CIAA Football Preview - Week Six - Conference season begins to heat up!

The Road to Charlotte and the CIAA Football Championship
"Returning to Charlotte after 25 Years"
The Championship Game - November 10

WEEK 6 - CONFERENCE SEASON BEGINS TO HEAT UP!

September 26, 2007

Hampton, VA - The first weekend of the conference season had some surprises. However, this weekend, the conference race should begin to take shape. Important contests loom as Elizabeth City State hopes to rebound and save their season against Virginia State and Virginia Union looks to remain undefeated against St. Aug.

GAME OF THE WEEK: JOHNSON C. SMITH AT SHAW: Shaw jumpstarted its season with its overtime win over Elizabeth City State. Defensively, Shaw shutdown ECSU and put in arguably its best effort of the season. Johnson C. Smith won a shootout against Western Division foe St. Aug. The win gives the Golden Bulls a leg up in the CIAA Western race. However, a win over Shaw will give them command over the Divisional Race. Shaw played well in shutting down the ECSU Offense. They will need the same effort to stop JCSU RB Marco Kirven and QB Carlton Richardson. Offensively, Shaw will rely on QB Matthew Stevenson to make some plays in the passing game. Defensively, JCSU DB De'Audra Dix will be waiting in the wings to pick off one of Stevenson's offerings. LB Fred Williams will also look to stop the Shaw running game. (4:00 p.m. at Raleigh).

Players to watch: (Shaw: QB Matthew Stevenson; RB Alan Atwater; DB Tomarcia Levy). (Johnson C. Smith: RB Marco Kirven; QB Carlton Richardson; DB De'Audra Dix).

ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT VIRGINIA STATE: The Trojans revived their season with their win over Livingstone. However, this important Eastern Division matchup will go a long way in determining both teams' fortunes. The Vikings, now winless and 0-1 in the conference, must look to run the table to return to the Championship Game. Virginia State, if they win, will be in position to control its destiny in the East. RB Nick Fleming is playing well and QB Michael Terry played well against Livingstone. The Trojans hope that last week's performance was the beginning of good things to come. QB Curtis Rich has yet to throw a touchdown pass in 2007 after throwing 21 in 2006. Defensively, the Vikings are still rugged but they must get help from the offensive side of the ball. (1:30 p.m. at Petersburg, VA).

Players to watch: (Elizabeth City State: QB Curtis Rich; RB Brandon Fields; DL Greg Moore). (Virginia State: QB Michael Terry; RB Nick Fleming; WR Brandon Crump).

ST. AUGUSTINE'S AT VIRGINIA UNION: Virginia Union has remained undefeated and is now asserting itself as the Championship Game Favorite. QB Lamar Little has lived up to the preseason hype with nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards through the first four games of the season. He has also thrown for eight touchdowns and rushed three others. His top target is WR Michael Hampton. Defensively, the Panthers have played well. DL Brandon Smith has six sacks already and he will look to add to his total. 2006 All-America DL Alex Hall continues to fight double teams to free up his other linemates such as Marcus Crump. Last week, St. Aug finally got their offense untracked with 32 points, but defensively the Falcons could not stop JCSU. They will have their hands full containing the dangerous Lamar Little. (1:00 p.m. at Richmond).

Players to watch: (St. Augustine's: DL Alex Hall; DL Marcus Crump; QB Brandon Franklin). (Virginia Union: QB Lamar Little; WR Michael Hampton; DL Brandon Smith).

ST. PAUL'S AT BOWIE STATE: Bowie State made their 10 points hold up against Fayetteville State due to a stellar defensive effort. The Bulldogs look to go 2-0 in the East with a win over visiting St. Paul's. (2:00 p.m. at Bowie, MD).

Players to watch: (St. Paul's: QB Dessein Jean; WR Morris Sadiq; DB Gregory Toler). (Bowie State: OL Jerrick Jeffreys; DL Sherman White; QB Jason Scott).

FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT LIVINGSTONE: One thing is certain after the Blue Bears and Broncos meet on Saturday, someone will no longer be winless. Livingstone will depend on QB Steven Williams to resuscitate the offense. FSU hopes QB Brian Hardy and RB Richard Medlin can get their offense going. This is the Livingstone Homecoming Game. (2:00 p.m. at Salisbury, NC.).

Players to watch: (Fayetteville State: QB Brian Hardy; RB Richard Medlin; WR Bobby Wilder). (Livingstone: QB Steven Williams; DB Lionel Vincent; RB Rashaad Flucker).