FOR THE WEEK OF DEC.

4 - 10, 2012

13-0 Rams playing for spot in NCAA Div. II football championship game

WSSU in Final Four, again

LUT WILLIAMS Winston-Salem State, whose football team has already made some history with its outstanding play over the last two seasons, can make some more this week. For the second year in a row, the Rams (130), champions of Super Region I, will play for a spot in the NCAA Div. II national championship game when they take on West Texas A&M (12-2), champs of Super Region IV, at Bowman-Gray Stadium Saturday at 6:30 p.m. With a win, the Rams would advance to next week's Div. II Championship Game and become only the second black college team since the NCAA went to a playoff system in 1973 to make the title game. The championship game is set for next Saturday, Dec. 15 in Florence, Alabama. The only other HBCU to make the championship game was Central State under head coach Billy Joe in 1983 (see STAT CORNER). The Marauders lost in the title game to North Dakota State, 41-21. From 1958-74, the national championship for what was then known as College Division teams was selected in polls by the United Press International (UPI) from 1958, and the Associate Press (AP) beginning in 1960. Florida A&M (9-0), under legendary head coach Jake Gaither, shared the 1962 AP championship with Southern Mississippi. Tennessee State (10-0), under legendary head coach John Merritt, won the 1973 crown in both the UPI and AP polls. Last year, after an undefeated regular season, CIAA title, rst-round bye and wins in two regional playoff games, the Rams lost to Wayne State, 21-14 in a national seminal game, the rst seminal appearance by an HBCU since 1986 (Central State). WSSU, under then head coach Bill Hayes, now the Rams' director of athletics, reached the Div. II seminals in 1978. The Rams have followed the same script from a year ago this year, winning Saturday in their second Super Region I playoff game, 21-17 over Indiana (Pa.) (see related story) to earn a return trip to the national semis the Final Four in Div. II football. Valdosta State (10-2) plays at Minnesota State-Makato (13-0) in the other seminal game Saturday at 3 p.m. ET West Texas A&M, formerly known as West Texas State, has nearly 8,000 students and is located in Canyon, Texas a small city south of Amarillo. The Buffaloes, led by eight-year head coach Don Carthel. compete in the Lone Star Conference. This year they shared the LSC regular season title with Midwestern State . Both had 7-1 conference records. The Buffs only losses were a 44-34 decision to Colorado State-Pueblo to open the season (8/30) and a 52-48 loss to Midwestern State (11/3). They entered the playoffs as a sixth seed out of Super Region IV and have won three games on the road to reach the national seminals. They won at 3rd-seed Chadron State (38-30), at 4th-seed Ashland (33-28) and last week knocked off the region's top seed, the aforementioned Colorado State-Pueblo (32-14), who was also the No. 1 team in the nation.
BCSP Editor

WSSU TARGET: NCAA DIV II FINALS

WSSU Sports Photo

BACK IN THE SADDLE: Senior QB Kameron Smith expected back to lead WSSU in quest to reach Div. II Championship Game.

WSSU PLAYS FOR D2 TITLE GAME SPOT; UAPB/JACKSON STATE IN SWAC TITLE GAME

SCORES
DECEMBER 1 Pioneer Bowl XIV Div. II Playoffs - Quarternals Elizabeth City State 28, Tuskegee 13 W-Salem State 21, Indiania (Pa.) 17

Joe Daniels photos

NCAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RECAP

Div. II - Super Region I Final (National Quarternals) Late heroics allow Winston-Salem State to advance to national seminals, 21-17 over Indiana (Pa.) WINSTON-SALEM, NC CIAA Player of the Year, Winston-Salem State quarterback Kameron Smith, came off the bench to engineer a late fourth-quarter scoring drive to give WSSU the lead and the WSSU defense made it stand in the nal minute as the Rams survived against Indiana (Pa.) in a dramatic NCAA Div. II Super Region I nal. With the win, the two-time CIAA champion Rams (13-0) advance to the national seminals the Final Four - for the second consecutive season (see top story). Smith, who had not played since suffering a shoulder injury in the CIAA title game three Joe Daniels photo weeks ago, came on in relief of struggling starter SMITH: WSSU senior Anthony Carrothers (10-25-1, 259 yards) in the QB entered in fourth fourth quarter with the Rams trailing 17-14. On quarter and led gamethe third possession with Smith under center, he winning drive. drove the Rams 52 yards in nine plays culminating in a 1-yard scoring pass to fullback Ricky Rozier with 3:51 left. Landon Thayer's PAT put the Rams up 21-17. It its nal possession, IUP, behind the passing of QB Mike Box (16-32-2, 236 yards) drove deep into WSSU territory and had secondand-goal at the WSSU 5 in the nal minute. But the Rams' defense turned the Crimson Hawks (12-2) away three times. On fourth down with 34 seconds left, Box was hit by WSSU's Casey Davenport causing his pass go straight to the ground. The Rams took over and kneeled down once to run out the clock. The Rams scored rst on a 1-yard run by Rozier on the rst play of the second quarter .The score was set up by a Carrothers screen pass to Jameze Massey that carried 63 yards down the left sideline. IUP tied the score at 7 just before the half on Box's 36-yard pass to Terril Barnes 36 seconds before the halftime buzzer. But Carrothers' 55-yard Hail Mary pass with no time on the second quarter clock was caught in the end zone by Kenny Patterson putting WSSU up 14-7 at the break. IUP scored 10 third-quarter points to go up 17-14. Brett Ullman converted a 29-yard eld goal with 4:40 left in the period. Massey fumbled the ensuing kickoff and IUP got a 1-yard TD run from DeAntwan Williams four plays later to take a 17-14 lead. Massey nished with ve receptions for 104 yards while Jahuaan Butler, who had a key 21-yard catch in the game-winning drive, had 123 yards on four receptions. Smith nished 5 of 9 for 32 yards. WSSU linebacker Carlos Fields, the CIAA defensive player of the year, led the Rams' defensive effort with 10 tackles, an interception and one tackle for loss. DB Dominique Tate, LB Daniel Mungin and DL Barry Tripp each had seven tackles.

QUARTERFINAL COLLAGE: (Clockwise from top l.) WSSU head coach Connell Maynor leads his Winston-Salem State squad onto the eld for its quarternal game vs. Indiana (Pa.) Saturday. (Top r.) WSSU LB Carlos Fields (44) runs after picking off rst quarter pass from IUP QB Mike Box. (Bottom r.) WSSU LB Markus Lawrence (52) celebrates after the WSSU defense stopped IUP on the WSSU 5 in the nal half-minute. (Bottom L.) Maynor admonishes his troops to "stay focused" after the tough 21-17 win as they head to this Saturday's national seminals.
FOOTBALL THIS WEEK SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 SWAC Championship Game XIV Ark.-Pine Bluff vs. Jackson State in Birmingham, AL NCAA Div. II Playoffs - Seminal W-Salem State vs. West Texas A&M in W-Salem, NC

12n 6:30p

PIONEER BOWL XIV RECAP Elizabeth City State 28, Tuskegee 13

COLUMBUS, GA- All-American tailback Daronte McNeill scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns en route to Pioneer Bowl XIV MVP honors as Elizabeth City State toppled Tuskegee 28-13 Saturday afternoon at A.J. McClung Stadium to get its rst postseason win since 1971. The 28 points scored by the Vikings (8-4) are the most any team put up against the Golden Tigers this season. Tuskegee nishes the season 10-2. The Golden Tigers got on the board rst with a TD by Rashard Burkette from 19 yards out with 2:37 left in the rst half. The extra point was blocked by ECSU DB Nigel Rios and Tuskegee led 6-0 at the intermission. It was a defensive battle most of the afternoon and in the end two big plays by ECSU senior cornerback Josh Brooks proved to be the difference. ECSU got its rst touchdown of the day and its rst lead at 7-6 with 1:06 left in the third quarter on a 9-yard pass from Tyrell Houghton to Antonio Huff. On the very rst play of the fourth quarter, TU All-American tailback Derrick Washington broke for what appeared to be a sure 63-yard rushing touchdown. However, he only got 62 yards as Brooks forced a fumble at the ECSU 1 that travelled through the back of the end zone for a touchback. ECSU then drove the ball 80 yards on 14 plays capped by McNeill's rst touchdown of the day, a 14 yard score to go up 14-6. The Vikings' defense then denied the Golden Tigers on 4th down and went back on offense with 6:25 left in the game. Three plays later McNeill scampered for a 44 yard score and a 21-6 lead. Tuskegee answered with an 80-yard, 11 play drive that consumed only 1:57 and culminated in a 6-yard TD pass from Justin Nared to Marquel Gardner. The Golden Tigers trimmed the Viking lead to 21-13 with 2:41 left. After getting the ball back, the Tigers had 1st and 10 at the ECSU 22 when Nared's pass was picked off by Brooks and returned 80 yards for the game-clinching score. In the battle of two All-American tailbacks, both Washington and McNeill both lived up to their billing. Washington was named the SIAC Game MVP for his 20-carry, 185-yard performance while McNeill capped his brilliant four-year college career with 19 carries for 148 yards and two scores.

West Texas features a prolic offense that averages 40 points per game and is led by junior quarterback Dustin Vaughan who has thrown for 4,543 yards (324.5 ypg.), second best in the nation, with 44 TD tosses and just 11 interceptions. Vaughan completes 65% (338 of 520) of his passes. Junior wide receiver Torrance Allen is his favorite target hauling in 81 catches for 1,386 yards and 12 TDs. Nathan Slaughter, who caught two TD passes vs. CSU-Pueblo, has 63 receptions for 797 yards and six TDs. Senior tailback Khiry Robinson is the leading ballcarrier averaging 119 yards per game (1,484 yards, 4 TDs). Placekicker Sergio Castillo, who had 45- and 50-yard eld goals last week vs CSU-Pueblo, has been good on 19 of 21 eld goal attempts, missing only from 49 and 56 yards. The West Texas defense features an outstanding pass rush that leads all of Div. II with 58 sacks and is tops in tackles for losses with 127. Junior defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks (6-4, 275) leads the charge with 19.5 sacks on the season. Junior linebacker Taylor McCuller is the team's tackles leader with 155. Curtis Slater leads the secondary with four interceptions. The defense had seven sacks in last week's win over CSUPueblo. Kameron Smith, one of the heroes of WSSUs quarternal win, should return to his starting role at QB for WSSU after missing starts with a shoulder injury in the two playoff wins.

The Rams will look to get more out of a running game that IUP, the nation's top defense, held to 47 yards on 29 carries. Rams' rushing leader Maurice Lewis (851 yards, 11 TDs) garnered only 15 yards on 13 carries. The WSSU defense, led by LB Carlos Fields, DT Barry Tripp and DB Dominique Tate will be tested by the high-octane West Texas offense. But so far, the unit has been more than up to the task. SWAC Championship Game The only other teams still playing football are SWAC West Division champ Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9-2) and East Division champ Jackson State (7-4) who will meet Saturday in Birmingham in the league's 14th Championship Game (12 noon). UAPB won an earlier Oct. 6th meeting, 3424, that began the Golden Lions' current six-game win streak. It was also the last loss for JSU who has run off ve straight wins since. The JSU win streak has coincided with the insertion of junior Clayton Moore (115-221-7, 1,705 yds., 15 TDs) as the Tigers' starting quarterback. Senior wide receiver Rico Richardson leads the SWAC in receiving yards (1,081) and TD catches (10). UAPB, under fth-year head coach Monte Coleman, has the top scoring defense (18.3 ppg.) and the top rushing offense (204.7 ypg.) in the league. Running backs Justin Billings (768 yards, 5 TDs) and Dennis Jenkins (539 yards, 4 TDs) lead the ground game. Sophomore QB Benjamin Anderson (161-274-11, 2,121 yds., 15 TDs) is at the controls. Linebackers Bill Ross (117 tackles), Xavier Lofton (93) and Jer-ryan Harris (89) lead the UAPB defense. Defensive end Brandon Thurman is the SWAC sack leader with 16.5.

SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME XIV

JACKSON STATE TIGERS (7-4)

EAST DIVISION CHAMPION SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
TEAM RECORD 2012 Overall: 2012 BCSP Ranking: All-Time vs. UAPB: Last Time vs. UAPB: SWAC Title Games Last Title: Last Time in Title Game: 7-4 5th 20-12 24-34 L, '12 1-2 '07 '08, L 2012 RESULTS JSU 7-4 9 ..........@ Miss. State .......56 L 12 .... Tenn. State in Memphis .....38 L 45 .... @ Texas Southern . 35 W 21 ............Southern ...........28 L 34 ......... Prairie View....... 13 W 24 .... @ Ark.-Pine Bluff ...34 L 37 .....@ Alabama State .. 34 W 14 ...Miss. Valley St. (OT) .. 7 W 53 ....@ Grambling State . 17 W 35 ........Alabama A&M ..... 21 W 37 .......@ Alcorn State .... 11 W

vs.

ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF GOLDEN LIONS (9-2)

WEST DIVISION CHAMPION SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
TEAM RECORD 2012 Overall: 2012 BCSP Ranking: All-Time vs. JSU: Last Time vs. JSU: SWAC Title Games: Last Time in Title Game 9-2 3rd 12-20 34-24 W, '12 0-1 '06, L

Head Coach

RICK COMEGY

COACH'S RECORD Alma Mater: Millersville ('76) Record vs. UAPB: 4-3 Record at JSU: 48-30, .615 (7th year) Career Record: 156-59 (19 years)

2012 RESULTS UAPB 9-2 17 ... Langston in LR, Ark 14 W 10 ........Alabama A&M 14 L 24 .......@ Alcorn State 6W 24 .....@ Alabama State 21 W 13 ... @ Tennessee State 40 L 34 .......Jackson State 24 W 50 ......... @ Southern 21 W 10 .....Miss. Valley State 0 W 49 .... @ Texas Southern 3 W 24 ....@ Grambling State 17 W 42 ......... Prairie View 41 W

COACH'S RECORD Alma Mater: Central Arkansas ('79) Record vs. JSU: 2-3 Record at UAPB: 29-27, .517 (5th year) Career Record: Same

MONTE COLEMAN

Head Coach

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012 - BIRMINGHAM, AL - LEGION FIELD - 12 NOON

STAT CORNER
WHO ARE THE BEST PERFORMERS IN BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS

BCSP Notes
WACO, TEX. Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins and WinstonSalem State head coach Connell Maynor are among coaches named American Football Coaches Association's 2012 Regional Coach of the Year winners. Both Jenkins and Maynor are in their third years leading their respective programs. Jenkins, who won his second MEAC regular season title and automatic FCS playoff berth, shares the FCS Region 3 award with Stony Brook's Chuck Piore who led his team to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Jenkins also won the award in 2010, his rst year at the helm of the Wildcats, when his team won the league title and playoff berth. Maynor has a 33-3 overall record in three years and led his WSSU team to their second consecutive undefeated regular season CIAA title and playoff berth this season. The Rams are currently in the seminals of the NCAA Div. II playoffs after winning two games.

Jenkins, Maynor top AFCA coaches

Jenkins

Maynor

Hill-Eley

Rose

BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS IN NCAA DIV. II SEMIFINALS

1973 1978 1979 1983 1986 2011
YEAR

Grambling Winston-Salem State Alabama A&M Central State Central State Winston-Salem State

TEAM

Lost to Western Kentucky, 28-20 Lost to Delaware, 41-0 Lost to Yougstown State, 52-0 Beat North Alabama, 27-24 Lost to N. Dakota State, 35-12 Lost to Wayne State, 21-14

RESULT

"I don't know what's going on," Hill-Eley told the Baltimore Sun. The coach did say that MSU Athletic Director Floyd Kerr had apologized for forwarding the e-mail. The coach has one year left on his contract. The e-mail was originally written by Kevin Banks, Morgan State's vice president for student affairs and says that the nal year of the coach's contract would be honored and made reference to a possible reassignment within the university. Hill-Eley has compiled a 54-69 record in 11 seasons at MSU. This year's Bears' team nished at 3-8 overall, 2-6 and tied for ninth in the 11-team MEAC. They lost their nal six games of the season, all in the conference.

BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS IN NCAA DIV. II FINALS

YEAR

1983

Central State

TEAM

RESULT

Lost to N. Dakota State, 41-21

SOURCE: d2championship.com

Morgan State head football coach Donald Hill-Eley found out by accident of the school's plan to replace him. Hill-Eley was accidentally sent an e-mail detailing the school's plan to interview prospective coaches and have a new coach in place by January. Problem is, Hill-Eley has heard nothing ofcial from the school.

Hill-Eley not out yet at Morgan State

According to a report in the Hampton Daily Press newspaper, Hampton head football coach Donovan Rose, coming off a 3-7 season in his fourth year leading the Pirates, is waiting to have his employment evaluated by new Athletic Director Novelle Dickerson. Rose is 21-22 overall and 16-16 in MEAC play over his four years. This season Hampton was barred from NCAA postseason play and subsequently from competing for an MEAC title because of poor academic performance.

Rose's status to be determined at Hampton

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Vol. XIX, No. 18