B-CU posts first MEAC road shutout since 2000 to silence SCSU’s 21-game conference win streak

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Defense did triumph over offense Saturday, but it was the Bethune-Cookman defense that took the day in the 23rd ranked Wildcats’ stunning 14-0 victory over 10th ranked South Carolina State before 10,077 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference triumph kept Bethune-Cookman undefeated at 6-0 (4-0) and snapped the 21-game conference winning streak of the two-time defending champion Bulldogs, now 4-2 (2-1 MEAC).

All week long, the emphasis was the match-up between a Wildcat offense ranked in the number one slot in NCAA Division I FCS in total offense and scoring offense, against the Bulldogs’ top-ranked defense.

Instead, the B-CU defense, ranked ninth in the FCS, posted B-CU’s first road conference shutout since a 35-0 victory over Howard in 2000, by forcing four Bulldog turnovers and denying four South Carolina State scoring threats inside the B-CU 20 during the fourth quarter.

Offensively, B-CU’s offense was held 35 points below average, but the Wildcats scored when they needed to.

Quarterback Matt Johnson, who finished 17-of-28 for 198 yards, orchestrated the key 90-yard third quarter march that resulted in Androse Bell’s 1-yard run and a 14-0 Wildcat lead.

From there, Lewis and the defense took over. In addition to the turnovers, B-CU got a break when SCSU backup quarterback Yari King fumbled inside the B-CU five-yard line and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback.

B-CU had two first quarter scoring threats that came up empty, one when Bell was stopped short on a fourth down rush and another when a penalty and sack moved the Wildcats out of range.

The Wildcats broke through in the second quarter when JeVaughn Reams set up his own touchdown.

Defense Holds as Pirates Take 7-6 Win over Norfolk State

HAMPTON, Va. – In the 48^th Battle of the Bay Classic, the Pirates of Hampton came out on top once again over the Spartans of Norfolk State 7-6, surviving a defensive struggle on Saturday at Armstrong Stadium in a pivotal MEAC match-up.

The Pirates improved to 5-1 on the season and stayed a perfect 4-0 in the MEAC, while the Spartans dropped to 2-4 on the year and 1-3 in conference play.

The Pirates defense has been known for holding teams scoreless in any given half, and that was the case again for the Pirates. Hampton’s defense would hold the Spartans to four punts in the first half alone, including after an impressive 13-play, 49-yard drive by NSU in the second quarter.

Hampton, on the other hand, would get on the board first in the second half when freshman running back Antwon Chisholm ran in from seven yards out to give the Pirates their only score of the day, then kicker Rodrigo Hernandez made the extra point to make the score 7-0 in favor of the Pirates.

The second half would prove to be more exciting, as the Spartans would be the only team to score. NSU took their opening drive 77 yards for a one-yard touchdown run by DeAngelo Branche, but a missed extra point by kicker Ryan Estep would help the Pirates keep the lead at 7-6.

From that point on, it was all about the defense.

Hornets Get by Aggies for First Win

DOVER, Del. - Delaware State is celebrating a victory for the first time this season after a 31-26 homecoming win over North Carolina A&T at Alumni Stadium this afternoon.

The Hornets improved to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), while the Aggies fell to 0-7 and 0-4.

Jaashawn Jones rushed for a career-high 144 yards and a touchdown to lead the Delaware State attack. The Hornets racked up 351 yards in the contest, including 195 passing.

Delaware State quarterback Anthony Glaud completed 9-of-16 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Elko relieved Glaud for two possessions in the second quarter. He completed 3-of-5 passes for 55 yards, including a touchdown to Justin Wilson.

Darius Jackson led the Hornet receivers with four catches (48 yards). Wilson had three receptions for a career-high 77 yards. He also had two touchdown receptions for the first time in his career. Larrone Moore hauled in three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown for the Hornets.

Rattlers Snap Losing Skid with Win over Savannah State, 31-0

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Philip Sylvester rushed for 153 yards on 18 carries scoring two TDs as the Florida A&M University Football team rolled to a 31-0 win over provisional MEAC member Savannah State, Saturday evening at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

The Rattlers scored their first two TDs of the game on the very first play of the drive as Sylvester scored on a 69-yard rush with 14:34 to go in the second quarter, giving FAMU a 7-0 lead after the Trevor Scott PAT.

FAMU took a 10-0 lead into the break as Scott connected on a 29-yard field goal as time expired off of the clock, capping an eight-play, 68-yard drive for the Rattlers.

On the Rattlers first possession of the second half, Antonio Lawrence to a FAMU reverse 58 yards for a TD on their very first play from scrimmage, increasing the Rattler lead to 17-0 with 12:15 to go in the third quarter.

Sylvester would score his second TD o f the game on a five-yard run with 7:47 to in the third quarter, giving FAMU a 24-0 lead, after the Scott PAT.

Lavante Page would score FAMU’s final TD of the game on a 11-yard scamper with 13:31 to go in the game, giving FAMU a 31-0 win, capping a 12-play, 66-yard drive,  taking 5:32 off of the clock.

Lawrence finished the game with 63 yards rushing on two carries, with a TD, while Martin Ukpai also rushed for 63 yards on 11 carries.   In addition, Page had eight carries for 49 yards and a TD.

North Carolina Central 17, Georgia State 20

Jackson State outlasts Southern in the Battle of the Big Cats

Jackson State won the “Battle of the Big Cats” is one of the most remarkable football finishes in SWAC history. Grambling’s Frank Warren ran wild over Alcorn. Pine Bluff pushed past A&M, and Prairie View cruised to a homecoming victory.

Jackson State 49, Southern 45

Jackson, Miss. - Box Score / Casey Therriault threw five touchdown passes, including a 28-yarder to Rick Richardson with 2 seconds left, as Jackson State outlasted Southern University 49-45 in a wild Southwestern Athletic Conference finish Saturday night.

With the Tigers (5-1, 3-1) leading 34-31 with 4:15 remaining, the Jaguars (2-4, 1-3) stopped them on three plays, taking a 38-34 lead on Reed Wilson’s 60-yard punt return with 2:59 left.

After Jackson State reached the Southern 5, Therriault threw incomplete on third down, but pass interference created first-and-goal at the 2. B.J. Lee ran it in for a 41-38 Tigers lead at 0:38.

On Southern’s next scrimmage play, Jeremiah McGinty hit Wilson for a 73-yard touchdown and a 45-41 Jaguars lead with 19 seconds left.

Jackson State got the ball at its 36. An offside penalty and Therriault’s 31-yard pass to Renty Rollins set up the game-winner and a 2-point conversion.

Grambling 38, Alcorn State 28

Grambling, La. - Box Score / Frank Warren scored five touchdowns, four on the ground, and carried 29 times for 202 yards as Grambling State defeated Alcorn State 38-28 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game on Saturday.

Warren, who came in as the No. 2 rusher in the Football Championship Subdivision, scored at least one touchdown in every quarter, including a 10-yard pass from Danny Reyes that put the Tigers (5-1, 5-0) ahead 21-7 with 37 seconds left until halftime.

Warren’s 18-yard scoring run on the opening second-half possession made it 28-7, but Brandon Bridge’s passing kept the Braves (3-3, 2-2) in range.

Bridge threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second half, including two to Ryan Singleton, and finished with 33 completions in 47 attempts for 404 yards but was intercepted twice. Bridge also carried 11 times for 41 yards.

The teams combined for 875 yards, 483 by Alcorn State.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21, Alabama A&M 14

Pine Bluff, Ark. - Box Score / Ryan Farr caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Josh Boudreaux with 4:09 remaining to lift Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a 21-14 victory against Alabama A&M on Saturday night.

After an interception, the Golden Lions (3-3, 2-2 SWAC) needed four plays and 48 seconds to drive 80 yards to Farr’s TD.

Boudreaux was 18 of 33 for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Raymond Webber had eight receptions for 110 yards.

Kaderius Lacey rushed for 117 yards and quarterback Justin Jones had 100 yards on the ground for Alabama A&M (2-5, 1-4).

Prairie View A&M 45, Lincoln (Mo.) 12

Prairie View, Texas - Box Score / KJ Black threw two touchdown passes and Donald Babers ran for two scores to lead Prairie View past Lincoln, Mo., 45-12 Saturday.

Chris Adingupu had a 53-yard interception return for the Panthers (4-3), who have won three straight.

Joseph Snell ran for 131 yards and a TD for the lower-division Blue Tigers (1-6), who turned the ball over six times.

Prairie View took a 17-0 lead in the first quarter before Lincoln cut the lead to five on Snell’s 75-yard TD run and Demarkis Smith’s 15-yard punt return for a score.

The Panthers took a 24-12 lead into halftime after Babers’ second touchdown run, and the Blue Tigers advanced the ball past midfield just once the rest of the game.

Clark Atlanta at Kentucky State

After a scoreless first quarter, Winston Thompson gets Clark Atlanta on the board first with a 26-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. After halftime, quarterback Ronald Thompson would find Terrence Milton for a 55-yard touchdown pass to give CAU a 13-0 lead. Late in the fourth, Winston Thompson would add another 16-yard touchdown run. Kentucky State would add a late touchdown and Clark Atlanta would go on to win, 19-7. Winston Thompson finished with 87 yards rushing and two touchdowns. KSU’s Andrew Ramsey had 79 yards on six carries while Derrick Addai had a game-high 12 tackles (7 solos).

Next week’s game: Clark Atlanta (vs. Tuskegee- 2 pm); Kentucky State (vs. Fort Valley State- 1 pm CST)

Albany State at Benedict

Albany State would score the first points of the game, early in the second quarter, with a 90-yard touchdown pass from Stanley Jennings to Ronnie Childs. Benedict would answer with an 8-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Bobby Crawford. Albany State would comeback with an 11-play, 81-yard drive of their own that ended with a 2-yard Kareem Hess touchdown run, giving the Golden Rams a 14-7 halftime lead. Late in the third quarter, Benedict’s Andy Polanco would add a 35-yard field goal to make it 14-10 going into the fourth quarter. Albany State would add two late fourth quarter touchdowns, including a 28-yard pass from Jennings to Childs, giving them the win, 27-10. ASU’s Stanley Jennings threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Benedict’s Jeremy Vaugh tied for a game-high nine tackles.

Next week’s game: Albany State (at Morehouse- 2 pm); Benedict (at Miles- 1 pm CST

Miles at Lane

Late in the first quarter, Miles’ Armon Wright recovered a fumble and returned it 10 yards for a score, which were the only points of the first half. Miles would score on their first drive of the second half on a 5-yard run by Fernando Pitts giving them a 14-0 lead. After a Lane punt, Miles would score again, this time on a 9-yard run by Jordan Lewis. Lane would finally get on the board when Oesner Sterling recovered a fumble and returned it two yards for the score. Miles would win by a final score of 20-6. Miles’ Carlton threw for 196 yards while Corey Robinson led all tacklers with 11 stops. Lane’s Alonza Moore had a team-high eight tackles.
Next week’s games: Miles (vs. Benedict- 1 pm CST); Lane (vs. Stillman- 2 pm CST)

Tuskegee at Fort Valley State

Fort Valley State got on the board late in the first quarter with a 4-yard run by Tony Reid. After a Tuskegee fumble early in the second quarter, the Wildcats would score again, in two plays, on 1-yard run by Aaron Courtney. Later in the quarter, Eugene Smith would find Demario Barber for a 15-yard touchdown pass to give FVSU a 19-0 halftime lead. Fort Valley State would score the only points of the second half on a 1-yard run by Tony Reid, defeating Tuskegee by a score of 26-0. The Wildcat defense held Tuskegee to 92 yards of total offense led by Ricky Johnson and Courtney Daniel, who both finished seven tackles. Tuskegee’s Brian King finished with a game-high 11 tackles, including eight solos.

Next week’s games: Tuskegee (at Clark Atlanta- 2 pm); Fort Valley State (at Kentucky State- 1 pm CST)

Morehouse at Stillman

Morehouse got on the board first with a 5-yard run by David Carter. Stillman would answer with a 5-play, 54-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard run by Deandre Holley. Midway through the second quarter, Stillman’s Mike Ricks picked off a Morehouse pass and returned it 5 yards for a touchdown. Morehouse would respond with a 2-yard touchdown run by David Carter, making the score 14-13 Morehouse going into the half. Both teams would add a field goal in the third quarter making the score 17-16 heading into the fourth. Morehouse would then score 21 points in the fourth quarter, including a 35-yard fumble return by Olajawaun Gooch, to win 38-24. Morehouse’s David Carter finished with 205 yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns. Stillman’s Ronald David caught seven passes for 79 yards and a touchdown while Mike Ricks had a game-high 11 tackles.

Next week’s games: Morehouse (vs. Albany State- 2 pm); Stillman (at Lane- 2 pm CST)

BEARS GET BY BRONCOS TO STAY UNBEATEN IN CONFERENCE PLAY

RALEIGH, NC-Quarterback Kevin Atkins accounted for 250 of Shaw’s 377 yards of total offense as the Bears stayed in contention for the CIAA Southern Division title with a 34-27 win over the Fayetteville State Broncos (2-5, 1-3 CIAA). Atkins, a 6-2, 216 pound senior from Durham, NC, passed for two touchdowns and ran for a score as the Bears improved to 5-2 and 4-0 in the conference and kept pace with Saint Augustine’s for first place in the division and the berth in the CIAA Championship game that goes along with it.

Relegated to the role of spoiler by some key early season losses, the defending CIAA champion Broncos took their opening possession of the game and put together a 12-play, 53-yard drive that was capped off by a 30-yard field goal by Austin Turner for a 3-0 lead. Shaw would take the lead on their next possession, when Atkins ran it in from 7 yards out. Caleb Reid kicked the PAT and the Bears led 7-3.

In the second quarter, the Broncos would cut the lead to 7-6 on Turner’s 42-yard field goal. Raymond Williams capped an eight play, 78-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run and Reid added the extra point to give Shaw a 14-6 with 4:28 left in the first half. But FSU would not go away quietly. Displaying some of the mettle that made them conference champs last season, the Broncos needed just six plays to move the ball 60-yards. The big play in the drive came when quarterback Robert Benjamin scrambled for 22-yards down to the Shaw 25-yard line. One play later, Benjamin hooked up with Jamere Pugh on a 25-yard scoring pass. Turner added the PAT and the Broncos trailed the Bears 14-13 at the half.

Shaw would finally get some separation from the pesky Broncos in the third quarter. Williams’ 12-yard touchdown run and Atkins’ 25-yard scoring pass to Julius Gregory would push the Bears’ lead to 27-13 with just under five minutes left in the quarter.

But if the Bears thought they could breathe easy they were wrong. On a drive that was extended by two big penalties–unsportsmanlike conduct and pass interference–against Shaw, Fayetteville State got a two-yard touchdown run from Anthony Council and a PAT to trim the lead to 27-20 with 14:02 left in the game. Shaw would only need one play to make it a two possession game again. On the first play of their next possession Atkins found Gregory for 67-yard scoring strike to push the lead to 34-20.  The Broncos got the ball back one final time with 3:22 left in the game and needed only seven plays to drive 69 yards for a score, an 11-yard pass from Benjamin to Ben Washington, to cut the lead to 34-27 with 50 seconds left in the game. On the kickoff the Broncos attempted an onside kick, but the Bears recovered and ran out the clock for a hard-fought win. Next week Shaw plays host to Chowan, while Fayetteville State takes on Johnson C. Smith in Fayetteville.

Conference Scoreboard: