Alabama A&M's Brandons, Wells and Eldemire, shine in spring football game

(Photo Courtesy: AAMU Athletics)

NORMAL, Alabama  --  Saturday was a good day for dudes named Brandon at Alabama A&M.

Calera native Brandon Wells shined at quarterback and Brandon Eldemire showcased the talent he'd exhibited throughout spring training in front of the 200 or 300 fans who showed up for the Bulldogs' annual Maroon and White Spring football game at Louis Crews Stadium.

In a scrimmage dominated by the defense, Wells, a redshirt freshman, came on strong in the second half, completing 5 of 6 attempts for 113 yards and a touchdown. He made an impression on A&M coach Anthony Jones, heading into what will be a three-man battle, which will also include JUCO transfer junior Kyle Harmyk and redshirt freshman Chris Leachman, for the starting gig in the fall.

"I thought Brandon separated himself today from the other two guys," Jones said. "Except for his first series, when he took a quick sack, it really wasn't his fault but he didn't hold onto the ball. At the end of the day, you want you quarterbacks holding onto the ball regardless of how hard the hit was. It was a good hit but he should've held on to it. Other than that, I thought he had the most command out there. I though he knew, more so, what was going on. He made more of the decisive reads and throws than any other quarterback out there."

Wells, a 6-foot-3, 170-pounder, started the contest with the first-team offense and but looked much more collected after losing the ball while taking a shot from defensive end Corey Johnson which led to a scoop and score by defensive back Jeremy Isabelle.

"I was kind of just rushing myself at the beginning then I just settled down and let the game come to me more."

Eldemire got the majority of the carries in the game along with Wenonah product Ja'Won Arrington. JUCO transfer Jabari Baker and Brendan Johnson, the Bulldogs' third-leading rusher last season, both sat out with injuries.

Alabama A&M running back Brandon Eldemire carried the ball 11 times for 63 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's spring game. (Courtesy of Alabama A&M University)

Eldemire, who rushed only 16 yards on four carries in as many games last season, seized the day. He carried the ball 11 times for 63 yards, including three rushes of 10 or more yards, and two touchdowns in the first half.

"I just thank God for every opportunity I get out there to run the ball," Eldemire said. "We've got a plethora of running backs all with good skill sets, some fast, some just big, some can do both. I always just go out there and try to take advantage of my opportunities just to show my coaches that I want to be out there and I want to contribute to the team."

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Baltimore Ravens displaying interest in Howard University linebacker Keith Pough

Mr. KEITH POUGH
HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON FOOTBALL
(Photo Courtesy Howard University Television)

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  The Ravens' search for linebackers in the NFL draft involves a wide investigation of prospects.

That includes interest in Howard University linebacker Keith Pough, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

Among the other teams interested in the MEAC Conference Defensive Player of the Year: the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The South Carolina native had 72 tackles, 10 for losses with 3 1/2 sacks and four pass deflections as a senior.

As a junior, Pough was a third-team Associated Press All-American when he had 120 tackles, 21 for losses, three sacks and 11 pass deflections.

The four-year starter finished his career with 340 tackles, 71 for losses.

Pough is a 6-foot-2, 240-pounder who ran the 40-yard dash in just 4.8 seconds at the NFL scouting combine after being clocked as fast as 4.75 seconds previously.



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Stillman completes sweep of Benedict

TUSCALOOSA | The Stillman College baseball team completed its three-game sweep of Benedict College with a 13-2 rout on Saturday.

 

With the win, the Tigers improved to 15-13 overall and 7-2 in the Southern Intercollegiat Athletic Conference, while Benedict falls to 17-6 and 8-4 in the SIAC.

 

The Tigers used an 11-run first inning and tough defense to stifle Benedict.

 

“That was a big shutdown inning for us,” Stillman coach Donny Crawford said. “Our guys hit the ball extremely well and never let up. We knew we were going to need some runs because we were unsure of who we were going to pitch. It’s a credit to our guys for doing what it took to get the win.”

 

Dakota Todd earned the win for Stillman after 12⁄3 innings of work. Todd faced seven batters and had one strikeout. Christopher Lail took the loss for Benedict. Lail struggled on the mound, giving up eight runs with seven errors. Lail threw multiple wild pitches and hit two pitchers.

 

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WSSU gives the SAU Falcons their first conference loss and takes control of the CIAA

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Winston-Salem State used a big fourth and sixth inning to come from behind to defeat the Saint Augustine's University Falcons, 7-4 in the first game of a double header played in Raleigh, NC.

With the win, the WSSU Rams improve to 24-8 and 9-1 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Saint Augustine's falls to 22-11, 9-1 in the CIAA.

 

St. Augustine's jumped out on the Rams in the third inning, scoring three runs on four hits, including three doubles in the inning.

 

But Winston-Salem State would battle back in the fourth inning, starting with Tyler Hickernell getting hit by a pitch. Rafael Gonzalez would double home Hickernell to get the Rams on the board.

 

After a Brandon Harrison walk, Travis Moore would triple home Gonzalez and Harrison to pull the Rams even at 3-3. Paco Martin would single home Moore to give WSSU a 4-3 lead.

 

The Falcons would continue to stay close, as they would plate another run in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 4-4.

 

The WSSU Rams would break the game open in the sixth inning, when they scored three runs on three hits and helped out with two errors by St. Augustine's. Rafael Gonzalez reached on an error, and Conner Andrus would sacrifice him over to second with a groundout bunt. Brandon Harrison doubled, scoring Gonzalez. Travis Moore singled putting runners on the corners with one out. Paco Martin would pick up an rbi with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Harrison. Moore would steal second and German Reyes would single him home to give the Rams a 7-4 lead.

 

Michael Dry (2-2) picked up the win for WSSU pitching three scoreless innings, and Seth Mahaffey picked up the save pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

 

Travis Moore finished the game going two for four with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Paco Martin went two for three with two rbi's, and German Reyes and Rafael Gonzalez each went one for four with a rbi, with Gonzalez also scoring two runs. Brandon Harrison went one for two with two runs scored and an rbi. Martin, Gonzalez and Harrison each had doubles, with Moore picking up a triple.
 

Box Score

 

 

WSSU Rams Shut Down SAU Falcons 3-1

 

RALEIGH, North Carolina --   Winston-Salem State scored two runs in the first inning, and held on for a 3-1 win over the Saint Augustine's University Falcons in the second game of a double header played in Raleigh, NC.

 

With the win, the WSSU Rams improve to 25-8 and 10-1 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Saint Augustine's falls to 22-12, 9-2 in the CIAA.

 

Travis Moore walked to start the game and quickly stole second. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, German Reyes would triple home Moore. Aaron Jones would single home Reyes in the next at bat to give the Rams the early 2-0 advantage.

 

The Saint Augustine's University Falcons would come right back with a run of their own on a single and double, to pull within one.

 

But that one run advantage would be all the Rams would need, as both teams were shut down with solid pitching and timely defense throughout the middle innings.

 

Winston-Salem State would ice the game in the seventh inning on a Brandon Harrison solo home run to left field.

 

Brandon Harrison finished one for two with one home run and one rbi, while German Reyes finished one for three with one run scored and a run batted in. Aaron jones went one for three with one rbi.

 

Jordan Carlton (4-0) picked up the win for the Rams, scattering five hits and just one run, while striking out three. John Markley came on in relief and pitched 3.2 innings giving up just two hits with three strikeouts. Seth Mahaffey came on to record the final out and picked up the save with a strikeout.

 

The WSSU Rams will go for the three game sweep of the Saint Augustine's Falcons tomorrow, with a nine inning game scheduled for 3:00 PM.

 

Box Score

 

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Benches clear as Savannah State sweeps Bethune-Cookman in doubleheader

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Catcher Chris Biocic's pickoff throw to third base sailed into left field, allowing Savannah State's Lee Moore to score the go-ahead run Saturday as the Tigers completed a doubleheader sweep against Bethune-Cookman with a 3-2 victory at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The game was marred by a bench-clearing incident in the third inning that led to two Savannah State players and one B-CU player to be ejected.

In the first game, Tigers ace Kyle McGowin improved to 7-0 on the season as Savannah State ripped B-CU 14-4. The pro prospect scattered nine hits and struck out nine in eight innings without walking a batter.

 

“We knew they were going to throw a really good pitcher in the first game, and he did a good job,'' B-CU coach Jason Beverlin said. “We had some good swings early in the game, but we let it get away from us.''

 

The Wildcats fell to 13-16, 6-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They have already matched their MEAC loss total of last season, which was their most conference losses since 2005. The 'Cats had gone undefeated in the conference two years in a row (2010-11).

 

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FAMU looking to capitalize on Holmes and home slate

HEAD COACH EARL HOLMES
 

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Despite a 4-7 finish by the FAMU football team last season, marketing director Angie Suggs isn’t pulling her hair out as she tries to come up with a sales pitch to prospective sponsors.

Instead, she believes she has gotten a plum with the hire of Earl Holmes. His popularity has soared since he became head coach. On top of that, the Rattlers will play five of their 12 games this season at Bragg Stadium.

Suggs calls it a marketer’s dream. She believes the timing is perfect as FAMU pushes to recruit a younger generation of prospective season-ticket buyers. Most of the Rattlers’ current season-ticket holders have been doing so for as many as three decades or longer, she said.

That’s why Suggs is focusing on the 30-something alums.

The Holmes effect is priceless, she said, because it touches people on several levels. Holmes went from a small FAMU DRS to a walk-on who made the university’s team and later had a 10-year NFL career.

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TSU Ends First Week Of Practice With Scrimmage

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Tennessee State football ended the first week of spring practice on Saturday morning with a scrimmage at Hale Stadium.

One of the key position battles to watch during the spring heading into the fall is at running back with the departure of Trabis Ward. Two backs fighting for playing time are sophomore Telvin Hooks and freshman Adam Davenport. Hooks and Davenport talked to the media after the morning scrimmage.



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