Football Associated Press

Football Recap: Sept. 6

Bison Put Up Improved Effort In Loss To Rutgers

Picsataway, NJ---The Howard University football team jumped out to an early lead, fell behind and rallied strong only to fall short at 38-25 to Rutgers in a non-conference game at High Point Solutions Stadium before 48,040.

The Bison (0-2), who were blanked by Akron, 41-0 in its opener, got on the board on their first possession when red-shirt junior running back Aquanius Freeman capped off a seven-play, 41-yard drive with a 20-yard scamper. The drive was set up by freshman Tavious Brown who returned a Rutgers punt 36 yards.

The Scarlet Knights (2-0) responded with a drive of their own, but the Bison defense stiffened and forced a 42-yard Kyle Federico field goal at the 4:29 mark of the first quarter. It seemed to give the Scarlet Knights confidence as they forced a Howard three and out and cashed in by going 85 yards in only five plays, with the big play coming on a Gary Nova to Paul James 69-yard TD pass with 40 seconds remaining in the first stanza.

Howard began to hurt itself with untimely penalties (10 for 100 yards) and turnovers and the Scarlet Knights made them pay. First Nova tossed his second of four TD passes on the day, this time to Leonte Carroo from 38 yards to up the lead to 17-7. Less than a minute later, the Scarlet Knights took advantage of a Bison turnover and converted it into a seven-yard bolt by James.

For complete story, visit www.hubison.com

 

Last Second TD Spoils Hull's Return to Holy Cross, 29-26

WORCESTER, Mass. – Lee Hull saw his hopes of winning against his alma mater dashed in the final moments of an exciting game.

Shane Smith scored on a 1-yard run on the final play of the game to lift Holy Cross to a 29-26 win over Morgan State on Saturday in front of a crowd of 6,172 fans at Fitton Field.

The win marked the first of the season for the Crusaders who improved to a 1-1 record, while the Bears (0-2) dropped its second straight heartbreaker, having lost at Eastern Michigan 31-28 in Week 1.

Morgan State running back Herb Walker Jr. was inserted into the starting lineup as a result of a season-ending injury to Lamont Brown III. Walker was not only up to the task, but he had a sensational performance. The 5-foot-8, redshirt sophomore absolutely ripped the Crusaders on the ground and set a new school record with 271 yards on 29 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Morgan State opened the game in a 9-0 hole when a snap flew over punter Lawrence Forbes' head and out of the endzone for a safety. Holy Cross QB Peter Pujals engineered a 12-play, 56-yard drive capped by a 1-yard TD run by Shane Taylor with 8 minutes to go in the first quarter.

The Bears responded by reeling off 13 unanswered points.

For complete story, visit www.morganstatebears.com

 

Missed extra point proves costly in A&T's loss to No. 5 Coastal Carolina

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Devin Brown erased North Carolina A&T’s first lead of the game quickly with a 99-yard fourth-quarter kickoff return to lead No. 5 Coastal Carolina to a 31-30 win over the Aggies at Aggie Stadium Saturday night.

Chanticleers running back De’Angelo Henderson rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Alex Ross was 21-for-37 for 261 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. John Israel made four receptions for 92 yards.

A&T, who had lost its previous four matchups to Coastal Carolina by more than 10 points, took a 30-24 lead on a 29-yard touchdown by quarterback Kwashaun Quick. During Quick’s run, his helmet came off. By rule, he was ordered to sit out a play. It would prove significant as the Aggies three-year holder on extra points was on the sideline during Cody Jones’ attempt.

Backup holder and punter Dominic Frescura bobbled the low snap leading to him being tackled by Taylor Bagley. On the ensuing kickoff, Brown tied the game by going 99 yards for the score. Alex Catron added the extra point, which turned out to be the final margin of victory.

For complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com

 

No. 23/24 Tigers Roll Over Bulldogs

CLEMSON, S.C. — Senior quarterback Cole Stoudt threw for a game-high 22-of-31 for 302 yards and a touchdown to lead the 23rd ranked Clemson Tigers (1-1) to a 73-7 victory over South Carolina State (1-1) Saturday at Memorial Stadium (Death Valley).

SC State avoided a shutout off a 35-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown by sophomore defense back Dominique Mitchell late in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Artavis Scott set a single game receiving yardage record with six catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Wayne Gallman led the rushing attack with 10 carries for 77 yards on the day.

Clemson amassed over 735 yards total offense and 32 first downs, while SC State was limited to just 44 yards total offense. This was the most point scored on the Bulldogs defense since 2012 against Texas A&M.

For complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com

 

Slow Start Dooms Pirates in Home Opener

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team couldn’t overcome a scoreless first half Saturday evening at Armstrong Stadium, as No. 21/24 William and Mary pulled away late for a 42-14 win.

Junior quarterback Jaylian Williamson (Chesapeake, Va.) had another strong game, throwing for 335 yards and a touchdown. He completed 23 of his 34 passes; after not topping the 200-yard mark last season, Williamson has thrown for at least 300 yards in back-to-back weeks.

Redshirt junior running back Christopher Dukes (Mobile, Ala.) rushed for 82 yards on six carries and a touchdown – averaging 13.7 yards per carry.

Redshirt sophomore Twarn Mixson (Charlotte, N.C.) led the way with 123 receiving yards on five catches, while senior running back Jorrian Williamson (Los Angeles, Calif.) had 113 yards and a touchdown on six catches.

For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com

 

Liberty Shuts out NSU, 17-0

NORFOLK, Va. - Visiting Liberty held Norfolk State to 215 yards of total offense and kept the Spartans out of the end zone in a 17-0 Flames win in the Spartans' home opener on Saturday at Dick Price Stadium.

Quarterback Josh Woodrum completed 14-of-25 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score for Liberty (1-1), which broke a two-game losing skid against the Spartans (0-2).

NSU's best scoring opportunity came on the Spartans' first drive of the game. Energized by the running and passing of true freshman quarterback Terrance Ervin - making his first career start - the Spartans moved inside the red zone. Ervin completed two passes to Isaac White and scrambled for 17 yards on third down to keep the drive alive. But on the eighth play of the drive, Aaron Daniels fumbled at the end of a 9-yard run and Liberty's Tryin Holloway recovered at the Flames' 7.

Liberty took advantage and drove 88 yards in 17 plays for the game's first score. Avery Echols capped the drive with a 22-yard field goal with 1:25 left in the first quarter.

For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com

 

Clarke’s Three Rushing Touchdowns Lead NCCU to Convincing Win Over ECSU

DURHAM, N.C. – Andre Clarke bulled his way to three rushing touchdowns and a hard-hitting defense held Elizabeth City State University to just one score, as North Carolina Central University cruised to a 34-7 victory on a steamy Saturday night inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

The win is the first in the coaching era of new NCCU head coach Jerry Mack, who was presented with the game ball and was drenched with the contents of a water cooler during a post-game celebration. 

Clarke's three touchdowns on the ground all came in the first half. He had a fourth score called back due to a holding penalty. The senior running back finished with 83 yards on 12 carries, an average of 6.9 yards per run. The last Eagle to post three rushing touchdowns in a game was Greg Pruitt, Jr. on Oct. 22, 2005 against Livingstone College.

As a team, NCCU amassed 401 yards of total offense, including 236 on the ground and 165 through the air. Junior transfer quarterback Quinn Billerman completed 19-of-29 passes for 165 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown connection with junior transfer receiver Anas Hasic, who finished with seven catches for 121 yards.

For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com

 

Hornets Frustrated by Hens Again, Fall 27-9 in First State Battle

NEWARK, Del. (Sep. 7, 2014) --- The Delaware State University football team continued its troubles against First State rival Delaware, falling to the Hens 27-9 at Tubby Raymond Field this afternoon. The Hornets (0-2) have dropped all six games since the series between the state’s two Division I football programs began in 2007.

Jalen Randolph rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns for Delaware, which improved to 1-1 this season.

UD quarterback Trent Hurley completed 17-of-21 passes for 172 yards, while the Blue Hen defense contributed four sacks to the win.

Delaware State’s Malcolm Williams rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, his third career 100-yard game.

For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com

 

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