Last-second kick spoils it for UAPB

BY BECK CROSS, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LAS CRUCES, N. M. — Arkansas-Pine Bluff was supposed to be satisfied with the $300,000 guaranteed check and play patsy against heavily favored New Mexico Sate.

Instead, the Golden Lions almost made school history.

In its first game in school history against an opponent from the Football Bowl Subdivision, Arkansas-Pine Bluff went toe to-toe against the 16th-ranked offense in the nation but was denied when Paul Young kicked a 37-yard field goal with 0.7 seconds remaining to lift the Aggies to a 20-17 victory Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

UAPB (1-4) will have a week off before resuming Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Grambling State on Oct. 13 at War Memorial Stadium.

“Our kids accepted the challenge,” UAPB Coach Mo Forte said. “The defense played well and the offense finally was able to move the ball.

“I think we’re confident that we can play with some people. Each week we’ve gotten better.”

UAPB quarterback Johnathan Moore had a season-high 234 yards passing while defensive end Ledarius Anthony had 11 tackles and one tackle for a loss.

“We had the game in our hands and it just slipped away,” Anthony said. “We just have to come back hard and go on another run in the SWAC like we did last year.”

The Golden Lions were within 17-10 at halftime and proved the first half was no fluke on their opening drive of the second half. In covering 70 yards in 11 plays, Moore converted a third-and-22 play with a 25-yard screen pass to Martell Mallett and later a thirdand-10 with a 28-yarder to Jason Jones.

Mallett capped the drive with a 1-yard run while Brodie Heflin added the extra point to tie the game at 17 with 9:48 left in the third quarter.

New Mexico State failed to get past midfield on its first three possessions of the second half before moving deep into Golden Lions territory midway through the fourth quarter. The drive stalled at the UAPB 16 and Young was short on a 34-yard field-goal attempt with 6: 43 remaining.

The Golden Lions were in prime scoring position after Bruce Peters returned a punt 28 yards to the New Mexico State 33. On third-and-5 from the Aggies’ 28, Moore’s tipped pass was intercepted in the end zone by Derrick Richardson with 2:37 left.

New Mexico State used the break to launch the game winning drive. Quarterback Chase Holbrook, who sat out the previous series with bruised ribs, checked back in and completed four passes for 34 yards as the Aggies drove inside the UAPB 20 with 5.6 seconds left.

After New Mexico State callied its final timeout, Young was summoned and kicked the game winner.

New Mexico State (3-2) struggled with UAPB in the first half before taking a 17-10 halftime lead.

Young kicked a 37-yard field goal after a seven-play, 19-yard drive midway through the opening quarter. The Aggies then used a 30-yard punt return by Chris Williams to set up the game’s first touchdown, a 6-yard pass from Holbrook to Williams. Young’s extra point made it 10-0 with 6:15 left in the first quarter.

The Golden Lions answered with an eight-play, 89-yard drive. Mallett had three carries for 38 yards to set up Moore’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Raymond Webber. Brodie Heflin’s extra point cut the deficit to 10-7 with 3:15 remaining in the quarter.

After stopping UAPB on downs at the Aggies 15, New Mexico State drove 85 yards for a touchdown. Holbrook completed all four of his passes for 48 yards on the drive, and Tony Glynn capped it with a 21-yard touchdown run that made it 17-7 with 2: 43 left in the first half.

UAPB answered with a scoring drive of its own. Moore converted a fourth-and-1 play on a quarterback keeper from the Aggies’ 22 to set up Heflin’s 43-yard field goal on the final play of the half to make it 17-10.

Coming Soon: Movie "Ballou" based on S.E.Washington DC high school band

Injuries mount against the FAMU Rattlers

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

ATLANTA - The Florida A&M Rattlers left the Georgia Dome with another win Saturday, but it may have come at the cost of the some key players.

Senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff left the game in the third quarter with a torn biceps on his left arm, which could make him doubtful for next week's Circle City Classic in Indianapolis.

Redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Collins went down 2:58 in the second quarter with looked like an injury to his knee. Collins, who hurt his knee two weeks ago against Howard did not play the rest of the game.

Freshman fullback Demarius Folsom went down 11:52 in the first quarter with what looked like a foot injury and did not play the rest of the game either.

Folsom, from Madison County High, was replaced by sophomore Mykel Benson, who saw his first action of the season.

Benson just returned to practice three weeks ago after recovering from a neck injury that kept him out of fall camp and the first three games of the season. Benson caught a pass for 15 yards in the first quarter.

A taste of twin towers
Freshman bookend defensive ends Kendrick Washington and Marquiste Ramos are expected to the future of FAMU's pass rush.

The future got a jump start Saturday when the two got the opportunity to play together for the first time this season.

It happened in the third quarter when senior starters Carlos Rolle and McGriff went down with injuries on the same play.

Washington and Ramos were inserted at bookends for the first time in their careers.

“It was exciting,” said Washington, who had one tackle, assisted on a tackle for loss and had a pass breakup in the game. “It was something we have been looking forward to.”

Trick plays
Offensive coordinator Bob Cole brought out a few trick plays in the first half. First he lined up quarterback Albert Chester II at wide receiver and direct-snapped the ball to running back Philip Sylvester who took it for a nine-yard gain.

Later in the second quarter, Chester lined up outside again, but this time backup quarterback Leon Camel was put in the game and took the snap in the shotgun formation.

That play didn't gain any yards, however.

Encouraging words
FAMU senior kicker Wesley Taylor was happy to win Saturday, but admitted he felt some sympathy for Tennessee State Eric Benson, who missed the potential game-winning field goal with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter.

“It's a tough situation for a kicker to be in,” Taylor. “I've never had that happen to me in a game, but I know what he is going through. I talked to him after the game and told him to keep his head up.”

Taylor had his struggles Saturday, missing a field-goal attempt and an extra-point kick but will end his career having never lost in the Georgia Dome.

Last year Taylor kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime, earning MVP honors.

Safety valve
An errant snap in the second quarter that resulted in a safety turned out the be the points difference in the game.

Tennessee State's center sent the ball sailing into the end zone when he thought he saw quarterback Antonio Heffner move his foot.

Tennessee State head football coach James Webster said the offense had to use a silent snap count because of crowd noise.

Heffner was stepping up to the line to call an audible, which confused the center.

10,000 fans show for 1st Rocket City Battle of Bands at AAMU

Photo: Miles College Purple Marching Machine Band

Johnson High wins Battle of the Bands

In 1st Rocket City event, school beats Butler and Lee; AAMU, Alabama State, BCU, Miles College and Texas Southern University compete.

By PATRICIA C. McCARTER, Huntsville Times

Johnson High School - already known as one of the best marching bands in North Alabama - got some extra bragging rights Sunday evening when it won the first Rocket City Battle of the Bands, edging out its local rivals Butler and Lee.

The high school bands got to perform before an audience of nearly 10,000 people at Louis Crews Stadium at Alabama A&M, as well as before five university bands. The event was part of A&M's annual homecoming festivities.

"It's been an amazing day," said Johnson High senior Kiara Horton, captain of the dance team. "That's a big crowd. But when I dance, I don't see anyone. It's like a blur. I'm in my own zone."

Event organizer Derick Moore, who runs AFG Enterprises in Atlanta, said he and partner Yasin Shahid wanted to put on the show at A&M because of their history with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Moore said he attended A&M and graduated from Alabama State University, and he played percussion in both marching bands; Shahid is an A&M alum who played saxophone in the band.

Photo: Bethune Cookman University Marching Wildcat Band

Other colleges represented at Sunday's Battle of the Bands besides their alma maters were Bethune Cookman College, Texas Southern University and Miles College. "It was an excellent, excellent event," Moore said when the battle was over. "We utilize the premier college bands, the feature bands for the HBCU schools. There were no losers."

Officially, there were no winners of the colleges, either. Moore explained that it was an exhibition - not a contest - for the four-year schools.

A&M will end the weekend with money in its pocket. Moore said, the event will yield up to $15,000 for the local college's band instrument fund.

"We plan to do it again next year, but even bigger," Moore said. "We spoke to athletic director Betty Austin, and she said she'd like to have us back."

Johnson High's dance captain hopes to be back, too.

"I'll definitely come back to see my alma mater compete," Horton said. "And maybe I'll be on the field dancing for one of the colleges."

Marching to the beat

Photo: Giving back--SCSU 101 and FVSU Marching Bands perform at Festival to help raise money for high school marching band program.

Festival raises money for marching band

By Timothy Cox, The Augusta Chronicle

Spencer Gartrell said he wasn't alarmed Sunday afternoon as he watched more than a thousand people pour into Butler High School Stadium to see bands perform - void of football teams.

"What many people don't realize is that when it comes to black college football games, people generally come to watch the bands compete, not the football teams," said Mr. Gartrell, a co-organizer of the first CSRA Battle of the Bands festival.

"Historically, it's been that way," added Angelo Hatcher, Mr. Gartrell's business partner.

"It even happens at a Josey-Laney high school game. It's all about the bands," he said.

Sunday's festival's proceeds help fund the CSRA All-Star Marching Band, founded three years ago by Mr. Hatcher.

Ticket proceeds help cover costs of uniforms, transportation, instruments and other costs associated with successfully funding a marching band made up of area middle and high school musicians, Mr. Hatcher said.

In addition to the all-star band, Sunday's festival lineup featured bands from South Carolina State University, Fort Valley State University, Beach High School of Savannah and local units from Glenn Hills High School, South Augusta Marching Unit and the Garden City Panthers.
Eddie Ellis, South Carolina State's band director, and Spike Nealy, his assistant, appeared in the movie Drumline, which filmed in Atlanta at Morris Brown College.

"The movie finally gave credibility to the black college marching style," Mr. Ellis said, adding that he has since witnessed major colleges adopting a similar format, focused on drums and choreography.

Photo: An enthusiastic crowd gathered to watch the action. Bands from around the area participated in the festival.

Mr. Nealy, a former James Brown percussionist, said the movie has generated a renewed interest in drums for young musicians.

Sherry Puryear, Glenn Hills' band director, applauded Mr. Hatcher's efforts.

"His work assists all the band directors county-wide, because he keeps our kids active throughout the summer," she said.

Many area school bands and students don't perform during the summer, she said.

As founder of Step-A-Rama, a local college step show, Mr. Gartrell said he also supports Mr. Hatcher financially.

"It's because of his dedication to young people, this is why he deserves the financial help," said Mr. Gartrell.

He added that he hopes the festival will generate $30,000 to aid Mr. Hatcher's group.
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Reader Comments

dang, how i wish i could have come home that weekend!--i bet it was something else!
Posted by istp on Mon Oct 1, 2007 8:01 AM

I was there my wife, sons and daughter....it was their first time seeing and hearing a black college, university band that had over one hundred members. Our black children need to see the positive side of being black, and our HBCUs are our back bones in this country. Mr. Hatcher keep pushing..........Jellyroll, Laney and Josey get on board please...
Posted by belapris55 on Mon Oct 1, 2007 10:26 AM

Bayou Classic

Photo: Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band and Dancing Dolls are major attractions for most SU fans.

by Richard A. Webster, New Orleans City Business

The Bayou Classic had a $175-million economic impact on the New Orleans economy in 2004, ranking it third in the top 10. And yet it remains an event somewhat under the radar of locals because it falls at the end of November close to Thanksgiving, said Janet Speyrer, associate dean for research in the University of New Orleans College of Business Administration.

“People tend not to think of it quite as much because they’re at family gatherings and aren’t downtown to see the impact it has,” Speyrer said. “A lot of people are at home with the family or going somewhere, so they tend to underestimate how important it is to the local economy. People don’t think of that being such a big event.”

But the Bayou Classic, which pits Grambling State University against Southern University, typically draws close to 70,000 people to the game. Up to 200,000 more come to take part in additional activities, said Cydni Bickerstaff, CEO of Bickerstaff Sports and Entertainment, which manages the event.

“A lot of people may not be able to go to the game, but they go to the Battle of the Bands or one of the other ancillary events that take place that weekend,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s like a big reunion. People come back and see people they haven’t seen in a while and reconnect.”

Photo: Members of GSU Marching Tiger Band performs for crowd at University of Pittsburgh game.

After playing in Houston in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, the Bayou Classic returned in 2006 to significantly smaller crowds. Last year the game drew 47,136 compared with 68,911 in 2004, a 31 percent drop.


The dip in attendance would have resulted in a significant drop in the Classic’s top 10 ranking, but an economic impact study on the game has not been conducted in three years.
Based on 2004 figures the Sugar Bowl, with an economic impact of $250.5 million, would have ranked well ahead of the Bayou Classic at $175 million.

Ralph Slaughter, president of the Southern University System, said people’s fears of New Orleans stifled attendance in 2006.

“People were afraid to come,” Slaughter said. “They thought the air and water were bad. There were so many people who had it in their minds that New Orleans was underwater. People were encouraging us not to have the game, but I haven’t seen those kinds of e-mails this year.”

Bickerstaff said she hopes the people who attended the Bayou Classic last year and this year’s Essence Music Festival have spread the word New Orleans is safe and just as much fun as it was before the storm. She expects this year’s attendance to approach what it was before the hurricane.

“There was never a question of bringing the Bayou Classic back to New Orleans,” she said. “This is where the game belongs, where the history is. And as much as the schools contribute to the city of New Orleans, it’s only natural for them to come back and be able to help rebuild the city.”
Southern University Jaguars Human Jukebox Marching Band at Chicago Football Classic 2007

Southern shuts down ASU Hornets

Special to the Advertiser

SOUTHERN 21, ALABAMA STATE 2:

MOBILE -- Before the season, Alabama State head football coach Reggie Barlow chose the theme: "Push it to the Limit," which turned out to be quite apropos, as each of the first four games came down to pivotal plays in the final few minutes.

In the Gulf Coast Classic -- against a formidable Southern defense -- the Cinderella season hit its first bit of adversity as ASU simply ran out of magic dust and fell 21-2 to Southern on Saturday.

"It was a tough game," Barlow said. "We were really bad on offense. We moved the ball, but we couldn't take advantage of the opportunities."

Alabama State quarterbacks Alex Engram and Chris Mitchell combined to go 8-of-33 for only 84 yards and two interceptions. Southern's Bryant Lee, who had not thrown an interception in 183 consecutive attempts, tossed three picks during a 16-of-29, 242-yard performance.

Between the teams, there were 14 punts and eight turnovers.

Still, the Jaguars made just enough big plays to get an important SWAC win. However, the ASU defense would get none of the blame from Barlow.

"Those guys (ASU defense) are great," he said. "They play so hard, but we just didn't get them any help from the other side of the ball."

Rechard Johnson tallied 10 tackles, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass. Not to be outdone, Leland Jones had his breakout game of the season with seven tackles -- including two for loss -- forced a fumble, broke up a pass and picked up a quarterback hurry. Also, his third-quarter tackle of Chad Harris in the end zone accounted for the Hornets' only points of the night.

"We don't care what happens, we are one team," Jones said. "If one side of the ball is struggling, it's our responsibility as teammates to pick them up. That's what we do for each, and that's what we'll do this week as we get ready for Jackson State."

The Hornets will travel to Jackson, Miss., to take on the Tigers at 3 p.m.