Florida A&M Rattlers Golf Wins Two Tourneys In Four Days

VALDOSTA, Georgia – The Florida A&M golf team made it a clean sweep for the weekend, as they took first place in the Thomas University Invitational Golf Tournament, making it the second victory in four day for the Rattlers, here at the Kinderlou Golf Course and Country Club.

The pristine course, which annually hosts a Web.com tour event, was a challenge for all golfers, but ideal weather on the final day made way for good scoring conditions. Jonathan Ortiz, Justin Stills and Chase Burkhalter all turned in one-under-par scores of 71 to pace the Rattlers on the final day. Kevin Parker would turn in the low round of the tournament with a score of 69, three-under-par, for the Rattlers on Monday.



Head golf coach Marvin Green was pleased with what he saw out of his team. "This team has shown that it can win in whatever manner it needs to. It's easy to win a blowout, but this team has proven that they can do whatever they need to do to win. I did not expect them to gel this early in the season, but apparently they have, and have the ability to have a total team effort," Green said.

This season will mark the first time that golf is an official MEAC sport, with a championship and ranking at the end of the season. The Rattlers will travel to San Destin, Fla., for the University of North Alabama tournament this weekend.

Individual scores were as follows:

Jonathan Ortiz: 74-71, 145

Justin Stills: 74-71, 145

Kevin Parker: 69-82, 151

Chase Burkhalter: 73-71, 144

Dominick Vennare: 80-76, 156

Team total: 579

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Notes: Johnson thriving as starting QB



RUDY JOHNSON

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Somebody asked Coach Connell Maynor who his starting quarterback will be on Saturday against Bowie State, but it’s been obvious for a while that Rudy Johnson, who is 3-0 as a starter after taking over from Anthony Carrothers, is the main guy.

Maynor, however, was diplomatic when the question was asked.

"Rudy is the starter, of course, and he had four touchdown passes in the first half and I pulled him and played Anthony and DeShean Townsend in the second half. Overall, we had seven passing touchdowns so that’s good production from all three.”

In his three starts, Johnson has completed 39 of 60 passes for 626 yards and seven touchdowns; he’s been intercepted once.

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Safety Proctor finally finds some playing time for WSSU

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- It’s no secret that Winston-Salem State seeks Division I players looking for changes of scenery. But when they arrive, there aren’t starting spots just waiting for them.

Safety Everett Proctor is one example. He started his career at N.C. State, transferred to WSSU before the 2011 season and is just now getting playing time.

“I had to wait for my chance around here, but I’m glad things are finally working out,” said Proctor, who had an interception return for a touchdown last week in a rout of Virginia Union.

Proctor, 23, was a star quarterback at Fayetteville Britt High School and was good enough to attract N.C. State’s attention in 2009. He signed as a quarterback, was moved to defensive back for a short time and then was moved again to wide receiver.

But he never found his footing and left N.C. State after playing one season for former coach Tom O’Brien.

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Preview: N.C. Central vs. Howard

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- Spoken 4 Communications previews matchup No. 18 between North Carolina Central and Howard as the maroon and gray begin their journey towards a MEAC title.

Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks chats with head coach Dwayne Foster to talk about the contest against the Bison as October football is upon us.  Tune in at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon for the Denny's of Durham Pregame Show to get revved up for this weekend's conference tilt.



COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FSU loss not withstanding, B-CU on a roll heading into MEAC slate

HEAD COACH BRIAN JENKINS

DAYTON BEACH, Florida  -- It’s time again for Bethune-Cookman to put its guarantee money in the vault and the target on its back.

The “preseason’’ is over.

 

The Wildcats begin their eight-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference slate Saturday at Delaware State, a stretch that will run through the end of the season and decide whether they will return to the postseason for a third time in four years.

 

B-CU won the MEAC title last year with a perfect 8-0 mark, and it has a 13-game conference winning streak, dating back to 2011.

 

B-CU (3-1) is an overwhelming favorite to defend the title. The ’Cats are ranked 21st in the The Sports Network’s FCS poll and are the consensus No. 1 team among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). They are one of just three MEAC teams with a winning record through the first third of the season.

 

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TSU Tigers Ranked No. 21 in Gridiron Performance Index

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee State football team ranked No. 21 in the first week of the Gridiron Power Index (GPI), the index ranking for the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and a top indicator of at-large playoff selection.

The Tigers scored a 22.29 rating in the index with a perfect score being 1.0.

Big Blue is 4-1 this season and has won its last four games by a combined score of 167-50. Last week, TSU defeated Central State, 73-6.

The Tennessee State held CSU to just 180 yards of total offense and is ranked third in the nation in the category (252.8 yards per game). The unit also ranks in the top ten in the FCS in passing defense (4th), passing efficiency defense (2nd), scoring defense (4th) and takeaways (7th).

The Ohio Valley Conference also received high marks, as the league placed fourth in the conference rankings with a score of 36.19.

Eastern Illinois was ranked No. 4 with a GPI of 4.00 while UT Martin placed 16^th with a mark of 18.14.

TSU will put its No. 21 ranked GPI and its four-game winning streak on the line this Saturday when the squad hosts Southeast Missouri at LP Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Rank School (No. of #1 Ratings) (Rating)
1. N Dakota St (6) (1.00)
2. Northern Iowa (1) (2.57)
3. Towson (3.29)
4. E Illinois (4.00)
5. Sam Houston St (5.57)
6. Coastal Carolina (9.71)
7. E Washington (10.71)
8. Maine (12.57)
9T. Bethune-Cookman (13.86)
9T. Fordham (13.86)
9T. McNeese St (13.86)
12. Villanova (14.00)
13. S Dakota St (16.00)
14. Northern Arizona (16.71)
15. Southern Utah (17.71)
16. TN Martin (18.14)
17. Cent Arkansas (18.71)
18. William & Mary (19.29)
19. Ga Southern (20.14)
20. Youngstown St (20.29)
21. Tennessee St (22.29)
22. Old Dominion (23.57)
23. SE Louisiana (24.14)
24. Montana St (24.57)
25T. Cal Poly (25.43)
25T. Wofford (25.43)

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MIAA Football: Emporia State at Lincoln (Mo.)

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  --  #24 Emporia State hits the road in week number five looking to stay unbeaten with a trip to Lincoln. For the Hornets Brent Wilson is averaging 383 yards per game passing with 19 touchdowns and he also has two on the ground.

Receiving Austin Willis is averaging 175 yards per game with eight touchdowns and Ray Ray Davis is averaging 96 yards per game with seven scores. Defensively Tariq Allen and Deshawn Dinwiddie each have 30 tackles and Chris Poston and Gary Fortune each have two interceptions.

For the Blue Tigers Morris Henderson is averaging115 yards per game rushing with six touchdowns. Jacob Morris is averaging 251yards per game through the air with five touchdowns. Kendrick Causey is leading the defense with 42 tackles and Brian Smith has forced two fumbles.

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