"Celebrating 10 years: The Return of
the Original
Conference Championship Game"
The Championship Game - November 9
WEEK 2 - CIAA LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK!
Hampton, VA - In 2000, the CIAA brought back its Championship Game after a ten-year hiatus. This week we will look back at the 2000 Championship Game in which Winston-Salem State knocked off Virginia Union. (Take a look at the 2000 Championship Game Flashback- after the preview capsules). Meanwhile, the 2009 Season did not kick off well for the CIAA. The league went winless against its nonconference competition. However, this week brings a new opportunity to right the ship as all but two of the league's schools will battle nonconference competition.
GAME OF THE WEEK: CATAWBA at FAYETTEVILLE STATE: After suffering a painful double overtime loss to local rival UNC-Pembroke, the Broncos must bounce back quickly. Catawba comes to town after winning convincingly at St. Augustine's, 25-7. UNC Transfer Cam Sexton threw for 336 yards and 2 TDs in the win. His favorite target was WR Gerron Bryant who hauled in six passes for 106 yards. FSU QB Ben Williams will look to match his counterpart after throwing for 235 yards and 3 TDs against UNC-Pembroke. The Broncos will look for a boost from RB Richard Medlin who returns from a one-game suspension. Defense was counted on to be a strength for FSU, but the Braves took advantage of the Broncos with over 300 yards rushing. Catawba has a 4-0 series advantage over FSU and will look to take its fifth in a row on Saturday.
(6 p.m. at Fayetteville).
Players to watch: (Fayetteville State: QB Ben Williams; RB Richard Medlin; LB Marcos Esquivel).
(Catawba: QB Cam Sexton; RB Antonio Hall; WR Gerron Bryant).
SHAW AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN: The Shaw Bears kept up its scoring ways from 2008, putting up a whopping 54 points against Elizabeth City State last weekend. DB Quintez Smith scored on three "pick sixes" (interceptions returned for TDs) against ECSU to lead the way for the Bears. The Bears will face a much tougher challenge against MEAC foe Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach on Saturday. The Wildcats run the famous "Wyattbone" Option. B-C finished second in the MEAC with an 8-3 record. Shaw will lean on the running attack of Raymond Williams to lead the way.
(4 p.m. at Daytona Beach, FL).
Players to watch: (Shaw: RB Raymond Williams; QB Brandon Landers; DB Quintez Smith).
(Bethune-Cookman: DB Antonio Cox; DL Dexter Jackson; OL Ryan Griffin).
VIRGINIA STATE AT NORFOLK STATE: Virginia State was one of only two CIAA teams that tasted the sweetness of victory. The Trojans handled Livingstone easily, 37-7. QB Leonard Johnson was red hot against the Blue Bears, passing for 13-15 and 234 yards. The Trojans also got a stellar defensive effort from DL Brandon Fortune. Norfolk State will look to continue its winning streak in this series, led by its outstanding defense. All-MEAC DB Terrell Whitehead will lead the way for the Spartans. NSU has been picked fifth in the MEAC Preseason Poll. This is the Labor Day Classic.
(6 p.m. at Norfolk, VA).
Players to watch: (VSU: QB Leonard Johnson; DL Brandon Fortune: WR Brian Berry).
(NSU: DB Terrell Whitehead; TE Sherron Childress; LB Mike Alphonse).
ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT JOHNSON C. SMITH: The Vikings played fantastic football last weekend...for three quarters. After taking a 30-27 lead in the fourth quarter over Shaw, the Vikings were outscored 27-0 by the Bears. The final score: 54-30. Offensively, the Vikings have a lot to hang their hats on. ECSU outgained Shaw 488-321. QB Creven Powell threw for 246 yards, but those 4 interceptions were deal breakers. Also, RB Daronte McNeil rushed for 146 yards and 2 TDs, but the three interceptions returned for TDs were too much to overcome. JCSU lost a tough battle on the road to West Virginia Tech 49-39. RB Dedric Anderson was spectacular rushing for 167 yards. This is the home opener for JCSU. (6 p.m. at Charlotte).
Players to watch: (ECSU: QB Creven Powell; WR Dexter Manley; RB Daronte McNeill).
(JCSU: RB Dedric Johnson; QB Ryan Carter; DL Travis Williams).
CHOWAN AT OLD DOMINION: This is "History in the Making" according to Old Dominion as they will play football for the first time since 1940. New CIAA member Chowan will be the first home opponent in the newly refurbished Foreman Field. This one is a sell out! Chowan will look to spoil the opening day party by bringing a much improved team from 2008 to Norfolk. The Hawks lost to D-II powerhouse Albany State 36-21 at home on Thursday. QB CJ Westler threw for 205 yards and three TDs. He will need to cut down on his three interceptions in order to give his Hawks prime opportunity for the win. (6 p.m. at Norfolk, VA- Airs in Hampton Roads-Cox 11).
Players to watch: (Chowan: QB CJ Westler; RB Elliot Smalls; WR Kevin Robledo).
SHEPHERD AT BOWIE STATE: Bowie State dropped a disappointing 31-27 defeat at Slippery Rock last weekend. However, the play of RB Rodney Webb and QB Andre Johnson should be encouraging. Shepherd Coach Monte Cater's Rams have been one of the best in Division II the past five years. They got off to a 1-0 start with a 34-23 win over PSAC rival Shippensburg. They are led by QB Kevin Clancy. (1:00 p.m. at Bowie, MD).
Players to watch: (Shepherd: WR Raymond Mends; QB Kevin Clancy; RB Tommy Addison).
(Bowie State: RB Rodney Webb; QB Andre Brown; K Gregory Jackson).
CHARLESTON (WVA) AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S: The Falcons face their second straight tough nonconference foe this weekend when Charleston (WVA) comes to Raleigh. Charleston knocked off previously ranked #19 Tusculum on Saturday 31-14. Dual threat QB Daronte Hunter handled the Pioneers almost singlehandedly with a 217 yard pass/128 yard rush performance. St. Aug will need more production offensively in order to keep its reliable defense off the field. The defensive line remains the strength of the Falcon defense with bookends Marcus Crump and Phillip Stevenson. QB Joaquin Green and RB Walter Sanders will need to lead the way offensively for the Falcons to score an upset of Charleston. (1:30 p.m. at Raleigh).
Players to watch: (Charleston: QB Daronte Hunter; RB Julian Johnson; RB Aaron Hidgeon).
(St. Aug: DL Phillip Stevenson; DL Marcus Crump; RB Walter Sanders).
LIVINGSTONE VS. SAVANNAH STATE: The Blue Bears suffered a tough 37-7 defeat at home to open the season. This weekend they will travel to Greenville to face I-AA Savannah State. QB Steven Williams played well in the season opener with 188 yards passing. However, the Blue Bears were only able to muster seven points. They will need to put up more points to knock off SSU. (6 p.m. at Greenville, SC).
Players to watch: (Livingstone: QB Steven Williams; DB Devonta Harmon; WR Chris Peoples).
VIRGINIA UNION VS. CENTRAL STATE: Virginia Union will look to bounce back from its season opening loss to East Stroudsburg. RB Tarian Donaldson will look to continue his rushing ways with a second straight 100 yard contest. QB Noel Alexander threw for 154 yards in his debut and will look to add some scoring punch this weekend as well. This is the Dayton Classic. (7 p.m. at Dayton, OH).
Players to watch: (VUU: LB Hurley Hemphill; QB Noel Alexander; RB Tarian Donaldson).
ST. PAUL'S AT UNC-PEMBROKE: UNC-P won an exciting double overtime contest against FSU last weekend. They will look to go 2-0 against St. Paul's.
(6 p.m. at Pembroke, NC).
Remembering the Championship Game: A Look Back at the Last Ten Years
The 2000 Championship Game:
At Durham, NC - Winston-Salem State used an opportunistic defensive effort to capture its second straight CIAA Football Title, 31-28, over Virginia Union University in the return of the CIAA Championship Game. The Rams capitalized on four VUU turnovers, turning three of them into points, then stopped the Panthers on downs twice in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.
"This was a true championship game that went down to the wire," said WSSU coach Kermit Blount. "Our defense did what it had to do and the offense scored enough points to win."
Winston-Salem State finished its season 8-3, and 5-1 in the CIAA. Eastern Division Champ Virginia Union finished at 9-2, and 5-1 in the CIAA.
