Ft. Valley's Wildcats take the early lead
This was supposed to be another title
year for the Albany State Rams. But after
five weeks, Fort Valley State holds
down the, No 1 position in the SIACT
with Alabama A & M lodged in second^
SacejntheJcague standings.
But there arc other happenings in the
conference that could have an impact on
how things will wind up before the dust
settles. 1
The league officc determined that
Knoxvilie College had to forfeit three
rgames because they used an ineligible
player in their first three games. They lost
two of those games, so Morehouse, who
lost to KC, 39-7, was awarded a victory.
As of Oct. 1, the league was no longer
'divided into an East and a Westregioir
But now, let's go back to the Wild
cats.
Going into October, coach Doug
Porter's team was ranked ninth in the
Divsiion II national poll.
The Wildcats have been successful
due to a solid blend of offense and
defense. Valley has one of the SIAC's top
offenses (317.3 total yards per game).
Ditto for the defense -- especially
against the run. The Wildcats have
allowed just under 36 team rushing yards
per outing (1.2 yards per attempt). The
pass defense has improved as evidenced
by the play of Mario Black, Lorenzo Car
swell and Jackie Cannon. That threesome
has collectively picked off 10 passes.
- Black is the SIAC's top interceptor with
four.
Valley, 4-0, has dispatched More
house, Chcyncy State, Morris Brown, and
C1 ark/A 11 an ta Uni vcrsi ty.
Curtis Bell leads the ground game
for FVSC and he also leads the league in
that department -- 661 yards and seven
scores. Quarterback Larry Baker compli
ments Bell. In four games, Baker has
accounted for seven TDs (five running,
two passing).
Facing a very tough schedule early
put Alabama A & M in an 0-3 hole. But
the Bulldogs rebounded to win their two
conference games and arc now primed to
Photo by Ron Slaughter
Bulldogs quarterback Tracy Kendall Is ranked No. 2 in total offense in the
conference. Me has guided A&M to a 2-0 SIAC mark after the Dogs
dropped their first three games to non-conference foes.
make their bid for the league crown. offense. Kendall has accounted for belter
The Dogs more than held their own than half of the Bulldogs' 1,401 total
in non-conference losses to Northern offensive yards. He's thrown for 710
Alabama, Jacksonville State (Ala.) and yards and four TDs. Barry Wagner is his
G rambling. They responded in SIAC play prime receiving target (25 catches for 413
by whipping Albany State, 16-2, then yards and two TDs).
whitewashing Morehouse, 25-0. But while Valley and A & M arc the
Quarterback Tracy Kendall has likely folk to battle it out for the title, it's
become the take charge guy for A & Ms hard not to talk about Savannah State, a
squad that could very well be the best in
the league.
The Tigers were placed on probation
by the league because of infractions in
-wQynenVtennis-and men's track and field.
As a result, they are ineligible to tumped
?for-the^feotball title. __
Nevertheless, the Tigers have rolled
to a 3-0 rccord. They didn't play one
game because it was cancelled (the Vir
ginia Union contest was callcd off
bccausc of Hurricane Hugo). .
The Tigers have ii all. Quarterback
Richard Basil is the lop passer in the con
ference (831 yards, 11 TDs) and Shannon
Sharpc is a top-of-thc-Iine receiver (18
catches, 456 yards, seven touchdowns).
To top it all off, Tony Simmons has
added punch to the running game. Sim
mons hasn't been featured a lot in the
Tigers' scheme so far. But when callcd
upon, he has responded (228 yards on 28
carries for three TDs, and a sizeable 8.1
yards per carry average).
Defensively, the Tigers have put the
big bite on everybody, They have
allowed just 160 total yards per game.
Mike Wallace, Donald Dupont and DcCar
Brown have a combined seven intercep
tions.
Albany State can't seem to get on
the right track. The Rams have stumbled
and staggered.
Their only win came against Miles
College (26-13). Then they dropped deci
sions to Jvlorth Alabama (17-3), Alabama
A & M, and Tuskegcc (12-7).
Tuskegee University hopes to make
more progress as the sesaon wears on.
Maurice Heard leads the offense. He has
tossed five TD passes and Chris Holder
has 15 catches for 330 yards and two
TDs. Cleveland Gipson ranks among the
league's top hitmen with 40 stops.
Other top performers around the
league include: Morris Brown wide-out
Russell Cambridge (28 catches, 376
yards, three TDs) and Morehouse's Jim
mic Davis (700 passing yards and seven
TDs).
?Richard Nealy
Morgan is the big surprise in MEAC football
Continued From Page 12
*
The play of Howard's defense enabled the Bison to ^ receiver Stevie Thomas at quarterback. The move paid
hand Grambling their first shut-out defeat since P976. noff when Thomas scored the winning TD on an 18-yard
Against South Carolina State, the Buffalo Soldiers run.
held off a determined Bulldogs' offense to claim the win. Turnovers proved to be costly for the Bison. They lost
Gary Mossop's 30-yard field goal at the end of the third five fumbles and threw three interceptions.
quarter settled the matter. Linebacker Charles Gibbs led Florida A & M has had its share of problems in the
the defense with 10 tackles. early going. They bombed Tuskegee, 41-9 and defeated
The rest of the teams in the league were playing no Tennessee State, 21-9 in the Ebony Classic played in
better than .500 as the second half of the season began. Atlanta. But they were humbled by Alabama State (23-8)
Bethune-Cookman beat Central Florida (23-15) and at home and were outclassed by Georgia Southern, 28-0.
Howard (10-3), while losing to Morgan and Jackson Delaware State has also had its ups and downs. They
State. hacT few problems in handling Cheyney State (41-0).
AgainstTTdwafd, the Wildcats played all-MRAC wide Thev were very proficient in their 11-3 road win over
Northeastern. Matt Stehman kicked two field goals in
that game, his second one being a 22-yarder that won the
game for the Hornets.
North Carolina A & T continues to go through
growing pains. The Aggies beat up on North Carolina
Central and the University of DC. But they were dumped
by Winston-Salem State and Morgan State. Norfolk
State beat them on a last second touchdown.
South Carolina State has experienced a lot of incon
sistency so far this season. They had won one of four
games, the lone victory coming against Presbyterian (32
27).
- Steve Zimmerman
SSBaBSSaS5SS5SSESSSSS?October 1989_^Page 13