Alcorn State Tries to Regain Swagger at Southern; Rundown of ALL HBCU Football Scheduled Saturday

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Alcorn State has an important date in Louisiana today, mainly because their last time in Louisiana didn't turn out so well.

Today, Alcorn State faces a Southern (4-3, 4-1 SWAC) team that is looking to get back into the SWAC title game picture in the SWAC West as they trail Grambling and Prairie View.

Two weeks ago, the Braves (4-2) fell to Grambling, a team Alcorn State most people expect to meet the Braves in this year's SWAC title game.

But after a bye week, Alcorn State won't be facing a pushover.  Two of Southern's three losses have come to FBS teams Louisiana Tech and Georgia, while their lone FCS loss was a wild 47-42 defeat at the hands of a solid Prairie View squad.

The Jaguars feature the SWAC's leading rusher in Lenard Tillery, who has averaged nearly 105 yards a game and has rushed for nine touchdowns. Quarterback Austin Howard is one of the SWAC most efficient quarterbacks as he's thrown for nearly 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns against only three interceptions.

Still, Southern is facing the SWAC's top defensive unit in Alcorn State. with the league's top pass defense unit.

It shapes up to be a tough one in Baton Rouge.  Kickoff is at 4 p.m. CST.

Here is today's entire HBCU football schedule

SIAC

Central State at Tuskegee - The SIAC's top defensive unit, Central State, takes on the nation's top-ranked Division II HBCU football team.  The Marauders have also won four straight road games.
Benedict at Albany State
Morehouse at Fort Valley State
Kentucky State at Lane
Clark Atlanta at Concordia (Ala)

SWAC

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Prairie View A&M
College of Faith at Texas Southern
Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M
Jackson State at Mississippi Valley State

CIAA

Elizabeth City State at Virginia Union
Lincoln (Pa) at Bowie State
Johnson C. Smith at St. Augustine's
Fayetteville State at Livingstone
Shaw at Winston-Salem State
Virginia State at Chowan

MEAC

Savannah State at Howard
Hampton at South Carolina State
Norfolk State at North Carolina Central
Bethune-Cookman at Delaware State
North Carolina A&T at Florida A&M

OTHERS

Austin Peay at Tennessee State - Tennessee State (3-4, 0-4 OVC) returns to their traditional home, "The Hole" on campus to take on OVC rival Austin Peay.  The Tigers are in the midst of a disappointing season and are seeking their first OVC win of the season.
West Chester (Pa) at Cheyney
West Virginia State at UNC-Pembroke
Lincoln (Mo) at McKendree
Lyon at Langston
Texas College at Oklahoma Panhandle

Tuskegee, Bowie State 1-2 in ADDS HBCU SPORTS REPORT D-2 Football Poll; North Carolina A&T Leads FCS Poll

Division II

1) Tuskegee

2) Bowie State
3) Virginia Union
4) Chowan
5) Virginia State
6) Fort Valley State
7) Fayetteville State
8) Albany State
9) Elizabeth City State
10) Miles



FCS

1) North Carolina A&T
2) Grambling
3) Alcorn State
4) Bethune-Cookman
5) South Carolina State
6) Prairie View A&M
7) Southern
8) North Carolina Central
9) Hampton
10) Morgan State

Bowie State Knocks Off Virginia Union in Battle of CIAA's Best; Recaps of EVERY HBCU Football Game From Saturday

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Just when Virginia Union thought they had Bowie State, things just slipped away.

In a battle of the CIAA North's two best teams - and right now, the two best teams in the CIAA, Virginia Union botched a point after touchdown kick that would have pulled them to within one point of Bowie State in the third quarter.  Bowie's Brian Hall took the blocked kick and ran it back 98 yards for two points and the final score in a close 23-19 win.

The victory gives Bowie State (7-1, 5-0 CIAA) sole possession of first place in the CIAA North and the inside track to the CIAA championship game while Virginia Union (6-2, 4-1 CIAA) falls to one game behind the Bulldogs.

Here is a rundown of last weekend's HBCU football action


CIAA

Winston-Salem State 23, Livingstone 21
Johnson C. Smith 17, Shaw 10
Virginia State 35, Lincoln (Pa) 0
Chowan 24, Elizabeth City State 20
Fayetteville State 40, St. Augustine's 18

MEAC

North Carolina A&T 65, Howard 14 - After being behind 14-13 early in the second quarter, North Carolina A&T (6-1, 4-0 MEAC) scored 52 unanswered points and had no problem with winless Howard (0-7, 0-5 MEAC). Tarik Cohen rushed for 137 yards and three TDs, including a 33-yarder that put the Aggies up for good in the second quarter. Quarterback Kwashaun Quick threw for a TD and rushed for 85 yards and another score for A&T. Howard was led by quarterback Kalen Johnson who threw two touchdown passes.
Bethune-Cookman 59, Norfolk State 49 - In a wild, back-and-forth shootout,  Quentin Williams threw for 356 yards and four touchdowns to lead Bethune-Cookman (6-2, 4-1 MEAC) to the win. Michael Jones rushed for 136 yards and two TDs and caught three passes for 112 yards and a TD for BCU. Greg Hankerson threw for 266 yards and four TDs and ran for 97 yards for Norfolk State (2-5, 2-2 MEAC) while Issac White caught 10 passes for 126 yards and three TDs. Gerard Johnson rushed for 103 yards. Both teams combined for 1090 yards of offense.
South Carolina State 34, Delaware State 7 -
William & Mary 40, Hampton 7 -
North Carolina Central 20, Morgan State 17 -

SIAC

Tuskegee 38, Kentucky State 28 - Tuskegee (7-1, 6-0 SIAC) had to work hard for their win over a game Kentucky State (2-6, 2-3 SIAC) squad.  Tuskegee's Dennis Norfleet broke open a 14-14 tie midway in the second quarter with a 73-yard TD run and Kenno Loyal added a 9-yard touchdown run as the Golden Tigers held on for the win.  Loyal led the Tuskegee offense with 113 yards rushing and two toudhdowns. Kentucky State's Ora Johnson threw two touchdown passes while Reginal Harris rushed for 127 yards.
Morehouse 42, Benedict 10 - Morehouse (4-4, 2-3 SIAC) spotted Benedict (0-8, 0-6 SIAC) an early 10-0 first quarter lead before the Maroon Tigers offense took over on homecoming day in Atlanta.  Morehouse's Kivon Taylor threw two TDs while Cameron Fields rushed for 87 yards and another touchdown.  Amyr Smith caught a 52-yard TD pass from Taylor and ran a kickoff back 100 yards for a TD while Devon Mann had an 80-yard TD reception. Morehouse rushed for 254 yards.
Albany State 26, Clark Atlanta 14 - Clark Atlanta (1-7, ) kept it close early, but the SIAC's rushing leader, Jarvis Small, scored two TDs to lift Albany State (4-3, 4-1 SIAC) to the win. Jaha McCray's 5-yard TD run midway through the third quarter pulled CAU to within three at 17-14. But Albany State got a safety and a Small TD to get the win. Small had 100 yards rushing while CAU's Michael Vincent threw for 278 yards and a touchdown.
Central State 24, Stillman 7 - Terrence Wafford rushed for a TD and passed for another one while the Central State (4-4, 2-2 SIAC) defense bent but only broke once to get the win over Stillman (3-4, 2-3 SIAC). Stillman quarterback Brett Standifer threw two TDs, but struggled.  Central State's defense, the best in the SIAC, had three sacks and three interceptions.
Miles 37, Lane 10 - Jamarcus Nance rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback David Whipple rushed for 101 yards and threw for 141 more to lead Miles (4-4, 4-1 SIAC) to the win.  Miles rushed for 305 yards and three TDs on the day. Marcus Reynolds had 62 yards passing and 65 yards and a TD rushing for Lane (2-6, 1-5 SIAC).  Courtney Bush adde 92 yards rushing for Lane.  After starting the season 0-3, Miles has won three in a row, four of their last five.

SWAC

Southern 40, Texas Southern 21 - Lenard Tillery rushed for a career high 196 yards, with two TDs, to lead Southern (4-3, 4-1 SWAC) to win over Texas Southern (3-4, 2-4 SWAC).  The game was tied early in the second quarter when Malik Cross' 18-yard TD reception knotted the game at 21-21.  But the Tigers wouldn't score again as Deonte Shorts and John West, along with a safety and a field goal, to get the win.
Jackson State 37, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3 - Jarin Marikawa threw for 333 yards and three TDs to lead Jackson State (2-5, 2-3 SWAC) to the rout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-6, 0-5 SWAC). JSU got 100 yards and a TD on the ground from Robert Johnson while Devin Fosselman caught six passes for 175 yards and all three of Marikawa's touchown passes.  UAPB's only win so far this season has come against Division II's Morehouse.
Grambling 49, Mississippi Valley State 14 - Grambling (6-2, 6-0 SWAC) broke open a close game with 21-second quarter points to get an easy win over Mississippi Valley State (0-8, 0-6 SWAC). Grambling's Jestin Kelly rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns while Johnta Williams threw two TDs.  Grambling rushed for 308 yards as the Delta Devils gave up 568 yards in total offense.

OTHERS

Eastern Kentucky 45, Tennessee State 21 - Bennie Coney threw for 292 and three touchdown and rushed for another while his running back Ethan Thomas rushed for 149 yards and touchdown to lead EKU to the win over Tennessee State (3-4, 0-4 OVC).  Ronald Butler led TSU with 222 yards and two touchdowns, with his big target being wide receiver Patrick Smith (nine receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD).  The TSU defense gave up 549 yards of offense to Eastern Kentucky. The Tigers have lost four of their last five games.
Langston 49, Bacone 7 -
Arizona Christian 26, Texas College 0 - Texas College (1-7, 1-4 CSFL) only mustered 88 yards of offense while Arizona Christian's P.J. Sparks ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns.  Texas College's Robert Woodard only completed eight passes.
Indianapolis 41, Lincoln (Mo) 18 - Andrew Walker rushed for 129 yards and four touchdowns to lead Indianapolis to an easy win over Lincoln (Mo) (1-7, 0-5 GLVC).
West Virginia State 24, Glenville State 21 - West Virginia State (5-3, 5-3 MEC) scored three first quarter touchdowns, two on Matt Kinnick TD tosses, to hold on for a win. Kinnick had two TD passes. Glenville State's Tevin Drake had a big day, rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown.
Shippensburg 70, Cheyney 7 - Ryan Zapoticky completed 13 passes - five of them for touchdowns - to lead Shippensburg to a rout of Cheyney (0-8, 0-5 PSAC).  Chase Yocum added 103 yards and two TDs on the ground for Shippensburg.  Cheyney's Brandon French rushed for 76 yards while quarterback Dominick Trautz threw for 107 yards and a touchdown.