (last week against Kentucky State) where we looked a little better and we're trying to see if we do a little bit better than that," White said. "It's all about taking baby steps forward."

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Livingstone likely to have loss nullified

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- They don’t play doubleheaders in football, but two Livingstone contests will be decided in the next few days.  Livingstone is scheduled to play at 1 p.m. today against winless St. Augustine’s at the George Williams Athletic Complex in Raleigh.

The Blue Bears also expect to have a loss to Bowie State wiped from the books. Bowie State’s standout quarterback, Matt Goggans, has been declared ineligible for the rest of the season. Goggans had thrown for 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns, with only two interceptions. “He’s the real deal,” Livingstone coach Daryl Williams said.

Goggans played the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Fullerton College, played in eight games in 2012 for North Carolina Central, and then played in seven games at Bowie State in 2014. This is his fifth season of competition. That’s one over the limit, so Bowie State is certain to forfeit all four of its victories, including a 45-17 home romp against Livingstone.

While Bowie State’s wins will become losses, the schools beaten by Bowie State are unlikely to be awarded wins. Based on previous CIAA rulings, they instead will have their losses “nullified.” As far as Livingstone’s record, it will be like the Bowie State game never happened.

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FAMU Opens Grid Homestand Against NCCU Saturday

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- A quick look at the facts surronding Saturday's football game against North Carolina Central in Bragg Stadium. Kickoff is 5:00 p.m.

FAMU NCCU Game Notes

OPENING BITES

@ Florida A&M (0-5, 0-2 in MEAC) returns to Bragg Stadium to open a three-game home stretch with the Eagles of North Carolina Central (1-3, 0-1 in MEAC).

@The Rattlers are off to a second straight 0-5 start, and hope that they can repeat last year’s feat of winning back-to-back games after a rugged start.

@ FAMU dropped their first-ever game to Savannah State last week, scoring 27 points - the most in a game this season.

WEATHER FORECAST: Accuweatherpredicts Saturday’s weather in Tallahassee will be clear, with a high of 87, and a low in the mid 60s.

*LAST TIME OUT: FAMU dropped a 37-27 road decision at Savannah State, while North Carolina Central lost a 28-26 home heartbreaker to Bethune-Cookman.

THE COACHING MATCHUP: * FAMU’s Alex Wood (Iowa, 1978) is in his first season at FAMU... He has a 25-29 career record as a head coach at James Madison (23-22), Buffalo (2-2) and FAMU (0-4).

*N.C. Central’s Jerry Mack (Arkansas State, 2003) is 8-8-0 in his 2nd season at NCCU.

The MEAC Right Now: Heading into the second week of October, the 2015 MEAC title chase and the Run For Atlanta (champion gets berth in the newly-minted Celebration Bowl) continues with five games on tap being of the league variety…. After the first month, the five teams that tied for first in the 2014 standings are either in first or a half-game out... 

Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State and Morgan State – are all 2-0, with South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T a half-game back at 1-0…. This week’s action begins with a critical Thursday nighter, as South Carolina State visits Bethune-Cookman (7:30 ESPNU)... 

Saturday’s slate features Delaware State at Hampton, 2:00; North Carolina A&T at Norfolk State, 2:00; Savannah State at Morgan State, 4:00 and N.C. Central at FAMU, 5:00.

The Final Six: The Rattlers were stung in Saturday’s 37-27 upset loss at Savannah State, leaving them focused on making a Run To Redemption in the final six games of the 2015 regular season – all conference games…. Although technically, the Rattlers are ineligible for the MEAC title due to the APR penalties from the NCAA, their league games count in the standings, meaning they can have a say on who wins the title…. 

FAMU opens the final stretch at home this week for a rare three-game homestand to close October, against North Carolina Central (Oct. 10 – 5:00 p.m.); Delaware State for Homecoming (Oct. 17 – 3:00 p.m.) and North Carolina A&T (Oct. 31 – 5:00 p.m.)…. FAMU closes the season in a familiar vein, on the road, with November travel dates at Hampton (Nov. 7 - 1:00 p.m.); Morgan State (Nov. 14 - 1:00 p.m.); and Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 21 - 2:30 p.m.) in Orlando….

Year of the Long Play: The Rattlers have despite their struggles, made some big, long plays (40 yards or longer) in the first five games – four of them scoring plays (See above chart):

FAMU’S LONGEST PLAYS OF 2015

90 yards – Kashawn Butler, fumble return vs. Samford, 9-12-15.

84 yards – Devondrick Nealy, punt return TD vs. Tennessee State, 9-26-15.

73 yards – Devin Bowers, TD run from scrimmage vs. Samford, 9-12-15.

65 yards – Akil Blount, TD Interception return vs. Samford, 9-12-15.

62 yards – Carson Royal to Kevin Troutman pass vs. S.C. State, 9-17-15.

56 yards - Kenneth Coleman to Montavious Williams pass vs. Savannah State, 10-3-15

51 yards – Carson Royal to Montavious Williams pass vs. TennState, 9-26-15.

46 yards - Devondrick Nealy kickoff return vs. Savannah State, 10-3-15.

45 yards – Carson Royal to Kareem Smith pass vs. Tennessee State, 9-26-15.

Nealy Mr. All Purpose: Devondrick Nealy has made the most of his touches of the pigskin so far this year, leading the Rattlers in all-purpose yards… The senior from nearby Monticello, Florida, who transferred in to FAMU from Iowa State, is averaging 103.2 all purpose yards per game…. Through five games, Nealy has 516 combined yards (103 rushing, 77 receiving, 148 on punt returns and 188 on kickoff returns)….The scintillating speedster brought the huge Bragg Stadium crowd to their feet two weeks ago against Tennessee State, with his 84-yard TD punt return in his first home game in a Rattler uniform… He had a 46-yard return Saturday to set up a score for FAMU against Savannah State.

FAMU’s Leading Men:

@ Defensively, the Rattlers have been put to the test by opposing defenses far, but the GanGreen Defense has held its own for the most part… Preseason All-MEAC safety Jacques Bryant now tops the tackle charts with 40 stops (26 solos) and an interception… Linebackers Akil Blount (35 tackles, 2.5 for loss, INT for TD) and Kashawn Butler (37 tackles, 3 recovered fumbles) , have been big hitters too, along with secondary aces Braxton Brown (33 stops) and John Boston (22 stops, INT)…. Junior Curtis Alexander (23 tackles, 3.0 for loss) is the other member of the Three Hitmen at linebacker….

@ Offensively, freshman Devin Bowers still holds the club rushing lead with 144 yards on 12 carries, followed byDevondrick Nealy (103) and Gerald Hearns (85)…. QB Carson Royal has passed for 597 yards and a score on 52 of 108 passes (3 INTs), while backup Kenny Coleman (306 yards, 1 TD on 28 of 57 passes, 3 INTs) has seen increased playing time of late…. Sophomore Brandon Norwood tops the team with 23 receptions for 189 yards, followed byMontavious Williams’ 236 yards on 14 grabs….

@ Special Teams: Nealy is averaging 21.5 yards per punt return, highlighted by his electrifying 84-yard TD runback Saturday against TSU… He is also averaging 17.8 yards on kickoff returns, sharing those duties with Jairockeis Jones(16.1) and Kenyan Foster (13.9)…. Junior Colby Blanton is the Rattler kicking game, averaging 41.0 per punt (39 attempts), with a 61-yard boot, five kicks over 50 yatrds, and eight (8) downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line… He is 8-of-8 on PATS and 3-of-6 on field goals, in this his first collegiate season punting, placekicking and kicking off, where he averages 59.4 yards on his kickoffs…

*WHAT’S NEXT: The Rattlers will continue their three-game homestand against Delaware State in the Homecoming game. Kickoff will be 3:00 p.m.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Nuggets picked 1st; Gathright on preseason team

WHITNEY GATHRIGHT

NEW ORLEANS  — For the sixth consecutive season, Xavier University of Louisiana is the preseason pick to win the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball championship.

Picked to the five-member preseason All-GCAC team for 2015-16 was XU senior Whitney Gathright. Teammate Donyeah Mayfield received honorable mention.

The GCAC's seven head coaches made the selections, and the GCAC announced them Thursday.

The Gold Nuggets, 18-15 overall and 9-5 (second place) in the GCAC in 2014-15, received four first-place votes and 45 points. SUNO, last year's regular-season and tournament champion, received one first-place vote and 33 points to finish second.

Two other teams received first-place votes: Dillard, third with 31 points, and Philander Smith, fifth with 25. Talladega placed fourth, and Edward Waters and Tougaloo were 6-7.

Gathright, a 5-foot-4 guard from New Orleans and a graduate of John Curtis Christian School, led the Gold Nuggets in 2014-15 with 12.8 points, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game. She was the only Louisiana woman last season with 400 points, 100 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 made free throws, 40 made 3-pointers and 60 steals. Twice she has been named All-GCAC and third-team All-Louisiana. Gathright was honorable mention on a pair of NAIA All-America teams last season.

Mayfield, a 5-11 senior forward from Vicksburg, Miss., and a graduate of Vicksburg High School, averaged 7.5 points and a team-leading 7.6 rebounds last season. She was the first Gold Nugget since Brittany Powell (2009-10) to reach 200 points, 200 rebounds and 40 assists in one season.

The NAIA will announce Oct. 27 its preseason Division I national top 25.

The Gold Nuggets will begin their 38th season of the Title IX era on the road against NAIA opponent Webber International at 5 p.m. EDT Oct. 31 in Babson Park, Fla. The first home game will start at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Convocation Center against NCAA Division II's LeMoyne-Owen.

GCAC Preseason Voting
All-Conference
Name School Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG
Tajanee Wells Talladega G/F 5-8 Jr. Columbus, Ohio 17.4 7.3
Whitney Gathright Xavier G 5-4 Sr. New Orleans, La. 12.8 4.4
Alena Evans Dillard F 5-10 Sr. Las Vegas, Nev. 12.4 6.9
Montoria Atkinson Tougaloo F 6-0 So. Jackson, Miss. 14.4 10.4
Rubyunnia McHenry Philander Smith C 6-3 Sr. Strong, Ark. 2.7 9.6
Preseason Player of the Year: Tajanee Wells, Talladega
Honorable Mention: Kyeshia Dawkins, Edward Waters; Brittany Leonard, Philander Smith; Rayvin Miller, SUNO; Shakeena Benton, Talladega; Donyeah Mayfield, Xavier

Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
Rank School Points
1 Xavier (4) 45
2 SUNO (1) 33
3 Dillard (1) 31
4 Talladega 30
5 Philander Smith (1) 25
6 Edward Waters 18
7 Tougaloo 12

Xavier in previous GCAC polls
2014-15 — 1st
2013-14 — 1st
2012-13 — 1st
2011-12 — 1st
2010-11 — 1st
2009-10 — 2nd
2008-09 — 1st
2007-08 — 2nd 2006-07 — 3rd
2004-05 — 1st
2003-04 — 2nd
2002-03 — 2nd
2001-02 — 1st
1999-2000 — 1st
1993-94 — 1st

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

XU's Wright voted preseason GCAC Player of the Year

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Morris Wright has been chosen preseason Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year in men's basketball, and the Gold Rush are picked to finish third in 2015-16.

The GCAC's seven head coaches made the selections. The GCAC announced the selections Friday.
Wright, a 5-foot-10 senior guard from Zachary, La., and a graduate of Zachary High School, was first-team All-GCAC and All-GCAC Tournament last season. Wright in 2014-15 averaged 14.9 points per game and became the first Gold Rush player to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 made free throws, 50 made 3-pointers and 50 steals in a season.

Wright is Xavier's career leader in 3-point field-goal percentage at .424 (117-of-276).

Xavier, 24-10 overall and 11-3 (second place) in the GCAC in 2014-15, received one first-place vote. Defending regular-season and tournament champion Talladega received four first-place votes and topped the voting, and Philander Smith was No. 2 with a pair of first-place votes.

Tougaloo, Dillard, Edward Waters and SUNO finished 4-5-6-7 in the voting.

The NAIA will announce Oct. 27 its preseason Division I national top 25. Xavier appeared in the last 50 top 25s — 21st in the 2014-15 postseason poll — and has the longest active poll streak in the division.

Xavier will open its 78th season at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at XU's Convocation Center against NAIA member Webber International of Babson Park, Fla. The Gold Rush will play 17 times at home during the regular season.

GCAC Preseason Voting
All-Conference
Name School Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG
Morris Wright Xavier G 5-10 Sr. Zachary, La. 14.9 3.6
Quintarius Porter Tougaloo G 6-5 Sr. Jackson, Miss. 15.2 4.9
Courtney Mack Talladega F 6-7 Sr. Midway, Ala. 9.6 5.5
Ronald March Philander Smith G 6-5 Sr. Phoenix, Ariz. 16.3 4.5
Joe Brown SUNO C 6-8 Sr. Augusta, Ga. 13.4 10.1
Houston Chatman Dillard G 6-1 Jr. Houma, La. 11.6 3.9
Preseason Player of the Year: Morris Wright, Xavier
Honorable Mention: Patrick Thompson, Dillard; Nelson Ollie, Philander Smith; Andravious Smith, Tougaloo

Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)

Rank School Points
1 Talladega (4) 46
2 Philander Smith (2) 41
3 Xavier (1) 39
4 Tougaloo 21
5 Dillard 19
6 Edward Waters 17
7 SUNO 13

Xavier in previous GCAC polls
2014-15 — 2nd
2013-14 — 2nd
2012-13 — 1st
2011-12 — 2nd
2010-11 — 1st
2009-10 — 8th
2008-09 — 2nd
2007-08 — 1st
2006-07 — 6th
2004-05 — 3rd 2003-04 — 4th
2002-03 — 5th
2001-02 — 1st
2000-01 — 2nd
1999-2000 — 3rd
1992-93 — 2nd
1991-92 — 1st
1989-90 — 6th
1988-89 — 4th
1987-88 — 2nd


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Southern’s high-scoring offense faces its biggest SWAC test yet in Saturday’s game at Alabama State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Southern has scored 50 points against each of its first two Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents.

The Jaguars have the leading rusher in the conference in Lenard Tillery and one of the top-rated passers in Austin Howard. The receiving corps may be the league’s deepest; it’s led by Willie Quinn, who has three special teams touchdowns to go with one he caught and another he threw.

That’s a lot of weapons Southern (2-2, 2-0) brings with it to ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama, to face Alabama State (2-3, 2-2) at 6 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s become a nightmare watching those guys on film,” first-year Hornets coach Brian Jenkins said. “I’m in disbelief of what I’ve seen on film. They have some good ballplayers, and they play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. I don’t know if we can stop them. We can try to contain them or try to slow them down, but no one has stopped them yet. I don’t know if we will have the answer, either. Hopefully we can go in and try to control them and give us a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter.”

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GSU trying to avoid up-and-down play vs. Alabama A&M

GRAMBLING, Louisiana — Grambling’s last four weeks have been an up-and-down ride filled with offensive explosions, penalties and enough yards allowed on defense to resemble an Arena League football game.

The Tigers have managed a 3-1 record during that span, though, with the only loss coming to Bethune-Cookman. Grambling has since won three straight with the most recent victory coming in convincing fashion against rival Jackson State.

Grambling is now hoping to string together another consistent effort at home Saturday against Alabama A&M.

“That’s what it’s going to take is just continued focus and an understanding we need to do the little things in order to play well every week,” Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said. “We’ve dodged some bullets because we’ve played well and we haven’t played well at times but we’ve been able to continue to win football games.”

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