WEEK 6-CONFERENCE SEASON IS NOW IN FULL SWING!

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

WEEK 6-CONFERENCE SEASON IS NOW IN FULL SWING!

September 28, 2010
 
Hampton, VA – The conference season is now in full swing with all 13 teams in action. Only Lincoln is playing out of conference facing Howard on the road. Last week, Winston-Salem State became the first team to start the season 5-0 in the CIAA since North Carolina Central in 2006. The Rams look to continue their winning ways this weekend. Shaw also knocked off Elizabeth City State in the best North-South divisional game of the year. This week, several divisional games are on tap as teams begin to fight for first place and a place in the Championship Game.
 
GAME OF THE WEEK: VIRGINIA STATE AT BOWIE STATE: The Trojans have had one of their best starts in years at 3-1. VSU successfully opened its conference season with a 20-13 win over Chowan. QB Jared Battle has led the Trojans with seven TD passes. He had 162 yards passing and two TDs against the Hawks. VSU has a two-headed rushing attack with Antwain Lyde and Kenay Hawks. This important contest would give the Trojans a 2-0 conference record along with an important road win. Bowie State has rebounded from a difficult 0-3 start and won their first two conference games. QB Clifton Budd has played well since moving from wide receiver. Against VUU, Budd passed for 355 yards and rushed for another 54 in one of the top collegiate efforts of the year. Bowie State will need its defensive moxie against the Trojans. They gave up an uncharacteristic 27 points against VUU. LB Delano Johnson and DB Terrence Peete should lead the way for the BSU Defense. (1:00 p.m. at Bowie, MD).
Players to watch: (Virginia State: QB Jared Battle; WR Corey Young; DB Justin Carr).
(Bowie State: QB Clifton Budd; LB Delano Johnson; DB Ken Turner).
 
FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S: The perennially-contending Broncos are in an unfamiliar position early in the season. Their proverbial backs are now against the wall. After last weekend’s disappointing loss to Winston-Salem State, the Broncos can ill-afford another divisional loss. After a career performance against Bowie State, RB Richard Medlin has been held in check in his last two outings against ECSU and WSSU. He will need to stand up against the Falcons. Defensively, the Broncos will be tested by St. Aug’s QB Joaquin Green. The sophomore has passed for five TDs in 2010. RB Walter Sanders leads the CIAA in rushing with 114 yards per contest. St. Aug begins a crucial test as it seeks its first divisional title. After this weekend’s contest, the Falcons travel to co-divisional leader Winston-Salem State.  (2:00 p.m. at Raleigh, NC).
Players to watch: (Fayetteville State: RB Richard Medlin; QB Robert Benjamin; LB Jeremy Cunningham)
(St. Augustine’s: RB Walter Sanders; QB Joaquin Green; LB Steven Stanback).
 
WINSTON-SALEM STATE AT JOHNSON C. SMITH: The Rams passed their first critical conference test winning at Fayetteville State. The Rams handled the defending champs, 31-14, in Fayetteville. This week, the Rams take their undefeated show on the road to upstart Johnson C. Smith. The Rams are double-trouble with the top ranked scoring offense (36.2 ppg) and defense (15 ppg) in the league. QB Kameron Smith is the league leader with ten TD passes. However, JCSU QB Ryan Carter leads the CIAA with 1,024 yards passing. Carter’s top target WR Jeremy Franklin is averaging 102 yards per contest. WSSU looks to remain undefeated and keep its Championship Game hopes alive. JCSU must win or possibly fall out of the Southern Division race early in the season. (2:00 p.m. at Charlotte).
Players to watch: (Winston-Salem State: RB Nic Cooper; QB Kameron Smith; DL Juan Corders).
(JCSU: QB Ryan Carter; WR Jeremy Franklin; RB Joshua Jones).
 
ST. PAUL’S AT ELIZABETH CITY STATE: The Vikings dropped a disappointing loss to Shaw. It was their third loss in a row to the Bears since 2008. This week, however, all chips are in because their remaining six contests are conference games. If ECSU plans to win that elusive CIAA Football Championship, no more slip-ups can occur (see 2009 football season). RB Daronte McNeill has been the Vikings’ most consistent offensive weapon upon many. He has had three consecutive 100 yard rushing games and 117 yards rushing against Shaw. St. Paul’s enters the contest 1-0 in the league after handling Livingstone. Tigers QB Steffen Miller-Cohen and RB Albert Tinsley will lead the way offensively. (1:00 p.m. at Elizabeth City, NC).
Players to watch: (St. Paul’s: QB Steffen Miller-Cohen; WR Jason Davis; RB Albert Tinsley).
(Elizabeth City State: RB Daronte McNeil; DL Malcolm Jenkins; QB Creven Powell).
 
VIRGINIA UNION AT CHOWAN (CIAA TV): Both the Panthers and the Hawks must rebound from heartbreaking losses. VUU held a 27-15 lead at BSU before falling 28-27. QB Aris McGlone-English passed for 177 yards and a touchdown against Bowie State. However, VUU was unable to get its running game untracked. Last week, Chowan found themselves down 17-0 in the first half, and fought back to within a touchdown 20-13. However, the Hawks’ comeback fell short. With both teams having already lost once in the division, this contest becomes crucial to their Championship Game hopes. This is a CIAA Television Game, check your local listings. (1:00 p.m. at Murfreesboro, NC).
Players to watch: (VUU: QB Aris McGlone-English; WR Joseph Jean-Pierre; RB Michael Hassell).
(Chowan: WR Robert Holland; WR Eddie Coard; RB Elliot Smalls).
 
SHAW AT LIVINGSTONE: This Homecoming may not be so happy on the field. Livingstone is hosting arguably the best team in the conference when Shaw comes to town on Saturday. The Bears proved that they will have to be heard from when it comes to the CIAA title. Last week’s 31-28 victory over ECSU was an impressive road victory after the Bears had suffered two previous losses. RB Raymond Williams played well at ECSU, rushing for 129 yards. Livingstone will have to play its best game of the year to knock off the Bears. (1:30 p.m. at Salisbury, NC).
Players to watch: (Shaw: QB Kevin Atkins; RB Raymond Williams; WR Tyrone Craig)
(Livingstone: WR Omar McFadden; QB Curtis Edens; LB Bryan Aycoth).
 
LINCOLN AT HOWARD: The Lions will look to knock off Howard in Washington. Lincoln will be looking for its second win of the season. (1:00 pm. at Washington, DC).
Players to watch: (Lincoln: QB Laquan Williams; WR Matthew Colston; DB Jairon Bailey).