ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The South Carolina State Bulldogs football team needs to hit the ground running, and passing, and kicking and tackling when they open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on ESPNU this Thursday night at North Carolina Central.
S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough realizes the MEAC standings picture could be a lot clearer by the end of this month, once his team plays the league favorites.
S.C. State's next two opponents are in the Top 4 rankings in this week's SBN Sports Network Black College Football Poll and in both the coaches' and media polls from BoxToRow.
The Bulldogs will play in Durham, N.C., against the Eagles (1-1) this week and then play host to unbeaten North Carolina A&T (3-0) on Saturday, Sept. 30. NCCU, the defending conference champion, was picked to finish first again this season, followed by N.C. A&T and S.C. State, at Nos. 2 and 3 respectively.
Coming off Saturday's home-opening 41-0 win against Johnson C. Smith, Pough likes the direction his team is headed, with solid play on defense and special teams supporting an emerging offense.
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Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Tennessee State football earns second-highest ranking since 1999
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State climbed to No. 20 in both FCS national polls on Monday, which is the second-highest ranking for the Tigers since being No. 1 in 1999.
After defeating Florida A&M 24-13 on Saturday in the Tampa Classic at Raymond James Stadium, the Tigers improved to 3-0 and moved up in both the STATS FCS and Coaches polls.
The Tigers were 22nd in the STATS poll and 24th in the Coaches poll heading into that game.
"What I like about the ranking is that it's not only recognition for the football team and the athletic program, but it also puts Tennessee State on the map," coach Rod Reed said. "You can look in the newspaper and all the other media platforms and see TSU there every day for a solid couple of weeks. It's great marketing for the university."
TSU’s highest ranking ever came in 1999 when the Tigers went 11-0 in the regular season under coach L.C. Cole. That team lost in the first round of the national playoffs to North Carolina A&T.
The best ranking since then came in 2012 when Reed led the Tigers to a 7-0 start. That team climbed to No. 17 in the Sports Network (now the STATS) poll and No. 18 in the Coaches poll.
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SWAC play offers Jackson State clean slate after rough 0-3 start
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Tony Hughes is a sore loser.
He's as frustrated as anyone about the Tigers' slow start to the 2017 season.
"When I was a kid playing marbles, If I started to lose I would take my marbles and go home," he said Monday. "You weren't going to beat me with my own marbles. If it was football, I'd take my ball and go inside or we'd play all day until I wore you down and finally beat you before I'd go home."
That explains his statements from last week, when he called out his critics at his regularly-scheduled weekly press conference.
But Hughes struck a different tone this week. Despite dropping a 36-21 road game at Grambling Saturday, he sounded optimistic as his Tigers (0-3) head into their first home game and SWAC opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
"My statements last week were not aimed at any one person or one particular group," Hughes said. "It was basically my frustration from being 0-3. Sometimes you might say something that comes out that might be offensive... but basically, I love winning, and I hate losing."
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He's as frustrated as anyone about the Tigers' slow start to the 2017 season.
"When I was a kid playing marbles, If I started to lose I would take my marbles and go home," he said Monday. "You weren't going to beat me with my own marbles. If it was football, I'd take my ball and go inside or we'd play all day until I wore you down and finally beat you before I'd go home."
That explains his statements from last week, when he called out his critics at his regularly-scheduled weekly press conference.
But Hughes struck a different tone this week. Despite dropping a 36-21 road game at Grambling Saturday, he sounded optimistic as his Tigers (0-3) head into their first home game and SWAC opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
"My statements last week were not aimed at any one person or one particular group," Hughes said. "It was basically my frustration from being 0-3. Sometimes you might say something that comes out that might be offensive... but basically, I love winning, and I hate losing."
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Sunday, September 17, 2017
ECSU Vikings Victorious Over FSU Broncos in 20th Annual Down East Vikings Football Classic
ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina – The Elizabeth City State University football team gained 510 yards of total offense in 79 plays to defeat the Fayetteville State University Broncos, 45-42 in the 20th Annual Down East Vikings Football Classic at the Rocky Mount Municipal Sports Complex, Saturday evening.
With the win, the Vikings improve to 2-1; while FSU falls to 1-2 on the season.
With 8:37 remaining in the ballgame, FSU’s Brandon Smith returned a 90-yard kickoff, tying the game at 42-all. Senior quarterback DeQuan Neal and the ECSU offense marched the ball down the field using 10-plays, 36-yards, and every bit of 5:35 of the game clock to setup kicker Joshua Laverty for the game-winning field goal with 2:50 remaining in the contest.
The Elizabeth City State defense held FSU’s offense on its final drive to claim the moral victory. A back and forth scoring contest, junior running back Gregory Bryan got things started for the Vikings, scoring on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Neal in the opening seven minutes of the contest.
Freshman Greg Williams added a blocked punt that went out the back of the end zone, giving ECSU a slight 9-7 advantage. Laverty recorded a 26-yard field goal with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter, gifting the Vikings a 12-7 lead. The Broncos came rushing back with a score of their own and with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter on a 50-yard run from scrimmage, making it a 14-12 contest.
The Vikings once again answered, when Neal connected with sophomore running back Deshon Saunders on a 23-yard touchdown pass play, taking a 19-14 lead. FSU returned the favor by recording two more touchdowns before the half, taking a 28-19 lead into halftime.
Elizabeth City State’s defense came out of halftime on fire, making two huge stops; which eventually led to points and regaining a 29-28 lead over the Broncos. The Vikings never looked back. A basket catch by sophomore tight end Carlton Evans from Neal gave ECSU a seven point deficit over FSU. The Broncos would drive 66-yards down the field using only one play to knot the game up at 35-all.
Saunders added another score for the Vikings, making it a 42-35 contest. Fayetteville State’s running back Stevie Green was named Offensive Player of the Game after finishing with 255 yards on 23 carries; while ECSU’s Miacah Cooper was named Defensive Player of the Game with 5.5 tackles. Neal finished with four touchdowns, 355 yards passing, on 31 completions in 44 attempts.
The Vikings return home to host Johnson C. Smith next Saturday in Roebuck Stadium. 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
With the win, the Vikings improve to 2-1; while FSU falls to 1-2 on the season.
With 8:37 remaining in the ballgame, FSU’s Brandon Smith returned a 90-yard kickoff, tying the game at 42-all. Senior quarterback DeQuan Neal and the ECSU offense marched the ball down the field using 10-plays, 36-yards, and every bit of 5:35 of the game clock to setup kicker Joshua Laverty for the game-winning field goal with 2:50 remaining in the contest.
The Elizabeth City State defense held FSU’s offense on its final drive to claim the moral victory. A back and forth scoring contest, junior running back Gregory Bryan got things started for the Vikings, scoring on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Neal in the opening seven minutes of the contest.
Freshman Greg Williams added a blocked punt that went out the back of the end zone, giving ECSU a slight 9-7 advantage. Laverty recorded a 26-yard field goal with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter, gifting the Vikings a 12-7 lead. The Broncos came rushing back with a score of their own and with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter on a 50-yard run from scrimmage, making it a 14-12 contest.
The Vikings once again answered, when Neal connected with sophomore running back Deshon Saunders on a 23-yard touchdown pass play, taking a 19-14 lead. FSU returned the favor by recording two more touchdowns before the half, taking a 28-19 lead into halftime.
Elizabeth City State’s defense came out of halftime on fire, making two huge stops; which eventually led to points and regaining a 29-28 lead over the Broncos. The Vikings never looked back. A basket catch by sophomore tight end Carlton Evans from Neal gave ECSU a seven point deficit over FSU. The Broncos would drive 66-yards down the field using only one play to knot the game up at 35-all.
Saunders added another score for the Vikings, making it a 42-35 contest. Fayetteville State’s running back Stevie Green was named Offensive Player of the Game after finishing with 255 yards on 23 carries; while ECSU’s Miacah Cooper was named Defensive Player of the Game with 5.5 tackles. Neal finished with four touchdowns, 355 yards passing, on 31 completions in 44 attempts.
The Vikings return home to host Johnson C. Smith next Saturday in Roebuck Stadium. 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
N.C. A&T McCain's Pick-6 Leads Aggies to Win Over FBS UNC-Charlotte 49'ers
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Whether it is Boone in 2013 or Kent, Ohio in 2016 or the North Carolina A&T football team’s latest conquest in Charlotte on Saturday night, the North Carolina A&T football team has become adept at going on the road and winning games conventional wisdom says they cannot win.
The Aggies (No. 20 FCS Coaches Poll/No. 25 STATS Media Poll) defeated Division I-FBS and Conference-USA member Charlotte, 35-31, behind a game-winning pick-6 from redshirt freshman Franklin “Mac” McCain III in front of a record-crowd 19,651 at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
It was McCain’s second interception of the game, both leading to touchdowns. The Aggies are now 3-0 for the first time since 2013. In the process, they defeated an FBS for the second straight season (FBS schools are awarded approximately 20 more scholarship equivalents than the FCS level, the level N.C. A&T plays on). N.C. A&T also won at Appalachian State in 2013 when the Mountaineers were making the transition to FBS and last season they won at Kent State.
“For our little ragtag bunch from Greensboro to come over here and play with the big boys and come out with a win is a big deal,” said N.C. A&T head coach Rod Broadway who earned his 50th coaching win at N.C. A&T, making him only the fourth coach in school history with 50 wins at the university. He joined William Bell (51 wins, 1946-56), Bert Piggot (55 wins, 1957-67) and Bill Hayes (106 wins, 1988-2002).
“I thought we really had a chance to distance ourselves a little bit scoring wise at one point,” Broadway continued. “But you have to give them credit, they hung in there and made us earn everything we got.”
N.C. A&T took its biggest lead of the game, 28-10 with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter, thanks to a 1-yard touchdown from redshirt junior Marquell Cartwright. Cartwright’s touchdown was set up by a 22-yard interception return to the 49ers 10-yard line by McCain. The Aggies maintained that advantage until the tail end of the third quarter when the 49ers took only 1:24 to go six plays in 63 yards to score on a 29-yard touchdown pass from former Aggies quarterback Hasaan Klugh to T.L. Ford II as the clock ticked zero to end the quarter.
“That’s the area of the game that really sticks out in my mind,” said Broadway. “We hardly used up any time, and they get the ball with two minutes to go in the quarter and go score. We still have a whole quarter left. We should have been able to take the clock down to 14, 13 minutes left to go in the fourth quarter, so we’ve got to manage the clock and little bit better than we did over the last few minutes of the third quarter.”
The Aggies opened the fourth quarter by advancing the ball to the Niners 42, but they were forced to punt, giving the Niners the ball at their own 10 with 10:27 remaining in the game. The Niners (0-3) kept their momentum going by putting together a 12-play, 90-yard drive that ended with Klugh completing a 4-yard touchdown pass to R.J. Tyler. The Niners converted the two-point conversion to slice the Aggies lead to 28-25 with 6:12 to play in the game.
After taking possession, the Aggies did take 3:48 off the clock before having to punt, giving the Niners possession at their own 16. Six plays later, on a 4th-and-10 from the Charlotte 31, Klugh slipped through the Aggies defense for a 15-yard run. He fumbled toward the end of the run, but it was recovered by teammate Uriah Lemay for a first down. Klugh then completed a 13-yard pass to Lemay to advance the ball to the Aggies 44.
But on the next play, McCain anticipated the sideline throw from Klugh and picked off his pass for a 74-yard INT TD return to give the Aggies a 35-25 lead with 29 seconds remaining.
“I saw the three-step (drop) coming. I trusted what I saw on film and my technique and made a play. It felt good because it’s my first time really getting out there,” said McCain who redshirted last season.
Amazingly, Charlotte scored again on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Klugh to Workpeh Kofa with 13 seconds remaining. But the Niners ensuing on-side kick went out of bounds to end their comeback efforts.
N.C. A&T redshirt junior quarterback Lamar Raynard led the Aggies offensively by throwing for 259 yards and a touchdown on 16-for-26 passing. In addition to his two picks, McCain also had eight tackles. Fifth-year linebacker Marcus Albert led the Aggies with nine tackles and a sack. Justin Cates finished with three sacks.
Saturday did not start well for the Aggies. They fumbled the opening kickoff which led to a 14-yard touchdown run by Klugh. N.C. A&T recovered by scoring the next 21 points as they took a 21-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
“We did enough to win, but you can see a lot of areas of improvement we can make from this point on,” said Broadway. “We’re a good football team, and if we can stay healthy we have a chance to be a really good football team. But we’ve got to clean some things up. Overall, I’m extremely proud of my guys.”
Conference play starts for the Aggies next week as they travel to Baltimore to face the Morgan State Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
The Aggies (No. 20 FCS Coaches Poll/No. 25 STATS Media Poll) defeated Division I-FBS and Conference-USA member Charlotte, 35-31, behind a game-winning pick-6 from redshirt freshman Franklin “Mac” McCain III in front of a record-crowd 19,651 at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
It was McCain’s second interception of the game, both leading to touchdowns. The Aggies are now 3-0 for the first time since 2013. In the process, they defeated an FBS for the second straight season (FBS schools are awarded approximately 20 more scholarship equivalents than the FCS level, the level N.C. A&T plays on). N.C. A&T also won at Appalachian State in 2013 when the Mountaineers were making the transition to FBS and last season they won at Kent State.
“For our little ragtag bunch from Greensboro to come over here and play with the big boys and come out with a win is a big deal,” said N.C. A&T head coach Rod Broadway who earned his 50th coaching win at N.C. A&T, making him only the fourth coach in school history with 50 wins at the university. He joined William Bell (51 wins, 1946-56), Bert Piggot (55 wins, 1957-67) and Bill Hayes (106 wins, 1988-2002).
“I thought we really had a chance to distance ourselves a little bit scoring wise at one point,” Broadway continued. “But you have to give them credit, they hung in there and made us earn everything we got.”
N.C. A&T took its biggest lead of the game, 28-10 with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter, thanks to a 1-yard touchdown from redshirt junior Marquell Cartwright. Cartwright’s touchdown was set up by a 22-yard interception return to the 49ers 10-yard line by McCain. The Aggies maintained that advantage until the tail end of the third quarter when the 49ers took only 1:24 to go six plays in 63 yards to score on a 29-yard touchdown pass from former Aggies quarterback Hasaan Klugh to T.L. Ford II as the clock ticked zero to end the quarter.
“That’s the area of the game that really sticks out in my mind,” said Broadway. “We hardly used up any time, and they get the ball with two minutes to go in the quarter and go score. We still have a whole quarter left. We should have been able to take the clock down to 14, 13 minutes left to go in the fourth quarter, so we’ve got to manage the clock and little bit better than we did over the last few minutes of the third quarter.”
The Aggies opened the fourth quarter by advancing the ball to the Niners 42, but they were forced to punt, giving the Niners the ball at their own 10 with 10:27 remaining in the game. The Niners (0-3) kept their momentum going by putting together a 12-play, 90-yard drive that ended with Klugh completing a 4-yard touchdown pass to R.J. Tyler. The Niners converted the two-point conversion to slice the Aggies lead to 28-25 with 6:12 to play in the game.
After taking possession, the Aggies did take 3:48 off the clock before having to punt, giving the Niners possession at their own 16. Six plays later, on a 4th-and-10 from the Charlotte 31, Klugh slipped through the Aggies defense for a 15-yard run. He fumbled toward the end of the run, but it was recovered by teammate Uriah Lemay for a first down. Klugh then completed a 13-yard pass to Lemay to advance the ball to the Aggies 44.
But on the next play, McCain anticipated the sideline throw from Klugh and picked off his pass for a 74-yard INT TD return to give the Aggies a 35-25 lead with 29 seconds remaining.
“I saw the three-step (drop) coming. I trusted what I saw on film and my technique and made a play. It felt good because it’s my first time really getting out there,” said McCain who redshirted last season.
Amazingly, Charlotte scored again on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Klugh to Workpeh Kofa with 13 seconds remaining. But the Niners ensuing on-side kick went out of bounds to end their comeback efforts.
N.C. A&T redshirt junior quarterback Lamar Raynard led the Aggies offensively by throwing for 259 yards and a touchdown on 16-for-26 passing. In addition to his two picks, McCain also had eight tackles. Fifth-year linebacker Marcus Albert led the Aggies with nine tackles and a sack. Justin Cates finished with three sacks.
Saturday did not start well for the Aggies. They fumbled the opening kickoff which led to a 14-yard touchdown run by Klugh. N.C. A&T recovered by scoring the next 21 points as they took a 21-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
“We did enough to win, but you can see a lot of areas of improvement we can make from this point on,” said Broadway. “We’re a good football team, and if we can stay healthy we have a chance to be a really good football team. But we’ve got to clean some things up. Overall, I’m extremely proud of my guys.”
Conference play starts for the Aggies next week as they travel to Baltimore to face the Morgan State Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
XULA wins 2 titles at HBCU National Championships
COLLEGE PARK, Georgia — Charlene Goreau and Catalin Fifea won singles titles for Xavier University of Louisiana Saturday at the HBCU National Tennis Championships.Goreau defeated Jackson State's Tyler Smith 6-4, 7-5 to win the main draw of the women's A-bracket. Fifea won the men's A-bracket consolation title with an 8-1 decision against Alabama A&M's Nishangan Nadaraja.
Goreau and Fifea were NAIA All-Americans for XULA last season. Goreau earned that honor for the second straight year.
"Charlene played phenomenally," XULA coach Alan Green said. "She showed that her fitness level is better than last year, and she's playing with more confidence."
Goreau gained revenge for a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Smith in a dual match at JSU this past April.
Fifea won three consecutive consolation matches after losing in a super-tiebreaker in the main draw Thursday.
This was the first XULA event of the 2017-18 academic year. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will return to the Atlanta area for the ITA NAIA South Regional Championships, a three-day tournament which will begin Friday at Lawrenceville, Ga.Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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