DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Don't take their reactions to being named preseason All-MEAC as disingenuous. Ja-Quan Lumas and DeMarcus Womack are quite proud coaches thought highly enough of them to mention them among the conference's elite players.
For both former Orlando Jones High players, however, the preseason designations are simply signs of things to come as they get ready to start the season with Bethune-Cookman on Sunday. The Wildcats face Alcorn State in the SWAC/MEAC Challenge at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.
"It's all right, but you still gotta play football games, so all that doesn't really matter," said Lumas, a redshirt junior tight end who had nine catches for 143 yards and three touchdowns last season. "It feels good, but at the same time, at the end of the day, we still gotta line up and play ball."
The same is true for Womack, a senior defensive tackle who recorded 20 tackles, 1.5 tackls for a loss and half a sack last season. Womack has taken quite a journey to reach B-CU. He graduated from Jones in 2009, but a brush with the law and subsequent meandering through the judicial process put his college football goals on hold for a while.
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Friday, September 2, 2016
Boyd scores 3 TDs, UNLV Downs Jackson State 63-13
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Johnny Stanton was 10 of 12 for 217 yards and he threw three touchdown passes to Devonte Boyd to help UNLV beat Jackson State 63-13 on Thursday night.
It was the Rebels' first season-opening victory since 2009 when they beat Sacramento State.
On the third play from scrimmage, Boyd caught a pass over the middle and raced for a 56-yard touchdown. After Troy Hawthorne intercepted LaMontiez Ivy's pass on Jacksonville State's first offensive play, UNLV needed just two plays for Boyd to score from 32 yards out.
Jackson State answered with a 75-yard drive ending in a TD to pull to 14-7. But UNLV scored the next 28 points, including senior David Greene's first career TD, for a 42-10 lead at halftime.
Charles Williams ran for 96 yards and one touchdown, and Lexington Thomas added 68 yards and two TDs for UNLV (1-0). Boyd finished with 135 yards receiving.
Ivy threw for 134 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Jackson State (0-1).
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It was the Rebels' first season-opening victory since 2009 when they beat Sacramento State.
On the third play from scrimmage, Boyd caught a pass over the middle and raced for a 56-yard touchdown. After Troy Hawthorne intercepted LaMontiez Ivy's pass on Jacksonville State's first offensive play, UNLV needed just two plays for Boyd to score from 32 yards out.
Jackson State answered with a 75-yard drive ending in a TD to pull to 14-7. But UNLV scored the next 28 points, including senior David Greene's first career TD, for a 42-10 lead at halftime.
Charles Williams ran for 96 yards and one touchdown, and Lexington Thomas added 68 yards and two TDs for UNLV (1-0). Boyd finished with 135 yards receiving.
Ivy threw for 134 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Jackson State (0-1).
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| Photo Gallery | UNLV Postgame Quotes | Jackson State Postgame Quotes | UNLV Postgame Notes Final Stats | Photo Gallery Delaware Blue Hens Run Over Delaware State, 56-14, in Season Opener
NEWARK, Delaware -- Wes Hills made up for a lot of missed time Thursday night in the University of Delaware football team’s 2016 debut at Delaware Stadium.
Hills, determined to make his return a big one after sitting out all but the 2015 opener while recovering from a broken foot, did just that as the junior running back ran for 212 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on a 59-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, to lead the Blue Hens to a 56-14 victory over in-state rival Delaware State before an appreciative crowd of 17,835.
The Blue Hens piled up 487 yards of total offense, including 395 on the ground, and a dominating UD defense forced six turnovers and held the Hornets to just 184 total yards in the complete victory.
Delaware downed Delaware State for the seventh time without a loss in this in-state rivalry and in the process captured the 300th victory in the history of 65-year old Delaware Stadium.
“This first game back meant a lot to me,” said Hills, who posted his fifth career 100-yard rushing game and recorded the ninth highest single game rushing effort in Delaware history. “Coach (Dave) Brock and my team put a lot of faith in me and I had no choice but to go out there and give it my all. Being back feels great, being in front of the Delaware fans is an incredible feeling. Nothing beats it.”
The Blue Hens (1-0) drove 74 yards on their first drive and scored on a Jalen Randolph two-yard run just five minutes in to take a quick 7-0. They then promptly got the ball back when defensive end John Nassib intercepted a pass on Delaware State’s second play from scrimmage. Eleven plays later Delaware sophomore quarterback Joe Walker scored on a one-yard dive to push the lead to 14-0.
Delaware never looked back as Hills scored on runs of 13 and 59 yards to push the lead to 28-0 at the break, Randolph scored his second touchdown of the game five minutes into the second half, and Walker added a 25-yard scoring toss to Diante Cherry 24 seconds later to push the advantage to 42-0.
UD backup quarterback Blake Rankin added a 10-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Charles Scarff on the final play of the third quarter and sophomore linebacker Troy Reeder (above left), a Delaware native playing his first game for the Blue Hens after transfering from Penn State, put the cherry on top with a 13-yard interception return for a touchdown 12 second into the final stanza.
“I told the players before the game that I was going to relax and coach and they should go out and just have fun,” said Brock, who evened his four-year mark at Delaware to 18-18. “We have a close-knit group of guys who work hard with and for each other. You could sense that they were going to bring a lot of energy tonight. I am thrilled for them that they did that. The takeaways were fantastic, I thought we played smothering defense, ran the ball the way we want to run the football, and I think our passing game is going to be explosive. I’m excited about building on this and getting ready to go play Lafayette (next Saturday). Wes is a year older and a year stronger. The things he does for this team are contagious. He helps us win in so many more ways than what you see.”
Delaware sophomore Thomas Jefferson, the 2015 Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Rookie of the Year, added 70 yards rushing while Randolph, who missed all but the first three games of the 2015 season himself due to an injury, picked up 55 yards.
In addition to interceptions by Nassib and Reeder, junior linebacker Anthony Jackson picked off two passes. The Hens had just 12 combined interceptions over the last two seasons.
Delaware State (0-1), coming off a 1-10 season a year ago, managed just 35 yards rushing. Quarterback Daniel Epperson hit on 13 of 26 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted four times. Mason Rutherford caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
HEN SCRATCHINGS:
• Delaware’s 56 points were its most since a 59-56 five-overtime loss to Richmond in 2007 and the most on opening day since a 62-21 win over Lehigh in 1993
• The 395 yards rushing were the most by a Delaware team since gaining 443 against West Chester in 2000 and the 487 total yards were the most since a 500-yard effort against Rhode Island in 2013.
• Delaware forced six turnovers on four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. That matched the most takeaways for the Hens since forcing six against Southern Illinois in a 2003 NCAA Tournament first round win
• Delaware is now 300-100-4 all-time (.747 winning pct.) at Delaware Stadium since the facility opened in 1952
• Delaware travels to Lafayette next Saturday, Sept. 10, before a Sept. 17 meeting vs. Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest on Sept. 24. The Hens won’t return home until Oct. 8 vs. Maine
• Blue Hen freshman walk-on kicker Jake Roth had four touchbacks on kickoffs in his collegiate debut
• Delaware held a huge 22-minute advantage in time of possession
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Hills, determined to make his return a big one after sitting out all but the 2015 opener while recovering from a broken foot, did just that as the junior running back ran for 212 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on a 59-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, to lead the Blue Hens to a 56-14 victory over in-state rival Delaware State before an appreciative crowd of 17,835.
The Blue Hens piled up 487 yards of total offense, including 395 on the ground, and a dominating UD defense forced six turnovers and held the Hornets to just 184 total yards in the complete victory.
Delaware downed Delaware State for the seventh time without a loss in this in-state rivalry and in the process captured the 300th victory in the history of 65-year old Delaware Stadium.
“This first game back meant a lot to me,” said Hills, who posted his fifth career 100-yard rushing game and recorded the ninth highest single game rushing effort in Delaware history. “Coach (Dave) Brock and my team put a lot of faith in me and I had no choice but to go out there and give it my all. Being back feels great, being in front of the Delaware fans is an incredible feeling. Nothing beats it.”
The Blue Hens (1-0) drove 74 yards on their first drive and scored on a Jalen Randolph two-yard run just five minutes in to take a quick 7-0. They then promptly got the ball back when defensive end John Nassib intercepted a pass on Delaware State’s second play from scrimmage. Eleven plays later Delaware sophomore quarterback Joe Walker scored on a one-yard dive to push the lead to 14-0.
Delaware never looked back as Hills scored on runs of 13 and 59 yards to push the lead to 28-0 at the break, Randolph scored his second touchdown of the game five minutes into the second half, and Walker added a 25-yard scoring toss to Diante Cherry 24 seconds later to push the advantage to 42-0.
UD backup quarterback Blake Rankin added a 10-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Charles Scarff on the final play of the third quarter and sophomore linebacker Troy Reeder (above left), a Delaware native playing his first game for the Blue Hens after transfering from Penn State, put the cherry on top with a 13-yard interception return for a touchdown 12 second into the final stanza.
“I told the players before the game that I was going to relax and coach and they should go out and just have fun,” said Brock, who evened his four-year mark at Delaware to 18-18. “We have a close-knit group of guys who work hard with and for each other. You could sense that they were going to bring a lot of energy tonight. I am thrilled for them that they did that. The takeaways were fantastic, I thought we played smothering defense, ran the ball the way we want to run the football, and I think our passing game is going to be explosive. I’m excited about building on this and getting ready to go play Lafayette (next Saturday). Wes is a year older and a year stronger. The things he does for this team are contagious. He helps us win in so many more ways than what you see.”
Delaware sophomore Thomas Jefferson, the 2015 Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Rookie of the Year, added 70 yards rushing while Randolph, who missed all but the first three games of the 2015 season himself due to an injury, picked up 55 yards.
In addition to interceptions by Nassib and Reeder, junior linebacker Anthony Jackson picked off two passes. The Hens had just 12 combined interceptions over the last two seasons.
Delaware State (0-1), coming off a 1-10 season a year ago, managed just 35 yards rushing. Quarterback Daniel Epperson hit on 13 of 26 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted four times. Mason Rutherford caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
HEN SCRATCHINGS:
• Delaware’s 56 points were its most since a 59-56 five-overtime loss to Richmond in 2007 and the most on opening day since a 62-21 win over Lehigh in 1993
• The 395 yards rushing were the most by a Delaware team since gaining 443 against West Chester in 2000 and the 487 total yards were the most since a 500-yard effort against Rhode Island in 2013.
• Delaware forced six turnovers on four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. That matched the most takeaways for the Hens since forcing six against Southern Illinois in a 2003 NCAA Tournament first round win
• Delaware is now 300-100-4 all-time (.747 winning pct.) at Delaware Stadium since the facility opened in 1952
• Delaware travels to Lafayette next Saturday, Sept. 10, before a Sept. 17 meeting vs. Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest on Sept. 24. The Hens won’t return home until Oct. 8 vs. Maine
• Blue Hen freshman walk-on kicker Jake Roth had four touchbacks on kickoffs in his collegiate debut
• Delaware held a huge 22-minute advantage in time of possession
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Cheyney Wolves Capture "Battle of the First" and End Streak with 21-20 Victory
LINCOLN, Pennsylvania – Jr. QB Dominick Trautz connected on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jr. Marcus Lyles in the first overtime, and Jr. Brendyn Van Demark converted the score to give Cheyney University a seven-point lead. The game was then in hands of a defense that dominated through most of the game, and when Marvin Easter III knocked down a pass in the endzone on a two-point conversion, the Cheyney Wolves ended a 43-game winless drought with a 21-20 victory in overtiThe Wolves held a 21-14 lead in the first overtime when Lincoln quarterback Khari Nquzi connected on a nine-yard td pass to Larquise Hobbs, on fourth and goal from the 9, to extend the game for one more play. With an injured place-kicker, the Lions, who did not attempt a kick during the game, went for the win on the two point-conversion, but Easter III broke up the pass and CU players and fans stormed the field in celebration.
The last Cheyney victory also came on September 1, in 2012 a 34-21 win at Lincoln.
The Wolves got off to a fast start, after forcing a three and out from Lincoln on the opening possession of the game, Cheyney was able to begin its opening drive of the season at the Lions 34 yard line following an 8-yard punt. The Wolves took just six plays to take advantage of the field position and put up the first score of the season on a 6-yard dash to the corner from Brandon French.
Cheyney forced another punt and looked poised to extend it lead, when it marched deep into Lions territory, but the Wolves, could not convert a fourth and five at the Lincoln 20, and turned the ball over on downs.
Once again the defense stepped up and forced a quick punt. With a drive start at the Lincoln 42, the Wolves faced a third and two at the Lions 34 when R-Fr. James Madlock III, who led Cheyney with 92 yards rushing on 15 carries, electrified the crowd with a dazzling tackle-breaking, ankle-breaking run to put the Wolves ahead 14-0 and what looked like on their way to an easy victory.
The Lions had other thoughts, a 59-yard punt return set up Lincoln at the Cheyney 15 and three plays later All-CIAA running back Stephen Scott went in from the two. The Wolves, All-PSAC defensive end Joseph Bryant then stopped Scott on the two-point rush to keep it at a 14-6 Cheyney advantage..
Nzquzi then rumbled in from six-yards out, on the final play of the first half, and converted the two-point-attempt with a completion to Andre Price and the game was tied at 14-14 at the break.
Despite having the ball for over eight minutes on a 16-play opening drive, and for all but six plays in the third quarter, the Wolves could not put any points on the board and the contest remained deadlocked late into the fourth quarter.
It appeared that Cheyney was destined to fall in heart breaking fashion when William Reyes grabbed his second interception of the game off a tipped pass and was heading down the sideline for what looked like the deciding score, but great hustle by the Wolves and a penalty on the Lions gave Lincoln the ball at the Cheyney 29- yard line with 1:11 to play.
Lincoln converted a third and short to move the ball inside the Cheyney 20, but a bad snap on first down set the Lions back and led to overtime.
The Wolves had the first opportunity from the 25, but could not move the ball on the first three plays and face a fourth and 10 from the 25, when Trautz was able to find a seam in the Lions defense and scramble for twelve yards and a first down. Three plays later he put the Wolves ahead to stay with the TD pass to Lyles.
Madlock III rushed for a team-best 92 yards and a score on just 15 carries for a 6.1 yards per carry average, French powered his way to 73 yards and a score, Lyles led the receiving core with four catches for 48 yards and the winning TD reception, Nigel Wiley added 44 yards on three catches and Trautz threw for 108 yard,s a score and 2 int's.
Scott led all runners with 108 yards, but it took him 31 carries, he also had a team-high 48 yards on four reception.
Brendyn Van Demark was three-for-three on the all-important extra points in the contest.
Jr. Keyson Dingle led the Wolves with 10 tackles, Easter III added nine tackles a fourth quarter interception in the endzone and two pass break-ups. Jr. Jamiel Hines and Fr. Michai Beal recorded six stops each, Bryant added five tackles including a forced fumble and stuffing Scott on a fourth down play and a two-point conversion attempt and R-So. Jordan Richardson also made five stops for the Wolves.
The Wolves are next in action at O'Shields-Stevenson Stadium for the home opener on Saturday, September 10 for a 1:00 PM kick-off against PSAC West opponent California (Pa).
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2016 Lincoln Football Media Guide Now Online!
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- The 2016 Lincoln Football Media Guide, available by clicking on the below link, can now be viewed online.
This 104-page guide contains an enhanced opponent section, more detailed statistical information and even more history than all previous LU guides. This publication also is filled with photos of this year's players and position units and provides information on how the Blue Tigers did in GLVC play last year as well as a previews of the upcoming season.
All information is accurate as of Sept. 1, 2016.
Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
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Thursday, September 1, 2016
He's back ... just in time: Southern DB Bryan Anderson will be in uniform for opener
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern defensive back Bryan Anderson hasn’t played in a real football game since the Jaguars went to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2013.That drought ends Saturday.
Anderson, who originally expected to miss Southern’s season opener at Louisiana-Monroe because of a knee injury, made a surprise recovery and was back on the field this week for practice.
“It feels good to be back out there knowing my knee is 100 percent,” Anderson said. “My job is to get everyone hyped up and amped up. It just feels good to be back with my knee feeling straight.”
Southern coach Dawson Odums said Anderson will not claim the starting spot against the Warhawks after missing the majority of preseason camp, but the junior will play about 15-20 plays.
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DL transfers help beef up Grambling's defense
GRAMBLING, Louisiana — As a graduate transfer with four years of college experience under his belt, Monroe native Blain Winston wasn't looking to rack up statistics during his final year of football. He just wanted to add another ring to his collection.That's what the Richwood product plans on doing in 2016 at Grambling after transferring from UL Lafayette. Winston, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive tackle, is one of two transfers the Tigers brought in to beef up the line this year.
"I've never been this welcomed before in my life. It's like one big family here at Grambling," said Winston, who is reuniting with high school teammates Martez Carter and Trey Goins. "My whole goal with (defensive coordinator coach Everett) Todd was to come in and try and help them. I knew they already had a good d-line. I just wanted to help them get better."
Grambling lost four key linemen from 2015 — Jamison Goins, Michael Jolivet, Larry Stalling and Jevonta Williams. Collectively, they totaled 11 of the 38 sacks recorded. The Tigers have Samuel Reese, who notched three sacks last year, Donovan McCray and Deangelo Butler-Gaston return on the outside.
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