Jackson State Volleyball defeats ASU to clinch SWAC Title

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL WINS ITS THIRD CONFERENCE
 TITLE IN FIVE YEARS BY DEFEATING DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
 ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Jackson State won the 2015 SWAC Volleyball Tournament Championship with a 3-1 (25-14, 17-25, 25-23, 25-13) win over defending champion Alabama State at the Clifford Seymour Gymnasium Sunday.

It is the third title in five years for the Tigers (15-21), and the first since 2012.

In a battle of the top two seeds in the SWAC Eastern Division, it was the top-seeded Tigers that roared out of the gate with a 13-3 start to the match. Alabama State (21-15) never mounted a consistent offensive response – the Hornets committed nine errors as opposed to seven kills in the period – as the Tigers cruised to an opening-set triumph.

The roles switched in set two, as the Hornets opened things up on a 9-3 scoring run.  Despite spurts of offense from Jackson State, 11 errors in the set derailed any attempt at a sustained comeback, and the quick start was enough to fuel Alabama State through the frame.

A back-and-forth third started to lean in favor of the Tigers when they earned the advantage with six straight points to snap a 9-9 tie. Jackson State looked poised to wrap up the period, but Alabama State reeled off four straight points to cut JSU’s lead to 19-17. The Tigers halted the rally with one of their own but held off a late ASU charge to claim the set.

In the fourth set, the Tigers broke a 6-6 game open with a 13-4 run that ultimately powered the Tigers to the title.

The Tigers were led by Taija Thomas, who notched 14 kills and three digs. Tournament MVP Mikayla Rolle added 13 kills, three blocks and two service aces. Alexsis Ford picked up 13 putaways as well, and Jenna Siddiqui accounted for 11 kills, 31 assists and six digs.

Alabama State's Myla Marshall picked up 14 kills and six blocks. Kori Kutsch put up 24 helpers and five digs. Rachel Smith had eight kills.

Jackson State clinches an automatic berth in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, and will find out its opening-round opponent during the tournament selection show, which will be Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.

    Championship Box Score
    Lady Tigers Stats

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N.C. A&T wins tiebreaker, will represent MEAC in inaugural Celebration Bowl

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — N.C. A&T will play in the inaugural Celebration Bowl next month in Atlanta.

A&T (9-2, 7-1 MEAC) lost its regular-season finale Saturday afternoon, snapping an eight-game winning streak. But the Aggies, who will share the league title for the second consecutive season, won tiebreakers with Bethune-Cookman and N.C. Central to claim the MEAC’s berth in the bowl game.

The Celebration Bowl matches the champions of the MEAC and SWAC in a game at noon Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome. The bowl game will be shown live nationally on ABC.

“That’s why we do this: to have an opportunity to play,” A&T coach Rod Broadway said in the moments after Saturday’s 21-16 loss to Central. “To have an opportunity to go to the bowl game, even if it’s not under the circumstances we would have chosen, but, hey, it is what it is. … We’re going.”

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Tuskegee Golden Tigers win first playoff game in school history, advances to play UNA

SALISBURY, N.C. -- The third time is the charm.

For two consecutive years, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers have been on the step of making history by winning their first round playoff game, only to fall short by a couple of plays in both games.

After months of preparation through the spring and summer, the Golden Tigers made their dream a reality as they defeated third-seeded Catawba College 26-16 on the road Saturday afternoon.

The win marked the first-ever playoff victory for Tuskegee and propelled the Golden Tigers into the Round of 16 to face a familiar foe in the University of North Alabama next weekend.

"We are excited," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said. "We have been telling them all year this is a great opportunity because we are considered to be one of the top 28 teams in the country. They listened to us, and we are excited to make it past the first round.'

The game time will be announced next week for the game in Florence.

The celebrating started early on the Tuskegee (9-2) sideline when they took the opening drive down the field in just 3:40 on their opening drive. The Golden Tigers took seven plays to go 72 yards, and the drive culminated in a 39-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Ramzy from quarterback Kevin Lacey.

"We were very fortunate to have some big plays," Slater said. "We felt like if they did some things then we had a chance."

The touchdown was one of two for Lacey, who finished the day 10-for-18 passing for 219 yards.

The Golden Tigers struck again just nine minutes later when Jerome Lewis punched it in from two yards out with 3:59 to play in the quarter. The drive was highlighted by a 25-yard pass from Lacey to Hawkins to set up the touchdown run.

"We had a great plan," Lacey said. "When you stick to the game plan it works, you just have to execute. Coach (Slater) is a great coach and makes the right call, and sometimes I get away from that and he lets me know. I know now that you have to execute the plays that are called, and things will happen the right way."

Catawba was able to get on the board in the third quarter, trimming the lead to a touchdown, but the Golden Tigers came right back down the field using four plays and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Lacey to Leo Gilbert to extend the lead to 20-7.

After Catawba scored again to cut the lead to one possession, Jewell Ratliff made the biggest play of the game.

Ratliff stepped in front of a pass from Catawba quarterback Mike Sheehan, and did what every defender for the Golden Tigers do when they intercept a pass – look for the end zone.

"They were running a play we saw the whole game," Ratliff said. "I was getting out of position some, and locked my eyes and stayed in position and made the pick."

The senior linebacker went down the left sideline, before cutting to make an offensive lineman miss, and found the end zone for the third time this season with 7:27 left and the celebration hit a new level.

"I took the run back to my ninth grade," said a cheerful Ratliff.

Even a Catawba touchdown with six minutes left could not curb the celebration as the team and fans watch the clock in anticipation of hitting zero and marking history for the Tuskegee University football team.

As the clock went under a minute, Slater and defensive coordinator Joseph Carter felt the jubilation of the players as they had water dumped on them and got the celebration really started.

"It felt good because it is our first playoff win," Carter said. "Our kids have gone through a lot this season, and with that heartbreaking loss two weeks ago, it felt good to watch them have some success."

Senior Dennis Norfleet finished with 102 yards on 18 carries, leading the rushing attack that gained 171 yards on the day. Hawkins finished with three catches for 67 yards, while Norfleet had a pair of catches (32 yards) and Devozea Gaines had a pair of catches (24 yards).

Defensively, Osband Thompson finished with 13 tackles to lead the Golden Tigers. Ratliff finished with 10, while the team finished with eight tackles for loss and forced two turnovers.

Tuskegee now turns it attention to North Alabama next weekend.

"This was a big win for us," Slater said. "It is our f

irst playoff win, and now we have to focus on the next win. The next one is the most important one, we just have to get back to work. I have seen some strange things happen in the playoffs."

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on Twitter @MyTUAthletics and like us on Facebook.

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Bethune-Cookman, MEAC snubbed by FCS playoff committee

NCAA FCS PLAYOFF BRACKET: Interactive | Printable

ORLANDO, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman and its fellow MEAC co-champions were all shut out of the 2015 Football Championship Subdivision playoffs when the 24-team field was announced Sunday.

Following B-CU's 35-14 victory over rival Florida A&M in the Florida Classic on Saturday, the Wildcats figured they had a pretty good shot of making the field for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

After Saturday's game, first-year B-CU head coach Terry Sims said, "We're one of the top 24 teams. It's that simple. We score points on offense and we stop teams on defense. We have mistakes that happen in a game, but we have a determined team that won't quit."

The victory earned them a share of the MEAC championship with co-champs North Carolina A&T (9-2) and North Carolina Central (8-3), and the Wildcats ended the regular season with a 9-2 record.

In stark contrast to the MEAC's shutout from the postseason were the multiple entries from the Missouri Valley (five teams: North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois), Colonial (four teams: James Madison, Richmond, William & Mary and New Hampshire) and Big Sky (three teams: Southern Utah, Portland State, Montana) conferences.

Western Illinois, with five losses, was the final team selected to the field and it was a big head-scratcher given the records of some other teams left out.

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Rainy weather can't disappoint as largest crowd since 2011 shows up for Florida Classic

ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN
VIDEOGRAPHER: ShowtimeWeb

ORLANDO, Florida -- More than 1.7 million fans have taken part in the Florida Classic during its 90-year history.

The neutral-site game, which features a matchup between two Historically Black Colleges and Universities, has been a part of the college football landscape since 1925. The game has been played at Daytona International Speedway and Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, but it moved to the Citrus Bowl in 1997.

FAMU/B-CU PHOTO GALLERY

This year's game featured an announced crowd of 45,728 fans despite a dreary day in Central Florida. It was the largest announced crowd since 2011 (60,218) and a good 4,000 fans more than last year's tally of 41,126. That game was the first one played in the Citrus Bowl while it was going through $207 million worth of renovations.

Rain showers moved into the area just after kickoff and quickly transformed into a downpour in the middle of the second quarter, sending spectators searching for cover on the concourse at the Citrus Bowl. Many of those fans returned to their seats by halftime to catch the impressive band performances.


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Bethune-Cookman quarterback Quentin Williams earned Most Valuable Player honors for the winning team following his performance Saturday night. Running back Devin Bowers earned MVP honors in a losing effort for Florida A&M. 

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President Rome attempting to turn around Lincoln athletics

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- Kevin Rome sat in his office Wednesday afternoon sporting a suit, a bow tie and a grin from ear to ear. The walls that surrounded the president of Lincoln University were nearly bare. Boxes were being moved out of the Young Hall offices.

The boxes were headed for next-door Memorial Hall, temporary home of the office of the president while Young Hall gets a facelift.

Despite the change occurring around him, Rome was relaxed and excited to discuss the future of Lincoln athletics.

Few would envy his task of reviving a depleted athletic department. But Rome has been the president of Lincoln since January 2013, and he has embraced the challenge.

His end goal is clear: success within the athletic department across the board.

“I want to win,” Rome said. “But I want to win the right way. More than anything, we want to see our student-athletes win.”

How quick can that happen? Only time will tell. But the university is implementing certain things to make progress.

Take the Blue Tiger Athletics Club, for example. The restructured club — formerly known as the Blue Tigers Quarterbacks Club — was designed to create a means for alumni, community leaders and corporate sponsors to contribute to all Lincoln sports programs.

“You have to invest in a program,” Rome said. “Any program out there that’s winning is because people are investing in the program. It’s financial, it’s emotional, it’s fan base, it’s all those things that creates a winning program.”

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Chicago State Claim 81-70 Win Over Trinity International on Homecoming

CHICAGO, Illinois --  Kieran Woods (Chicago, Ill./Crane) scored 19 points and added six boards and six steals to help lead Chicago State to an 81-69 win over NAIA Trinity International University on Saturday in their homecoming game at the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center.

Trayvon Palmer (Milwaukee, Wis./Brown Deer) finished with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end, and Fred Sims Jr. had 13 points for Chicago State (3-1).

The Cougars shot just 38.2 percent from the field but they got to the free throw line 21 times, pulled down 23 offensive rebounds, and forced 24 Trinity International turnovers.

The game was tied at 32 at the break, but Chicago State opened the second half on a 17-5 run, capped by a Jawad Adekoya (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) 3-point play which opened up a 49-37 lead.

Grant Corsi's 3 for the Trojans trimmed the lead back to 6 points (51-45) with 14:34 left, but they got no closer.

Corsi had 26 points for Trinity International.

CSU heads to downstate Springfield on Monday night to take on Illinois in the second game of the 2015 Emerald Coast Classic. The game will be streamed live on ESPN 3 from the Prairie Capital Convention Center with a start time of 7 p.m.

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