Winston-Salem State was 12 yards away from pulling off an epic comeback in an epic game between a pair of Division II powers.
All-CIAA quarterback Rudy Johnson took the snap, ran to his right and coughed up the football on a wicked hit by Valdosta State linebacker Kenny Murphy in the red zone. VSU recovered and held on t win 22-17.
“We fought back and showed heart but I lost the game with that fumble. I didn’t secure the ball enough. This just hurts,” Johnson told the Winston-Salem State Journal.
The favorites in the CIAA were wounded, but still figure to be prominent in the conference and down the road in the postseason, as these two schools could meet again.
Nothing went right for Jackson State against Tennessee State.
JSU only gained 138 total yards.
They failed to register a single yard on the ground, registering -1.
Quarterback LaMontiez Ivy was sacked seven times and threw two interceptions.
Tennessee State didn’t play anything like the team that gave up more than 400 totals in the previous week against Alabama State.
The 35-7 trouncing of Jackson State was indicative of how TSU much of a difference a week makes.
“We talked all week in practice about starting fast,”Tennessee State head coach Rod Reed said. “And that’s what we did.”
Senior cornerback De’Ante Saunders had two interceptions in the first half, and ran the first one back for a 45-yard touchdown in the first half.
“I know the defense is going to come through for us every time,” Saunders said, who was the Southern Heritage Classic Defensive MVP. “We just do our jobs on the back end to put it all together.”
Texas Southern head coach Darrell Asberry emphasized that his players would be given plenty of time to celebrate in the Bahamas at the conclusion of their matchup against Central State in the HBCUX Classic.
Daveonn Porter got the party started early, running for two touchdowns helping Texas Southern ease past Central State 30-16.
Jamal Small, who started at quarterback for the injured Homer Causey, threw for two touchdowns in the win.
Texas Southern, who was picked to finish at the bottom of the SWAC West, now find themselves 3-0 and in first place.
Howard quarterback Greg McGhee talked about leaving behind a legacy as he navigates through his final season of college football.
Against Morehouse McGhee was near legendary in the Nation’s Classic in Howard’s 35-17 win.
McGhee scored three touchdowns and was named the game’s MVP.
“This is the last one. There is no more, so you’ve got to leave it out on the field, you know?”McGhee told the Washington Post. “I always go by this thing called, ‘Leave a legacy.’ You want everyone to remember you for something before you go, so as far as that, I was honored to be part of the tradition.”
The win by Howard was their seventh straight over Morehouse in the series.
Grambling State looked better against Bethune-Cookman.
The Tigers dug themselves out of an early 14-6 hole to take a 16-14 lead in the season half.
However, Grambling could not sustain that momentum and fell 36-23.
The loss dropped Grambling to 0-3, but signs of improvement are there.
Quote of the week: Howard QB Greg Howard: “I always go by this thing called, ‘Leave a legacy.’ You want everyone to remember you for something before you go, so as far as that, I was honored to be part of the tradition.
Player of the week: Tennessee State defense. The unit yielded 138 yards, recorded seven sacks and had a pick-six in the Tigers 35-7 win over Jackson State.
