Luke, AAMU Bulldogs hope to rebound from loss

MIKE PERRIN, Birmingham News staff writer

Kelcy Luke has never lost consecutive games at Alabama A&M. But then, nobody on the current squad has, since the Bulldogs haven't dropped two in a row since the first two games of 2002.

The A&M quarterback doesn't expect a letdown after last week's setback at Grambling State when Texas Southern comes to Louis Crews Stadium for the Bulldogs' homecoming on Saturday.

"We're not panicking," said Luke, headed into his final homecoming game at A&M. "We know we've got to flesh some things out. We know we didn't play well and we know we've got some things to work on."

Texas Southern is 0-4 headed into the 3 p.m. game, 0-3 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The 31-6 loss at Grambling was A&M's first after three straight victories and the Bulldogs are 1-1 in the league.

Although the Tigers are currently in the cellar, they have been a thorn in A&M's side recently. Texas Southern beat A&M 17-7 two years ago to break a 16-game losing streak and spoil homecoming. Only a late pass interception sealed a Bulldogs 19-14 victory last year.

Luke, who is leading the SWAC in passing and total offense this year, has had mixed success against Texas Southern. Two years ago he completed 12-of-28 for 129 yards and was sacked five times. Last season, he hit on 20-of-34 throws for 194 yards and a touchdown while being intercepted once and sacked four times.

"I don't know that we've had that much more success against Luke than anybody else," Southern coach Steve Wilson said. "We really respect this kid. He really understands their offense and knows how to run their system.

"I think he's the ultimate field general type. It starts and ends with him."

This season, Luke has thrown for 955 yards, completing 69-of-116 attempts with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, and he averages 253.2 yards a game.

Before his senior season started, Luke was already A&M's I-AA record-holder for completions and passing yards with those totals now at 446 and 5,344.

"I can't believe this is my last year," said Luke, who transferred from Auburn as a redshirt freshman. "It's been great ever since I got here and it seems like I just got here."

Luke has led the Bulldogs to the top of the SWAC stats this season as coach Anthony Jones' squad scores 35.2 points, passes for 249.2 yards a game and accounts for 426 yards per outing.

"Our line has really stepped up," the quarterback said. "We had to replace three starters (on the line) from last year, we've got young receivers and two new running backs.

"One thing this year is nobody can key on one person in our offense. We make sure we get a lot out of every one of them."

While the Bulldogs' goal of an undefeated season is lost, the defending SWAC champions made the title game the past two seasons after rebounding from losses in the league.

"Even though we lost, our main goal is still in our hands right now," Luke said. "We use that to pick everybody back up."

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times



Harper slated to start against Texas Southern

Defensive tackle Justin Harper, who was named Alabama A&M's co-defensive Player of the Week for his effort against Grambling last week, will start Saturday against Texas Southern, defensive line coach Ben Blacknall said Wednesday.

Harper, who lost his job to Whitney Garrett last spring and had surgery on his thumb during preseason practice and missed the season opener against Tennessee State, will start at left tackle in place of Renaldo Askew, Blacknall said. Garrett will make his fifth consecutive start at right tackle.

"He played better than any defensive tackle we had," Blacknall said of Harper's effort against the Tigers. "He deserves an opportunity to start."

The Bulldogs, who have annually been among the league's best against the run, are seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing defense, allowing 127 yards per game.

Harper, a 6-foot-2, 252-pound junior from Gulfport, Miss., was credited with nine tackles, including six solos, two tackles for loss and a sack while grading out 92 percent.

Early starter: Texas Southern coach Steve Wilson said if he had to do it over again he would have redshirted quarterback Tino Edgecombe.

A 6-2, 185-pound senior from Miami, Edgecombe was pressed into action as a freshman and Wilson said that has affected him throughout his career.

"Tino had to come through a situation where we had to play him as a freshman and we didn't have people to protect him and that hindered his growth," Wilson said. "He had some breakout games last season, but we haven't been able to get him in a rhythm this season.

"Part of it is our offensive line being unsettled. He made some plays last week (against UTEP) that proved he can be an outstanding quarterback."

Edgecombe is fourth in the league in passing yards per game, averaging 162.5 yards.

He has completed 64-of-112 passes (57.1 percent) for 650 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Smith likes ball distribution: A&M tight end John Smith admits he would like to see a few more balls thrown his way, but he says he can't complain with the way quarterback Kelcy Luke is distributing the football.

Ten players have caught passes and six different players have caught touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Thomas Harris and tight end Charles Moody have 17 catches apiece. Smith has eight followed by wide receivers Rashad Johnson and Gerald Stockdale, who have six apiece.

"The distribution is pretty good," said Smith, who has eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. "We've got a lot of talent out there. No one person is above the team."

Reggie Benson

AAMU Soccer Bulldogs fill in holes, roll

By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff

The Alabama A&M men's soccer team got off to a rough start with losses in four of its first five games, but Salah Yousif's squad has picked up momentum over the last couple of weeks.

The Bulldogs have won two of their last three games and will host the A&M Invitational Saturday and Sunday at John Hunt Park.

A&M will take on Houston Baptist at 11 a.m. Saturday, and Air Force will play Central Arkansas at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Central Arkansas and Houston Baptist collide at noon followed by A&M and Air Force at 2 p.m. Admission is free.

"We're excited about the way we're playing right now," said Yousif, whose team has lost four games by one goal apiece. "Early on, we didn't have enough athletes because guys were either hampered by nagging injuries or hadn't been cleared.

"We're healthier now and we have a bench to work with and that's the difference right now."

Striker Kun Chamjock (Gallatin, Tenn.), defender Mustefa Ahmed (Uganda) and midfielder Eric Kamya (Hyattsville, Md.) were recently cleared to play and Yousif says they have helped immensely.

"Those three guys have made a huge difference," he said. "(Goalkeeper) Paul Musoke has also been terrific."

MfanaFuthi Bhembe and Mosito Ranko, who had surgery on both knees during the offseason, have also been terrific. Through eight games, they are tied for the team lead with eight points apiece.

Chargers have momentum: If pre-conference results are any indication, UAH men's soccer coach Carlos Petersen may be right about his team being a contender for the Gulf South Conference championship

UAH opened the season 1-4, including losses to No. 10 Lynn, No. 9 Rollins and No. 10 Nova Southeastern. Since then, however, the Chargers have reeled off three wins in a row, including a 2-1 victory over No. 25 Barry University.

With four wins, UAH has equaled its win total from last season. The Chargers will try to make it four in a row when Fisk University visits Sunday at 1 p.m. UAH opens GSC play Friday at Ouachita Baptist.

Lady Chargers face UNA: UAH will begin its quest for a berth in the GSC women's soccer tournament today when it visits North Alabama.

The Lady Chargers had their four-game winning streak snapped last weekend in a 5-0 loss to Georgia College, but Lincoln Ziyenge believes his team will bounce back today.

UAH, Ziyenge says, must be able to put two halves together to win in the GSC.

The Lady Chargers have outscored their opponents 12-5 in the first half, but have been outscored 11-6 in the second. UAH has scored 17 goals in five wins, but just one goal in three losses.

Missing Kanda: A&M women's soccer coach Frank Davies knew the Bulldogs would miss Belinda Kanda. He didn't know they'd miss her this much.

With Kanda, A&M led the nation in scoring last season. Without her, the Bulldogs have struggled.

A&M, 1-5-1 on the season, has scored just 10 goals this year and has been shut out four times. However, Kanda, who has been playing with Ghana's national team during the World Cup, could be back next week when the Bulldogs visit Austin Peay on Monday or play Texas Southern next Sunday.

Kanda led the nation in goals per game (1.25) and points per game (3.06) last season.

UAH in bind: Three games into GSC play, the UAH volleyball team finds itself needing a win to have a shot at the playoffs.

The Chargers are 6-15 overall and 0-3 in league play and play their three remaining conference games on the road.

UAH visits Valdosta State on Saturday, West Florida on Sunday and West Georgia on Tuesday.

The Chargers opened the season 3-2, but have lost 13 of their last 16 matches.

Bulldogs need turnaround: After more than two weeks off, A&M volleyball coach Nedra Brown is eager to get her young team back on the court.

Since beating Albany State in the season opener on Sept. 4, the Bulldogs have dropped four straight matches and three of those were in straight sets. Brown and the Bulldogs hope to turn their season around starting Tuesday when they visit Alabama State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

FAMU vs. TSU--2007 Atlanta Football Classic Battle of the Bands

Tennessee State gladly puts weight on Benson's foot

Photo: #80 SU Gerard Landry and #45 TSU Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are both All-Americans and faced each other last week in SU vs. TSU game.

By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Tennessee State University receiver Chris Johnson is making a name for himself in the Ohio Valley Conference. Defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also is getting noticed for his penchant for blocking kicks.

Then, there is kicker Eric Benson, who might turn out to be the man who makes the biggest difference against Florida A&M on Saturday. He is the reason that the Tigers are coming into Saturday's Atlanta Classic with a 2-2 record.

Field goals by Benson gave TSU back-to-back wins over Jackson State and Austin Peay.

"Right now I feel very confident that if it comes down to a kick at the end that we're going to win," said TSU coach James Webster. "He's won two ballgames for us (and) I think he's got confidence in what he's doing. I've got a lot of confidence in him."

Considering the outcome of the last two games, which FAMU won, accuracy in the kicking game could be pivotal. FAMU took last year's game on Wesley Taylor's leg.

Taylor secured an overtime win for FAMU with a 34-yard field goal last year. A year earlier Taylor's punt to TSU's 1-yard line in the closing minutes put FAMU in position to hold off the Tigers 12-7.

Taylor, who has been in a funk lately, said the magnitude of the game is enough for him to begin a turnaround.

"I like the pressure," said Taylor, who hit his first field goal in three attempts two weeks ago against Howard. "I've been blessed to be able to go out there and win the game for my teammates. A lot of people say they can't take the pressure.

"As a field-goal kicker, that pressure kick is the one you live for. Everybody in the world is depending on you."

Taylor said he used FAMU's bye week to refocus and brush up his technique.

"The past few games, I've been putting too much pressure on myself," he said. "Coach (Rubin) Carter told me I'm a senior and I should go out there and have fun. He was right. I'm going to stop thinking about it and have a good time."

While Webster expressed confidence in Benson, Carter was just as optimistic that Taylor will get the job done if the game is going to be decided by a field goal.

"What we have to do is to make sure we surround (Taylor) with a supporting cast," Carter said. "Wesley has shown competitiveness in his ability to win big games for us."

FAMU's Hayward eager to show his skills

By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

FAMU receiver misses last two games with knee injury.

Willie Hayward wasn't a part of the lineup of players for FAMU's weekly meeting with the media on Tuesday, but maybe he should have been.

So much was being asked of his teammates about the wide receiver's expected return to the Rattlers' offense this weekend.

While offensive and defensive players had plenty to say about how Hayward's absence has affected the offense, no one ever has more to say than Hayward. He doesn't just talk the talk, however. He walks the walk as well, bringing an extra dimension to the Rattlers' firepower.

He sat out FAMU's last two games with a damaged MCL in his left knee, which he injured during FAMU's season-opener against Southern.

Hayward comes with a swagger - his gift of gab, body language that's intended to intimidate defenses. And, yes, there are times when he'll celebrate with arms akimbo on his hips whenever he makes a catch.

Catch Hayward at the right time, and with his flamboyant style he'll drop a line or two in third person.

"I guess that's all part of Willie Hayward," he said, a long gold necklace dangling on his chest. "Maybe I can take it over the top, but I know to calm myself down.

"For the most part, I'm just playing with emotion and getting into the game. Being in the game and talking is something that comes naturally to me."

His talent seems natural, too. So much so that NFL scouts have been taking notice and more than a few of them might be in the Georgia Dome when Hayward makes his comeback. FAMU plays Tennessee State in the Atlanta Football Classic on Saturday.

No one is more elated than coach Rubin Carter, who has used a string of young receivers in the two games that Hayward missed.


"Now he's back to full speed and able to go out and be an integral part of what we do offensively that includes him," said Carter, adding that Hayward's antics aren't overbearing because sometimes the team needs it.

"That's the competitive nature of Willie," he said. "He is just that caliber of athlete. As long as it doesn't cause us any harm, we like the energy and fire he has."

During his recovery, Hayward spent time working on his upper-body strength. Most days in practice he was perched on the sidelines talking and observing. His first actual day of practice was Wednesday.

"I decided to go out there every day and watch from the outside, the coverages on defense," he said. "I always try to get better any way I can."

Hayward had three catches for 31 yards against Southern as his only contribution so far this season. His teammates, responding to the questions from the media, made it clear that Hayward is a must-have weapon.

"With (Hayward) coming back adds a whole new dimension to our offense," said senior running back Anthony Edwards, who has played sporadically due to arthritis in his foot. "From the Southern game we saw how much respect (defenses) have, putting two or three people on him. If they put two and three on him, that just opens up the run."

FAMU receiver Knight back to practice, plans to play Saturday

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M receiver Javares Knight said Thursday that he expects to be able to play Saturday against Tennessee State.

Knight, a redshirt sophomore from FAMU High, seemed doubtful Wednesday that he would be able to go Saturday because of a protruding bone in his mouth that was causing him a lot of pain.

Knight did not practice Wednesday, but was able to practice Thursday. Knight said he is taking medication for the pain, which may require dental work.

Knight, who has six catches on the season for 102 yards and a touchdown, had his wisdom teeth pulled just two weeks ago.


Photo: #15, FAMU WR Jarvares Knight

Couch potato alert
Comcast Cable announced that Saturday's game would be aired live on Channel 16.

Fox Sports South, based in Atlanta, is also televising the game on its regional network which includes Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina and portions of North Carolina.

FSN Florida (Comcast Channel 29), affiliated with Fox Sports, will pick up the game in progress at 4 p.m., or at the conclusion of the Florida Marlins-New York Mets baseball game.

FAMU takes over the ATL
If you are looking for more than just a FAMU football fix this week, Atlanta is still the place to be as five other Rattler teams will be playing in a variety of events.

The golf team is participating in the Coca-Cola Hall of Fame Classic in Atlanta through Saturday.
The men's and women's cross country teams will be participating in a meet hosted by Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College on Saturday morning.

The men's and women's tennis are competing in the HBCU National Tennis Championships, which is featuring more than 20 collegiate programs. The Championships started Thursday and will run through Sunday.