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

WEEK 3 - ECSU-FSU CLASH HIGHLIGHTS WEEKEND OF INTERCONFERENCE CONTESTS

Important interconference matchups highlight Week 3. However, this weekend's contest between Elizabeth City State and Fayetteville State is of importance to both teams. While the conference season does not begin until September 17, this will be an important barometer game to see where both teams will stack up in the league this season. Also, this is the last weekend for league teams to prepare for what will be a tough and rigorous conference season.

GAME OF THE WEEK: ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE:ECSU and Fayetteville State both suffered losses last weekend, but both teams must feel different about their 1-1 records. ECSU appears to be a team on the rise after an impressive 51-6 handling of Livingstone. The Vikings fought well at MEAC power Bethune-Cookman before falling 34-7. FSU won as expected against Virginia Union, but suffered a disheartening loss to South Atlantic foe Presbyterian. Frosh QB Rayburn Morris has played well for the Vikings. He is averaging 81 yards per game rushing and has passed for three scores. He will need to play well if ECSU hopes to knock off the Broncos. Defensively, the strength of the Vikings is their defensive line with Maceo Thomas and All-CIAA performer DL Greg Moore. FSU has been the CIAA's dominant team since 2002. In fact, the Broncos have not lost to a CIAA opponent at home since 2001. They will have a battle to extend that streak against ECSU. QB Jonathan Autry will have to play better then he did at Presbyterian. Defensively, the Broncos have given up nearly 31 points per contest and must play up to their past standards if they look to return to the Championship Game in November. (6:00 p.m. at Fayetteville).

Players to watch: (Elizabeth City State: DL Greg Moore, QB Rayburn Morris, WR Marvin Jackson) (Fayetteville State: DB Anthony Hicks, QB Jonathan Autry, RB Amir Holding).


CATAWBA AT VIRGINIA STATE: The Trojans bounced back in a big way from their opening day defeat at Glenville State. VSU hammered MEAC foe Norfolk State 34-6 at Norfolk. The Trojans forced four turnovers and held NSU to 235 total yards of offense. However, their hands will be full against Division II power Catawba. Defensively, the Indians will bring a stout defense to Petersburg. DL Kolby Fisher and LB SaMarion Houston will lead the way. Offensively, QB Michael Terry will need help from runners Nick Fleming and Dennis Jones to solve the tough Catawba defense. This is an important matchup for the Trojans and they hope homefield advantage will help them pull the upset. (6:00 p.m. at Petersburg).

Players to watch: (Catawba: DL Kolby Fisher, WR Corey Ready, WR Rod Tenor).
(Virginia State: WR PJ Berry, QB Micheal Terry, DL Darius Robinson).

BOWIE STATE AT MORGAN STATE: Last year's 41-35 loss was a bitter pill for the Bulldogs to swallow. Two touchdowns were called back and other questionable calls were made that put a damper on an otherwise hard-fought game. However, the Bulldogs must have question marks after their surprising 12-9 escape against Johnson C. Smith. After their 40-point explosion against West Virginia State, BSU struggled last weekend. The question is which BSU team will show up? Luckily for the Bulldogs MSU QB Bradshaw Littlejohn has graduated. Littlejohn gave the Bulldogs a fit last year and was almost unstoppable with his arm and feet. Defensively, BSU has only given up 16 points in its first two contests and looks to rise to the occasion against nearby MSU in Baltimore. (6:00 p.m. at Baltimore).

Players to watch: (Morgan State: RB Jason Jackson, DB Larry Davis, WR Kelvin Dickens).
(Bowie State: RB Issac Redman, DL Tyreve Smith, DB Sterling Green).

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL AT LENOIR-RHYNE: The Eagles defeated A&T 23-22, avenging last year's last-second 16-15 defeat. However, the game was played on Monday and they have only a five-day turnaround from a hard-fought contest. LRC will not be a pushover for the Eagles. In fact, the Bears had 10 pre-season All-SAC picks for ‘05. The powerful SAC has not lost a contest to the CIAA this season and they will hope to extend that streak. The Eagles are arguably the most-balanced offense in the league with QB Adrian Warren and RB Greg Pruitt. WR Torey Ross also ripped off the game-winning 46 yard touchdown run against A&T with 2:42 left in the contest. LRC also pulled off a surprising 32-27 win at Kentucky State on Saturday. (7:00 p.m. at Hickory, NC).

Players to watch: (Lenoir-Rhyne: RB Andrew Tudor, TE Matt Winters, LB Tim Clarke).
(NCCU: QB Adrian Warren, DL Ronald Dowdy, RB Greg Pruitt).

ST. AUGUSTINE'S AT MARS HILL: Last year's 63-12 rout by Mars Hill over St. Aug was a house of horrors for the Falcons. Not only did they suffer an embarrassing defeat in front of their home fans, but they lost QB Darrell Nesbitt for the season due to injury. The Falcons have come out of the box well in ‘05. After an opening victory over SIAC foe Lane, St. Aug followed up that win with a 33-0 pasting of defending conference champ Shaw. The pass-catch combo of Nesbitt and WR Eddie Montgomery has been dominant thus far this season. Montgomery has caught four touchdowns and is averaging an eye-popping 35 yards per catch. The speedster is one of the nation's top deep threats. This is a statement game for St. Aug. If they can knock off Mars Hill, a message will be sent to the rest of the region that St. Aug must be reckoned with.
(1:30 p.m. at Mars Hill, NC).

Players to watch: (Mars Hill: RB Antoine Jones, DL Anrae Fevier, DL Spencer Bobian)
(St. Augustine's: QB Darrell Nesbitt, WR Eddie Montgomery, LB Tyrone Pettaway).

WINSTON-SALEM STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE: The Rams continue their tough non-conference slate at South Carolina State. The Rams have dropped two consecutive contests toCatawba and Howard. Last weekend, WSSU could not get much going against Howard, and will have a tough time contending with SCSU in Orangeburg. The Bulldogs won their season opener against Alabama State of the SWAC. The Bulldogs are one of the MEAC favorites. WSSU will have to get their running game going again if they want to contend with SCSU. (6:00 p.m. at Orangeburg).

Players to watch: (RB DeShawn Baker, DL Joseph Dickson, WR Rondriekas Darby)
(WSSU: RB Jed Bines, RB Martin Hicks, QB Monte Purvis).

JOHNSON C. SMITH AT BENEDICT: JCSU played arguably their most competitive game in a season against Bowie State. The Golden Bulls held a 9-0 advantage against Bowie State in the fourth quarter before giving up two scores and losing 12-9. Defensively, DB Travis Johnson had two picks against BSU. However, Benedict will provide a tough test in the Palmetto Capital City Classic. Benedict defeated Savannah State 31-14 handily on Saturday. This will be a tough test for JCSU before their conference season begins. (5:00 p.m. at Columbia, SC).

Players to watch: (JCSU: WR Marquis Belton, LB Chris Nelson, RB Larry Ledbetter).

SHAW AT EDWARD WATERS: The question around the league is what has happened to Shaw? After a hard-fought loss to powerful Carson-Newman at home, the Bears laid a 33-0 egg against St. Aug. Last year's top-ranked defense nationally has given up 78 points in their first two contests. Edward Waters should provide the Bears the opportunity to right the ship, however, if they look to defend their title on November 5 in Durham, they must flip on the power button. The once-reliable QB Kimbrough has thrown six interceptions and his receiving corps has failed him as well. Runners Byron Cary and Dion McIver have also not showed up in ‘05. If the Bears look to right the ship they must do it now. (1:00 p.m. at Jacksonville, FL).

Players to watch: (QB Jermonty Kimbrough, RB Dion McIver, DB Torrance Nunnally).

VIRGINIA UNION AT LIVINGSTONE: VUU has given up 108 points in losses to Fayetteville State and Newberry and has only scored 32 points. QB John Grier and RB Elihu Smith must provide some offensive spark against the Blue Bears. LC was competitive against Catawba last weekend, but they eventually were worn down by the superior Indian team. However, defensively LC showed signs of improvement after last weekend's 51-6 drubbing by ECSU. This is a pivotal game for both teams as they enter the season. (6:00 p.m. at Salisbury, NC).

Players to watch: (VUU: QB John Grier, RB Elihu Smith, LB Davon Clark).
(Livingstone: WR Chris Jeter, LB Dalvon Mack, LB Keith Webster).

ST. PAUL'S AT CHEYNEY STATE: It did not take long for the Tigers to get into the win column. SPC knocked off Central State in Dayton 24-6. QB Demetrius Brown and RB Terrell Bailey have played well thus far. However, they must travel to Cheyney State. (1:00 p.m. at Cheyney, PA).

Players to watch: (SPC: RB Terrell Bailey, QB Demetrius Brown, LB Phillip Jackson).