http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/11329 Recent articles about JaCorey Kilcrease en-us SSU needs good running game to beat Bethune-Cookman By Noell Barnidge Created 2007-09-11 23:30 During halftime of Savannah State's game against Johnson C. Smith last Saturday, SSU coach Theo Lemon reminded his Tigers that the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats were coming to Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m. this Saturday. "Coach (Lemon) stressed that we make sure we get a win so we can have more confidence going into the Bethune game," SSU quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease said. The Tigers listened and produced a 24-10 victory over the NCAA Division II Golden Bulls. SSU rushed for 328 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries, the most yards rushing since the Tigers ran for 330 yards at Division II Fort Valley State in 1999. SSU (1-1) hopes it can be as productive running the ball against Bethune-Cookman (1-1), but playing the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Wildcats should be more challenging than playing a Division II team. Bethune-Cookman beat SSU 55-6 last season. The Wildcats are 29-8 in the series, and have not lost to SSU since 1992, when the late Bill Davis coached the Tigers to a 31-21 victory. But Bethune-Cookman (1-1) is beatable. Last Saturday, the Wildcats lost 23-14 to South Carolina State in Daytona Beach, Fla. Last season, the Wildcats finished 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. If SSU has any shot at beating Bethune-Cookman, the Tigers must produce a running game like they did against JCSU. SSU can not afford to run the ball like it did in the season opener at Morgan State, when the Tigers gained 29 yards on 32 carries in a 47-7 loss. As SSU's running game blossoms so, too, will the passing game. "Our running game opens the passing game," Lemon said. "I think our offensive staff did a good job preparing our players (for JCSU). JaCorey was on target. He did really well." Kilcrease was 7-for-11 passing for 47 yards against the Golden Bulls. He did not throw a touchdown, but he did not make any turnovers and he was not sacked. "We were pretty effective when we did pass," Kilcrease said. "We were just nickel-and-diming, not trying to go for the home run all the time. Just take what they give you." Defensive standouts Overshadowed by SSU's dominant running game against JCSU was the stellar play of the Tigers' defense. SSU sacked JCSU quarterback Carlton Richardson three times and intercepted him twice. SSU strong safety Antwan Allen registered a sack and picked off a pass. Allen fumbled after the interception, but only after returning the ball 65 yards to the Golden Bulls' 15-yard line. SSU free safety Javorris Jackson made seven tackles. He also intercepted a pass for the second consecutive game. Weak-side linebacker Chris Herans made a game-high 10 tackles and recovered a fumble. Middle linebacker Calvin Leonard forced a fumble and made six tackles, including a sack. Defensive end Dominique Clark registered a sack, and cornerback Marcus Darrisaw made seven tackles. This and that SSU must reduce its penalties. The Tigers were penalized 10 times for 115 yards against Morgan State, and they were flagged 10 times for 96 yards against JCSU. ...SSU did not have any red-zone scoring chances against MSU, but the Tigers were 3-for-3 against JCSU. ...SSU is 6-50 since leaving Division II in 2002, and 1-40 against its Football Championship Subdivision peers. In 2004, the Tigers defeated Norfolk State, 41-34, in double overtime in Norfolk, Va. Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:52:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/27106 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/27106 Kilcrease to lead Tigers' offense By Noell Barnidge Created 2007-08-25 23:30 JaCorey Kilcrease likely will be named Savannah State's starting quarterback when coach Theo Lemon announces his decision after practice Monday night. Kilcrease, a 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore from Macon, is SSU's only quarterback with collegiate experience. He played in three games last season and was 4-for-9 passing for 17 yards without a touchdown or interception. Kilcrease is listed as SSU's starting quarterback on the Tigers' depth chart, but Lemon said he would not officially name a starter until Monday night. Greg McCrary, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound freshman from Stone Mountain's Mount Zion High School, is listed on the depth chart as the backup quarterback. SSU's third-string quarterback is Brandon Webster, a 6-1, 184-pound freshman from McIntosh County Academy. Lemon said both Kilcrease and McCrary likely will play Thursday at 7 p.m. in SSU's season opener against Morgan State in Baltimore. "We feel like he's come a long way and we expect him to really do some good things for us," Lemon said of Kilcrease. During SSU's annual Orange and Blue scrimmage Aug. 18, Kilcrease led the first-string offense (the Orange) to a 7-0 victory when he connected with wide receiver Deleon Hollinger for a 29-yard touchdown with 3 minutes, 21 seconds to play. SSU is without its starting quarterback from each of the past two seasons, Garrett Williams, who transferred and is the starter at NCAA Division II Fort Valley State. Williams, a 6-3, 200-pound junior, played in 11 games last season. He was 111-for-255 passing for 1,264 yards, eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions. As a freshman, Williams was 181-for-332 passing for 2,203 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He set SSU single-season records for passing attempts and completions. SSU's backup to Williams last season was Javares Taylor, a Jenkins High School graduate who would have been a junior this season. Taylor competed with Kilcrease for the starting job during spring practice, but Taylor was suspended by Lemon in March for violating team rules. He has not been reinstated. Taylor played in eight games last season. He was 0-for-10 passing. He ran 23 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. "I'm, right now, the leading candidate so I have to have a high confidence level," Kilcrease said. "My teammates are depending on me to lead the team. Right now, I'm just working hard and getting in the playbook, trying to get a better understanding of what we're trying to do as a team and as an offense. "I didn't see much time last year, so during the spring I was really getting into it, getting used to playing and getting all of the jitters out. I feel I had a pretty good spring. I got a chance to learn more things." Challenging Kilcrease is McCrary, who did not play in the Orange and Blue scrimmage because he was awaiting approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse. He has since been cleared to participate. McCrary is considered the jewel of SSU's recruiting class. During a National Signing Day press conference Feb. 7, Lemon told members of the media that McCrary nearly signed with Boston College, which competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "I almost signed with Boston College," McCrary said. "I thought that was good for me, but Savannah State is the place for me. I like the coaching staff and the players, they're like brothers to me, and this is the place I want to be. This is where I'm staying." McCrary said he also was recruited by Florida A&M, Jacksonville (Ala.) State, Bowling Green and Air Force. His father, Gregory McCrary Sr., played six seasons (1975, 1977-81) in the NFL as a tight end with the Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. "I'm eager to play, but I just want to win," McCrary said. "The best quarterback out there gets the job. I'm going to be behind JaCorey, if he starts, 100 percent. It's not about just one player. It's about the team. "I'm trying to win and get this thing started up. I don't want just the freshmen to turn things around. I want to turn things around this year because that's not fair to the seniors to wait until our senior year. I want to turn things around now." Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26503 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26503 Offensive line clears way for SSU running game By Noell Barnidge Created 2007-09-08 23:30 "The Hoggies," Savannah State's starting offensive linemen, went hog wild on Saturday. Right tackle Derrick Dorsey, right guard Algernon Wright, center Kenny Andrew, left guard Justin Norton, left tackle Rashad Jackson and tight end Joshua Marshall pushed Johnson C. Smith's defensive line all over the field in SSU's 24-10 victory. Six players, led by freshman tailback Antwan Edwards, combined for 328 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 53 carries against the NCAA Division II school from Charlotte, N.C. It was SSU's most yards rushing since the Tigers ran for 330 yards at Fort Valley State in 1999. Edwards, who made his first start at tailback, ran for a game-high 103 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown, on 14 carries. The 5-foot-9 177-pound Miami native became the first SSU running back to run for over 100 yards since Chad Cone gained 169 yards against Morehouse last October. "Our offensive line worked hard this week and it showed in the game," Edwards said. "The Hoggies," whose largest player, Wright, is 6-foot-2, 432 pounds, redeemed themselves after a 47-7 season-opening loss at Morgan State in which SSU ran for only 29 yards without a touchdown on 32 carries. Saturday, SSU's offensive line created running lanes that resulted in touchdown drives of 77, 94 and 52 yards, and netted a field goal on a 30-yard drive. "The Hoggies" also did not allow a sack. "My hat goes off to our offensive line," SSU second-year coach Theo Lemon said. "Those guys did a great job of blocking and sustaining." SSU (1-1) primarily was a passing team under former coach Richard Basil. Lemon's offensive philosophy is based on the running game. It has taken time, including last season's 2-9 campaign, for SSU's running attack to develop. But Saturday, the running game that Lemon vowed "will come" made its much-anticipated debut. SSU's ball-carriers, most of them members of Lemon's first full recruiting class this season, bulled their way to the most yards rushing during the Lemon era. The previous high was 204 yards rushing in a 24-20 victory over Division II Morehouse last season. "We wanted to run the ball. That was the game plan: to control the clock," said Jackson, a 6-4, 317-pound senior from Jacksonville, Fla. "We probably only ran about seven plays. We tried more plays against Morgan State, but we realized what our limitations were. "Today, we had different backs for different situations. We have our power backs and we have our speedy backs. When they run for a lot of yards it's a good feeling. It makes us know we're making holes and they're capitalizing on what we make. "This is big for the school, the city and also for us." SSU quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease raved about "The Hoggies" and their ability to spring the Tigers' stable of running backs. "Our offensive line, those boys went out and executed," he said. "Without them we can't do anything." Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:51:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26501 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26501 A runaway win for Savannah State By Noell Barnidge Created 2007-09-08 23:30 Savannah State 24, Johnson C. Smith 10 When Savannah State football players glance in the mirror today, the face looking back at them will be smiling. SSU defeated Johnson C. Smith, 24-10, on Saturday, recovering from a 47-7 loss at Morgan State that prompted SSU coach Theo Lemon to tell his players, "If you want to blame someone, look in the mirror." SSU (1-1) beat JCSU (1-1) thanks to dominant performances by all three phases: offense, defense and special teams. The Joe Turner Classic crowd of 3,224 at Memorial Stadium did not mind being away from T.A. Wright Stadium, which is being renovated during SSU's first three home games. They were too busy celebrating a new-look football program that was rebuilt after finishing 0-11 in 2005. "To get a win against a team that beat you last year means you're heading in the right direction," said Lemon, whose Tigers were 2-9 last season, his first as coach. SSU's victory snapped a two-game losing streak dating back to last season. The Tigers beat NAIA school Edward Waters last November, but lost the following week at Cal Poly in the season finale. SSU owns a 4-1 series lead against JCSU, a Division II school that beat the Tigers, 27-6, last season in Charlotte, N.C. Visit to Memorial Stadium SSU had not played at Memorial Stadium since 1998, when the Tigers lost, 22-20, to Tuskegee. JCSU third-year coach Daryl McNeill was in his second and final season as SSU's coach in 1998, and he guided the Tigers to a 7-4 record - their last winning season. Saturday, McNeill watched SSU run all over his Golden Bulls. SSU rushed for 328 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries, the most yards rushing since the Tigers ran for 330 yards at Fort Valley State in 1999. SSU freshman Antwan Edwards ran for a game-high 103 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in his first collegiate start at tailback. The 5-foot-9 177-pound Miami native became the first SSU running back to run for over 100 yards since Chad Cone gained 169 yards against Morehouse last October. "Our offensive line stepped up and opened up holes," Edwards said. "There were some big holes." Six players carried the ball for SSU, which made 15 of its 18 first downs on the ground. SSU made twice as many first downs as it did against Morgan State. SSU freshman Justin Babb gained 57 yards on 12 carries. Freshman Reggie Williams ran six times for 49 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate start at fullback. Senior fullback Jamie Beard ran for 44 yards on 11 carries, and junior tailback Reginald May gained 39 yards on 11 carries. Beard and May started in the backfield against Morgan State, but combined for 26 yards on 14 carries without a touchdown, prompting Lemon to start Edwards and Williams against JCSU. "All of our running backs contributed," Lemon said. "All of them helped, and we got the job done. We've got a lot of unselfish players." Many contributors SSU quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease ran for 36 yards and a touchdown on six carries. The 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore from Macon exhibited poise in his second collegiate start. He was 7-for-11 passing for 47 yards without an interception. Kilcrease was not sacked and played the entire game, marching SSU on touchdown drives of 77, 94 and 52 yards. Kilcrease scored the game's first points when ran for a 20-yard touchdown. Sophomore Luis Justiniano kicked his first of three extra points to give SSU a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Justiniano's 41-yard field goal gave SSU a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. It was the Bluffton (S.C.) High School graduate's first collegiate field goal, and SSU's first since Nov. 5, 2005, at Coastal Carolina. The Tigers did not attempt a field goal last season. The field goal by Justiniano, a walk-on from Armstrong Atlantic State, also was SSU's longest since 2002. "It feels good to know that Coach Lemon trusts me enough to kick," he said. Justiniano attempted a 47-yard field goal with 2:18 left before halftime, but the ball was deflected and fell wide left. JCSU cut the score to 10-3 thanks to Herbert Collins' 36-yard field goal with 5 seconds left before halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, SSU staked a 17-3 fourth-quarter lead when Edwards ran untouched up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown. JCSU responded three plays later when quarterback Carlton Richardson connected with wide receiver Brett Lofton for a 29-yard touchdown, cutting the score to 17-10 with 8:11 to play. SSU's Isaiah Osborne returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to the Tigers' 48-yard line. Williams capped SSU's 11-play, 52-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. SSU strong safety Antwan Allen and free safety Javorris Jackson intercepted passes to end JCSU's final two drives. Johnson C. Smith 0 3 0 7 - 10 Savannah St. 7 3 0 14 - 24 First Quarter Sav-Kilcrease 20 run (Justiniano kick), 3:14. Second Quarter Sav-FG Justiniano 41, 12:43. JnSm-FG Collins 36, :05. Fourth Quarter Sav-A.Edwards 4 run (Justiniano kick), 9:25. JnSm-Lofton 29 pass from Richardson (Collins kick), 8:11. Sav-R.Williams 4 run (Justiniano kick), 2:56. A-3,224. JnSm Sav First Downs 16 18 Rushes-yards 38-128 53-328 Passing 183 47 Comp-Att-Int 15-28-2 7-11-0 Return Yards 29 145 Punts-Avg. 6-39.3 5-39.8 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-2 Penalties-Yards 8-62 10-96 Time of Possession 28:34 31:26 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Johnson C. Smith, Metcalf 17-54, Richardson 11-43, Allen 9-29, Battle 1-2. Savannah St., A.Edwards 14-103, Babb 12-57, R.Williams 6-49, Beard 4-44, May 11-39, Kilcrease 6-36. PASSING-Johnson C. Smith, Richardson 14-24-1-161, R.Carter [1] 1-4-1-22. Savannah St., Kilcrease 7-11-0-47. RECEIVING-Johnson C. Smith, Lofton 4-57, Benjamin 4-54, Franklin 4-30, Moore 1-22, Metcalf 1-17, Hodge 1-3. Savannah St., Hollinger 4-42, Kirkland 2-9, Osbourne 1-(minus 4). Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:31:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26499 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26499 Simpson runs for 3 TDs as Bears tame Savannah State 47-7 MSU Sports Information Senior RB Chad Simspon ignites the season with 3 TDs and 142 yards against Savannah State on Thursday night. BALTIMORE, Md. – Chad Simpson has returned for the 2007 campaign as one of the most exciting talents in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and possibly one of the best in the NCAA Football Championship Series. The Morgan State running back ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns and the Bears cruised over Savannah State 47-7 on Thursday night at Hughes Stadium. The All-conference back was selected as the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Harlow Fullwood Youth Day game. Morgan State rolled up 345 yards of total offense, despite being penalized for a whopping 149 yards. The teams combined for 284 yards of penalties. Mario Melton looked sharp in the Bears season-opener as he connected on 10-of-17 passes for 112 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Roderick Wolfe to push the Bears lead to 30-0 at the end of the first half. Wolfe, a Preseason All-MEAC selection, finished the contest with five receptions for 42 yards, while sophomore sensation Edwin Baptiste collected a game-high 70 yards on five catches. Morgan State's 47 points were the most since it scored 55 points against Savannah State in 2005 at the Proctor & Gamble Classic at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Bears defense held Savannah State scoreless until the 8:32 mark of the 4th quarter when JaCorey Kilcrease threw to Isaiah Osbourne for a 45-yard touchdown strike. Despite the touchdown, the Morgan defense gave the Tigers fits all night long. It didn't seem to matter whether it was the first or second team defense, the Bears swarmed to the ball and compiled a total of 12 tackles in the backfield (-46 yards) and collected three interceptions. Senior linebacker Bryan Wilson returned the first interception of the contest 23-yards for a touchdown to help push the Bears lead to 17-0 at the 8:42 mark of the 2nd quarter. Junior linebacker Jerrell Guyton led the Bears on defense and finished with a game-high 10 tackles, while Mark Hicks and Lamar West added five tackles each. Kilcrease threw for 111 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers, and Savannah State's ground attack was limited to 29 yards on 32 carries. Morgan State will host Towson Saturday, September 8th for a cross-town duel. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Hughes Stadium. Sat, 01 Sep 2007 06:13:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/25588 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/25588 Kilcrease looks to jump-start offense Dave Carey, The Examiner 2007-08-30 07:00:00.0 Current rank: # 2,538 of 4,765 BALTIMORE - If Savannah State has any aspirations of defeating Morgan State it will have to do something it could not last season: execute. But it will not be easy. Sophomore JaCorey Kilcrease, who threw just nine passes last season, was thrust into the starting lineup after quarterback Garrett Williams transferred to Fort Valley State after throwing for 1,264 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Now, Coach Theo Lemon is counting on Kilcrease to stabilize an erratic offense that scored only 108 points last season, of which 52 came in the Tigers' two victories. "I'm focusing on executing a lot," said Kilcrease, who completed just four passes for 17 yards last season. "Coach Lemon told me that's something I'm really trying to work on and I feel I'm getting better at it." Kilcrease will have to be at his best Thursday night against Morgan State. The Bears return eight starters from a unit that led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in rushing defense, allowing opponents an average of 117 yards per game. This means mean very little room to run for Tigers running back Quinton Beasley, the team's leading returning rusher who posted only 186 yards on 65 carries last year. But coach Lemon emphasized the key to victory won't be the legs of his running back, but the head of his quarterback. "If our quarterback is a good decision maker in a crucial situation, he is someone that will be able to help us," Lemon said. "I'm not looking for an arm that goes 60-70 yards, I'm looking for someone who knows when to tuck the ball and run and when to throw it." Kilcrease agrees. "I don't have any individual goals," he said. "I'm just trying to help the whole team win." ­— dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com Sat, 01 Sep 2007 05:58:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/25587 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/25587 Kilcrease favorite to lead Tigers' offense Sports | Intown | Islands | Southside | West Chatham Noell Barnidge | Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 12:30 am SSU will have inexperienced quarterbacks this season JaCorey Kilcrease likely will be named Savannah State's starting quarterback when coach Theo Lemon announces his decision after practice Monday night. Kilcrease, a 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore from Macon, is SSU's only quarterback with collegiate experience. He played in three games last season and was 4-for-9 passing for 17 yards without a touchdown or interception. Kilcrease is listed as SSU's starting quarterback on the Tigers' depth chart, but Lemon said he would not officially name a starter until Monday night. Greg McCrary, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound freshman from Stone Mountain's Mount Zion High School, is listed on the depth chart as the backup quarterback. SSU's third-string quarterback is Brandon Webster, a 6-1, 184-pound freshman from McIntosh County Academy. Lemon said both Kilcrease and McCrary likely will play Thursday at 7 p.m. in SSU's season opener against Morgan State in Baltimore. "We feel like he's come a long way and we expect him to really do some good things for us," Lemon said of Kilcrease. During SSU's annual Orange and Blue scrimmage Aug. 18, Kilcrease led the first-string offense (the Orange) to a 7-0 victory when he connected with wide receiver Deleon Hollinger for a 29-yard touchdown with 3 minutes, 21 seconds to play. SSU is without its starting quarterback from each of the past two seasons, Garrett Williams, who transferred and is the starter at NCAA Division II Fort Valley State. Williams, a 6-3, 200-pound junior, played in 11 games last season. He was 111-for-255 passing for 1,264 yards, eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions. As a freshman, Williams was 181-for-332 passing for 2,203 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He set SSU single-season records for passing attempts and completions. SSU's backup to Williams last season was Javares Taylor, a Jenkins High School graduate who would have been a junior this season. Taylor competed with Kilcrease for the starting job during spring practice, but Taylor was suspended by Lemon in March for violating team rules. He has not been reinstated. Taylor played in eight games last season. He was 0-for-10 passing. He ran 23 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. "I'm, right now, the leading candidate so I have to have a high confidence level," Kilcrease said. "My teammates are depending on me to lead the team. Right now, I'm just working hard and getting in the playbook, trying to get a better understanding of what we're trying to do as a team and as an offense. "I didn't see much time last year, so during the spring I was really getting into it, getting used to playing and getting all of the jitters out. I feel I had a pretty good spring. I got a chance to learn more things." Challenging Kilcrease is McCrary, who did not play in the Orange and Blue scrimmage because he was awaiting approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse. He has since been cleared to participate. McCrary is considered the jewel of SSU's recruiting class. During a National Signing Day press conference Feb. 7, Lemon told members of the media that McCrary nearly signed with Boston College, which competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "I almost signed with Boston College," McCrary said. "I thought that was good for me, but Savannah State is the place for me. I like the coaching staff and the players, they're like brothers to me, and this is the place I want to be. This is where I'm staying." McCrary said he also was recruited by Florida A&M, Jacksonville (Ala.) State, Bowling Green and Air Force. His father, Gregory McCrary Sr., played six seasons (1975, 1977-81) in the NFL as a tight end with the Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. "I'm eager to play, but I just want to win," McCrary said. "The best quarterback out there gets the job. I'm going to be behind JaCorey, if he starts, 100 percent. It's not about just one player. It's about the team. "I'm trying to win and get this thing started up. I don't want just the freshmen to turn things around. I want to turn things around this year because that's not fair to the seniors to wait until our senior year. I want to turn things around now." Sun, 26 Aug 2007 07:12:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/24922 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/24922 Tigers take aim on finishing above .500 Sports | Intown | Islands | Southside | West Chatham Noell Barnidge | Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 12:30 am Savannah State has not produced a winning football season since 1998, when the Tigers finished 7-4. This season, second-year coach Theo Lemon hopes to improve upon last year's 2-9 record and finish above .500 for the first time in nearly a decade. "What I like is to be judged by wins and losses," Lemon said. "Every coach in America is going to be judged by wins and losses, and I think it's important that we do win. "But we have to establish a winning nature, a winning way that we get used to. Not just every once in a while. It has to be all the time. I think the young men that we've brought in, and the young men that have hung with us this past spring, understand that and they're ready to go." SSU will begin its sixth season of competition in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA, at 7 p.m. Thursday against Morgan State in Baltimore. "We all want to be better than last year," said senior Rashad Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 317-pound offensive lineman from Jacksonville, Fla. "We want to be the best. We all want to bring this program back to its glory years. It has to start somewhere. We feel it should start this year. "Players 10 years from now can read the media guide and say, 'OK, well these years they had some bad seasons, but for some reason in the 2007 season they seemed to change the program around. We'll go down as legends, the guys who turned the program around." To improve, SSU must: Score more points than the 9.8 per game that it averaged last season, and allow fewer than the 34.5 points it gave up. Run for more yards than the 95.2 per game that it averaged last season, and allow fewer than the 203.7 yards it gave up. Register more than the 11 sacks it made last season, and allow fewer than the 25 sacks it gave up. Producing a winning season, however, will be difficult. Breaking in a new QB Offensively, SSU is without Garrett Williams, its starting quarterback the past two seasons. Williams, who passed for 1,264 yards and eight touchdowns last season, transferred to Division II Fort Valley State, where he is the Wildcats' starting quarterback. Replacing Williams is JaCorey Kilcrease, a 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore from Macon. Kilcrease is SSU's only quarterback with collegiate experience. He has played in three games, and was 4-for-9 passing for 17 yards. He did not throw a touchdown and he was not intercepted. Quarterback Javares Taylor, a Jenkins High School graduate, has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules, Lemon said. Taylor, a 5-foot-11, 174-pound junior, was Williams' backup last season and played in eight games. Also gone is leading receiver Mark Williams, who was dismissed for violating team rules, Lemon said. The New Orleans native made 42 catches for 522 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman last season, and he was named Most Valuable Player at SSU's athletics banquet. The Tigers' top returning receiver is Deleon Hollinger, a 6-foot, 192-pound sophomore from Miami. He caught nine passes for 96 yards and a touchdown last season. Also gone is leading rusher Chad Cone. As a senior, he ran 105 times for 540 yards and two touchdowns. The Tigers' top returning running back is Jamie Beard, a 5-10, 228-pound senior from Baxley. The Appling County High School graduate rushed 15 times for 112 yards and a touchdown last season. "We're better than a two-win team," Beard said. "We don't want to be known as a two-win team. We want to be known for more. We're ready to get out of that." SSU's offensive line is led by Jackson, the starting left tackle. In keeping with Lemon's offensive philosophy, the Tigers will continue to run more than they will pass. "All of the offensive linemen have to be on the same page," Jackson said. "We all have to know what the next man is doing, not just worrying about your own personal job. We have to play together as a unit and get confident playing with each other. That will be the key." Defensively, SSU is without linebacker Trent Newton, its leading tackler the past two seasons. Newton, who is suspended indefinitely for violating team rules, made 114 tackles last season as a sophomore. The Tigers' top returning tackler is middle linebacker Calvin Leonard, a 6-foot, 234-pound junior from Ellenwood. His 67 tackles last season were second on the team. SSU's defensive line is led by Dominique Clark, a 6-3, 263-pound senior from Atlanta. "I'm fired up," Clark said. "It's my last season. I've got to go out with a bang. We've got to (win). The year before, we didn't win any games. The two wins that we had last season are a stepping stone. We're hungry for more." SSU's secondary is led by strong safety Antwan Allen, a 5-10, 185-pound sophomore from Miami. Special newcomers On special teams, SSU is without Del Ben, its top punt returner, and Anthony Huntley, its top kickoff returner. They were suspended for violating team rules, Lemon said, and are no longer on the team. Junior Marcus Darrisaw and freshman Justin Babb are slated to handle the punt returns and kickoff returns, respectively. Jeremy Johnson, a 6-5, 186-pound senior from Alpharetta, punted 58 times for 1,863 yards last season, an average of 32.1 yards per punt. Luis Justiniano, a sophomore walk-on, will handle kickoffs, field goals and extra points. Justiniano, who moved to the United States from Bolivia in 2003, began playing football as a senior at Bluffton (S.C.) High School in 2005. SSU did not attempt a field goal last season. The Tigers were outscored 112-12 in the first quarter, and 133-27 in the second quarter. By halftime, many of SSU's opponents had removed their starters. The Tigers were outscored 55-25 in the third quarter, and 79-44 in the fourth quarter. SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS COACH: Theo Lemon (second year) 2006 RECORD: 2-9 OFF. STARTERS RET./LOST: 4/7 DEF. STARTERS RET./LOST: 4/7 KEY RETURNEES (2006 STATS): Offense - RB Jamie Beard (15 carries, 112 yds., 1 TD), RB Reginald May (25 carries, 48 yds., 0 TDs), OL Rashad Jackson, OL Derrick Dorsey, OL Algernon Wright, OL Warren Washington. Defense - LB Calvin Leonard (67 tackles), DB Chris Herans (51 tackles), SS Antwan Allen (40 tackles), LB Frank Usher (38 tackles), DE Dominique Clark (34 tackles). Special Teams - P Jeremy Johnson (58 punts, 1,863 yds., 32.1 yd. avg.) KEY LOSSES (2006 STATS): Offense - QB Garrett Williams (111-for-225, 1,264 yds., 8 TD, 14 INTs), RB Chad Cone (105 carries, 540 yds., 2 TDs), WR Mark Williams (42 catches, 522 yds., 4 TDs), WR Anthony Huntley (13 catches, 181 yds., 0 TDs), TE Marcus Harris (6 catches, 58 yds., 1 TD), OL Peter Booker, OL Kareem Riley. Defense - LB Trent Newton (114 tackles), DL Craig Chambers (32 tackles), DB Jonathan Johnson (31 tackles), DL Tony Newman (29 tackles), DB Ronald Truell (27 tackles), DL Chris Osborne (26 tackles), DB Chris Troutman (22 tackles). Special Teams - PR Del Ben (10 for 73 yds., 0 TDs, 7.3 yd. avg.), KR Anthony Huntley (25 for 588 yds., 1 TD, 23.5 yd. avg.) SSU 2007 SCHEDULE MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY BEARS When: Aug. 30 Kickoff: 7 p.m. Where: Hughes Stadium, Baltimore 2006 record: 5-6 overall, 4-4 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA) Series history: MSU leads 4-0 Last meeting: MSU won 55-26 in 2005 At stake: Momentum. SSU has never beaten MSU and has been outscored a combined 138-46 in the series. The Tigers have not won a season opener since 2004, when they beat Norfolk (Va.) State 41-34 in double overtime. MSU is predicted to finish sixth by MEAC coaches and sports information directors. JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY GOLDEN BULLS When: Sept. 8 Kickoff: 1 p.m. Where: Memorial Stadium, Savannah 2006 record: 7-4 overall, 4-3 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Division II) Series history: SSU leads 2-1 Last meeting: Johnson C. Smith won 27-6 in 2006 At stake: This is SSU's home opener, the Joe Turner Classic. Johnson C. Smith is predicted to finish third in the five-team Western Division by CIAA coaches and sports information directors. BETHUNE-COOKMAN COLLEGE WILDCATS When: Sept. 15 Kickoff: 1 p.m. Where: Memorial Stadium, Savannah 2006 record: 5-6 overall, 3-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA) Series history: B-CC leads 29-8 Last meeting: B-CC won 55-6 in 2006 At stake: SSU has not beaten B-CC since 1992, when the late Bill Davis guided the Tigers to a 31-21 victory. B-CC is predicted to finish fifth by MEAC coaches and sports information directors. FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY WILDCATS When: Sept. 29 Kickoff: 5 p.m. Where: Wildcat Stadium, Fort Valley 2006 record: 5-6 overall, 4-3 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division II) Series history: FVSU leads 33-11-4 Last meeting: FVSU won 25-6 in 2002 At stake: Pride. This one is unofficially being billed as "The Garrett Williams Game" because Williams, SSU's starting quarterback for the past two seasons, is now the starting quarterback at FVSU. Williams transferred after last season because SSU coach Theo Lemon changed the Tigers' offense to a run-oriented attack instead of the pass-happy attack in which Williams thrived under former coach Richard Basil. FVSU is predicted to finish third in the 10-team league by SIAC coaches (the SIAC does not allow sports information directors to vote.) SSU does not play Sept. 22 and will have two weeks to prepare for FVSU. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BUCCANEERS When: Oct. 6 Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Where: Charleston, S.C. 2006 record: 9-2 overall, 2-2 Big South Conference (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA) Series history: CSU leads 3-0 Last meeting: CSU won 38-13 in 2006 At stake: SSU will face a challenge in beating the Buccaneers, who have outscored them a combined 107-44 in the series. CSU posted its best record in school history last season. The Buccaneers tied for second in the Big South Conference last season with Gardner-Webb, and are predicted to finish fourth in the five-team league by BSC coaches and sports information directors. MOREHOUSE COLLEGE MAROON TIGERS When: Oct. 13 Kickoff: 7 p.m. Where: B.T. Harvey Stadium, Atlanta 2006 record: 2-9 overall, 1-6 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division II) Series history: SSU leads 15-13 Last meeting: SSU won 24-20 in 2006 At stake: Consistency. Last season, SSU scored 18 fourth-quarter points and shut out Morehouse in the second half to win the 14th CSRA Classic in Augusta. The victory snapped SSU's 19-game losing streak that dated back to October 2004. Was it a fluke? This season, the teams will not participate in the 15th CSRA Classic in Augusta. Both teams pulled out, citing the CSRA Classic Committee's "inability to honor the same financial obligations of previous agreements." The game was moved to Morehouse. Maroon Tigers offensive lineman Joseph Williams, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound junior from Savannah, was named to the All-SIAC preseason first team. Morehouse is predicted to finish last in the 10-team league by SIAC coaches (the SIAC does not allow sports information directors to vote.) N. CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY EAGLES When: Oct. 20 Kickoff: 1 p.m. Where: Memorial Stadium, Savannah 2006 record: 11-1 overall, 7-0 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Division II) Series history: NCCU is 1-0-1 Last meeting: NCCU won 30-0 in 1975 At stake: NCCU, formerly a member of the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, is in transition to becoming a full member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. NCCU will compete as an independent this season in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA. NCCU is the defending Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College Football National Champion, the Eagles' first title in the 33 years that SBN has conducted the poll. NCCU lost, 24-17, to Delta State in the second round of the Division II playoffs last season. In the two games between the schools, SSU has never scored against NCCU. The teams played to a scoreless tie in 1974. In 1975, NCCU won 30-0. EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE TIGERS When: Oct. 27 Kickoff: 2 p.m. Where: T.A. Wright Stadium 2006 record: 1-9 overall (NAIA) Series history: Edward Waters leads 10-7-4 Last meeting: SSU won 28-7 in 2006 At stake: It's SSU's Homecoming. The Tigers lost Homecoming 38-6 last season to Winston-Salem (N.C.) State, so SSU is bringing in Edward Waters. SSU has not won its Homecoming game since 2004, when the Tigers beat NAIA-level Allen 34-0. SSU lost its 2005 Homecoming, 28-27, to Lemon's Central State of Ohio Marauders. GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS When: Nov. 3 Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Where: Boiling Springs, N.C. 2006 record: 6-5 overall, 2-2 Big South Conference (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA) Series history: GWU leads 4-0 Last meeting: GWU won 31-21 in 2005 At stake: SSU will travel to Boiling Springs, N.C., for the first time since 2002, when GWU won 44-13. The Bulldogs tied for second in the Big South Conference last season with Charleston Southern, and are predicted to finish third in the five-team league by BSC coaches and sports information directors. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY DELTA DEVILS When: Nov. 17 Kickoff: 2 p.m. Where: T.A. Wright Stadium, Savannah 2006 record: 6-5 overall, 5-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA) Series history: MVSU leads 2-0 Last meeting: MVSU won 67-2 in 1965 At stake: This is SSU's final game of the regular season. The Tigers do not play Nov. 10 and will have two weeks to prepare for MVSU. The Delta Devils beat SSU 53-0 in 1964. MVSU is predicted to finish last in the SWAC's five-team Eastern Division by the SWAC coaches and sports information directors. SSU DEPTh CHART OFFENSE POS. NO. NAME HT WT Yr. WR 21 Chris Rhines 6-1 179 Fr. 81 A.J. Denson 6-1 165 Fr. WR 10 Anthony Bowden 5-11 206 So. 11 Isaiah Osborne 5-11 185 Jr. RT 59 Derrick Dorsey 6-4 290 So. 72 Brandon Patterson 6-4 240 Fr. RG 74 Algernon Wright 6-2 432 So. 76 Dan Johnson 6-2 300 Fr. C 73 Kenny Andrew 5-10 271 Jr. 60 Kevin Thompson 6-1 265 Fr. LG 64 Justin Norton 6-2 338 Jr. 65 Warren Washington 5-10 312 Jr. LT 66 Rashad Jackson 6-4 317 Sr. 70 William Edwards 6-3 290 Fr. TE 88 Joshua Marshall 6-6 230 So. 83 Cyril Owusu 6-2 245 Fr. FB 35 Jamie Beard 5-10 228 Sr. 30 Charles Huggins 5-11 193 So. TB 28 Reginald May 5-9 185 Jr. 22 Antwan Edwards 5-9 177 Fr. QB 3 JaCorey Kilcrease 6-0 170 So. 5 Greg McCrary 6-1 180 Fr. DEFENSE POS. NO. NAME HT WT Yr. DE 55 Dominique Clark 6-3 263 Sr. 96 Joe Myles 5-11 266 Fr. DT 92 Randy Harling 6-3 279 Sr. 95 Keith Holmes 6-5 281 So. DT 77 Devin Rice 6-0 269 So. 50 LaDarien Redfield 6-2 281 Fr. DE 91 Chris Reed 6-4 251 So. 93 Brandon Miller 5-11 258 So. SLB 31 Morris Drayton 6-0 203 Jr. 43 Jeffrey Robertson 6-0 205 Fr. MLB 51 Calvin Leonard 6-0 234 Jr. 53 Willie Hall 5-11 231 So. WLB 12 Frank Usher 6-1 218 Jr. 46 Vince Cochran 5-11 200 Fr. CB 19 Jeremy Boston 6-0 190 Jr. 24 Jamar Graham 5-11 148 Fr. SS 26 Antwan Allen 5-10 185 So. 33 Antoine Stewart 6-1 211 Sr. FS 8 Javorris Jackson 6-4 216 Jr. 7 Bernard Coleman 6-1 187 Jr. CB 1 Marcus Darrisaw 6-0 181 Jr. 29 Karnell Feagins 5-11 181 Fr. Sun, 26 Aug 2007 06:53:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/24921 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/24921 Defense Reigns in Orange and Blue Scrimmage Savannah State proved that while defense may not be a problem this season, scoring points might be. The Orange and Blue teams at Saturday's scrimmage combined for only 186 total yards and one touchdown. The Orange won the game 7-0 on a touchdown pass from JaCorey Kilcrease to DeLeon Hollinger with just over 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Kilcrease was 4-14 on the game for 57 yards, and interception and that touchdown. For the Blue team, Brandon Webster was 9-13 for 25 yards. Reginald May led all rushers with 41 yards on 12 carries. He also believes there are a few more players who haven't made it to camp yet who will help put points on the board. Overall coach Lemon was pleased with his team's effort and believes they are on the right track to bettering last year's 2-9 record. Reported by: Andrew Davis, andrewdavis@wtoc.com Sun, 26 Aug 2007 06:11:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/24920 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/24920 Savannah State coach sees progress in team after two-win season advertisement By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. Associated Press Writer Despite another dismal season, Savannah State's coach sees signs of progress. The Tigers have been one of the worst teams in college football, winning five games in five seasons since moving from Division II to the Division I Championship Subdivision. Last year, spring practices were canceled as the program was placed on NCAA probation for three years, so it was no surprise when Savannah State went 2-9. But second-year coach Theo Lemon believes his team played well under the circumstances. ``When you look at the record, you say it didn't work all that well together,'' he said. ``When I look at the overall picture, I see young men who worked hard and gained experience.'' The Tigers are expecting the return 43 players who were mostly sophomores and freshmen last year. During the offseason, between 30-35 players stayed in Savannah for summer workouts. ``We're bigger, stronger and faster,'' Lemon said. ``We can do better. But the biggest way to change is to win.'' It will be an uphill battle for the Tigers offensively, considering they averaged just under 10 points a game last season. The defense didn't do too much better by surrendering 34.5 points a contest. Lemon said the offense needs to finds an identity to keep the defense off the field. Receiver Mark Williams could be the solution. He was named the team's most valuable player, leading the Tigers with 42 catches for 522 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman. ``He made great catches for us,'' Lemon said. ``He doesn't have breakaway speed, but he knows how to get open. He brings stability to our offense, being the most effective.'' JaCorey Kilcrease will take over at quarterback after last year's starter, Garrett Williams, transferred to Fort Valley State. Kilcrease saw limited action, attempting only nine passes. Quinton Beasley and Antonie Edwards will share time in the backfield. Beasley rushed for 186 yards, while Edwards sat out last year. On defense, the Tigers are led by lineman Dominique Clark. He had 34 tackles, seven for losses and three sacks. Clark, who has gone through plenty of turbulent times at Savannah State, said the team is determined to prove its doubters wrong. ``We've pushed ourselves to the limit during the offseason, which wasn't the case previously,'' he said. ``With that, expect big things from Savannah State.'' Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:39:39 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/23382 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/23382