Aaliyah Lewis and Alabama State Favorites to Win SWAC Women's Soccer Title in 2014

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Aaliyah Lewis (Photo by David Campbell/Alabama State Univesity)

It's not hard to see why the Alabama State women's soccer team is the favorite of Southwestern Athletic Conference experts to win the conference title this year.

The Lady Hornets account for five of the 11 preseason All-SWAC first team, including the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Aailyah Lewis.

Lewis was last season's Offensive Player of the Year in leading Alabama State to the SWAC's Eastern division title. She led the SWAC in goals, points and shots per game. She was the spur for a squad that topped the conference in every offensive category.   But the Lady Hornets fell one game short, losing to SWAC champ Jackson State, the squad predicted to finish second this season.

"We want to pick up where we left off," Alabama State coach Jodie Smith told the Montgomery Advertiser. "We had a great season last year.  We left one game out there, the match we really wanted and want to win this year.  We are retiring a lot of talented players."

Jackson State returns midfielder Jalana Ellis, defenders Rayana Speight and Kyleigh Lo, along with forwards Eroncia Berry and Kimberlie Hernandez to remain right in the middle of the SWAC race.

The rest of the predicted top five teams in order are Prairie View A&M (which features preseason Defensive Player of the Year Debbie Arguelles); Southern; and Mississippi Valley State.  Right behind the Delta Devils is Howard, a school that will compete in the SWAC for the first time as the MEAC doesn't offer women's soccer.

Here is the entire predicted order of finish for the SWAC along with the All-Conference squad:

Teams	Pts (First-Place Votes)
Alabama State	153 (7)
Jackson State	146 (3)
Prairie View A&M	120 (3)
Southern	97 (1)
Mississippi Valley State	96
Howard	95
Texas Southern	79
Alabama A&M	68
Arkansas Pine Bluff	60
Grambling State	49
Alcorn State	26

Offensive Player of the Year
Aaliyah Lewis	Alabama State

   

Defensive Player of the Year
Debbie Arguelles	Prairie View A&M

FIRST TEAM

Forwards
Aaliyah Lewis	Alabama State
Estelle Esperance	Alabama A&M
Alexandria Cannon	Alabama State
Midfielders
Jalana Ellis	Jackson State
Ariela Lewis	Alabama State
Hailey Beekman	Mississippi Valley State
Nykosi Simmons	Mississippi Valley State
Defenders
Rayana Speight	Jackson State
Andrea Chacon	Alabama A&M
Iita Pienimaki	Alabama State
Goalkeeper
Kylee Hathaway	Alabama State

SECOND TEAM

Forwards
Eroncia Berry	Jackson State
Kimberlie Hernandez	Jackson State
Jami Blackston	Southern
Midfielders
Ana Huetas	Alabama A&M
Josee Primeau	Mississippi Valley State
Celene Batrez	Prairie View A&M
Marlyn Campa	Texas Southern
Defenders
Kyleigh Lo	Jackson State
Debbie Arguelles	Prairie View A&M
Shelby Carbin	Southern
Goalkeeper
Alyssa Cobbs	Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State Picked to Finish 1-2 in the MEAC

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

LeBrandon Richardson (photo from Bethune Cookman Athletics site)

It's rather fitting that Bethune-Cookman's football squad has a first team preseason All-MEAC representative on each level of the defense.  They were more than stout as they sported the nation's second ranked defense in 2013 (fellow MEAC member South Carolina State had the nation's best defense, statistically).

Even though they've lost eight starters -- the entire linebacking core and three of four defensive backs -- they are still the sexy pick to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title again this year, according to the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

The Wildcats, already ranked 23rd in the nation in the FCS 2014 preseason poll, will rely on a bevy of reserves and transfers to step in where the leading tackler for the past three seasons, the departed Jarkevis Fields, thrived.

"We have a lot of bodies and a lot of talent," linebacker Ralph Williams, a key reserve last year who takes over at middle linebacker, told the Daytona Beach Journal on Aug. 1. "We just have to come out here every day and get better.  We have a lot of new starters, but [defensive coordinator Yogi Jones] always tells us everybody's a starter on the defense if you play."

Williams will have preseason All-MEAC defenders DL LeBrandon Richardson, LB Tavarus Dantzler and DB Marquis Drayton anchoring things.

South Carolina State has six defenders on the preseason All-MEAC team, led by defensive lineman Alex Glover and Andrew Carter.  The two anchored a Bulldog defense that gave up only 90 yards rushing per game in 2013.

Greg McGhee (photo from AtlantaBlackStar.com)

North Carolina A&T was also tough defensively, with the nation's top rushing defense.  They are picked to finish third behind South Carolina State in the MEAC.  Next is Howard, a team that will have head coach Gary "Flea" Harrell back after a one-year sabbatical, has the preseason MEAC Offensive Player of the Year in Greg McGhee, last year's MEAC total offense leader who was second in passing and third in rushing.

Here is the MEAC's predicted order of finish:

First Place Votes in Parenthesis)

School                                                                         Points

1.      Bethune-Cookman                                             487

2.      South Carolina State                                          457

3.      North Carolina A&T                                             338

4.      Howard                                                              309                             

5.      Delaware State                                                 229

6.      Norfolk State                                                      225

7.     Hampton                                                              200

8.     North Carolina Central                                        187

9.    Morgan State                                                          148

   ** Florida A&M and Savannah State are not eligible for post season competition therefore is not listed on the above prediction order

Here is the complete All-MEAC team:

Offensive Player of the Year: Greg McGhee, Howard           Defensive Player of the Year: Lynden Trail, Norfolk State Pos. Name Cl. School Hometown QB Greg McGhee Sr. Howard Pittsburgh, Pa. RB Tarik Cohen So. N.C. A&T Bunn, N.C.           RB Anthony Philyaw So. Howard Los Angeles, Ca. WR Milton Williams III Sr. Delaware State Washington, D.C. WR Desmond Lawrence Sr. N.C. A&T Durham, N.C. TE Kris Drummond Sr. Savannah  State Washington D.C. C Andrew Edouard Sr. Bethune-Cookman Philadelphia, Pa. OL Domanic Wilson r-Sr. S.C. State Lake City, S.C. OL Willie Robinson r-Sr. N.C A&T Clinton. Md. OL Darren Pinnock Sr. Morgan State Miami, Fla OL             Devin Flowers r-Sr. S.C. State Charlotte, N.C. OL             Toree Boyd So. Howard Miami, Fla. DEFENSE Pos. Name Cl. School Hometown DL LeBrandon Richardson Jr. Bethune-Cookman Miami, Fla. DL Miles Grooms Jr. Hampton Richmond, Va DL Alex Glover Jr. S.C. State Charlotte, N.C. DL Andrew Carter Sr. S.C. State Hamlet, N.C. LB Lynden Trail r-Sr. Norfolk State Miami, Fla. LB D’Vonte Grant Grad. North Carolina A&T Charlotte, N.C. LB Tavarus Dantzler Sr. Bethune-Cookman Homestead, Fla. DB Darrin Marrow r-Sr. Norfolk State Virginia Beach, Va. DB Cameron Alston r-Sr. Howard North Augusta, S.C. DB Mike Jones So. N.C. Central Baltimore,Md. DB Marquis Drayton Jr. Bethune-Cookman Fort Lauderdale, Fla. P Lawrence Forbes r-So. Morgan State Upper Marlboro, Md. PK Anthony Prevost r-So. Hampton Chesterfield, Va. RS Adrian Wilkins r-Jr. N.C. Central Forest City, N.C.           Second Team         OFFENSE Pos. Name Cl. School Hometown QB Quentin Williams r-Sr. Bethune-Cookman Tampa, Fla. RB Lamont Brown III r-So. Morgan State Suffolk, Va. RB Justin Taylor r- Jr. S.C. State Atlanta, Ga. WR Joseph Cervalo r-Sr. Delaware State Venice WR Thomas Martin r-So. Morgan State Naples, Fla. TE* James Lynch r-Jr. Norfolk State Darby, Pa. TE* Temarrick Hemingway r-Jr. S.C. State Loris, SC C Ronald Canty r-Sr. N.C. A&T Chester, S.C. OL John Smith r-Jr. Howard Atlanta. Ga. OL Jerron Searles Jr. Delaware State Atlantic City, N.J. OL Keonte Cash So. Florida A&M Miami, Fla. OL Justin Myler r-Sr. Norfolk State Woodbridge, Va. OL  Chris Pressley Sr.  N.C. Central Upper Marlboro, Md. DEFENSE         Pos. Name Cl. School Hometown DL Rodney Gunter Sr. Delaware State Lake Hamilton, Fla. DL Damon Gresham-Chisolm Jr. Howard Covington, GA DL Ronnie Barrow Sr. Bethune-Cookman   DL DL Demarco Bisbee Javon Hargrave r-Jr. Jr. Morgan State S.C. State Lansing, Mich. Salisbury, NC LB Joshua Thorne Jr. Hampton Oxon Hill, Md.  LB Cody Acker Sr. Morgan State Landover, Md. LB Marquis Smith So. Savannah State Prince Georges County, Md.  DB Khambrel McGee Sr. Hampton Miami, Fla. DB Devonte Johnson Sr. Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. DB Tony McRae Jr. N.C. A&T Laurinburg, N.C. DB* Patrick Aiken r-So. Florida A&M Pembroke Pines, Fla. DB* Keenan Lambert r-Sr. Norfolk State Norfolk, Va. P Christian Faber-Kinney r-So. Hampton Williamsburg, Va. PK Chase Varnadore Sr. Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. RS Tony McRae Jr. N.C. A&T Laurinburg, N.C.           Third Team         OFFENSE Pos. Name Cl. School Hometown QB Damien Fleming Sr. Florida A&M Jacksonville, Fla. RB Jorrian Washington r-Sr. Hampton Los Angeles, Ca. RB Dae-Hon Cheung Sr. Delaware State Coatesville, Pa. WR DennisRowe r-Sr. S.C. State Columbia, S.C. WR Jhomo Gordon Sr. Bethune-Cookman Palm Bay, Fla. TE TE* Nathan Scruggs Nate Ingram r-Jr. Graduate N.C. Central Howard Jacksonville, Fla. Sicklerville, N.J. C Erick Dickerson r-So. S.C. State Goose Creek, SC OL Mike Phillips Jr. Norfolk State Virginia Beach, Va. OL Clevonne Davis Jr. N.C. Central  Miramar, FL OL Afolabi Ayangbayi So. Savannah State Union, NJ OL Ryan Templeton Sr. Florida A&M Chicago, Ill           DEFENSE         Pos. Name Cl. School Hometown DL Michael Neal Jr. N.C. A&T Greensboro, N.C. DL Daniel Pinnix Jr. N.C. A&T High Point, N.C. DL Deon King Jr. Norfolk State Reston, Va DL George Riddick Sr. Norfolk State Suffolk, Va.           LB Justin Hughes Jr. S.C. State Virginia Beach, Va. LB Marcell Coke Sr. Norfolk State Orlando, Fla. LB Justin Dixon Jr. Savannah State Duluth, Ga. DB Ronald  Robinson Sr. Delaware State Jersey City, N.J. DB Julien David Sr. Howard Coral Springs, FL DB Ryan Smith r-So. N.C. Central Upper Marlboro, Md. DB DB P Greg Brown DeShaun Summers Domnic Frescura So. Jr. So. Savannah State Morgan State N.C. A&T Tucker, Ga. Hampton, ­Va. South Pasadena, CA PK Cody Jones So. N.C. A&T Gastonia, N.C.

Throwback Thursday --- Top Ten All-Time Winningest HBCU Football Coaches

(in order of total wins)

Grambling State - Eddie Robinson

Central State/Cheney/Florida A&M - Billy Joe

Tennessee State - "Big" John Merritt

Southern - Arnett "Ace" Mumford

Virginia Union/Hampton/FAMU - Joe Taylor

Virginia Union/Norfolk State - Willard Bailey

Florida A&M - Jake Gaither

Tuskegee - Cleveland L. Abbott

North Carolina A&T/Winston-Salem State - Bill Hayes

Morris Brown/Prairie View - W.J. "Billy" Nicks

Winston-Salem State Picked to Win CIAA Football Title Over Virginia State and Put Cancelled 2013 Championship Game in the Past

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Winston-Salem State QB Rudy Johnson (Photo from freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com)

The end of the 2013 football season is one the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association wants to leave deep into the past.

What looked to be an epic battle between 9-1 teams, Virginia State and Winston Salem State, didn't even get played.  A day before the game, Winston Salem State star quarterback Rudy Johnson was assaulted in the bathroom during a pre-championship game luncheon by a group of Virginia State players.  One, Lamont Britt, was arrested and pled guilty.  He received a year of probation.

But the conference title game was canceled by CIAA officials because of the incident.

This year, things have been put into place to make sure none of that happens again, said CIAA commissioner Jacqie McWiliams during the CIAA's Media Day.

"Canceling the 2013 championship game was a dark day in the history for us in this conference," she said.  "However, we believe what we learned that day reminded us of what we need to be focused on and what is most important, and that's the welfare and experience of our student-athletes.

"So what happened last year will never happen again," she said.  "We have a no-tolerance policy.  We are moving forward, focusing on developing leadership, sportsmanship and academic success that is in line with our strategic thinking."

Interestingly, a poll of CIAA coaches and sports information directors predicted Winston-Salem State and Virginia State to win the Northern and Southern divisions and meet in the 2014 CIAA championship game, with Winston-Salem being the favorite to win their third title in four seasons.   It's also a team looking to make a deeper run in the Division II playoffs after losing in the second round last year.

"I've been more fearful of our battles inside the conference, and that's a credit to all of you guys in this league," said new head coach Kienus Boulware during the CIAA Media Day, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.  Boulware, the former defensive coordinator, replaces Connell Maynor who took the head job at Hampton.

"I think back to 2011 when we first made that run in the playoffs," Boulware said.  "We've had some major battles within the conference, and that's helped up.  And we had a lot of major battles last season."

Boulware takes over a squad that has six players on the CIAA's preseason All-Conference squad, including Johnson, the CIAA's leading passer in yardage, touchdowns and completion percentage.  But his leading receiver, 2013 CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year Chase Powell, surprised everyone last week and transferred to Hampton.  He will have leading rusher, Maurice Lewis, to hand off to.  Lewis had 902 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns last season.

For Virginia State, linebacker Brandon Robinson and defensive lineman Ronald Lewis, two 2014 Preseason All-CIAA picks, return to Trojans' second-ranked defense.  They have to replace their two top offensive players in quarterback Justin Thorpe and running back Jordan Anderson. But the Trojans do return 27 players from their two-deep roster.

Here is the CIAA's predicted order of finish:

Overall 1.    Winston-Salem State 2.    Fayetteville State 3.    Virginia State 4.    Shaw 5.    Elizabeth City State 6.    Bowie State 7.    Johnson C. Smith 8.    Chowan 9.    Saint Augustine's 10.    Virginia Union 11.    Livingstone 12.    Lincoln

Southern Division 1.    Winston-Salem State 2.    Fayetteville State 3.    Shaw 4.    Johnson C. Smith 5.    Saint Augustine's 6.    Livingstone

Northern Division 1.    Virginia State 2.    Elizabeth City State 3.    Bowie State 4.    Chowan 5.    Virginia Union 6.    Lincoln

Here is the 2014 CIAA Preseason All-Conference Team:

OFFENSIVE TEAM
#	NAME	SCHOOL	CL.	HOMETOWN
TIGHT END
86	Khari Lee	BSU	SR	Baltimore, Maryland
LINEMEN
71	Marcus Reed	FSU	SR	Montgomery, Texas
79	Ronnie Ransome	VSU	JR	Petersburg, Virginia
75	Jahmil Haley	VSU	SO	Petersburg, Virginia
72	Michael Sabb	WSSU	SR	Raleigh, North Carolina
52	Justin Kee	WSSU	SR	Suffolk, Virginia
WIDE RECEIVERS
4	Akeen Jordan	LU	SR	Washington, D.C.
82	Chase Powell	WSSU	SO	Upper Marlboro, Maryland
QUARTERBACK
7	Rudy Johnson	WSSU	SR	San Diego, California
RUNNING BACKS
7	Marquise Grizzle	SU	JR	Camden, North Carolina
5	Keith Brown	BSU	SR	Temple Hills, Maryland
KICK RETURNER
2	Antonio Huff	ECSU	JR	Washington, D.C.
PLACE KICKER
89	Mario Diaz-Aviles	BSU	SR	Washington, D.C.
DEFENSIVE TEAM
#	NAME	SCHOOL	CL.	HOMETOWN
LINEMEN
10	Anthony McDaniel	BSU	SR	Ft. Washington, Maryland
33	Jovantey Williams	JCSU	SR	Stone Mountain, Georgia
43	Ronald Lewis	VSU	SR	Virginia Beach, Virginia
93	Casey Davenport	WSSU	SR	Baltimore, Maryland
LINEBACKERS
33	Kenneth White	LC	SR	Salisbury, North Carolina
45	Brandon Rabinson	VSU	SR	Mechanicsville, Virginia
59	Danny Bunn	WSSU	JR	Smithfield, North Carolina
DEFENSIVE BACKS
18	Michael Johnson	FSU	SR	Raleigh, North Carolina
3	Corey Davis	ECSU	SR	Union, New Jersey
1	Brion Robinson	LU	JR	PG County, Maryland
1	Everett Roctor	WSSU	SR	Fayetteville, North Carolina
PUNT RETURNER
2	Antonio Huff	ECSU	JR	Washington, D.C.
PUNTER
17	Matias Lambrecht	JCSU	SO	Venice, Florida