Scoreboard for November 20 - 22

November 20
Grambling State 33, Texas Southern 7

November 22
Alabama A&M 58, Miss Valley State 23
Delaware State 10, Howard 6
Florida A&M 58, Bethune-Cookman 35
Jackson State 26, Alcorn State 21
Morgan State 17, Hampton 13
Murray State 24, Tennessee State 17
NC Central 10, Savannah State 7
Norfolk State 17, Winston-Salem State 14
SC State 55, NC A&T 0

Scoreboard for November 13 - 15

November 15
Delaware State 34, Norfolk State 28
Florida A&M 45, Hampton 24
Jacksonville State 26, Tennessee State 21
NC Central 23, Winston-Salem State 16
Prairie View A&M 37, Alcorn State 3
SC State 32, Morgan State 0
Tusculum 34, Albany State 22

Spartans Force 7 Turnovers in 35-9 Win over Morgan State

NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State defense forced a season-high seven turnovers and scored two touchdowns in winning its second consecutive game, 35-9, over Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.

Quarterback Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.) ran for two touchdowns and DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) added another for the Spartans (4-6, 3-4 MEAC), who did serious damage to the MEAC title hopes of the Bears (6-4, 4-2).

NSU cornerback Don Carey (Norfolk, Va.) put an exclamation point on the victory when he returned his second interception of the day 94 yards for a score with 1:24 left in the game, providing the final margin.

Branche got the Spartans on the board first, capping a 64-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge with 10:26 remaining in the first quarter. Branche rushed for 37 yards on the drive.

On the Bears’ third possession, NSU defensive lineman Deon Norris (Ewing, N.J.) recovered an errant option pitch by Jeremy Glover at the Morgan State 2-yard line. Three plays later, Brown scored on a 5-yard run to give NSU a 14-0 lead with 11:51 left in the first half.

The Bears got within 14-3 midway through the third quarter on James Meade’s 29-yard field goal. But NSU answered on the next drive, when Brown finished a 66-yard drive with a 4-yard run for a 21-3 lead with 3:33 left in the third quarter. It was Brown’s sixth rushing TD of the year.

MSU tried to mount one last rally on Mario Melton’s 9-yard TD pass to Jephte Cherenfant with 9:30 left in the game. The two-point try failed, keeping NSU’s lead at 21-9.

But NSU forced turnovers on three straight Morgan State possessions. After forcing the Spartans to punt, MSU took advantage of a short field and marched to the Spartans’ 8. But linebacker Anthony Taylor (Virginia Beach, Va.) sacked Melton and forced a fumble, which A.J. Harris (Hampton, Va.) recovered.

The Bears got the ball back again, but Melton fumbled the ball while being rushed by Norris, and NSU linebacker Hasan Craig (Rocky Mountain, N.C.) scored his first career touchdown on a 34-yard fumble return with 1:54 left in the game.

On the Bears’ next possession, Carey snared a Melton pass and sprinted down the left sideline untouched for his first career score.

The Bears outgained NSU 264-184, most coming in the fourth quarter. But NSU held the MEAC’s leading rusher, MSU’s Devan James, to 69 yards rushing, his second-lowest total of the season.

Branche ended with a game-high 86 yards on 23 carries for NSU.

Linebacker Mike Alphonse (Miramar, Fla.) led the Spartan defense with 13 tackles, one for a loss, and half a sack. Taylor had 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Dennis Marsh (Greensboro, N.C.) and Terrell Whitehead (Virginia Beach, Va.) also added five tackles apiece and both recorded an interception. Marsh’s second-quarter pick was the first of his career, while Whitehead tallied his fourth interception of the year and third in as many weeks.

NSU closes its 2008 home season next Saturday against Delaware State. The game will be shown on tape-delay on ESPNU. The game is also Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day at Dick Price Stadium.

RATTLERS BITE AGGIES
Aggies manage just 102 yards of offense

GREENSBORO, November 8, 2008 – Curtis Pulley passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns to lead visiting Florida A&M to a 45-7 victory over N.C. A&T.

The Aggies got on the scoreboard first, as Nick Clement forced a fumble on the game's first play from scrimmage. Adam Beal fell on the ball to give the Aggies a first down at the FAMU 48.

Clement would play another big role in the Aggies' score. He took a direct snap in punt formation and sprinted 37 yards to the Rattler 6-yard line. Carlton Fears scored on a quarterback draw three plays later to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.

Florida A&M (7-3, 4-2 MEAC) scored on back-to-back possessions to get a 14-7 lead, as Pulley threw touchdown passes to Adrian Smith and Kevin Elliot. The Rattlers continued to score in the second quarter as LeRoy Vann found the end zone on a 61-yard punt return.

Lonvontae Page capped a 41-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge for a 28-7 halftime lead. N.C. A&T (3-8, 1-6 MEAC) managed just 102 yards of total offense on the day. Brandon Long led the defensive effort with 12 tackles, including 2.5 for loss.

The Aggies will end the 2008 season against arch-rival S.C. State in Aggie Stadium on Saturday, November 22 at 1:30 p.m.

THIRD-RANKED CAL POLY TOO MUCH FOR VISITING NCCU EAGLES

NCCU Kicker Gilbert Ties School Career Field Goal Record in 49-3 Loss



SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – North Carolina Central University found out the hard way why Cal Poly is the third-ranked team in the nation (NCAA Division I-FCS), as the Mustangs amassed 508 total yards during a 49-3 victory over the visiting Eagles inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif.



No. 3 Cal Poly (7-1) rushed for 386 yards and five touchdowns on 55 carries, while throwing for 122 yards and two scores in the homecoming win.



NCCU (2-7) managed 123 total yards with 82 yards rushing and 41 yards passing, the Eagles lowest total through the air since Oct. 13, 2001 at Winston-Salem State (14-0 loss; 2 passing yards).



In the loss, NCCU senior kicker Brandon Gilbert connected on a 39-yard field goal to tie the school record for career field goals with 40, equaling Kevin Houston’s (1992-95) standard.



Cal Poly quarterback Jonathan Dally had a hand in four touchdowns, including two through the air and two on the ground, with 101 yards passing and 44 yards rushing.



Ten different Mustangs ran for 20 yards or more, topped by James Noble with 64 yards and two trips to the end zone.



Cal Poly’s top receiver and NFL draft prospect Ramses Barden caught three passes for 36 yards and two scores.



NCCU sophomore running back Justin Campbell came off the bench to run for a team-best 31 yards on six attempts.



Sophomore Keon Williams also came off the bench to throw for 40 yards on 5-of-15 passing with an interception. Williams replaced rookie signal caller Michael Johnson, who completed just 1-of-6 passes for 1 yard and an interception.



Will Scott and Wayne Blackwell caught two passes each for the Eagles.



The NCCU defense was topped by senior linebacker Alex Winters with eight tackles, while lineman Teryl White, safety Jeffrey Henderson and linebacker Calvin Hillie contributed seven takedowns each. California native Troy McConico finished with four tackles in his return to his home state.



NCCU returns home to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium to host rival Winston-Salem State next Saturday (Nov. 15) at 1:30 p.m.