ASU-A&M prepare for Magic City Classic

Alabama State and Alabama A&M have significantly different goals for the rest of the season. ASU remains in the thick of contention for the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title, while A&M is trying to end a three-game losing streak and salvage a season gone sour. But for one week, both these teams have the same objective: win the Magic City Classic. In many ways, winning this game is one of the primary objectives for any season.

"This game goes a long way in determining whether you have a successful year," said A&M coach Anthony Jones. "You feel more pressure on this game than any other one. Nobody will accept any excuses for losing." The 69th playing of the Magic City Classic is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham.

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Hampton Pirates Football Set To Take On Old Dominion

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, when they return to Armstrong Stadium to take on Old Dominion at 1 p.m.

The Pirates (5-2) had their five-game winning streak snapped with a 10-7 loss on the road to South Carolina State this past Saturday, while the second-year Monarchs (4-3), under the direction of head coach Bobby Wilder, have won three of their last four after a 34-20 Homecoming win over Georgia State.

Saturday’s game will be the first-ever meeting between Hampton and Old Dominion; the Monarchs are in just their second year of competition after going nearly 70 years without a football team. After a 9-2 debut in 2009, ODU now holds the mark for the most wins ever for an FCS program in its first season.

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GSU’s Warren and ASU’s Jennings Win HSRN.com National Player of the Week Honors

Hartly, DE – Grambling State’s Frank Warren and Albany State’s Stanley Jennings are the winners of week nine 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
Frank Warren – Grambling State - RB – 5’9, 200 – SR/Pleasant Grove, AL
Warren finished the game with 209 yards on 27 carries, a 7.0 per carry average and touchdown runs for 85 and 39 yards. He led the Tigers to a 35-14 win over Mississippi Valley State



Div. II
Stanley Jennings – Albany State – QB – 6’2, 235 – JR/Marietta, GA
Jennings orchestrated ASU’s fourth quarter 13-12 come-from-behind win over Morehouse. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards, including the game winning five yard pass with 18 seconds on the clock. He also led the Golden Rams in rushing with 73 yards on 15 carries, including a 12 yard TD run. Jennings finished the game with 253 yards of total offense.

GSU's Warren rushing toward record books

GRAMBLING, LA — Grambling State running back Frank Warren is well on his way to shattering just about every meaningful rushing record in program history.

After Saturday's 209-yard, two-touchdown performance in GSU's 35-14 victory over Mississippi Valley State, Warren has 3,515 rushing yards for his career and 1,142 yards this season. He's already become Grambling's first 1,000-yard rushing since Brad Hill accomplished the feat in 2001, but even bigger accolades are on the horizon. Warren needs 260 more rushing yards to break...

Grambling's Warren earns SWAC honor

Grambling running back Frank Warren has been named the SWAC's Offensive Player of the Week. Warren carried 27 times for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground in Grambling’s 35-14 victory at Mississippi Valley State. He became Grambling’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2001, and he is the only player in FCS this season to have three 200-yard rushing games.

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Saturday's WSSU/Shaw game moved to Durham County Stadium

WSSU’s final regular-season game with Shaw on Saturday at 1 p.m. will be played at Durham County Stadium instead of Millbrook High School in Raleigh. The game originally was scheduled for Millbrook, where Shaw plays most of its home games because it does not have a stadium on campus. Durham County Stadium is also where the CIAA Championship Game will be played on Nov. 13. For information on tickets call the WSSU ticket office at 750-3220.

Bill Hayes, the Rams’ athletics director, spent a lot of time on the field during Saturday’s homecoming game against UNC Pembroke but he wasn’t coaching. Instead, he was recognizing the many donors, both alumni and corporate, who have ...

Winston-Salem State Needs Win And A Little Help

Winston-Salem, N.C.--The 8-1 Winston Salem State head into Saturday's showdown with CIAA Rival Shaw needing a win and a little help the following week to earn a spot in the Conference Championship game.

Shaw and Saint Augustine's sit atop the CIAA Southern Division Standings with 5-0 records with the Rams just behind at 5-1. Winston-Salem State needs to knock off Shaw, and have Shaw beat Saint Augustine's the following week to create a 3 way tie atop the Division.

Stakes sky high for WSSU, Shaw

Coach Darrell Asberry of Shaw is well aware of what his team will have at stake the next two Saturdays. First, his Bears will take on the 18th-ranked Winston-Salem State Rams at 1 p.m. Saturday at Durham County Stadium. The next weekend, on Nov. 6, they will play No. 23 St. Augustine’s.

“When you get down to this point in the season, they are all big,” said Asberry, who is in his fifth season. With Shaw (6-2, 5-0 CIAA), WSSU (8-1, 5-1) and St. Aug’s (7-1, 5-0) all chasing the CIAA’s Southern Division title, there’s late-season drama, but Asberry said that’s not a bad thing.

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ASU Rams get SIAC honors, move to No. 6 in poll

ALBANY, GA — It looks like Albany State’s 13-12 win against Morehouse on Saturday was pretty significant.

Not only did the Rams (8-0 overall, 7-0 in the SIAC) move up to No. 6 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, they kicked the Tigers out completely and earned some SIAC awards in the process.
Junior quarterback Stanley Jennings was named Newcomer of the Week, while junior offensive lineman Ricory Green received Offensive Lineman of the Week honors.

Jennings orchestrated ASU’s come-from-behind victory as he completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards, including the game-winning five-yard pass with 18 seconds on the clock. The Marietta-native also scored on a 12-yard touchdown rush and led the Rams in rushing with 73 yards on 15 carries.




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VSU controls destiny for CIAA final berth

Virginia State will go into Saturday's game at archrival Virginia Union controlling its destiny for the Northern Division berth in the CIAA championship game, which will be played in Durham County (N.C.) Stadium for the third straight year Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.

"We look forward to our premier football event returning to Durham. Without question, the 2010 season is one of the most exciting in CIAA history," Commissioner Leon Kerry said. "We still have seven teams with a realistic chance of winning their division and a place in the championship game."

Still in the Northern Division hunt with the Trojans over the closing weeks of the regular season are Bowie State, Elizabeth City State and Chowan.

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DSU learning painful lesson, Lavan says

DOVER, DE -- There is no class at Delaware State that can teach its football team how to finish games. That, according to Hornets coach Al Lavan, has to be learned through difficult lessons. Those lessons don't get much more painful than DSU's 34-24 loss at Morgan State last Saturday, when the Hornets allowed 13 points in the final 20 seconds of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game.

Lavan remains confident in his team's ability, even as the Hornets (1-6 overall, 1-4 MEAC) prepare to host two-time reigning conference champion South Carolina State (5-2, 3-1) at Alumni Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Delaware State coach says team has to make plays ‎

DOVER, Del. - Former NFL head coach Bill Parcells once famously said, "You are what your record says you are."

At 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the MEAC heading into Saturday's home game against 17th-ranked South Carolina State, Delaware State head coach Al Lavan was inclined to agree on Tuesday. Although pleased with the Hornets' resiliency shown throughout the season, Lavan has seen too many missed opportunities and mental mistakes to try to sugarcoat his team's record.

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Little things are big to interim AD at N.C. A&T

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Justin Ferrell was headed for his seat in front of the three TV cameras gathered for N.C. A&T's weekly football news conference Monday afternoon. Suddenly a hand shot out and grabbed Ferrell by the shoulder, stopping one of the MEAC's toughest defensive players in his tracks.

Earl Hilton's keen blue eyes noticed the back of Ferrell's necktie poking out from under the collar of his dress shirt. Hilton helped Ferrell fix the fashion faux pas -- something the cameras wouldn't have seen, anyway. It was a small act. But it summed up what N.C. A&T's interim athletics director said he brings to the job. Attention to detail.



THURSDAY, Oct. 28: North Carolina A&T at Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
TV: ESPNU - 7:30 p.m.

Short week for B-CU

DAYTONA BEACH -- The good news is obvious. It's right there atop the conference standings, where Bethune-Cookman is perched with an unblemished record through seven games.

The stress is in the details. The Wildcats, whose first-year head coach Brian Jenkins is very big on routine, is now out of its comfort zone, forced to do a week of preparation in just four days as they look to a Thursday night home game -- moved from Saturday at the request of ESPN, which will broadcast the game on its ESPNU channel. Getting Jenkins to admit that his routine is ruffled, however, is another matter.

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With its offense struggling, NSU fires coordinator

NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk State football team, struggling under the weight of a stagnant offense, replaced offensive coordinator Kirk Mastromatteo with tight ends coach Joe Blackwell on an interim basis Monday.

Mastromatteo will not coach in the Spartans' final four games and his contract will not be renewed. The Norfolk State offense has scored just two touchdowns during the team's four-game losing streak and the Spartans have just 39 points in those games, including two touchdowns scored by the defense.

"My job is to win games," Mastromatteo said. "My job is to score points. Of course it's frustrating. It's not a lack of effort, it's not a lack of experience or knowledge. In this profession, sometimes someone has to be the guy (to go). Right now, I'm the guy.... This is a great profession, but it's a nasty, nasty business."



NSU notes: It's 3,000 yards and counting for Branche

NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk State running back DeAngelo Branche, who needed 42 yards to reach the 3,000-yard mark for his career, finished with 89 yards on 26 carries. The Maury graduate is just the second Spartan to hit the milestone and the first to do it at the FCS level.

"It was one of my goals," Branche said. "You can enjoy it a little. Even after a loss, an achievement is still an achievement. My name's in the record books. When I leave here, it'll still be here." Doing it on homecoming made it extra special.

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BSU Bulldogs Win on Senior Day, 20-12 over ECSU

The Bowie State Bulldogs (5-4 overall, 5-1 CIAA) on Senior day found a way despite giving up 500 yards in total offense and not scoring in the second half to defeat Elizabeth State (4-4 overall, 3-2 CIAA), 20-12. The win gives the Bulldogs a fighting chance of earning a CIAA championship birth with two weeks remaining in the season.

"The guys played for the seniors today and they played a good game," said coach Damon Wilson. "This is a good Elizabeth City team." "The guys fought for four quarters and found a way to win the ballgame, so it was great to finish our home stretch with a W."

The Bulldogs won the game because of three things: on offense, they were efficient and ran the ball successfully; on defense, they were able to create three turnovers when Elizabeth City was within a yard of the end zone; and finally, special teams was fantastic creating two touchdowns.

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TSU fizzles on offense in OVC loss

Tennessee State's offense started strong but stalled in the second half as the Tigers lost to Tennessee Tech 21-10 on Saturday night. It is the first time TSU (3-5, 0-4) has lost four consecutive conference games since joining the Ohio Valley Conference in 1988.

Not only did TSU's offense suddenly start to sputter in the second half, but it also failed to take advantage of the two opportunities it did have. Freshman kicker Jamin Godfrey missed field goals from 24 and 31 yards. "We have to score in the red zone and we're making too many field goal attempts, and missing two tonight didn't help our effort any," TSU Coach Rod Reed said.

McNairl gives TSU an offensive boost

Not even Tennessee State's versatile Calvin McNairl enjoying a breakout game at wide receiver was enough to give the Tigers a win over Tennessee Tech Saturday night at LP Field. McNairl started eight games at quarterback last season, then moved to receiver in the spring. The junior from Henry County came into the game as TSU's third-leading receiver with 13 catches for 145 yards and no touchdowns. He finished the 21-10 loss as the leading receiver with nine catches for 131 yards, including an 84-yard TD.

TTU FOOTBALL: Golden Eagles fend off Tennessee State

NASHVILLE -- A year ago, it was Tennessee Tech's Tim Benford making the game-saving catch to give the Golden Eagles the win over Tennessee State and clinching the Sergeant York Trophy. On Saturday night, Benford caught two touchdown catches, his sixth and seventh in OVC play this season, leading the Golden Eagles to a 21-10 victory at LP Field. In other words, Benford likes playing Tennessee State.

For TSU, injury updates are a taboo subject

Tennessee State first-year Coach Rod Reed said he recently adopted a policy for being tighter-lipped about his team's injuries, but he doesn't deny the Tigers are hurting as they try to snap their three-game OVC losing streak today. The Tigers (3-4, 0-3 OVC) hope to avoid their first 0-4 start since joining the league in 1988 when Tennessee Tech (3-4, 2-2) visits LP Field at 6 tonight. Lost for the year are:

TTU FOOTBALL: Tech, TSU battered and bruised

COOKEVILLE -- As both Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State enter this week's contest, both sidelines could look like a battlefield hospital with many wounded players are lining up the sidelines. The two teams square off in a Sergeant York Trophy contest Saturday night at 6 p.m. from LP Field. The biggest blow this season has been the loss of running back Preston Brown, who was a major focal point of the Tigers' offense.

"Everybody knows about him," Reed said. "He was the nation's leading rusher.

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ATTENDANCE: 6739


Please register TODAY at www.hondabattleofthebands.com and vote daily for your favorite band to go to Atlanta Jan. 29.

Harvey has TSU Tigers making academic strides

Texas Southern men’s basketball coach Tony Harvey could check off a lengthy list of accomplishments from the 2009-10 season. TSU’s first winning season since 2002-03. A 10-win improvement from the previous season. The Tigers’ first appearance in the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament final since 2003.

Harvey, however, said his No. 1 accomplishment of 2009-10 can be best seen in a photo that sits on the desk of his office. In the photo, Harvey is posing with former Tigers guard David Burrell after the latter’s graduation from TSU in May.

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Williams shakes off three interceptions, rallies Morgan State past Delaware State, 34-24

Morgan State quarterback Delonte Williams had already thrown three interceptions, two of which resulted in Delaware State touchdowns, when he calmly walked into the huddle with just over three minutes left in the game. Williams said that even though the Bears were down by three, they'd be just fine.

The redshirt freshman then directed an 85-yard drive, capped by his 34-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Hendrix with 20 seconds left. Sheldon Jacques added another touchdown on a 2-yard fumble return as time ran out to give Morgan State a 34-24 victory in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Saturday before an announced 14,312 at Hughes Stadium.

Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley liked how his team overcame adversity on the last drive.

In seconds, DSU Hornets squanders victory

BALTIMORE, MD -- Delaware State has struggled all season when it comes to stopping the opponent in the fourth quarter. Saturday saw that problem reach a new extreme. With time winding down, Morgan State overcame a fourth-and-10 from its own 15-yard line and rallied for 13 points in the final 20 seconds to pull off a 34-24 victory in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game.

"That's why you have to play for every snap that's required in a football game," DSU head coach Al Lavan said. "It's not a mystery as to what happened. It's very clear as to what happened -- we didn't make enough plays when we were given the opportunity to."

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huevoicesdotcom captures sights and sounds from Morgan State's 2010 Homecoming game. Check out Bobby Marvin's blog site at:  http://www.huevoices.com
huevoicesdotcom is a blog that provides news,one on one interviews, features, and commentary on the African-American community of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

North Carolina A&T Aggies Blow Out Howard Bison, 52-32

The Howard Bison may not be winning, but they are progressing. Although they fell to 1-6 after suffering a 52-32 road loss to the North Carolina A&T Aggies on Oct. 23, Howard scored their highest point total this season behind freshman quarterback Randy Liggins, Jr. Howard entered the game averaging just 11 points per game, but lit up the scoreboard in the losing effort.

Howard turned the ball over five times, and North Carolina A&T took full advantage, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after Jeremy Graham returned a fumble 38 yards for a score on Howard's opening drive of the game. Howard battled back behind Liggins, who threw consecutive scoring strikes to Brandon Drayton and Daley Gunter for 56 and 31 yards, but the team failed both two-point conversions to make it 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Aggies get first victory

GREENSBORO -- N.C. A&T coach Alonzo Lee couldn't help but crack a furtive smile before addressing the media following his team's 52-32 runaway win against Howard. When your team came in on a 10-game losing streak -- a run that began at last year's homecoming -- you're allowed to smile.

Lee reverted to his usual stoic demeanor after a few seconds, but there was no question how much the victory meant to him and the program. "I first want to thank God for a long-time-coming victory," Lee said. "There's no doubt I was just as excited for the young men."

Gallery:N.C. A&T 52, Howard 32

ATTENDANCE: 6,351

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ASU Hornets wear down winless Savannah State Tigers

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Eight games, all on the road. The Savannah State Tigers are just looking for a break. "We haven't won a game, so we've got it in our mind that we have to play as hard as we can to try and win a football game," said senior linebacker J. Vince Cochran, the team's leading tackler. "Just give more effort than we usually do to try and pull one out."

The Tigers put together an inspired defensive effort against Alabama State on Saturday, but the end result was the same. Savannah State wore down in the second half and allowed the Hornets to pull away for a 24-0 win in front of 5,237 fans at Cramton Bowl.



Savannah State Tigers Fall to 0-8

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Devin Dominguez completed 18 of 27 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns as Alabama State beat Savannah State 24-0 on Saturday.

The Hornets (4-3) took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter after an 8-yard touchdown pass from Dominguez to Nick Andrews. Dominguez hooked up with Landon Jones on a 12-yard scoring pass in the third quarter as Alabama State entered the fourth with a 14-0 lead.

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Based on the talent that Savannah State has recruited in their first year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for football, basketball, baseball and the band, the Tigers are going to become a competitive force in short order. I like the enthusiasm of the kids and how they are not letting this growth period negatively impact their long term goals toward creditability and high achievement in the conference.

 Keep plugging away SSU as you continue laying the foundation for a solid Division I program.  In a few years as you become competitive,  Alabama State, Georgia State and Georgia Southern won't even take your athletic director's telephone calls to schedule a game with the Tigers.

Already, the Georgia State Band wants no parts of a 5th quarter in the Dome with the Tigers. Go SSU!

-Beepbeep

Virginia State Trojans tame Lincoln (Pa.) Lions

ETTRICK, VA - It's a good thing the cannon at Rogers stadium fires blank rounds after every Virginia State University touchdown. If actual cannon balls were required, there may not have been enough on hand Saturday as home team routed Lincoln 42-0 in a CIAA matchup.

The Trojans defense fired a blank of their own, claiming their first shutout of the year by forcing five turnovers and limiting the Lions to 225 yards of total offense.
VSU senior Laquentin Milo got things started for the home team by picking off a pass from Lincoln quarterback Steven Torres. The 6-0, 220-pound linebacker returned it 29 yards to the Lions' 16-yard line, much to the delight of a rowdy homecoming crowd.

Image Gallery for Trojans tame Lions

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Win slips through Lane's fingers late at home

Emotions overcame Lane College football coach Derrick Burroughs after the Dragons lost to Stillman College 26-25 on the final play Saturday. "I don't know, I don't know," Burroughs, with his hands on top of his head said. "What to say, I don't know." The last second loss mirrored Lane's 30-23 overtime loss to Benedict College, October 10.

Burroughs and Lane were stunned as Stillman came away with the win after Damien Ford took a lateral from Samuel Barry on a Hail Mary pass play that covered 65 yards. "I had just said a prayer on the sidelines," Ford said. "And (God) pulled us through."

Lane defensive back Jerell Alexander looked as if he had picked off Stillman quarterback Demarco Starks' desperation pass at the Lane 20, but fate found Stillman (1-7, 1-6) and heartbreak found Lane (0-8, 0-7).

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Bethune-Cookman 7-0, but not perfect

DURHAM, N.C. -- Bethune-Cookman's perfect run continued Saturday with a 23-10 win over North Carolina Central at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. But it wasn't a thing of beauty, according the first-year Wildcats coach Brian Jenkins.

"A win is a win," Jenkins said. "We'll take it. It was ugly. We didn't play very well offensively. Thank God for our defense. My hat goes off to North Carolina Central. They played a tough physical football game, which I knew they would."

The 14th-ranked Wildcats needed a fourth-quarter scoring surge to put away N.C. Central and improve to 7-0. NCCU (2-5), which joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this season but is not yet eligible for the conference championship, lost its third straight game.

Wildcats LB Lewis keeps coming up big

DURHAM, N.C. -- Bethune-Cookman won its first five football games of 2010 with offense, but for the second week in a row the Wildcats needed their defense to come through on Saturday, and it did. An interception by junior linebacker Ryan Lewis that he returned 67 yards for a touchdown set the tone early for Bethune-Cookman in its 23-10 win over North Carolina Central.

Lewis said he knew the play was coming before the interception because of the way Central's tight end lined up and got off the ball on the snap. "All week I heard about that play (in practice)," Lewis said. "The coaches told me it was going to be there and I just had to make it. I got a couple of blocks from my teammates that helped me. That's the best part about it."


Bethune-Cookman pulls away from NCCU

DURHAM -- It's going to take more than a game to turn around N.C. Central's football season, but interim coach Darryl Bullock saw some promising signs in his team's 23-14 loss to No. 14 Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. "We're showing we belong and we're close, but that just makes me sick," Bullock said. "It is a sick feeling, and I know that's how the team feels. We've got to stay together."

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ATTENDANCE: 7,645

KSU Thorobreds' rally falls just short in home finale‎

Frankfort, KY - One yard and a missed extra point. Combined, those two things cost the Kentucky State football team a victory on Saturday against Fort Valley State. The Thorobreds lost 14-12 despite a rally in the final minute that gave them a chance to tie with no time left on the clock.

Trailing 14-6 with 1:05 left in the game, KSU recovered a fumble on the FVSU 45-yard line. After stalling on the first three downs, KSU got new life with a pass interference call on a fourth down Hail Mary pass. Taking over at the 11-yard line, quarterback Martez James (who took over for Jerrell Noland) flipped a pass out to Jamaree Gordon in the right flat. Gordon spun around and shed two tackles before making a final dive at the pylon.

FVSU holds off Kentucky State

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Fort Valley State head coach Donald Pittman said Kentucky State was scary. Defensive coordinator Haskel Buff expected the Thorobreds to give the Wildcats a test. FVSU almost failed it.

The Wildcats gave up a touchdown on the game’s final play, but the defense came through with the stop on the two-point conversion as FVSU avoided the upset and nipped Kentucky State 14-12 on Saturday afternoon. FVSU improved to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the SIAC, while Kentucky State fell to 3-6 and 2-5.

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Southern Jaguars let one slip away

SHREVEPORT, LA — Henry Frazier III wasn’t worried. Saturday night at Independence Stadium, even when his Prairie View football team came up empty on a handful of great chances to score against Southern in the second half, Frazier felt good. His team had momentum. His team was in good shape.

Ultimately, by the end of the Panthers’ 30-16 victory, he was right. “I told (the players), ‘We’ll be OK,’ because our defense was playing so good,” Frazier said. “When your defense is playing that well ... I mean, we stayed on their side of the field the whole second half. So I was OK with it. Normally, I’m conservative, but I took a couple of gambles tonight.”

Panthers defense stiffens

SHREVEPORT — In the first half, the Prairie View A&M defense allowed 218 yards to Southern. The second half was a different story. The Panthers limited the Jaguars to 41 yards in the second half en route to a 30-16 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory in Saturday’s Shreveport Classic at Independence Stadium.

Prairie View defensive coordinator Heishma Northern said the Panthers made a few adjustments at halftime, but it was mostly about playing better. “We just talked to the guys about doing their job,” said Northern, a Baton Rouge native who played football at Southern and played and coached at Glen Oaks High School.

Prairie View breaks through in 4th quarter

SHREVEPORT — Through much of the second half of Saturday’s game at Independence Stadium, when Southern’s offense failed to move the ball and Prairie View kept threatening to take control, the Jaguars’ defense did everything it could to hold the fort. Or, in the words of defensive tackle Jordan Miller, the defense did almost everything.

Eventually, the Panthers broke through. “Our offense delivered. Sixteen points should be enough to win,” Miller said. “We can’t keep giving up so many touchdowns.” Really?

Panthers continue recent dominance over SU

SHREVEPORT — Another year. Another win. Another round of notable achievements for the Prairie View football program. The Panthers defeated Southern 30-14 on Saturday at Independence Stadium, their third consecutive victory over the Jaguars. It had been a while since Prairie View could claim that kind of dominance over Southern.

The Panthers hadn’t won three straight games in this series since 1962-64, when legendary William “Billy” Nicks still coached at Prairie View. Saturday’s game also marked the first time this season that Panthers quarterback K.J. Black — the reigning offensive player of the year in the Southwestern Athletic Conference — threw for more than 300 yards this season.

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ATTENDANCE: 19,979


Final: Prairie View, 30; Southern, 16

HOW THEY SCORED
First quarter
Prairie View – Donald Babers 3 run (Kyle Mathews kick) at 8:11. DRIVE: 10 plays, 83 yards, 4:25. KEY PLAYS: Prairie View converts on a third-and-10 with a throw from quarterback K.J. Black to tailback Devin Brown. Black throws to wideout Shaun Stephens for a 32-yard gain. SU safety Demetric Rogers is flagged for holding on an overthrown pass. Babers runs on the final five plays of the drive. Prairie View 7, Southern 0.

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Grambling Tigers grind out win over MVSU Delta Devils

GREENVILLE, Miss. — Grambling State's performance against Mississippi Valley State on Saturday was far from perfect, but it was more than enough to get the job done.

The Tigers were plagued by penalties, turnovers and a general lack of focus, but still notched a comfortable 35-14 victory over the winless Delta Devils and remained perfect in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. "We didn't play like we're capable of playing, and we didn't make the progress I thought we would make, but a win's a win," Grambling head coach Rod Broadway said. "We still beat 'em by 21."

Grambling burns winless Valley 35-14

GREENVILLE, MS — Frank Warren rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns, and Grambling State rumbled past Mississippi Valley State 35-14 on Saturday. Warren carried 29 times and sealed the win for the Tigers (6-1, 6-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) with 85- and 39-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter. Danny Reyes passed for two TDs and ran for another as Grambling piled up 516 yards of total offense.

Oliver Hughes completed eight of 22 passes for 194 yards and two TDs for the Delta Devils (0-7, 0-5).

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ATTENDANCE: 3,197

FAMU Rattlers Defeat Norfolk State 17-13

NORFOLK, Va. – The Florida A&M University Football played the role of spoiler as they defeated Norfolk State, 17-13 on their homecoming, here Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.

Trevor Scott would give FAMU a 3-0 lead as he connected on a 28-yard field goal with 13:09 remaining in the first quarter as the Rattlers recovered a NSU’s Dwight Fluker-Berry fumble on the kickoff. Dante Barnes gave the NSU a 7-3 lead as scored on a 68-yard interception return with 5:54 to go in the first quarter, after the Ryan Estep PAT.



Mistakes doom NSU in 17-13 loss to Florida A&M

NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk State football team found a new way to reach the same, tired, result. Betrayed by their defense and penalties, rather than offense and special teams, the Spartans surrendered the winning touchdown with 5:21 left and lost 17-13 to Florida A&M (4-3, 3-1 MEAC) on Saturday.

This one, the fourth straight defeat for NSU (2-5, 1-4), came before 21,118 fans on homecoming, a second straight kick in the gut after a one-point rivalry game loss to Hampton. "This one hurts a lot," senior running back DeAngelo Branche said. "You'll never understand. It's your last homecoming. To lose a game like that..."

Snake Bitten

Even with the excitement and festivities surrounding homecoming, the Norfolk State Spartans were unable to keep the Florida A&M Rattlers at bay, losing in yet another close game, 17-13.

Both teams came into the game in a must-win situation. NSU was trying to break their three game losing streak; Florida A&M needed a win to stay in the race for the MEAC Championship. The opening kickoff was fumbled by Spartans defensive back Dwight Fluker-Berry, the Rattlers recovered the ball and turned it into a 28-yard field goal by Trevor Scott. Two possessions later, cornerback Dante Barnes returned an interception 68 yards to put the Spartans up 7-3.

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FAMU 17 Norfolk State 13

NSU notes: It's 3000 yards and counting for Branche

Norfolk State running back DeAngelo Branche, who needed 42 yards to reach the 3,000-yard mark for his career, finished with 89 yards on 26 carries. The Maury graduate is just the second Spartan to hit the milestone and the first to do it at the FCS level.

"It was one of my goals," Branche said. "You can enjoy it a little. Even after a loss, an achievement is still an achievement. My name's in the record books. When I leave here, it'll still be here." Doing it on homecoming made it extra special.

Former NFC QB Walley doing well in Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. — He didn't get a response from Florida A&M, or any other school that he sent film to in hopes of making their football team. Chris Walley, who piled up all sorts of impressive accolades just a few years ago at North Florida Christian, had all but resolved to just spending the spring semester at home. Pete Adrian, head coach at Norfolk State University, saw something he liked on Walley's video, though.

"He's able to do what he has to do," Adrian said. "He gets his checks on and off and that's a good thing." The call came and Walley had just enough time to get into classes a few days before the spring session began. He won the quarterback job.

Rattlers rally to victory

NORFOLK, Va. — With just over 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Florida A&M football team trailing by three points, the situation became one of mind over matter for running back Philip Sylvester and quarterback Martin Ukpai.

What transpired for the next 5:13 Saturday afternoon was a remarkable performance with Sylvester rushing for 42 yards during a 98-yard drive that propelled the Rattlers past Norfolk State 17-13 in a must-win game at Dick Price Stadium. The Spartans had scored the go-ahead points on a field goal near the end of the third quarter, creating a desperate situation for FAMU.

Taylor on recruiting trail for local talent

NORFOLK, Va. — For the second consecutive weekend, Florida A&M faced a team that has a Big Bend quarterback under center. Of course, FAMU coach Joe Taylor has been paying attention to the talent of Antonio Bostick and Chris Walley. Bostick is quarterback at Savannah State, while Walley plays the same position at Norfolk State.

Taylor talked as if he doesn't want to make those kinds of misses in the future. His recruiters are already on the trail of some of the top players in the area, Taylor said, with some of them making early commitments. "We are just trying to make sure we get ours," said Taylor, who is prohibited by NCAA rules from naming names any players who have committed to join the program next season.

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ATTENDANCE: 21,118

'D' rules for Rams - WSSU's defense shuts down UNC Pembroke

No. 21-ranked Winston-Salem State has plenty of glitz and glamour on offense, but it can also grind it out on defense. The Rams, thanks to their defense’s best game of the season, shut down UNC Pembroke 21-7 in front of a homecoming crowd of around 18,000 at Bowman Gray Stadium.

With the victory, the Rams (8-1) improved their chances for a Division II playoff berth and along the way proved that their defense can also win games.

“To finish my last home game of my career with an interception and to get a win is great,” said senior defensive back Marvin Bohannon, a former star at North Forsyth. “Pembroke’s a great team and their defense is ranked nationally and that let us know we can play with the best.”

» Gallery: 10-23-2010 WSSU vs UNCP football

UNCP Braves Fall At No. 21 Winston-Salem State

By UNCP Sports Information

WINSTON-SALEM – Kameron Smith threw for 207 yards and two first half touchdowns, and then used his legs to add the final score of the game in the second half, to help lead the 21st-ranked Winston-Salem State Rams to a rousing 21-7 Homecoming victory over visiting UNCP on Saturday afternoon at Bowman-Gray Stadium.

The Rams (8-1) amassed more than 350 yards of total offense, including 248 in the first half alone, to take a 14-7 lead into the locker rooms, and then capitalized on a turnover on the opening drive of the second half to put the game away. Despite being limited to just 106 yards of total offense in the opening half, UNCP (5-3) had its chances to post a second half comeback, but fumbled away its opening possession of the third quarter and turned the ball over on downs on three of its final four possessions of the game.

Kameron Smith completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts with an interception to open up holes for the ground game which got 108 yards on 19 carries from Nicholas Cooper. Jahuann Butler contributed three catches for 84 yards and both first half touchdowns for the Rams as well.

Rashon Kennedy ran for a team-best 55 yards for the Braves, who also got 30 rushing yards and their lone touchdown from Keith Gore. St. Anthony Lloyd matched a school record with eight catches for the second-straight game and paced the air game with 62 receiving yards. Quarterbacks Cory Smith (13-of-24) and Garrett Sutphen (9-of-19) each tallied 92 passing yards, but both threw interceptions in the opening stanza as well.

"We had our opportunities in the second half to make this a good game, and we let them slip away," said UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick. "Winston-Salem State did a good job of executing what they wanted to do. We made a couple of mistakes and gave up a couple of long balls but, other than that, I thought our defense played very well. We got going late offensively, but didn't get any points. The name of the game is to score points and we didn't score enough."

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Attendance: 18,000

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