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

Texas Southern/Alabama State Battle for Early Season SWAC Leadership; Previews of EVERY HBCU Football Game For Sat. Sept 27

By ADD SEYMOUR JR. 

(photo by Texas Southern athletic web site)

You couldn't get a better first time match-up in an early season HBCU classic than this.  The Southwestern Athletic Conference's two best teams, Texas Southern (4-0) in the west and Alabama State (3-1) in the east, do battle in the inaugural Prince Hall Mason's Americanism Football Classic in Montgomery, Ala. 

Both teams are 2-0 in SWAC play, lead their divisions and feature the second and third best offenses in the conference.


At 3-1, Alabama State's most impressive win was in getting in front of 20th-ranked Tennessee State and holding them off.  The Hornets were able to move the ball against TSU, which has the nation's second best defense. 

Alabama State does it on the ground, where they run for 272 yards a game.  The Hornet running attack is led by running back Malcolm Cyrus.  Cyrus is one of the country's top rushers, averaging 153 yards a game. 

Defense is where Alabama State struggles.  They are next to last in the SWAC in total defense, mainly because they are last in the conference in pass defense in which they give up 310 yards a game.

That could be a big problem as Homer Causey and Jamal Small lead a two-quarterback system that has accounted for 10 touchdowns, only two interceptions and 800 yards passing this season.  But it's a balanced TSU offense as the SWAC's second best rusher is Daveonn Porter, who averages 104 yards a game. Porter rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over Alabama A&M.

"We're just looking forward to the opportunity to step up to the challenge again and play a really good team and see how we measure up to a team that is playing lights out and scoring a lot of points and stopping people on defense," said ASU head coach Reggie Barlow. "So it will be a big challenge for our team, but we are looking forward to it."

Interestingly, the last three battles haven't been big battles as Alabama State has won each game handily, including last year's 34-2 win.  

Here is a look at all of today's other HBCU football action:

SIAC 

  

Lane at Tuskegee (Tuskegee has struggled to move the ball on offense so far this season, but held their own in a tough loss to the nation's top Division II team, Winston-Salem State last week.  Lane's offense has been anemic, averaging only 200 yards total offense a game and just garnering 59 yards rushing all season)

West Georgia at Clark Atlanta (Undefeated West Georgia brings a team into Clark Atlanta that was dominated by the Panthers last season 28-3.  This is a different group of Wolves though. Their defense has given up only 8 points per game and just 207 yards rushing all season.  They will be challenged by the SIAC's top rushing offense, led by Montavious Taylor) 

Kentucky State at Stillman (Kentucky State has played well enough to be 3-0 this season, based on a defense that has allowed 16 and 13 points in their two losses.   They are stout against the run. Stillman has the SIAC's worst defense, as they give up 447 yards a game and 6.3 yards a play, second worst in the conference)

Morehouse at Paine (Except for the buzzsaw called Howard's Greg McGhee, Morehouse has sailed through their first three games so far this season with big wins over Edward Waters and Central State. But even though Paine is in their first year of competitive football since the early1960s, Paine is a team that could very well be 3-0, losing their three games by a total of nine points. Both teams score a lot, so defense will be the key in this game)

Fort Valley State at Benedict (This battle between 2-1 teams features a Fort Valley State team that is solid on offense, ranking third in the SIAC in total offense based on a balanced passing and running game. Benedict doesn't score a lot of points, but they rely on a defense that, except for a season-opening 63-0 thrashing at the hands of South Carolina State, has played pretty well in wins over Lane and Elizabeth City State)

Central State at Delta State (The Marauders have a tough date to try to erase the wounds from last week's 43-9 loss to Morehouse.  Delta State is the nation's 12th ranked Division II team that boasts quarterback Tyler Sullivan, who has averaged 359 yards a game.)

Miles at Albany State (Miles will run into a surly bunch of Golden Rams this weekend. Albany State is 0-2 and needs a win to get things going. They've found scoring tough, averaging only 11 points a game and ranking next to last in the SIAC in total offense.  They've only scored two touchdowns in their two games. Miles has gotten ready with two tough opponents in losses to Hampton and West Georgia the past two weeks.  Their balanced attack features the SIAC's leading rusher, Jonathan Clark, and third best passer, Demetric Price)

SWAC

Southern at Alcorn State (Alcorn State's high flying offense has put up nearly 45 points and 472 yards offense a game this season. They also have one of the nation's to FCS defensive units.  Southern is solid on both sides of the ball, though their pass defense, ranked seventh in the SWAC, will get tested)

Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State (Mississippi Valley State has struggled on offense, particularly in the passing game which is the SWAC's second-worst. The Delta Devils also give up 42 points a game, which is at the bottom of the conference. Alabama A&M isnt much better on offense offense, and has given up an average of 37.5 points a game this season)

Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M (Grambling has looked better and better each week, culminating with their win over Jackson State last week. Prairie View is 0-3, but they played good teams in Texas Southern and McNeese State.  The offense was balanced between quarterback Jerry Lovelock and running back Johnta Hebert in last week's loss to Southern.  Both teams score a bunch, but give up a lot of points. The least either has given up this year is the 34 points PVAM allowed in their loss to 34-24 loss to Southern)

Jackson State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Jackson State is at a crossroads already this season.  Are they the team that jumped out to a 2-0 record or are they the squad that was muscled Tennessee State and previously winless Grambling? Arkansas-Pine Bluff needs a win to keep pace in the SWAC West where Texas Southern threatens to run away with the crown)

CIAA

Bowie State at Livingstone (Livingstone quarterback Drew Powell (10 touchdowns passing, four rushing) leads a high flying offense that hasn't really been tested this season. But his team is 3-0 and playing well. Bowie State's late comeback against a good Concord team fell short, but showed that they can score when they need to. They sport one of the CIAA's top rushing teams, led by Kendall Jefferson)

Lincoln (Pa) at Shaw (Shaw's offense has struggled, getting only six points in each of the last two games -- except last week in their 20-17 win over UNC-Pembroke.  Lincoln (Pa) isn't much better, but they are led by a solid quarterback in Doug Cook, running back Stephen Scott and wide reciever Akeem Jordan)

Chowan at St. Augustine’s (Of the CIAA's 12 defenses, St. Augustine's has the 10th best.  Chowan has the worst.  Both teams rely on their running games. St. Aug's is led by Roderick Davenport who averages 118 yards a game, while Chowan's DeSean Martin is their top rusher.  Chowan looked good in their win over Fayetteville State, but has been blown out by good teams in Alderson Broaddus and North Carolina A&T.  St. Aug's has been blown out in all three of their losses)

Fayetteville State at Virginia State (One of the biggest surprises of the season is Virginia State, winless in three games less than a year from a conference title game and NCAA Division II appearance

Virginia Union at Johnson C. Smith (To say Johnson C. Smith has struggled on offense is an understatement.  They've scored a total of 13 points in three games, all in their win over Kentucky State two weeks ago. They've been overmatched in routs to Charlotte and West Georgia, making Virginia Union a much better barometer of where they are this season.  But 2-1 Virginia Union is solid on offense, particularly in the passing game. Defensively, they can be stingy. They blanked Siena Heights in week one and last week held Fayetteville State 11 yards rushing)

Elizabeth C. State at Winston-Salem State (Elizabeth City State has the CIAA's worst passing game, averaging 108 yards a game and only accounting for one touchdown, while WSSU has the league's top passing duo in Rudy Johnson and Phil Sims and the league's best defense. But ECSU has a solid running game and plays strong defense overall) 

MEAC

North Carolina A&T at Howard (North Carolina A&T has things rolling so far this season, with two blow out wins, a tough victory over Elon and a one-point loss to fifth ranked Coastal Carolina. Sophomore Tarik Cohen anchors a solid running game, averaging nearly 141 yards a contest. But Howard has one of the league's top offensive weapons in quarterback Greg McGhee, who has run for seven touchdowns and threw for two so far in 2014)

South Carolina State at Hampton (South Carolina State got a big win over nationally ranked Furman last week, shedding memories of the shellacking they took at the hands of Clemson and Coastal Carolina.  Last week, Hampton got their first win under Connell Maynor, 34-30 over Miles. The offense is solid.  The defense lacking)

Florida Tech at Bethune-Cookman (Just what Bethune-Cookman needs after a few weeks of tough opponents -- a Florida Tech team that is 3-0, stingy on defense and explosive on offense, averaging 44 points a game, 200 yards rushing a game and 285 yards a game. But Bethune-Cookman is a hard nosed football team that leads the MEAC in defense, allowing only 86 yards a game on the ground)

Morgan State at Norfolk State (This isn't your usual Morgan State football team. These Bears have been in every game this year and throw it around with the best of them. So much so that they sport the MEAC's top offense, behind the MEAC's top rusher in Herb Walker Jr. and quarterback Robert Council.  Norfolk State is the exact opposite.  They've only mustered nearly 7 points a game so far and rank next to last in offense in the MEAC.  But their defense has been stout, especially against the rush. So it will be the battle of immovable forces)

Savannah State at Delaware State (Savannah State's defense has been a problem this season. They are the MEAC's worst against the run and seventh against the pass, meaning they are last overall. Their offense is spotty as they've averaged just 14.7 points a game. Delaware State has the opposite problem - their offense has been non-existent, especially in the running game. They are tough against the pass and play solid defense)

OTHERS

Florida A&M at Tennessee State (Not a good weekend for Florida A&M to heading into Nashville to play Tennessee State.  The TSU defense, the second best in the country, is clicking while FAMU has only managed to score 27 points in three games this season.  And its homecoming at Tennessee State)

Langston at Hardin-Simmons (Langston, coming off a big loss last week to North Alabama, plays a Hardin-Simmons team who had a good 37-23 win last week.  At 1-2, Langston's problem so far is defense.  While they average 355 yards of offense a game, Langston gives up 432 yards a contest)

Defense Reigns As Tennessee State and Bethune-Cookman Top ADDS HBCU SPORTS REPORT FCS Football Poll this week; Winston-Salem State, Undefeated Livingstone and Virginia Union Lead the Division II Poll

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Two of the top defenses in FCS football has Bethune-Cookman and Tennessee State tied in the top spot of this week's ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT HBCU FCS Top Ten football poll.

Tennessee State, ranked 20th in the national FCS poll, has the nation's second best defense, allowing just 203 yards a game, second to Stony Brook's 199 yards a game.  Bethune-Cookman, ranked is ninth in total defense as they only allow 268 yards a game to opposing offenses so far this season.

Four of the nation's top 10 FCS defenses come from the HBCU ranks -- Tennessee State, Bethune-Cookman, Alcorn State and Jackson State.  Third ranked Texas Southern has a defense that's ranked 16th.

Winston-Salem State continues their reign atop the Division II Top Ten poll after knocking off Tuskegee last weekend.  The Rams are the only HBCU football team in the AFCA Division II Top 20 poll, coming in at 16th this week.

Second-ranked and undefeated Livingstone sports the CIAA's top rushing team, averaging 232 yards a game and accounting for a total of 11 touchdowns so far this season in wins over Millersville, Paine and Virginia-Lynchburg. Led by quarterback Drew Powell, they also lead the CIAA in total offense and points scored.

Also coming popping up on the ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT Division II poll is Morehouse, 2-1 after routing Central State behind quarterback Monquavious Johnson's 403 yards and four touchdowns. 

Here are this week's ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT HBCU FOOTBALL FCS and Division II Top Ten Polls:

FCS

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


DIVISION II

1) Winston-Salem State
2) Livingstone
3) Virginia Union
4) Fort Valley State
5) Morehouse
6) Benedict
7) Tuskegee
8) Albany State
9) Johnson C. Smith
10) Miles

Winston-Salem State Holds Off Tuskegee; Late Field Goal Gives Morgan State 38-35 Win Over Howard; Scores of Every HBCU Football Game From Saturday

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Winston-Salem State's Bronson Green runs around end for the Rams.  (photo by Lauren Carroll/Winston-Salem Journal)

In a tough battle between two of Division II HBCU football's top programs, Winston-Salem State's second-half surge held off Tuskegee 24-13.

After going in tied at ten at halfime, Winston-Salem State got touchdown runs from Philip Sims and Maurice Lewis.  Lewis' fourth quarter TD, which put the game out of reach, was buoyed by his 48 yard reception earlier in the drive.

Sims threw for 151 yards to go with his TD run, while starting QB Rudy Johnson added another 122 yards in the air.

Winston-Salem State (2-1, 1-0 CIAA) hosts Elizabeth City State Saturday while Tuskegee (1-2)

Chris Moller's Field Goal Lifts Morgan State to 38-35 Win Over Howard

Morgan State's Herb Walker Jr. celebrates during the Bears win over Howard. (photo by Ken Goldfield/New York Daily News)

Chris Moller's 38-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining helped Morgan State hold off Howard 38-35 in the New York Urban League Classic Saturday.

In a game between two evenly matched 1-2 MEAC teams, Howard rallied in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns - one on a Greg McGhee run and another run by William Parker - to tie the game 35-35 with 2:27 minutes left.

But the Bears drove 38 yards in 8 plays, erasing a 1:53 off the clock, to set Moller up for his successful kick.

Morgan State quarterback Robert Council passed for 168 yards and 2 TDs and added 90 yards rushing and another score.  Running back  Herb Walker Jr. added 141 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.   Howard was again led by McGhee who passed for 229 and rushed for 74 yards and three touchdowns.

Resurgent Morgan State (2-2, 1-0 MEAC) goes to Norfolk State next weekend while Howard (1-3, 0-1 MEAC hosts North Carolina A&T.

SIAC

Morehouse 43, Central State 9 (Monquavious Johnson threw for 403 yards and four touchdowns, three to receiver Devon Mann who had 203 yards on the day. Lake McGuffie added 131 yards receiving and a touchdown)

Virginia State 16, Kentucky State 13 (Tarian Ayers had 248 yards and a touchdown passing as VSU got its first win of the season. Terry Horton had 14 tackles for Kentucky State while Vincent Edwards added 13)

Fort Valley State 19, Clark Atlanta 18 (CAU couldn't hold a 12-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter as Otis Brown ran 46 yards for a touchdown and threw a 14-yard TD pass to give Fort Valley the win.

Lane 18, Paine 16 (Paine outgained Lane and outscored the Lane offense.  But a Craig Drummond 52-yard interception return for a touchdown lifted Lane and gave winless Paine their third straight close loss)

Stillman 37, St. Augustine's 19 (Stillman's 24 unanswered points through the second and third quarters broke a 13-all tie to pull them away for the win. St. Aug's Roderick Davenport rushed for 178 yards in the loss)


SWAC

Grambling 40, Jackson State 35 (Grambling earned their first win of the season as Stephen Johnson threw three TDs.  Two La Montiez Ivy fourth-quarter touchdown passes were enough to rally J-State, who is now 1-3)

Southern 34, Prairie View A&M 24 (Lenard Tillery rushed for 135 yards and a TD as Southern even their record to 2-2. Jerry Lovelock passed for 244 yards and a touchdown and Johnta Hebert added 133 yards rushing, including a 61 yard touchdown run, to lead PVAM)

Texas Southern 45, Alabama A&M 23 (Daveonn Porter rushed for 123 yards and touchdown while quarterbacks Jamal Small and Homer Causey combined for 225 yards and three TDs in the air to lead TSU to their fourth win)

Alcorn State 52, Mississippi Valley State 9 (Quarterback John Gibbs Jr. threw for 141 yards and two TDs and added 57 yards and another touchdown on the ground for the Braves. Alex Baker and Darryan Ragsdale each added two touchdowns rushing in the rout)

CIAA

Shaw 20, UNC Pembroke 19 (Shaw's 20 unanswered second half points, mainly from Trey Folston's two touchdowns, erased a 17-0 halftime deficit)

Virginia Union 25, Fayetteville State 13 (Jussie York's 40-yard TD pass and Jerome Robinson's 60 yard touchdown run caped a 13-point second half to seal the win. Fayetteville State was held to 11 yards rushing on the day)

Benedict 20, Elizabeth City State 19 (Cameron Stover threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tyquan Bazemore with no time remaining for the win.  It capped a 13-point fourth quarter Benedict comeback)

Concord 37, Bowie State 34 (Down 31-0 early in the third quarter, Bowie State scored 34 points over the final 28 minutes of the game.  But Concord's fourth quarter TD proved to be enough for the win)

MEAC

Buffalo 36, Norfolk State 7 (Buffalo quarterback Joe Licata threw three touchdowns and ran for another while his running back, Anthone Taylor, rushed for 116 yards against now 0-4 Norfolk State)

Central Florida 41, Bethune-Cookman 7 (After starting out with a 7-3 lead early, Bethune-Cookman couldn't muster enough to compete with their second FBS team of the season.

Coastal Carolina 48, Florida A&M 3 (Coastal Carolina, the nation's fifth ranked FCS team, rolled on the strength of two touchdowns each by quarteback Alex Ross and running back D'Angelo Henderson)

Hampton 34, Miles 30 (Bryan Bailey threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns to help Hampton hold off Miles, who outscored Hampton 13-3 in the fourth quarter on two Demetric Price TD passes)
 
North Carolina A&T 59, Chowan 0 (In a game that was 52-0 at halftime,Kwashawn Quick threw for 215 yards and three touchdown and rushed for 82 yards and another touchdown.  Tark Cohen also rushed for three touchdowns)


Temple 59, Delaware State 0 (The Hornets fell behind early after Temple scored three touchdowns in the game's first nine minutes including a blocked punt for a touchdown and an 84-yard punt return for another TD)

OTHERS

Tennessee State 10, Tennessee Tech 7 (The TSU defense continued its stingy ways by now allowing  an offensive score, gave up only 150 yards of offense including just 34 yards rushing, and caused three turnovers, including the the Big Blue's only touchdown on an interception return.)

North Alabama 56, Langston 7 (North Alabama scored on five of their six first half possessions to rout 23rd ranked Langston. Langston was held to 65 yards rushing and 178 yards passing)