Thursday, September 30, 2010

ESPNU Thursday Game: Hampton (2-1, 2-0 MEAC) at DSU (0-3, 0-1 MEAC)

Weather conditions for tonight game favor DSU -- Expect Hornets to win in an upset of Pirates

7:30 tonight, Alumni Stadium, Dover, DE
Radio: WWTX-1290, WDOV-1410. TV: ESPNU

Pirates on offense: QB David Legree (6-5, 230, r-Jr.) has completed 42 of 84 passes for 419 yards with six TD passes and one interception. He ranks fourth in the MEAC with a 113.1 pass efficiency rating. RB Steve Robinson (6-2, 220, sr.) has rushed for 208 yards (4.7 ypc). WR's Donte Davis (6-1, 185, r-sr.) and Isiah Thomas (5-11, 185, r-jr.) have nine receptions each. Davis has 127 receiving yards with two TD catches. Thomas has 72 receiving yards (8.0 ypr) and two TD catches.

Pirates on defense: OLB Darius Johnson (6-1, 220, sr.) leads the MEAC in tackles at 8.3 per game. Johnson has 25 total tackles this season, including 13 solo stops. LT Kendrick Ellis (6-5, 340, sr.) is second on the Pirates with 24 tackles.

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BCU’s Johnson and BSU’s Budd Win Week-5 Fan Poll National Player of the Week Honors

Hartly, DE – Bethune Cookman’s Matt Johnson and Bowie State’s Clifton Budd are the winners of week five player of the week fan poll voting. Each week during the season, HSRN’s staff will select the top performances from all HBCU action and give the fans across the country a chance to vote for the Player of the Week.

HSRN developed the fan poll to get all HBCU alumni, students and fans involved with the national process and to also give everyone a chance to consistently keep up with the individual performances around the country. This web site and our broadcasts are designed to keep you abreast of all action around HBCU athletic competition.

Div. I-FCS
Matt Johnson – Bethune Cookman – QB – 5’10, 175 – SR/Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Johnson threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns, completing 17 of 27 passes. He also rushed for 56 yards on 18 carries, finishing the game with 281 total offensive yards. The Wildcats defeated Norfolk St. 21-7

Div. II.
Clifton “Dominique” Budd – Bowie St. – QB – 5’10, 185 – JR-/Silver Springs, MD.  Budd completed 32 of 51 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. His 32 completions and 355 yards set two school records. He also led the Bulldogs on the ground with 54 yards on 11 carries, finishing the game with 409 total offensive yards. The Bulldogs defeated VA.Union 28-27.

By LeCounte Conaway
HSRN.com

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

SU marching band struggles to attend away games

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - The Southern University's marching band, known as the Human Jukebox, is world-famous for its smooth sounds and high-stepping moves. But budget cuts have limited the band from traveling to away games with the football team.

Southern University was forced to cut the band's entire travel fund of about $120,000 because of state-wide budget cuts. The campus shaved nearly $18 million dollars from its budget this year. The band has been absent from both away games this season, and the Human Jukebox will likely miss even more.

"When you see the Human Jukebox, it's like no other experience someone can experience," said Lawrence Jackson, director. "There will be good music, good marching, and a good show. There's no business like show business."



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FAMU Rattlers Return Home for MEAC Showdown with S.C. State



Pack up the luggage and break out the grill and tent, the Rattlers finally return home to play in their home opener this Saturday.

FAMU senior cornerback Qier Hall adds, "It feels great to be at home. We want to play in front of our fans and show them the Rattlers defense, and show how the Rattlers will win this MEAC championship."

Grad assistants get second chance at football »

Former offensive tackle Javier Wallace just didn't feel right doing an 8-to-5 routine after he graduated from Florida A&M this past spring. He decided to return for graduate studies and suddenly found a cure for the boredom the hours after his day job usually brought.

He's back on the football field. As part of the requirement for his graduate program, Wallace was given a handful of options to work a job on campus for 20 hours each week. He chose to become a graduate assistant on coach Joe Taylor's staff, making a move that has propelled many before him into full-time coaching jobs.

FAMU's Graham has mentality of a leader

Since two seasons ago when he beat out senior inside linebacker Vernon Wilder for the starting job, Alvis Graham has been trying to prove that he is leader of the Florida A&M defensive unit.

He made his case even more emphatically last Saturday as arguably one of few impact players during the Rattlers loss to Tennessee State University in the Atlanta Classic. Graham made 13 tackles, which makes him the defensive leader on the team with 31 tackles in their first four games.



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'Sweet-Feet': Grambling, Frank Warren focused on running game

GRAMBLING, LA — You can't win the Southwestern Atheletic Conference Championship at the State Fair Classic, but you certainly can lose it.

In each of the last two seasons the winner of the annual matchup between Grambling State and Prairie View A&M has gone on to run the table in conference play, win the SWAC Western Division and win the SWAC Championship game in December. The loser of the game has never really had a chance to get back in the race, regardless of how well it played for the rest of the season.

GSU's Anthony cleared to 'exercise'

Grambling State defensive end Christian Anthony has been "released to do some exercising" on his own, six weeks after the 22-year-old senior suffered a heart attack. "He's doing much better," Grambling head coach Rod Broadway said. "It's just moderate exercising and we're telling him, 'don't overdo it.' We're just trying to get him well. Our main concern is he gets healthy."  Anthony, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive end, was dominant last season.

GSU's Warren fun to watch, a pain to play 

 In preparing for a key Southwestern Athletic Conference showdown against Grambling this week, Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones has spent more than a few minutes watching video of Frank Warren.

Upon closer inspection, he’d rather not watch it. Jones has decided he’s got a respectful kind of love-hate thing going on with Warren, the Tigers’ top tailback. As an objective judge of talent, Jones loves what he sees in Warren, a 5-foot-9, 200-pound tailback from Pleasant Grove, Ala., who’s off to a cheetah-like start this season.

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SWAC coaches offer SU's Mitchell encouragement‎

SWAC coaches offer SU’s Mitchell encouragement

Three games. One thrilling win. Two ugly losses. The Stump Mitchell era has barely begun at Southern University, and already, the first-year coach must try to assure fans that his program isn’t doomed to fail. "I still love this football team,” Mitchell said Monday. “We just have to be consistent in doing the things that we want to get done.”

But of all the people to offer a ray of light, perhaps the least likely — Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones, who handed the Jaguars a 34-14 defeat on Saturday — was the one who gave some interesting, encouraging advice.

Jaguars nursing injuries to key defensive leaders

A 34-14 defeat at the hands of Alabama A&M wasn’t the only thing Southern University lost Saturday night in Normal, Ala. The Jaguars also took a blow to their defense when two key starters were injured.

Middle linebacker Corey Ray, who suffered a shoulder injury in the first half of Saturday’s game, is “day-to-day,” Southern coach Stump Mitchell said. The status of free safety Jason House is a little less clear.

Rough sailing could be ahead for Southern

At about 9 p.m. Saturday, after they shook hands with an Alabama A&M team that handed them a second ugly loss in as many games, members of the Southern football team removed their helmets and took a knee on the soft, wet grass at Louis Crews Stadium.

The rain kept falling, and somehow, that figured. The Jaguars were soundly beaten on the line of scrimmage and, after a first-play touchdown, seemed overmatched in a 34-14 loss. It had been, without any doubt, a night to forget.

SU preaches effort

As far as he knew, first-year coach Stump Mitchell said the charter bus Southern’s football team used this weekend was not equipped with a panic button. Even if it were, he said, the Jaguars did not intend to use it as they rode home from Normal, Ala., after a 34-14 loss Saturday night against Alabama A&M in their Southwestern Athletic Conference opener.

SU (1-2, 0-1 SWAC) faces Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2, 0-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium, the second of eight games in eight consecutive weeks.

Struggling defense loses leaders

NORMAL, Ala. — Southern’s defense struggled for the second consecutive game Saturday in a 34-14 loss to Alabama A&M at Louis Crews Stadium. It didn’t help that this time, the Jaguars lost two of their leaders to injury.

Middle linebacker Corey Ray suffered an injury to his right shoulder with 3:11 remaining in the first quarter, watching the second half in a T-shirt and a sling. Ray’s injury was noteworthy for two reasons: He has dislocated the shoulder before, and he is largely responsible for calling plays and checks for the SU defense.


Hollimon finally gets chance at quarterback for Southern

This is for all those afternoons when Gary Hollimon iced down his shoulder, having finished another practice with pride and purpose, even though he knew he’d never play on Saturday.

This is for all those times when coaches praised Hollimon’s work ethic and easygoing attitude, then told him to stay on the bench. This is for the time Gary Hollimon nearly got cut from the team he now leads.

Mitchell taking the heat

Stump Mitchell spent nine years as an NFL running back. He knows how to take a beating. Mitchell has lived in Georgia, Arizona, Texas and, since January, when he accepted the job as Southern’s football coach, Louisiana as well. He knows how to deal with heat. These days, he’s getting enough of both.

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Winston Salem State Coming Together Fast


Coming together fast



It’s not easy to form a cohesive offensive line in a short amount of time, but Winston-Salem State did. That’s one reason WSSU is 5-0 and ranked in the AFCA Division II (No. 23) poll for the first time in eight years. The Rams started the preseason with plenty of question marks, and the offensive line was among the biggest.

I’m not surprised, because from the first week of camp, we’ve been pretty together,” said Winston Hill, a freshman offensive lineman from Brooklyn, N.Y. Hill (6-3, 305) came in from Hargrave Military Academy, enrolled at WSSU last winter and impressed coaches in spring practice. He has been a starter ever since.


Rams in good shape, injury-wise

One thing that has helped the Rams to a 5-0 record is the lack of any serious injuries. But linebacker Carlos Fields sprained an ankle in the first half of Saturday’s 31-14 win over Fayetteville State and didn’t play in the second half.

Trainer Rob Woodall said that Fields is questionable for Saturday’s game at Johnson C. Smith. “He didn’t practice (on Monday) because we were indoors so we’ll see later in the week how it feels,” Woodall said.

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

FAMU sticking with its running game



FAMU sticking with its running game

After Saturday's stunning loss to Tennessee State, coach Joe Taylor suggested that receiver T.J. Lawrence might figure more prominent in the offensive mix, but that's not saying that the Rattlers are about to abandon their running back.

That doesn't seem likely especially with the depth that FAMU has at the position for the first time in more than three seasons. But no matter which one of the four running backs that played against TSU carried the ball, they didn't gain much rushing. FAMU actually finished with just 24 yards on the ground as its eight-game win streak in the Atlanta Classic was snapped with a 29-18 loss.

FAMU must quickly shake off loss to TSU

ATLANTA — In so many ways, the way Tennessee State ran past Florida A&M on Saturday mirrored the Rattlers' loss to South Carolina State a year ago.

FAMU was pounded on the ground for 413 yards and barely responded in its 29-18 loss to the Tigers. South Carolina State beat FAMU 35-20 last year, but the Rattlers bounced back and won three straight games. This time, rebounding after TSU snapped an eight-year losing streak at the Georgia Dome might not be as easy because of the opponent — South Carolina State.

Pough expects FAMU to be better than in Saturday’s loss
If watching Florida A&M fall to Tennessee State this past weekend inspired additional confidence in ninth-ranked South Carolina State, head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough gave no indication at Monday's press conference.

In fact, Pough believes the way the Rattlers were handled by the Tigers at the Atlanta Football Classic in allowing 11 quarterback sacks and close to 300 rushing yards will make them even more motivated for this Saturday's 6 p.m. clash at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee.

"I think losing creates ...

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South Carolina State moves Into the Top 10

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Appalachian State holds the No. 1 spot for the third straight week in the Football Championships Subdivision Coaches Poll. The Mountaineers lost a first-place vote from the previous week, but still received 16 of the 28 votes and 681 total points to remain the top-ranked team in the nation.

South Carolina States moves into the top 10 for the first time this season at No. 9, while Montana State completes the top 10. The Bulldogs travels to Florida A&M Saturday to face a highly regarded Rattlers team that was demolished 29-18 by rival Tennessee State in the Atlanta Football Classic. TSU limited the Rattlers rushers to 24 yards and registered 11 sacks on defense. The 6 p.m. contest will be delayed broadcast at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.

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Finally, Winston Salem State Rams Receives National Ranking

After a four-year run in Football Championship Subdivision, Winston-Salem State (N.C.) is back in Division II and makes an appearance in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the first time since 2002. The Rams moved their record to 5-0 after a 31-14 victory over Fayetteville State (N.C.) and enter the poll at No. 23.

Grand Valley State (Mich.), Minnesota-Duluth, North Alabama, California (Pa.) and Abilene Christian (Texas) still hold down the Top 5 places. There will be three Top 25 matchups in this week’s games, including a pair of Top 10 games. No. 5 Abilene Christian (Texas) will travel south to face conference rival, No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville, while No. 7 Northwest Missouri State plays host to No. 8 Missouri Western State. In the final Top 25 matchup, No. 15 West Alabama will travel to No. 19 Delta State (Miss.) in a Thursday night showdown in the Gulf South Conference.

From the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference -- Albany State, Morehouse and Tuskegee are ranked at #14, #18 and #22.


2010 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll
September 27, 2010


RankSchool (1st votes)Rec.Pts.Prev.Last WeekNext Game
1.Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (21)4-06441D. Findlay (Ohio) 35-7Oct. 2 at Tiffin (Ohio)
2.Minnesota-Duluth (2)4-06202D. Bemidji St. (Minn.), 44-21Oct. 2 at Minnesota St.-Moorhead
3.North Alabama (3)4-06043D. Lambuth (Tenn.), 31-0Oct. 2 vs. Arkansas Tech
4.California (Pa.)4-05564D. Clarion (Pa.), 24-9Oct. 2 vs. Lock Haven (Pa.)
5.Abilene Christian (Texas)4-05515D. Tarleton St. (Texas), 65-3Oct. 2 at No. 6 Texas A&M-Kingsville
6.Texas A&M-Kingsville4-05206D. Incarnate Word (Texas), 37-9Oct. 2 vs. No. 5 Abilene Christian (Texas)
7.Northwest Missouri St.2-14977D. Truman St. (Mo.), 44-10Oct. 2 vs. No. 8 Missouri Western St.
8.Missouri Western St.4-04458D. Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 42-25Oct. 2 at No. 7 Northwest Missouri St.
9.West Texas A&M3-14319D. Angelo St. (Texas), 37-27Oct. 2 at Northeastern St. (Okla.)
10.Midwestern St. (Texas)4-040910D. Central Oklahoma, 30-24Oct. 2 vs. Incarnate Word (Texas)
11.Hillsdale (Mich.)3-135912D. Lake Erie (Ohio), 42-37Oct. 2 vs. Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.)
12.Edinboro (Pa.)4-032913D. Gannon (Pa.), 13-0Oct. 2 vs. Indiana (Pa.)
13.Tusculum (Tenn.)4-032415IdleOct. 2 at Mars Hill (N.C.)
14.Albany St. (Ga.)4-030116D. Savannah St. (Ga.), 28-14Oct. 2 vs. Lane (Tenn.)
15.West Alabama3-126017D. West Georgia, 28-7Sept. 30 at No. 19 Delta St. (Miss.)
16.Central Missouri4-123621D. Washburn (Kan.), 55-45Oct. 2 at Truman St. (Mo.)
17.Nebraska-Kearney3-119819D. Western St. (Colo.), 13-6Oct. 2 vs. Adams St. (Colo.)
18.Morehouse (Ga.)5-018620D. Lincoln (Mo.), 30-14Oct. 9 vs. No. 22 Tuskegee (Ala.)
19.Delta St. (Miss.)3-116523D. Henderson St. (Ark.), 41-37Sept. 30 vs. No. 15 West Alabama
20.Augustana (S.D.)4-013424D. Southwest Minnesota St., 53-21Oct. 2 at Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
21.Central Washington3-211122D. Simon Fraser (B.C.) 44-30Oct. 2 at Humboldt St. (Calif.)
22.Tuskegee (Ala.)3-110325D. Texas Southern, 21-14Oct. 2 vs. Miles (Ala.)
23.Winston-Salem St. (N.C.)5-087NRD. Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 31-14Oct. 2 at Johnson C. Smith (N.C.)
24.North Carolina-Pembroke3-178NRD. No. 14 Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 30-7Oct. 2 at Glenville St. (W.Va.)
25.Minnesota St.-Mankato3-17511Lost to Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.), 28-26Oct. 2 at Winona St. (Minn.)

Courtesy: AFCA

Monday, September 27, 2010

Adams leads Benedict to shutout of Stillman

COLUMBIA, S.C. Sophomore quarterback Michael Adams ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more on Saturday to lead Benedict College to a 35-0 victory over Stillman College in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game.

Adams gained 107 yards on 13 carries, with his longest gain going for a 61-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He completed 7 of 14 passes for 193 yards and one interception. Stillman gained 100 yards rushing on 33 attempts. Chester Hightower led Stillman with 69 yards on 22 carries. His longest run went for 23 yards. The Benedict defense intercepted five passes and allowed 48 passing yards.




Benedict Picks Up Its First Win Of 2010


Backup quarterback Michael Adams helped Benedict jump out to a 21-0 lead as the Tigers cruised to a 35-0 win over Stillman Saturday at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

Adams got the start in place of Pat Riley who did not practice this week as a result of an undisclosed injury. Riley did dress out and was on the sidelines with his team which used a quick-striking offense and a tough defense to earn its first win of the season.


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NFL legend brings buzz to ECSU tourney

There was some buzz around the Elizabeth City State University Foundation Classic charity golf tournament at The Pines at Elizabeth City Friday. An NFL Hall-of-Famer was on the course.

Bruce Smith, who left pro football as the all-time sacks leader after a 19-year career with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins, was playing in a foursome that included Foundation board chairman Rodney Hawkins, legendary ECSU basketball coach Bobby Vaughan and businessman Nick Clark.

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PHOTO GALLERY:

Bruce Smith plays ECSU Foundation Golf Classic, Sept. 24 The ...

Lewis TD Run Gives Miles Golden Bears 13-12 Win Over Kentucky State

FAIRFIELD, AL – The Golden Bears bounced back from a tough loss from a week ago, as the Miles College football team defeated the visiting Kentucky State University Thorobreds 13-12 in its second conference win of the season. Miles improves to 2-3; 2-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with the victory, while the Kentucky State drop to 2-3; 2-3 in the SIAC.

Miles got off to a sluggish start, falling behind 0-6 in the first half. The Golden Bears scored its first touchdown on Carlton Hill’s one yard run (PAT kick failed), bringing the score to 6-6, with 8:01 to play in the third quarter. The Thorobreds struck again on a 16 yard interception return to go up 6-12 (PAT kick failed) to end the third quarter. The Golden Bears tied the game up on Jordan Lewis 63 yard run (Patton Chambers kick good) at the 4:48 mark in the fourth quarter, making the score 13-12.

Bears rally past K-State


Kentucky State fell to Miles College 13-12 Saturday in Fairfield, Ala., dropping the Thorobreds’ record to 2-3 on the season. KSU led the game 6-0 at halftime, getting a 69-yard touchdown run from Shannon Frieson in the first quarter. Frieson gained 119 yards on 13 carries against the Golden Bears, leading all rushers in the contest.

Miles struck back to begin the third quarter, finishing a four-play, 42-yard drive with a 1-yard run from quarterback Carlton Hill, which tied the game 6-6. The Thorobreds responded with a defensive touchdown five minutes later. Grandson Brown picked off Hill at the Miles 16-yard line and returned it for a score. The two-point conversion failed, leaving KSU’s lead at 12-6.

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Kentucky State University added the auxiliary twirling group to the Marching Thorobreds in January 2009 thanks to the efforts of Sophia Marie Thompson. Sophia is from Piney Fork, Ohio.

KSU Marching Thorobreds performance at Morehouse College on 9/18/10.

VSU Trojans Rush To Third Win Over Chowan Hawks



Virginia State University's football team held on late in the fourth quarter to secure a 20-13 win against Chowan University in Murfreesboro, NC on Sept. 25. Justin Parker's 2nd made field-goal (19; 30), from a season long 30 yards out gave VSU a 20-6 lead with 3:23 remaining in the game. Coach Andrew Faison and the VSU Trojans won their first northern divisional conference game with a balance attack of 168 yards passing and 153 yards rushing improving to their best start at 3-1 since the 2002 season.

(3-1) Virginia State University's defense gave up a late touchdown with a minute left in the fourth, after only giving up only two Chowan field-goals the entire game. Chowan rushed for 66 total team yards due to the Trojans stingy and smart defensive group.

Led with 9 tackles from senior LaQuentin Milo (Florence, SC), senior James Pratt's (Alexandria, VA) and junior Clifton Haney's (Orlando, FL) 7 tackles the Hawks averaged 1.8 yards rushing on 36 carries. Chowan also received pressure when they attempted to pass as VSU recorded a season high 6 sacks. Red-shirt freshmen Timothy Durant (Hyattsville, MD) and senior Isiah Townsend (San Francisco, CA) both had 2 sacks each and three others each recorded one; senior Andre' Adams (Washington, DC), senior James Pratt (Alexandria, VA), and sophomore Thomas Sykes (Newport News, VA).

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Tuskegee Rebounds, Holds off Texas Southern

A week after being manhandled at home by Albany State, Tuskegee got back on track, outlasting FCS foe Texas Southern 21-14 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama Saturday.

Although Martin Gilbert rushed for 121 yards on 19 carries for TSU (1-3) against the 25th-ranked Golden Tigers (3-1), it was Nykeem Barton outdueling Arvell Nelson that was the heart of the game.

Barton smashed through the goal-line stands of TSU for all three Tuskegee touchdowns that combined for just four total yards. The third score, in the fourth quarter, proved to be the game-winner.

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Attendance: 5336


Musical Sounds from the 2010 Atlanta Football Classic










Television Versions












Morehouse Tigers improve to 5-0 in 30-14 win over Lincoln (Mo.) Blue Tigers

Atlanta, GA - David Carter rushed for 211 yards and a touchdown and powered Morehouse to a 30-14 win over Lincoln University. At 5-0, the Maroon Tigers are enjoying the best season start since 1930.

After surrendering a 99-yard touchdown return on the opening kick, Morehouse settled down and limited the visiting Blue Tigers (1-3) to one touchdown the rest of the way.

The Maroon Tigers bounced back on their first possession with a seven-play, 68-yard drive that was capped off by a Carter one-yard touchdown run. Ian Mullen’s point-after attempt was blocked.

On the next Lincoln possession, defensive lineman Chigbo Anunoby, who played at Lincoln last year, forced a Blue Tiger fumble that led to a 33-yard Mullen field goal and game Morehouse a 9-7 advantage.

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Morehouse highlights against Kentucky State (last week)

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Offense comes alive as A&M dominates Southern

HUNTSVILLE, AL - In lopsided losses to Tennessee State and Texas Southern, Alabama A&M's offense looked virtually inept. The Bulldogs were limited to 276 yards in a 27-14 loss to Tennessee State and were held to 197 yards in a 32-9 loss at Texas Southern a week ago. Thank goodness for Southern.

A&M's offense came to life against the Jaguars, finishing with 455 total yards as the Bulldogs whipped Southern 34-14 Saturday night in an important Southwestern Athletic Conference game in front of an announced crowd of 6,218 at Louis Crews Stadium.

After strong start, Jaguars falter


NORMAL, Ala. — On the glorious first play from scrimmage, the Gary Hollimon experiment worked. Virtually everything else did not.

On a rain-soaked field at Louis Crews Stadium on Saturday night, the Southern football team started strong for the first time this season, getting a 62-yard touchdown run from Hollimon, their tailback-turned-quarterback, in the Jaguars’ Southwestern Athletic Conference opener against Alabama A&M.

From that moment, the Bulldogs blitzed, ran, passed and thoroughly beat Southern 34-14 in a game that had to make fans wonder if they’re in for a long first season under new coach Stump Mitchell.

Alabama A&M grades


Offense: A: The Bulldogs, who looked a lot some of Alabama A&M's units in recent years, finished with a season-high 455 yards in total offense, 234 rushing and 221 passing.

Defense: A-minus: Defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns wasn't pleased with Southern quarterback Gary Hollimon's 62-yard touchdown run to start the game, but the Bulldogs dominated the Jaguars the rest of the way.