Grambling State Tigers 27, Jackson State Tigers 17

GSU wins second straight game

JACKSON, Miss. — There wasn't much offense to speak of. For the second Saturday in a row, Grambling didn't need it. GSU beat Jackson State 27-17 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in a rematch of the last pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Games. The win was sparked again by Grambling end Christian Anthony, the SWAC's defensive player of the year. Late in the first period, Anthony reeled in his third interception in two weeks, then rumbled 30 yards for his second touchdown of 2009 — and the first TD of the night.

Grambling defeats Jackson State

JACKSON, Miss. — Frank Warren ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns as Grambling State beat Jackson State 27-17 today. Grambling State (2-1, 1-0 Southwest Athletic Conference) relied on its defense to build a 20-3 halftime lead. The Tigers’ defense recorded two safeties and defensive end Christian Anthony intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers recovered five Jackson State fumbles and intercepted one pass. Warren scored on an 18-yard run in the second quarter and added a 45-yard touchdown run in the fourth. The Grambling State defense allowed Jackson State no yards rushing on 43 carries.

Is it still a rivalry if Grambling owns Jackson State?

JACKSON, Miss. — By record, this game isn’t a rivalry. Jackson State simply hasn’t beaten Grambling enough over the past three seasons. Coming into Saturday’s afternoon scrum at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, JSU had won just once through five meetings in this series since Rick Comegy took over. Jackson, after falling 27-17, is now 1-and-5 over that span.
JSU hasn't topped Grambling in a regular-season game since 2004, and hasn’t won consecutive games over GSU since 1998-99.

JSU Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band








Photo Galleries: Grambling vs. Jackson State

Tigers hurt cause

On a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, there was at least one bit of sunshine (albeit a small one) for the Jackson State faithful. At least this worst-than-it-sounds 27-17 loss to SWAC nemesis Grambling doesn't count in the league standings. Other than that, there wasn't a whole to cheer about for the announced crowd of 10,905 who watched JSU fall to the G-Men for the sixth time in the last seven meetings, including last season's SWAC championship game. Although the score wasn't as one-sided as that 41-9 setback in Birmingham last December, the game was - at least in the first half when Jackson State managed just 18 yards of offense and fell into a 20-3 hole.

Transfer Johnson finding niche with Tigers

Jackson State defensive back Anthony Johnson, a Mississippi State transfer, experienced a bit of deja vu Saturday. Well, almost. It was late in the second half when Johnson picked off a pass in his own end zone and appeared headed for a 100-yard, momentum-swinging interception before being hit from the blind side after racing for 45 yards. It was just two seasons ago when Johnson did the same thing for MSU, returning a pass 104 yards (the longest in school history) right before the half to help the Bulldogs knock off Alabama. "I had a little flashback there," Johnson said. "I felt like I should have never given up the play a little earlier so I had to redeem myself. It was just a redeeming play."

Photo Gallery: Jackson State - Grambling

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Southern Jaguars 21, Tennessee State Tigers 17

Southern University Coach Pete Richardson at expanded A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Fired up Jaguars defense

While Southern University’s offense found stiff competition Saturday night against Tennessee State, the Jaguars defense roughed up the visiting Tigers even more. After playing opponents from different levels of college football the first two weeks of the season, Southern found itself on even footing against Tennessee State, and the Jaguars defense made sure their offense had all the chances needed to pull out a 21-17 win. “Tonight, we played a team on our level, and we knew it would be a dogfight,” Southern defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said. “These guys stepped up and made big plays. This is a testament to them and things to come this season.”

Photos: Southern 21, TSU 17

Jaguars get intense victory

Saturday night in A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Southern football team played hard, if not always sound. Yet as the offense huddled with 6:30 remaining, then Jaguars needed to score against a tough Tennessee State defense. Otherwise, the Jaguars’ three-hour struggle was destined to become a loss. So, as they geared up for what would become their fourth-quarter game-winning drive in front of 12,247 fans, quarterback Bryant Lee gave his teammates a simple message: Play with one heartbeat. “It was really intense in there,” tailback Brian Threat said. “A lot of yelling like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get it. We’ve got to get amped up.’ We all came together, got amped up and executed well.”

House answers call, stars at safety

Free safety Jason House and strong safety Demetric Rogers started for the second straight game Saturday in Southern’s 21-17 victory over Tennessee State, stepping in for regular starters Anthony Wells and Gary Chatman. Wells is recovering from two knee surgeries and a pulled hamstring, which he suffered during the first half of SU’s season-opening loss at Louisiana-Lafayette. On Saturday, he walked the sideline in his game jersey and jeans. Chatman, who sprained his right ankle in the ULL game, dressed out Saturday but did not play.

Too many 3-and-outs

Tennessee State quarterback Calvin McNairl didn’t want to come off the field without a score. Tennessee State’s defense had just denied Bryant Lee enough yardage for a first down on fourth-and-1 inside the red zone and it was time for his Tigers to go to work. At the time, TSU was ahead by three and a touchdown would have made it a two-score game. With 8:20 left to play, the Tigers took over at their 16-yard line. McNairl hoped this drive would be different from five others that ended with three-and-outs. The worst case scenario? The Tennessee State quarterback hoped for a field goal. What he got was two decent gains from Preston Brown. But on third-and-3, the Tigers went backward as Brown was stopped for a 2-yard loss.

Southern uses late rally to defeat TSU

BATON ROUGE, La. — Tennessee State allowed Southern to go on a late fourth-quarter drive that led to a 21-17 Tigers loss on Saturday night. "We just gave up some big plays. Our offense had the chance to get some first downs and run the clock out," Tennessee State Coach James Webster said. "We just didn't get it done." TSU, which scored just two offensive touchdowns in its first two games, managed 255 yards of offense and squandered two scoring chances inside the Southern 20. But the Tigers (1-2) took a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter.

New TSU starter shows he's a leader

Now that he's the starting quarterback, Calvin McNairl is sending a message in more ways than one to Tennessee State's football team. Not only is the former Henry County star now talking about his ability to lead the Tigers, but he is also proving it on the field. He was the most valuable player in last week's 14-7 Southern Heritage Classic win over Jackson State and has carried himself with more resolve this week as TSU (1-1) prepared to visit Southern (1-1) at 6 tonight. "When Calvin first got here he wouldn't say, 'Boo,''' TSU Coach James Webster said. "But now he's talking. He's telling his offensive teammates where they need to be, what they need to do. The guys have responded and it's made a difference."

TSU's defense gets in groove

Tennessee State Coach James Webster hates to say I told you so, but…Webster did warn of the offensive struggles his team has experienced and told his defensive players to be prepared handle a heavier load. "I said that our defense was going to carry this football team until our offense could jell,'' Webster said. "I fully expected that." While the offense showed improvement in Saturday's 14-7 win over Jackson State, the defense is being counted on heavily as the Tigers (1-1) prepare for Saturday's game at Southern (1-1).

Attendance: 9,300 @ Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA.

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TSU Aristocrat of Bands vs. SU Human Juke Box

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands and the Sophisticated Ladies 9/18/09 @ Baton Rouge, LA

Hampton Pirates 24, North Carolina A&T Aggies 14

Hampton deals A&T its first loss of season

GREENSBORO — Hampton hasn't needed extra motivation against N.C. A&T in recent years. The Pirates' averages of 46.6 points and 32-point margins of victory during five straight wins hardly necessitated it. But after reading some comments made by members of Aggies this week, Don Rose clipped out the statements anyway and passed them around the Pirates locker room. "I know with coach (Alonzo) Lee, I know he does a lot to motivate his team or whatever," Rose said. "But a lot of times by doing that, we just took advantage of it. We don't need that to necessarily get us going, but it was a little fire."

Watch Replay : ESPN 360 -- HU vs. NCA&T Game

HU awakens in second quarter, wins 24-14

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Hampton University needed some extra effort this time, but the final result looked familiar.After devouring North Carolina A&T by an average of 32 points in their previous five meetings, the Pirates scrapped through early offensive struggles Saturday before bouncing back with several momentum-swinging plays to pick up their sixth straight win over the Aggies, 24-14 at Aggie Stadium.Hampton quarterback Herb Bynes completed 11 of 20 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the season. HU (2-1, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) rolled up 333 yards of offense against a defense that had given up a total of 391 in its first two games.

Bynes throws 2 touchdown passes to lead Hampton to 24-14 victory ...

Herbert Bynes threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns to lead Hampton to a 24-14 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday night.Bynes hit Damon McDaniel on touchdown passes of 62 and 23 yards and LaMarcus Coker rushed for 112 yards on 24 carries for the Pirates (2-1, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). McDaniel finished with five catches for 104 yards.Brand Roundtree scored on a 5-yard interception return for Hampton's other touchdown with 12:27 left in the game.

IMPROVEMENT STILL EVIDENT DESPITE LOSS

Hampton head coach Don Rose predicted the change in the days leading up to Saturday’s Hampton-North Carolina A&T football clash. “It is no longer as it once was; when you travel to play North Carolina A&T, you have to be ready to play,” Rose said in a Hampton press release early in the week. Saturday’s 24-14 win, though Hampton’s sixth straight in the series, could mark a shift in recent Pirates vs. Aggies history. Unlike some of the previous contests, the 2009 clash was competitive throughout. From 2006-08, Hampton outscored the Aggies 151-35. The Pirates’ average margin of victory in those three games was 38 points.

Attendance: 13,502@Aggie Stadium, Greensboro, N.C.

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William &Mary 27, Norfolk State 15

Late rally not enough for upset-minded NSU

They kept playing. They did some nice things in the downfield passing game for the first time in this young season. They allowed just six points after halftime. Anyone looking for positives from Norfolk State's 27-15 loss to William and Mary on Saturday night could take some comfort from those developments. As a building block, the game could have some value, as the Spartans head into the MEAC portion of their schedule. As a straight-up match-up, however, the game showed that NSU still has much ground to make up to compete with one of the top teams in the Football Championship Subdivision.

On a night when they were going to need to play error-free ball - or close to it - to have a chance at the upset, the Spartans (1-2) again made too many mistakes, especially early, falling behind 14-0 before some of the crowd of 10,005 had settled into their seats. It was 21-0 at the half, and 27-0 at the start of the fourth quarter. NSU ran just four plays in the entire third quarter, as No. 5 William and Mary (3-0) strung together a pair of long drives.



In W&M game, NSU shows needs to play consistently

Not that anybody thought suspense was in the forecast Saturday evening when William and Mary met Norfolk State at Dick Price Stadium. This one was your basic mismatches. The final score - 27-15 - doesn't do justice to the visitor's domination. One of Jimmye Laycock's best teams in his long career, William and Mary isn't overly dependent on the pass, as previous Tribe editions have been, and features a defense that is stronger than any from Williamsburg in years. Just ask U.Va. It was too much for Norfolk State, which, after its loss to North Carolina A&T last week, came into the game a work in progress. One thing Norfolk State couldn't afford to do was fall behind W&M early. But that's exactly what happened.

Archer leads William and Mary past Norfolk State

NORFOLK - If this is how R.J. Archer plays injured, watch out. Archer, William and Mary's senior quarterback who played with a brace on his injured left knee, directed two early touchdown drives that put the Tribe ahead to stay in a 27-15 victory at Norfolk State on Saturday night on his way to 153 passing yards and three touchdowns. Archer, who took a seat after the Tribe's initial possession of the fourth quarter, finished 15-of-20 after completing his first five passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns as William and Mary, ranked No. 5 in the country, opened the season 3-0 for the first time since 1998.

Tribe defense brings Spartans to near halt

The Tribe outgained Norfolk State 137 yards to 7 in the first quarter, running 21 plays to the Spartans' eight and not allowing Norfolk State to complete a pass while taking a 14-0 lead on a pair of touchdown passes from R.J. Archer. The Tribe also intercepted a first-quarter pass, amassed eight first downs to the Spartans' one and had the ball for nearly six minutes longer.

Rolling the dice
Jimmye Laycock probably hasn't been called a riverboat gambler often in his 30 years at William and Mary, but he went for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 23. Punter David Miller took the snap and rolled to his right for a rugby-style kick, but finding no defender within 15 yards of him, kept going, picking up 10 yards and keeping alive a touchdown drive. Laycock said Miller usually has the option to do that, but as he watched the play unfold, the coach had just one thought: "He better make it. And that was probably what went through his head, too."

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FAMU defense crucial to its success

Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor got a little commercial during his post-game news conference when he was acknowledging his defense for shutting out Howard University for three quarters. "They know they're like American Express," Taylor said after his team improved to 3-0 with Thursday's victory. "We're not going anywhere without them." That's for sure. FAMU will need every bit of the stubbornness its defense showed Thursday night in defeating the Bison 48-10. The Rattlers face Tennessee State next Saturday in the Atlanta Classic, followed by games at the University of Miami and at South Carolina State against the defending MEAC champion Bulldogs.

Depth at running back helping Rattlers

Joe Taylor has consistently spoken about the depth he has at running back. Thursday's game against Howard was yet another example of the bevy of backs Florida A&M can send into the game at any time as five different people had carries on the evening.This time it was Philip Sylvester, who saw his first action of the 2009 season in the Rattlers, who was the first to strike. On his second carry of the season, Sylvester found an opening along the left edge and finished the run with a 10-yard touchdown. Sylvester's touchdown added the first six points in what turned out to be a 48-10 victory for FAMU.

'Sky' sees bit of himself in Pulley

Jay Walker must have felt a little dejavu Thursday night behind the ESPNU microphone. On the day that Walker made his debut as a transfer quarterback at Howard University, a monsoon drenched the place. Howard lost, though not as badly as things turned out here Thursday night. Walker was in Tallahassee for his alma mater's matchup against FAMU as an analyst for ESPNU. The field was drenched from midday rain, though the rain let up for most of the game. Walker had a good view of FAMU quarterback Curtis Pulley, who directed the offense to 333 yards in a 48-10 victory over the Bison. Walker couldn't help but see a mirror of himself on the field Thursday night. Here's some perspective:

Hardee keeping FAMU on track

Even as a child Teresa Hardee wanted to be a numbers cruncher. She got her wish — and then some. Hardee, Florida A&M University’s chief financial officer, makes decisions daily on a budget of $421 million. She oversees between 300 and 400 people. A native of Loris, S.C., Hardee came to FAMU more than two years ago to fix a financially troubled university. The 44-year-old was asked to lead the university’s financial side by FAMU President James Ammons, who initially hired her as an internal auditor when he was chancellor at North Carolina Central University in Durham. The state’s auditor general recommended Hardee to Ammons — who needed an internal auditor to clean up a university plagued with poor financial audits.

In Tally, LeRoy Vann is the MAN

Wow, what more can you say about FAMU’s sensational return specialist LeRoy Vann, who just happens to be a Blake grad? On Thursday, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior DB ran back two punts for touchdowns in a 48-10 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over archrival Howard. Vann first raced 40 yards for a score on the slick field in the first quarter. In the third, he bobbled a Howard punt, then recovered, darted left and raced 66 yards for another TD. As if that wasn’t enough … Vann also returned two kicks for TDs a week earlier. That’s just sick. Vann’s two TD returns against Howard allowed him to tie an NCAA Division I-AA career mark for punt returns for touchdowns (seven) with Northern Iowa’s Kenny Shedd (1989-92).

Video: FAMU Football Player Talks About Shooting

Nearly two weeks after FAMU running back LaVante Page was shot after leaving a home game, he was back with his teammates at Bragg Memorial Stadium. But this time, he was standing on the sidelines.

2009 FAMU Marching 100 vs. Delaware State

Florida A&M Rattlers 48, Howard Bison 10

LeRoy Vann adds 2 more returns for TDs as FAMU blasts the Bison

Just over two minutes were left in the third quarter when the dancing began in the stands at Bragg Stadium on Thursday night. There was plenty to celebrate by then, as FAMU was well on its way to a 48-10 victory over Howard University that insured the Rattlers would win three straight games to start a season for the first time in nine years. A national television audience saw this one on a night that LeRoy Vann returned two punts for touchdowns and quarterback Curtis Pulley connected with receiver Kevin Elliott twice in the first half to give the Rattlers a commanding 34-10 lead at halftime. Trevor Scott punctuated the first half with a near-record 51-yard field goal.

Attendance: 7,668 Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL (ESPNU Live)

Florida A&M easily handles Howard 48-10

LeRoy Vann scored on two punt returns for the second straight week and Florida A&M beat Howard 48-10 on Thursday night. Vann, who scored on returns of 40 and 66 yards, ran back two punts for touchdowns against Winston-Salem State last week. The senior has returned seven punts for touchdowns during his career, tying a Football Championship Subdivision record set by Northern Iowa's Kenny Shedd between 1989-1992. The Rattlers (3-0, 2-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) built a 34-10 halftime lead, highlighted by Curtis Pulley's touchdown throws to Kevin Elliott of 46 and 35 yards. Pulley finished with 182 yards passing.

Penalties still plaguing Rattlers

As much as FAMU football coach Joe Taylor and his staff tried all week to get the Rattlers to cut down on penalties, there were plenty of whistles against both teams Thursday night at Bragg Stadium. Coming into the game against Howard University, the Rattlers had been penalized 18 times for 166 yards in two games. The Rattlers were called for six more infractions for 55 yards against the Bison, who had five for loss of 35 yards halfway through the game. One of the most glaring penalties was a 15-yard penalty that put the Bison on FAMU's 23 after Fabian Wilson was whistled for a late hit. The Bison ended the drive with a 38-yard field goal by Denis Wiehberg.

Photo Galleries:
FAMU 48, Howard 10
FAMU vs. Howard first half
FAMU Pre game photos
FAN CAM - FAMU vs. Howard University
FAMU 21 Delaware State 12

Transfers finding a home at FAMU

Offensive lineman Brandon Curry couldn't have been happier. The big day had finally come for him to sign a college scholarship. He was off to Marshall University. Just like he'd been made to believe — a Division I school was where he belonged. But Curry didn't play one down in a game and he is now at FAMU, a much smaller school. He understands now that a small school might not have been a bad choice at first. The voices wouldn't let him, though, when he came out of Boyd Anderson High School.

"It's the hype," he said. "In high school, everybody is praising you for going to that big school. People don't understand that's it's D-I but that might not be the fit for you." Each year, hundreds of football players make the same move like Curry after signing with a big school. Why they leave depends on who you ask, but most would say it's over a lack of playing time. A philosophical difference with a coaching staff also is another popular reason.

FAMU's Vann running through records

Last season, Florida A&M University football return man LeRoy Vann (Blake High) was named first-team All-American. How could he top that for his senior season? Well, his performance last Thursday night was all-world. When the Rattlers defeated Winston-Salem State 34-10, Vann scored on punt returns of 95 and 80 yards, while continuing to rewrite the record books. It was the first time a FAMU player had two punt-return touchdowns in a game. It gave Vann the FAMU career mark for punt-return touchdowns with five, surpassing All-American Howard Huckaby (1986-89), who had four punt returns for scores (all in 1988). Vann's 95-yarder tied the FAMU record for longest punt return (Leroy Hardee against South Carolina State in 1958).

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FAMU Marching 100 Half-Time Show vs. Howard Bison 9/17/09