"Celebrating 10 Years: The Return of
the Original
Conference Championship
Game"
The CIAA Championship Game - November 7-Durham, NC
WEEK 10 - THE WEST HAS BEEN WON BUT THE EAST IS STILL IN QUESTION
Hampton, VA - In 2000, the CIAA brought back its Championship Game after a ten-year hiatus. The CIAA played the first conference football championship game in 1970 and discontinued it in 1990. This year, the conference is celebrating a decade of success of the CIAA Football Championship on Saturday, November 7 in Durham, 1:00 p.m.
This week, we will look back at the 2008 Championship Game when Shaw knocked off Elizabeth City State to win back to back CIAA Championships. (Take a look at the 2008 Championship Game flashback-recap after the preview capsules).
This week, the East goes down to the wire with two critical contests. Virginia Union hosts Elizabeth City State with an opportunity to clinch the East. If VUU falters, and Bowie State defeats Virginia State, they will win the East. If both should lose, ECSU could win the East in a three-way tiebreaker. Meanwhile, Fayetteville State having clinched the West on Saturday, awaits the East Winner for the November 7 CIAA Championship Game.
GAME OF THE WEEK: ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT VIRGINIA UNION: Virginia Union took a significant step toward its Championship Goals. The Panthers' come-from-behind win was not only the most thrilling game of the season, but possibly their most important. The VUU-BSU contest has not only set the Eastern Division on its ear, but left the door open for the possibility of a three-way tie. Virginia Union has won five of its last six contests for the opportunity to win the divisional title on Saturday. ECSU has regained its early offensive form with the return of WR Dexter Manley and RB Daronte McNeil. The Vikings have averaged 46 points in its last two wins. However, VUU brings a stout defense to Saturday's contest, giving up only 16 points per contest. The Panthers will look to pound the ball with its league-leading running attack. (1:00 p.m. at Richmond).
Players to watch: (ECSU: WR Dexter Manley; QB
Creven Powell; DB Justin Hamilton).
(VUU: RB Trevon Winston; QB Cheston Hickman; LB Hurley Hemphill).
BOWIE STATE AT VIRGINIA STATE: The Bulldogs had the Eastern Division title in their grasp, but let it slip away in the last six minutes of the game against VUU. Now, the Bulldogs must hope the Vikings knock off the Panthers and that they can defeat the Trojans. VSU will be highly motivated playing in front of its homecoming crowd and the chance to finish above .500 (6-4) for the year. The Bulldogs had been on a six-game conference win streak before being knocked off by the Panthers. They will need RB Rodney Webb to have another stellar game to defeat VSU. (1:30 p.m. at Ettrick, VA).
Players to watch: (BSU: WR Clifton Budd; RB
Rodney Webb: DB Terrence Peete).
(VSU: QB Leonard Johnson; DL Brandon Fortune; WR Brian Berry).
FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT LIVINGSTONE: The Broncos finished off the last piece of their Western Division title dream by handling St. Augustine's. It was easily the Broncos' best performance of the season. Defensively, the Broncos totally shut down St. Aug's offense, holding them without a touchdown. RB Richard Medlin now appears healthy and forms a formidable backfield with Calvin Harris. Livingstone looks to pull the shocker of the season by knocking off FSU in their final game of the year. The Blue Bears have gone winless thus far in 2009. (1:00 p.m. at Salisbury, NC).
JOHNSON C. SMITH AT SHAW: With FSU's division-clinching win on Saturday, Shaw's title run officially came to an end. Shaw had gone back to back the past two years, repeating as CIAA Football Champs. Shaw still could be fighting for a Division II playoff spot and an 8-2 overall record. JCSU has lost its last three contests after a promising start in the conference. WR Jeremy Franklin looks to cap another outstanding season against the Bears. (6:00 p.m. at Raleigh).
ST. AUGUSTINE'S AT CHOWAN: This is a battle for third place in the West. Chowan QB CJ Westler will be looking to cap an outstanding senior season (2587 yards passing, 23 TDs). St. Aug had a chance to remain in the fight for the West but fell hard to FSU, 56-6. (12:30 p.m. at Murfreesboro, NC).
LINCOLN AT ST. PAUL'S: Lincoln looks to win its final contest as a provisional Division II Member. Next season, the Lions should be a full Division II member and ready to compete for championships. St. Paul's looks to finish the season on a winning note. (1:00 p.m. at Lawrenceville, VA).
Remembering the
Championship Game:
A Look Back at the Last 10 Years of the
CIAA Football
Championship
The 2008 Championship Game: November 9, 2008
Durham, NC - Shaw's high scoring offense woke up in the second half and its nationally-ranked defense held Elizabeth City State in check as the Bears won their first-ever back-to-back CIAA titles in a 36-7 handling of the Vikings.
Up 13-7 to start the second half, the Bears (8-3) came in averaging 41.1 points per contest, struck early on a 48-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Travis Robinson to wideout Lenell King two plays into the third quarter.
The Bears built on their 19-7 lead with a field goal, a two-yard run by Aaron Ellison, and a touchdown pass from Robinson to James Pettway to finish the scoring. The ECSU Offense was held to only 238 yards (7-4).
