EASTERN DIVISION TITANS MEET IN RICHMOND

The Road to Charlotte and the CIAA Football Championship
"Returning to Charlotte after 25 Years"
The Championship Game - November 10
 
CIAA Preview Week Eight: EASTERN DIVISION TITANS MEET IN RICHMOND

October 10, 2007
 
Hampton, VA - Last year, the Eastern Division came down to a final weekend                             showdown between Elizabeth City State and Virginia Union. ECSU won the contest 29-21 and went on to the Championship Game and NCAA Playoffs. Virginia Union's season ended with the loss and they have been awaiting this rematch. Meanwhile, Bowie State hopes to continue to keep up the pace in the East. In the West, Shaw looks to increase its two-game lead.
 
GAME OF THE WEEK: ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT VIRGINIA UNION: Virginia Union has played themselves into the national spotlight with their unblemished 6-0 record. All-America candidate Lamar Little has been fantastic in passing for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns thus far. He has also added 284 yards on the ground. RB Elihu Smith also leads the CIAA in rushing averaging nearly 8 yards per carry. Elizabeth City State started 0-4, but has won its last two games to position itself for an Eastern Division repeat. If they win on Saturday, they will control their own destiny in the East. However, stopping Little will be a tall task even for one of the league's best defenses. After a slow start, ECSU DL Greg Moore has awoken with five sacks. Offensively, QB Dominic Strand has replaced Curtis Rich and has been a spark to the once moribund Viking Offense. However, the VUU Defense is giving up only 12 points per contest. This has the makings of one of the best contests of the season.
(1:00 p.m. at Richmond, VA).
 
Players to watch: (Elizabeth City State: QB Dominic Strand; RB Brandon Fields; DL Greg Moore). (Virginia Union: QB Lamar Little; RB Elihu Smith; WR Michael Hampton).
 
BOWIE STATE AT VIRGINIA STATE: The much-awaited return of RB Issac Redman was not exaggerated. After a 184-yard effort against St. Paul's, Redman set a Bowie State record with 218 rushing yards against Livingstone. Chances are Redman will not be slowed down by the Trojan Defense. DL Alexander Payton has been a star on defense leading the Bulldogs with seven sacks. Virginia State looks to keep its slim divisional hopes alive with an upset of the Bulldogs. (1:30 p.m. at Petersburg).
 
Players to watch: (Bowie State: RB Issac Redman; DL Alexander Payton; QB Jason Scott).
(Virginia State: QB Michael Terry; RB Nick Fleming; WR Brandon Crump).
 
LIVINGSTONE AT SHAW: The Bears are running away in the West and look to tack on to their victory total at Homecoming against Livingstone. New QB Travis Robinson has thrown five touchdowns and has a solid running game backing him up with Alan Atwater and Raymond Williams. Shaw has been stout defensively allowing just 190 yards per contest and a measly 13 points per contest. DL Keir Moore and Louis Ellis have provided a one-two punch defensively for the Bears. Livingstone hopes to upset the Bears and get its first win of the season. (4:00 p.m. at Raleigh, NC).
 
Players to watch: (Livingstone: QB Steven Williams; DB Lionel Vincent: RB Rashaad Flucker). (Shaw: QB Travis Robinson; RB Alan Atwater; DL Keir Moore).
 
FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S: This is an elimination game. Whoever loses on Saturday will be eliminated from the Western Race. St. Augustine's won its first contest of the season against Virginia State to keep its division hopes alive. Fayetteville State has not been able to get consistent quarterbacking this season and its offense has suffered. (1:30 p.m. at Raleigh).
 
Players to watch: (Fayetteville State: QB Jay Autry; RB Richard Medlin; WR Bobby Wilder).
(St. Augustine's: DL Alex Hall; DL Marcus Crump; QB Brandon Franklin).
 
ST. PAUL'S AT JOHNSON C. SMITH: JCSU lost its showdown game with VUU last weekend and it was a potential season-crushing setback. JCSU, the darlings of 2006, have struggled in 2007. St. Paul's has had a tough 2007 as well. The Golden Bulls still hope to finish with a winning 2007 by closing out the season undefeated. (6:00 p.m. at Charlotte).
 
Players to watch: (St. Paul's: QB Dessein Jean; WR Morris Sadiq; DB Gregory Toler).
(Johnson C. Smith: RB Marco Kirven; WR Jeremy Franklin; QB Carlton Richardson).