CIAA Football Week 6 in Review

CIAA Football Week in Review
For the week ending October 4, 2008, (Week 6) 

UPSET SATURDAY! FALCONS TOP BEARS; PANTHERS HUMBLED BY TIGERS 

RALEIGH, NC -A cursory look at the statistics of yesterday's cross-town show down between the Shaw University Bears and the Saint Augustine's Falcons reveals that the Bears had 403 yards of total offense to 186 yards for the Falcons; that Shaw picked up 22 first downs while limiting Saint Augustine's to 12 and that Shaw dominated time of possession 35:37 to 24:23.  As a matter of fact, the Bears dominated almost every statistical category of the game but the one that mattered the most, the final score, as Saint Augustine's used some timely special teams play and a "bend but don't break" defense to stymie Shaw in a 27-16 upset yesterday in Raleigh.

The Falcons, who had lost four straight coming into the game, fell behind early when an errant snap sailed over their punter's head and out of the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 Shaw lead with 8:13 left in the first quarter. But the Falcons would take control of the game in the 2^nd quarter when Walter Sanders capped a 4-play, 63-yard drive with a 3-yard run for a 7-2 Falcon lead. 

On Shaw's next possession, the Bears drove down to the Falcons' 20-yard line and lined up to attempt a field goal. But in the biggest play of the day, the field goal attempt was blocked and picked up by linebacker Lester Graham and returned 70 yards for a touchdown and a 13-2 Saint Augustine's lead. Shaw would answer back with a score on their next possession as quarterback Marcus Brooks connected with Jayson Royal on a 32-yard touchdown pass as the Bears trailed the Falcons 13-8 at the half.

In the third quarter, Saint Augustine's put the finishing touch on the upset, getting touchdowns from Jermaine Smith and another from Sanders as they pushed their lead to 27-8.  Shaw would cut the lead to 27-16 late in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Raymon Williams but could get no closer.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the CIAA, while the Bears drop to 3-3 and 2-1 heading into a pivotal matchup with division leading Fayetteville State next week.

In other conference action... Saint Paul's got two touchdown runs from Dante Chestnut, including a 1-yard game winner as the Tigers upset the Virginia Union Panthers 17-10 in overtime yesterday in Richmond. The Tigers' defense limited the Panthers, who came into the game averaging 382 yards of total offense per game, to 155 yards of offense. The Panthers further hurt their cause by being penalized 19 times for 130 yards.

Conference Scoreboard

BOWIE STATE                     28                    LINCOLN                      2
ELIZABETH CITY ST.           35                    VIRGINIA STATE         7                    
FAYETTEVILLE ST.              60                    CHOWAN                   21
LIVINGSTONE                     32                    J.C. SMITH                 26
SAINT PAUL'S                     17                    VIRGINIA UNION      10 OT
ST. AUGUSTINE'S               27                    SHAW                         16

* Games vs. Lincoln from 9/20-11/1 will count towards conference standings.
* Bowie State forfeited (9/20) win vs. Livingstone-- eligibility 

Games This Week
October