NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana defeated Point 25-14, 25-27, 25-18, 26-28, 15-10 Friday, then lost 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 to Mobile in the Big Easy Blastoff volleyball tournament.
A crowd of 523 — largest ever for volleyball at XULA's Convocation Center — watched all five teams finish the day 1-1. The two-day tournament will conclude Saturday, including XULA matches against Martin Methodist at 3 p.m. and Webber International at 7 p.m.
Vivica Price-Spraggins hit .538 and had career highs of 16 kills and eight blocks against Point. Marine Angely had 16 kills, a career high, and nine digs. Kayla Black had 15 kills and a season-high 16 digs.
Black had 14 kills against Mobile, and Angely had 12 kills and 11 digs.
"Both Point and Mobile pushed us to compete," XULA coach Pat Kendrick said. "With this early competition, we're trying to discover who we are."
Price-Spraggins hit .511 for the day — 25 kills and two errors in 45 attacks — and is hitting ,441 for the season.
"Viv has been consistent," Kendrick said. "If we can get her the ball, she can do good things with it."
Black had five kills and Angely three in the fifth set against Point and gave the Gold Nuggets their first five-set home victory in six years.
BOX SCORE 1
BOX SCORE 2
Mirella Gatterdam had 12 kills and four acaes against XULA. The Gold Nuggets have dropped eight straight to the Lady Rams since beating them 2-of-3 times in 2013. XULA will get another shot at Mobile in the Lady Rams' tournament next week.
The previous Convocation Center attendance record for volleyball was 511 for a XULA-Dillard match in 2015. This is XULA's sixth season in the $25 million facility.
Also Friday, Point defeated Martin Methodist 21-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17, Webber International beat Mobile 25-21, 25-21, 25-21, and Martin Methodist defeated Webber International 25-19, 25-20, 25-10.
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pennsylvania – The Slippery Rock University football team will look to pick up its 10th straight season-opening victory when Kentucky State University visits Mihalik-Thompson Stadium Saturday for a non-conference game at 1p.m.
Below you will find all pertinent information regarding tickets, parking, tailgating and live coverage, along with complete game notes.
Complete Game Notes (28-page PDF)
LIVE INTERNET COVERAGE
• Live Stats | Provided by SRU athletic communication office.
• Live Streaming Video (FREE) | Provided by SRU athletic communication office.
• Live Audio (Online and Radio) | Provided by The Rock Station 97.7 FM (Butler).
• Twitter | All scoring information and in-game updates.
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch the game live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple RV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
TICKETS (For advance tickets, Call 724-738-2021 or stop by the Athletic Office in Morrow Field House)
• Tickets can be purchased on game day. The stadium gates will open at 11:30 a.m.
• Chair-back Reserved Seat - $10
• Reserved Bench Seat - $10
• Adult General Admission - $8
• Students Ages 6-High School – $3
• Children Ages 6 and Under – FREE
• SRU Students – FREE with valid student ID
• Kentucky State Students - $5 with valid student ID
PARKING
• Parking is available in the lots surrounding the stadium
• Parking spaces are $5 in all tailgating lots (directly below stadium)
• Campus Map | Stadium is #52 on Map
TAILGATING
• Tailgating is allowed in paid lots three hours before kickoff (lots open at 10 a.m.)
• No Tailgating at halftime
• All Tailgaters must enter game at kickoff
• Tailgating is open for two hours after game ends
• No hard liquor or glass bottles
• Adhere to all campus tailgating rules found HERE.
GAIL ROSE LODGE CLOSED - PRESIDENT'S TENT OPEN FOR MEMBERS
Due to renovation needs, the Gail Rose Stadium Lodge will be closed for the 2018 football season. Rock Athletic Club members that had access to the lodge have been sent information about access to a new "President's Tent" that will be set up inside the stadium. Members will need to bring their passes to gain access to the stadium and to the tent, where food and beverages will be served throughout the game. For more information or questions, contact Erin Bryer in the SRU Foundation at ebryer@srufoundation.org or by phone at 724.738.4611.
THE GAME
Slippery Rock welcomes Kentucky State University out of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to open the 2018 season after the two teams met last fall to open the 2017 season in Frankfort, Kentucky.
ALL-TIME SERIES
This marks the second straight year and the second overall meeting between these two teams. The only other meeting was the opener last year at Kentucky State, which SRU won by a 42-21 margin.
COACHING MATCHUP
Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz is in his 23rd overall season at The Rock and his third as head coach, where he owns a 15-7 record after posting 7-4 and 8-3 records the last two years. Prior to that, he served four years as the associate head coach and eight as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Lutz has been a member of the coaching staff for eight of SRU's PSAC West titles. He played tight end at West Virginia University, graduating in 1996, and earned a master's degree in sport management from SRU in 2003.
John L. Smith is in his third season as the head coach at Kentucky State, where he has posted a 7-14 overall record. Smith came to Kentucky State following a long Division I career that included head coaching stints at Idaho, Utah State, Louisville, Michigan State and Arkansas. He owns an overall record of 157-127 as a collegiate head coach with most of those victories coming at the Division I level. Smith played collegiately at Weber State, graduating in 1971.
LOOKING TO START STRONG AGAIN
Slippery Rock is looking to lock up a season-opening win for the 10th consecutive year. The last time SRU failed to win its first game of the year was all the way back in 2008 on the road at Seton Hill. The Rock haven't lost a home opener since 2005 against Shepherd, winning their first home game of the season in each of the last 12 seasons.
ROCK RECEIVING VOTES IN NATIONAL POLL
Slippery Rock is officially receiving votes in the NCAA Division II preseason national poll, marking the fifth straight year The Rock have appeared in the preseason poll. SRU has been ranked in the top 25 in each of the last five years and climbed as high as No. 9 last fall. The complete preseason polls are on page 7 of the notes document linked above.
WINNING SEASON STREAK
Slippery Rock has now put together nine straight winning seasons, has been above .500 in 11 of the last 12 years and has finished in winning fashion in 25 of the last 30 seasons. Only three teams in the PSAC have at least nine consecutive winning seasons entering 2018 and The Rock's nine straight winning seasons are the 13th best active streak among all NCAA Division II teams entering this fall.
CURRENT WINNING SEASONS STREAK IN PSAC
1. Bloomsburg - 19
2. California - 16
3. Slippery Rock – 9
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
On paper, The Rock have one of the tougher schedules in Super Region One this season in terms of road trips with three games scheduled at teams that made the NCAA playoffs last year (Shippensburg, Indiana, California).
"We know how tough the schedule looks," said head coach Shawn Lutz. "We can't jump ahead to that game at Shippensburg in week two though. We need to focus on Kentucky State and take it one week at a time. Kentucky State has a lot of athletic players and they gave us a good challenge last year. We need to be ready for them in week one."
In total, five of SRU's scheduled opponents (Shippensburg, Indiana, Edinboro, California, Bloomsburg) posted at least seven wins last year, while the other six opponents (Kentucky State, Millersville, Seton Hill, Mercyhurst, Clarion and Gannon) finished the 2017 season with sub .500 records.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Rock football teams have compiled a 160-66 (.708) record the last 42 seasons in games played at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium (formerly known as N. Kerr Thompson Stadium). The Rock own a 61-21 (.744) home record since artificial turf was installed in the summer of 2003 and are 57-14 (.803) in home games since 2005. The numbers get even better in recent years, as The Rock are 26-2 (.929) since the beginning of 2013 and have posted a 39-6 (.867) record at home since the beginning of the 2010 season.
LAST MEETING WITH KENTUCKY STATE - 9/2/17 | Box Score
Slippery Rock scored the first 28 points of the game and cruised to a 42-21 win on the road at Kentucky State to open the 2017 season last Sept. in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The game marked the eighth straight season opening win for SRU and just the fourth time in the last decade The Rock played a game on a natural grass surface. SRU QB Tanner Garry threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns in his first start and The Rock added another 84 rushing yards to finish the game with 487 yards of offense. Kentucky State finished with 245 yards of offense after passing for 168 yards and rushing for 77 yards.
Marcus Johnson caught 12 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns and Milly Raye caught seven passes for 132 yards and one score, a highlight-reel play that landed at No. 6 on SportsCenter's Top 10 that night, to lead the SRU offense. Marcus Martin broke a program record for single-game tackles for loss with 6.0 to lead the defense.
Kentucky State was paced by QB Paul Campbell, who threw for 168 yards and one touchdown and added a rushing score as well. RB Brett Sylve returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and WR Demetrius Anderson caught 10 passes for 74 yards and one score to pace the Thorobreds attack. Defensively, Phillip Francis had nine tackles and 2.0 TFL, while Andre Miles added eight tackles.
QUICK RECAP - 2017 SEASON
Slippery Rock jumped out to a 5-0 start last fall and climbed all the way up to No. 9 in the national rankings, headlined by a 47-44 overtime win over No. 5 California (Pa.). The Rock suffered their first loss of the year in week six against No. 3 Indiana (Pa.) and slipped up the following week with an upset loss at Edinboro. SRU responded with a pair of wins to lock up second place in the PSAC West and entered the final week of the season ranked fifth in the official NCAA regional rankings, but stumbled with a 42-34 loss at Kutztown in week 11, a loss that would end up knocking SRU out of the NCAA playoff picture. The Rock finished the year with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in PSAC West games.
FIVE PLAYERS NAMED CAPTAINS FOR 2018
Slippery Rock announced earlier this week that five players have been named team captains for the 2018 season. Quarterback Andrew Koester and safety Tavarus Sample were selected by the coaches prior to preseason camp. Running back Wes Hills, offensive lineman Steve Gaviglia and safety Kyle Hall were voted by their teammates after preseason camp to join Koester and Sample as captains this fall.
OFFENSIVE QUESTION MARKS
SRU returns just three offensive starters and must replace some of the most productive offensive players in program history after QB Tanner Garry and wide receivers Marcus Johnson and Milly Raye torched the record books last year to give SRU the top passing offense in the PSAC. Garry was the top passer in the PSAC at just over 3,500 yards and Johnson and Raye combined for 3,476 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns. With all three of those players graduated, along with leading rusher Isiah Neely, The Rock will have to look to new leaders at the QB and skill positions.
MUCH MORE EXPERIENCE ON DEFENSE
While the offense will see a large number of new starters take the field this week, The Rock defense will be much more experienced with 10 returning starters on the roster. Last season, SRU had at least nine defensive starters on the field every game that were in their first season as a starter. That added experience should lead to an improved overall defensive effort, especially against the run, where SRU uncharacteristically struggled last year. The Rock allowed 206.8 rushing yards per game in 2017 after not allowing more than 100 yards per game in each of the previous three seasons.
REPLACING MARCUS MARTIN
While the overall depth of the defense is stronger this year, SRU must replace the best statistical defensive lineman in the history of college football after the graduation of Marcus Martin. Martin was the consensus National Defensive Player of the Year in Division II and was a consensus first team All-American. He was named the PSAC West and Super Region One Defensive Player of the Year for the third straight year, was a runner-up for the Ted Hendricks Award as the best defensive end in all of college football, won the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award in a record vote, became the first SRU football player to ever be named a three-time Academic All-American and became the first football player in PSAC history and the only Division II player last year to be named a national finalist for the Campbell Trophy, known as the Academic Heisman. Martin finished his career as the all-time, all-division NCAA record holder in sacks (56.0) and the Division II record holder in tackles for loss (92.5).
KOESTER EARNS STARTING QB JOB
Andrew Koester, who served as the backup last season, was named the starting QB coming out of camp. Koester took most of the first team reps during spring ball and is the most experienced QB on the roster in terms of knowing the SRU system. He was pushed in camp by Butte College transfer Taylor King, who has a big arm and could be the QB of the future at SRU. King will back up Koester to open the season, with Valdosta State transfer Roland Rivers opening the year third on the depth chart.
ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
Slippery Rock returns just two All-Conference players from last season in offensive tackle Steve Gaviglia and kicker/punter Jake Chapla, who was All-PSAC in both kicking disciplines. Both had strong offseasons and should be in the conversation for All-Region and All-America consideration this fall.
RUNNING GAME GETS A BOOST
While SRU added a number of high profile transfers during the offseason, the one name that jumps off the page is running back Wes Hills, who transferred in from the University of Delaware. Pegged by many NFL scouts as a draft candidate, Hills averaged more than seven yards per carry in his last season at Delaware before his year was cut short by injury. SRU averaged just 121 rushing yards per game last fall, just two years removed from rushing for 232 yards per game in 2015. Hills leading a stable of backs that includes Chacar Berry, Braden Fochtman and Nassir Weavershould help that number rise again.
NO PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Slippery Rock had no players listed on any of the preseason All-America teams published prior to this season, marking the first time in the last five years SRU had no first or second team honorees. Transfer RB Wes Hills was listed among the players on the "honorable mention" list published by D2football.com.
OTHER NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
While Hills will garner a lot of attention, SRU also added a number of other transfers expected to either start or see significant time this season. Those players to watch include DT Jeff Marx, LB Brad Zaffram, CB Tyree Spearman, WR Eric Glover-Williams, WR Jermaine Wynn Jr. and TE Aramis Alexander. Wynn and Glover-Williams are expected to handle the primary kick and punt return duties as well.
FRESHMEN ON TWO DEEP
A total of six freshmen or redshirt freshmen have found their way onto the first projected two-deep for the season, a significantly lower number than the 16 that were on the first depth chart last fall. Of those five, defensive tackle Jeff Marx and long snapper Jacob George are projected to start. Marx is a redshirt freshman that transferred in from the Naval Academy, while George is a true freshman that is familiar with SRU kicker Jake Chapla, having snapped to him three years ago at Plum High School. Linebacker Peyton Remish, offensive lineman Matt Carr, defensive back Elijah Jackson and kicker/punter Jackson Gildea are all true freshmen that are listed as backups on the first two-deep.
FAMILIAR FACES GETTING A SHOT
While most of the defensive starters are returners or transfers, eight offensive players that have seen action in recent years will have a chance to step into starting roles in week one, led by QB Andrew Koester. Receivers Austin Scott, Dakota Clanagan and Henry Litwin, along with TE Zach Cirillo, have all seen plenty of game experience, but not much starting experience. The same is true of offensive linemen Ryan Podgorski, Colten Raabe and Austin Wayt.
MERHAUT ONLY SKILL POSITION STARTER BACK
Slot receiver Mike Merhaut, who is also the primary holder for kicking attempts, is the only returning starter at the skill positions on offense. He is joined by linemen Steve Gaviglia and Chris Larsen as the only returning offensive starters to start more than four games last season. Merhaut caught 23 passes for 212 yards in 2017, but is still looking for his first collegiate TD.
STARTERS NOTES
Only eight total players on the SRU roster enter the year with at least 10 career starts under their belts. RT Steve Gaviglia is the most experienced player with 21 career starts, including 11 straight. LG Chris Larsen has started 16 games and WR Carnel Harley has started 10 as the most experienced offensive players. Defensively, Kyle Hall leads the way with 12 career starts, while Tavarus Sample, Khadir Roberts and Trysten McDonald each started all 11 games last fall and Dylan Whiteman started 10 games last year.
If the two-deep holds true, a total of seven players will make their first SRU start on the offensive or defensive side of the ball in week one, while three more will see first team special teams reps (long snapper Jacob George and return specialists/slot receivers Jermaine Wynn Jr. and Eric Glover-Williams), although those positions do not get officially credited with a start.
ROCK IN THE NFL
Slippery Rock had three former players in NFL training camps this year, headlined by OL Brandon Fusco '10, who was named this week as the starting right guard for the Atlanta Falcons after signing a $12.75 million deal this offseason. Last year's Division II National Defensive Player of the Year and all-time NCAA sack record holder Marcus Martin '17 has been with the Los Angeles Rams all preseason and OL Ian Park '17 was with the Philadelphia Eagles for much of the preseason.
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS YEAR
Slippery Rock will host a number of special events in conjunction with its home games this season. The next home game, Sept. 22, will be the annual VillageFest and Friends and Family Weekend, while Sept. 29 will serve as the Hall of Fame game and the Salute to Military and First Responders. Oct. 13 will be the annual Homecoming game and The Rock will honor their 2018 senior class Nov. 10.
KENTUCKY STATE QUICK HITS
• Kentucky State is coming off a 3-8 record last season that included a 2-4 mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Three of the Thorobreds' losses came by one-possession scores. KSU was 1-5 on the road.
• KSU averaged 19.2 points per game last year on offense and put up an average of 263.2 yards per game with the ball, which included 119.1 passing yards and 144.1 rushing yards per game. The defense allowed 28.2 points per game and 355.5 yards per game, which came in the form of 157.9 rushing yards and 197.6 passing yards per game.
• SRU jumped out to a 28-0 lead last year in the opener at KSU and went on to win 42-21. The Thorobreds scored all 21 of their points in the final 19:08. The Rock threw for 408 yards and finished with 487 total yards of offense. KSU finished with 245 yards of offense.
• RB Brett Sylve was one of the top offensive talents on the roster last year, earning All-SIAC honors after leading the team with 995 rushing yards (90.5 per game) and six touchdowns. Sylve also caught 20 passes for 178 yards and added 787 total return yards to finish first on the team with 1,970 all-purpose yards. He rushed for just 35 yards on nine carries against SRU last year, but was dynamic in the return game, taking a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and finishing with 220 kickoff return yards.
• QB Paul Campbell returns for his second year at KSU after leading the team in passing with 916 yards, six touchdowns and five INT last year. Campbell also ran for three touchdowns. He is listed as the projected starter, but will be backed up by the 2016 SIAC Rookie of the Year Jules St. Ge. St. Ge did not play last year, but threw for 986 yards and seven scores while adding 358 rushing yards and one TD as the starter in 2016.
• KSU returns each of its top four pass catchers from last year, led by WR Demetrius Anderson (40 rec., 329 yards, 2 TD) and RB Brett Sylve (20-178-0), along with WR Jordan Level (16-180-0) and WR Jonathan Powell (15-146-2).
• KSU's defense will be without its top three tacklers from last season, but returns its next three leading stoppers in NT Christopher Roberts (50 tackles, 11.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks), DB/LB Matthew Bizimana (48 tackles, 7.0 TFL) and DB Hakeem Adebimpe (48 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT).
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock will travel to Shippensburg next Saturday for a 1 p.m. game that will be crucial to the postseason hopes of both teams. The Raiders were picked to finish second in the PSAC East this year and are coming off a 10-win season last fall that included a trip to the NCAA playoffs.
SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
2018 Lincoln Football Media Guide
Complete Game Notes
Game 1: Lincoln (0-0) vs. Lane (0-0)
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 1 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Stadium (Capacity): Arthur Halle Stadium
Tickets: Available at Site
Special Event: Bluff City Kickoff Classic
Series - Lincoln leads, 9-6
THE KICKOFF
The Lincoln football team kicks off its 2018 season in Memphis, Tenn. on Saturday (Sept. 1) when the Blue Tigers take on Lane in the Bluff City Kickoff Classic. This neutral site contest, which will be played at Arthur Halle Stadium, is set to begin at 4:00 p.m. CDT as the two teams meet for the first time since 2016.
The Blue Tigers won their home opener in 2017 in convincing fashion, beating Lincoln (PA) 49-19, but that was LU's sole win of the season. Lincoln, in its second season under head coach Steven Smith, returns 14 starters, including defensive linemanIsaiah Gray and wide receiver Blake Tibbs, who were both All-GLVC selections.
Lane opened and closed 2017 with victories, but dropped all of its games in between and is also seeking a resurgence in 2018. Lincoln and Lane first met in 1931 and have played each other 15 times, with the Blue Tigers leading the series, 9-6.
QUICK HITS
- Lincoln and Lane renew a rivalry that dates back to 1931 on Saturday, with the two teams meeting for the 16th time. The Blue Tigers lead the all-time series, 9-6, and won the last meeting, 12-9, in Jefferson City back in 2016.
- If the Blue Tigers win on Saturday, it will be the first for Lincoln away from home since opening the 2015 season with a 35-32 win at Langston in Oklahoma. That was also LU's last season-opening victory.
- The Blue Tigers are seeking their first victory in a neutral site contest since 2013, when LU beat Grambling State in the Missouri Classic in Kansas City.
- This will be the fifth-straight year that Lincoln will open the season by playing against a Historically Black College or University. The Blue Tigers opened the past four years with games against Langston, and have secured at least one win over a fellow HBCU in each of the past five years.
- Saturday marks the first time Lincoln will open a season with a neutral site contest since 2014, when LU played Langston in Kansas City. The Blue Tigers were edged in that game, 49-48, and have not played in a neutral site game since then.
- A win would be the second in a row for Lincoln over Lane. The last time LU secured consecutive wins over an opponent was in 2008, when the Blue Tigers defeated Haskell for the second-straight season.
- The Blue Tigers enter Saturday with an all-time record of 253-452-24.
- Steven Smith is in his second season as the head coach of the Blue Tigers and has a career record of 1-9.
- Lincoln is in its fifth season as a member of the GLVC. LU was in the MIAA for 23 years, including three-straight from 2011-13, for football before making the switch in 2014. The GLVC is the fifth different conference in which the Blue Tigers have been a member, joining the Midwest Athletic Association, the Great Lakes Football Conference, the Central States Football League and the MIAA.
- This is the 88th season of Lincoln football. The Blue Tigers first fielded a team in 1920 and played every year until 1943, when Lincoln took a year off due to World War II. LU then played each season from 1944-1989. The football program was disbanded at that point, but was brought back in 2000.
BLUE TIGERS TO WATCH
OFFENSE - Lincoln returns a pair of sophomore quarterbacks, Henry Ogala and Drake Davidson, both of whom saw extensive playing time in 2017. Ogala completed 55.1-percent of his passes and threw for a touchdown while starting Lincoln's opener against Langston. Davidson, meanwhile, appeared in seven contests and completed 71 of his 139 pass attempts for 459 yards. Blake Tibbs led LU with 38 receptions for 372 yards and three scores, earning All-GLVC honors in the process, and is back for his senior season. A'Jani Johnson (281 receiving yards) and Justin Korakakos (182 yards) also return after finishing second and third, respectively, among the Blue Tigers in receiving. Terry Hunter, who gained 264 yards on the ground in 2017, is Lincoln's top-returning running back while Kimbo Ferguson also returns after tallying one of LU's rushing touchdowns last season.
DEFENSE - Isaiah Gray was named to the All-GLVC second team a year ago after finishing with 46 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and eight QB hurries, and is among the top returners from an LU defense that was ranked second in the conference at the end of the season. Edwin Durassaint is Lincoln's top-returning defender after compiling 54 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a blocked kick and a forced fumble. Victor Williams (31 tackles) and JaJuan Chambers (4.5 tackles for loss) also anchor a deep returning group of defenders, as LU brings back 10 players who saw significan playing time on that side of the ball in 2017. Amani Nelson, who made 21 tackles, joins Antonio Watts and Joseph Madrigal (29 total tackles combined) as other notable returnees.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Wolky Belancourt is expected to handle the punting duties once again after a 2017 campaign in which he landed 18 kicks inside the 20 and forced 24 fair catches without having a single punt blocked. Fernando Ramirez is likely the kicker while Blake Tibbs, who recorded 768 total yards on kick and punt returns, averaging 11.9 yards in the latter category is also back. Brenton Wrigley returns as LU's long snapper.
LANE AT A GLANCE
The Dragons averaged 21.5 points per game while giving up 22.3 in 2017, and excelled in the rushing game, gaining 187.9 yards per contest. Defensively, Lane forced seven fumbles and picked off six passes while blocking four kicks and posting a safety. As a team, the Dragons made 31 sacks and 98 tackles for loss. Quarterback Marcus Reynolds returns after playing in eight games in 2017, throwing for 674 yards while adding another 446 on the ground. Reynolds had seven passing touchdowns last year and was Lane's top quarterback on the season. Lane also brings back its top receiving threat in Omari Hampton, who gained 216 yards on 21 catches, three of which went for touchdowns. Ahmad Isaac is back after making 18 grabs for 192 yards, placing him second on the Dragons' receiving chart.
THE COACHES
Steven Smith was named the 22nd head coach of the Blue Tigers last December after a successful four-year run as the offensive coordinator of Albany State. Smith, who has also coached at Tennessee State, Delta State and Virginia State, helped Albany State go undefeated in league play in three of his four seasons. Smith's teams have made for NCAA Division II playoff appearances and he has coached 21 all-conference honorees and eight All-Americans. Smith additionally has coached with six NFL teams, most recently serving as an assistant under Romeo Crennel with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012.
Derrick Burroughs begins his eighth season as the head coach at Lane, and his fourth as the program's athletic director, in 2018. A former first round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills following a stellar career as a defensive back at Memphis, Burroughs has also coached at Jackson State, helping the Division I program place third in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in total defense in 2014. As the head coach at Lane, Burroughs has compiled 25 wins, including directing the Dragons to their first winning campaign in years in 2013.
BLOCK PARTY: With eight blocked kicks in 2017, the Blue Tigers finished fifth in NCAA Division II and led the GLVC. That total was four more than the total that Lincoln posted in 2016, when LU was fourth in the GLVC standings. Lincoln also ended the year second in the country in blocked punts, while Cody Alexander, Joseph Madrigal and Victor Williams, who each recovered kicks in the end zone, were 12th in DII in punt return touchdowns.
FIRST DEFENSE: The Lincoln defense was staunch last season, allowing only 170 first downs, the second-fewest by any GLVC program behind Missouri S&T's 163. The Blue Tigers ended the year ranked 15th in the country in that statistic.
ALL-CONFERENCE: The 2018 Blue Tigers feature a pair of All-GLVC performers in Isaiah Gray and Blake Tibbs. Gray, a defensive lineman, had 5.0 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries last year and made 46 total takedowns en route to an all-league second team award. Tibbs, meanwhile, was LU's top receiver with 38 catches and three touchdowns and earned honorable mention status.
PENALTY-FREE: Lincoln did an excellent job of avoiding penalties, committing only 54 in 2017. LU finished 14th in the nation in fewest penalties, 21st in fewest penalty yards (530) and 22nd in penalties per game (5.4).
NO FREE PASS: Only three of LU's opponents in 2017 threw for at least 200 yards in a game as the Blue Tigers were second in the GLVC in passing yards allowed. Lincoln gave up just 183.9 yards per contest, the 41st-fewest in NCAA Division II.
BALL CONTROL: Lincoln's offense was good at controlling the clock last year, with the Blue Tigers leading in time of possession in six of their 10 games. LU finished 21st in DII, and second in the GLVC with 32:08 minutes of possession per game.
CALL HIM MR. TIBBS: Blake Tibbs was one of the top returners in the country in 2017, ranking second in the GLVC and 25th in Division II with 11.9 yards per return. Tibbs additionally finished 20th in the country, and second in the conference, in combined kick return yardage with 768 on the season.
DII DEFENSE: Lincoln's strength in 2017 was on the defensive side of the ball, as LU finished the year ranked highly in both the GLVC and Division II in several stats. The Blue Tigers were second in the conference, and 41st in the country, in passing defense (183.9) as well as 42nd in the nation and second in the league in total defense (330.8). Lincoln also rated 70th in DII in rushing defense (146.9), and was among the country's leaders in blocked kicks, finishing fifth in the nation with eight overall and second nationally with five blocked punts on the season.
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Lincoln will play a Thursday night game for the first time since 2013 when the Blue Tigers play at Missouri State on Sept. 6. Lincoln opened 2013 at Lindenwood on a Thursday, and then beat DI program Grambling State the following week, 47-34. That was the last time LU played a Division I school.
NICE TO MEET YOU: Lincoln will play two teams for the first time ever in 2018, beginning a series against UW-Oshkosh on Sept. 15 and vs. Tarleton State on Nov. 3. Wisconsin-Oshkosh is a Division III program that plays in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, with LU's only other game vs. an opponent from that league being a 3-0 victory over UW-La Crosse in 1975. Tarleton State, meanwhile, plays in the Lone Star Conference.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Tigers will spend a lot of time on the road in 2018, as Lincoln will play only four games at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. That's the fewest in a season for LU since 2008, when the Blue Tigers played four home contests in a nine-game season. LU plays 11 contests in 2018, including six true road games as well as a neutral site contest in Memphis on Sept. 1.
ON THE AIR: Blue Tiger football is back on KJLU, as six of Lincoln's 11 games will be broadcast this season. All four of Lincoln's home contests, as well as the road games at Truman State on Oct. 13 and Missouri S&T on Oct. 27, will air on 88.9 FM in Jefferson City.
GEAR UP FOR THE GAME: LU fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.
UP NEXT: Lincoln is back in action on Thursday (Sept. 6) as LU travels to Springfield, Mo. to play Missouri State, an NCAA Division I program, at 6:00 p.m. CDT.
Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana defeated Point 25-14, 25-27, 25-18, 26-28, 15-10 Friday, then lost 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 to Mobile in the Big Easy Blastoff volleyball tournament.
