CIAA Football: WEEK 4 - LET THE CONFERENCE GAMES BEGIN!
"Celebrating 10 years: The Return of
the OriginalConference Championship Game"
The Championship Game - November 7 - Durham, NC
WEEK 4 - LET THE CONFERENCE GAMES BEGIN!
Hampton, VA - In 2000, the CIAA brought back its Championship Game after a ten-year hiatus. This week, we will look back at the 2002 Championship Game when Fayetteville State knocked off Bowie State to win its first ever football championship. (Take a look at the 2002 Championship Game flashback-recap after the preview capsules).
Last week, the CIAA earned an important nonconference win with Elizabeth City State knocking off defending South Atlantic Champ Tusculum. This week the conference season begins in earnest and all these games will count as the March to Durham and the Championship Game has now truly started!
GAME OF THE WEEK: CHOWAN VS. ELIZABETH CITY STATE: This will be the Down East Classic Game in Rocky Mount. Elizabeth City State ended the nonconference season with a bang by beating 2008 SAC Champ Tusculum handily, 49-29. The ECSU Offense, through three games, has been potent averaging 43 points per contest. The catalyst has been first year QB Creven Powell. He leads the league in total offense averaging nearly 260 yards per contest. He also has two of the CIAA's most lethal weapons in WR Dexter Manley and RB Daronte McNeil. Chowan is probably one of the best 0-3 teams in the nation. With respectable showings against Albany State and Old Dominion, the Hawks should feel confident going into the conference season. The Hawks fell short in their comeback against Brevard, 27-24. Preseason All-CIAA CJ Westler has been the league's top passer, averaging 253 yards per contest. He will look to get the ball to his favorite target WR Robert Holland. This will be Chowan's first conference football game as a full member of the CIAA. (4:00 p.m. at Rocky Mount, NC).
Players to watch: (Chowan: QB CJ Westler; WR Robert Holland; WR Kevin Robledo).
(ECSU: QB Creven Powell; RB Daronte McNeill; WR Dexter Manley).
VIRGINIA STATE AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S: Both of these teams have been looked at as dark horses in the CIAA Championship Race. However, Saturday is a chance to prove who is the real contender. The Falcons have had two close shaves in the last two weeks, however, both contests ended in defeat. The good news for St. Aug has been the emergence of QB Joaquin Green. The freshman has thrown for eight TDs in the past two weeks and seems to be improving week to week. He is supported with a ground attack led by RB Walter Sanders. Virginia State has gotten consistent play from QB Leonard Johnson. He will have his hands full against the Falcons' potent defensive line. DL Phillip Stevenson and Marcus Crump are probably the league's most potent sack attack.
(1:30 p.m. at Raleigh).
Players to watch: (VSU: QB Leonard Johnson; DL Brandon Fortune; WR Brian Berry).
(St. Aug: QB Joaquin Green; DL Marcus Crump; DL Phillip Stevenson).
SHAW AT LINCOLN: Shaw remains the lone undefeated team in the CIAA, and is poised to go for the CIAA "Three-peat." Shaw RB Raymond Williams is the league's leading rusher averaging 104 yards per contest. He is a leading candidate for Offensive Player of the Year. The QB duties have been shared by Brandon Landers and Travis Robinson. The Bears, however, received a game from Concordia when many expected a walkover. Lincoln looks to continue to improve on last year's 55-6 outcome against Shaw. The Bears will be looking to go 7-0 in the conference for the first time since the divisional format was put in place in 2000. (1:00 p.m. at Lincoln University, PA).
Players to watch: (Shaw: QB Travis Robinson; RB Raymond Williams; WR De'Andre Okonji).
VIRGINIA UNION AT JOHNSON C. SMITH: Both teams will be looking to even their records at .500 with a win. JCSU earned a much needed win over Edward Waters, 27-14. The Golden Bulls are looking for a breakout game from All-CIAA WR Jeremy Franklin. QB Ryan Carter looks to build on his successful outing against EWC. Virginia Union suffered a tough loss at Old Dominion. They look to recapture the offensive firepower that was displayed against Central State (45-0). RB Tarian Donaldson must lead the way offensively for the Panthers. Defensively, VUU is led by LB Hurley Hemphill. (6:00 p.m. at Charlotte).
Players to watch: (VUU: RB Tarian Donaldson; LB Hurley Hemphill; DL Cedric Simmons).
(JCSU: QB Ryan Carter; WR Jeremy Franklin; LB Perrin Carr).
FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT ST. PAUL'S: The Broncos pulled themselves out of a deep hole by knocking off Bowie State. The defense took center stage for FSU as they forced six turnovers from BSU. QB Ben Williams had a good outing passing for 168 yards and a TD. However, the Broncos gave up 440 total yards to the Bulldogs and sit 10th in the CIAA in total defense. The Broncos' championship and postseason hopes are still alive, but it may require that they run the table, with Shaw being undefeated. St. Paul's got in the win column with a 24-21 defeat of Webber. However, FSU will provide a much more stern test for the Tigers. This is the West Virginia Educational Classic.
(1:00 p.m. at Roanoke, VA).
Players to watch: (FSU: QB Ben Williams; WR Bobby Wilder; RB Richard Medlin).
LIVINGSTONE AT BOWIE STATE: The Bulldogs lost their first "showdown" game of the season against FSU. BSU shot themselves in the foot with six turnovers. However, Rodney Webb rushed for 113 yards to keep the running game moving. Livingstone is looking to get in the win column this season in their conference opener. (1:00 p.m. at Bowie, MD).
Players to watch: (Livingstone: QB Steven Williams; LB Anthony Earles; WR Linwood Jenkins).
(Bowie State: RB Rodney Webb; WR Clifton Budd; K Michael Gagne).
Remembering the Championship
Game:
A Look Back at the Last Ten Years
The 2002 Championship Game: November 16, 2002
Winston-Salem, NC - On a cold, rain-soaked Saturday afternoon, Fayetteville State took advantage of Bulldog miscues to set up both touchdowns, while the Broncos managed to recover all six of their fumbles to stay turnover free.
FSU senior linebacker Brian Holliday contributed to both Bronco touchdowns. First, by returning an interception 18 yards to the Bowie State 22-yard line, leading to a 25-yard touchdown strike from QB Te'Mon Wallace to Elliot London to give the Broncos a 10-0 lead at 8:44 of the first quarter. Then, Holliday recovered a mishandled punt return at the Bulldog 11 yard line. Three plays later, Wallace found Carnell Thornton for a six-yard touchdown completion at 6:07 of the third quarter, providing the Broncos with a 17-6 cushion. FSU then cruised to a 17-14 Championship victory.
This was the first of three consecutive Championship appearances by FSU (10-1). Bowie State returned to the Championship Game in 2005, losing to North Carolina Central, 26-23.
