CIAA Players and Coach of the Week
CIAA Players and Coach of the Week for the week ending Sept. 29:
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
Ronnie Ransome – Virginia State Position: C
Height: 6-1 Weight: 285 Class: So Hometown: Ettrick, Va.
One of four sophomores starting along Virginia State’s young offensive line, Ransome has provided quarterback protection and opened holes for running backs. Quarterback Justin Thorpe was sacked just once in Virginia State’s 19-17 last-minute victory over Johnson C. Smith on Sept. 28. Trojan runners rambled for 194 yards (4.6 yards per tote) against the previously undefeated Golden Bulls.
RECEIVER
Chase Powell – Winston-Salem State Position: WR
Height: 5-8 Weight: 175 Class: Fr Hometown: Upper Marlboro, Md.
Powell had a breakout performance on Saturday, as the freshman had a team high five catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns, including a long catch of 75 yards in WSSU’s 55-15 win over Virginia Union.
QUARTERBACK
Derek Bryant – Fayetteville State
Height: 6-4 Weight: 249 Class: So. Hometown: Carrboro, N.C.
Third stringer Bryant entered the game midway through the first quarter and drove the Broncos to its second victory of the season. Bryant was 14-of-20 for 256 yards, 3 TDs and no picks. His longest TD throw was for 84 yards. He rushed seven times for 19 yards.
OFFENSIVE BACK
Justin Forte – Livingstone Position: RB
Height: 5-10 Weight: 190 Class: JR Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Forte has been a force for the Blue Bears. Against Lincoln he toted the ball 34 times for 126 yards and one touchdown. In the 35-7 win, Forte helped the Blue Bears account for 26 first downs.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
Bryant Frazier – Virginia State Position: DE
Height: 6-1 Weight: 255 Class: Jr. Hometown: Richmond, Va.
Bryant Frazier had two quarterback sacks resulting in eight yards of losses, one tackle-for-loss for eight yards, forced two fumbles and two quarterback hurries in Virginia State’s final-minute 19-17 win over Johnson C. Smith. He finished the game with three solo stops and one assist.
LINEBACKER
Chaz Robinson – St. Augustine’s
Height: 5-10 Weight: 215 Class: Sr. Hometown: Hampton, Va.
The CIAA tackles leader, Robinson led both teams with 10 total tackles in a 29-7 win over Bowie State. He also broke up two pass attempts.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Darien Thomas – Virginia State Position: CB
Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 Class: So Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
Thomas intercepted a pass and returned it 27 yards to thwart a Johnson C. Smith drive in Virginia State’s 19-17 win over the Golden Bulls. He also broke up two passes in the game and finished with three solo tackles and two assists.
ROOKIE
A.J. Gilford – St. Augustine’s Position: QB
Height: 6-2 Weight: 210 Class: R-Fr Hometown: Savannah, Ga.
Gilford was 17-for-23 for 255 yards and a touchdown in a 29-7 win over Bowie State. He also rushed for 44 yards on 10 carries.
SPECIALTY
Alex Tucker – St. Augustine’s Position: Punter
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Class: Sr. Hometown: Union, S.C.
Tucker averaged 42.5 yards on two punts including a 48-yarder in a 29-7 win over Bowie State. One punt landed inside Bowie State’s 20-yard line.
COACH
Latrell Scott – Virginia State
Virginia State was picked to finish near the bottom of the CIAA standings but first-year head coach Latrell Scott has the Trojans at 3-1, 1-0 in CIAA play. Virginia State topped previously undefeated Johnson C. Smith, 19-17, on Sept. 28. Virginia State drove 81-yards in 11-plays covering 4:27 to score the game-winning touchdown with 41 seconds remaining.
Notable Performances:
Daven Gray, OL, WSSU – Helped lead the Rams to 509 yards of total offense, including 451 passing yards and seven offensive touchdowns.
Raymond Phillips, OL, LC – Helped account for 434 total offense yards in the 35-7 win over Lincoln. He created great blocks for RB Justin Forte who carried the ball 34 times.
Brian Richards, WR, SAU – Became the school’s all-time leading receiver in a 29-7 victory over Bowie State. He caught six passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. Richards has 141 career catches.
Rudy Johnson, QB, WSSU – Had a career afternoon Saturday at Virginia Union, as he completed 14 of 26 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns.
Cameron Stover, QB, CU – Completed 24 of 39 passes for 223 yards. He tossed two touchdown passes in the win over Shaw including the game-winning pass to Antjuan Randall with 23 seconds on the clock.
Drew Powell, QB, LC – Connected 16 times on 22 attempts for 219 yards and three touchdowns. He helped the Blue Bears account for 434 total offense yards.
Marquise Grizzle, RB, SU – Was an offensive highlight for the Bears on Saturday with 29 carries for 124 yards. He also had a touchdown in the loss to Chowan.
Jordan Anderson, TB, VSU – Rushed 25 times for 98 yards in Virginia State’s win over Johnson C. Smith.
Shaquille Edwards, DE, VSU – Game’s leading tackler in come-from-behind win over Johnson C. Smith finishing with nine solo tackles, two sacks resulting in 10 yards of losses, five tackles for loss for 21 yards and two quarterback hurries.
Jason Ampy, LB, CU – Amassed 10 solo tackles on Saturday against Shaw with one assisted tackle. Ampy also had a 10 yard fumble recovery and one tackle for loss.
Kenneth White, LB, LC – recorded a season high 12 tackles in the win over Lincoln.
Everette Proctor, FS, WSSU – Had two tackles, one pass breakup and a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown, in WSSU’s win over Virginia Union.
Darnell Evans, DB, SU – Pulled in his fourth interception of the young season in the contest with Chowan. In addition, he had nine tackles – all solo shots – and two tackles for a loss of six yards. He was also busy on special teams, with five kick returns for 143 yards.
Simeon Marshall, DB, FSU – Led the Broncos defense with 11 total stops (8 solo, 3 asst.).
Malcolm Childress, DB, LC – Recorded nine tackles, one forced fumble and one breakup in the end zone.
