By ADD SEYMOUR JR.
Tuskegee beating Winston-Salem State, which happened yesterday, isn't that hard to fathom.
The Golden Tigers at 3-0 are the defending SIAC champions and their 28-13 win Saturday was their chance to avenge two straight defeats to one of the top Division II football programs in Winston-Salem State.
What is surprising is that WSSU is now 0-3 on the young season.
With a cast of newcomers and transfers still trying to jell, plus the fact that two of their three games so far have been against two of the nation's top D-2 teams (the Rams lost to Valdosta State two weeks ago), it isn't that out of the question that Winston-Salem State would have had at least two losses to start the 2015 campaign.
But like in their previous two games, WSSU struggled offensively. They only had 12 first downs, passed for less than 100 yards and rushed for just over 130.
"I'm looking at the stats right now and I'm trying to find some positives," WSSU Head Coach Kienus Boulware told the
Winston-Salem Journal. "I would like to think we are getting better, even if we haven't had a win yet."
Part of the problem was the Tuskegee defense, which was led by Jewel Ratliff and his 15 tackles and one sack.
Coupled with the steady play of quarterback Kevin Lacey, who had 151 yards passing and a touchdown, Tuskegee looked solid.
"Our defense once again played extremely well," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater told the
Montgonery Advertiser. "The guys were challenged by a short field, but they did a great job. Our offense played a lot better today, but we still need to see some improvement."
Here is a rundown of ALL the HBCU football action from Saturday:
MEAC
Bethune-Cookman 7, Lane 3 - Lane's defense led a staunch upset bid that fell short against Bethune-Cookman (2-1). Bethune-Cookman had 224 yards rushing, led by Anthony Jordan's 74 yards and the game's lone TD. But Lane (1-2) held the BCU passing game in check and controlled the game with their own solid rushing game.
Chowan 31, Delaware State 30 - Randall Dixon (200 yards and two TDs passing) and Marcus Hampton (126 yards and a touchdown rushing) led Chowan (2-1) to a win over FCS team Delaware State (0-3). DSU scored two fourth quarter TDs late, but missed the PAT after the last touchdown with less than a minute left that would have tied the game.
Marshall 45, Norfolk State 7 - It looked interesting early when Norfolk State (0-3) jumped out to a 7-0 lead. That didn't last. Marshall's Chase Litton threw for 270 yards and four TDs while Devon Johnson added 122 yards and a TD.
Florida International 39, North Carolina Central 14 - FIU quarterback Alex McGough threw for 242 yards and three TDs to lead them to the win. North Carolina Central (1-2) only had one offensive touchdown, a Idreis Augustus 1-yard run late.
North Carolina A&T 14, Elon 7 - Tarik Cohen's fourth-quarter, 13 yard touchdown run lifted North Carolina A&T (2-1) to the win. In a hard-hitting defensive game, both teams combined for just over 500 yards of offense.
Morgan State 61, Virginia-Lynchburg 0 - Moses Skillion threw four touchdown passes -- three of them to Andrew King -- as Morgan State (1-2) easily overwhelmed outmatched Virginia-Lynchburg. The Morgan State defense allowed only -62 yards rushing.
Akron 52, Savannah State 9 - When a nose tackle scores a team's first three touchdowns, things aren't looking good. That's what happened to Savannah State (0-3) as Akron nose tackle Cody Grice powered in three touchdowns as a running back as the routed SSU.
SIAC
Fort Valley State 35, Clark Atlanta 13 - Clark Atlanta (0-3, 0-3 SIAC) was only behind by one in the third quarter, but Fort Valley State's Travis Thompson's two touchdown runs helped FVSU (2-1, 2-0 SIAC) pull away for the win. Matthew Vincent threw for 252 yards and two TDs for CAU.
Albany State 21, Stillman 6 - Jarvis Small rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown as Albany State (1-2, 1-0 SIAC) got their first win of the season. Stillman (1-2, 0-1 SIAC) was led by Rovonta Johnson who had 77 yards rushing.
West Alabama 13, Miles 10 - Miles (0-3) was one quarter away from a big upset of West Alabama as they led 10-0 heading into the fourth quarter. But UWA's Trent Thompson threw a 65-yard touchdown and Tyler Rogers had a 7-yard TD run for the comeback win.
Central State 24, Benedict 0 - Central State (2-1, 1-0 SIAC) only gave up 68 yards of offense to Benedict (0-3). Benedict had -29 yards rushing. On offense, the Marauders rushed for 227 yards and two TDs.
Morehouse 37, Johnson C. Smith 35 - Monquavious Johnson threw three touchdown passes and Amyr Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards in a 27-point third quarter that pushed Morehouse (2-1) to the win. Johnson threw for 247 yards and four TDs and ran for 50 yards. Harold Herbin threw three touchdowns for JCSU (1-2), two of them to Fred Scott, who had 108 yards receiving.
SWAC
Grambling 34, Alabama State 10 - Grambling (1-2, 1-0 SWAC) outscored Alabama State (0-3, 0-2) 31-0 during the second and third quarters to seal the win. Johnathan Williams threw for 296 yards and four touchdowns for Grambling.
Alcorn State 55, Mississippi Valley State 14 -
Texas Southern 24, Arkansas Pine Bluff 20 - Darre Robinson had two third quarter touchdowns to lead Texas Southern (2-1, 1-1 SWAC) to the win. Nicholas Woolford had two TDs for UAPB (1-2, 0-1 SWAC). Marcus Terrell led UAPB with 189 yards passing and 50 yards rushing.
Prairie View 53, Alabama A&M 49 - In a game where these two teams combined for nearly 1100 yards of offense, Courtney Brown's two touchdowns erased a a three-point, early fourth quarter deficit to give Prairie View (2-1, 2-0 SWAC) the win. Trey Green threw for 345 yards and four TDs for Prairie View. Alabama A&M (0-2, 0-1 SWAC) was led by DeAngelo Ballard, who threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 87 yards and two more touchdowns.
Southern 50, Jackson State 30 - Austin Howard had a monster day for Southern (2-1, 2-0 SWAC) as he threw for 395 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores. La Montiez Ivy led Jackson State (0-3, 0-1 SWAC ) threw for 357 yards for three TDs and ran for another.
CIAA
Alderson-Broaddus 28, Lincoln (Pa) 24 - Alderson-Broaddus' Brehon Daniels' 13-yard TD run with 4:23 remaining lifted his teame to the win. Alderson-Broaddus rushed for 317 yards, with Brandon Jones accounting for 135 of them with quarterback Dakota Bruggerman adding 129. Bruggerman also added 122 yards and two TDs passing. Lincoln (Pa) (2-1) only had 135 yards of offense on the day.
Elizabeth City State 23, St. Augustine's 7 - Daquan Neal threw two touchdowns while Josh Joyner kept the ground game churning with 144 rushing to lead ECSU (2-0) to the easy win. St. Aug's (0-3) offense struggled most of the day.
Virginia State 14, Kentucky State 7 - Virginia State's offense didnt score all day. Didn't matter because the VSU (2-1) punt returners scored two touchdowns. Kentucky State (0-3) got a touchdown pass from Alex Spriggs who also rushed for 32 yards.
West Georgia 57, Fayetteville State 27 - A 29-point second quarter was all undefeated West Georgia needed to shut down winless Fayetteville State (0-3)
Gardner-Webb 13, Virginia Union 9 - There wasn't a lot of offense in this game as Andre Coble's TD pass in the fourth quarter for Virginia Union (2-1) was the only touchdown all day.
Central Connecticut State 21, Bowie State 14 - Jacob Bolegala's late game TD run lifted CCSU to the win. Bowie State (2-1) still had a huge offensive day as quarterback Matthew Coggans threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns and Nyme Manns rushed for 194 yards and a TD.
UNC Pembroke 16. Shaw 6 - UNC Pembroke is now 3-0 against the CIAA after defeating Shaw (0-3) Quentin Rucker had 273 yards passing for Shaw.
OTHERS
Jacksonville State 48, Tennessee State 13 - Jacksonville State jumped out to a 24 point lead early and never looked back as the top ranked team in FCS football defeated TSU (2-1, 0-1 OVC). Of JSU's 576 yards of offense, 349 of it came on the ground. TSU could only muster 24 yards rushing.
Clarion 59, Cheyney 6 - Connor Simmons threw for four touchdowns in Clarion's easy win over Cheyney (0-3). Dominick Trautz threw for 87 yards and a touchdown as Cheyney struggled on offense.
West Virginia State 52, West Virginia Wesleyan 31 -West Virginia State (2-1) outscored WVWU 28-7 over the last quarter and a half to get the win. Matt Kinnick threw for 434 yards and three TDs while Kelvit Barrett rushed for 77 yards and three TDs. Tyrell Henderson hauled in five passes for 120 yards and a touchdown while Quinton Gary had eight catches for 108 yards.
Oklahoma Panhandle State 40, Langston 35 -
Qunicy 42, Lincoln (Mo) 37 - Quincy outscored Lincoln (Mo) 35-7 midway through the game to take control and grab the win. Quincy's Nick Lonergan threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns with Chris Harris rushed for 158 yards and a TD. Owen Jordand threw for 283 yards and a touchdown for Lincoln (Mo) (1-2) while Miles Drummond rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown.
