CIAA Football Preview - Week Four

September 13, 2006

Out of conference contests, highlight Week 4. However, an important CIAA contest looms for perennial contender Fayetteville State and upstart Elizabeth City State. While the Vikings have gotten out of the gates with a 2-0 start, FSU has struggled to a 1-2 start. Also, Bowie State will travel to Baltimore and meet cross-state rival Morgan State. The Bulldogs handled Morgan State easily in ‘05, 35-21. St. Augustine’s will have its toughest challenge of the young season when Carson-Newman comes to Raleigh.

GAME OF THE WEEK: FAYETTEVILLE STATE VS. ELIZABETH CITY STATE: The Down East Classic is always one of the highlights of the CIAA Season. This year the stakes are high in this long-time rivalry. ECSU is looking to build its Championship resume by beating perennial power Fayetteville State. The Broncos are hoping to open their conference season with a win and jump-start what has been a disappointing 2006 season thus far. The Broncos’ struggles have mirrored the struggles of their quarterback Jonathan Autry. All-CIAA in 2005, Autry is passing for a measly 106 yards per contest this season. With the passing game sidetracked, the running game has been stuck in neutral as well. The Vikings on the other hand, have played well in ‘05. QB Curtis Rich has played well and has gotten receivers Chris Carter and Marvin Jackson involved early in the offensive flow. Defensively, ECSU is led by NFL prospect Maceo Thomas and linemate DL Greg Moore. The winner of this contest gets a leg up on divisional competition. The loser begins the conference season in the dwellar. (5:00 p.m. at Rocky Mount, NC).

Players to watch:
Fayetteville State: Jonathan Autry, QB; Nick Green, RB; Daryl Barnett, WR.
Elizabeth City State: Curtis Rich, QB; Marvin Jackson, WR; Maceo Thomas, DL.


BOWIE STATE AT MORGAN STATE: The Bulldogs played the best game of the season last season at Morgan State. While BSU won by 14, the Bulldogs were up 28-0 at halftime against Morgan State. Bowie State pulled out a squeaker against upstart Johnson C. Smith last weekend, 14-13. The Bulldogs were led by Nathaniel Queen who rushed for 176 yards behind the massive BSU offensive line. Morgan State is 0-2 after last weekend’s 26-9 loss to Monmouth. (3:30 p.m. at Baltimore).

Players to watch:
Bowie State: Lamar Manigo, QB; Nathaniel Queen, RB; Durrell York, DL.
 

CARSON-NEWMAN AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S: Carson-Newman played the first of its mini-CIAA schedule last weekend, handling Shaw 41-7. The Eagles will visit Virginia State next weekend. St. Augustine’s mounted a second half comeback after falling behind the Trojans by 11. QB Brandon Franklin took control of the position by passing for two touchdowns in the second half against VSU. The St. Aug defense, one of the nation’s best in ‘05, clamped down on VSU after a shaky start. Led by the running of QB Alex Rouse, the Eagles routed Shaw. LB Kevin Jones will have his hands full trying to stop the Carson-Newman offensive attack. (1:30 p.m. at Raleigh, NC).

Players to watch:
Carson-Newman: Alex Rouse, QB; Stephen Childs, WR; Ricky Harris, RB.
St. Augustine’s: Kevin Jones, LB; Duane Smith, WR; Brandon Franklin, QB.


VIRGINIA STATE AT CATAWBA: Virginia State will find getting its first victory of the season, a difficult task at Catawba. The Indians easily handled crosstown and CIAA rival Livingstone last weekend 35-6. Virginia State fought St. Augustine’s last weekend in Petersburg before falling 21-14. QB Thomas Boyd is the Trojans’ chief offensive threat. Boyd leads VSU in passing and rushing. He will have a yeoman’s task this week of slowing down the Catawba defense. (6:00 p.m. at Salisbury, NC).

Players to watch:
Virginia State: Thomas Boyd, QB; Aaron Knight, DL; Justin Buxton, K.


VIRGINIA UNION AT LIVINGSTONE: The Panthers were impressive in last weekend’s 27-7 rout of West Virginia Wesleyan. QB Lamar Little passed for 225 yards including a 99-yard pass to WR Michael Hampton. VUU also played well against FSU before falling 25-12. Livingstone has stumbled after its promising start at Lenoir-Rhyne. Since their opening weekend 17-14 loss at LRC, the Blue Bears have been outscored 61-6. QB Jason Mitchell has struggled after a promising ‘05 season. The defense that has long been a staple of Blue Bear Football has struggled. This one counts in the conference standings for both teams. (6:30 p.m. at Richmond).

Players to watch:
Virginia Union: Lamar Little, QB; Michael Hampton, WR; Chad Talley, P.
Livingstone: Jason Mitchell, QB; Tyrone Baisden, WR; Steven Williams, QB.


EDWARD WATERS VS. SHAW: Shaw has dominated the Willie Gary Classic against Edward Waters. After a promising opening against NCCU, the Bears were run over by Carson-Newman last weekend. QB Jermonty Kimbrough has gotten off to an inauspicious start by throwing for four interceptions to only two touchdowns. Defensively, Shaw should fare better against Edward Waters than they did last weekend at powerful Carson-Newman. (5:00 p.m. at Jacksonville, FL).

Players to watch:
Shaw: Jermonty Kimbrough, QB; Damon Harrison, WR; Reginald Price, RB.


TUSCULUM AT ST. PAUL’S: St. Paul’s meets its first Division II opponent when South Atlantic opponent Tusculum comes to town. St. Pauls’ will have their hands full against the Pionners. St. Paul’s manhandled George Mason last week (36-0), while Tusculum fell to Division II power North Alabama 22-10. (1:00 p.m. at Lawrenceville)

Players to watch:
St. Paul’s: Greg Toler, DB; Shaun Guiterrez, P; Chris Jackson, OL.