College standouts from across the area continue to contribute this fall and New Hanover alum Ramone Simpson leads the list this week as the redshirt sophomore carried N.C. Central to a 21-17 victory on Saturday. The college basketball season is also right around the corner and one of our local products received preseason praise this week.
Senior Elijah Wilson (Laney) was named preseason second-team All-Conference in the Sun Belt heading into his final year on the Coastal Carolina men’s basketball team in nearby Conway, S.C. The two-year starter was Coastal’s leading scorer last season averaging 13.7 points per game.
New Hanover
Caleb Fuller, Appalachian State: Appalachian State’s defense dominated Saturday’s Sun Belt Conference title at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone as the Mountaineers rolled over Idaho 37-19 to remain unbeaten in the division.
Appalachian moves to 5-2 on the year and 3-0 in Sun Belt play. The Mountaineers intercepted Idaho three times and surrendered Idaho’s only touchdown with four seconds left in the game. Fuller assisted on one tackle in the winning effort.
The Mountaineers have a short week before traveling to Georgia Southern on Thursday night for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Statesboro on ESPNU.
Ramone Simpson, North Carolina Central: North Carolina Central (6-2, 5-0 MEAC) overcame first-half injuries to its offensive and defensive leaders to rally for a 21-17 come-from-behind victory, spoiling Morgan State’s homecoming at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday.
The tone of the game completely changed at the 3:08 mark of the second quarter, when North Carolina Central quarterback Malcolm Bell got hit on a rushing attempt and not only lost the football, but suffered a head injury that kept him off the field for the remainder of the afternoon.
Simpson was given a brunt of the workload at running back as New Hanover alum finished with 18 carries for 85 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. He also made two catches for 18 yards, including a key 13 yard catch late in the fourth quarter to set up the game-winning score.
Through eight games, Simpson is the team’s leading rusher, with 422 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.
Hoggard
- Terry Caldwell, Ole Miss: 22 Ole Miss was outscored 17-0 in the second half as No. 23 LSU handed the Rebels a 38-21 setback Saturday night in the Magnolia Bowl at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
After going into the half tied at 21-21, the Rebels (3-4, 1-3 SEC) could not overcome a big night by LSU running back Leonard Fournette and a Tigers (5-2, 3-1 SEC) defense that stepped up in the final 30 minutes of play.
Caldwell had two tackles for Ole Miss, who fell to 1-3 in SEC play and 3-4 overall.
The Rebels return to Oxford for an SEC match-up against the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 29, with kickoff set for 6:15 p.m.
- Julius Reynolds, North Carolina A&T: North Carolina A&T cruised to a 34-7 win over Howard at Greene Stadium in Washington, D.C. on Saturday afternoon.
The win was the Aggies fourth straight overall, moving to 4-0 in MEAC play and 6-1 on the year. Reynolds had a pair of tackles in the winning effort.
North Carolina A&T will play host Florida A&M on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Aggie Stadium.
- Hunter Louthan, Davidson College: Marist wide receiver Juston Christian caught six passes for 136 yards as Davidson football fell in Pioneer Football road action at Tenney Stadium Saturday, 31-10.
With the loss, Davidson falls to 2-6 and 0-5 in conference clashes. Louthan made one catch for 15 yards.
The ‘Cats return to action next Saturday, Oct. 29 at home against Jacksonville. Kickoff from Richardson Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.
Laney
- Larry Williams, Oklahoma State: Right guard Larry Williams sustained an injury during a low-contact practice before Oklahoma State played Iowa State a few weeks back and the Laney grad missed Saturday’s contest against Kansas.
Williams started every game at right guard for the Cowboys after transferring to Oklahoma State this season.
