SIAC's Wild Wild West Has Two Big Battles Today; Other HBCU Action On Tap Today

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

At the end of today, a lot will be known about the West Division race of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Two big games are on tap as undefeated Tuskegee heads to undefeated Lane in a battle of 2-1 teams and a surprisingly strong Kentucky State squad hosts fellow undefeated, Stillman.

First, Lane tries to regroup after losing their first game of the season last week to Taylor.  The Dragons are led by their high-flying quarterback Chris Rini,who had more than 400 yards passing and rushing last weekend.  Perennial power Tuskegee was out-classed last weekend by Winston-Salem State, but still sports big wins over SWAC team Alabama A&M and SIAC rival Albany State.  Defense remains the Golden Tigers calling card.

In Frankfort, Ky., today, Kentucky State will see which Thorobred squad is the real team.  Is it the one who was shellacked 41-0 by Virginia State in their season opener?  Or is it the team that has allowed less than 12 points a game to Central State and Kentucky Wesleyan, while averaging 40 points per game?  Linebacker Travon Spencer leads the defense with 22 tackles this season while running back Jacquise Lockett has powered the offense.   Stillman was roughed up 35-7 by St. Augustine's last week, bringing them down to earth after blowout wins over Concordia College-Selma and Clark Atlanta.  Quarterback Josh Straughan has led a fairly steady Tigers offense while Marcus Matthews' 33 tackles and two sacks anchors a tough defense.

 In all the other HBCU football action today:

SWAC

- Grambling looks for their first win when they host Lamar
- Two big rivals and top SWAC squads tangle as Jackson State is at Southern
- Prairie View goes to Stephen F. Austin
- Alabama State hosts one of the nation's top HBCU teams, Alcorn State
- Winless Texas Southern visits Alabama A&M

CIAA

- Livingstone is at Lincoln (Pa)
- Winston-Salem State goes to Virginia Union
- Bowie State hosts St. Augustine's
- Fayetteville State locks horns with Elizabeth City State in the 16th Down East Viking Football Classic
- Johnson C. Smith hopes to keep rolling as they head to Virginia State

MEAC

- Norfolk State goes to Morgan State in a battle of winless squads
- Hampton is in search of their first win at rugged South Carolina State
- Savannah State returns home after taking lumps from Miami to take on Delaware State


SIAC

- Morehouse tries to continue their momentum after a big win last week as they host Edward Waters
- Central State takes on one of the top Division I-FCS HBCU teams in the nation, Tennessee State, in the Gateway Classic in St. Louis
- Albany State is at Miles as both teams try to right promising seasons
- Fort Valley State, fresh off an overtime win last week, takes on Benedict in the Augusta City Classic

Wallace's Four TDs and a Stifling D Keep Johnson C. Smith Undefeated; Recap of Other HBCU Action

Photos by Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer

  










By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Keahn Wallace threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns as Johnson C. Smith stayed undefeated in defeating neighboring Division I-FCS squad Davidson 35-22.

Davidson (0-3) jumped out to an 8-0 lead after A.J. Pignone's 11-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion.  But that's when the Golden Bulls went to work.

Wallace answered with a 36-yard touchdown pass and then a 1-yard touchdown run followed by a 35-yard touchdown pass to put the Golden Bulls up 21-8 at halftime.  He added a 31-yard touchdown toss late in the fourth quarter to ensure the win.

Davidson's Jonathan Carkhuff threw for 464 yards and two touchdowns in becoming the school's all-time passing yardage leader.  But Johnson C. Smith's defense had 13 sacks and allowed -7 yards rushing to Davidson. Jovantay Williams had 3 1/2 sacks and Anthony Allen had a school-record 17 tackles.

Johnson C. Smith, which is 3-0 for the first time since 1982, is at Virginia State next Saturday.  Davidson is at Morehead State.

Ohio State Runs Over Florida A&M 76-0

The best thing - besides receiving a big check - for Florida A&M Saturday was the end.

After a day in which they gave up 603 yards of total offense, 11 touchdowns (five in the first quarter) and 11 Buckeyes played a part in at least one score, the Rattlers were swamped by Ohio State 76-0.

While the defense was defenseless, the offense offered very little.  FAMU only had 50 yards rushing and 30 yards passing on the day.

It was FAMU's worst loss ever and the biggest win over an opponent for Ohio State since they beat Drake 85-7 in 1935.

``We don't want a pity party,'' said Rattlers coach Earl Holmes to The Associated Press after the game. He also made a said the Buckeyes didn't run up the score.``I don't have a problem with that. I don't expect the coach to kneel. You play the game. You play for 60 minutes.''


The good news for Florida A&M: the shellacking earned a check for a cool $900,000.


All HBCU Football Scores:


SWAC

- Alabama State 52, Grambling 21
- Alcorn State 21, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 16
- Southern 17, Mississippi Valley State 7
- Prairie View 28, Alabama A&M 26
- Jackson State 35, Texas Southern 7 (Thursday night)

CIAA

- Winston-Salem State 35, Tuskegee 13
- Fayetteville State 21, Virginia Union 7
- Bowie State 16, Concord 10
- Johnson C. Smith 35, Davidson 22
- UNC-Pembroke 41, Shaw 20
- Virginia State 41, Kentucky State 0
- Sacred Heart 78, Chowan 35
- St.Frances (Pa) 38, Lincoln (Pa) 7
- Towson 35, North Carolina Central 17
- Livingstone 34, Edward Waters 20

MEAC

- Florida State 54, Bethune-Cookman 6
- Miami 77, Savannah State 7
- Towson 35, North Carolina Central 17

- North Dakota State 51, Delaware State 0
- Charleston Southern 20, Norfolk State 12
- South Carolina State 59, Benedict 6
- Coastal Carolina 50, Hampton 17
- Western Kentucky 58, Morgan State 17

SIAC

- St. Augustine's 35, Stillman 14
- Albany State 34, Elizabeth City State 13
- Fort Valley State 12, Clark Atlanta 9 (2OT)
- Morehouse 42, Central State 20
- Taylor 27, Lane 21
- Miles vs. Concordia-Selma (canceled)

OTHERS

- Nicholls State 42, Langston 22
- Tennessee State 41, Tennessee Tech 21
- Missouri Southern 59, Lincoln (Mo.) 10