CIAA Football Preview - Week Five

CIAA Preview Week Five  

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

September 20, 2006 

The conference season prepares to go into full bloom after this weekend.  None of the games this week are more intriguing than Elizabeth City State traveling to Newberry in a matchup of unbeatens. North Carolina Central travels to Southern while Shaw travels to Maine on Saturday. Johnson C. Smith looks to rebound from its first loss of the season at Virginia Union and Fayetteville State hosts St. Paul's.
 
GAME OF THE WEEK: ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT NEWBERRY: The Vikings put up an impressive 43 point barrage on FSU, and will need even more offensive fireworks to keep up with Newberry. The Indians are undefeated in ‘06 and are one of the favorites to win the South Atlantic Conference. The Vikings will look to get continued oustanding production from QB Curtis Rich. The junior quarterback has thrown six touchdowns without an interception. Defensively, the Vikings will need to play better if they want to knock off Newberry. QB Josh Stepp provides outstanding senior leadership for the Indians. (1:30 p.m. at Newberry, SC).
 
Players to watch: ECSU: Curtis Rich, QB; Greg Moore, DL; Maceo Thomas, DL.
Newberry: Josh Stepp, QB; Michael Ward, WR; Will Newell, LB.
 

ST. PAUL'S AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE: The Broncos' season is now officially on life support. After dropping their conference opener to Elizabeth City State, FSU can hardly sustain another loss and fall even further behind North Carolina Central (2-0 in the CIAA). St. Paul's looks to build on its 2005 season where it was competitive in the conference with four wins. The Broncos gave up an uncharacteristic 43 points against the Vikings in the Down East Classic after only giving up a touchdown to highly-touted Presbyterian. QB Jonathan Autry, the conference's leading passer in ‘05, has already thrown six interceptions this season including three against ECSU. St. Paul's was shut out last weekend against Tusculum and will need to score some touchdowns to keep up with FSU offensively. (6:00 p.m. at Fayetteville, NC).
 
Players to watch: St. Paul's: Demetrius Brown, QB; Lonie Sanders, WR; Terrance Peterkin, DB. Fayetteville State: Nick Green, RB; Jonathan Autry, QB; Daryl Barnett, WR. 
 

ST. AUGUSTINE'S AT MARS HILL: Last season's 13-6 win over Mars Hill propelled St. Augustine's to the top ranking in the Southeast Region. However, St. Augustine's has struggled in ‘06 to a 1-2 start. Defensively, LB Kevin Jones and the gang have kept the Falcons in ballgames. However, on the offensive side of the ball, the Falcons have averaged only 17 points per contest. Mars Hill comes off a difficult loss to defending I-AA National Champ Appalachian State. This game has been designated as a conference game for St. Augustine's, so it is a must-win contest. (1:30 p.m. at Mars Hill, NC).
 
Players to watch: St. Augustine's: Kevin Jones, LB; Brandon Franklin, QB; Carlos Peoples, K.
Mars Hill: Brandon Sims, QB; Tyrea Allen, WR; Jeremy Langford, RB. 


CARSON-NEWMAN AT VIRGINIA STATE: The Eagles have rolled through the CIAA knocking off Shaw and St. Augustine's by a combined 65-21 count. Virginia State has struggled thus far in 2006 and sits at 0-3. Powerful Carson-Newman is hardly the team to seek win number one against. QB Alex Rouse leads a powerful running attack that is one of the nation's best. (3:00 p.m. at Petersburg).
 
Players to watch: Carson-Newman: Alex Rouse, QB; Stephen Childs, WR; Ricky Harris, RB.
Virginia State: Thomas Boyd, QB; Aaron Knight, DL; Justin Buxton, K.
 

NORTH CAROLINA CENTAL AT SOUTHERN: The Eagles are flying high at 3-0 and sitting high atop the Western Division standings at 2-0. However, Southern will provide a significant test. The Jaguars are coming off their first loss to Prairie View since the ‘70s. The Eagles will be prohibitive underdogs to SU in Baton Rouge. QB Stafford Brown has stepped in Adrian Warren's place and played well. He has one of the nation's finest receiving corps with Julius McClellan and Charles Futrell. However, the Eagle running game led by Greg Pruitt is not up to 2005 standards and that must improve if they look to upset Southern.
(6:00 p.m. at Baton Rouge, LA).
 
Players to watch: North Carolina Central: Greg Pruitt, RB; Julius McClellan, WR; Charles Futrell, WR.
 

JOHNSON C. SMITH AT VIRGINIA UNION: The Golden Bulls are the surprise of Division II with their exciting 2-1 start. However, the Golden Bulls will need to reach down and rediscover their winning ways against VUU if they plan on contending in the West. Another conference loss will have them fall to 0-2 in the league. VUU won its conference opener knocking off Livingstone 14-12 and will look to continue their winning ways. (6:30 p.m. at Richmond).
 
Players to watch: Johnson C. Smith: Carl Richardson, QB; Marquis Belton, WR; De'Audra Dix, DB. Virginia Union: Lamar Little, QB; Michael Hampton, WR; Chad Talley, P.
 

BOWIE STATE AT LIVINGSTONE: Bowie State suffered its first loss of the season falling to Morgan State. The Bulldogs will need to bounce back quickly as they open their conference season. Livingstone is winless in 2006 and looks to pull the upset against the Bulldogs. (4:00 p.m. at Salisbury, NC).
 
Players to watch: Bowie State: Lamar Manigo, QB; Nathaniel Queen, RB; Durell York, DL.
Livingstone: Jason Mitchell, QB; Tyrone Baisden, WR; Steven Williams, QB;

SHAW AT MAINE: The Bears pulled out a 26-20 win against Edward Waters. However, I-AA Maine will provide a much more difficult test. QB Jermonty Kimbrough has been inconsistent thus far in 2006. He must play up to his 2004 standard if the Bears are to contend for the CIAA East Title. (2:00 p.m. at Orono, ME).
 
Players to watch: Shaw: Jermonty Kimbrough, QB; Damon Harrison, WR; Reginald Price, RB.