2017 All-CIAA Football Teams Announcement

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), with its Football Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association, releases the 2017 All-CIAA First, Second, and Honorable Mention Football Teams.

Trenton Cannon (Virginia State University), Sterling Hammond (Virginia Union University), and Gene Carson (Bowie State University) highlight the teams as the conference's most outstanding players.

Virginia State University's senior running back, Trenton Cannon, has earned Offensive Player of the Year. Cannon leads the CIAA in overall rushing yards this season (1,387) and rushing yards per game (154.1). He also produced 14 touchdowns on the season. Out of the ten-week regular season, the Hampton, VA native earned 5 Offensive Back of the Week honors. Cannon and the Trojans have secured the Northern Division Title and will compete in the 2017 CIAA Football Championship.

CIAA Defensive Player of the Year has been awarded to Sterling Hammond, senior defensive back at Virginia Union University. Hammond finished the season ranked first in the conference with 5 interceptions. He tallied 70 total tackles, including 46 solo tackles. The Caret, Virginia native earned CIAA Defensive Back of the Week on two occasions this season.

Gene Carson, Bowie State University;s sophomore kicker, has been named Special Teams Player of the Year. Carson scored 102 points for the Bulldogs this season, completing 10-13 (77%) field goals and 72-77 (94%) extra point attempts.

On Saturday, November 11 the Broncos of Fayetteville State University will take on the Trojans of Virginia State University for the 2017 CIAA Football Championship title. The contest will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia. Tickets are now available through Ticketmaster. The game will broadcast live via the ASPiRE TV Network.

Offensive Player of the Year

#25 Trenton Cannon Virginia State 5-11 175 Sr. Hampton, VA

Defensive Player of the Year

#5 Sterling Hammond Virginia Union 6-1 210 So. Caret, VA

Special Teams Player of the Year

#47 Gene Carson Bowie State 6-2 185 So. Accokeek, MD

All-CIAA First Team

Offense

Tight End

#17 Drew Buck Chowan 6-4 235 Sr. Greenville, NC

Offensive Linemen

#65 Tyreek Bailey Fayetteville State 6-2 305 Sr. Newport News, VA
#78 Victor Tamba Bowie State 6-5 335 r-Sr. District Heights, MD
#70 Frank Ball Virginia State 6-3 280 r-So. Hampton, VA
#77 Shamdu Nalls Virginia Union 6-4 330 Jr. Baltimore, MD
#70 Bryan Redmond Bowie State 6-2 312 r-Sr. Upper Marlboro, MD

Wide Receivers

#17 Brandon Britton Bowie State 5-7 170 r-Sr. Columbia, MD
#1 Sam Boyd St. Augustine's 6-4 250 Sr. St. Petersburg, FL

Quarterback

#6 Amir Hall Bowie State 6-4 180 Jr. Bowie, MD

Running Backs

#25 Trenton Cannon Virginia State 5-11 175 Sr. Hampton, VA
#2 Robert Chesson Bowie State 5-10 179 r-Sr. Annapolis, MD

Kick Returner

#25 Trenton Cannon Virginia State 5-11 175 Sr. Hampton, VA

Place Kicker

#47 Gene Carson Bowie State 6-2 185 So. Accokeek, MD

Defense

Defensive Linemen

#34 Jarell Bright Winston-Salem State 6-2 235 Jr. Charlotte, NC
#11 Derrick Tate Bowie State 6-3 210 Jr. Baltimore, MD
#99 Sean Copeland Bowie State 6-0 310 Sr. Baltimore, MD
#41 Chasz Cosby St. Augustine's 6-3 280 Sr. Charlotte, NC

Linebackers

#6 James Hickman St. Augustine's 6-3 220 Sr. Antioch,CA
#34 Devon Hunt Shaw 6-1 220 So. Rockingham, NC
#17 Karl Calhoun Virginia Union 5-11 225 Sr. Sanford, FL

Defensive Backs

#8 Carlo Thomas Johnson C. Smith 6-2 185 Sr. East Orange, NJ
#5 Sterling Hammond Virginia Union 6-1 210 So. Caret, VA
#8 Jaleel Scroggins Shaw 5-10 180 Fr. Raleigh, NC
#21 Rahman Kamara Bowie State 6-0 190 r-Sr. Bowie, MD

Punt Returner

#23 William Flowers Bowie State 5-10 180 So. Baltimore, MD

Punter

#38 Matthew Trau Fayetteville State 6-3 192 Sr. Montross, VA

All-CIAA Second Team

Offense

Tight End

#33 Carlton Campbell Virginia State 6-0 210 Sr.
Vilseck, Germany

Offensive Linemen

#70 Greg Brooks Fayetteville State 6-3 315 Fr. Walkertown, NC
#76 Diontae Jordan Bowie State 6-1 320 r-Sr. Bladensburg, MD
#61 Daris Johnson Bowie State 6-3 275 r-Sr. Waldorf, MD
#77 Donald Adams-Baggett Winston-Salem State 6-3 295 Sr. Cincinnati, OH
#78 Donald Boone Chowan 6-4 290 So. Hertford, NC

Wide Receivers

#18 Lansana Sesay Bowie State 6-4 175 Jr. Bowie, MD
#84 Torry Baker Chowan 6-0 180 Jr. Charlotte, NC

Quarterback

#3 Cordelral Cook Viginia State 6-0 205 r-So. Atlanta, GA

Running Backs

#28 Stevie Green Fayetteville State 6-1 190 So. Washington, NC
#26 Kerrion Moore Winston-Salem State 5-9 190 r-Jr. Gastonia, NC

Kick Returner

#32 Brandon Smith Fayetteville State 5-8 170 Fr. Raeford, NC

Place Kicker

#39 David Lamb Fayetteville State 5-10 215 Jr. Charlotte, NC

Defense

Defensive Linemen

#99 Jalen Cousar Fayetteville State 6-1 320 Jr. Charlotte, NC
#56 Keith Alston Shaw 5-10 240 Jr. Eggharbor City, NJ
#94 Tyler Bembry Chowan 6-1 330 Jr. Disputana, VA
#94 Nate Wyche Chowan 6-1 235 r-Sr. Suffolk, VA

Linebackers

#14 Vincent Thomas Elizabeth City State 6-1 235 Jr. New Symra Beach, FL
#14 Brandon Lynch Virginia State 6-1 225 Sr. Norfolk, VA
#46 Anthony Harris Fayetteville State 6-2 220 r-So. Greenville, NC

Defensive Backs

#8 Johnny Littlejohn Bowie State 5-11 200 Sr. Silver Spring, MD
#7 Randy Allen Chowan 5-11 200 Sr. Newport News, VA
#24 Will Adams Virginia State 6-2 180 r-Fr.Richmond, VA
#16 Jaelin Beugre Fayetteville State 5-10 215 So. Rockingham, NC

Punt Returner

#1 Canard Brown Winston-Salem State 6-0 205 Sr. Miami, FL

Punter

#38 Lawrence Forbes Bowie State 6-4 210 r-Sr. Bowie, MD

All-CIAA Honorable Mention

Offense

Tight End

#88 Marquise Watts Bowie State 6-4 235 Fr. La Plata, MD

Offensive Linemen

#57 Zack Jenkins St. Augustine's 6-7 310 Jr. Madison, GA
#64 Jalen Jones Virginia State 6-0 295 r-Sr. Amelia, VA
#67 Jeremiah Paige Virginia State 6-3 325 So.Richmond, VA
#70 Tim Samuels Winston-Salem State 6-3 270 Jr. Charlotte, NC
#76 Justus Sapp Shaw 6-3 200 Jr. Franklinton, NC

Wide Receivers

#4 Chazton McKenzie Virginia Union 6-0 180 Sr. Lauderhill, FL
#1 Zachary Parker Virginia State 5-9 190 Gr. Reston, VA

Quarterback

#3 Daquan Neal Elizabeth City State 6-3 200 Sr. Franklinton, NC

Running Backs

#21 Uriah Bethea Shaw 6-0 195 Jr. Upper Marlboro, MD
#3 Jeremiah Miller St. Augustine's 5-9 180 Jr. Miami, FL

Kick Returner

#2 Desmond Dozier Johnson C. Smith 5-6 160 So. Longs, SC

Place Kicker

#88 Jefferson Souza Virginia Union 6-1 185 Fr.  Deerfield Beach, FL

Defense

Defensive Linemen

#51 Oluwaleke Ajenifuja Bowie State 6-3 207 r-So Beltsville, MD
#55 Keonte Connelly Virginia State 6-0 235 Sr. Baltimore, MD
#46 Armond Cox Livingstone 6-3 240 Jr. Teaneck, NJ
#18 Alexander Williams Virginia State 6-2 239 Sr. Brooklyn, NY

Linebackers

#10 Kyle Jackson Bowie State 6-1 217 r-Jr. Upper Marlboro, MD
#16 Malik Sexton Virginia State 6-1 215 Jr. Richmond, VA
#10 Michael Harris Virginia State 6-0 220 r-Sr. Pompano Beach, FL

Defensive Backs

#5 Shakym Peters Virginia State 6-0 180 Sr. Conyers, GA
#19 Daryus Skinner Winston-Salem State 5-11 175 So. Rockingham, NC
#17 Kevin Sherman Shaw 5-10 170 Fr. Powder Springs, GA
#35 Deion Miller Lincoln (PA) 5-10 205 Jr. Sayreville, NJ

Punt Returner

#18 Gustavious Dames Virginia Union 5-9 175 So. Miami, FL

Punter

#50 Jake Ford St. Augustine's 6-2 200 Jr. Victoria, Australia

CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Barlow Named 2017 CIAA Football Coach of the Year

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), along with the Football Coaches Association, announced Virginia State University Head Coach Reggie Barlow the 2017 CIAA Football Coach of the Year.

In his second year with the Trojans' football program, Coach Barlow led his team to a 9-0 overall record, 7-0 in conference play and 5-0 in the Northern Division. Throughout the season, Virginia State topped the rankings in the North and advanced to the 2017 CIAA Football Championship after a nail biting victory over Virginia Union University (40-39).

Offensively, Virginia State averaged 47.3 points per conference game while marking 235.0 passing and 278.4 rushing yards. The Trojans defense ranked fifth in the CIAA in sacks (20) and grabbed a total of 420 conference tackles this season. Regionally, the Trojans have been recognized for their outstanding performance this season and are currently ranked No. 3 in NCAA Super Region 2.

Barlow joined VSU with a strong background in college and professional football experiences, most recently with Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) member Alabama State University where he served as the quarterbacks coach from 2005-2006 and the head coach from 2007-2014. Prior to ASU, Barlow played eight years in the NFL; five for the Jacksonville Jaguars and two for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he won Super Bowl XXXVII.

Congratulations to Coach Barlow and the Trojans as they continue to "Embrace the Grind" at the 2017 CIAA Football Championship on November 11 in Salem, VA. Kick-off is slated for 4:30pm.

For the most up-to-date information on VSU football, please visit www.govsutrojans.com and follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports.

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Nuggets 1 of 36 teams announced as national qualifiers

NEW ORLEANS — Nearly three weeks ago, Xavier University of Louisiana became the first women's cross country team to qualify for the 2017 NAIA National Championships. The remainder of the qualifiers were decided Friday and Saturday, and on Monday the NAIA announced the complete list of 36 team qualifiers and 92 additional individuals.

XULA qualified by winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship, its 11th in a row. The Gold Nuggets will travel to Vancouver, Wash., a suburb of Portland, Ore., for the national meet Nov. 18 at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The women's 5,000-meter race will start at 11:30 a.m. PST (1:30 p.m. New Orleans time).

XULA was one of five teams from the South to qualify. The others were Blue Mountain, Milligan, Southeastern (Fla.) and SCAD Atlanta. Three from the Southwest qualified: Oklahoma City, Our Lady of the Lake and Wayland Baptist.

The other qualifying teams consist of one from the East, 17 from the Midwest and 10 from the West.
This will be the Gold Nuggets' 11th appearance at nationals and the eighth for the team. Seven of the last 10 XULA teams qualified.

The Gold Nuggets' roster consists of juniors Carlie Calais, Chinyere Jones, Brianna Pace and Maliya Vaughan, sophomore Taylor Price and freshman Hajjia Mohammed. Vaughan was the GCAC individual champion.

Top teams in the women's field will include top-ranked Oklahoma City and second-ranked and defending champion British Columbia, which won four of the last five national titles. Ten of last season's top 12 national team finishers qualified.

Representing XULA in the men's national championship — same date and venue as the women's — will be an individual qualifier, freshman Camren Sewell. The men's 8K race will begin at 10:30 a.m. PST.

NAIA Women's Cross Country Teams
That Qualified for Nationals

Arizona (1) — Embry-Riddle
British Columbia (1) — British Columbia
California (1) — The Master's
Florida (1) — Southeastern
Georgia (1) — SCAD Atlanta
Idaho (2) — College of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State
Illinois (1) — St. Francis
Indiana (2) — Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor
Iowa (3) — Dordt, Northwestern, St. Ambrose
Kansas (3) — MidAmerica Nazarene, Southwestern, Saint Mary
Louisiana (1) — Xavier University of Louisiana
Michigan (2) — Aquinas, Madonna
Mississippi (1) — Blue Mountain
Missouri (3) — Columbia, Missouri Baptist, Missouri Valley
Montana (1) — Carroll
North Dakota (1) — Dickinson State
Ohio (2) — Ohio Christian, Shawnee State
Oklahoma City (1) — Oklahoma City
Oregon (3) — Corban, Oregon Tech, Southern Or
egon
Pennsylvania (1) — Point Park
Tennessee (1) — Milligan
Texas (2) — Our Lady of the Lake, Wayland Baptist
Washington (1) — Northwest

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Salaam joins Tomasoni, Phillips in GCAC winners circle

NEW ORLEANS — Hasani Salaam became the eighth Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball player of 2017 to earn a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference weekly award when she was chosen Defender of the Week for Oct. 30-Nov. 5.

The Gold Nuggets swept the awards for the third consecutive week and the seventh time in 11 opportunities this season. Juliana Tomasoni is Attacker of the Week, and Tiffany Phillips is Setter of the Week.

Salaam, a sophomore from New Orleans and a graduate of Lusher Charter School, had a combined seven blocks in victories at city rivals Loyola and Dillard. Salaam had a career-high-tying five blocks against Dillard and was part of a defensive effort that limited the Lady Bleu Devils to a minus-.094 hitting percentage.

Tomasoni, a senior from Nova Trento, Brazil, hit .308 for the week with 20 kills, 30 digs, four aces and two blocks. She extended her streak of consecutive matches without a reception error to 13, which includes 212 total chances. Against Loyola she produced her 13th double-double of the season, 13 kills and a season-high 20 digs.

Phillips, a sophomore from Gardena, Calif., and a graduate of Bishop Montgomery High School, produced 31 assists, 17 digs and nine aces. Phillips served seven aces against Dillard — the most in a match by a XULA player in three years — and produced her ninth double-double of the year, 12 assists and 11 digs.

Against Dillard, XULA became the first Louisiana or GCAC school to complete regular-season conference play without losing a set.

The weekly awards are the first of Salaam's career, Tomasoni's third of the season and fifth of her career and Phillips's fourth of the season and 10th of her career. Phillips's career total is a XULA record for this sport.

The Gold Nuggets (21-2) will play at 3 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the GCAC Tournament at SUNO. Their opponent will be the winner of a 9 a.m. match between SUNO and Edward Waters. The championship match will start at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball preview

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Last season, North Carolina Central won its second MEAC championship in four years. But only five players are back from that team, and none of them averaged more than 7 points a game.

True, an influx of transfers could mesh in time to make a three-day run in March for the title. But if the Eagles don’t repeat, who will dethrone them?

Morgan State, with arguably the best two players in the conference coming back, is the favorite. But Norfolk State seems to have a good thing going, and Hampton University returns 79 percent of its scoring.

Stay tuned.



Five storylines

1. NCCU IN REBUILDING MODE. North Carolina Central lost all five starters from last year’s team, which doubled up as regular-season and tournament champion. The five returning players combined for 11.7 points a game last season. Among several incoming transfers are Zacarry Douglas (Cal State Northridge), Rashann London (Drexel) and Raasean Davis (Kent State).

2. MORGAN STATE THE TEAM TO BEAT ...

CONTINUE READING

Gold Rush 4-0 after beating Miles Golden Bears in home opener

NEW ORLEANS — Junior guard Virgil Davison scored 12 of his 23 points in the final 11 minutes to help Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 72-59 men's basketball victory against Miles College.

The Gold Rush (4-0), a longtime NAIA power, defeated an NCAA Division II team for the second time in three days.

Davison, who made four 3-pointers, scored the most points by a XULA player this season. Freshman Rayshawn Mart had 14 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore Mike Williams — in his season debut — scored 11.

Carl Garcia, with 15 points, was the lone double-figure scorer for Miles. Aron Stewart grabbed nine rebounds to help the Golden Bears win the boards 41-33. But Sheldon Wright, who averaged 10.4 points and made 60 3-pointers last season, went 0-of-3 from long range and finished with three points.

XULA led 29-19 at halftime after an 18-6 run in the final 7 1/2 minutes of the half. The largest Gold Rush lead was 52-37 after a Williams basket with 8:35 remaining.

XULA outshot Miles 38.6 to 34.8 percent from the floor and was plus-9 in turnovers. The Gold Rush committed a season-low 11 and gained 20.

XULA won its home opener for the 22nd consecutive season and is considerably ahead of schedule from last season. Victory No. 4 of 2016-17 did not occur until Jan. 7.

Miles counted the game as an exhibition. It will open its regular season Saturday.

The Gold Rush will visit NAIA No. 2 LSU-Alexandria at 7 p.m. Wednesday. XULA will play two in a row on the road before playing Huston-Tillotson for homecoming at 1 p.m. Nov. 18.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Langston University Lions, Texas College Steers Accepts Football Membership in Sooner Athletic Conference in 2018

LANGSTON, Oklahoma  --  In nearly 40 years of existence, the Sooner Athletic Conference has set itself apart by winning more NAIA national championships than any other conference. Next fall, the SAC will take its quest for national prominence to the gridiron as the tradition-rich league is set to play football for the first time as an official conference sport.

The SAC Council of Presidents voted a year ago to pursue a plan of playing football in the 2018 season. Earlier this week, the Council announced Langston University has accepted an invitation to join the SAC in 2018-19, giving the league six full-time members who play football.

SAC presidents voted unanimously to approve associate memberships in football for Arizona Christian University, Lyon (Ark.) College, Ottawa University Arizona and Texas College. With those four in the fold, the SAC will have 10 football teams when conference play begins next fall.

"This is an historic moment for the Sooner Athletic Conference, and it's a tribute to the campus leaders at our member schools who continue to be forward thinking as we grow the SAC brand," SAC Commissioner Stan Wagnon said. "For years the SAC has stood for excellence in small college athletics, and it's an exciting opportunity to enter that brand into college football circles."

After having just three full-time members (Bacone, Southwestern Assemblies of God and Wayland Baptist) with football a year ago, the SAC will see that number double by next fall when Langston joins. Oklahoma Panhandle State joined the membership this fall, and Texas Wesleyan revived its program this season after a 74-year hiatus.

SAC football teams will play a 9-game conference schedule, with the conference champion determined by winning percentage in those games. The league will provide weekly player recognition, as well as year-end athletic and academic achievement awards.

The SAC will be one of eight NAIA conferences to sponsor football, and the SAC champion will receive a berth in the 16-team NAIA National Championship Series if rated in the Top 20.

Arizona Christian, Lyon and Texas College will become associate members of the SAC after competing alongside current SAC members and Langston in the Central States Football League through this season. Ottawa University Arizona features a new athletics program and will be playing its inaugural football season next fall. OUAZ has applied for NAIA membership beginning in the 2018-19 seasons, with a decision expected next April.

"It is great to welcome ACU, Lyon, OUAZ and Texas College as associate members of the SAC in football," Wagnon said. "Having 10 teams lined up for our first year is a blessing, and we're excited to partner with these schools as we aim to provide stability and recognize excellence in small college football for years to come."

Football is set to become the 15th sport in which the SAC crowns a champion. Other sports determining a league champion in the SAC are volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's wrestling, baseball, softball, men's and women's golf, and men's and women's tennis.

SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA COMMUNICATION