Howard rallies in fourth to upset FAMU

Howard overcame a 21-0 halftime deficit to beat Florida A&M 29-28 in a MEAC football showdown. It also happened to be Homecoming for the Rattlers.

FAMU was a well-oiled machine in the first half, scoring 21 straight points including two touchdown passes from Damien Fleming to take a commanding lead into halftime.

However, no lead is safe. Ask the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. Howard (3-3, 2-2 MEAC) started to chip away at the Rattler lead with two touchdowns (one PAT failed) early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 28-13.

Bison QB Greg McGhee threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Drayton with under two minutes to play, and Andra Williams rushed for a one yard touchdown run to come within two (28-26) with 26 seconds remaining.

FAMU only had to run out the clock to preserve the win but Fleming fumbled the ball on second down at the Rattlers 28 and recovered by Howard’s Sackie Kerkulah and returned to the FAMU 15.

Howard’s Parker Munoz kicked the game winning field goal with four seconds left on the ensuing possession for the one point victory.

McGhee threw for 233 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for Howard.

Florida A&M (3-3, 1-2) was held to 27 yards rushing.

Bethune-Cookman inept offense key in loss to NC A&T

Defending MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman lost to North Carolina A&T 22-3 Saturday in Greensboro. The Wildcats were looking to extend its winning streak over the Aggies to eight games.

The usually high-octane offense was put in check by the aggressive A&T defense. The Aggies forced and recovered three fumbles, recorded a safety and intercepted a BCU pass. The Wildcats (2-3, 1-2 MEAC) were held to five yards rushing and only scored on a field goal in the first quarter.

North Carolina A&T (3-2, 2-0 MEAC) trailed 3-2 in the first quarter before scoring 10 unanswered points to lead 12-3 at halftime.

The Aggies then scored 10 more second half points including a nine yard touchdown run by Mike Mayhew midway of the fourth quarter to seal the 19 point victory.

The loss by BCU snaps a seven game winning streak in the series over A&T and gives the Aggies consecutive conference wins for the first time since November 2003.

The Wildcats also has lows in offense, generating only 108 total yards.

David Kindle threw for 119 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Aggies.

Hampton outlasts Ivy League’s Princeton

Hampton defeated Princeton 28-23 in a MEAC vs. Ivy League football showdown Saturday night.

The Pirates (3-2) led 21-10 at halftime courtesy of two touchdown runs and one touchdown pass from David Legree to Dyrri McCain.

Princeton (1-3) outgained Hampton 427-396 but only converted one touchdown drive in seven red zone trips deep in Pirates territory.

Legree gave Hampton a 28-20 lead early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. The Tigers had one more possession following a made field goal but turned it over on downs at the Hampton 16 yard line with 1:26 remaining.

Legree had a season high 302 passing yards on 26 completions with two touchdowns. McCain also contributed with six catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

The win snapped a two game losing streak for the Pirates.

Chuck Dibilo rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown for Princeton.

Jackson State rolls over Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Jackson State scored 34 consecutive second half points in a 48-10 home win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday night.

The Tigers had a 14-10 halftime lead via two touchdown passes from QB Casey Therriault of 75 and 45 yards, respectively.

Jackson State (5-1, 3-1 SWAC) was effective on the ground as well as through the air. They rushed for 242 yards on 35 attempts including 115 yards from Tommy Gooden. They also scored four rushing touchdowns with four different running backs.

Therriault ended the day going 17 of 22 for 263 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Jackson State is currently in the hunt for the black college football national championship title.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-3, 2-2) struggled on third down, converting 5 for 17. Adrian Wilson led the Golden Lions with 163 all purpose yards.

Late FG edges PVAMU over Southern

Prairie View A&M beat Southern U. 23-20 Saturday night in Baton Rouge. The Panthers came into the SWAC football contest looking to extend their lead in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division following an eight point win over Grambling in last week’s State Fair Classic

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The first half was low-scoring as both teams were knotted up at seven in the first quarter. The Panthers’ Moses Ellis gave Prairie View A&M (4-2, 4-1 SWAC) a 14-7 lead with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Southern (2-4, 2-2) scored on a touchdown pass from QB Dray Joseph but the PAT was blocked. PVAMU led 14-13 at halftime.

The Panthers extended the lead to seven (20-13) on a three yard touchdown run by QB Jermaine Waddy with 2:03 remaining in the third quarter. Southern tied the game at 20 via a 38 yard interception return by Anthony Balancier with 19 seconds left.

Prairie View A&M iced the game with a 12-play, 41 yard drive which consumed 5:13 of the game clock which was capped by a 19-yard field goal by kicker Christopher Barrick with 40 seconds left in the game.

 The game-winning kick was the second for Barrick, who kicked a 36 yarder in the September 10 victory over in-state rival Texas Southern.

Prairie View A&M now has a one game lead over Arkansas Pine-Bluff in the SWAC Western Division and is in the driver’s seat in the race to Birmingham in December.

Dray Joseph went 14 of 23 for 141 yards and two touchdowns and one interception for the Jaguars.

Alabama State wins rematch of 2010 SWAC Title Game

Alabama State beat Texas Southern 43-29 Saturday in Houston in another SWAC football battle on the gridiron. This matchup was a rematch of the 2010 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game, won by Texas Southern 11-6.

Texas Southern (2-3, 1-3 SWAC) led 14-13 late in the first half on a 15 yard touchdown run by running back Marcus Wright. The Hornets’ Bobby Wenzig kicked a 22-yard field goal to give ASU a 16-14 lead into halftime.

The Tigers scored on another touchdown run by Wright to take a 22-16 lead early in the third quarter. Alabama State (5-1, 5-0 SWAC) took the lead for good on a four yard touchdown pass from QB Greg Jenkins to Nick Andrews.

The Hornets scored another touchdown via a fumbled snap by TSU on the ensuing possession to take a 30-22 lead. They then scored 13 unanswered points to lead 43-22 before Texas Southern scored a late touchdown with 2:25 left in the game.

Bobby Wenzig kicked five field goals for the Hornets. QB Greg Jenkins ended the day with 158 yards passing on 11 completions with one touchdown and one interception.

Marcus Wright ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns for Texas Southern.

Bethune-Cookman no match for Miami (FL)

Bethune-Cookman lost to Miami (FL) 45-14 Saturday at SunLife Stadium. This was the first meeting between the two schools and first major college opponent for the Wildcats in its 86 year history.

The Wildcats took an early 7-0 lead when Jackie Wilson connected with Eddie Poole for a 1 yard touchdown pass. The quick score had the Hurricane fans in a state of shock and discernment.

BCU (2-2, 1-1 MEAC) kept Miami in check for the remainder of the first half and trailed 14-7 at halftime.

However, Miami (2-2, 0-1 ACC) eventually got it together and took the lead for good at 24-14 at the end of the third quarter.

The Hurricanes then scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to secure the victory and assuredly calmed the nerves of the Miami faithful in practically empty stadium.

Jackie Wilson went 21 of 31 for 180 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats.

Prairie View wins annual State Fair Classic

Prairie View’s Johnathan Troast led the Panthers to a 31-23 victory over Grambling State Saturday in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl.

Points were at a premium in the first half as both teams struggled to generate a substantial amount of offense. They each settled for field goals as the half came to a close with a 3-3 tie.

Grambling broke the tie in the third quarter with a 74 yard touchdown run by running back Dawrence Roberts to take a 10-3 lead. PV answered late in the quarter via a 32 yard touchdown pass from Troast to receiver Greg Thurmond.

GSU scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to cut the Panthers lead to 31-23 with over two minutes left but PV ran out the clock with its final possession to secure the eight point victory.

Troast finished the day with 21 completions on 27 attempts for 312 yards and four touchdowns. He replaced starting QB Jerry Lovelocke, who went down in the first half with an injury.

Prairie View moves into sole possession in the SWAC Western Division coupled with a loss of previously unbeaten Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Grambling State falls to last place in the standings at 1-3.

Dawrence Roberts rushed for 175 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown for the Tigers.

The State Fair Classic has been played since 1925 with Wiley and Langston playing in the inaugural game that ended in a 0-0 tie. The game was played on what was referred to as “Negro Day” at the Fair. Prairie View and Grambling began playing each other in the mid-80s before PV’s football program was disbanded in 1990.

The Tigers and the Panthers have recently played one another in the Classic since 1992.

Special teams woes, inept offense doom TSU

Jackson State routed Texas Southern 58-13 Thursday in a black college football showdown nationally televised on ESPNU.

Both teams played a stalemate in the first quarter with either side able to break the scoreless tie.

JSU (4-1, 3-1 SWAC) blew the game open in the second quarter with 34 consecutive points via the special teams woes and anemic offense of Texas Southern. Jackson State only had the ball for five minutes in the quarter.

Texas Southern (2-2, 1-2) finally showed signs of life with Martin Gilbert’s 42 yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 34-7. JSU added a field goal as time expired to lead 37-7 at halftime.

TSU’s only score of the second half was another touchdown run by Gilbert to trail JSU 37-13. Jackson State finally put the game away late in the third and the fourth quarter with 21 consecutive points to secure the 45 point victory.

Casey Therriault ended the day going for 15 of 27 for 300 yards, 3 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He rebounded five days after a dismal six interception performance in a home loss versus Alabama State.

Jackson State is ineligible to play in the 2011 SWAC Championship Game due to NCAA academic violations.

Gilbert rushed for 140 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns for Texas Southern.  

TSU’s contention for a legit title defense is in jeopardy following the loss and look to rebound in a rematch of the 2010 SWAC title game versus undefeated Alabama State Saturday in Houston.