SWAC preview: Alabama State Hornets

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY

1. ‘Main course’: Alabama State head coach Brian Jenkins said he’s tired of just being in the mix for a conference title. The Hornets finished 4-7 last season, posting their first losing mark since 2009. This season, the Hornets were picked to finish second in the SWAC East behind Alcorn State. “It’s time for us to be in the main course,” Jenkins said. “The East is tough, just like the West. There’s a lot of parody in the league, but I think that’s a good thing. That means that if we’re the last team standing, we’ve earned the right to be called (SWAC) champion.” ASU hasn’t earned that distinction since 2004 and hasn’t reached the SWAC title game since 2011.

2. Next man up? Alabama State has rushed for over 2,000 yards in each of the last four seasons. Last year, the Hornets were once again tops in the SWAC with 220.5 rushing yards per game. Hornets junior Alex Anderson has been plagued by injuries throughout this career, but Jenkins said Anderson is finally healthy enough to carry the load. “Alex has come in 10-12 pounds heavier," Jenkins said. "Last year, he tried to play through some injuries. This year, he has a better understanding of the offense. With the added weight and his health, we expect some big things from him."

3. Defensive reload: ASU has a new defensive coordinator in ...

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Hampton hopes to continue MEAC upswing with swarming defense

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Brendan Cole and Steven Smith are determined to end their Hampton careers by keeping the Pirates on an upward trend.

Following a string of losing seasons, both overall and in the MEAC, Hampton finished 5-3 in conference the past two years.

“We took a big step last year in leadership,” said Cole, a safety and grad student. “The year before we had our first winning season in about three years, so we built off that. Now we’re trying to take that next step, which is just togetherness.”

The defense, which ranked second in the MEAC in yards allowed in 2016, returns most of its starters. Cole and Smith – a senior linebacker and former Salem High standout – anchor the swarming D.

“We fly around and everybody runs to the ball,” Smith said. “Hustle, determination and not giving up.”

While both offense and defense finished in the top five in nearly every category, Smith believes the two weren’t synced in enough games to top the team standings.

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For Norfolk State this year, "there can’t be any more excuses"

NORFOLK, Virginia -- No more excuses.

That’s how tight end Demetreus Ferebee sees it.

As Norfolk State enters its third year of the Latrell Scott regime, most players on the roster are his recruits. And while Ferebee, a redshirt senior, is one of the few holdovers from former coach Pete Adrian’s guys, he recognizes this year should be a pivot toward improvement.

“There can’t be any more excuses,” Ferebee said. “We gotta make it happen.”

The Spartans finished 4-7 overall in each of Scott’s first two seasons, sandwiched in the middle of the MEAC standings. In a favorable light, the first two years were mostly a transition period as new and old recruits mingled.

“The first two years, we were polishing up and getting guys ready,” said Nigel Chavis, a redshirt sophomore defensive end/linebacker. “To me, the third year is when the work shows.”

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What we learned from FAMU's 29-7 victory over Texas Southern

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Ryan Stanley deserves to be FAMU’s starter

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Stanley remains undefeated at home and Florida A&M’s starter (4-0). He got off to a somewhat shaky start on Saturday against Texas Southern, but he more than made up for it as the game went on.

Vincent Jefferies saw a bit of time – like head coach Alex Wood said he would – but Saturday was Stanley’s game. He finished the game 19 for 32 with 217 yards and a touchdown and didn’t turn the ball over. He also had a rushing touchdown.

Jefferies completed one pass for five yards, but had a 12-yard rushing touchdown.

“We’ve got confidence in Ryan,” Wood said. “We all have work to do, the whole operation, but he did well today. I thought Vince came in and did well protecting the ball. There’s some systemic things we need to work with for both of them, but we’ll get that done.”

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Ryan Stanley shines in FAMU's season opener against Texas Southern

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- For redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Stanley, home-field advantage is real.

There’s some magic in Bragg Memorial Stadium for Florida A&M’s second-year starter. He’s undefeated at home in four starts, and has only turned the ball over twice as a starter in Tallahassee.

He led the Rattlers to yet another home victory Saturday against SWAC opponent Texas Southern in front of 15,401 fans as FAMU dismantled the Tigers 29-7 in the first game of the FCS season, the inaugural Jake Gaither Classic at Bragg.

For Stanley, it was just another day in his favorite place to play. He finished the game 19 for 32 for 217 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing).

“I don’t know maybe it’s just the atmosphere,” Stanley said with a smile after the game. “Great fans, I don’t know… there’s something about Bragg. I don’t know what it is.”

It was FAMU’s first season-opening victory at home since 2011, the team’s first season-opening victory overall since 2013.



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Jake Gaither Classic Half-Time: FAMU Marching 100 vs. Tx So Ocean of Soul Marching Band

XULA Gold Nuggets defeat Lawrence Tech in 5 sets at UMD

DEARBORN, Mich. — Senior Juliana Tomasoni and freshman Jaida Dowd combined for 25 kills Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-20, 25-23, 24-26, 15-25, 15-12 volleyball victory against Lawrence Tech in the UM-Dearborn Early Bird.
     
The Gold Nuggets start the season 2-1 for the first time since 2013. They gave Lawrence Tech its first loss of the year.
     
Tomasoni produced 16 kills, a season high, and two aces. Dowd had a career-best nine kills.
     
Also contributing to XULA's 53 kills were Hasani Salaam with eight, Adili Rikondja with seven and Lauryn Taylor with six. Eva Le Guillou served two aces. Taylor and Le Guillou are freshmen.
     
The Gold Nuggets missed a chance for a 3-set sweep when the Blue Devils (3-1) rallied from a 21-16 deficit in the third. Lawrence Tech forced a fifth set after opening the fourth with a 13-1 run.
     
"Started strong," XULA head coach Pat Kendrick said. "Backed off our intensity in the third and had to fight our way back to win."
    
XULA scored five of the final six points in the fifth to wipe out Lawrence Tech's 11-10 lead.
     
It was the first time in three years that XULA played consecutive 5-set matches and the first time ever that the Gold Nuggets went to five sets on consecutive days. NAIA No. 24 Madonna beat XULA 15-11 in the fifth Friday evening.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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