Sylvester plays big role in win; FAMU 45, Hampton 24

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Running back Philip Sylvester sat quietly during the post-game press conference, answering just a handful of questions. His three other teammates who faced the media got a lot more on Saturday afternoon. Quite a contrast to his day on the field. Sylvester played a pivotal role in a trick play, threw some timely blocks and scored two touchdowns. His last touchdown would be FAMU's final score in a 45-24 victory over Hampton.

It's been a while since he's had such a day, especially getting into the end zone twice. He scored his first touchdown on a 38-yard run that gave FAMU a commanding 28-10 lead in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he capped a six-play, 30-yard drive for the final score and for the first time since September, he'd go home with two touchdowns. If he could have gotten more chances, he would have taken them. "We just want to score," he said. "We want to score 31 more points than the other offense. Every time I broke it was because of (the offensive line)."



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Attendance: 9,711 at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL

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JSU Tigers in party mood after clinching SWAC East

JSU earns chance to defend its SWAC title with fifth straight victory

First it was head coach Rick Comegy. Next was defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes. They even snuck up on running backs coach Greg Ruffin. Three tubs of celebratory ice water on a brisk Mississippi evening didn't seem the least bit excessive. Jackson State clinched its second consecutive trip to the SWAC Championship Game with a 37-21 victory over Alabama A&M (4-7, 3-3) on Saturday.

"I was wondering why they wanted my headset so quick," Comegy said. "I had a slight inkling something was about to happen. But they fool you out of it. "It was 'exuberating,' but I hope I don't catch a cold from it." The scene that played out on the turf of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium was equal parts relief and I-told-you-so. A small group huddled on the sideline shouting, "We're goin' to the 'ship, we're goin' to the 'ship!"

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Attendance: 9,046 at Missisissippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS.

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B-CU escapes 'trap' vs. Howard

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Bethune-Cookman coach Alvin Wyatt knew Saturday's contest against conference cellar-dweller Howard had all the makings of a trap game. After the Wildcats produced just 37 yards of offense in the first half, he knew his worst fears had materialized. But thanks to quarterback McKinson Souverain's 53-yard touchdown run with 7:19 left and Howard's failed 2-point conversion attempt with one minute left to play, B-CU escaped with a 14-12 victory in front of 3,152 fans at Municipal Stadium.

The Wildcats (8-2, 5-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) play their final game of the season next week against arch-rival Florida A&M at the Florida Classic in Orlando. "When the Classic is right in front of you, you can't help but look at that," Wyatt said. "I have to stop myself from doing it sometimes. Plus you don't want to show this play or that play (for Florida A&M to prepare for), and it catches up to you." The difference in the game was Travis Roland's blocked extra point early in the fourth quarter.

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Attendance: 3152 at Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL

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Mallett rushes for 160 Yards as UAPB Golden Lions Earn First SWAC Victory

Entering the season, Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach and defensive coordinator Monte Coleman said he wanted his defense to be one of the best in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. On Saturday, they played like they were, as the Golden Lions forced six turnovers and sacked Mississippi Valley State quarterback Paul Roberts four times in a 34-0 victory at Golden Lion Stadium on Senior Day. Martell Mallett gained 160 yards and scored two touchdowns on 24 carries in the victory.

“Valley threw the ball against Jackson State over 90 percent of the time, (in a 58-44 victory last week), so my thing was to try to make them run the football,” Coleman said. “They still came out and threw the football. My thing was to take away their best suit.” While the Golden Lions weren’t able to force Valley to run the football, they were able to limit the effectiveness of the Delta Devils aerial attack. Roberts completed only 13-of-35 pass attempts for 123 yards. And though UAPB used a varied rush of only three or four defenders, the Golden Lions were able to pressure Roberts for four sacks and three interceptions. Coleman said he only called one blitz on the game.

UAPB M4

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Attendance: 4,562 at Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, AR

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NCCU Eagles beat WSSU Rams 23-16

DURHAM, NC - Winston-Salem State played give away yesterday and N.C. Central was more than happy to accept the gifts. The Eagles feasted on four turnovers from quarterback Jarrett Dunston and a poor snap on a punt in a 23-16 on Saturday afternoon at muddy O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The field, which took on quite a bit of rain in the morning, was more suited for mud wrestling than a football game.

Because of the sloppy conditions the teams combined for six turnovers, but it was Dunston who struggled the most. "Any time you are playing no matter what the field looks like you have to take care of the football," said Dunston, who had two interceptions and two fumbles and was sacked six times. "And I didn't do that today. "The plays were there and they were bringing the pressure, but whenever you have four turnovers it's hard to win a game."

North Carolina Central University Marching Band - "Car Wash"


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Attendance: 6,294

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Savannah State piles up 457 yards of offense against Webber

LAKE WALES, FL - Webber International University closed the 2008 season with a 24-7 loss against Football Championship Subdivision's Savannah State University on Saturday at Legion Field. The Tigers gained 238 yards on the ground and had 457 total yards in the game. The Warriors, playing without top runner Taylor Atwood, ran for 96 yards. Rupert Webley carried the bulk of the load on the ground with 13 carries for 36 yards. Webley also caught two passes for 25 yards to lead the team in receiving yards.

Savannah State (5-6) got on the board first with a trick play. The Tigers ran a double-reverse that ended with receiver Deleon Hollinger throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Osborne. Savannah State struck again in the second quarter. After back-to-back holding penalties, the Tigers were forced into a third and 30 situation, but quarterback Kurvin Curry completed a 43-yard pass to Javares Taylor to put Savannah State ahead 14-0. Webber's best drive of the first half started at the 3-yard line. The Tigers punted and the officials ruled the ball went into the end zone for a touchback, but after a conference, they ruled the ball out at the 3.

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Attendance: 065 at Legion Field, Babson Park, FL (Not a mistake--65 fans!).

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ESPN show 'raises awareness' to HBCUs

GameDay's Desmond Howard hopes the show brought attention to HBCU football.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Hours before Hampton's game at Florida A&M kicked off Saturday afternoon, the FAMU campus was abuzz with the presence of ESPN's weekly pregame show, College GameDay. More than a thousand people, including a number of fans wearing HU's blue and silver, attended the show's first visit to a historically black university, and Pirates players and coaches were plenty excited to be focused in the national spotlight.

"It's great because you get the nationwide exposure," said Hampton coach Jerry Holmes. "(To) have an opportunity to be Hampton University and represent HBCU schools, it's a great feeling for the kids, great exposure for them." GameDay host and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard said that having ESPN's presence helped raise the profile of HBCU football. "I think it brings a lot of attention to it, first and foremost," Howard said. "It raises awareness. There's football played in other areas, other universities, not just the BCS schools."

The show, which took place in front of FAMU's Lee Hall, featured Hampton and FAMU helmets displayed prominently on the set. Segments featuring the schools were aired, and the Rattlers' Marching 100 band gave a live performance.





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