CIAA Football Preview - Week 3

The Road to Durham and the CIAA Football Championship

"Bringing the Championship Game back to the Triangle"

The Championship Game - November 8 - Durham, NC

WEEK 3- NON-CONFERENCE SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE

CIAA Teams had a slew of close calls last weekend but no cigars. Fayetteville State led I-AA Presbyterian on the road in the fourth quarter before giving up two late touchdowns. Elizabeth City State led Catawba on the road at halftime before falling in the second half and Bowie State slugged toe to toe with powerhouse Shepherd before losing 14-0. In the final week of the regular season, the league looks to put its final mark on the non-conference season before the real fireworks start next weekend!

GAME OF THE WEEK: VIRGINIA UNION AT FORT VALLEY STATE: The Panthers dropped a tough opening contest against East Stroudsburg due to a first quarter injury to QB Lamar Little. However, Little bounced back well against West Virginia Wesleyan with two touchdown tosses. Defensively, VUU has been strong giving up only 14 points per contest. However, Fort Valley will present challenges for the Panthers. The FVSU (1-2) Wildcats will have to get over the heartbreak of giving up a 35-38 loss to Morehouse, after a stirring comeback by the Tigers.  FVSU is led by its QB Tyderrick Williams. He passed for 207 yards and four TDs against Morehouse. This CIAA vs. SIAC matchup should be exciting and will be the final one of the season after Albany State's 27-10 win over Shaw in Week One. If this one becomes a shootout, fans should expect big numbers from Lamar Little as he looks to jumpstart his MVP and Championship campaign. (1:00 p.m. at Fort Valley, GA).

Players to watch: (Virginia Union: RB Tarian Robinson; QB Lamar Little; WR Michael Hampton).  (Fort Valley State: QB Tyderrick Williams; KR Dorian Giles).

FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT LINCOLN: After just two weeks, FSU has proven itself to be a formidable team and real threat to win the CIAA Championship. In Week One, the Broncos upset I-AA North Carolina Central by winning handily, 33-22. Last weekend, behind QB Ben Williams' 226 yards passing, the Broncos led heavily-favored Presbyterian well into the fourth quarter. With those two games behind them, the Broncos can possibly look to run the table all the way to the CIAA Championship Game in November. QB Ben Williams, RB Richard Medlin and WR Daryl Barnett have proven themselves as a strong triumvirate. Lincoln will have its hands full attempting to slow the Bronco Offense. Lincoln, an original member of the CIAA, will be playing its first contest against a CIAA opponent since resuscitating its program this season. The Lions split their first two contests. (1:00 pm at Lincoln, PA).

Players to watch: (Fayetteville State: QB Ben Williams; RB Richard Medlin; DB Jeff Gowdy).

SHAW VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN (in Sacramento, CA): After a tough opening day loss at Albany State, Shaw bounced back well against Edward Waters with a 55-10 win. The Bears lost last season on a last second Hail Mary to Edward Waters, 31-30, thus exacting revenge as well. New QB starter Marcus Brooks will lead the defensive-minded Bears. TSU will attempt to bounce back from an embarrassing 73 point loss to Arkansas State. Shaw will look to score a win for the CIAA vs. the SWAC. (5:00 pm PST at Sacramento, CA).

Players to watch: (Shaw: DL Louis Ellis; RB Raymond Williams; QB Marcus Brooks).

ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT TUSCULUM: After two weeks, the CIAA's most impressive player has been WR Dexter Manley. He is averaging a whopping 176 yards receiving per contest. Manley has also hauled in three touchdowns. QB Curtis Rich is in 2006 form when he passed for 21 TDs. Rich has already thrown for more yards (481) this season than in 2006 (416). After giving Catawba all they want but falling short, the Vikings get their second shot against a SAC opponent. Tusculum will provide another stern test for ECSU. Tusculum won its opener at Charleston 40-0 but dropped a 31-12 decision to I-AA Gardner Webb. Tusculum is paced by All-SAC WR Ryan Tallent and LBs Justin Scott and Jarvis Littlejohn. Defensively, ECSU is led by DL Todd Irving and DB Justin Hamilton. (6:00 pm at Greenville, TN).

Players to watch: (ECSU: WR Dexter Manley; QB Curtis Rich; RB Dennis Hamilton).

(Tusculum: WR Ryan Tallent; LB Justin Scott; LB Jarvis Littlejohn).

MARS HILL AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S: St. Aug could not follow up their week one upset win over Catawba last weekend at Charleston. However, the Falcons are in position to go 2-0 vs. the South Atlantic Conference with a win over Mars Hill. The Falcons and the Lions have had several slugfests over the past five seasons. However, MHC has a 4-1 lead overall. St. Aug will look to get its second win over the Lions this weekend in Raleigh. Defensively, the Falcons are stout led by DL Marcus Kennedy. (1:30 pm at Raleigh).

Players to watch: (Mars Hill: RB George Washington; QB Ricky Spradling; WR Tyrea Allen). (St. Aug: DL Marcus Kennedy; QB Anthony Brown; WR Richard Boone).

CATAWBA AT LIVINGSTONE: Catawba finishes its three-game stand against the CIAA with an "away" contest at Livingstone. The two schools are less than five miles apart. Thus, the title for the contest is being dubbed "The Mayor's Cup." Catawba split against St. Aug and Elizabeth City State. ECSU had the Indians on the ropes but fell in the fourth quarter. Catawba is led by RB Jamelle Cuthberson who rushed for 151 yards last weekend. Livingstone will look to finally get a win over its hometown rival on Saturday. (7:00 pm at Salisbury, NC).

Players to watch: (Catawba: QB Howard Williamson; RB Jamelle Cuthberson).

(Livingstone: QB Bryan Ayooth; WR Rashad Flucker; DB Alkeem Deloach).

EDWARD WATERS AT JOHNSON C. SMITH: The Golden Bulls have suffered two disappointing losses at North Carolina A&T and Virginia State. They will look to open up their home slate against Edward Waters with a win. (6:00 pm at Charlotte).

Players to watch: (Johnson C. Smith: QB Carl Richardson; WR Jeremy Franklin; WR Markus Gray).

ST. JOSEPH'S AT VIRGINIA STATE: VSU bounced back well against JCSU with a 43-16 win. They will look to go over .500 for the first time in two seasons with a win over St. Joseph's. (6:00 pm at Ettrick, VA).

Players to watch: (Virginia State: QB Leonard Johnson; RB Taron Hampton; DB Devon Wiggins).

ST. PAUL'S AT WEBER INTERNATIONAL: The Tigers bounced back from their opening weekend defeat with a win over Chowan. They will travel to Florida and look to make it two in a row. (5:30 pm at Lake Wales, FL).

BREVARD AT CHOWAN: Chowan will look to come out of their two-game slide against Brevard. (12:00 pm at Murfreesboro, NC).