September 5th, 2024 11:00am
Week Zero was quite successful for the CIAA as a whole. Shaw and Winston-Salem State opened the season with a win for the first time in several seasons, while the conference’s upper echelon swept the SIAC in out of conference competition. Standouts beyond the conference’s weekly award winners included JCSU RB Quavaris Crouch, VSU RB Jimmyll Williams and Shaw RB Travon Tensley, all who rushed for over 100 yards, Shaw’s DL Saevion Gibbs with two forced fumbles, and WSSU DB Justin Fleming with a pick six. This week’s difficulty level ratchets up, with Bowie State, Fayetteville State, and Lincoln PA coming online to join the other eight football playing schools in competition. Games in order of interest below.
UNC-Pembroke at Fayetteville State: Four of the last five games in this intense rivalry has been decided by four points or less. Any Mark Hall-Richard Hayes head coaching match ups will result in pins and needles. UNCP lost last week’s game to Wingate because of botched special teams opportunities such as PATs and field goals. FSU is breaking in a new kicker. So, it’s hard to see an advantage in that department for either team. I expect another low scoring slobber knocker full of defense. Those games typically favor FSU, though the Broncos will have to be wearing of big plays that UNC-P is capable of notching, especially from a mobile quarterback like Colin Johnson. Lets hope FSU has some answers on offense, because a 3QB system does not shout stability. Advantage: FSU, the home team.
Bowie State at #13 Lenoir-Rhyne: L-R walks into this game a shell of its former self after losing its head coach and key starters to the FCS. Still, L-R possesses a number of weapons, particularly at wide receiver with Dearee Rogers and Songa Yates. Add in RB Zavion Turner-Knox, last year’s second leading rusher, and experienced QB Jalen Ferguson, and you have a team who isn’t exactly hurting for experience. You also cant forget DL Andre Jefferson returning, whose equivalent in recent CIAA memory is none other than former Bowie DL Joshua Pryor. Bowie is going to have their hands full, and they will need to establish consistency on offense to have a shot at the upset. I’m looking to see if Jordan Morse starts at QB, and what the OL can do to create some holes for the running back. Also, can the DBs slow down the passing attack? Advantage: L-R. It’s a tough place to play, as St. Augustine’s and Virginia State have found out in recent years.
Chowan at Elizabeth City State: Another rivalry game, and one that has featured a lot of twists and turns. Chowan hasn’t won a game since leaving the CIAA, and this team looks a lot different than the one who was in the CIAA championship game. They have to break in a new QB, and their top WR is also gone. Add in that their top five tacklers across the defense have also left, and its just one big question mark. ECSU isn’t exactly a sure bet either. It took nearly three quarters for them to realize what we already knew – Chase Williams doesn’t seem to be the answer at QB. The running game was also not inspiring. The people want to know we need to put RB Zechariah Adams-Duckson on the back of a milk carton since he didn’t play in last week’s game. Will QB Damarcus Creecy lead the Vikings to a win? Can the defense get more pressure on the QB and notch more than the one sack they earned against Shaw? Is Chowan hiding something because they haven’t played a game yet? Advantage: ECSU, but I’m terrified at this pick.
Johnson C Smith at Morehouse: JCSU enters into a controlled scrimmage against Morehouse, the second of two games against the SIAC. Of note, WR Biggie Proctor went out with an injury against Tuskegee. No Biggie though, as Brevin Caldwell picked up the slack on offense. If I was Morehouse, I wouldn’t upload a box score either if I gave up nine turnovers like they did against Edward Waters last week. The JCSU defense is not fun and games. Advantage: JCSU, and it shouldn’t be close. Its more so how they go about it that will be interesting, given the plethora of options from QB Darius Ocean, QB Quavaris Crouch, or Caldwell and company.
Lincoln at Clarion: This game is our Thursday night game. Clarion notched their first win against conference foe Millersville, and it wasn’t close. Lincoln needs to know one name – QB Anthony Guercio. He wasn’t particularly accurate (9/23) in the passing game, but he lit up the Millersville defense for big pass plays and wreaked havoc on the ground too for over 100 yards rushing. The Lions chances to win increase if they can slow him down. The Lions can ill afford to repeat last year’s slow start in this game. Advantage: Clarion
Shaw at Albany State: Shaw was the equivalent of IcyHot last week, as they started relatively hot in the first half, and then went cold in the second half against ECSU. The Bears will need to be proficient for four quarters against the SIAC favorite Albany State, a team that racked up yards, but couldn’t punch into the endzone for large stretches against Valdosta State. I think the Bears can keep up for a while, but I think the Golden Rams will prevail because they are the more complete team. Advantage: Albany State breaks the CIAA’s win streak over the SIAC.
Bluefield State at Concord: Bluefield is going to have to show more consistency on offense and defense to be competitive against most opponents. The running game was a step slow, and the zone defense they ran against WSSU was picked apart for big chunk plays. Advantage: Concord
Games against non-D2 Competition
I am channeling my inner Dr. Henry Frazier III here in that I don’t like these games. They don’t pay enough to the D2 school, don’t count for the D2 playoffs (they should!), and not sure what advantage you really get in recruiting with the D1 hype. But I digress…
#18 Virginia Union at FCS Hampton – This game is intriguing because of what Hampton wasn’t able to do, and that’s stopping the run. Morgan State attempted eight…EIGHT…passes last week against the Pirates, and HU Lost. VUU has a plethora of battering rams (panthers?), starting with perennial Harlon Hill contender Jada Byers. The question is whether the VUU defense can continuously check the Pirates so that it allows the offense to settle into decent drives without the pressure of trying to play catch up. One of the more refreshing things about VUU – They arent afraid to try different offensive sets when needed. Upset Special #1: VUU
Virginia State at FCS Norfolk State – Norfolk State has scheduled all over the place. The Spartans had a good showing against a FCS-ranked Florida A&M team before taking on BCS East Carolina. Now they are taking on Virginia State. NSU’s starting quarterback went down before the season started, and the backup has had some ups and downs. NSU’s offensive strength rests on its running game. They are adept to stepping up in the secondary as noted by their three interceptions against ECU. VSU is a balanced squad, and also seasoned in experience. Expect this game to be close. In prior iterations of this game, a gelled VSU team prevails in this matchup, and that’s what I expect here. Upset Special #2: VSU in a close one.
Winston-Salem State at FCS North Carolina A&T – WSSU has been itching for this game for some time, and now they have it. In recent memory (we are talking in the 2000s and 2010), WSSU has held the upper hand, thought its been lopsided in A&T’s favor over the series’ life. WSSU had a decent showing in the second half against a strong NC Central squad last year, so it wont be the first time many of the players have played against a FCS rival. WSSU’s line play isnt the greatest, and I wonder if they can withstand the depth that A&T should have. While the Rams are able to score in bunches, the question will be if the defense can hold up. This one isnt an upset special, but it should be an entertaining game. Advantage: NC A&T
USCAA Virginia University of Lynchburg at Livingstone: Livingstone should be able to work out their passing game offense and find the end zone more in this game. Charleston showed numerous weaknesses and a Blue Bear offense that is still trying to figure out a clear number one. At least the defense should play well against VUL. Not doing so would spell a long season for the Blue Bears. Advantage: Livingstone.