Virginia State opens on the road at Lenoir-Rhyne University

COACH REGGIE BARLOW

ETTRICK , Virginia -- Coach Reggie Barlow had the good fortune in 1999 to play on a Jacksonville Jaguars squad that showcased two of NFL’s elite ball carriers — Fred Taylor and James Stewart.

Now in his first season coaching football at Virginia State University, Coach Barlow sees a similar situation, relative to competition, with his own Kavon Bellamy and Trenton Cannon.

“I’ve been blessed,” said Coach Barlow whose Trojans open Saturday, Sept. 3, at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

“In Jacksonville, they called Fred ‘Thunder’ and James ‘Lightning.’ I hate to put the pressure on them, but with us, Kavon is ‘Thunder’ and Trenton is ‘Lightning.’ ”

In 1999, Jacksonville posted a 14-2 regular season record, with Taylor and Stewart combining for nearly 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Coach Barlow was a receiver for the Jaguars that season under Coach Tom Coughlin.

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S.C. State football speeding up defensive sets for Central Florida opener

ORLANDO, Florida -- South Carolina State football has only faced Central Florida once -- a 17-0 win by the Knights in Orlando in 2008.

But when the two teams take the field to open their respective seasons this Saturday at 7 p.m. in Orlando (ESPN3), unknowns will abound on both sides of the ball.

The Bulldogs will be looking to see how they play without a graduating class from 2015 that included four players (two on offense and two on defense) currently on NFL rosters.

The Knights will be playing their first game under head coach Scott Frost, a former Nebraska and NFL quarterback who previously worked as offensive coordinator for the Oregon Ducks.

Fans of both teams surely have more questions than answers about how their 2016 squads will look and perform going into this game.

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from THE EDITOR Dwight Floyd: FAMU @ NC A&T State Football Game Nine Preseason Pick

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- It is not that the Aggies are that much better than the Rattlers. On any given day the NCAT Aggies can be beaten.

This will be their homecoming though and they have a stable program under a good coaching staff that has been around for a little while. A loss by the Rattlers will feel like a set-back after a string of victories.

This game will tell the Rattlers how far they have come.

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Morgan State @ FAMU Football Game Ten Preseason Pick

The last two seasons the Morgan State Bears started the season off strong, but didn’t finish the season as strong. They did dominate the Rattlers though in a low scoring affair. They did it in the air and on the ground. 

This will be a tough game for FAMU after a loss to the NCAT Aggies and the coaches will do all they can to ensure the Rattlers are prepared. The crowd will be screaming “defense, defense.” Though FAMU will play Bethune the following week, they won’t be looking ahead. At this point it will be about execution and about heart. 

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FAMU vs Bethune Cookman Football Game Eleven Preseason Pick

It use to be a big deal when the Wildcats beat the Rattlers. Not anymore. This game truly is a rivalry.

The Bethune Cookman Wildcats have won close contests against FAMU the last two years. In 2016 the Rattlers will have the talent level to not only compete, but win. Because it is a rivalry I won’t say why FAMU has the edge.

At half time the Marching 100 will win if you are a Rattler and the Wildcats will win if you are a Wildcat. This will be a dog fight. The Wildcat’s “Let’s Go Wildcats” even seduces Rattler fans. Still, I’ll give the Rattlers the edge for musicianship and having the number one announcer in Joe Bullard.

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XULA's Phillips repeats as GCAC Setter of the Week

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball freshman Tiffany Phillips has won her second consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Setter of the Week honor.
     
Phillips, from Gardena, Calif., and a graduate of Bishop Montgomery High School, averaged 7.93 assists and 2.29 digs per set in four matches during the STU Invitational at Miami Gardens, Fla., this past week. On the tournament's first day she extended to six her school record of consecutive matches with an assist/dig double-double. The streak ended Saturday, one less than the school record for all-type double-doubles.
     
Phillips also produced four kills, four aces and two blocks.
     
Phillips leads the GCAC with 8.03 assists per set and ranks 12th with 2.77 digs per set.
     
The Gold Nuggets (2-8) will play Friday at 11 a.m. against Pikeville (5-1) and 5 p.m. against William Carey (0-3) in the second annual Big Easy Blastoff at XULA's Convocation Center. There will be five matches on the first day, beginning with Southwest (N.M.) (3-1) against SUNO (0-3) at 9 a.m.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Jackson State Sonic Boom Win Over Las Vegas

Perry sets XULA record, but Nuggets drop 2 at home

2016 ROSTER

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana freshman Amanda Perry set a school record Friday, but the Gold Nuggets lost both matches in their Big Easy Blastoff at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets lost 29-27, 25-21, 25-17 to Pikeville, then lost 25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21 to William Carey. The matches were XULA's first at home this season.

There will be four more matches Saturday in the five-team, two-day event. XULA will play Southwest (N.M.) at 11 a.m.

Perry produced 12 digs against Pikeville and 15 digs against William Carey to establish a XULA record of 11 consecutive matches in double figures. Perry began the day sharing the record with Jodi Chatters, who had 10-or-more digs in nine straight matches in 2012.

Leading XULA (2-10) in kills were Juliana Tomasoni with 12 against Pikeville and Hasani Salaam with 14 against William Carey. Terri Drake had eight kills in each match, and Tomasoni had 20 digs against William Carey.

William Carey, a first-year program, and Southwest (N.M.) both went 2-0. The Lady Crusaders defeated SUNO 25-18, 19-25, 25-20, 25-19, and Southwest beat SUNO 25-11, 25-13, 25-13 and Pikeville 13-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-16.

Pikeville will play Saturday against William Carey at 9 a.m. and SUNO at 1 p.m. In the last tournament match, Southwest will play William Carey at 3 p.m.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush run to 6th place in opener at Mississippi College

CLINTON, Mississippi -- Xavier University of Louisiana's men's cross country team began its 2016 season with a sixth-place finish out of 11 teams Friday in the Mississippi College Season Opener at Choctaw Trails.

The Gold Rush scored 186 points and finished ahead of two NCAA Division I schools, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State. It was the first time since the 2014 LSU Invitational that the XULA men beat an NCAA DI opponent.

Senior Christopher August was XULA's fastest runner for the sixth consecutive meet dating to the 2015 opener. He ran 5,000 meters in 17 minutes, 59.58 seconds to place 24th out of 74 runners.

The other Gold Rush finishers were Clydarius Everett, 31st in 18:32.81; Oji Wells, 37th in 18:54.31; Darrick Williams, 57th in 21:15.80; and Ammiel Williams, 61st in 21:27.59. It was the first collegiate cross country meet for Everett, Wells and Ammiel Williams.

Spring Hill's David Toups was first in 16:24.44. Mississippi College won the team scoring with 23 points. Xavier placed second out of six HBCU teams.

XULA's women did not compete. Both the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will compete next Saturday (Sept.10) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Festival at Lafreniere Park in suburban Metairie, La. The men's 5K will start at 7:50 a.m., followed by the women's 5K at 8:25. Loyola (N.O.) is the meet host.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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