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

WEEK 4 - THE CIAA SEASON BEGINS WITH CROSS-DIVISIONAL BATTLES HIGHLIGHTING WEEK 4

Last weekend, the CIAA closed out its non-conference season impressively. The conference had been 0-for against the South Atlantic Conference since 2001. However, two impressive road wins by St. Augustine's and North Carolina Central abruptly ended that streak. Also, Bowie State avenged last year's bitter loss to Morgan State with a 35-21 thumping of the Bears in Baltimore. This weekend the conference season begins with some exciting cross-divisional matchups.

GAME OF THE WEEK: SHAW VS. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL: This game will be played at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, but is technically a home game for Shaw. The Eagles ended their non-conference slate impressively with a win at Lenoir-Rhyne. The Eagles, having to play two games in less than a week survived the raucous, night-time crowd in Hickory to pull out a hard-fought overtime win. However, this is where the hard work begins for the Eagles. Four consecutive home contests against Shaw, Bowie State, St. Augustine's and Fayetteville State will prove if NCCU has championship muster. However, first up are the Defending CIAA Champs and they will certainly not be in awe of NCCU after their ‘04 success. The Bears (1-2) have not had gotten off to the start they would have liked. Nevertheless, the CIAA season can start off with a bang by knocking off the undefeated Eagles in Durham. In order to rekindle their championship hopes, the Bears must get better running football. With both Dion McIver and Byron Cary returning, the Bear running attack was believed to be a strength. However, Shaw has yet to break 100 yards rushing this season. NCCU will counter with one of the nation's most balanced attacks. QB Adrian Warren has been brilliant thus far in ‘05 (9 tds, 2 ints) and RB Greg Pruitt has played well. (5:00 p.m. at Durham).

Players to watch: (Shaw: QB Jermonty Kimbrough, RB Dion McIver, WR Mark Bransom).
(NCCU: QB Adrian Warren, RB Greg Pruitt, WR Torey Ross, DL Ronald Dowdy).

VIRGINIA STATE AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S: This just in...the Falcons are the surprise of the CIAA Football Season. Last weekend's upset at Mars Hill ended the CIAA's long losing streak to the South Atlantic Conference (NCCU beat Lenoir-Rhyne later that evening). The victory also avenged last season's 63-12 thrashing that St. Aug took at the hands of the Lions. Defensively, the Falcons have given up only 12 points in three contests. Offensively, QB Darrell Nesbitt has played an All-American brand of football for St. Aug. His top target, WR Eddie Montgomery, has caught at least one touchdown pass in each of their wins. VSU has been up and down thus far in 2005. Two disappointing losses to Shepherd and Catawba sandwich an impressive win over Norfolk State. The Trojans will need to play their "A" game to slow down St. Aug. Defensively, VSU will rely on LB Dewayne Taylor and DB Pierre Lee to defend against the SAC passing attack. (1:30 p.m. at Raleigh).

Players to watch: (Virginia State: QB Michael Terry, WR PJ Berry, DB Pierre Lee).
(St. Aug: QB Darrell Nesbitt, WR Eddie Montgomery, RB Dennis Jones).

FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT ST. PAUL'S: FSU rebounded well from their loss to Presbyterian on Saturday with their impressive win over Elizabeth City State. The Broncos will have a challenge against St. Paul's however. The Tigers have played well since their opening day loss at Western New Mexico. They fell just short at Cheyney State. FSU will look to begin the conference season strong by opening with a road win against SPC. FSU QB Jonathan Autry will need to play more consistently in order to get the Broncos back to the top of the Western Division in 2005. He has found a #1 target to replace the departed Daryl Bright in Veon McHam (4 td catches). This one will be played in Martinsville, VA as part of the Clyde Williams Classic. (1:00 p.m. at Martinsville, VA).

Players to watch: (Fayetteville State: QB Jonathan Autry, LB Lemuel Watkins, DB Anthony Hicks). (St. Paul's: QB Terrell Bailey, WR Walter Virgil, DB Greg Toller).

VIRGINIA UNION AT JOHNSON C. SMITH: The Golden Bulls have gotten off to an 0-3 start thus far but have fought well in all of their losses. Last weekend's 26-11 loss to Benedict in Columbia was one in which JCSU played well, however, the Golden Bulls are hungry for a win. VUU got into the win column at Livingstone last weekend after getting a stellar rushing effort from RB Elihu Smith. Also, QB John Grier played well against the Blue Bears. JCSU will have another shot for a home win versus VUU, and end their long losing streak. (6:00 p.m. at Charlotte).

Players to watch: (Virginia Union: RB Elihu Smith, WR Herb Jones, QB John Grier).
(Johnson C. Smith: RB Andre Williams, DB George Pope, WR Marquis Belton).

ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT WINSTON-SALEM STATE: The Vikings ran into a veritable buzzsaw at Fayetteville last weekend. After handling Livingstone and playing well at Bethune-Cookman, ECSU had hopes of upsetting FSU. Instead, they were handed their worst loss of the season 39-6. WSSU will also have to get up from tough defeat at South Carolina State. The Rams will look for a turnaround after an 0-3 start to the season. The running combination of Jed Bines and Martin Hicks have not lived up to expectations thus far in ‘05. Last year, both Bines and Hicks rushed for over 1,000 yards. This season, neither Hicks or Bines have rushed for 100 yards. ECSU frosh QB Rayburn Morris got a hostile welcome from conference foe FSU. However, consider this conference opener for both teams a tossup. (6:00 p.m. at Winston-Salem).

Players to watch: (Elizabeth City State: DL Greg Moore, QB Rayburn Morris, WR Marvin Jackson). (Winston-Salem State: RB Jed Bines, RB Martin Hicks, QB Monte Purvis).

LIVINGSTONE AT BOWIE STATE: Bowie State avenged a bitter loss to Morgan State on Saturday, playing perhaps its greatest offensive game ever. The Bulldogs were in total control of the game from the outset taking a commanding 28-0 lead over their MEAC neighbors from nearby Baltimore. RB Issac Redman was spectacular against MSU rushing for a BSU-record 209 yards including a 99-yard second quarter touchdown run which sealed the deal against the Bears. BSU will live and die with its rushing attack. The massive Bulldog offensive line will give any team in the CIAA fits. Defensively, BSU has rekindled its play of old holding teams to 12.3 points per game. The 21 points scored by Morgan State last weekend were mere gap closers and made the result more respectable for Bear fans. Livingstone has struggled so far this season but will have a chance to begin the conference season on a high note with a win over the heavily-favored Bulldogs. (1:00 p.m. at Bowie, MD).

Players to watch: (Livingstone: WR Chris Jeter, LB Keith Webster, RB Corbey Jones).
(Bowie State: QB Lamar Manigo, RB Issac Redman, DL Sterling Green).