Southern hangs on late for a 14-8 season-opening win against South Carolina State

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Trailing by six with less than two minutes to go, South Carolina State’s Jermaine Baxley slipped behind the Southern defense, and quarterback Dewann Ford floated a spiral his way.

What would’ve been a game-tying touchdown — and it would have served as a game-winner with a made extra point — slipped through Baxley’s hands.

A short while later, the Jaguars (1-0) were celebrating a hard-fought 14-8 victory in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge when Southern’s Danny Johnson batted down a desperation heave on fourth down.



It was a defensive battle, with neither team topping 350 yards of total offense.

Devon Benn scored Southern’s first touchdown of the season on the first carry of his career. The redshirt freshman allowed his blocks to set up, then zoomed through a crease, juking the safety off his feet on a 27-yard scamper.

On the next series, Southern motioned both tight ends to the right side of the line then faked a handoff to that direction, but quarterback Austin Howard kept it and moseyed into the end zone for an easy 6-yard touchdown.

CONTINUE READING

HBCU Football Judgment Day Scoreboard - Week 1 Finals

SUNDAY, SEPT. 3

MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Southern 14, South Carolina State 8



SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

MEAC

Howard 43, UNLV 40
North Carolina A&T 45, Gardner-Webb 3
Virginia State 14, Norfolk State 10
Miami 41, Bethune-Cookman 13
Towson 10, Morgan State 0
Duke 60, North Carolina Central 7
Ohio 59, Hampton 0



SWAC

Tuskegee 14, Alabama State 6
North Dakota State 72, Mississippi Valley State 7
Alabama-Birmingham 38, Alabama A&M 7
Arkansas Pine Bluff 23, Morehouse 10
Alcorn State 50, Miles 21
Texas Christian 63, Jackson State 0
Tulane 43, Grambling State 14
Prairie View at Texas Southern - Postponed



OTHER

West Virginia State 51, Charleston (WV) 28
Langston 30, Lincoln (MO) 14

CIAA

Bowie State 48, Seton Hill 7
Cheyney 56,  Lincoln (PA) 28
Elizabeth City State 34, Central State (OH) 23
LIU Post 42, Virginia Union 13
New Haven 31, Shaw 20
Benedict 28, Livingstone 15
Wingate 38, Johnson C. Smith 18
Fayetteville State 24, Chowan 21

SIAC
Albany State (Ga.) 29, Valdosta State 12
Lane 40,  Texas College 20
Slippery Rock 42,  Kentucky State 21



THURSDAY, AUGUST 31

Tennessee State 17, Georgia State 10
Winston-Salem State 34, UNC Pembroke 31
Clark Atlanta 32, Mississippi College 29
West Georgia 34, Fort Valley State 9
Catawba 49, Saint Augustine's 0
Delaware 22. Delaware State 3
Arkansas 49, Florida A&M 7

Fayetteville State Wins First Season-opener since 2008 with 24-21 win over Chowan

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina -- Fayetteville State has seen its share of season-opener disappointments until tonight in Garrison Stadium. The Broncos will celebrate a long sought after victory after defeating Chowan University 24-21.

The last time FSU won its season-opener was in 2008 when the Broncos defeated North Carolina Central 33-22 in Durham. Fayetteville State controlled a 14-7 lead at halftime.

"We accomplished our goal!" cheered Head Coach Richard Hayes. "First game, we got a victory."
Chowan (0-1) scored on its first drive of the game with a 20-yard pass from Bryce Witt to Adrian McNeil.

Fayetteville State (1-0) responded on the next drive with a four-yard walk into the end zone by quarterback Kane Banner (Lumberton, NC) with 5:58 left in the first quarter. The 8-play, 58-yard drive was setup by a 40-yard kickoff return by Brandon Smith (Raeford, NC).

In the second quarter with 6:23 remaining, Donshel Jetton (Mooresville, NC) burst through the line of scrimmage to scamper 31 yards for a 14-7 lead, going into halftime.

The defense played its part throughout the game forcing four fumbles and recovering two. Keyante Baldwin (Fayetteville, NC) recovered the Hawks' last fumble of the game on an attempted punt return on Chowan's three-yard line. Fayetteville State capitalized on the turnover as Banner plunged into the end zone from one-yard out.



As time was about to expire in the third quarter with 38 seconds left, the Hawks picked up a touchdown to ease closer to the Broncos at 21-14. Witt connected with Michael Offutt, Jr. for a 32-yard passing touchdown.

Preseason All-CIAA Kicker David Lamb (Pineville, NC) split the uprights with a 27-yard field goal with 12:31 left in the game and a 24-14 lead.

Although Chowan scored its 21st point with 11:14 left in the game, the defense held its ground and preserved the victory. The score was a 50-yard pass from Witt to Torry Baker.

Stevie Green (Washington, NC), the 2016 CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year from, finished with 90 yards on 24 carries. His longest tote was for 23 yards. He shared snaps with Jetton who racked up 70 yards on nine carries and one touchdown. Jetton averaged 7.8 yards per carry.

Brandon Smith returned three kickoffs for 124 yards. His longest return was 42 yards. Fayetteville State had an average field position of the FSU's 38-yard line in the first half and the Fayetteville-40 in the second half.

Fayetteville State will play host to Wingate University (1-0), who defeated Johnson C. Smith 38-18, on Saturday, September 9th at 6:00 p.m. The Broncos will show gratitude to the Armed Services with Military Appreciation Night.

Final Stats

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY BRONCOS SPORTS INFORMATION

Benedict Tigers Roll Over Livingstone In Palmetto Capital City Classic, 28-15

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- The Benedict College Tigers opened the 2017 season with a 28-15 victory over the Livingstone College Blue Bears in the 16th annual Palmetto Capital City Classic on Saturday evening in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

The Tigers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half and then got an exciting 60-yard touchdown from Trini Charlton in the third quarter to help secure the season opening victory.

"We're better than we were last year; we're a little bit further along, but as you can see we've a long way to go to play a complete ballgame," said Benedict head coach Mike White. "I'm just happy we came out with more points than they did."

Benedict gained 248 yards on the ground, with Charlton doing the most damage with 126 yards on 15 carries. Charlton was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

The Tigers struck first when quarterback Dominique Harris pushed his way in from two yards out for a 6-0 lead with 7:12 left in the first quarter. At the start of the second quarter, the Tigers downed a 33-yard punt by Tory Mimbs at the 3-yard line. Two plays later, Jamal Heard and Amari Andrews sandwiched Livingstone quarterback Xavier Longerbeam in the end zone for a safety and an 8-0 lead with 14:50 left in the first half.



Later in the quarter, Mimbs booted a 44-yard punt, but Livingstone's Jeremy Lewis dropped the ball and Benedict's Raheem Jennings jumped on the loose ball in the end zone for a Tiger touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

The Blue Bears scored on their first possession of the second half when Thaddeus Bell, who replaced Longerbeam at quarterback, floated a 31-yard pass to Jarius Richardson. Justin Ruffin ran in the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 14-8 with 10:37 remaining in the third quarter.

The Tigers deflated any momentum the Blue Bears may have gained. Starting from their own 18-yard line, Harris had passes of 12 and 9 yards to Wayne Brown and Okechi Ntiasagwe to move the ball to the Benedict 40-yard line. Charlton took a handoff through the left side of the line, found a hole and outran the coverage for a 60-yard score.

"It's the O-line. We've got a great O-Line," Charlton said. "I didn't do anything. They just opened the holes and I ran through them. I just saw green grass. It was wide open."

Harris guided the Tigers on a 61-yard drive in the fourth quarter. On the eight-play drive, he completed four of five pass attempts, including the final 16-yard pass to Wayne Brown in the back corner of the end zone. Harris, who has not played competitive football since 2012 at Northwest Community College, played the entire game under center and completed 10-of-25 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown while throwing two interceptions.

The Harris to Brown touchdown gave Benedict a 28-8 lead with 7:33 remaining on the clock. The Blue Bears went on a long 16-play, 78-yard drive with Spencer Ludin, the third Blue Bear quarterback of the game, completing a six-yard pass to Ruben Lawhorn for the touchdown with 1:03 left.

Benedict recovered the on-side kick attempt by Livingstone and the Tigers ran out the final minute of the clock.

Benedict gave up 264 yards of total offense to Livingstone. The Benedict defense held the Blue Bears to two first downs and 105 yards in the first half.

"We kept them from running, we put good pressure on the passer, but then we missed a few tackles and all of a sudden it changed the game," White said. "We've got to stay focused and, as they say, play it for four quarters."

Robert Cummings had eight tackles and two pass breakups to lead the Benedict defense. Xavier George added six tackles. Rickym Holmes had four tackles with 1.5 sacks as the Benedict defense recorded five sacks on the day.

Benedict travels to Gaffney, S.C. for next week's game to take on L
imestone College. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at The Reservation Stadium.

BOX SCORE

BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Texas College Steers show improvement in loss to Lane Dragons

TYLER, Texas -- Although the Charles Moss era at Texas College did not start off with a win, there were some good signs for the Steers football program.

Lane College held off a young TC squad, 40-20, on a very hot and sunny afternoon on Saturday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

The contest was much closer than last year’s 44-6 loss to the Dragons in Jackson, Tennessee.

“I saw some positives and several things we can correct,” Moss said. “We had some breakdowns, but there were some encouraging signs.”

Some of those signs included quarterback Sean Stell, a senior from Fresno, California, hitting on 16 of 27 pass attempts for 112 yards with two TD passes (21 yards to Myles Hill and 4 yards to Cory Sherman). Stell also scored on a 1-yard dash.

The rushing attack totaled 136 yards, led by Jude St. Julian (10-63) and Carlos Mosby (19-59). St. Julian is a senior from St. Martinsville, Louisiana, while Mosby is a sophomore from Lake Providence, Georgia.

Hill, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, added three catches for 34 yards. Sherman is a senior from Marlin. Marcus Holiday II led the Dragons with 148 yards and a TD on 19 carries.

CONTINUE READING

Former Lane College defensive end signs with Los Angeles Chargers

JACKSON, Tennessee -- It was announced Monday that Whitney Richardson, former Lane College defensive end, signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Richardson, the 2016 NCAA Division II Player of the Year, recorded 17.5 sacks and 32.5 tackles for loss during the 2016 season.

Dorsett Davis, Lane College defensive line coach said he's extremely proud of Richardson, especially considering the uncertainty about what position Richardson wanted to play initially.



"I remember when he was in between positions coming out of high school," Davis said. "He really didn't know what [position] he wanted to play.

"For him to take pride and be dedicated to a position and excel in it, that says a lot and I'm proud of him for sticking with it."

Richardson's best performance as a Dragon in 2016 came on October 8 against Benedict College during the Lane College homecoming game, when he recorded 15 tackles (14 solo), five for total loss and three sacks in a 19-18 win over the Tigers at Lane Field.

LANE COLLEGE DRAGONS SPORTS INFORMATION

Elizabeth City State Vikings Football Dominates Second Half Defeating Central State, 34-23 in Season Opener

WILBERFORCE, OHIO – A dominating second half from the Elizabeth City State University football team, gifted them a 34-23 victory over Central State University in McPherson Memorial Stadium, Saturday afternoon in its season opener.

Elizabeth City State opened up the flood gates in the second half, recording two quick scores. Freshman quarterback Navarro Price came into the game after senior quarterback Dequan Neal had to set out for a play because of the helmet rule and hooked up with junior receiver Sayquan Holder for a 34-yard touchdown bomb that tighten the ballgame at 16-14, CSU.

An interception in the next series by sophomore defensive back BJ Harrington gave ECSU a boost and the ball at Central State’s 17 yard line. ECSU marched the ball down the field 78-yards in seven plays to record its second score in the third quarter off a junior receiver Brandon Flint 21-yard touchdown scamper from Neal.

Final Stats

A second interception from ECSU’s Harrington in CSU’s end zone, led to another ECSU touchdown. Neal connected with junior wide out Deon Yarborough on a five-yard touchdown pass, but the extra point was blocked, gifting the Vikings a 27-16 lead over Central State.

A two-yard scamper from Neal gave ECSU a commanding 34-16 lead over the Marauders. Central State scored again but it wasn’t enough to come back from an eleven-point deficit, 34-23. Harrington sealed the deal for ECSU with his third and record-setting interception on the day with 1:09 remaining in the contest.

ECSU fell behind quick in the first half, 14-0 before junior running back Gregory Bryan took a 64-yard run to the house for his first ECSU career touchdown with 6:58 remaining in the second quarter. Neal went 8-for-18 passing with one interception in the half.

Bryan finished the half with 86 yards in two rushes. Junior linebacker Vincent Thomas led the defensive charge going into the half with seven total tackles, including one for a loss.

Bryan led ECSU’s running game with 106 yards on four carries and a touchdown, while junior linebacker Miacah Cooper, III led the defense with 12 tackles, including a sack and a tackle for a loss. Neal finished the game with 231 yards on 20-for-35 passing, including an interception, two touchdowns passing and one rushing. Holder led all receivers with 98 yards and a score; while Yarborough added 78 yards on six catches and a score.

The Vikings will return home for its season home opener next week, hosting UNC-Pembroke for its Military/ECSU Alumni NFL Day. Game time is slated for 1 p.m.

Follow Elizabeth City State Athletics via its official website at: www.ecsuvikings.com to get pre and post-game stories and updates. Also follow us on twitter at: @ECSUVikings and on Instagram: @ecsusports

ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION