Alcorn State No Match For 16th Ranked Yellow Jackets; UNC Pembroke Surprises Winston Salem State; Delta State Routs Fort Valley State

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

(photo from Macon.com)

Nothing that happened in Atlanta Thursday night was unexpected by most.  FBS power Georgia Tech, the nation's 16th ranked team which had the nation's second best rushing offense last season, ran past FCS squad Alcorn State 69-6.

Alcorn State (0-1) had no answer for a Yellow Jackets (1-0) squad that rushed for 476 yards and nine touchdowns Thursday night in front of a happy home crowd and a cable television audience.  Tech's Marcus Marshall had 184 yards on only eight carries and two touchdowns while Patrick Skov had three touchdowns on 12 carries.

Offense was an issue for the offense-happy Braves, who could only muster 272 yards Thursday, most of it after the game got out of hand -- which was early.   The Yellow Jackets were up 34-0 after the first quarter, cruising from there.

Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs Jr. had 50 yards passing and 51 rushing.  Darryan Ragsdale ran for 50 yards on 11 carries.

Alcorn State goes back to FCS competition when they open their SWAC schedule in hosting Alabama State on Sept. 12.  Georgia Tech hosts Tulane next week.

UNC Pembroke Surprises Winston Salem State 17-7

Heading into the 2015 season, Winston Salem State head coach knew he had to quickly rebuild a team that lost 18 of 22 starters from a year ago.  Apparently they will need a little more time.

UNC Pembroke (1-0), a team Winston Salem State defeated 38-7 last season, stifled the WSSU offense, sacking the quarterback seven times and racking up 12 tackles for losses in holding down the Rams 17-7 Thursday.

Winston Salem State (0-1) moved down the field on the game's first drive and scored a touchdown on a Rod Tinsely pass to Anthony Rook.

But the Rams never would make it past the UNC Pembroke 35 yard line the rest of the night as Pembroke's defense stiffened.

The Braves Kendall Jacobs had eight tackles for Pembroke while Aarace Brooks had five tackles and two sacks.

Meanwhile quarterback Patrick O'Brien kept the Pembroke offense moving steadily, hitting 21 of 32 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown.

Tinsley finished with 195 yards a touchdown passing along with an interception.  Marcel Caver caught eight balls for 90 yards while Tyree Massey rushed 12 times for 58 yards.

Winston Salem State now heads to suburban Atlanta for another big game with Valdosta State on Sept. 12 while UNC Pembroke visits Fayetteville State next Saturday.

Delta State Routs Fort Valley State 48-7

(photo from Gostatesman.com)

Tyler Sullivan had four first half touchdowns as Delta State scored on their first five drives to cruise by Fort Valley State 48-7 Saturday.

Sullivan, who finished with 293 yards passing, threw a 58-yard TD on the game's first drive and then rushed for two more touchdowns to lead Delta State (1-0) to a 25-0 first quarter lead. Sullivan added a 59-yard TD pass just before halftime as Delta State went into the break leading 39-7.

The Delta State defense shut down FVSU (0-1), only allowing the Wildcats 131 yards of offense in the second half.

Fort Valley State quarterback Otis Brown was 17 of 27 for 218 yards and an interception.  He also rushed for 19 yards and the Wildcats only TD.  Jalen White had 34 yards rushing for FVSU.

Delta State visits Texas A&M-Commerce next Saturday while Fort Valley State hosts Lane.

Other scores: 

West Virginia State 59, Fairmont State 34