Florida A&M Rattlers face long odds on the road

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The task of finishing this season with a winning record is looking a little arduous for FAMU heaving into the final three games of the season. Just as tough are the Rattlers’ chances of staying in the MEAC title conversation.

But there is still a sense of optimism around the Galimore Fieldhouse, although the Rattlers are faced with having to win out on the road where they’ve struggled mightily.

Coach Joe Taylor is convinced that with a little “alignment, assignment and execution,” as coaches like to say, there is hope.

The players agree, but they also think that the intangible of battling against fans of the home teams that they’ll face also is a huge factor.

After having last weekend off, they resume play at North Carolina A&T on Saturday, then return to Bragg Stadium for homecoming against North Carolina Central before going to Orlando to face Bethune-Cookman University in the season finale.

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Greatest Homecoming On Earth: North Carolina A&T State University Blue & Gold Marching Machine

Enjoy the show in 1080p HD and full screen high definition...




Throwback....NCA&T Homecoming 1993...the start of it all...Golden Delight!!

Lessons Learned: N.C. A&T 30, Norfolk State 9

GREENSBORO,  North Carolina  --  You got to win homecoming: Head coach Rod Broadway said that's one of the first things the higher-ups told him when they hired him to head the A&T program at the beginning of 2011.

The Aggies had, after all, lost seven straight homecoming games.

You can just tell how important the game is to this fanbase. Not only does the stadium fill up with about 6,000 to 8,000 more people than the average home game -- 20.356 showed up yesterday -- but all the tailgate areas around the stadium are packed as well.

This is the weekend of the year in which the most A&T eyes are on their football program. And they need to see a win.

The Aggies' sluggish start didn't give the fans much to cheer about in the first half -- aside from D'Vonte Graham's field goal return for a touchdown -- but you can tell they were willing to get into it if the team gave them even the slightest impetus.

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Texas Southern Tigers get First Victory in Home Stadium

HOUSTON, Texas  --  It didn’t come easy, but the Texas Southern Tigers have captured their first victory in their new home. TSU beat Grambling State 23-20 in the BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday.

The TSU Tigers started strong and finished focused to get the win.

Texas Sothern took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Rudy Johnson got the drive started with two rushes for 28 yards. Johnson then took his attack to the air by connecting with Fred Plummer twice for 14 yard and 25 yard gains. TSU capped the drive with a 1 yard touchdown pass to James Davis.

TSU got on the board again in the second quarter when Johnson finished a 13 yard drive with a 5 yard touchdown pass to Davis. The kick was good and Texas Southern held a 14-0 lead with 10:28 left in the half.

Grambling State scored on two big plays before the end of the first half. Frank Rivers hit Jeremy Hernandez for a 24 yard touchdown pass. Rivers completed his second touchdown pass of the game to Anthony McGhee to tie the game 14-14 going into the half.

Grambling picked up another big play in third quarter when Rivers connected with Musa Mahmud for a 60 yard touchdown pass. They missed the extra point and GSU led 20-14.

The Texas Southern’s defense got the Tigers back on the score board when Eric Brown took an interception 21 yards for the score. Two penalties pushed the Tigers back and they missed the extra point. The game was tied 20-20.

Texas Southern took the lead and the locked down the win with 4:14 left in the fourth quarters when Robert Hersh kicked a 32 yard field goal.

Johnson played his first complete game as the signal caller. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed for 59 yards. Plummer had 3 catches for 36 yards and Davis had two touchdown grabs. Edward Perkins-Loving carried the ball 19 times for 128 yards.

William Parker led the defense with 10 tackles 1 TFL and a forced fumble. Brown had three tackles and an interception for a TD.

The Tigers improve to 2-4 in conference. TSU will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, November 3^rd for homecoming at 2:00 pm in the BBVA Compass Stadium.

Box Score

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

THE SHOW: Sights & Sounds from South Carolina State University Homecoming 2012

S.C. State Bulldogs roast Howard Bison

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  South Carolina State fans came close to granting head football coach Buddy Pough’s wish for 20,000 fans inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium for Saturday’s Homecoming matchup against Howard.

The 19.167 fans in attendance along were “rewarded” by witnessing the best statistical single-game performance by a Bulldog quarterback in the program’s 105-year history.

In leading S.C. State to a 41-23 win over the Bison, junior Richard Cue threw for a career-best 417 yards on 26-40 passing and four touchdowns. The Florence native broke the single-game passing yards and completions mark, both set by Brett Young in a 2004 overtime win over Morgan State (387 yards, 24 completions), while tying a touchdown total shared by four other former Bulldog quarterbacks.

“Glory be to God,” Cue said. “From my teammates, from the lineman to the receivers to the running backs, none of it would have been possible.”

Cue rallied the Bulldogs from a 3-point first-quarter deficit by completing 11-14 passes and two touchdowns in the second quarter. He then provided a cushion to the lead in the fourth quarter when he connected with Tyler McDonald for a career-best 97-yard touchdown reception.

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FAMU Rattlers Make Clean Sweep In MEAC Cross Country

 

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland (Oct.27)  -- The FAMU Rattlers and Lady Rattlers took home the first MEAC cross country championships in over a decade as both teams swept the races this morning on the campus of the University Maryland Eastern Shore.
 

The Lady Rattlers last won a cross country championship in 2001 under then coach Rey Robinson, but the men's team had not won in 24 years, winning last in 1988, during the tenure of legendary coach Bobby Lang. Men's coach Wayne Angel and women's coach Darlene Moore had to go a full year with a chip on their shoulders after both placing second in the 2011 MEAC championship.
 

The Lady Rattlers used a team of conference unknowns to bolster their roster. Simone Durden, the team's leader, took third place overall running the 5K race in 19:08.68. One of the biggest improvements from last season was Clarriccia Golden, who came in second for the Lady Rattlers, placing 13th overall. She completed the course in 19:38.20, besting teammate Chandelic Jackson by one place. Jackson navigated the course in 19:42.70.
 

The next two places would be occupied by newcomers Effiey Kosgei and Zenia George. Kosgei finished 16th overall (19:45.06), while George finished 17th in 19:45.70. Ciera Williams placed 35th overall (20:34.68), Ariel Allen (20:40.40) finished 36th and Cynthia Chelelgo finished 44th at 21:08.03 to close out the team.
 

Coach Darlene Moore was named the 2012 MEAC Most Outstanding coach for the team's performance. "We were so close last year. We went out and recruited the runners we needed to bring this home. I am very pleased with the way our young ladies performed, allowing us to bring this championship back to FAMU," Moore said.
 

For their top 15 finishes, Durden, Golden and Jackson were named to the 2012 All-MEAC squad.
 

On the men's side, sophomore Elias Chesire continued to impress. He was named the co-Most Outstanding Athlete for the 2012 MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championsip, but left nothing to chance today, taking first place and winning the 2012 MEAC Cross Country Most Outstanding Athlete. Chesire finished the 8K race in 24:54.96, just ahead of teammate Shuaib Winters. Winters, who was the 2010 MEAC Cross Country Most Outstanding Athlete, finished in 24:56.89. Newcomers Kevin Marindich and Antony Kimaiyo finished fifth and sixth respectively. Marindich ran 25:35.26, while Kimaiyo finished in 25:49.77.

 

Sophomore Dieumy Duclos, who finished 14th overall locked up the championship for the Rattlers with a 26:29.45 time. Lamere Buchanon (26:37.58) placed 16th overall, while Isaiah Coleman finished in 29:09.86.

 

Five Rattlers made the All-MEAC team for their top 15 finishes. Chesire, Winters, Kimaiyo, Marindich and Duclos all earned the honor.
 

Angel, also earned MEAC Most Outstanding Coach for the team's victory today. "It was a bitter pill to swallow last year, but we knew what we had to do and we went out recruited and we put in the miles. We were on a mission and they accomplished it. My hats off to them," Angel said.
 

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