SIAC coaches and sports information directors voted on the players selected for each team as well as the league’s Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Miles College guard Alvin Miles was named the SIAC Player of the Year while Golden Bears head coach Fred Watson earned Coach of the Year honors. Fort Valley State forward Hassane Diallo earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, Lane guard Elijah Greer Dawson received Newcomer of the Year, Edward Waters forward Myles Hosten notched Freshman of the Year honors while Morehouse guard Cedric Taylor III earned Elite 16 honors.

Miles, a native of Memphis, Tenn., was one of the SIAC’s top 10 scorers this season, averaging 15.9 points per game (10th in the conference). He became the first player in program to earn the league’s top player award since Avery Brown accomplished the feat in 2020. Miles was the only SIAC player this season to score 400 points, grab 100 rebounds and notch 100 assists. He finished with double-figure production in 22 of the Golden Bears’ 26 contests while recording seven games of 20 or more points.

Diallo registered 177 rebounds with 120 coming on the defensive side of the ball in 28 games this season. He also finished second in the league in blocked shots (42) while registering 22 steals and averaging 10.5 points per contest.

Dawson averaged 16.8 points while shooting 44.4% from the field, dishing 3.0 assists and connecting on 76.9% from the free throw line per game in 18 contests this season. Beyond his scoring, Dawson averaged 4.1 rebounds per game while tallying a total of 39 steals and six blocks on defense.

Hosten averaged 8.0 points while shooting 38.8% from the floor and notched 4.8 rebounds in 13 games this season.

Watson registered his third Coach of the Year honors at Miles and the ninth of his career. He led Miles to a SIAC-best 23-3 mark that includes a 19-1 record in conference play and a perfect 12-0 mark at home, the Golden Bears best record inside Knox-Windham Gymnasium in program history.

Player of the Year

Alvin Miles

Defensive Player of the Year

Hassane Diallo

Newcomer of the Year

Elijah Greer Dawson

Freshman of the Year

Coach of the Year

Myles Hosten

The complete listing of the SIAC all-conference selections and individual awards winners can be found below.

All-SIAC First Team

• Shakur Poteat, Albany State
• Alvin Miles, Miles
• Walter Peggs, Jr., Miles
• Cedric Taylor III, Morehouse
• Lavar Miller Jr., Kentucky State

All-SIAC Second Team

• Kevin Sesberry, Tuskegee
• Jalen Williams, Clark Atlanta
• Prince Davies III, Edward Waters
• Kusamae Draper, Tuskegee
• Blaise Wallace, Albany State

All-SIAC Third Team

• Steven Lyles, Spring Hill
• Shemani Fuller, Clark Atlanta
• Corey Trotter, Miles
• Aziel Blackwell, Kentucky State
• Khalil Genwright, LeMoyne-Owen

All-SIAC Freshman Team

• Myles Hosten, Edward Waters
• Rocco Lamuno, Spring Hill
• Abdoul Sacko, LeMoyne-Owen
• Brandon Peters, Morehouse
• Christian Gary, Albany State

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JACKSON, Tenn. – Lane College is pleased to announce the hiring of Stanley Conner as the new Head Football Coach. Conner brings over three decades of coaching experience at the collegiate, HBCU and high school levels, along with a proven track record of developing championship-winning teams and athletes.
 
Conner joins Lane College after spending the last eight seasons at Miles College, where he served as the Running Backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. During his tenure at Miles, Conner played a crucial role in developing standout HBCU football players, including the SIAC Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player, Justin Hardy, in 2017. He also helped lead the Golden Bears to three SIAC Championships (2018, 2019, and 2024). The 2024 squad made history when they won their opening round game of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
 
“Stanley Conner is a proven winner, and his depth of experience will be an invaluable asset to our football program,” said Derrick Burroughs, Director of Athletics at Lane College. “We are excited to welcome Coach Conner to the Lane College family. His leadership and passion for developing student-athletes on and off the field align perfectly with our mission to build a competitive, disciplined, and successful football program.”
 
Prior to his time at Miles College, Conner served as a head coach at Benedict College (2007-2011) and Concordia-Alabama (2014-2015), where he led teams to impressive successes. Conner’s career also includes coaching stops at Alabama A&M and Alabama State, where he helped lead teams to multiple SWAC Eastern Division Championships.
 
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Lane College football program,” said Conner. “I look forward to building a winning culture and mentoring young men to succeed both on the field and in life. I am thankful for the trust that Dr. Donald Comer and the administration as well as Athletic Director Burroughs have placed in me, and I am ready to get started.”

 
During his tenure at Alabama A&M, he coached the secondary, running backs, and served as assistant head coach. He spent three seasons with the Bulldogs before heading to Lanett High School as the head coach. In 1998, he returned to Alabama A&M as the assistant head coach. Conner helped lead the Bulldogs to SWAC Eastern Division Championships in 2000, 2004, 2005, and 2006.
 
Conner’s playing career includes a four-year stint as an HBCU football letterman at Jackson State University, where he helped lead the Tigers to three SWAC Championships and NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances in 1981 and 1982. After his playing days, Conner briefly pursued a career in professional football with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL and the Ottawa Rough Riders of the CFL.
 
Conner, a Theodore, Alabama native, has deep ties to the Southern football community and is known for his ability to recruit, develop talent, and build strong relationships with players. He and his wife, Tonya, have two daughters, Shelandra and Shequita.

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Details of his death have not been confirmed but an official source from the Baltimore Ravens has confirmed his death with WJZ, a CBS news affiliate on Sunday morning.

The New Orleans East native came to Division II HBCU Lane College after a season at Southeastern Louisiana in 2003 and was an immediate star in the SIAC, making All-SIAC at wide receiver and returner for all four years.

His HBCU football accolades led to him being selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played for the Texans from 2007 to 2011 before playing for the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 to 2014, winning both a Super Bowl and making the Pro Bowl in 2012.

Jacoby Jones left an indelible mark on the Baltimore Ravens 2012 Super Bowl run. He was on the receiving end of what is now known as the “Mile High Miracle,” a 70-yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the AFC Divisional game against the Denver Broncos. Jones scored two touchdowns in the Ravens 34-31 win in Super Bowl XLVII. A 108-yard kickoff return touchdown was the longest return in Super Bowl history and the longest in NFL postseason history, and a 56-yard touchdown pass.

After his playing career, Jacoby Jones went into coaching, returning to his HBCU roots by becoming the wide receivers coach at his alma mater Lane College in 2018. Jones also coached at Morgan State University in Baltimore and most recently spent the last two seasons on the sidelines at Alabama State.

His impact as a person was felt after news of his passing circulated online, with former teammates and current NFL players posting tributes to Jones on social media.

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Jones, a New Orleans East native came to Lane College in 2003 and was an All-SIAC) player at wide receiver and returner for all four years at the Jackson, Tennessee-based HBCU.

The Houston Texans drafted Jones in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played for the Texans from 2007 to 2011. He moved on to play for the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 to 2014 and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2012.

Jacoby Jones is known for two of the most memorable plays in the 2012 NFL playoffs as a member of the Ravens. He caught a 70-yard game-tying touchdown pass in the final seconds of regulation in the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos, which helped lead the Ravens to an eventual 38—35 double-overtime victory. He also had a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers, the longest play in Super Bowl history. He finished the game with two touchdowns, the kick return, and a 56 touchdown reception.

Off the field, Jacoby Jones used his quick feet to finish in third place on the television show “Dancing with the Stars.”

Jones spent nine seasons in the NFL with the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He returned to Lane College in 2018 to coach wide receivers for two seasons before returning to Baltimore to coach at Calvert Hall College High School. Jones stayed in Baltimore to coach the tight ends at Morgan State University, then joined the coaching staff at Alabama State University in 2022.

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Stiggers originally committed to HBCU Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, a member of Division II’s Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) out of high school in 2020. After losing his father in a car accident and his freshman season of football to COVID, Qwan’tez Stiggers decided to take a different path to his pro football dreams.

After a tip from his mother, Stiggers tried out for Fan Controlled Football, a 7-on-7 indoor pro football league in Atlanta. He made the team and led the Fan Controlled Football in interceptions as the youngest player in the league, picking off five passes in 12 games while being runner-up for defensive player of the year.

His play in the Fan Controlled Football 7 -on- 7 league led his coach, John Jenkins, a former assistant with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL), to send his game film to his former colleagues.

And while the guys in the front office liked what they saw of Qwan’tez Stiggers on tape, the coaches on the field were a little wary of a guy with no college listed beside his name.

But an impressive training camp led to another breakout season as the youngest player in another league. Qwan’tez Stiggers started 16 games in his rookie CFL season. He had 53 tackles and five interceptions, he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie for the 2023 season, the first defensive back to win the award in 25 years.

His award-winning rookie season in the CFL earned him an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, which is usually reserved for college seniors. Stiggers, now 22 years old and eligible for the NFL Draft had seemingly rejoined his college football peers at one of the top showcases for NFL prospects.

“My goal is to get drafted,” Qwan’tez Stiggers said in an article from Andscape. “There’s nothing like hearing your name on draft day. Just to hear someone say ‘such and such has drafted Qwan’tez Stiggers’ will mean so much. I can make history.”

In the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Qwan’tez Stiggers with the 176th pick. Making him the third player to ever be drafted without playing football in college.

And while his HBCU football was never able to take flight, Qwan’tez Stiggers drew his own road map to the NFL, serving as a lesson to future NFL prospects that it’s not how you start… its how you finish.

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Jackson State leads the SWAC with nearly 30k. That’s an impressive number, but it is a significant drop from its 2022 number. Norfolk State got a slight bump as it led the MEAC. North Carolina A&T got another sellout it’s first season in the CAA.

Here are the numbers of attendance at each HBCU homecoming game. All numbers were taken from official box scores from each school’s athletic website.

MEAC

Norfolk State-24,976

South Carolina State-22,269

North Carolina Central-13,626

Howard-7,684

Delaware State-6,300

Morgan State-Canceled

SWAC

Jackson State-30,947

Alabama A&M-26,391

Florida A&M-22,338

Southern-21,492

Alcorn State-21,012

Alabama State-17,995

Prairie View A&M-14,224

Arkansas-Pine Bluff-13,469

Bethune-Cookman-9,458

Mississippi Valley State-8,752

Grambling State-8,657

Texas Southern-6,352

CAA

North Carolina A&T-21,500

Hampton-13,811

CIAA

Winston-Salem State-8,200

Virginia Union-5,250

Shaw-5,022

Livingstone – 4,501

Bowie State-4,395

St. Augustine’s-3,719

Fayetteville State-3,680

Elizabeth City State-3,579

Johnson C. Smith-3,452

Virginia State-3,409

Lincoln (PA)-2,117

Bluefield State-N/A

SIAC

Tuskegee-31,726

Clark Atlanta-19,597

Savannah State-12,723

Fort Valley State-12,113

Morehouse-10,213

Benedict-8,589

Albany State-8,371

Kentucky State-2,898

Edward Waters-2,472

Lane-1,753

Allen-905

Central State-N/A

Miles-N/A

Other

Tennessee State-13,975

West Virginia State-3,954

Lincoln (MO)-3,333

Virginia University-Lynchburg-1,753

Florida Memorial-1,200

Langston-N/A

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Tailback Ryan Morrow led the way for Alabama A&M at the Louis Crews Classic, accumulating 191 yards on 18 rushing attempts. Down the field, Cameron Young was the Bulldogs’ best option. Young finished with eight receptions for 74 yards. The team committed to the ground game early and often (99 1st quarter rushing yards, 63-37 overall run-pass split). The strategy was successful as the Bulldogs wore down the defense with 239 total rushing yards.

Kylan Duhe led the way for Lane, rushing for 122 yards on 22 rushing attempts. Lane made too many mistakes early on, giving up two turnovers in the first quarter alone.

Key Metrics to Victory: Alabama A&M

• Play selection – leaned on the run game, with a 63-37 run-pass split with 34 rushing attempts and 20 passing attempts
• Possession – controlled the ball for 26:57 (45% of the game)
• Third down success – converted on 73% of third downs (8-11) while Lane converted just 25% (3-12)
• Turnover battle – turned the ball over two times while collecting four turnovers from Lane

Both teams take the field again on Sept. 16. Alabama A&M meets Southern at A.W. Mumford Stadium, where the Bulldogs will look for a repeat of their success here this evening. Meanwhile, Lane will be thankful to return home when they take on Benedict at Rothrock Stadium.

Gameday AI content is produced using Artificial Intelligence technology powered by Boost Sport before being approved and published by HBCU Gameday.

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Alabama A&M (0-1 Overall)

The Bulldogs will look to add another win to their earned record thus far of 0-1. They’re putting up an average of 1.0 touchdowns and 13.0 points per contest. The Bulldogs’ defense is conceding an average of 461 yards and 47.0 points per game.

Wideout Terrell Gardner will be leading the way for Alabama A&M. Gardner has accumulated 3 receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown thus far this season.

Alabama A&M’s ground game is unique, with 33% of their rush attempts coming from the QB position.

Alabama A&M went 4-7 in 2022. They’ll want to capitalize on this opportunity, as this is the first time they’ve had home field advantage this year. This is one of Alabama A&M’s two games against a SIAC opponent this season.

Lane (0-1 Overall, 0-1 in SIAC)

The Dragons will look to add another win to the 0-1 record they’ve earned so far this season. They’re putting up an average of 3.0 touchdowns and 24.0 points per contest. Their defense allows an average of 432 yards and 37.0 points per game.

Polo Solomon is looking to continue the play he showcased in Lane’s last game. Solomon threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s loss.

Lane has a workhorse rushing offense. 54% of rush attempts go to Kylan Duhe.

Lane enters after putting up a 5-5 campaign in 2022. They’ll want to capitalize on this opportunity, as this is the first time they’ve been on the road all year. This is Lane’s only game against an FCS HBCU opponent.

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Jada Brown stood out among 35 other contestants, instantly securing her place as a top competitor in the contest. Notably, her advancement to the top 16 marked a historic moment, as it surpassed the performance of Miss Lane College contestants since returning to the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant in 2018.

In an article from the Jackson Post, Jada Brown talked about being overwhelmed by the victory, “This is beyond anything I could have imagined. Growing up, I lacked role models who looked like me, so being able to inspire the next generation is a privilege I won’t take lightly.”

Brown’s remarkable victory has also earned her the esteemed role of being the Governor’s spokesperson for character education. With this honor, Brown’s schedule for the next year will be filled with appearances at schools throughout the state, where she will address students and share her inspiring journey.

I know we’re in the middle of the year, but I think this honorable moment is fitting for me to say “Happy Black History Month!” No matter the time, when we create a seat at the table it must be celebrated.

ABOUT MISS TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER PAGENT

A nonprofit organization based in Jackson, Tennessee, Miss Tennessee Volunteer is a statewide, service-oriented scholarship program seeking to empower young women through education and opportunity. One of the top providers of scholarships for young women in Tennessee, Miss Tennessee Volunteer is also the #1 economic driver for the City of Jackson. In 2010, the Community Economic Development Commission surveyed the impact of the Pageant and found it to bring over $2M to Jackson during Pageant Week.  Not only is Miss Tennessee Volunteer important to the community, but it is vital to the education of the young women of our state.  This year alone, Miss Tennessee Volunteer awarded our 36 contestants over $80,000 in college scholarships.  

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SAVANNAH, GA (February 27, 2023) — The 2023 TIAA SIAC Basketball Tournament presented by Cricket Wireless brought a few upsets to the second opening round on Monday featuring a pair of men’s and women’s matchups at Savannah State University. Check out the recaps from the third day of SIAC Hoops action inside of Tiger Arena.

Game 6 (Men)
#4E (Albany State), 70 v. Kentucky State, 83
Box Score

Kentucky State opened the second round of the 2023 TIAA SIAC Basketball Championship defeating Albany State 83-70 in a midday contest inside the Tiger Arena. Kentucky State’s guard Kong led all scorers with 21 points to help the Breds survive another day with a win over Albany State in the second opening round of matchups. Kong shot 100% from the field(8-of-8), three-point line(2-of-2), and at the free-throw line(3-of-3).

The Golden Rams went 3-of-4 from the field to take a 12-10 lead at 14:49 in the first half. A layup by Shamon Mosley led to an 11-2 run by Kentucky State at 9:15 in the first half. The Thorobreds held a 37-31 lead over the Golden Rams going into halftime shooting a perfect 100% from the free-throw line. Kentucky State was dominant in the paint scoring 20 points holding the lead for a full 14:00 minutes in the first half. 

In the second half, Albany State went on a nine-point run with 11:30 remaining in the contest. The Golden Rams shot 42.9 percent (15-of-35) from the field, including 50 percent (5-of-10) from beyond the arc. The Golden Rams were led by Malik Parker with 19 points and three rebounds. SIAC Freshman of the Year Terin Wofford added 10 points and three boards.

Up Next: Kentucky State will head to the quarterfinals, where they will play #1W Tuskegee on Wednesday, March 1 at 5 p.m.

Game 7 (Men)
#4W (Lane), 73 v. #5E (Clark Atlanta), 61
Box Score

The Dragons jumped on Clark Atlanta early when Justin Sylver drilled a pull up jumper just eight seconds into the game. Lane would lead from tip-off to final whistle as the margin grew to as many as 20 points en route to a 73-61 win over the Panthers.
 
Kelvin Allen led all scorers with 19 points while pulling in six rebounds. Sylver finished with 14 points and six boards while Maximillion Bell chipped in 11 points. Jesse Payne had 10 points to go along with four steals and three assists.

Clark Atlanta’s  Justin Longstreet and  Gwarren Douglas each added 13 points shooting over 60 percent from the free-throw line.
 
Up Next: Lane moves on to the quarterfinals where they will take on Morehouse College on Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Game 8 (Women)
#4E (Allen), 68 v. #5W (Central State), 79
Box Score

#5W Central State toppled the #4E Allen 79-68 in the women’s basketball second round of the 2023 TIAA SIAC Basketball Tournament presented by Cricket at Savannah State on Monday.
 
Central State had four players score in double figures led by SIAC First-Team All-Conference honoree, Kailyn Nash, with a double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds. Dashanti Miller added 14 points and grabbed 17 rebounds while Naomi Shorts finished with 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Laurene Tere contributed 13 points, six board, and two assists in the win.

Allen’s Keyshuna Fair, Destinee Jamison-Whitfield, and Ananda Mayhew scored 18, 12, and 11 points, respectively. Talayah Boxley grabbed nine rebounds for the Yellow Jackets.
 
Up Next: Central State punched their ticket to the quarterfinals and will advance to face #1W Tuskegee on Wednesday, March 1 at 12:00 p.m.

Game 9 (Women)
#4W (Lane), 53 v. #5E (Albany State), 50
Box Score

Brailyn Tate posted a double-double (14 points and 14 rebounds) and Kayla Simmons, SIAC All-Conference honoree, scored 18 points to lead the Dragons to a second-round victory over Albany State. The duo dominated in the paint as Lane outscored the Golden Rams 32-20 in that category. Simmons had a game-high 18 points while Tate scored 14 points and pulled in 14 rebounds.

The Dragons battled back in a close fourth quarter holding the Golden Rams at 11 points. In the final quarter, the Lane College Dragons shot 87.5 percent (7-of-8) from the free-throw line to push past Albany State in a 53-50 win.

During the close matchup, Milana Holmes of Albany State outscored all players with 23 points while adding nine rebounds. Ka’Shay Hankerson and Kayla Milner each added eight points. Despite the Golden Rams success in converting 25 of 26 of Lane’s turnovers into points, they came up short as Lane’s final three free-throws sealed their win.

Up Next: The Dragons advance to the quarterfinals where they will face Clark Atlanta on Wednesday, March 1, at 2:30 p.m.

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The game started off with a bang as freshman Mikael King (Tuskegee, Ala.) returned the opening kick 75 yards to start the opening drive for the Golden Tigers inside the Lane ten-yard line. However, after three straight runs an incompletion caused a turnover on downs at the Lane four-yard line.

Following a punt by Lane, quarterback Bryson Williams (Lithonia, Ga.) led a 11-play, 70-yard drive that was capped off by a six-yard connection with Deondre Harvey (Douglasville, Ga.) for his third touchdown reception of the year.

The Dragons responded with a 30-yard field goal on their next possession, and later took the lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the second quarter after a pick six from Walter Tatum to give Lane a 10-7 advantage.

On the next Golden Tiger drive, Williams found another target for a touchdown, this time freshman Antonio Meeks (Lilburn, Ga.) for a 58-yard score to regain the lead; however, it was short lived as Lane responded with another touchdown drive to go back up 17-14.

Lane gained a double-digit edge early in the third with a one-yard run to go up 24-14, a score that remained until later in the quarter when Williams connected with Meeks again for a 30-yard score to pull within three points heading into the final frame.

After forcing a turnover on downs from the Dragons, Tuskegee found themselves leading 28-24 after a nine-yard scamper from Williams with just under seven minutes remaining. Lane responded with a quick score, traveling down the field with a 75-yard drive to regain a 31-28 lead.

After the extra point, Taurean Taylor (Scottdale, Ga.) came up with a 64-yard kick return, leading to another score on the ground from Williams five plays later to give the Golden Tigers the advantage once again at 35-31 for the final score after another stop by the defense.

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The division champs will meet on Nov. 12 at the home of the East champion in the Nov. 12 SIAC Championship game.

HBCU Football Rundown – SIAC East

The surprisingly undefeated Benedict Tigers (7-0, 5-0 SIAC East) have already knocked off their biggest East Division contenders. They handled then undefeated Fort Valley State (45-13 on Oct. 1) at the Wildcats’ homecoming. They then took down defending division and conference champion Albany State (24-20 last week) at the Golden Rams’ homecoming.

This week, the Tigers have a chance to spoil another homecoming in Atlanta (2 p.m.) facing winless Morehouse (0-7. 0-4 E). A win against the Maroon Tigers would leave only FVSU (6-1, 3-1 E) and Albany State (5-2, 3-1 E) still alive with Benedict for the East title.

FVSU plays this week at Clark Atlanta (2-4, 2-3 E) while Albany State plays at Savannah State (3-4, 2-3 E). A loss by either ends their title hopes.

Benedict is up from 23rd nationally in both the AFCA Div. II Coaches Poll and the d2football.com poll. The Tigers are now 18th in the AFCA and 17th in d2football.com.

The Chennis Berry story

The Benedict saga is the lead story in the SIAC this season.

The remarkable turnaround has been engineered and led by second-year head coach and HBCU vet Chennis Berry. Listening to Berry is like taking in a fiery Sunday sermon as he enthusiastically and loudly lays out his prayers for the Benedict program. He did that at the preseason SIAC football Media Day in Atlanta. Those prayers have been answered.

It has taken only two years for Berry to instill that enthusiasm and spirit into his team. It comes from the former Savannah State player getting his first turn as a head coach after 26 years as a valued offensive assistant or associate head coach. He worked in those capacities at eight different HBCU programs — Southern, Howard, NC A&T, Morgan State, Kentucky State, Fort Valley State, Kentucky State and Morris Brown. He has also interned with six different NFL teams.

The Tigers have not won an SIAC football title since re-introducing the sport in 2006 after a 29-year absence.

Benedict in the driver’s seat

Currently, they lead the SIAC giving up just 227.3 yards per game and are second surrendering only 7.4 points per game. Junior defensive end Loobert Denelus has been the defensive standout as he leads the SIAC with 8 sacks and is second in tackles for loss (11.5)

Left-handed junior QB Eric Phoenix has completed 64.9% of his 134 passes for 989 yards and nine TDs with just one interception. Redshirt freshman RB Zaire Scotland has augmented the air attack with 507 yards and 6 TDs on the ground.

Benedict’s final two games are at home. The Tigers’ homecoming game is next week (Oct. 29, 2 p.m.) vs. ClarkAtlanta where they hope to officially lay claim to the division title. They close the regular season on Nov. 5 hosting Allen at Columbia’s (S.C.) Westwood High School.

HBCU Football Rundown – SIAC West

After an 0-2 start, former Miles and new Tuskegee Athletics Director and head coach Regionald Ruffin has worked his magic. The man that won four SIAC titles in nine years at Miles has engineered five straight wins including back-to-back double overtime wins against Allen (35-27 on Sept. 24) and against former Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater now at Clark Atlanta (45-43 on Oct. 1). The five-game win streak has landed the 5-2 Golden Tigers atop the West Division race with a 4-0 league mark.

Tuskegee heads to Jackson, Tn. Saturday (2 p.m.) to face Lane (4-3, 3-1 W), who along with Kentucky State (3-4, 3-1 W) are the only teams that have a chance to catch Tuskegee in the West. KSU is at Miles (1-6, 1-3 W) Saturday (2 p.m.). A loss by either Lane or Kentucky State eliminates them from W. Div. title contention.

The Golden Tigers emerge

Tuskegee is fifth in the SIAC in scoring at just 21.1 points per game but has averaged 40.3 ppg. over its four straight conference wins.

Five-seven, 180-pound senior running back Taurean Taylor has been the standout recently. Taylor has rushed for 533 yards in the last three games (177.3 ypg.) including a 232-yard effort last week in a 49-34 win over Central State. He scored on 29- and 93-yard TD runs to close out the game. He racked up 218 rushing yards in the big win at CAU’s homecoming.

Six-foot, 225-pound bruiser RB Donte Edwards has also been effective (69.3 ypg., 4 TDs) with 100-yard games vs. CAU (18 carries, 118 yds.,1 TD) and Central State (17 car., 144 yds., 2 TDs). Juniors Bryson Williams and Malik Davis have led the Tigers to victories from the quarterback position.

HBCU Football Rundown: Don’t count Lane out

Lane, under new head coach Vyron Brown, has won four of its last five games including a 28-27 non-conference stunner over FCS Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee State on Oct. 1. The Dragons also threw a scare into East Div. leader Benedict in a non-conference tilt before coming up short 14-0 back on Sept. 10. The Golden Dragons’ only loss in the division was a close 31-26 decision to Kentucky State on Oct. 8.

Lane will feature redshirt senior QB Michael Huntley (1,152 passing yards, 11 TDs, 4 ints.) who is among the leaders in SIAC passing stats. Sophomore wideouts Jacquez Jones (27 rec., 524 yds., 7 TDs) and Virgil Young (25 rec., 411 yds., 3 TDs) have been the main recipients of Huntley’s aerials. Jones is the SIAC’s receiving yardage (87.3 ypg.) and TD receptions leader.

Redshirt senior defensive end Andrew Farmer is a terror. Farmer has amassed 49 tackles, 35 solos, with five sacks and leads the SIAC with 22.5 tackles for loss.

SIAC Games this week

EAST

Allen (HC) vs. Bluefield State in Blythewood, SC      1p

Morehouse (HC) vs. Benedict in Atlanta, GA 2p

Clark Atlanta vs. Fort Valley State in Atlanta, GA      4p

Savannah State vs. Albany State in Sav., GA – ESPN+  5p

WEST

Central State vs. Edward Waters in Wilberforce, OH 1p

Lane vs. Tuskegee in Jackson, TN               2p

Miles vs. Kentucky State in Fairfield, AL – ESPN+    2p

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

Fayetteville State 13, Chowan 10 

Johnson C. Smith 49, Elizabeth City State 14

South Carolina 50, SC State 10

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2022

Alabama A&M 35, Bethune-Cookman 27 

Alabama State 16, Texas Southern 13

Albany State 20, Miles 3

Benedict 45, Fort Valley State 13

Bluefield State 22, Apprentice 19

Bowie State 53, Livingstone 7 

Campbell 48, NC Central 18 

Central Oklahoma 45, Lincoln (MO) 3

Central State 35, Allen 32

Delaware State 14, Robert Morris 9

Florida A&M 34, Miss Valley State 7

Keiser 48, Florida Memorial 7 

Lane 28, Tennessee State 27, OT

Langston 43, Lyon 3 

Morgan State 44, VA-Lynchburg 10

NC A&T 24, Bryant  13

More Scores

Prairie View A&M 34, Grambling State 14

Sacred Heart 31, Norfolk State 14

Southern 59, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3 

Tuskegee 45, Clark Atlanta 43, 2 OTs 

Virginia State 28, Shaw 24

Virginia Union 42, Saint Augustine’s 0

West Virginia State 30, Alderson Broaddus 3

Winston-Salem State vs. Lincoln (PA) – Cancelled

Yale 34, Howard 26

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2022

Edward Waters 49, Morehouse 20

Kentucky State 28, Savannah State 13

HBCU Roundup: Big Winners!

• BENEDICT MOVES TO 5-0 WITH BIG WIN OVER PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED FORT VALLEY STATE!

First-year head coach Chennis Berry’s Tigers of Benedict cleared their biggest hurdle yet. They produced a convincing 45-13 win at previously unbeaten Fort Valley State’s homecoming. 

Noah Zaire Scotland ran for three TDs of 2, 7 and 1 yards between the second and third quarters. He also scored on a 9-yard TD pass from QB Eric Phoenix in the first quarter. The tallies helped Benedict (5-0, 3-0 SIAC E) jump to a 40-6 lead thru three quarters.

Phoenix ran for 83 yards on 7 carries and completed 14 of 24 passes for 142 yards and two scores. Benedict opened the game on a 7-play, 72-yard drive culminating in Phoenix’s 16-yard scoring pass to Reginald Harden.  

The Benedict defense held FVSU (4-1, 1-1 E) to 207 yards of total offense. The Tigers allowed the Wildcats to convert just two of 10 third downs. 

• LANE STUNS TENNESSEE STATE!

Lane (3-2, 2-0) scored on a 2-point conversion in overtime to pull off a stunning 28-27 win at Tennesseee State.

TSU (0-4) had scored in overtime on a 2-yard run by Edwin Rhodes. After the PAT, TSU led 27-20. Lane answered with an 11-yard TD run by Ike Brown. Brown then rushed for the 2-point PAT to pull out the win.

The teams entered the extra period tied at 20. TSU scored last in regulation on a 51-yard Kaleb Mosley field goal with just :14 seconds left. Lane led 13-10 at halftime before TSU went up 17-13 early in the third quarter on Jalen Rouse’s 4-yard TD run. Rouse finished with 109 yards on 25 carries. 

Brown sent Lane back on top on a 13-yard scoring pass from Tarik McKenzie with 4:44 left in the period. Brown finished with 74 yards receiving and 63 rushing yards with two TDs.

More Big Winners!

•  NC A&T GETS FIRST BIG SOUTH WIN OVER BRYANT!

Bhayshul Tuten ran for 114 yards on 27 carries as NC A&T got by Bryant 24-13 in the first Big South meeting between the two schools.

Tuten had two short rushing touchdowns in the first quarter. It was his fourth straight game with over 100 rushing yards.

Bryant pulled to within 14-13 in the third quarter, but the Aggies added a late third quarter 37-yard field goal by Andrew Brown and an acrobatic 25-yard scoring pass from QB Jalen Fowler (11-17-1, 110 yds.)to WR Sterling Berkholter (5 rec., 63 yds.) early in the final quarter to pull away.   

HBCU Roundup: Down-to-the-Wire Winner!

•  DAVIS LEADS VIRGINIA STATE OVER SHAW IN NAIL-BITER!

Virginia State scored on a 4-yard run by QB Jordan Davis with :07 seconds left to pull out a 28-24 win over Shaw. The win moved VSU to 4-1 (3-0 CIAA N) under new head coach Dr. Henry Frazier III.

The game-winning drive covered 90 yards in ten plays and took three minutes.

Davis passed for 257 yards (16-31-1) and two TDs and had two rushing TDs to have a hand in all four VSU scores. Shaw QB Christian Peters scored on a 27-yard second quarter run and connected with Jonathan Barnes on a 39-yard scoring pass just before halftime to give the Bears (2-3, 2-1 S) a 17-14 lead at the break.

After VSU’s Upton Bailey returned Shaw’s second half kickoff 42 yards to the Bears’ 39, Davis hit Tylique Ray from there to put VSU up 21-14. Peters then drove Shaw 73 yards in nine plays to retake the lead at 24-21 on his 7-yard scoring pass to Elliot Dangerfield Jr. 

Another Down-to-the-Wire Winner!

• TUSKEGEE NEEDS TWO OTs TO TAKE OUT CLARK ATLANTA!

Head coach Willie Slater at Clark Atlanta and Reginald Ruffin at Tuskegee used to do battle for SIAC West supremacy when Slater was at Tuskegee and Ruffin was at Miles. They battled to a two-overtime decision at their new assignments Saturday.

Ruffin’s Tuskegee squad prevailed 45-43 as his team scored a TD in the second overtime and added a two-point conversion after CAU scored but missed its extra point attempt. 

TU QB Malik Davis had 216 passing yards and two TDs while Tiger running backs Taurean Taylor (26 carries, 218 yards, 1 TD) and Donte Edwards (19 car., 118 yds., 1 TD) led the rushing attack.

CAU QB Shariif Brown did all he could to keep the Panthers in it as he was 12 of 22 passing for 180 yards and two scores and ran for 70 yards and four TDs.

Tuskegee went into halftime with a 13-9 lead after placekicker Arnes Huskic connected on a 25-yard field goal :25 seconds before the break. 

Slater’s Panthers (1-4, 1-3 SIAC E) built a 30-20 second-half lead as Brown scored on 4- and1-yard runs and hit Darren Stephens with a 6-yard scoring pass. 

Edward answered and cut the lead to 30-27 on a 6-yard scoring run with 7:39 left. Huskic sent the game into overtime tied at 30 as he connected on a 24-yard field goal with :08 seconds left. 

Both teams added a TD and kicked a PAT in the first overtime. TU scored on a 23-yard pass from QB Malik Davis to Jordan Ogletree. CAU answered on an 18-yard scoring run from Brown. 

HBCU Roundup: Blowout winners!

• LANGSTON STAYS UNBEATEN IN WIN OVER LYON!

QB Larry Harrington threw for 263 yards and four  TDs, two to wide out Kevin Allen, as Langston moved to 5-0 (4-0 in the SAC) with a 43-3 win over Lyon.

Allen’s TD receptions were for 30 and 43 yards. Harrington also connected on 5- and 72-yard scores.

• BOWIE STATE GETS BIG HOMECOMING WIN OVER LIVINGSTONE! 

BOWIE, Md. — Graduate senior and Morgan State transfer QB Dion “DJ” Golatt, Jr. set a new program record for most passing yards as he completed 32 of 40 passes for 439 yards and four TDs and Bowie State (3-2, 2-1 CIAA N) finished with 666 total yards as it handled Livingstone 53-7 for its annual homecoming game Saturday.

Golatt, Jr. passed former Bowie State standout Amir Hall who previously held the record for most yards in a game at 433 yards. He connected with four different pass catchers for the scores led by ten receptions for 120 yards and a score from wideout Kwincy Hall. 

Defensively, BSU had four sacks, two by Uvel Paul Jr. and 1.5 by Joshua Pryor, and three interceptions, two by DB Raymond Boone. Livingstone (1-4, 0-3 S) was held to 108 total yards. 

•  SOUTHERN WALLOPS ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF!

Quarterback Besean McCray threw for 241 yards and TDs (14-18-1) to four different receivers and RB Kendric Rhymes ran for 80 yards and two TDs in a big 59-3 Southern (2-2, 1-1 SWAC W) win over Arlansas-Pine Bluff (2-3, 0-2 W). 

Southern amassed 550 total yards while holding UAPB to 190 total yards. The Jags picked off four passes and had ten tackles for losses including 2.5 by Jason Dumas that included 1.5 sacks.  

• GRANT QUARTERBACKS VIRGINIA UNION PAST ST. AUGUSTINE’S!

Grad QB Jahkari Grant (14-21-1) threw for 247 yards and four TDs and RB Jada Byers ran for 114 yards and two scores at Virginia Union (5-0, 3-0 CIAA N) stayed undefeated with a 69-0 win over winless Saint Augustine’s (0-5, 0-3 S).

WR James Jackson (3 rec., 71 yds.) had scoring receptions of 43 and 18 yards and John Jiles (37 yards) and Larry Hackey (13 yards) also had TD catches. Byers scored on runs of 6 and 54 yards.

The VUU defense had 13.5 tackles for losses including four sacks and also picked off two passes. Redshirt junior defensive end Armoni Burden had two sacks and an interception.  

Other Big Winners

• ALBANY STATE PREVAILS IN SIAC TITLE GAME REMATCH!

Albany State (4-1, 2-0SIAC) held Miles to a second quarter field goal in coming away with a 20-3 win, The game was a rematch of the 2021 SIAC championship game. 

The Golden Rams defense scored first on a 40-yard interception return from Jaree Turner late in the first quarter. They then scored after a 64-yard, 12-play drive on a 2-yard Marcuis Fulks run in the second quarter for a 14-3 halftime lead.

ASU posted four sacks and 11 tackles for loss while limiting Miles to 153 yards of total offense.

QB Dionte Bonneau hit Joe’Vontae Shorter on a 62-yard third-quarter scoring pass to put the final points on the board.

• PRAIRIE VIEW HOLDS OFF GRAMBLING, WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT IN SERIES!

Prairie View A&M defeated Grambling State 34-14 for its fifth straight win over the G-Men. It was the first for new head coach Bubba McDowell. 

The Panthers (3-2, 3-0 SWAC W) jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead before Grambling cut the lead to 27-14 with two late third-quarter TDs. GSU would get no closer as PV added a fourth-quarter fumble recovery by Jaylen Lane for a TD for the final margin.

The post HBCU Roundup: Week Five highlights appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Ike Brown put up 74 receiving yards to lead Lane’s aerial attack. The Dragons put an emphasis on valuing the ball, as they did not commit any turnovers all game. On top of that, Lane’s secondary was locked in; they held Tennessee State to just 5.9 yards per pass attempt.

No one can fault the effort of Tennessee State’s Jalen Rouse in the loss. He rushed for 109 yards and one touchdown. As a whole, the team racked up 426 total yards on Lane’s defense. But their eight penalties on the afternoon certainly hindered their progress. therefore working in Lane’s favor.

Lane improves their record to 3-2 with the win. They will get their next test when they welcome Kentucky State to Rothrock Stadium on Oct. 8. For the Tigers, it was another weekend of disappointment. They have now lost four games in a row. They’ll get a chance to turn things around in their next game against Bethune-Cookman. That game is also on Oct. 8.

The post Lane Gets The Last Laugh, Outlasting Tennessee State In OT appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Without going too long, HBCU Gameday is introducing its inaugural staff polls for FCS and Division II/NAIA HBCU Football. Our polls will come out weekly throughout the season as we watch and vote.

Points were assigned for each vote, with a first-place vote being worth ten points and a 10th place vote being worth one point. Points were tabulated to compile the top 10. 

The FCS poll results can be found here.

Without further ado, here is the inaugural HBCU Gameday Preseason D2 HBCU Football poll as voted on by our staff. 

HBCU Gameday Staff D2 Poll

10. Lane College
Lane showed its teeth early in the 2021 season but the Dragons soon ran out of fuel. Can it maintain it and make its move this year?

9. Kentucky State
Kentucky State had some moments in 2021, but it will be heading into 2022 with a new head coach.

8. Benedict College
Benedict made some strides under Chennis Berry last year, so some expect them to be the top challenger to Albany State in the SIAC East. 

7. Tuskegee
The Reginald Ruffin Show is here for a good time, but not a long time. Will it be enough to get the Golden Tigers back in the hunt? 

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6. Savannah State
Savannah State is starting over with a new head coach and has seen an exodus of many of its key players. 

5. Miles College
Reginald Ruffin has left the building, and headed down the street. Can Miles still keep the West on lock?

T-4. Shaw
Shaw has been the bridesmaid to the bridesmaid in the CIAA South. Can it ruin the Broncos planned coronation?

T-4. Va. Union
Virginia Union has been waiting in the wings of the CIAA North for nearly a decade. If not now – when? 

3. Albany State (one first-place votes)
After rising to the top of the SIAC, Albany State now has the task of staying on top of the conference. 

2. Bowie State (Two first-place votes)
Bowie State has undergone massive change since last season. From its head coach to its defensive coordinator to many of its top players. All eyes are now on Prince George’s County. 

1. Fayetteville State (Two first-place votes)
Fayetteville State has been the bridesmaid in the CIAA for the last half-decade. Is this the year it finally breaks through and claims the big prize?  At least two of our voters think so. 

Receiving votes: Virginia State, Langston and Morehouse

The post HBCU Gameday staff debuts 2022 D2/NAIA football poll appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The Lincoln men’s team, with a win the 4×400 meter relay, scored 30 points to tie for sixth. Lincoln (Mo.) earned 28 all-American honors overall from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Beckford won the national championship in the 800 with a time of 2:095.88. She also teamed with Chrissani May, Maria Diamond and Shevanae Thomas to finish as the national runner-up in the 4×400 meter relay with a time of 3:36.73. 

May, meanwhile, posted a time of 2:09.32 to finish fourth in the 800.

Lincoln (Mo.) men take gold

The Lincoln men’s 4×400 meter relay team of Kewani Campbell, Reuben Nichols, Shanthamoi Brown and Troy Whyte won the national title with a time of 3:05.88. Kizan David, meanwhile, was the men’s national runner-up in the long jump with a leap of 7.89m.

LU women also took fifth in the 4×100 meter relay, with the foursome of Shantae George, Shevanae Thomas, Monae Carey and Hughasia Fyffe clocking in at 45.58. Shanette Allison was the national runner-up in the 100 meter hurdles, clocking in at 13.68, while Sophia Myers placed 10th in 34.55.

In the 400 meter hurdles, Diamond turned in a time of 58.27 to take third place. 

In the men’s 4×100 meter relay, the team of Shemar Fletcher, Jamar Treasure, Imar Tomlinson and Reuben Nichols took eighth after clocking in at 40.63. Rashane Bartlett timed in at 14.09 to take fifth in the 110 meter hurdles.

Lincoln (Mo.) all-Americans

The Blue Tigers also had a pair of All-American finishes in the 400 meter hurdles. Whyte placed third overall, clocking in at 50.28. Campbell checked in at eighth, timing in at 51.77. Nichols, who came in with the best 400 meters time, finished ninth and did not generate points in the event with a time of 47.69. 

Other HBCU finishes

For the men, Lane was the only other HBCU to score. The Dragons got 13 points from sprinter Ojoshua Bunton to finish in a tie for 19th with Davenport. Bunton, the SIAC 100 meter champ, was second in the 100 meters (10.45 sec.) for eight points and third in the 200 meters (20.52) for five points. 

Fayetteville State scored 11 points to finish 25th in the women’s competition while Albany State had six points to finish tied for 34th. FSU’s Mya Johnson finished sixth in the 400 hurdles (59.15) to score three points while teammate M’Smyra Seward was second in the long jump (6.22 meters) for eight points. 

Albany State got six points by virtue of Sydney Blackburn’s third-place finish in the discus (49.09 meters). 

The post Lincoln (Mo.) women fifth, men sixth at D2 track championship appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“We’ve put together a challenging home schedule to start the season,” Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway said. “These first couple of months will certainly help prepare our team for conference play, and we are excited to play in front of Tiger Nation at FedExForum.”

The season tips off against LeMoyne-Owen on Oct. 24. The private HBCU is located in Memphis and the two teams have met frequently during the Penny Hardaway era. Hardaway’s first game as a head coach was a 120-66 win over LOC. 

Memphis will play its second exhibition at the end of the month against another SIAC school from Tennessee – Lane College. 

Those games will put some money in those HBCUs pockets, but they won’t count as both are Division II institutions. But Memphis’ Nov. 13 matchup will count as it takes on North Carolina Central University of the MEAC.

Memphis will close out its non-conference schedule against a team from the SWAC. Alabama State will travel to Memphis on Dec. 21. 

HBCUs have been opponents fairly often in Hardaway’s first three seasons. Memphis hosted Tennessee State and Florida A&M during the 2018-19 season as well as LOC. Four HBCUs, including LOC, came to Memphis the following season. Last year, Memphis hosted Mississippi Valley State. All eight games against HBCUs have been blowouts so far, but that’s why you play the game. 

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Thompson had 21 points and seven steals, along with 15 points from Alex Harris for the 16 point win. The top three scorers for Clark Atlanta (6-12) struggled from the floor shooting a combined 6-36 in the opening game of the tournament. Reyana Miller was the lone Lady Panther in double figures with ten points. She also notched 10 turnovers, the team had 27 turnovers against just four assists.

Lane advances as the no. 5 seed out of the west to take on no. 1 seed Miles on Wednesday afternoon. Lane College made history last season with its first championship in program history.

The post Lane College opens defense of SIAC title with victory over CAU appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

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Lane held its own against the top seed in the first half. The Lady Dragons could not get on the board for the first two minutes, but ended the first quarter narrowly trailing 22-18. An 11-3 run from FSC in the final five minutes of the second quarter widened the trail to send Lane into halftime down 41-30. After the half, the show belonged to Florida Southern. Lane fell cold again in the first three minutes of the third quarter. FSC took advantage and pushed its lead to double digits, going up 63-44 at the end of the third. Florida Southern doubled Lane’s points 26 to 13 in the fourth quarter to walk into its dominant 89-57 victory.

Lane finished with three players in double figures. Alexis Harris led in scoring with 14 points, followed by 13 points from Antrice McCoy. The Lady Dragons’ season ends at 13-18 overall and with the SIAC women’s tournament crown.

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The D2 tourney bracket was released on Sunday night. Three HBCU women’s teams make up the 64 qualifying schools fighting for a chance to go to the big dance in Columbus, Ohio on March 29.

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Repeating rivals

Representing the CIAA, both Virginia Union and Bowie State qualified for the playoffs for the second straight year.

VUU won the conference championship and finished first in the Atlantic region with a 26-2 overall D2 record, but are not the number one seed. The Lady Panthers received the second seed instead and will face seventh seed Edinboro (20-8) in the opening round. Union hosted and defeated Edinboro in early November, 79-58. This is Union’s fourth-consecutive tournament appearance, it’s longest streak in program history.

Bowie State finished 22-5 overall and is the sixth seed in the region. This is the second consecutive tournament appearance for BSU. The Lady Bulldogs will have a rematch in the opening round against third seed Indiana University (PA). BSU fell to IUP in the third round of the regional playoffs last March, 75-60.

The Atlantic region opening round games will take place Friday, March 15 at host Glenville (West Virginia).

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Party of one

Lane College won the SIAC Championship and automatically qualified for the tournament. The Lady Dragons will be the lone conference representatives.

Lane is undoubtedly the Cinderella story of the tournament. LC finished it’s season 13-17 and received the eighth seed in the Southern region. This is the first D2 playoff appearance for the Lady Dragons. They will face top seed Florida Southern in the opening round. This will be the first meeting of the two teams in program history.

The opening round of the Southern region kicks off on Friday, March 15 at host Florida southern.

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Senior guard Antrice McCoy all but sealed the deal on a miracle shot that you had to see to believe. With under a minute to go, she somehow got a corkscrew, reverse heave to go into the basket as she was fouled. The three-point conversion gave Lane a six-point lead and proved to be the knockout punch against Kentucky State.

 “I heard my teammates yelling ‘shot clock’ so I’m hesitating, I did a move and went by her and she fouled me and I just threw it up,” McCoy said. “I looked up and it was in the goal. That was it. It was a big play and that’s what got us that lead.”

The aggressiveness of normally laid back guard Addie McNeely was a huge factor as well. She finished with a game-high 14 points en route to being named to the all-tournament team.

“I knew that we were going to get here eventually,” McNeely said. “We’ve been working real hard these past three games up till now. We deserved it.

The tournament MVP was the Dragons’ 6’2″ center Porche’ Hannah. She had taken a break from basketball but it didn’t show on the court. Her ability to disrupt the opponent’s offense with her shot-blocking allowed Lane to hang in during games while its offense struggled at times.

“I’m speechless,” Hannah said. “I didn’t play last year and this year, I just came out and killed it. We were humble and we were hungry.”

Head Coach Kimberly Anderson took the leap of faith that this year’s team would win a championship. During a trip to Hawaii before the season she and her husband picked up a set of wristbands to serve as a reminder that this would their year.

“From the beginning, I knew I had something special,” Anderson said. “But I also knew it was going to be a challenge. 

The futility is over. The Lane College women will forever be remembered as champions.

The post Lane College makes history with SIAC win appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The Benedict women went unbeaten for the entirety of SIAC conference play only to go winless in the tournament.

The Lady Dragons won in convincing fashion 74-61, controlling the game from the very beginning. Lane was led by Antrice McCoy who chipped in 21 points and the Lady Dragons enjoyed a lead as high as 16 points in the final ten minutes of play.  They advance to the semifinals, which could be a first in the program’s history. Lane awaits the winner of LeMoyne-Owen and Central State who face off against one another on Thursday.

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Just the beginning

Upset fever was contagious because in the very next game the Paine men knocked off no. 1 seed Morehouse in quarterfinal play.

The Lions took control of the game early leading 30-22 at halftime. Morehouse exerted itself to start the second half with a fiery 13-0 run, but Paine didn’t lose its composure. The Lions outscored Morehouse 23-14 to close out the game and get a huge win for its program.

Paine held Morehouse to 28 percent shooting from the floor and eight percent shooting from the three-point line. Cameron Gaines led all scorers with 15 points. The Lions advance to the semifinals and will face the winner of Clark Atlanta and LeMoyne-Owen after their Thursday matchup.

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Go. Hard. In. The. Paint. @CAU_MBasketball leads @LaneAthletics in the first half pic.twitter.com/VPN7YOHuYI

— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) January 5, 2018

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Balanced scoring

The Panthers had two starters in double figures, along with three players off the bench to hit for double digits.  Leading the way was Austin Donaldson with 17 points and a 3-5 effort from behind the line.

Lane was led by Tevyn Roberts who made a living at the free throw line (8-8) en route to 16 points on the evening.  The game was reasonably close at the half with CAU up by just 10 points at 35-25 but they outscored Lane 46-29 in the second half.  The Dragons had 24 turnovers to just six assists in the game.

Look at the flick of the wrist! 22 point lead with nine minutes to go. @caupanthers ?? pic.twitter.com/oWvVHSnja6

— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) January 5, 2018

Both teams will remain in the AUC on Saturday.  Clark Atlanta will host LeMoyne-Owen while Lane will make the short walk up the street to Morehouse.

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SIAC

Tuskegee over Clark Atlanta
Morehouse over Central State
Kentucky State over Kentucky Wesleyan
Miles over Fort Valley State
Benedict over Lane
Albany State over North Greenville

SWAC 

Alcorn State over McNeese State
Nicholls State over Prairie View
Grambling over Jackson State
South Alabama over Alabama A&M
UTSA over Southern
Arkansas State over UAPB
Kennesaw State over Alabama State

CIAA

Alderson Broaddus over Lincoln
Bowie State over St. Aug
Shaw over Malone
South Carolina State over Johnson C. Smith
Fayetteville State over Elizabeth City State
West Florida over Chowan
Hampton over Livingstone
Winston-Salem State over Virginia Union

MEAC

Howard over Richmond
Rutgers over Morgan State
James Madison over Norfolk State
Montana over Norfolk State
North Carolina A&T over Charlotte
Bethune-Cookman over Florida Atlantic
Tennessee State over FAMU

The post SJG’s HBCU Football Picks: Week Three appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Jackson, Tenn. (August 23, 2017) -It was announced Monday that Whitney Richardson, former Lane College defensive end, signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Richardson, the 2016 NCAA Division II Defensive Player of the Year and HBCU Gameday All-American, recorded 17.5 sacks and 32.5 tackles for loss during the 2016 season.

Dorsett Davis, Lane College defensive line coach said he’s extremely proud of Richardson, especially considering the uncertainty about what position Richardson wanted to play initially.

“I remember when he was in between positions coming out of high school,” Davis said. “He really didn’t know what [position] he wanted to play.

“For him to take pride and be dedicated to a position and excel in it, that says a lot and I’m proud of him for sticking with it.”

Richardson’s best performance as a Dragon in 2016 came on October 8 against Benedict College during Lane College’s homecoming game, when he recorded 15 tackles (14 solo), five for total loss and three sacks in a 19-18 win over the Tigers at Lane Field.

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