North Carolina A&T Aggies Win at FAMU's Homecoming, Improve to 7-0

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- North Carolina A&T needed the type of win it received on Saturday evening against Florida A&M at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Not only for the fact that the 31-20 win in front a homecoming sellout crowd of 25,607 helped the Aggies improve to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. But also, because the win was not cosmetically pleasing.

The Aggies turned the ball over three times, were out gained 171-65 in total offense in the second half and were penalized eight times. But they won, they are in first place in the MEAC and three of their final four regular-season games are at home in Aggie Stadium as they seek their third MEAC title in four years.

“Every great team I've known has had to win a game like this,” said N.C. A&T coach Rod Broadway. “We didn't play our best, we actually played really bad in spots. But despite not playing well, we can come back next week and get better knowing we got a win.”

When the Aggies were good – specifically the second quarter – they were really good. N.C. A&T compiled 159 yards of offense, held the Rattlers (2-5, 1-3 MEAC) to 29 yards and kept the ball 12 of the 15 minutes allotted in a quarter. The Aggies were also 5-for-5 on third-down conversions in the second quarter. Those factors helped the Aggies turn a 7-7 first-quarter tie into a 28-7 halftime lead.

The Aggies got there by putting together two long second-quarter drives. The game’s momentum shifted toward N.C. A&T when Aggies redshirt junior quarterback Lamar Raynard found senior Khris Gardin for a tough 8-yard catch on 3rd-and-6 from the Aggies 40-yard line. Gardin’s catch was followed by graduate tight end Trey Scott’s 18-yard reception to put the Aggies in FAMU territory at the 48.

A 5-yard run by junior running back Marquell Cartwright, a 15-yard reception on a quick slant by sophomore Elijah Bell moved the Aggies to the FAMU 14. Graduate running back Jamari Smith ended the 8-play, 64-yard drive with a 14-yard TD reception on a screen pass from Raynard. The Aggies next drive included 10 plays, 85 yards and ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass to fifth-year receiver Xavier Griffin. It was Griffin’s third touchdown in as many games. Griffin’s touchdown was set up by a rollout pass to Scott for 31 yards.

Jeremy Taylor’s 32-yard interception return set up the Aggies final touchdown of the half as the Aggies took over 1st-and-10 from the FAMU 15. Five plays later, Bell caught a quick slant from Raynard. Raynard threw for 140 yards in the quarter, his second-best quarter in terms of passing yards on the season after throwing for 145 yards in the first quarter against Charlotte on Sept. 16.

“He is getting better every week,” Broadway said about Raynard. “He is really smart, he gets the ball out of his hands well and he makes plays. For us to be successful he has to continue to grow and get better.”

Raynard and the offense didn’t have the ball much in the second half, specifically in the fourth quarter. The Rattlers had the ball for 9 ½ minutes in the fourth quarter and went 3-for-4 on third down conversions. Plus, FAMU made 13 first downs compared to N.C. A&T’s four in the second half.

“We couldn’t get them stopped, especially on third and long,” said Broadway about the Aggies second-half effort. “We had some real dumb penalties that really hurt. Our penalties helped them stay on the field quite a bit, and we have to tackle better.”

Missed tackles on FAMU’s opening kickoff return of the second half gave the Rattlers the ball at their own 45. Three plays later following a 45-yard run from Devin Bowers, the Rattlers would score on a 1-yard touchdown by Bowers to get within two touchdowns at 28-14. The Aggies turned the ball over on their first possession of the second half as Jules Dornevil intercepted Raynard at the FAMU 21. But Aggies linebacker Kia Richardson returned the favor for N.C. A&T by intercepting FAMU quarterback Ryan Stanley. Richardson’s INT return gave the Aggies the ball at the FAMU 14, setting up a 22-yard field goal from Noel Ruiz for the Aggies final points of the game.

Despite putting together two long drives in the second half, the Rattlers were only able to come away with one more touchdown as the Aggies won their sixth straight over the Rattlers. The Aggies are also 7-0 for the first time in 74 years.

Raynard finished his day 20-for-32 for 215 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Bell caught six of those passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. Bell is now one touchdown shy of breaking the Aggies single-season touchdown receptions record. Raynard is 152 yards shy of becoming the fifth player in school history to throw for 2,000 yards in a season. Redshirt freshman Najee Reams and fifth-year safety Jeremy Taylor led the Aggies defensively. Reams finished with eight tackles and Taylor had five tackles, an interception and a pass break up.

N.C. A&T will go after 8-0 next week when they welcome the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats to Aggie Stadium for a 1 p.m., Saturday contest. The game will air live on ESPN3 and will be aired on tape delay on ESPNU at 10 p.m.

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Nuggets sweep Edward Waters Lady Tigers to start GCAC 2nd round

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Juliana Tomasoni and Vivica Price-Spraggins both hit better than .500, and Adili Rikondja and Eva Le Guillou both produced career highs to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-13, 25-19, 25-10 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball victory Saturday against Edward Waters.

The Gold Nuggets (15-2, 7-0) maintained their two-match lead in the GCAC loss column against Tougaloo and Dillard. XULA has won five straight and 14 of their last 15 matches.

Tomasoni hit .517 with no errors in 29 attacks and notched her 10th double-double this season — 15 kills and 11 digs, both team highs. Price-Spraggins hit .533 in 15 attacks and had 10 kills to reach double figures for the first time in 11 matches. Rikondja had a career-high five blocks — she had none the previous two matches — and Le Guillou had a career-best 25 assists.

Rikondja and Lauryn Taylor had seven kills apiece. Tiffany Phillips had 14 assists, Taylor had four blocks, and Anna Dalla Vecchia had nine digs.

XULA had a 7-1 advantage in aces. Le Guillou tied her career high with three aces, and Tomasoni and Kayla Black served two apiece.

XULA never trailed in any set. There were five total ties, three in the middle set (3, 4 and 5) and the latest at 7 in the third. Le Guillou served all her aces during a 10-0 run that gave the Gold Nuggets a 17-7 lead in the third. XULA closed the match with a 17-3 run.

XULA hit .320 — 43 kills and 11 errors in 100 attacks — and had 40 digs and six team blocks.
The match was the 300th in XULA's 10 seasons. All-time the Gold Nuggets are 171-129 — 141-56 from 2011 to the present (seven seasons).

The Gold Nuggets returned to XULA late Saturday evening but will be back on a bus next week for GCAC matches at Tougaloo on Monday, Philander Smith on Tuesday and Talladega on Saturday. XULA seeks its seventh consecutive GCAC regular-season championship.

Tougaloo, the GCAC's second-place team at 7-2, has won 12 of its last 14 matches, including all six in conference, since its 25-10, 25-20, 25-11 loss Sept. 9 at XULA.

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AAMU Bulldogs dominate in win over MVSU

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- In a game where the Bulldogs dominated both sides of the line Saturday, Alabama A&M rolled to a 49-14 win over Mississippi Valley State.

With the win, the Bulldogs head into next Saturday's off day at 3-1 in the conference, 3-4 overall.

Damion May scored two touchdowns and passed for two more scores - both to Isaiah Bailey. He was 10 of 13 for 168 yards.

May hit Bailey on a 12-yard pass and connected on a 47-yard catch-and-run that put A&M up 35-0.

Meanwhile, the defense did its part in adding to the scoring column.



Dylan Hamilton scored on a 52-yard "pick 6" and Mike Mills picked up a touchdown with his 17-yard interception return.

The Bulldogs also recorded eight sacks, led by 2.5 from Vernon Moland. He also had 2.5 of A&M's 10 tackles for loss.

Harvey Harris and Devonte King each had interceptions.

After pulling out to a 35-0 lead early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs saw Valley (1-2, 1-5) cut the lead to 35-14 on scores by Charlie Crenshaw and a 10-yard TD pass from Christopher Fowler to Booker Chambers.

But Mills' "pick 6" early in the fourth quarter ran the score to 42-14.



Marceles Clash pulled down a 78-yard catch-and-run from Dylan Smith for the final 49-14 margin.

The Bulldogs had 179 yards on the ground and 246 through the air.

The defense held MVSU to minus-27 yards rushing while yielding 313 yards passing.

Nick Carden was 7-of-7 in point-after attempts and had punted six times for a 36.7-yard average.

The Bulldogs return to action Oct. 28 in the annual Magic City Classic.

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Texas College falls to No. 8 Langston 44-17 in Oklahoma

TULSA, Oklahoma – Texas College was within striking distance after three quarters, but No. 8 Langston scored a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the final period to beat the Steers 44-17 on Saturday in the Central States Football League.

The Steers pulled within 23-17 with 2:20 left in the third quarter on Vontyne Williams’ 43-yard touchdown run and Markese Denmon’s PAT.

Langston countered with a 30-yard scoring pass from Milton Harper to Glenn Irons with 31 seconds to play in the third quarter.

The Lions took a 30-17 lead into the fourth and added to it with Irons’ 91-yard touchdown reception at the 9:41 mark. Irons finished with 162 yards and two TDs on six catches. Jaylen Lowe, who threw the long TD, capped the scoring with a 1-yard run with 3:18 left.

Texas College was tied 7-7 after the first period, thanks to Dyamond Woods’ 60-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Langston’s Tim Whitfield outrushed Texas College by himself, 175-135, and scored two TDs as the Lions improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in league play.

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BCU Comes Up Golden against S.C. State

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Uriel Hernandez kicked four field goals, and Delwaun Beard preserved the Bethune-Cookman victory by blocking a South Carolina State field goal attempt as the Wildcats downed the Bulldogs, 12-9 in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game Saturday afternoon at Municipal Stadium.

The Wildcats actually blocked two Tyler Scandrett attempts – the first eventually being nullified after offsetting penalties – as time expired as Bethune-Cookman (3-3 overall, 2-1 MEAC) won for the first time in recorded history without scoring an offensive touchdown.

With the Wildcats decked out in all gold for the #GoldRush game, Hernandez gave the Wildcats the lead on a 33-yarder with 12:09 left in the fourth quarter. The junior from Homestead, Florida, was 4-of-5 on the day, tying Bethune-Cookman's record for most field goals in a game. Marc McLachlan also kicked four in a 33-30 win over South Carolina State on October 14, 1989.

South Carolina State (2-4, 1-3 MEAC) took a 9-6 lead on Trey Samuel's 4-yard scamper over left guard with 2:50 remaining in the first half, but Scandrett's point-after was blocked by Elliott Miller. The Wildcats answered, and Hernandez kicked a 32-yarder on the final play of the half for a 9-9 tie as the teams headed into the locker rooms.

Bethune-Cookman outgained the Bulldogs, 371-261 in total yards, but were hampered by 19 penalties for 138 yards, including three on its final possession that kept the Wildcats from running out the clock.

Javaunie Francis' 60-yard punt reversed the field, but the Bulldogs put together a late 11-play march that included a fourth down pass completion that put the visitors in position to send the game into overtime.
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Bethune-Cookman dominated the first quarter, outgaining the Bulldogs, 134-9 but only had Hernandez's 34-yarder on the opening drive to show for it.

A 66-yard drive that saw Larry Brihm, Jr. connect with Keavon Mitchell twice and with Tupac Isme for 19-yards set up the second Hernandez field goal, a 37-yarder that made it 6-0 with 14 minutes to play in the opening half.

Brihm rushed for 20 and threw for 46 on the drive that helped Bethune-Cookman tie it at halftime. He finished 22-of-34 passing for 234 yards.

Isme rushed for 37 yards on eight carries, while Jamaruz Thompkins had 11 carries for 35 yards of his own.

Mitchell and Jawill Davis each caught five passes, gaining 44 and 36 yards, respectively.

Marquis Hendrix paced the Wildcats defense with 11 tackles and a sack, while Diquan Richardson had six tackles and his third interception of the season.

Bethune-Cookman meets North Carolina A&T next Saturday in Greensboro, North Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., at Aggie Stadium.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).

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Morgan Bears Post First Victory, Roll Past Savannah State, 48-28

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Elijah Staley threw three touchdown passes and Morgan State jumped to a 42-7 first-half lead en route to a 48-28 win over winless Savannah State Saturday.

The victory is the first in six games for the Bears (1-5, 1-2 Mid-Eastern).

"It's great to get that monkey off our backs," said MSU head coach Fred. T. Farrier. "For the most part, we paid attention to detail and did the little things. This was a great start to the second half of our season and a good marker for where we are."

Savannah State (0-6, 0-4) took the early lead when D'Vonn Gibbons hit Uriah Oliver on an 83-yard on the Tigers' first play from scrimmage.

Eric Harrell got Morgan State even, punching in from a yard out to cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive, and Staley put them ahead with a 21-yard strike to Amonta Poteat a minute-and-a-half later.

Staley was 14 of 22 for 220 yards while Harrell gained 114 yards on 16 carries. Herb Walker Jr. added 19 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown and Manassah Bailey pulled in five catches for 116 yards and a score.

"It was beautiful," Staley said of the Bears' mixed attack. "The O-line played great and the running game, which had been struggling, was big time. It's hard to beat a team when two guys each go over 100 yards. Watching [Harrell and Walker] do their thing was amazing — and they blocked great, too."

Gibbons completed just 5 of 17 pass attempts, but two went for touchdowns.

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Tuskegee dominates Jackson State in 5th Quarter Classic

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Tuskegee University football team remained unbeaten against opponents from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in a 33-7 win over Jackson State in the 5th Quarter Classic at Ladd Peeples Stadium in Mobile Saturday night.

Tuskegee (5-2, 3-0) scored first when Justice Owens walked into the end zone untouched on a one yard touchdown run on the opening drive. The point after try was no good giving TU an early 6-0 lead.

Javariuss Cheatham, who had not played since week four at Findlay returned and provided a spark catching four passes for a season high 106 yards including a 35 yard touchdown catch from Jamarcus Ezell with 10:42 left in the second quarter.



Jackson State (0-6, 0-2) responded with a five yard touchdown catch just before halftime when Brent Lyles connected with Jordan Johnson making the score 13-7.

The Golden Tigers would strike again on its first possession of the second half when Ezell threw his second touchdown pass of the night on a 15 yard catch by Chardian Johnson.

The highlight of the evening came at the 5:09 mark when Ahmad Deramus found Tyrez McCain wide open who carried three would be defenders into the end zone on a 35 yard touchdown catch extending Tuskegee's lead to 27-7.



Hoderick Lowe would round out the scoring for the Golden Tigers when he scampered for a 41 yard touchdown run capping things off at 33-7.

Ezell earned MVP honors finishing with 183 yards passing completing 10 of his 18 passing attempts and two touchdowns. He also rushed five times for another 77 yards. Davoris Thomas was named Defensive MVP.

Lowe led TU's rushing attack with 94 yards of his own and a score. Osband Thompson led the defense with seven tackles. His first time registering under 10 stops all season long.

Tonight's win marked the third victory in two seasons over a Division I NCAA FCS opponent. TU defeated Florida A&M in last season's classic and Alabama State in this year's season opener.

Tuskegee will face Kentucky State in Frankfurt next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Live coverage on the Tuskegee digital Network will get underway at 1:15 p.m.

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