NONCONFERENCE TILTS HIGHLIGHT WEEK 2

Triskaidekaphobia: Fear the 13! – 2010 CIAA Football
The Championship Game – November 13- Durham, NC

September 1, 2010
 
WEEK 2 – NONCONFERENCE TILTS HIGHLIGHT WEEK 2
Hampton, VA – Last weekend featured a mix of conference and nonconference matchups. This weekend, only one contest (Shaw – Virginia Union) features a CIAA matchup (does not count as a conference game in the standings, however). Every other CIAA team goes outside of the conference for this weekend’s matchups. The CIAA looks to show its balance and strength as they face opponents from the I-AA MEAC, Southland, and Southern Conferences among others.
 
GAME OF THE WEEK: FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT UNC-PEMBROKE: The Broncos, defending CIAA Champs, go on the road and face who has quickly become one of the better programs in Division II in UNC-Pembroke. The Braves, an NCAA playoff team in 2009, are ranked #20 in the USA Today Division II Preseason Poll. Last season, FSU and UNCP fought an epic battle that ended with the Broncos falling 41-34 in overtime. The Broncos must rebuild a defense that was one of the CIAA’s best in 2009. Offensively, FSU will depend on offensive mainstays such as RB Richard Medlin and K Austin Turner along with an experienced offensive line to lead the way this season. The Broncos will debut a new quarterback with Robert Benjamin against UNCP. The Broncos face a daunting beginning to their schedule with games against Bowie State (Sept. 11), Elizabeth City State (Sept. 18) and Winston-Salem State (Sept. 25) following the season opener. UNCP’s Corey Smith is hardly a neophyte. The senior QB is 19-4 as a starter. This is the Two Rivers Classic. (6:00 p.m. at Pembroke, NC).
Players to watch: (Fayetteville State: RB Richard Medlin; K Austin Turner; QB Robert Benjamin).
 
VIRGINIA UNION AT SHAW: The Panthers are smarting from last weekend’s tough loss at Winston-Salem State. VUU still has championship aspirations and know they must improve their play to win the Northern Division. The schedule does not lighten up as the Panthers travel to CIAA Heavyweight Shaw. The Panthers suffered a difficult 47-13 defeat last weekend in which they could not get their running game untracked. Defensively, the Panthers gave up nearly 300 yards of total offense to the Rams and were down 27-0 at halftime. RB Raymond Williams returns for Shaw and is one of the leagues’ best at the position. Defensively, Shaw will once again be stout with DL Demarcus Roberson and LB Fred Sparkman leading the way.  (6:00 p.m. at Raleigh).
Players to watch: (Virginia Union: QB Cheston Hickman; RB Tarian Donaldson; OL David Mims).
(Shaw: OL Marcus McElveen; RB Raymond Williams; LB Fred Sparkman).
 
WINSTON-SALEM STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T: The Rams’ return to the league was more than triumphant after a 47-13 handling of Virginia Union. WSSU opened up its conference schedule with an offensive showcase that proved it will have more than a say in the CIAA race. QB Octavious Hawkins had a fantastic debut against VUU passing 18-23 and 207 yards. Hawkins also tossed two touchdowns. RB Nicholas Cooper provided 73 yards to back up Hawkins. Last year’s I-40 showdown ended with a tough 19-10 defeat for WSSU. This season, WSSU looks to get revenge against the Aggies who finished 4-6 in 2009. (6:00 p.m. at Greensboro).
Players to watch: (Winston-Salem State: QB Octavious Hawkins; WR Dominique Fitzgerald; LB Carl Fields, Jr.)
 
BOWIE STATE AT MORGAN STATE: The Bulldogs suffered a tough 20-14 loss on the road to Seton Hill of the WVIAC. It was a tough defeat considering what BSU has coming up, with trips this weekend to Morgan State and next weekend to Fayetteville State. Mistakes hurt the Bulldogs as much as Seton Hill. Also, the Bulldogs could only come up with one score despite making six trips to the red zone. Defensively, BSU was strong and kept the team in the ball game. LB Delano Johnson, and DB Ken Turner lead a group of strong BSU returnees. Morgan State finished 6-5 in 2009 and will renew an outstanding series from the early 2000s with BSU. (6:00 p.m. at Baltimore).
Players to watch: (Bowie State: QB Tyrae Reid; RB Ramono Flowers; DB Ken Turner).
 
JOHNSON C. SMITH AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL: JCSU showed much needed resiliency last weekend against ECSU. After falling behind 24-7 at halftime, the Golden Bulls closed the deficit to three (24-21) in the third quarter. Last season, the Golden Bulls may have thrown in the towel, but this year’s edition appears stronger. QB Ryan Carter played well, passing for 308 yards and three touchdowns. He received outstanding contributions from WR Jeremy Franklin and RB Dedric Anderson. This is a renewal of old CIAA rivals as NCCU has moved to the MEAC. JCSU looks to improve on its opening weekend showing. (Thursday, 7:00 p.m. at Durham).
Players to watch: (JCSU: QB Ryan Carter; WR Jeremy Franklin; RB Dedric Anderson).
 
ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS: Elizabeth City State showcased its offensive weapons against JCSU last weekend. QB Creven Powell passed for 240 yards, Daronte McNeill rushed for 83 yards, and Dexter Manley caught a touchdown pass in the 45-27 defeat of the Golden Bulls. Without a doubt, this is one of the Vikings’ toughest contests of the season facing I-AA Central Arkansas. UCA finished 5-7 in 2009. ECSU will need a better showing from its defense after giving up 27 to JCSU. DL Malcolm Jenkins, a preseason All-America, will need help from his defensive mates in order to contain UCA of the Southland Conference. This is a Thursday night tilt. (Thursday, 7:00 p.m. at Conway, AR).
Players to watch: (ECSU: RB Daronte McNeill; QB Creven Powell; WR Dexter Manley).
 
LINCOLN VS. CHEYNEY: Lincoln begins its first full season as a member of NCAA Division II. The Lions, a founding member of the CIAA, are returning to the conference after a near-50 year absence. Lincoln has been playing a CIAA Football Schedule the past two seasons, but this year the games will count. The game will be played in Philadelphia on Sunday. (3:00 p.m. at Philadelphia).
Players to watch: (Lincoln: DB Jairon Bailey; WR Matthew Coston; LB Gerald Foster).
 
ST. AUGUSTINE’S AT CATAWBA: The Falcons shocked Catawba in 2008, the last time they visited Salisbury. Catawba knocked off the Falcons in Raleigh in the rematch. This season, St. Aug looks to repeat its 2008 fortunes by winning the rubber match. This is the season opener for St. Aug and will look to ride the fortunes of returning QB Joaquin Green. The sophomore was the 2009 CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year with 1318 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. Catawba looks to bounce back from an uncharacteristic 4-6 season in 2009. (7:00 p.m. at Salisbury, NC).
Players to watch: (QB Joaquin Green; LB Steven Stanback; DL Cody Nash).
 
LIVINGSTONE AT NEWBERRY: The Blue Bears got off to a tough start last weekend against Virginia State. The Blue Bears could only produce six points on a late fourth quarter touchdown. QB Curtis Edens and RB Miles Harris hope to improve on their offensive output this weekend. It will be tough against a rugged Newberry team out of the South Atlantic Conference (6-4 in ’09). (6:30 p.m. at Newberry, SC).
Players to watch: (Livingstone: QB Curtis Edens; DB Alkeem Deloatch; DL Dorian Edwards).
 
CHOWAN AT THE CITADEL: Chowan suffered a difficult loss at Lenoir Rhyne, 59-10. Offensively, the Hawks could not get untracked and defensively could not stop the running game of L-RC. RB Elliot Smalls will lead the ground game for Chowan against the Citadel out of the Southern Conference.  (1:30 p.m. at Charleston, SC).
Players to watch: (RB Elliot Smalls; WR Eddie Coard; QB Ryan Simpson).