The opening weekend of HBCU soccer is within the books and we discovered lots about what gamers and groups have to supply that may make for an thrilling season.
Listed below are the 5 Greatest Takeaways from Week 1 of the HBCU soccer season.
1. Andrew Physique is again and higher than ever
There was numerous dynamic particular person performers within the first week of HBCU soccer that might warrant being named Performer of the Weekend.
Virginia State quarterback Rahsaan Matthews threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns in his first profession begin, Jackson State operating again torched Hampton for 180 speeding yards and two touchdowns, and South Carolina State linebacker Michael Lunz produced 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of.0 sacks in a win over Wofford.
Nevertheless, as spectacular as these performances had been, they pale compared to Alabama State quarterback Andrew Physique’s masterful show put up in opposition to FBS opponent Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Returning to the soccer subject after struggling a season-ending harm in final yr’s Orange Blossom Basic, Physique reintroduced himself to HBCU soccer, practically main the Hornets to a uncommon FCS over FBS upset.
The Texas Southern switch completed with 312 passing yards, finishing 75% of his passes, and scoring 4 passing touchdowns. he additionally recorded 119 speeding yards on 16 makes an attempt and a landing.
Earlier than the beginning of the season, Physique made the daring declare to the Montgomery Advisor that “followers can anticipate the best present on turf,” when he and the Hornets step on the soccer subject.
If this debut efficiency is any indication, this evaluation will not be too far off.
2. Down-to-the-wire finishes
These with a flare for the dramatic would love a few of the finishes to those week one video games, with a number of contests coming right down to go-ahead and stroll off scores.
Essentially the most notable got here within the Labor Day Basic, when Prairie View A&M culminated the debut of head coach Tremaine Jackson with a landing go from Cameron Peters to Rodny Ojo because the clock hit all zeroes to beat Texas Southern.
Howard pulled off an upset win over Florida A&M within the Orange Blossom Basic on a game-winning 43-yard subject objective by Matt Conord.
South Carolina State clinched a win over Wofford with a go-ahead 12-yard passing landing within the recreation’s closing minute.
Lastly, North Carolina A&T had it’s game-tying subject objective try, that might have despatched its recreation in opposition to Tennessee State to extra time, blocked on the buzzer .
3. Assertion wins
Whereas lots of the FCS HBCU video games had been extra thrilling and aggressive, the identical can’t be stated concerning the Division II HBCU video games, with many convention favorites opening their seasons with assertion victories.
In a battle of defending convention champions within the Black Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame Basic, Virginia Union staked its declare as the favourite to say a 3rd straight title, knocking off Miles 45-3.
Virginia State started the week with a close to shutout win over Barton Faculty whereas CIAA competitor Johnson C. Smith toppled Morehouse 45-9 within the Essence HBCU Basic.
SIAC favourite Albany State confirmed why they need to be penciled in to win the convention, mowing throw Shaw in a 51-7 win.
Edward Waters confirmed why they’re a darkhorse to win the SIAC, scoring 41 unanswered factors en path to a win over Savannah State.
The race on the high of the respective Division II HBCU conferences might be tight if these scores sustain.
4. Tough week for debuting coaches
In per week full of HBCU coaches making their debuts with new groups, the outcomes weren’t very type to them in the long run.
New HBCU coaches went 1-8 within the season’s first week, with Prairie View A&M being the one crew coming away victorious (not together with interim coach Brian Jenkins Jr. and Edward Waters’ win over Savannah State).
To be truthful, a number of groups fought valiantly in defeat, together with DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State Hornets in opposition to Delaware and Shawn Gibbs’ North Carolina A&T Aggies in opposition to Tennessee State.
Even the groups that had been blown out can take solice in the truth that it’s solely up from right here, with loads of time to make changes because the season progresses.
Every of those groups have both set a barometer or have recognized their ground, with the query now being will these groups ascend or descend going ahead.
5. Florida Memorial practically completes epic comeback
In one of many extra under-the-radar video games of the weekend, Florida Memorial practically pulled off an epic comeback in its season-opener in opposition to Reindhardt.
Serving because the teaching debut of Michael Jones, the Lions fell behind 26-6 at halftime, with the deficit rising to 42-6 via three quarters.
Penalties had been a giant drawback for FMU, being flagged for 17 within the contest, in comparison with simply eight penalties by Reindhardt.
From there, nevertheless, Florida Memorial started making a comeback, scoring touchdowns on 4 of its subsequent 5 possessions, to trim its deficit to 42-35 within the fourth quarter.
Although Reindhardt was in a position to cease the bleeding, scoring a landing to place the sport away for good.
