Post by aggierattler on Oct 21, 2011 9:29:18 GMT -5
From ESPN Radio Tallahassee: www.espntallahassee.com/blogs/rattler.php
MEAC FOOTBALL WEEK EIGHT/THURSDAY NITE
Separation Weekend I began Thursday with Bethune-Cookman riding their defense past Norfolk State, 14-6, knocking the Spartans out of first
By ALVIN HOLLINS JR.
Rockstat7376@aol.com
NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 19) – Defending MEAC Football co-champion Bethune-Cookman turned in a stellar defensive performance under the lights here Thursday night, bouncing Norfolk State out of the league lead with a 14-6 win at Dick Price Stadium in a nationally-televised contest.
The win lifted Bethune-Cookman (4-3, 2-2 in MEAC) into a three-way tie for fifth with Florida A&M and Howard University (both 4-3, 2-2), while Norfolk State (6-2, 4-1) saw its’ five-game win streak end while swapping spots with North Carolina A&T (4-2, 3-0), who moved into first place.
The visiting Wildcats used its’ outstanding defensive speed to put the clamps on the MEAC’s top offense (415.9 yards per game), limiting the Spartans to 249 total yards, while forcing three turnovers.
NSU quarterback Chris Walley, who came into the game as the #2 ranked quarterback in NCAA Division I FCS, was sacked five times, and managed to throw for just 86 yards on 14 of 24 passing.
Bethune-Cookman outgained the Spartans, 333 to 249, and rushed for 245 yards led by Isidore Jackson’s 206 yards rushing on 34 carries. Jackson’s running helped spark the Wildcats to touchdowns on their opening possessions of each half, but it was their defense that ruled the night led by defensive end Ryan Davis, who finished with 9.5 tackles and four of the ‘Cats five sacks.
Defensive back Dion Hanks made the final stop for the Wildcats, picking off a Walley pass in the end zone with 51 seconds left, snuffing out the final Norfolk threat.
Saturday’s Games:
@ Thanks to Thursday’s loss by Norfolk State, the new holders of the pole position, the North Carolina A&T Aggies (4-2, 3-0) will visit the Nation’s Capital to duel with the Howard University Bison (3-4, 2-2), in the “Comeback Bowl"at Greene Stadium (1:00), as two teams that each won just one (1) game a year ago square off. It also has serious implications for the Aggies, who hope to hold onto their lead in the standings with a win heading into next weekend’s showdown at Norfolk State.
@ The league’s other two co-champions from a year ago, the Florida A&M Rattlers (4-3, 2-2) and the host South Carolina State Bulldogs (4-3, 3-1), square off in Orangeburg (1:30/live ESPN3.com/ESPNU/tape delay 10:30) in a much-anticipated showdown which could deal a death blow to the loser’s title hopes.
Florida A&M at 2-2 needs a win Saturday to stave off elimination, while South Carolina State, now just a half-game back of North Carolina A&T, could with a win move into a second place tie with Norfolk State at 4-1.
@ Saturday’s final game pits the visiting North Carolina Central Eagles (1-5, 0-3) against the Hampton Pirates (3-3, 1-2), who like FAMU and Bethune-Cookman are aiming for a fast finish to erase some of the bitter taste of a disappointing season to date. This game at Armstrong Stadium (2:00), opens a five-game closing stretch for the Pirates, who will have four of those final five games at home.
@ Three teams will enjoy byes on Saturday: Delaware State, Morgan State and Savannah State.
The Chase For The MEAC (Update):
After Thursday’s action, North Carolina A&T (4-2, 3-0) is now in first, a half-game ahead of Norfolk State (6-2, 4-1), while defending co-champion South Carolina State (4-3, 3-1) and Morgan State (4-3, 3-1) at tied for third place.
After that, there is a three-way tie for fifth involving Bethune-Cookman (4-3, 2-2), Florida A&M (4-3, 2-2) and Howard University (3-4, 2-2) who head the pack of second-tier teams which includes Hampton (3-3, 1-2), followed by Savannah State (1-6, 1-3), North Carolina Central (1-5, 0-3) and Delaware State (2-5, 0-4) rounding out the standings.
MEAC FOOTBALL WEEK EIGHT/THURSDAY NITE
Separation Weekend I began Thursday with Bethune-Cookman riding their defense past Norfolk State, 14-6, knocking the Spartans out of first
By ALVIN HOLLINS JR.
Rockstat7376@aol.com
NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 19) – Defending MEAC Football co-champion Bethune-Cookman turned in a stellar defensive performance under the lights here Thursday night, bouncing Norfolk State out of the league lead with a 14-6 win at Dick Price Stadium in a nationally-televised contest.
The win lifted Bethune-Cookman (4-3, 2-2 in MEAC) into a three-way tie for fifth with Florida A&M and Howard University (both 4-3, 2-2), while Norfolk State (6-2, 4-1) saw its’ five-game win streak end while swapping spots with North Carolina A&T (4-2, 3-0), who moved into first place.
The visiting Wildcats used its’ outstanding defensive speed to put the clamps on the MEAC’s top offense (415.9 yards per game), limiting the Spartans to 249 total yards, while forcing three turnovers.
NSU quarterback Chris Walley, who came into the game as the #2 ranked quarterback in NCAA Division I FCS, was sacked five times, and managed to throw for just 86 yards on 14 of 24 passing.
Bethune-Cookman outgained the Spartans, 333 to 249, and rushed for 245 yards led by Isidore Jackson’s 206 yards rushing on 34 carries. Jackson’s running helped spark the Wildcats to touchdowns on their opening possessions of each half, but it was their defense that ruled the night led by defensive end Ryan Davis, who finished with 9.5 tackles and four of the ‘Cats five sacks.
Defensive back Dion Hanks made the final stop for the Wildcats, picking off a Walley pass in the end zone with 51 seconds left, snuffing out the final Norfolk threat.
Saturday’s Games:
@ Thanks to Thursday’s loss by Norfolk State, the new holders of the pole position, the North Carolina A&T Aggies (4-2, 3-0) will visit the Nation’s Capital to duel with the Howard University Bison (3-4, 2-2), in the “Comeback Bowl"at Greene Stadium (1:00), as two teams that each won just one (1) game a year ago square off. It also has serious implications for the Aggies, who hope to hold onto their lead in the standings with a win heading into next weekend’s showdown at Norfolk State.
@ The league’s other two co-champions from a year ago, the Florida A&M Rattlers (4-3, 2-2) and the host South Carolina State Bulldogs (4-3, 3-1), square off in Orangeburg (1:30/live ESPN3.com/ESPNU/tape delay 10:30) in a much-anticipated showdown which could deal a death blow to the loser’s title hopes.
Florida A&M at 2-2 needs a win Saturday to stave off elimination, while South Carolina State, now just a half-game back of North Carolina A&T, could with a win move into a second place tie with Norfolk State at 4-1.
@ Saturday’s final game pits the visiting North Carolina Central Eagles (1-5, 0-3) against the Hampton Pirates (3-3, 1-2), who like FAMU and Bethune-Cookman are aiming for a fast finish to erase some of the bitter taste of a disappointing season to date. This game at Armstrong Stadium (2:00), opens a five-game closing stretch for the Pirates, who will have four of those final five games at home.
@ Three teams will enjoy byes on Saturday: Delaware State, Morgan State and Savannah State.
The Chase For The MEAC (Update):
After Thursday’s action, North Carolina A&T (4-2, 3-0) is now in first, a half-game ahead of Norfolk State (6-2, 4-1), while defending co-champion South Carolina State (4-3, 3-1) and Morgan State (4-3, 3-1) at tied for third place.
After that, there is a three-way tie for fifth involving Bethune-Cookman (4-3, 2-2), Florida A&M (4-3, 2-2) and Howard University (3-4, 2-2) who head the pack of second-tier teams which includes Hampton (3-3, 1-2), followed by Savannah State (1-6, 1-3), North Carolina Central (1-5, 0-3) and Delaware State (2-5, 0-4) rounding out the standings.
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