The CIAA Championship Game 1970-2005:
"Celebrating the Birth of an Original"
The Championship Game - November 5 - Durham

WEEK 2 - SEPTEMBER 3 - BACKYARD BRAWL IN RALEIGH!!

Both Shaw and St. Augustine's should be highly motivated for Saturday's contest. Shaw, the defending conference champ, was victim of a 34-6 pasting by the Falcons last season. The Bears will be looking to exact revenge. However, St. Aug wants to prove that they are a contender in the league and what better way to do that then to knock off their cross-town rival. The non-conference slate is also exciting as the CIAA faces both the powerful South Atlantic and the MEAC with three games respectively.

GAME OF THE WEEK: ST. AUGUSTINE'S VS. SHAW: The Bears dropped a difficult home opener to perennial power Carson-Newman. While QB Jermonty Kimbrough threw for a whopping 433 yards against the Eagles, he also threw three interceptions. Those turnovers doomed the Bears against the explosive Carson-Newman offense. Shaw, the nation's top-ranked defense in ‘04, gave up a surprising 535 yards. The Bears will have to play better on that side of the ball if they hope to chalk up victory number one in ‘05. St. Augustine's played well in their opener against Lane. QB Darrell Nesbitt threw for three scores against Lane, but the passing lanes will be a little more contested against the Bears. WR Eddie Montgomery had a banner day with 102 yards receiving and two touchdowns against the Dragons. The Bears will need to gain more than 65 yards on the ground if they want to finally knock off St. Aug. The one-two punch of Byron Cary and Dion McIver should play better this weekend. (1:30 p.m. at Raleigh).

Players to watch: (Shaw: QB Jermonty Kimbrough, DB Torrance Nunnally, RB Byron Cary).
(St. Augustine's: QB Darrell Nesbitt, WR Eddie Montgomery, LB Tyrone Pettaway).

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL VS. NORTH CAROLINA A&T: The Eagles have been marking this contest on their calendar since last year's shocking last-minute defeat to the Aggies. The Eagles fumbled away a 15-13 lead with a minute to go in last year's Aggie-Eagle Classic. A&T took advantage of the gift and promptly kicked a 50-yard game winning field goal as time ticked off the clock. However, both teams went in different directions afterwards. The Eagles finished the season with an 8-2 record. The Aggies stumbled to 3-8. NCCU displayed its potent offense against Edward Waters in a 70-12 rout. QB Adrian Warren, the ‘04 CIAA Player of the Year, threw for a school record seven touchdowns and looked to be in mid-season form last weekend. NCCU has two All-American caliber receivers in Torey Ross and Julius McClelland. Both scored three times last weekend. QB Marshall Glenn will lead the A&T offense and he will look to get the ball to WR Brandon Trusty. This is the season opener for the Aggies. (Sept 5; 1:30 p.m. at Raleigh).

Players to watch: (NCCU: QB Adrian Warren, WR Torey Ross, RB Greg Pruitt).
(NC A&T: QB Marshall Glenn, LB Chamar Milton, WR Brandon Trusty).

VIRGINIA STATE AT NORFOLK STATE: After dropping five in a row to the Spartans, the Trojans have won the last two against NSU. However, VSU dropped a disappointing 24-6 opener at Shepherd and must rebound against their cross-state rival. NSU ushers in the Pete Adrian era as he begins his stint as head coach. However, Adrian begins without All-American LB Kevin Talley. The two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Talley was a defensive force to be reckoned with. QB Michael Terry and WR PJ Berry are one of the conference's best pass-catch combos. However, the defensive-minded Trojans must play better against the Spartans if they hope to keep their Labor Day Classic streak intact. (6:00 p.m. at Norfolk).

Players to watch: (Norfolk State: RB Terrell Johnson, LB Jason Dent, OL Tyrus Lassiter)
(Virginia State: QB Michael Terry, WR PJ Berry, DB Pierre Lee).

FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT PRESBYTERIAN: Presbyterian was impressive in ‘04 finishing in a four-way tie for second in the powerful South Atlantic last season. The Blue Hose should provide a formidable test for the CIAA runner-up Broncos. FSU got off to a strong start
by handling Virginia Union 53-26 in their season opener. However, PC will provide a much more stern test. Defensively, PC returns All-SAC selections DL Sherman Burnett, DB Quasi Gary, and Chad Burgess. FSU QB Jonathan Autry passed for a very efficient 190 yards and two scores last weekend. WR Dentyl Jackson is his top target. RB Amir Holding returned to the team after a tumultuous ‘04 and ran for 83 yards. (3:30 p.m. at Clinton, SC).

Players to watch: (Fayetteville State: QB Jonathan Autry, WR Dentyl Jackson, LB Lemuel Watkins) (PC: DL Sherman Burnett, DB Quasi Gary, DB Chad Burgess).

LIVINGSTONE AT CATAWBA: The Blue Bears got off to a difficult start to the season with a 51-6 loss to Elizabeth City State. However, bouncing back will be difficult with Catawba looming as the next opponent. The Indians have been one of the powers of the Southeast Region for a while and will be opening up at home. However, conference brother Winston-Salem State gave Catawba all they wanted before falling 20-10 last weekend. This cross-town rivalry has been a lopsided one recently in favor of Catawba. (1:30 p.m. at Salisbury, NC).

Players to watch: (Livingstone: WR Chris Jeter, QB Jason Mitchell, RB Corbey Jones).
(Catawba: WR Corey Ready, WR Rod Tenor, DL Kolby Fisher).

ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN: ECSU got off to an eye-opening start with a 51-6 handling of Livingstone. This was the first season opening win for the Vikings since 1995. QB Rayburn Morris was impressive passing for 120 yards and rushing for 93 against the Blue Bears. WR Chris Carter was also impressive hauling in 149 yards in catches. Defensively, LB Emmanuel Plummer led the charge with 10 tackles against Livingstone. However, MEAC power Bethune-Cookman will be a tall order for the Vikings. QB Jarod Rucker returns to lead the Wildcats who have had six straight winning seasons in Daytona Beach. (4:00 p.m. at Daytona Beach, FL).

Players to watch: (ECSU: QB Rayburn Morris, DL Greg Moore, WR Chris Carter).
(BCC: QB Jarod Rucker, RB Eric Weems, DB Larry Summers).

WINSTON-SALEM STATE AT HOWARD: WSSU coming off a 4-6 season was impressive in shutting out mighty Catawba for three quarters. However, the Indian offense came alive in the fourth quarter for 20 points. However, WSSU must be encouraged by the play of its defense which was not one of their strengths in ‘04. The two-headed 1,000 rushing attack of Jed Bines and Martin Hicks returns. Howard can counter with its own running attack with Antoine Rutherford and Keon Coleman. Defensively, the Bison also return seven starters. (1:00 p.m. at Washington, DC).

Players to watch: (WSSU: RB Jed Bines, RB Martin Hicks, LB Samuel Robinson).
(HU: RB Antoine Rutherford, DB Anthony Bethea, OL Richard Dorceus).

VIRGINIA UNION AT NEWBERRY: Virginia Union had a difficult opening weekend against Fayetteville State. Now the Panthers must make a difficult trip to Newberry. Last season, Newberry was strong offensively and QB Josh Stepp returns. Stepp passed for an impressive 2,829 yards last year. Receivers Tymere Zimmerman and Antwan Surratt are an imposing duo for the Indians. VUU will need to get increased production from QB John Grier, and RB Elihu Smith. Defensively, VUU will need a much better effort if they hope to slow down the Newberry Offense. (7:00 p.m. at Newberry, SC).

Players to watch: (Virginia Union: RB Elihu Smith, QB John Grier, WR Michael Hampton).
(Newberry, QB Josh Stepp, OL Zack Farr, WR Antwan Surratt).

JOHNSON C. SMITH AT BOWIE STATE: Bowie State opened impressively against West Virginia State. RB Issac Redman rushed for an impressive 145 yards. Defensively, BSU appeared to be like their old selves giving up only a touchdown. JCSU suffered a difficult loss to Glenville State and will have an even tougher challenge against BSU. (1:00 p.m. at Bowie, MD).

(JCSU: DB George Pope III, WR Anthony Daigle, WR Marquis Belton).
(Bowie State: QB Lamar Manigo, RB Issac Redman, LB Sherman White).

ST. PAUL'S AT CENTRAL STATE: Both schools are rejuvenating their football programs. However, the Dayton City Classic will be a home game for the Marauders. (6:00 p.m. at Dayton, OH)