State Football Capsules

MORGAN STATE AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN
KICKOFF: 4 p.m.; Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach
RECORDS: Morgan State (1-3, 0-1 MEAC); B-CU (2-2, 0-2)
NEED TO KNOW: B-CU is coming off a 38-31 loss at Norfolk State. The Wildcats had two critical turnovers to help NSU. ... B-CU QB Jimmie Russell led the Wildcats by completing eight of 15 passes for 86 yards with a touchdown, and rushing for 100 yards with a TD. ... Defensively, Ben Ballard collected a team-high eight tackles, while Antonio Cox finished with three tackles and a 42-yard interception return. ... This game will mark the 22nd meeting between Morgan State and B-CU. ... Morgan State lost in dramatic fashion last Thursday at Hampton. T.J. Mitchell threw a 30-yard touchdown to Justin Brown to clinch a thrilling 24-17 overtime victory against the Bears. ... The Bears were again led by All-MEAC RB Chad Simpson who posted a game-best 142 yards on 33 carries and scored two touchdowns.
- Bill Fay

TENNESSEE STATE AT FLORIDA A&M
KICKOFF: 3 p.m., Georgia Dome, Atlanta
RECORDS: FAMU (1-2); TSU (2-2)
TV: FSN Florida (joined in progress after Marlins game at about 4 p.m.)
NEED TO KNOW: The Rattlers and Tigers will square off in the 19th annual Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic. ... Coming off a bye week, a win for FAMU could provide needed momentum going into a tough stretch in the schedule. Florida A&M will play five of its next seven games on the road, and six of the seven are against conference opponents. ... The Rattlers have won five straight against over Tennessee State and hold a 10-3 advantage over the Tigers in Atlanta. ... Last season FAMU overcame a TSU fourth-quarter comeback with a 34-yard field goal to win 25-22 in overtime. ... The Tigers lost a 41-34 shootout to Southern University last Saturday, after jumping out to a 20-7 lead in the first quarter. ... Between them, the two programs have over 20 Black College National titles and have drawn crowds of more than 55,000 to the AFC in each of their last seven meetings.
- Michael McGuffee

LA.-LAFAYETTE AT CENTRAL FLORIDA
KICKOFF: 6 p.m.; Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando
RECORDS: UL (0-4); UCF (2-1)
NEED TO KNOW: The Knights are coming off a 56-20 win in their C-USA opener vs. Memphis last week. ... UCF's meeting against the Ragin' Cajuns concludes a three-game homestand for the Knights, who will not play at home again until Oct. 20 when they face Tulsa. ... UCF has won the three previous meetings with UL, including a 24-21 last-second victory in 2005 at Lafayette. ... UCF has been sparked offensively by junior TB Kevin Smith. He has posted 100-yard rushing performances in all three games this season, and ranks third in the nation in rushing yards per game with a 163.3 average even though he sat out the majority of the second half last weekend. ... The Ragin' Cajuns will counter with dual-threat QB Michael Desormeaux, who has three 100-yard rushing efforts this season.
- Bill Fay