MEAC Powers North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State Square off in Atlanta; Fort Valley Visits Tuskegee; A look at EVERY HBCU Football Game on Tap Today

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Just looking at past history, the Atlanta Football Classic, pitting North Carolina A&T against South Carolina State, looks like a one-sided affair.

SCSU, one of the most HBCU football's most consistently solid programs, has beaten North Carolina A&T, a program that was on hard times through most of the past 20 years, 12 out of their last 13 meetings.

But this isn't the same kind of North Carolina A&T team.

After winning seasons every year from 1996 to 2001 (and only one losing season between 1990 to 2001), North Carolina A&T football hit the skids.  A 10-3 season in 2003 was the only bright spot from 2002 to 2011 as the program was 34-80 during that time span.

They went through six coaches during that period until Broadway took over the program in 2011.

Since then, there has only been one losing season, his first when they went 5-6 after going 1-10 the year before his arrival.  Two 7-4 records the past two years were the first back-to-back winning seasons for Aggies football in 11 years.

Now A&T sits atop the MEAC at 4-1 overall and winning their only conference game so far.  They lead the conference in total offense, scoring offense and scoring defense.

Led by Tarik Cohen's 140 rushing yards a game, the Aggies are second best MEAC running team in the conference.  They also sport a solid passing game led by Kwashaun Quick who is also a top ten MEAC rusher.

“We’re an up-and-coming program,” Broadway old the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “We’re close. We have a pretty good football team. This is probably the most talent we’ve had since we’ve been here. We expect to show it in the season. South Carolina State has been where we are trying to get.”

South Carolina State's Buddy Pough celebrated his 100th win as coach last week and brings a team to Hotlanta that was 9-4 last year, won a share of the MEAC title, and have been in the FCS playoffs four times since 2008.  This year, their two blowout losses have been to one of the best FCS teams in the nation in Coastal Carolina and ACC power Clemson. Take those out of the equation and the Bulldogs have scored a combined 97 points in wins against Benedict, Hampton and Furman.

All American defensive lineman Alex Glover and Andrew Carter both had double-digit sack seasons last year and anchor a defense this year that's given up only 17 points in those three games.

But Pough isn't resting on those laurels.

“When you see A&T on film they do everything well,” he told the AJC. “We would like to think we can match up with them but at the same time it will be a tough game for us.”

Today's game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and shown later on ESPNU.

SIAC Division Leaders Fort Valley State and Tuskegee Battle

Two of the SIAC's most storied programs square off today in Alabama as Fort Valley State visits Tuskegee.  And, as usual, these are two of the best conference teams this season.

Fort Valley State shook off a season opening blowout loss to Delta State to win their last three games.  But besides their solid win over FCS also-ran Savannah State, their wins over Benedict and Clark Atlanta have been decided by a total of four points.,

The Rams has uncharacteriscally struggled on defense this season, particularly against the pass.  Of the 346 yards of offense they've given up a game this season, 217 and 10 touchdowns has been through the air.

That cold be an issue as Tuskegee's dual quarterbacking duo, Justin Nared and Kevin Lacey, have thrown for a combined 231 yards a game, which, if they were one player, would lead the SIAC.

"(Offensively) we try to attack people, but I'm not going to tell them were I'm trying to attack them. We've just got to do the best we can on each one of our plays," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater told the Montgomery Advertiser. "I think (Pittman) said on one of his shows that we have three running plays and we throw the ball. So we've got to get better at those three plays so we can execute."

Here is a look at all of the HBCU football games on tap around the country today:

SIAC

Central State vs. Kentucky State (Circle City Classic, Indianapolis, IN) (Central State is in need a of a good showing after a rough couple of weeks where they have been defeated a combined 112-11. Though they've lost their last three games, Kentucky State has been mostly solid as they've been on the short end in two close games. Justin Williams and Jacquise Lockett key a good KSU running game that could give the SIAC's worst defense (second worst rushing defense also) problems)

 Morehouse at Clark Atlanta (Forgive Morehouse is they have something in their long distance vision - longtime rival, Tuskegee who they play next weekend.  A win over Clark Atlanta and a Tuskegee win against Fort Valley State would set up a huge game. But this is a big Atlanta University Center rivalry game that Clark Atlanta always gets up for. Morehouse's running game has fallen off while their passing game has taken off. But Paine slowed that down last week and aside from their West Georgia blowout, the Panthers like to control the ball and play defense)

Stillman at Lane (Lane couldn't get anything going on offense against Tuskegee last week. Actually, offense has been an issue all season as they are the SIAC's bottom-dwellers in total offense. They haven't been able to run the ball at all this season, averaging a paltry 28 yards a game on the ground. Stillman's Jovontae Thurmon has been a bright spot, with five touchdowns and 72 yards a game rushing.  Stillman's defense gives up a ton of yards and points, 428 yards and 34 points a game)

Albany State at Paine (One thing opponents have figured out this year is that Paine is no pushover.  They slowed down a high-flying Morehouse passing game last week and kept close as they have in every game this season. Statistically, Paine is near the top of the SIAC in passing, total offense and scoring.  But Albany State is Albany State.  They've struggled to score big time this year, but they have the league's most rugged and stingiest defense)


MEAC

Howard at North Carolina Central (Howard has one of the most prolific players in HBCU football in quarterback Greg McGhee.  But he can't do it alone, as evidenced by the Bison's 1-4 record. They give up 34 points and 437 yards offense each game. Central's Malcolm Bell and Quinn Billerman have had their offense moving well, though they will have to take it up a notch to keep up with McGhee)

Norfolk State at Savannah State (These are two teams who have struggled again this season, with only one win between both teams and that came last week as Norfolk State won on a last minute touchdown over Morgan State. The problem for Savannah State is offensive.  They have one of the most anemic offenses in the MEAC while Norfolk State leads the conference in total defense. The Spartans only allowed 38 yards passing last week.  But Norfolk State only averages 8.4 points a game themselves)

Delaware State at Bethune-Cookman (This could be the very definition of a trap game.  Or it can result in a lopsided affair that the stats would dictate. Bethune-Cookman has the MEAC's second-best defense which is also the stingiest against the run, while Delaware State has the league's most anemic offense, accounting only 227 yards of total offense a game. But Bethune-Cookman passers better be wary -- the Hornets are stout against the pass, only giving up 129 yards a game and two touchdowns all season)

Morgan State at Florida A&M (This will be Florida A&M's first game with new offensive coordinator who takes over a unit that is among the MEAC's worst. They rank at the bottom in rushing offense and next to last in total offense. They host an up-and-coming Morgan State squad that has the MEAC's best rushing offense, featuring running back Herb Walker Jr. and quarterback Robert Council)  

CIAA

Shaw at Virginia Union (You have to do some work to move the ball against Virginia Union.  They have 12 sacks and allowed only one touchdown and give up the second-fewest yards in the CIAA.  They are solid on the other of the ball as they are fourth in total offense.  Shaw looked good in beating Lincoln (Pa) last week. Their defense will be tested this week)

Livingstone at Elizabeth City State (Livingstone stayed undefeated with a late field goal against Bowie State last week. But led by quarterback Drew Powell, they still sport the CIAA's top offense. Elizabeth City State will have to amp up an offense that is near the bottom of the CIAA. Livingstone has given up 33 points a game on D this season)

Fayetteville State at Lincoln (Pa) (Lincoln (Pa) looks good each week, except for a week two loss to North Carolina Wesleyan. Fayetteville State has struggled on offense, though they have played decent defense.  They have accounted for 10 sacks this season)

St. Augustine's at Virginia State (Virginia State is now starting to look like the team that ran through the CIAA into the championship game last year. Both the defense and offense have started to click during the Trojans' last two games.  The St. Aug's offense came alive in the first quarter last week in their first win of the season. They'll need that kind of performance this week)

Johnson C. Smith at Bowie State (Bowie State nearly knocked off Livingstone last week, mostly on the strength of a churning running game led by Kendall Jefferson and Keith Brown.  But to get their first win of the season, the Bulldogs will have to keep a Johnson C. Smith offense that can be explosive (though rarely in 2014) in check.  The JCSU running game has been bleak though)

Winston-Salem State at Chowan (Winston-Salem State keeps humming along, as they continue to stand among the conference leaders in offense and defense. Ask Elizabeth City State who was throttled 35-7 last week.  Chowan runs the ball well, but they have the CIAA's worst defense)


SWAC

Grambling State at Alabama A&M (Grambling is looking good for the first time in a long time. They aren't particular spectacular on either side of the ball, but they are playing much better football and have won two games in a row for the first time since 2011. But they head into homecoming territory at Alabama A&M, a team led by Jaymason Lee, a quarterback who leads the SWAC in passing efficiency and has thrown six TDs. In last week's win, newcomers kick returner Ocatvious Miles and running back Harvey Harris shined)
 

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern (UAPB played well against Jackson State last week, though they lost in overtime.  But their biggest problem - defense - came to light.  They give up 35 points a game. Southern's problem hasn't been on offense.  It's also on defense where they've given up 38 points and nearly 467 yards a game. That's good news for stud running back Benjamin Anderson for UAPB)

Prairie View A&M at Jackson State (Jackson State is coming off a big overtime win last week that put them back on the winning side after losses to Tennessee State and Grambling. They give up a lot of points, especially in the first half - 86 points in four games this year. Prairie View has lost all four games this year, but aside from their big loss to McNeese State, they've been in every contest. They feature a solid passing duo in quarterback Jerry Lovelock and the SWAC's leading receiver in catches per game in Greg Thurmond.)

Mississippi Valley State at Texas Southern (Mississippi Valley State may be heading into a bad situation or they may be going into Texas at the right time.  Texas Southern was flying high until Alabama State thumped them last week. So the Tigers may have something to prove.  MVSU is 0-4 in their last four games and they haven't been very close)


OTHERS

Tennessee State at Southeast Missouri State (

Langston at Texas College (If Langston, who has dropped three straight after a season-opening win over  wants to keep pace with first place Oklahoma Baptist in the Central States Football League, they must beat teams such as 0-5 Texas College. Statistically, Langston sports the CSFL's second-best offense, but the second-worst defense. The good news for Langston is that Texas College is at the bottom of the CSFL in both categories.

Alcorn State, SWAC's Top Defense and Offense, Stings Alabama State 33-7

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Alcorn State's Darryan Ragsdale rushes for some of his 173 yards Thursday.  (Photo by SWAC.org)

No one in the Southwestern Athletic Conference has been able to slow down Alcorn State. Now count Alabama State in that group.

The SWAC's top offense and defense outscored and shutdown visiting Alabama State 33-7 Thursday for their first win since 2010 in their series.

Darryan Ragsdale rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns for Alcorn State (5-1, 3-0 SWAC).  His first touchdown was part of the Braves 17 point first quarter, which essentially put the game out of reach early.

On defense, the Alcorn State defense was stout as they forced punts on six of seven Alabama State (4-2, 3-1 SWAC) drives in the first half, the exception only being the Hornets drive that ended as the half ended.  For the entire game, Alcorn State forced punts on ten of 13 Alabama State drives and only allowed 253 yards of offense to the Hornets. Alabama State was 0 for 13 on third down conversions.

The Braves held the SWAC's second best rushing offense and total offense to only 56 yards rushing. Alabama State had rushed for 232 yards a game this season.  The conference's leading rusher, Alabama State's Malcolm Cyrus, was held to 65 yards rushing and a touchdown after he averaged 144 yards a game so far this season. 

"I thought we played physical today," said Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson told The Vicksburg Post.  "I thought we had good gap integrity. I thought we tackled well. That's how you have to shut down a good running attack and that's what we did."

Midway through the third quarter,  Cyrus scored on a one-yard plunge to pull the Hornets to 20-7.   But ASU quarterback John Gibbs Jr. countered with a 53-yard TD run followed by Ragsdale's second touchdown to keep the game out of reach.

Gibbs finished with 106 yards rushing to go with his efficient 217 yard passing day as Alcorn State rolled up 608 yards of offense. 

 "They had a little more energy and played with a little more effort than us," Alabama State head coach Reggie Barlow told the Montgomery Advertiser. "They've got a quality team and a quality system that they run. We just didn't have it today. We didn't play very well, we didn't play with the energy we needed to play with, away from home, on the road against a really good team. But it's a very good learning lesson for us. You have to be ready to play and can't have an off day on game day."

Alcorn State hits the road to play a surging Grambling team next week while Alabama State visits Prairie View A&M.

SWAC's Big Two, Alabama State and Alcorn State, Square Off; Benedict Visits Miles in Big SIAC Matchup

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Another week, another big game for Alabama State.

They've played two of the nation's top FCS teams in Sam Houston State (their only loss) and Tennessee State, and knocked off the SWAC's then-undefeated Texas Southern last week.

Now they have again play the SWAC's biggest game of the week for the second week in a row when they square off against fellow 4-1 team, Alcorn State.  And again, the Hornets will have their hands full as Alcorn State sports the SWAC's most prolific offense and stingiest defense. They've averaged 54 points a game in three home games this season.


"Alcorn is a good team and they have a bunch of guys that are coming back," said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow. "They have 10 guys back on offense and 10 guys back on defense so you're talking about a team that has played together a long time the last three years in Coach [Jay] Hopson's defense."

Of course, Alabama State is 4-1 because they also have a high scoring offense, led by quarterback Daniel Duhart and running back Malcolm Cyrus, and a tough defense that allows the second fewest points per game - 20.8 - in the SWAC (Alcorn State is the best at 13.6).

And while the implications are big, Hopson is downplaying how big this game is. 

“They’re all big (games),” Hopson said, according to HBCUSports.com. “We have a lot of rivalry games on our schedule every year. As a team, we have to play this like any other game.”

Tonight's game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. local time and will be broadcast live on ESPNU. 

Benedict Visits a Tougher-Than-They-Look-On-Paper Miles Team

Throw out their season-opening blowout to bigger in-state neighbor South Carolina State and you are looking at a Benedict squad that could have three wins out of four games this season.  They've blown out SIAC foe Lane and nipped CIAA opponent Elizabeth City State and last week fell on a late field goal in a close loss to Fort Valley State.

So heading into Miles, which has lost their last three games, you'd think Benedict would be looking over-confident, right?

Nope.

"They're thinking they're not playing well. But Miles is a very good football team," said Benedict head coach James Woody.  "They're not going to fool us with that.  They've played great teams the first four games and we're expecting a dog fight.  We've got to play our best to have an opportunity to win.  We've got to go in there with the frame of mind that we've got to win this football game. It's a must-win for each team.  Both sides know it."


After opening the season with a convincing win over Shaw, the Bears ran into a West Georgia team that is one of the best in the nation.  After than came two close losses to Hampton and Albany State. 
Miles averages 20 points a game on offense and relies on a running game that has put up nearly 200 yards a game this season

That happens to be Benedict's achilles heel, Woody said.  The Benedict pass defense is solid. The rush defense is not as they are ranked in the bottom half of the SIAC.

"We've challenged that defense, he said. "They've got to stop the run. They can't come in and run for 200, 250, 300 yards. They just can't do that. We've got to be able to shut that down. They're comfortable throwing the football as well. They're a balanced team, and that's what championship caliber teams are."

Don't believe that, said Miles head coach Reginald Ruffin.


"We're not a very good football team at the moment," he said. "And that's got a lot to do with me as a head coach. We're just not getting it done special teams, offensively or defensively. We've got to find a way to get us back over the hump. We're on the skids right now and it hasn't been good for Miles."

His team does feature the conference's top running back in Jonathan Clark, who averages nearly 100 yards a game this season, and quarterback Cameron Stover, the second-ranked QB in the SIAC.

Another thing that makes this game a big one is it will be nationally telecast on CBS Sports Network tonight at 8 p.m., a first for Miles College.

"It's good for the moral of the school," Ruffin said. "For me, I have to make sure we don't embarrass the institution the way we've been playing. It's more pressure on me to make sure these guys are ready to play a football game rather than be in the limelight and get embarrassed by a good Benedict football team. To me, it's just a game. A conference game and a game we have to win."

Tennessee State Reclaims Top Spot in ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT FCS Top Ten Poll; CIAA Top Three Teams Keep League On Top of Division II Poll

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Virginia Union less than a second left to defeat Johnson C. Smith on this play

The top feeders in this week's ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT Division II/FCS Football Top Ten polls didn't change much from last week. But a number of close, last minute games last weekend gave a jolt to both Top Ten lists this past week.

Third-ranked Virginia Union needed a last second touchdown to hold off Johnson C. Smith in Division II while fourth-ranked Fort Valley State needed a field goal on the game's final play to defeat Benedict.

In FCS HBCU football, Tennessee State reclaimed the top spot in the FCS poll after beating Florida A&M 27-7 in a game where the nation's fourth-ranked defense scored two touchdowns. But Bethune-Cookman, last week's co-number one team, is a VERY close second after averting a last second loss in defeating Division II Florida Tech 34-33.

The numbers three and four teams flipped-flopped after Alabama State handled Texas Southern 38-3 Saturday.  Eighth-ranked Jackson State needed overtime to defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Here are the entire FCS and Division II ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT Top Ten football polls for this week:


FCS

1) Tennessee State
2) Bethune-Cookman
3) Alabama State
4) Texas Southern
5) Alcorn State
6) North Carolina A&T
7) South Carolina State
8) Jackson State
9) Southern
10) Morgan State


DIVISION II

1) Winston-Salem State
2) Livingstone
3)Virginia Union
4) Fort Valley State
5) Morehouse
6) Tuskegee

7) Albany State
8) Benedict
9) Shaw
10) Virginia State

Alabama State Shuts Down Texas Southern; A Look at EVERY HBCU Football Game From Sept. 27

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Alabama State's Andre Wilson pursues TSU quarterback Jamal Small (photo by Lloyd Gallman/Montgomery Advertiser)

Daniel Duhart Throws Two TDs and Rushes for Two More to Lead Alabama State Past Texas Southern

Daniel Duhart threw for 209 yards and a touchdown and rushed for two more while the Alabama State defense shut down the SWAC's top offense to knock off previously undefeated Texas Southern 38-3

In the battle of the SWAC's top teams in the east and west divisions, Alabama State (4-1, 3-0 SWAC) scored on each of their first six possessions - three Clark Preston field goals, and Duhart's 25-yard touchdown run and 40-yard touchdown pass to DeMario Bell - to go up 23-3 by halftime.  Aside from Texas Southern's 17-play second quarter drive that resulted in their field goal, the Tigers punted three times and turned the ball over on their five first quarter possessions.  Their second half was much of the same with three punts, two fumbles and a safety on their seven drives.

Alabama State terrorized TSU quarterback Jamal Small all night, only allowing him 93 yards passing and minus-4 yards rushing, sacking him six times and picking him off once. ASU's Daerius Washington had ten tackles, two sacks and Kourtney Berry added nine tackles, a sack and two quarterback hurries. Torrey Davis forced two fumbles, had a sack and had seven tackles.

"Coach [Kevin] Ramsey coached a lot of those guys [while he was at Texas Southern] and recruited a lot of them and he kind of knew what the can and can not do," said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow. "I thought he had an outstanding game plan together to force them to get the ball out of the [quarterbacks'] hands quick.

"We were really worried about them running around, but our guys did a good job of containing and sustaining the edge," he added.  "We were able to get some sacks and some turnovers and our defense really played combative and that's exactly how you want to play it."

The SWAC's leading rusher, the Hornets' Malcolm Cyrus, picked up 118 yards, his fourth straight 100-yard game. ASU's defense held the conference's second leading rusher, Daveonn Porter to just 43 yards on the night.

Alabama State heads to Alcorn State Thursday, Oct. 2 while Texas Southern (4-1, 2-1 SWAC) hosts Mississippi Valley State Saturday.

Bethune-Cookman Holds Off Florida Tech 34-33

(photo from BCU Athletics)

Florida Tech turned out to be their own worst enemy as their two fourth quarter fumbles were converted to touchdowns by Quentin Williams to give Bethune-Cookman a dramatic, come-from-behind win over Division II Florida Tech 34-33.

Florida Tech's Mark Cato threw his third touchdown pass of the day, a 43-yarder to Mike Bass with 19 seconds left in the game to pull within one.  The Panthers went for the win, attempting a short pass for the two-point conversion, but it was picked off by BCU linebacker Donald Smith to hold of the Panthers and preserve the win.

“We were playing a Division I opponent on the road,” FIU head coach Steve Englhart told the Daytona Beach News Journal. “I just wanted to win and not do the overtime thing if I could help it. With us on a short week and playing Thursday (against Delta State in their Gulf South Conference opener), I didn't want to play any longer.”
 
"All I know is we won," B-CU head coach Brian Jenkins told the Daytona News-Journal.  "Good, bad, ugly, whatever. A win is a win. I don't think at the end of the day they judge how pretty the win was."


Anthony Jordan rushed for two touchdowns, both in the second quarter. His last put the Wildcats up 20-7.  But over the next 20 minutes, starting just before halfitme, Mark Cato and Aaron George hooked up for two touchdown passes and Brion Ashley nailed two field goals to take a 27-20 lead early in the fourth quarter. 

That's when Florida Tech got fumblitis.

"I just think our team lost focus. When we thought we were going to win the game, we just lost focus," Englehart told Florida Today. "We did not execute down the stretch and we had a chance to win the game, and the players know we had a chance to win the game. But I am proud of the way they played."

Here are the scores and a rundown of EVERY HBCU football game from Saturday, Sept. 27:

CIAA

Virginia Union 27, Johnson C. Smith 26 (Kenneth Graham's 37-yard touchdown pass to Jussie York with .09 seconds left gave Virginia Union the come-back win.  VUU had been down 11 midway through the fourth quarter when Graham threw his first fourth-quarter TD, followed later by the game-winner. Graham had 230 yards and three TDs passing.  JCSU's Keahn Wallace threw for 231 yards and two touchdows)

Livingstone 36, Bowie State 33 (Winless Bowie State gave undefeated Livingstone all they could handle, plus some.  But Livingstone scored the final ten points of a wild game, culminated by Leonardo Manzo's 25-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to give Livingstone the win.  Livingstone's Drew Powell threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 94 yards)

Shaw 38, Lincoln (Pa) 27 (Trey Folston threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns to lead Shaw over an improving Lincoln (Pa) squad. His favorite receiver, Nick Jones, had a school-record 212 yards receiving. Lincoln's Doug Cook threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns)

St. Augustine's 33, Chowan 31 (Cyril Davis threw a 68-yard TD to Claytin Lewis to give St. Aug's their first win of the season. The game ended as it began as Davis threw two first quarter TDs to lead St. Aug's to a first-quarter 17-0 lead. Lewis had six catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns. DaSean Martin rushed for 123 yards and a TD for Chowan)

Virginia State 35, Fayetteville State 14 (Trey Johnson ran for 125 yards and touchdown while Tarian Ayers was 22-for-30 passing for 218 yards and a touchdown to lead VSU to an easy win. Andre Montgomery rushed for 70 yards and two TDs for 0-4 Fayetteville State)

Winston-Salem State 35, Elizabeth City State 7 (Winston-Salem's offense struggled through the first half, but punted only twice in the second half to pull away from ECSU.  Rudy Johnson threw two touchdown passes to give WSSU a 14-point lead, followed by a Phil Sims TD toss and Tyree Massey touchdown run to seal the victory)


SWAC

JSU's LaMontiez Ivy eludes UAPB tacklers (photo by Jackson State athletics media)

Jackson State 33, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 30 (OT) (Ivy LaMontiez ran a 15-yard touchdown in overtime to lift Jackson State to the win. UAPB's Benjamin Anderson turned a budding blowout into a thriller with two touchdown passes in the third quarter. He finished with 256 yards passing and 135 yards rushing and another touchdown)

Alcorn State 56, Southern 16 (Anthony Williams III rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, Darryan Ragsdale ran for another 125 yards plus a TD to lead a 410-yard rushing day as 4-1 Alcorn State puts up 682 yards of offense on the Jaguars)

Alabama A&M 42, Mississippi Valley State 20 (In a wild first quarter, Alabama A&M countered MVSU's opening drive touchdown with 21 first quarter points of their own.  Alabama A&M scored 28 points off turnovers. The Bulldogs Anthony Lanier had eight tackles, a forced fumble, 2.5 sacks and for tackles for loss.  David Dagrin had 2.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss)

Grambling State 26, Prairie View A&M 20 (Grambling's Johnathan Williams threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers go to 2-0 in the SWAC for the first time since....  It's also the first time since 2011 that they've won back-to-back games)


MEAC 

Aggies quaarteback Kwashaun Quick makes a move (photo by NCAT Sports Information)

North Carolina A&T 38, Howard 22 (Howard whittled down a 28-7 lead to 28-22 late in the third quarter, but the Aggies held them off for the win. Freshman Marquell Cartwright rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns.  Howard's Greg McGhee threw for 237 yards and a touchdown and ran for 93 yards and another touchdown)

Tennessee State 27, Florida A&M 7 (Gabe Terry have five tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss to lead a TSU defense that continued its hard nosed ways. They had seven sacks, two interceptions - one returned for a touchdown - forced a fumble that was returned for another touchdown, and had 12 tackles for loss)

Delaware State 35, Savannah State 10 (Delaware State cruised after 28 first quarter points, two on Gilbert Rivera touchdown passes, to keep Savannah State winless. For the game,  Delaware State scored 28 points off turnovers - three of those Savannah State fumbles in the first quarter.  SSU did pick off four Hornets passes)

Norfolk State 15, Morgan State 14 (Morgan State rallied with two fourth quarter touchdowns to go up 14-9.  But NSU marched down the field late with a 14-play, 4:26 minute drive that culminated in a Tyler Clark ran a 1-yard TD with 29 seconds left to give the Spartans the win. Herb Walker Jr. had 111 yards and a TD rushing for Morgan State. Norfolk State only allowed 38 yards passing)

South Carolina State 17, Hampton 10 (SCSU's head coach Buddy Pough got his 100th win on the legs of Jalen "Scoot" Simmons (129 yards and a touchdown rushing, his third-straight 100-yard rushing game) and the strength of a bend-but-dont break defense.  Jorrian Washington rushed for 176 yards and had Hampton's only touchdown. His brother, Jaylen, was picked off twice and was sacked four times)

SIAC

Morehouse's Lake McGuffie snags a pass (photo by Chris Thelen/Augusta Chronicle)

Morehouse 20, Paine 10 (Paine slowed down one of nation's top 50 Division II passing offenses in Morehouse and Morehouse slowed down one of the SIAC's top scoring offenses in winless, but competitive Paine.  The game was tied at 10 in the fourth.  Paine's Loranzo Hammonds threw an interception that Joshua Burton returned 30 yards for a TD and putting the game out of reach)

Tuskegee 44, Lane 3 (Tuskegee scored on five of their first seven drives, four of them touchdowns, to jump out to an insurmountable 30-3 halftime lead. Two of those TDs were by Hoderick Lowe, who had 131 yards rushing. Quarterbacks Justin Nared and Kevin Lacey were a combined 14-of-18 for 241 yards and two TDs. Lane has never defeated Tuskegee in twenty tries)

West Georgia 42, Clark Atlanta 2 (Seth Hinsley rushed for two first half touchdowns as West Georgia rushed out to a 28-2 first half lead. Clark Atlanta only mustered 156 yards of offense, only 37 of that through the air)

Stillman 34, Kentucky State 20 (A 20-point Stillman second quarter, highlighted by Josh Straughan's two TD passes, proved to be the difference in this game. Jovontae Thurmon had 95 yards and three touchdowns  Adam Robinson had a solid game for Kentucky State as he passed for 272 yards and two touchdowns, though he threw two picks that were converted to touchdowns)

Delta State 72, Central State 8 (After being thrashed 40-3 by Morehouse last week, Central State ran into the fifth best passing team and fifth best offense overall in Division II in 13th-ranked Delta State.  Delta State punted just twice all day as they rolled up 542 yards of offense)

Fort Valley State 33, Benedict 30 (In a see-saw battle, Juan Serna kicked a 40-yard field goal as time ran out to give FVSU the win. Benedict's Cameron Stover had thrown a 51-yard touchdown pass with 1:32 remaining to tie the game. Otis Brown came off the bench to throw for 156 yards and two touchdowns for Fort Valley State. Stover passed for 313 yards and three touchdowns)

Albany State 14, Miles 7 (Jarvis Small rushed for 106 yards and Tavarius Washington had 13 tackles and a forced fumble for Albany State in a tough defensive battle. The difference in the game turned out to be ASU's Frank Holton's 97-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, giving the Golden Rams a 14-0 lead.  Demetric Price threw for 148 yards and Miles' only touchdown)

OTHERS 

Hardin-Simmons 30, Langston 29 (Langston's fourth quarter come-back fell short when Mark Wright Jr. was picked off with 27 seconds left in the game. Langston had been down 30-16 heading into the fourth quarter)

Panhandle State 70, Texas College (NAIA) 27
Kutztown 74, Cheyney 0
Truman State 29, Lincoln (Mo) 20
Fairmont State 24, West Virginia State 12