Late Surge Sparks Albany State Golden Rams To Homecoming Win Over Morehouse

ALBANY, Georgia -- Albany State University rallied from a one point halftime deficit to earn a 34-10 Homecoming victory over Morehouse College before a national audience Saturday afternoon at ASU Coliseum.

With the victory ASU extends its win streak against Morehouse to nine games.

The Maroon Tigers fall to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in SIAC play while the Golden Rams raise their mark to 5-2 and 3-0 in SIAC play.

Both defenses pitched impressive performances on Saturday, especially in the first half where the two teams combined for just 107 yards of total offense. The Maroon Tigers ran 33 plays for just 36 yards while the ASU offense had 25 plays for 71 yards. Albany State and Morehouse made a concerted effort and was successful at shutting down the other team's running game as each finished with just 5 yards on the ground in the first half. Additionally the defenses accounted for their team's first touchdown of the afternoon.

The defensive units also kept the pressure on the game's signal callers; ASU and MHC quarterbacks were sacked a combined 13 times in the contest. The Golden Rams were led by Marquez Thomas' 12 tackles (7 solo) 2 sacks (loss of 15 yards) and two quarterback hurries.

After trailing 10-9 at the intermission the Golden Rams held Morehouse scoreless in the second half. The ASU defense did not allow a third down conversion over the third and fourth quarters and in the final 15 minutes the Golden Rams had two takeaways while limiting the Maroon Tigers to -3 yards rushing.

With 4:47 left in the third quarter, Albany State reclaimed the lead on a 10 play, 66 yard drive with a 3 yard TD pass from Chancellor Johnson to Quadrey Simmons. The Golden Rams broke the game open with an 18 point third quarter, beginning with a 73 yard rushing score by Kelan Fraise with 7:05 remaining. ASU padded their lead, after a two point conversion on a Johnson pass to McKinley Habersham, at 24-10. The Albany State defense forced a fumble on Morehouse's ensuing possession and 2 plays and 25 seconds later Habersham broke for a 49 yard scoring run giving the Golden Rams a 31-10 advantage.

The visitors coughed it up again on their next drive and the Golden Rams capitalized with a 39 yard field goal from Gabriel Ballinas with 2:18 left for the final point spread.

The frenzied finish was antithesis of the first half of play where neither offense could gain any ground, mostly due to the respective teams' defenses. With the exception of a 35 yard field goal from MHC's Fernando Sdelamora at the 4:31 mark of the second quarter, the rest of the first half scoring came from defensive play and a miscue on special teams.

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Jaylin Boyd took a 57 yard interception to the house for the game's first score, before Sdelamora's field goal made the score 7-3 in favor of ASU.

At the 14:06 mark and the Maroon Tigers in punt formation against their own goal line, the snap went out the back of the end zone for a safety and a 9-3 Golden Ram lead. That lead was short-lived however when two plays after they received the free kick, Cameron Mill picked off a pass by Chancellor Johnson and 59 yards later found his way to the end zone to put his team in front 10-9.

Albany State will return to action on October 21st as they travel to take on Clark-Atlanta for the Panthers' Homecoming. The game, which will be broadcast on ESPN3, is scheduled for a 2pm kickoff. Follow us on Twitter @ASUGoldenRams and visit www.asugoldenrams.come for up-to-date information on Albany State Athletics.

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West Virginia State Dominate in Road Win

ATHENS, West Virginia  --  It did not take long for this year's Yellow Jacket football team to show host Concord that scheduling them for a Homecoming opponent might not have been a very good idea.

The Jackets' Dionta Brown took the opening kickoff and ran it back to the WVSU 25.

Senior quarterback Matt Kinnick hit Quinton Gray for a quick seven yards, Brown ran for seven, and then Kinnick connected with Tyrell Henderson on a 1-yard scoring strike to put the Jackets ahead 7-0 just one minute and one second into the game.

The Yellow Jackets never let up on the way to 33-7 halftime lead and 47-29 victory to improve to 4-3 on the season.

The WVSU offense displayed the best balance it has this year picking up 258 yards through the air and 255 on the ground.

Especially impressive was that the ground game with WVSU rushing leader Calil Wilkins.

Wilkins, who is averaging 120 yards a game, twisted an ankle in the previous contest and is listed as day to day.

Juawan Etheredge ran 17 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Brown carried the ball 11 times for 88 yards and a score while Kinnick had 67 yards on just seven runs.

Kinnick was 19-28 throwing for 231 yards. He also caught a 27 yard touchdown pass on s trick play from backup quarterback Austin Hensley for WVSU'S second score of the game.

Gray finished with eight catches for 77 yards.

By the final horn the Yellow Jackets had a whopping 513 yards of offense to the Mountain Lions' 308.

Next up for WVSU is a home contest against West Liberty Saturday.

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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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Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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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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