Shorthanded UAPB Lions Fall in Opener to Arkansas State

JONESBORO, Arkansas  --   With several key players sidelined, including a handful of starters, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions went into battle against defending Sun Belt Conference champions Arkansas State a bit shorthanded. It made for a very long, hot night as UAPB fell 62-11 at Liberty Bank Stadium.

A-State running back Michael Gordon broke off a 91-yard touchdown run and the Red Wolves had four different rushers with over 100 yards.avid Oku led the Red Wolves with 124 yards and two touchdowns. Sirgregory Thornton had 112 yards and two touchdowns. Fredi Knighten also scored two touchdowns and finished with 101 yards. Gordon had just four carries, but ended with 102 yards for Arkansas State, which won its ninth consecutive game, dating back to the 2012 season.

The Red Wolves piled up 672 yards of total offense, 509 rushing. Meanwhile, the Golden Lions, who averaged close to 400 total yards in 2012. Was held to just 173 total yards.

"Arkansas State is a very good football team. They are well coached and they did a lot of good things out there," said UAPB head coach Monte Coleman. "We didn't execute like we did in practice. Even being without some of the guys we needed, we just didn't execute."



"We have to be ready and we didn't do it. We can't look over anybody. We can't under judge anybody and we can't expect folks to have pity on us because we don't have all of our guys playing. It's the game of football and when you're down, you kick'm and that's what they did."

"The thing we have to do is go back and rebuild. We have to play harder than what we really played in this particular ballgame," Coleman continued. "This is just one game. It's not the end of the season, it's not even a conference game. The thing we have to do is go back and play hard and practice hard getting for McNeese State."

Although much of the evening was a nightmare for the Golden Lions, there were some bright spots to build on. "We actually had some guys that actually played well. It didn't look like it, but we actually had some guys that played well," Coleman pointed out. "There were several guys that normally wouldn't have played a certain position played and played well."

"Julian Morgan came in, he's an undersized linebacker, we had to put him at the defensive end position and he actually played well. Morgan finished the evening with four tackles (3 solos), a tackle for loss and a forced fumble that was returned for the only touchdown of the night for UAPB.

The Lions also hit the road without a punter or placekicker, but Tyler Strickland stepped into that role well. "Tyler Strickland came in and kicked the ball extremely well," said Coleman. "He punted the ball well, he kicked the ball well, they didn't have an opportunity to get a return because he kicked the ball out of the endzone. Then he came in and bailed us out punting the football. Strickland averaged 41.6 yards on 10 punts with three over 50 yards. He also hit a 39-yard fieldgoal that banged in off of the uprights.

There was one more bright spot for the Golden Lions' head coach. Coach Coleman had an opportunity to speak with son Kyle leading up to Saturday's game. However, during the postgame, the two met on the field in a moment caught by the ESPN3 cameras. "I gave him a hug and a kiss, told him I love him and that I didn't have any money for him," Coleman said with a chuckle. "I told him that I hope he has a great season."

Next up: The Golden Lions head to Lake Charles, La. to face McNeese State at Cowboy Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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Jacksonville State 24, Alabama State 22: Hornets fall short again

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Two hard-fought games in ASU Stadium. Two games that would come down to a two-point conversion. Once again, the Hornets came up short.

Receiver Jarrett Neely’s pass for quarterback Daniel Duhart was short, and so was the Hornets’ comeback as Jacksonville State held on for a 24-22 win in the season opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.

“Last season, we had a play we believed in and this season it was a play we believed in when we went for two, we just weren’t able to complete it,” Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. “There have been some nail biters in this (stadium). Hopefully, we can change the fortunes on that.”

The Hornets would get one last chance, driving to a first down at the Jacksonville State 20-yard line with 1:32 remaining, but a delay-of-game penalty turned into another negative play when Duhart was slammed for a five-yard loss on a quarterback draw. On second down, his slant-in pass for Jamel Johnson turned into a Brenton Tolson interception that killed the rally.

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Photo Gallery: 1st half action Alabama State vs Jacksonville State
Photo Gallery: Second half action ASU vs Jax State

Alabama State notebook: Biggest plays recorded by ASU running back Cyrus

The biggest plays in Alabama State’s game with Jacksonville State were recorded not by heralded tailback Isaiah Crowell or quarterback Daniel Duhart, but by reserve tailback Malcolm Cyrus.

The Autaugaville native had just 38 yards rushing but was in the game in the fourth quarter because of an injury to Crowell and added 58 yards on punt returns.

His biggest play, a 54-yard reception for an apparent touchdown on a screen pass, was called back for a personal foul penalty of left tackle Matthew Bates, drawing a loud protest from head coach Reggie Barlow.

“They called a block in the back, I guess,” Cyrus said. “It really wasn’t a flag. It was really a bad call because we practice that play every day in practice.”

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Alabama State quick hits

Crowell injured again
Everyone wants the job as ASU offensive coordinator to figure out the best way to get 200 yards out of Isaiah Crowell every game. But Crowell, for the second straight season, couldn’t finish the season opener, complaining of an injured foot, then an injured knee as he spent the fourth quarter on the sideline.

WRs overcome slow start
The Hornet receivers had more than their fair share of drops in preseason practice and that trend continued into the game as Earl Lucas and Jamel Johnson each dropped catches that would have resulted in first downs. Those were the only two drops, however, as the receiver corps did their job in the final three quarters.

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No. 23 B-CU Cats Open Season with ESPN3 Broadcast

No. 20/23 Bethune-Cookman at Tennessee State
September 1, 2013  |  8 p.m. (ET)
Nashville, Tenn. | L.P. Field

TV:  ESPN | Watch ESPN3
Radio: WELE 1380 AM  | CatEye Network
Webcast:  WELE1380.com | CatEyeNetwork.tv
Twitter: @BCUGridIron
Instagram: /BCUathletics

Series: Bethune-Cookman trails, 1-6
Last Meeting:   Sept. 22, 2012. Tennessee State won, 21-14, in Daytona Beach.

Bethune-Cookman 0-0 (0-0 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Game Notes

The Game 
No. 23 Bethune-Cookman opens the 2013 season visiting Tennessee State for the John Merritt Classic at L.P. Field in Nashville, Tenn. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 at 8 p.m. (ET).

 

The Series
Tennessee State leads the all-time series against Bethune-Cookman by a 6-1 advantage. The Tigers claimed a hard-fought 21-14 decision a year ago in Daytona Beach, with both teams unable to connect on the scoreboard in the second half. B-CU’s only win came on the heels of a 16-13 victory Nov. 7, 1987, in Nashville. Saturday’s match up marks the first meeting between th two schools at L.P. Field.

The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ESPN3 with Kevin Ingram and Bob Belvin making the call. Also check out the game on WELE 1380 AM Radio with Joe LaBarbera (play-by-play) and Larry Wesley, as well as B-CU's CatEye Network.

The Coach
Head coach Brian Jenkins is in his fourth season as head coach of the Wildcats in Daytona Beach. He has an overall record of 27-8 with Bethune-Cookman.

 

The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Nashville - 93/73. Thunderstorms expected late in the day/early evening.

The Rankings - RPI/SOS
As of September 1, 2013: The Sports Network:  23 / Coaches: 20

The Notes
• Senior RB Isidore Jackson and Junior LB Jarkevis Fields were each named Preseason MEAC Players of the Year. Jackson was voted Co-Offensive POTY, while Field was Defensive POTY.
• The Cats were voted to repeat as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions, as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors.
• B-CU dropped a spot to No. 23 in The Sports Network poll during the preseason after ending the 2012 campaign No. 22.
• Saturday will mark the first season-opening game outside the state of Florida since 2004, when traveling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
• Jackson and SR DL LeBrandon Richardson are on the College Football Performance Award (CFPA) FCS National Player of the Year Trophy Watch List.
• Bethune-Cookman has scored 10 or more points in 18 straight games, the longest active streak in the MEAC of 10-plus points.
• The Wildcats have scored in double-figures in 34-of-35 games under head coach Brian Jenkins. The lone game without 10 or more points was a 22-3 setback at North Carolina A&T on Oct. 8, 2011.

#IKECANFIXIT
Senior running back Isidore Jackson is heading up the walls of the B-CU record books at a fast pace. He enters the season needing just 449 yards to put himself atop the all-time list for career rushing yards in B-CU history. Additionally, he needs just three touchdowns to match Jimmie Russell (2004-07) at fourth place all-time for career rushing scores in school history.

I DON’T MEAN TO PRY, BUT...
Offensive coordinator Jim Pry has several ties around the nation, not to mention with Vanderbilt. His son, Brent Pry, serves as Vanderbilt’s Assistant Head Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator. In addition, Franklin coached current Vandy head coach James Franklin while he was at East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania.

RETURN MEN
The 2013 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats return 50 letterwinners, including 13 players who were starters last season – six on offense and seven on defense. B-CU also welcomes back long snapper Andrew Ferris, after losing place kicker Sven Hurd and punter Kory Kowalski.

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29th Labor Day Classic Battle of the Bands: PVAMU vs. TSU

WATCH ALL IN 1080p HIGH DEFINITION, WIDE SCREEN

Prairie View beats TSU 37-13 in Labor Day Classic

HOUSTON, Texas  --  Though the rhythmic dance motions and renditions of popular music during the halftime battle of the bands attracts many to the Labor Day Classic, Prairie View A&M’s dominating performance may have stolen the show.

Prairie View defeated Texas Southern 37-13 before a crowd of 18,361 in the teams’ Southwestern Athletic Conference opener Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

“Anytime Prairie View can beats Texas Southern, it’s a good day for the university,” Prairie View coach Heishma Northern said. “It’s all about the effort that our guys played with.”



The rivalry game took so much out of Northern that he needed an IV after the game ended. The third-year coach can rest easy after pushing his record to 2-1 in the Labor Day Classic.

The game started with an offensive flourish — each team scored touchdowns on its opening drive.
TSU made big plays in the running game, while Prairie View drove down the field with its quick-passing attack.

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ASU Braves Express Edward Waters Back Home in 63-12 Victory

LORMAN, Mississippi  --  Senior Arnold Walker scored a single game career-high, three rushing touchdowns, as the Braves thump Edward Waters 63-12 in today's season opener at Spinks-Casem stadium.

It was all about the "Run Game" in the Braves victory this evening totaling 280 yards and 6 total touchdowns. Led by Walker's 75 yards and three scores, the Braves were able to pound the ball the entire game.

The Braves scored first on the only passing touchdown of the game when sophomore, John Gibbs, Jr. connected with senior wide receiver Tavoris Doss for a 28-yard touchdown giving the Braves a 7-0 lead.

Alcorn State Braves Arnold Walker Runs Over Edward Waters Tigers
Courtesy ASU Braves Athletics

But Edward Waters drove right back down the field on the Braves and kicked a field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.

The very next possession, Gibbs hit Zerick Rollins, Jr. on a 30-yard pass to put the Braves in scoring position. A few plays later Walker marched in for his first touchdown of the day extending Braves lead to 14-3.

A little over a minute later, Carrington Aloese recovered a fumble forced by Deion Roberson inside the Tigers 30 yard line giving the Braves a golden opportunity to extend their lead. Walker walked into the end zone for the second time in the game to give the Braves a 21-3 with 2:54 to play before the end of the first quarter. The Tigers came away with a 27-yard field goal before the first quarter ended making the score 21-6.

Gibbs found senior Felando Warr for an 18-yard pass across the middle of the field en route to Gibbs scoring on a 34-yard scamper increasing the Braves lead to 28-6.

Within the next 45 seconds the Braves were right back on offense after sophomore free safety intercepted a pass with 10:19 to play in the second quarter. Sophomore LaDarrien Davis snagged a 19-yard pass thrown by Gibbs to put the Braves in good position to put more points on the board. Anthony Williams III breezed through traffic to find himself in the end zone to boost the Braves lead to 35-6.

It was all about the defense from there for the Braves. Linebacker Jestin Williams intercepted a pass in traffic and took the ball down inside the Tigers territory. Walker once again would find his way to the end zone two plays later to make the score 42-6.

The defense wasn't done just yet. Junior Kenry Tolbert picked up a fumble and scored with .40 seconds to go into the half with a 40-point lead, 49-6.

Edward Waters struck first in the second half on a 31-yard field goal by Jerry Martin but Braves continued to hammer the ball when Anthony Williams III scored on a 17-yard run giving the Braves a 56-9.

Freshman quarterback Khadarel Hodge got into the action finding his way to his first career touchdown on three plays with 9:39 to play in the game.

The Braves defense forced 4 turnovers (2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries) against the Tigers in today's win. John Gibbs completed 75 percent of his passes going 15-20 for 184 yards and one touchdown. Freshman kicker Haiden McCraney set a freshman record for most made PATs in a game posting a perfect eight for eight.

Next up for the Braves is a trip to Starkville, Miss. to face the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Go Braves!!!

Box Score

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Tennessee State Tigers Defeat Southern Utah for First Win

Mobile, Alabama  –  The Tigers charged back in their final game of the Jaguar Invitational in Mobile, Ala. to earn their first win of the season. After dropping the first game to Southern Utah, Tennessee State won the next three to claim a 3-1 decision.

TSU (1-2) defeated SUU (0-3) by the scores of 24-26, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20.

Sherryce Butler and Naomi Wells led the way with 17 kills each, but it was Butler who sparked the Tigers with her .464 hitting percentage. The junior committed just four errors in 28 attempts. Erika Moss recorded 48 assists and added eight kills against one error in 14 attempts.

In game one, Taylor Swayzer tried to single handedly keep the Tigers close as she recorded five of her ten kills during the first half of the set. Her fifth kill brought TSU to within two points at 13-15. The Thunderbirds went on a four point run to put space between the two teams at 20-14, but the tigers would fight back to catch SUU at 24-24. Southern Utah would hold on and escape with a 26-24 win and take a 1-0 lead.

SUU used a .306 hitting percentage (12k-1e-36a) to pace the win. The Tigers committed ten errors opposed to 18 kills in 51 attempts for a .157 percentage.

The Tigers were trailing 14-12 in game two when they exploded with nine kills, two aces and a block to close out SUU with a 13-3 run. Wells started the winning stretch with a kill and an ace that fueled two kills each for Swayzer, Butler and Jordon Piper. Katie Burnett delivered her fourth ace of the weekend as Wells and Moss closed out the 25-17 win with kills.

With the score tied 11-11 in game three, the Tigers took charge of the game jumping out to a 22-18 lead. The Thunderbirds rattled off four straight points to tie the game back up at 22-22. Piper delivered her third kill of the match to regain the lead, while Wells and Swayzer scored kills to secure the 25-23 win.

In the fourth game, TSU enjoyed an 11-4 lead before SUU stormed back to within one point at 14-13. The Big Blue continued their balanced attack as four separate players earned kills and Moss teamed up with Shauntia Carr on a block to extend the lead to 21-15. The Thunderbirds could only get as close as three points at 22-19 before Butler would end the match with her 17th kill.

Wells was named to the all-tournament team after posting 44 kills averaging 4.00 kills per game. Wells finished the weekend with 32 digs and two aces.

The Tigers are off until they travel to Bloomington, Ind. for the University of Indiana Tournament on Sept. 13-14.

    TSU-Southern Utah Stats

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