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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) –

Two of the nation’s top Division II HBCU football programs will do battle in the 2012 Cleveland Classic at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday.

Winston-Salem State University and Morehouse College, ranked nos. 1 & 2, respectively, in the latest Heritage Sports Radio Network HBCU Division II national poll, will meet for a noon kickoff to wrap up a weekend full of dynamic Cleveland Classic activities and events.

Tickets for the game start at just $15 and are on sale now at and the Cleveland Browns box office.  Morehouse enters the weekend with a 1-1 record on the strength of a 39-18 win over Edward Waters College last weekend.  The Maroon Tigers narrowly lost to Howard of the NCAA FCS (formally Division I-AA) in their season opener.  Running back David Carter leads the Maroon Tigers rush-heavy offense, averaging 164.5 yards per game this season.  Carter rushed for a 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns in last Saturday’s win, setting the Morehouse career rushing yardage record in the process.  Quarterback Donnay Ragland has thrown for 284 yards and a touchdown this season, while also rushing for two scores. Brandon Houston and Richard Sanders lead the MC defense.

“I am excited and ready for a show down on Saturday.  You have two HBCU conference-leading teams playing against one another,” Morehouse head coach Rich Freeman said.  “I look forward to a competitive game against a well-coached Winston-Salem State team.”

Winston-Salem State and coach Connell Maynor are undefeated on the year after wins over UNC Pembroke and Concord College.  Running back Maurice Lewis has topped the 100 yard mark in each of the first two contests.  Quarterback Kameron Smith has thrown for three touchdowns and ran for another, with Larry Hearne’s two interceptions leading the Rams’ defense.  WSSU was predicted to win the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in the league’s preseason poll and is ranked fifth in the American Football Coaches Association Division II national poll.

The two schools will be meeting for just the third time on the gridiron and the first since 1991. Winston-Salem State has won both previous match-ups.

Saturday’s game day experience at the stadium gets underway at 10:00 a.m. with the Tailgate Party presented by University Hospitals and the College & Career Experience presented by Verizon.  Both events are free with the purchase of a game ticket. The KeyBank Marching Band Halftime Show will feature bands from both WSSU and MC, with the band from Shaw High School in East Cleveland opening the show.

Cleveland Classic weekend gets underway on Friday with the College Readiness Fair presented by College Now and McDonald’s, Symposium to Advance Educational Excellence, PNC Praisefest 6 presented by the Cleveland Cavaliers and The United States Marine Corps presents the Cleveland Classic Greek Step Show.

Most weekend events are free with the purchase of a Cleveland Classic game ticket. For more information and to view a full event listing, please visit www.clevelandclassicfootball.com.

Cleveland Classic Weekend Schedule

  • Unless noted, admission for all events is free with purchase of a Cleveland Classic game ticket.  Tickets start at just $15 and are on sale now.

Friday, Sept. 14

College Readiness Fair presented by College Now and McDonald’s

Cleveland Browns Stadium – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

  • Event Closed to the Public

Symposium to Advance Educational Excellence

Great Lakes Science Center – 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

  • RSVP by Sept. 7 to Tiearra Hayes of The President’s Council to attend

PNC PraiseFest 6 presented in partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers

Quicken Loans Arena – 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The United States Marine Corps presents the Cleveland Classic Greek Step Show

Quicken Loans Arena – 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 15

Tailgate Party presented by University Hospitals

Cleveland Browns Stadium – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

College and Career Experience presented by Verizon

Cleveland Browns Stadium Concourse – 10:00 a.m. – Noon

Cleveland Classic Football Game presented by McDonald’s

Cleveland Browns Stadium – Noon Kickoff

KeyBank Marching Band Halftime Show

Cleveland Browns Stadium – Halftime

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/19540651/morehouse-and-winston-salem-state-university-prep-for-the-2012-cleveland-classic

Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News