S.C. State beats N.C. A&T in Atlanta

S.C. State	13
North Carolina A&T	0

ATLANTA, Ga. – North Carolina A&T was held to just 156 total yards as it dropped a 13-0 decision to S.C. State Saturday evening in the Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome.

The loss for the Aggies (4-2, 1-1 MEAC) marked the first time since Oct. 20, 2012 that they were shutout.  The Bulldogs (4-2, 2-0) have won 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Aggies.

S.C. State took advantage of a blocked punt by Kory Brown and recovered it on A&T’s 7-yard line with 36 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Three plays later, Jalen Simmons rushed for a two-yard touchdown with 14:56 remaining in the second quarter.

Another A&T mishap helped S.C. State extend its lead in the fourth quarter. A&T quarterback Hasaan Clue threw an interception on the 39-yard line at the 8:50 mark. The Bulldogs put together 13 plays over six minutes as Adrian Kollock Jr., capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:30 left in the game. S.C. State was unable to connect on the extra point attempt.

Read the full story at www.NCATAggies.com or www.SCSUathletics.com.

No. 17 Bethune-Cookman Rolls Past Delaware State, 27-7 

No. 17 Bethune-Cookman	27
Delaware State	7

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - No. 17 Bethune-Cookman zoomed out to a quick 21-0 lead and took its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener with a 27-7 over Delaware State on Saturday afternoon inside Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida.

B-CU senior quarterback Quentin Williams threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns, while Michael D. Jones rushed for 132 yards as the Wildcats (4-1 overall, 1-0 MEAC) downed the Hornets (1-5, 1-1 MEAC) for the fourth consecutive time dating back to 2009.

The Wildcats capitalized on Hornets punting miscues to put three touchdowns on the board in the first 11 minutes of the game.

Leroy Holt registered the first B-CU touchdown when he caught a blocked Delaware State punt in the Hornets end zone two minutes into the contest.

Short punts allowed the Wildcats to start their next two possessions inside Hornets territory, and Williams led the offense on two scoring drives that produced touchdown passes of 26 yards to Jhomo Gordon and a 15-yarder to Jones out of the backfield.

Read more at www.BCUAthletics.com  or www.DSUAthletics.com.

Spartans Move to 2-0 in MEAC with 14-7 Win at Savannah State

Norfolk State	14
Savannah State	7

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Tyler Clark threw one touchdown pass and ran for another score in the first quarter, and the Norfolk State defense made it stand up for a 14-7 Spartans' victory over Savannah State on Saturday afternoon at Ted A. Wright Stadium.

The win was the second in a row for the Spartans (2-4, 2-0 MEAC) and keeps them unbeaten in conference play heading into next week's Homecoming game with Delaware State. The Tigers (0-5, 0-2), meanwhile, lost their 14th straight game dating to last season.

Clark accounted for two touchdowns in the first quarter. He capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a 21-yard TD pass to Isaac White with 2:39 left in the period. After Leon Prunty connected with Jeremiah Harris on a 34-yard TD play one minute later for the Tigers to tie the score, Clark and the Spartans answered right back. Clark found White on a 57-yard TD pass to move NSU deep into Tiger territory. Clark ran on the next two plays, gaining 10 yards then dashing in for a 15-yard scoring run with 16 seconds to play in the opening stanza.

Neither team scored in the second quarter. SSU's John Barron missed a 34-yard field goal try late in the period, keeping the Spartans' lead at 14-7 entering the intermission.

Read more at www.NSUspartans.com or www.SSUAthletics.com.

Rattlers drop MEAC opener to Morgan State, 24-9

Chase Varnadore boots school record FG in final stanza

Florida A&M	9
Morgan State	24

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida A&M Rattlers dropped its’ 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener Saturday evening, 24-9 to visiting Morgan State at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Saturday’s setback overshadowed the breaking of a nearly 40-year old FAMU record, as senior All-America kicker Chase Varnadore booted a 53-yard field goal midway through the final period for the game’s final points.

Varnadore’s boot surpassed the previous record of 52 yards set on a kick by future NFL punter Greg Coleman against Kentucky State in 1975.

FAMU (0-5, 0-1 in MEAC) dropped their fifth straight game, becoming the first squad in school history to lose their first five games, while Morgan State (3-3, 2-1 in MEAC) won for the third time in four games Saturday.

Morgan State rushed for 214 yards on the evening, led by sophomore Herb Williams, Jr., who rushed for 203 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Robert Council scored the game’s first points on a four-yard run to cap a 74-yard, eight-play drive with the opening kickoff for a 7-0 lead.

Read the complete story at www.FAMUAthletics.com  or www.MorganStateBears.com

NCCU Wins MEAC Opener Against Bison

N.C. Central	27
Howard	22

DURHAM, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University Eagles stood tall against the Howard University Bison as they came away with a 27-22 win in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium Saturday afternoon.

NCCU opened the game with low energy, minimal offensive plays and a scoreless first quarter. The Eagles passed for only 28 yards and rushed for just 21. Brandon McLaren attempted a 48-yard field goal, but the kick was no good. The team's slow pace early in the game set up the Bison for a 26-yard field goal by kicker John Fleck at the start of the second quarter.

Quarterback Malcolm Bell had an answer for the Bison, launching a 44-yard pass to receiver Adrian Wilkins as he backpedaled into the end zone for a touchdown. That was all the boost the Eagles needed to begin their takeover.

On the offense, Bell threw for a total of 245 yards, but also led the Eagles with 66 rushing yards; 38 of which were rushed in the second quarter alone.

With 4:53 on the clock in the second quarter, NCCU went for a conversion on 4th and 7, but as Bell rushed for 9 yards, he fumbled and the Bison recovered it at the NCCU 31-yard line. Despite the turnover, the NCCU defense held the Bison line, forcing them to attempt a 42-yard field goal and the kick was no good.

Delqwan Jackson came into the game late in the second quarter, immediately leaving his mark with a 43-yard touchdown and 13.5 seconds to play in the half. Jackson scored his first touchdown and his first catch of the season.

Read more at www.NCCUEaglepride.com or www.HUBison.com.