CIAA Football Preview - Week Ten

CIAA Preview Week Ten: October 25, 2006                                        

CIAA FOOTBALL 2006: "THE YEAR OF THE QUARTERBACK"
CIAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - NOVEMBER 11 - DURHAM

The CIAA Championship Game looms large as the regular season comes to a close. While Elizabeth City State and North Carolina Central lead the East and West respectively, neither has clinched a spot in the Championship Game. NCCU's path to the Championship Game is easy to determine...beat Livingstone on Saturday and they win the West. The Vikings will need help. First, ECSU must knock off St. Paul's and hope that Virginia Union stumbles at Bowie State. If both ECSU and VUU win Saturday, it sets up an Eastern Division Championship Game between the two teams on November 4 at Elizabeth City State.

GAME OF THE WEEK: VIRGINIA UNION AT BOWIE STATE: The irresistible force versus the immovable object? Indeed, this is an intriguing matchup for many reasons. Bowie State, the defending Eastern Champ, the league's top defense faces off against Virginia Union, the league's top offensive club. Panther QB Lamar Little can kill you with his legs (10 touchdowns) or with his arm (20 touchdowns) and is one of the most exciting prospects in the league. Little also has outstanding weapons surrounding him. RB Elihu Smith and WR Michael Hampton are formidable challenges for any defense. Bowie State is a team reborn with QB Lamar Manigo's return to the lineup. The Bulldogs almost knocked off Elizabeth City State last weekend and shutout St. Paul's. The Bulldogs will look to bear down on VUU's high-flying offense. Bowie State looks to close out 2006 with a winning record. With both VUU and Virginia State having to travel to Bowie, a winning record remains a distinct possibility. (1:00 p.m. at Bowie, MD).

Players to watch: BSU: Lamar Manigo, QB; Nathaniel Queen, RB; Terrence Stafford, DB.
VUU: Lamar Little, QB; Michael Hampton, WR; Elihu Smith, RB.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL AT LIVINGSTONE: The Eagles are flying high as the nation's top-ranked black college football team. At 8-0, NCCU is the only undefeated team in black college football. However, there is the business of winning the Western Division and repeating as CIAA Champs that must be taken care of. While Livingstone has struggled, they will hope to pull off the upset of the Eagles in front of their homecoming crowd. QB Stafford Brown, unknown to Eagle fans in August, has quietly become their offensive MVP. Defensively, the Eagles are a more stout unit than in 2005. The Eagles still have a significant agenda ahead of themselves...win the division, repeat as CIAA Champs and fight for the national championship.
(2:00 p.m. at Salisbury, NC).

Players to watch: NCCU: Stafford Brown, QB; Craig Amos, DB; Charles Futrell, WR.
Livingstone: Jason Mitchell, QB; Tyrone Baisden, WR; Steven Williams, DB.

ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT ST. PAUL'S: One of the surprise teams of the CIAA and Division II is ECSU. The Mighty Vikings have only given up 12 points in its last four ballgames. Only Bowie State has scored on ECSU since September 30. The Vikings have shut out Virginia State, St. Augustine's and Shaw over the one month span and outscored those teams an amazing 128-12. St. Paul's will look to salvage a disappointing 2006 season with a win over the heavily-favored Vikings. QB Curtis Rich continues his torrid pace with 19 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. (1:30 p.m. at Lawrenceville, VA).

Players to watch: ECSU: Curtis Rich, QB; Chris Carter, WR; Maceo Thomas, DL.
St. Paul's: Demetrius Brown, QB; Lonie Sanders, WR; Terence Peterkin, DB.

ST. AUGUSTINE'S AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE: The Falcons have played well in October going 2-1. Only a 27-18 loss to NCCU has spoiled their play during the second half of the season. St. Aug's signature defense has returned with victories over JCSU and Livingstone consecutively. Fayetteville State has been the disappointment of the 2006 CIAA Season. The Broncos have gone 0-3 in October and will face a hot St. Aug team for its homecoming. (1:00 p.m. at Fayetteville, NC).
Players to watch: St. Aug: Kevin Jones, LB; Brandon Franklin, QB; Carlos Peoples, K.
FSU: Nick Green, RB; Jonathan Autry, QB; Daryl Barnett, WR.
SHAW AT VIRGINIA STATE: With only three wins between these two teams, pride is what is on the line here. VSU fought valiantly but came up a field goal short against rival VUU. Shaw suffered its first shutout since reviving its program in 2003 at the hands of ECSU. (1:30 p.m. at Petersburg).

Players to watch: Shaw: Jermonty Kimbrough, QB; James Petway, WR; Reginald Price, RB.
VSU: Davian Richards, WR; Anthony Hailstock, DB; Thomas Boyd, QB.

SAVANNAH STATE AT JOHNSON C. SMITH: JCSU kept alive its hopes of winning a bid to the Pioneer Bowl and outside shot at the Western Division with its come from behind win over FSU. The Golden Bulls are led by a tough defense and opportunistic offense. (2:00 p.m. at Charlotte).

Players to watch: JCSU: Marquis Belton, WR; De'Audra Dix, DB; Donja Goodson, QB.