Sam Young Pro Skills Academy almost filled
Robert Stephens II, Featured Writer
Howard receives no respect.
September 18, 2012 - I have always had my suspects in regards to college football polls and this week my faith has been renewed.
This weeks victim is the Howard football team that
traveled to Norfolk St. to face the defending MEAC
champion Spartans. On their home turf, ranked 22nd
in the nation in FCS football according to the NCAA
web sites prior to their conference match up, clearly NSU was a force
to be reckoned with.
Final score? Howard 37 NorfolkSt.36 in an overtime thriller.
After Howard's victory, where does the NCAA
rank the Bison ? Let’s see according to the NCAA
this week, BethuneCookman, Norfolk St., Tennessee St.,
Alabama A&M, and Florida A&M - HBCUs all - are ranked ahead of
the Bison. In that order.
As the coach of Oklahoma St. said two weeks
ago, “We can only play the schedule that’s set in
front of us". One thing for sure it’s up to the Bison
too prove that the win was not a fluke. Obviously the
NCAA does.
Speaking of the Bison and their win over the Spartans.
Malick Harris, two-way star at Churchill HS (MD) ran for 155 yards last week. (Ryan Wise)
“We came into this game knowing that it was going to be like a heavyweight championship fight,” said Howard head coach Gary Harrell at his post game press conference. “To come out with a win in a game against the defending camps and pre-season favorite does a lot for this program.”
Julien David’s blocked attempt of an extra point
in overtime was the game winner in the Bison’s
conference opener.
Howard led 30-7 in the third quarter but NSU stormed back to tie the game in overtime. Bison quarterback Greg McGhee scored what proved to be the winning touchdown in overtime setting up David’s heroics.
Howard has a week off and they’ll hosts
Savannah St. in their home opener on September 29th.
Maryland head coach Randy Edsall left Connecticut after the 2010 season to take over the Maryland program, and the Huskies responded with a 24-21win over their former coach.
The Terps fought from behind the entire game closing the gap to 24-21 with 4:39 remaining. Maryland had a chance late in the game to tie or defeat the Huskies but fell short in their attempt with 39 seconds remaining.
The Terrapins travel to West Virginia Saturday.
Yale defeated Georgetown in Northwest, 24-21 for the sixth
consecutive time.
Bowie State defeated Fairmont State 24-17 in a non-conference game. The Bulldogs host Winston-Salem St. in a big CIAA conference game Saturday at 1pm.
In $$$ football Stanford beat USC 21-14 at home, derailing the Trojan's shot at a national championship in the eyes of this reporter. We’ll see but a lot of things have to happen for the Trojans get back in the national hunt and with no playoff it’s dicey to say the least. We’ll look at that scenario later.
One thing about the PAC-12. USC cannot beat
Stanford. Stanford can’t beat Oregon and Oregon
can’t beat USC. Trust me! So where does this leave
upstart UCLA? I think the Bruins are one more
recruiting class from breaking into the top three of
of the conference.
In some other college games of interest; Alabama blasted Arkansas 52-0. Perhaps the Crimson Tide should petitioin tto join the NFL. Just kidding!
Penn St. won their first game of the year beating Navy 34-7.
Pittsburgh defeated Va. Tech after losing to
Youngstown St. and Cincinnati 35-17. Tech never disappoints losing questionable
games when they
are heavily favored.
Florida St. blanked Wake Forest 52-0.
The Seminoles hosts Clemson Saturday night!
In our weekly look at the pay for play contest
last week featured:
Arizona blanked South Carolina St. 56-0
Akron blasted Morgan St. 66-6
South Carolina over UAB 49-8
LSU beat Idaho 63-14
Oregon beat Tennessee St. 63-14.
In high school football this past weekend, I attended the Good Counsel-HD Woodson match up between the WCAC and the DCIAA. The nationally ranked Falcons defeated the Warriors 49-0 at Olney. After the game I had the opportunity to talk with both coaches.
“I told my players to keep their head up and keep plugging away.” said head coach Greg Fuller of HD Woodson. “Coach Milloy is a class act and he has a solid program with several division one players.”
After their victory Good Counsel's head coach, Bob Milloy, addressed his players: "We are where we want to be and league play starts (at Gonzaga) this Saturday.
“We have now won three in a row and we have
a couple of injuries going into league play.” said Milloy.
“The conference games are going to be tough with a lot enthusiasm
we are going to have our hands
full.”
In other prep action from the weekend.
In Virginia Osbourn surprised Hylton
23-13.
Other games: Ballou edged Coolidge
20-17. Dunbar beat Jefferson (W.Va.) 35-7.
Forestville blanked T.Roosevelt 30-0. Friendship
Collegiate bested Valley Forge Military 6-0.
Anacostia edged Wilson 22-20. Wise blanked
E. Roosevelt 39-0. Quince Ocrhard blasted Paint Branch 34-0. Churchill
blanked BCC 23-0 - the Bulldogs hosts Seneca Valley Friday.
Seneca defeated Northwood 42-16. Crossland beat
McKinley 20-14. Potomac defeated Friendly 20-8.
C.H.Flowers beat Bladensburg 27-6. Gwynn Park
defeated Douglass 39-16. Kipp beat Maya Angelou
12-6. Mercersburg Academy took out Spingarn
36-0. and Sherwood defeated Gaithersburg 31-14.