South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T Battle in Atlanta; Other HBCU Football Action on Saturday

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

It will be a playoff atmosphere in Atlanta today and that's not because of the Braves being in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State, the two top teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the nation, battle in the 25th Annual Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome.  The Aggies are 3-0 this season while South Carolina State is 3-2, but only blemished by a close loss to Coastal Carolina and a mismatch at Clemson. 

Aggies head coach Rod Broadway said the game is a big one for his program as it returns from some down years, particularly a two-year NCAA probabation.

"I think we’re making progress and I think we’re getting better," he said during the MEAC teleconference this week. "You can’t get too carried away with winning three ball games. We’re pleased to be undefeated and have three ball games and I think we’re getting close. Now when we can do what South Carolina State has done, what Bethune-Cookman’s done, then I’d say we’ve turned the corner. But we’re not there yet. That’s why this games is so important to us because it gives us a chance to play against the people that’s been winning this league the last 10 years."

The Aggies sport the MEAC's stingest defense, allowing only 16 points per game while the Bulldogs lead the MEAC in scoring, piling up almost 31 points per game. 

That makes South Carolina State's head coach Buddy Pough a little wary.

“They remind me a bunch of ourselves,” he said. “It’s a whole team filled with guys that can run. They do a good job of keeping a lot of eyes on the football, so they break and run to the football extremely well. So they’re a tough team to deal with on defense.”

The game will be broadcast live by the Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN), which is available on Sirius XM across the country. Kickoff at the Georgia Dome is at 3:30 p.m. EST. 

 

Two of the SIAC's Top Teams, Tuskegee and Fort Valley State, Tangle

Fort Valley State hosts Tuskegee in a big game that will go a long way in determining if Fort Valley State is really the contenders that they normally are.

This is a team that lost their first two games this season (though one was to perennial national power, Valdosta State) and barely got past winless Clark Atlanta two weeks ago.

Head coach Donald Pittman told The Macon Telegraph that though his team has won their last two games, they have hardly been world-beaters.

“We were inconsistent on offense, and we struggled,” Pittman said of last week’s 35-30 win over Benedict. “The run game wasn’t that effective, neither was the passing game. You look at it realistically, the offensive linemen, there are only two (back) from last year. Usually it takes time for the offensive line to jell, and you need that time.”

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/10/04/2702081/fort-valley-state-knows-what-to.html#storylink=cpy

Meanwhile, Tuskegee is rolling along.  The Golden Tigers' only loss so far this season was to the nation's top ranked HBCU Division II football team, Winston-Salem State, and they've soundly beaten a FCS-Division I team in Alabama A&M.   They do it with a tough defense, ranked second in the SIAC, and a steady offense that averages 24 points per game.

But after last week's win over Lane, Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said his team is focused on each step it will take to win an SIAC title.

"This win is the first step towards what we want to accomplish," he said, "and we just have to take it a week at a time and begin to focus on Fort Valley State."

Here is your primer on all the other HBCU football action today: 

SWAC

- Grambling is in search of their first win since Oct. 20, 2012 when they take on Prairie View in the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic in Dallas.
 - Alabama A&M hosts Mississippi Valley State in their homecoming game
- Texas Southern looks for their first win of the season when they host Alabama State
- Alcorn State tries to stay undefeated at home as they host homecoming opponent Warner
- Winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff has a steep challenge as they visit Jackson State

SIAC

- Kentucky State hosts Alderson-Broaddus
- Morehouse hosts their Atlanta University Center rival from a block away, Clark Atlanta University
- Winless Central State is the homecoming opponent for undefeated West Texas A&M
- Miles tries to follow up their first win of the season when they face Benedict

MEAC

- It's Community Day at Howard as the Bison host North Carolina Central 
- Winless Morgan State tries to get their first victory over Florida A&M since 2009 during the Bears homecoming this weekend
- Delaware State's home opener is a tough one -- they host top-ranked HBCU team Bethune-Cookman
- Two one-win teams, Norfolk State and Savannah State, battle in Norfolk

CIAA

- Johnson C. Smith looks to get back on the winning side when they host Lincoln (Pa.)
- Virginia Union visits a tough Livingstone squad
- Virginia State visits Shaw in a big game for both squads
- St. Augustine's hosts winless Elizabeth City State
- Top-ranked Division II Winston-Salem State hosts 2-2 Bowie State on Community Day

Others

- Nationally-ranked Tennessee State gets back into Ohio Valley Conference play when they host Southeast Missouri State
- Langston looks for their first win at Southwestern Assemblies of God

Bethune-Cookman and Winston-Salem State Tops in Add's HBCU Sports Report Top Ten Polls

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

The gap is narrowing, but Bethune-Cookman remains the top team among HBCU Division I-Football Championship Series football teams while Winston-Salem State has shown they are the team to beat in HBCU Division II football.

Both teams head the Add's HBCU Sports Report Top Ten Football Polls for FCS and Division II teams.

Bethune-Cookman, who was off last weekend, defeated second-ranked Tennessee State 12-9 in the season-opener for both teams and has gone on to win two other games easily, except for a blowout loss to Division I-FBS power Florida State.  Tennessee State shook off the close Bethune-Cookman loss to power to three straight wins, including a 73-6 demolition of Central State this past weekend. Tennessee State was also without starting quarterback Michael German in the Bethune-Cookman loss. German has now returned, throwing three first half touchdowns in the Central State win.

The rest of the top five is North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State (both teams meet Saturday in the Atlanta Football Classic) and Jackson State.

In Division II, Winston-Salem State had questions heading into the season after losing their starting quarterback and a few other key players.  They stumbled out of the gate, losing to UNC-Pembroke in their first game.  But since then, the Rams' offense has averaged nearly 43 points a game in destroying their last three opponents to claim the top spot in the Add's HBCU Sports Report Division II Top Ten Poll.

One of the teams they dominated was Tuskegee, the second ranked squad, who counts among their three wins is an easy 23-7 victory over the SWAC's Alabama A&M.  They face eighth ranked Fort Valley State this weekend.

The rest of the top five is Virginia State, Johnson C. Smith (Virginia State defeated previously unbeaten Johnson C. Smith last weekend) and Stillman.

Here is the entire Division I-FCS and Division II Add's HBCU Sports Report HBCU Top Ten Polls: 

Division I-Football Championship Series

1) Bethune-Cookman
2) Tennessee State

3) North Carolina A&T
4) South Carolina State
5) Jackson State
6) Alabama State
7) Alcorn State
8) North Carolina Central
9) Prairie View
10) Southern


Division II

1) Winston-Salem State
2) Tuskegee
3) Virginia State
4) Johnson C. Smith
5) Stillman
6) Fayetteville State
7) St. Augustine's
8) Fort Valley State
9) Benedict
10) Bowie State

Thorpe's Late TD Pass Gives Virginia State 19-17 Win Over Johnson C. Smith; All Other HBCU Football Scores

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Justin Thorpe

Justin Thorpe threw a 6-yard touchdown pass with 41 seconds left lifted Virginia State a 19-17 win over previously undefeated Johnson C. Smith.

Keahn Wallace put Johnson C. Smith up 17-13 late in the fourth of the back-and-forth battle with an 11-yard touchdown run with 5:14 left in the fourth quarter.  But Virginia State drove down the field, 81 yards on 11 plays, to put away the game.

Thorpe finished with 76 yards rushing and 84 yards passing and two touchdowns for Virginia State.  Jordan Anderson added 84 yards rushing for the Trojans. Wallace had 322 yards passing and a touchdown to lead the Golden Bulls.

Virginia State (3-1, 1-0 CIAA)is at Shaw next Saturday while Johnson C. Smith (3-1, 1-1) hosts Lincoln (Pa.).

Photo by Lloyd Gallman/Montgomery Advertiser

 Crowell's Four Touchdowns Leads Alabama State to 49-20 Win Over Alcorn State

Isiah Crowell had 133 yards rushing and four touchdowns to power Alabama State to a 49-30 win over Alcorn State in a key Southwestern Athletic Conference clash Saturday.

Crowell had three first half touchdown runs of 4, 25, and 4 to help the Hornets jump out to a 28-7 halftime lead.  The Hornets lead was 42-7 early in the fourth quarter, but Alcorn State made it interesting, outscoring Alabama State 23-7 to make a late run.

Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs, who had two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, finished 288 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Alabama State (3-2, 2-2 SWAC) is at Texas Southern next week while Alcorn State (3-2, 2-1) hosts Southern.

Photo by Bob Cathany/Al.com

Wells' Late Touchdown Lifts Alabama A&M to 12-10 Win Over Texas Southern

Brandon Wells' 4-yard touchdown run with 1:32 left in the game lifted Alabama A&M to a 12-10 victory over Texas Southern.

The Tigers, who were looking for their first win of the season, had taken a 10-6 lead at the end of the third quarter after Edward Perkins-Loving's 6-yard touchdown run.  But the Bulldogs drove down the field on their final drive to set up Wells' run.  Texas Southern missed a 42-yard field goal at the end of the game that would have been the game winner.

Brandon Eldemire led the Bulldogs with 83 yards rushing and a touchdown while Barrington Scott added 77 yards on the ground.  Homer Causey had 184 yards passing for Texas Southern.

Alabama A&M (2-3 2-1) gets back into the thick of the SWAC race with the win.  They host Mississippi Valley State next weekend.  Texas Southern (0-4, 0-3) hosts Alabama State.

Tennessee State Manhandles Marauders 73-6

In its final regular-season game with an HBCU football game, nationally-ranked Tennessee State served notice to the black college football world that they aren't just playing around this year.

Tim Broughton had 108 yards rushing and two touchdowns as a balance TSU attack throttled Central State 73-6 in the Gateway Classic in St. Louis. 

TSU quarterbacks Michael German and Ronald Butler each added three touchdowns passing (the two combined to go 13-of-16 on the night).  

Broughton had two first quarter touchdowns while German started the game 8-for-8 and all three of his touchdowns as the Tigers ran out to a 43-6 halftime lead.  Butler then came in added three second half touchdowns passes. 

At the same time, the Tennessee State defense only allowed the Marauders 180 yards total offense,

Tennessee State (4-1) now focuses on Ohio Valley Conference play when they host Southeast Missouri State next Saturday.  Central State (0-4), in their first season of Division II competition, visits West Texas A&M.

All Other HBCU Football Scores:

MEAC

Norfolk State 27, Morgan State 21
South Carolina State 30, Hampton 6
Delaware State 24, Savannah State 22
North Carolina A&T 27, Howard 19 (Thursday night)

CIAA

St. Augustine's 29, Bowie State 7
Winston-Salem State 55, Virginia Union 15
Livingstone 35, Lincoln (Pa.) 7
Fayetteville State 31, Elizabeth City State 27
Chowan 29, Shaw 23



SWAC

Lamar 27, Grambling 16
Prairie View 56, Stephen F. Austin 48
Jackson State 19, Southern 14

SIAC

Miles 22, Albany State 14
Stillman 26, Kentucky State 21
Morehouse 28, Edward Waters 26
Tuskegee 42, Lane 14
Fort Valley 35, Benedict 30

SIAC's Wild Wild West Has Two Big Battles Today; Other HBCU Action On Tap Today

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

At the end of today, a lot will be known about the West Division race of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Two big games are on tap as undefeated Tuskegee heads to undefeated Lane in a battle of 2-1 teams and a surprisingly strong Kentucky State squad hosts fellow undefeated, Stillman.

First, Lane tries to regroup after losing their first game of the season last week to Taylor.  The Dragons are led by their high-flying quarterback Chris Rini,who had more than 400 yards passing and rushing last weekend.  Perennial power Tuskegee was out-classed last weekend by Winston-Salem State, but still sports big wins over SWAC team Alabama A&M and SIAC rival Albany State.  Defense remains the Golden Tigers calling card.

In Frankfort, Ky., today, Kentucky State will see which Thorobred squad is the real team.  Is it the one who was shellacked 41-0 by Virginia State in their season opener?  Or is it the team that has allowed less than 12 points a game to Central State and Kentucky Wesleyan, while averaging 40 points per game?  Linebacker Travon Spencer leads the defense with 22 tackles this season while running back Jacquise Lockett has powered the offense.   Stillman was roughed up 35-7 by St. Augustine's last week, bringing them down to earth after blowout wins over Concordia College-Selma and Clark Atlanta.  Quarterback Josh Straughan has led a fairly steady Tigers offense while Marcus Matthews' 33 tackles and two sacks anchors a tough defense.

 In all the other HBCU football action today:

SWAC

- Grambling looks for their first win when they host Lamar
- Two big rivals and top SWAC squads tangle as Jackson State is at Southern
- Prairie View goes to Stephen F. Austin
- Alabama State hosts one of the nation's top HBCU teams, Alcorn State
- Winless Texas Southern visits Alabama A&M

CIAA

- Livingstone is at Lincoln (Pa)
- Winston-Salem State goes to Virginia Union
- Bowie State hosts St. Augustine's
- Fayetteville State locks horns with Elizabeth City State in the 16th Down East Viking Football Classic
- Johnson C. Smith hopes to keep rolling as they head to Virginia State

MEAC

- Norfolk State goes to Morgan State in a battle of winless squads
- Hampton is in search of their first win at rugged South Carolina State
- Savannah State returns home after taking lumps from Miami to take on Delaware State


SIAC

- Morehouse tries to continue their momentum after a big win last week as they host Edward Waters
- Central State takes on one of the top Division I-FCS HBCU teams in the nation, Tennessee State, in the Gateway Classic in St. Louis
- Albany State is at Miles as both teams try to right promising seasons
- Fort Valley State, fresh off an overtime win last week, takes on Benedict in the Augusta City Classic

Wallace's Four TDs and a Stifling D Keep Johnson C. Smith Undefeated; Recap of Other HBCU Action

Photos by Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer

  










By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Keahn Wallace threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns as Johnson C. Smith stayed undefeated in defeating neighboring Division I-FCS squad Davidson 35-22.

Davidson (0-3) jumped out to an 8-0 lead after A.J. Pignone's 11-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion.  But that's when the Golden Bulls went to work.

Wallace answered with a 36-yard touchdown pass and then a 1-yard touchdown run followed by a 35-yard touchdown pass to put the Golden Bulls up 21-8 at halftime.  He added a 31-yard touchdown toss late in the fourth quarter to ensure the win.

Davidson's Jonathan Carkhuff threw for 464 yards and two touchdowns in becoming the school's all-time passing yardage leader.  But Johnson C. Smith's defense had 13 sacks and allowed -7 yards rushing to Davidson. Jovantay Williams had 3 1/2 sacks and Anthony Allen had a school-record 17 tackles.

Johnson C. Smith, which is 3-0 for the first time since 1982, is at Virginia State next Saturday.  Davidson is at Morehead State.

Ohio State Runs Over Florida A&M 76-0

The best thing - besides receiving a big check - for Florida A&M Saturday was the end.

After a day in which they gave up 603 yards of total offense, 11 touchdowns (five in the first quarter) and 11 Buckeyes played a part in at least one score, the Rattlers were swamped by Ohio State 76-0.

While the defense was defenseless, the offense offered very little.  FAMU only had 50 yards rushing and 30 yards passing on the day.

It was FAMU's worst loss ever and the biggest win over an opponent for Ohio State since they beat Drake 85-7 in 1935.

``We don't want a pity party,'' said Rattlers coach Earl Holmes to The Associated Press after the game. He also made a said the Buckeyes didn't run up the score.``I don't have a problem with that. I don't expect the coach to kneel. You play the game. You play for 60 minutes.''


The good news for Florida A&M: the shellacking earned a check for a cool $900,000.


All HBCU Football Scores:


SWAC

- Alabama State 52, Grambling 21
- Alcorn State 21, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 16
- Southern 17, Mississippi Valley State 7
- Prairie View 28, Alabama A&M 26
- Jackson State 35, Texas Southern 7 (Thursday night)

CIAA

- Winston-Salem State 35, Tuskegee 13
- Fayetteville State 21, Virginia Union 7
- Bowie State 16, Concord 10
- Johnson C. Smith 35, Davidson 22
- UNC-Pembroke 41, Shaw 20
- Virginia State 41, Kentucky State 0
- Sacred Heart 78, Chowan 35
- St.Frances (Pa) 38, Lincoln (Pa) 7
- Towson 35, North Carolina Central 17
- Livingstone 34, Edward Waters 20

MEAC

- Florida State 54, Bethune-Cookman 6
- Miami 77, Savannah State 7
- Towson 35, North Carolina Central 17

- North Dakota State 51, Delaware State 0
- Charleston Southern 20, Norfolk State 12
- South Carolina State 59, Benedict 6
- Coastal Carolina 50, Hampton 17
- Western Kentucky 58, Morgan State 17

SIAC

- St. Augustine's 35, Stillman 14
- Albany State 34, Elizabeth City State 13
- Fort Valley State 12, Clark Atlanta 9 (2OT)
- Morehouse 42, Central State 20
- Taylor 27, Lane 21
- Miles vs. Concordia-Selma (canceled)

OTHERS

- Nicholls State 42, Langston 22
- Tennessee State 41, Tennessee Tech 21
- Missouri Southern 59, Lincoln (Mo.) 10

Bus Fire Forces Cancellation of MIles-Concordia Selma Football Game

In another strange happening on a weird day in college football, the Miles vs. Concordia-Selma football game was canceled after a fire on Concordia-Selma's bus.  The fire destroyed all of the team's equipment, forcing the game's cancellation.   There were no injuries.

It will not be rescheduled.

Powerhouses Winston-Salem State and Tuskegee Clash; Other HBCU Football Action

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Told you there would be another game of the year.  But this one sets up to be a doozy.

Tuskegee, the best team in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, faces Winston-Salem State, perennially the top squad from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, in today's Cleveland Classic at FirstEnergy Stadium.  Both teams are nationally ranked headed into today's contest.

Tuskegee has dominated Division I-Football Championship Series team Alabama A&M and knocked off SIAC rival Albany State so far this season.  Winston-Salem fell to UNC-Pembroke in their opener, but took out their frustrations on Virginia-Lynchburg in a 62-8 shellacking.

Quavon Taylor leads a stiff Tuskegee defense as he has already racked up 27 tackles in just two games.  Tuskegee has only allowed 10 points a game so far this season.  Winston-Salem's calling card is offense. They have averaged more than 300 yards passing and 100 rushing in two games behind new quarterback Anthony Carothers and All-CIAA running back Maurice Lewis.

"Hopefully, we can make it a good football game," Tuskegee coach Willie Slater told goldentigersports.com. “They are a very good football team, and we will have to play our very best in order to stay on the field with them. They played Morehouse in Cleveland last year, so they are more familiar with the stadium, and this is our first time playing in it. So, we know that we have work to do.”

Winston-Salem coach Connell Maynor told the Winston-Salem Journal this week that the game promises to be a big one for both teams.

"It’s going to be a playoff-type of game, and it should be exciting,” Maynor said. “Tuskegee is well coached, and they have a lot of good players. They’ve won a lot of games through the years.”

Bethune-Cookman Faces Test At Florida State

Everyone knows that Bethune-Cookman is one of the toughest teams in Division I-FCS football.  But now, everyone will find out how good the Wildcats are against the big boys when they visit Florida State.  

The Wildcats are fresh off their first-ever win over an FBS team after defeating Florida International last week.  But this isn't Florida International.  The Seminoles are ranked eighth nationally after walloping Pitt 41-13 and destroying Nevada 62-7. 

Still, Bethune-Cookman sports FCS' number-one defense, allowing only 219 yards and 9 points a game so far this season.

Photo by Calvin Ferguson

Johnson C. Smith Looks to Go 3-0

Johnson C. Smith is flying high these days.  The Golden Bulls' offense is clicking offensively on all cylinders as they are averaging 46 points a game this season in wins over Livingstone and Bowie State.   They average more than 300 yards passing each game and 110 yards rushing. 

They host Division I-FCS team Davidson, a team searching for their first win of the season.  While Johnson C. Smith is rolling on offense, the defense is a different story. They have given up 315 yards per game in the air and on average have given up 404 offensive yards in both games.  That doesn't bode well for the Golden Bulls as Davidson quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff needs only 309 yards passing to become their program's all-time leader in passing yardage.


 In Other HBCU Football Action.....

SIAC

- Morehouse tries to get on the winning side when they take on Central State in the Chicago Classic
- Lane visit Taylor University
- Kentucky State tries to stay undefeated as they try to spoil Virginia State's home opener
- The Iris City Classic in Griffin, Ga., features Fort Valley State and Clark Atlanta
- Benedict faces the MEAC's South Carolina State in the Palmetto Capital City Classic
- Miles hosts Concordia-Selma
- Albany State hosts Elizabeth City State
- Stillman visits St. Augustine's

SWAC

- Mississippi Valley State heads to Southern
- Grambling heads to Alabama State in search of their first win
- Prairie View hosts Alabama A&M
- A hot Alcorn State team visits slumping Arkansas-Pine Bluff

CIAA

- Fayetteville State visits Virginia Union as both teams search for their first wins of 2013
- Lincoln visits winless St. Francis
- Shaw heads to Wilmington, N.C. to take on fellow-undefeated UNC-Pembroke in the Cape Fear Classic
- Bowie State hosts Concord
- Chowan visits 3-0 Sacred Heart
- Winless Livingstone visits winless Edward Waters

MEAC

- Savannah State faces the scary task of visiting Division I-FBS power Miami of the ACC
- Florida A&M may not fare much better as they visit one of the nation's top FBS teams, Ohio State
- A stout North Carolina Central faces a big test against Towson
- On Community Day, Norfolk State hosts Charleston Southern
- Delaware State visits the winner of the last two FCS championships, North Dakota State
- Hampton looks for their first win at undefeated Coastal Carolina
- Morgan State visits offensive-minded Western Kentucky 

OTHERS 

- Tennessee State jumps into Ohio Valley Conference action when they head east to visit Tennessee Tech