CIAA Football Week in Review
For the week ending October 1, 2005 (Week 6)

Falcons Ground High Flying Eagles

Saint Augustine’s 22, North Carolina 8
The buzz around the showdown between unbeaten Saint Augustine’s and North Carolina Central centered around whether the Falcons, whose defense was allowing a paltry 5.2 points a game, could slow down the high scoring Eagles, who came into the contest averaging a conference leading 39 points and almost 400 yards of total offense per game. Saint Augustine’s didn’t just slow North Carolina Central down, but ground the Eagles to a halt, holding them scoreless for the better part of three quarters in the Falcons 22-8 dismantling of the Eagles. Quarterback Darrell Nesbitt accounted for three touchdowns and 290 of Saint Augustine’s 370 yards of total offense, while the Falcons’ suffocating defense limited NCCU’s high-octane offense to a season-low 175 yards of total offense, including just 30 rushing yards.

The Falcons used a 23-yard field goal by Arthur Lemon, a 1-yard touchdown run by Nesbitt and a 37-yard touchdown from Nesbitt to Eddie Montgomery to open up a 16-0 halftime lead on the Eagles. In the third quarter, Nesbitt’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Montgomery, who had eight receptions for 129 yards, would cap a 43-yard scoring drive, as the Falcons opened up a 22-0 lead on the Eagles in front of a stunned Homecoming crowd of over 11,000. In the fourth quarter, a botched punt attempt by the Falcons gave the Eagles the ball at the Falcons’ 1-yard line. Greg Pruitt’s plunge from one yard out and a two-point conversion with 7:23 remaining, allowed the Eagles to avoid the shutout. With the win, Saint Augustine’s improves to 6-0, 3-0 CIAA and remains in a first place tie with Winston-Salem State in the hotly contested Western Division. The Eagles fall to 5-1 and are 2-1 in a divisional race that is far from over.

Livingstone 27, Johnson C. Smith 10
Jason Mitchell threw two touchdowns to Jo’von Bonneau and Chris Jeter rushed for 80 yards and a score as Livingstone got their first win of the season in a 27-10 road win over Johnson C. Smith.

Saint Paul’s 41, Virginia Union 35
Demetrius Brown passed for 153 yards and two scores as Saint Paul’s downed Virginia Union 41-35 in Lawrenceville.

Shaw 22, Bowie State 20
Devin Chapman’s 94-yard interception return with 28 seconds left in the game sealed the win as Shaw held off Bowie State 22-20 in Bowie, Maryland.

Virginia State 26, Elizabeth City State 6
In Petersburg, Jerome Choice caught four passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, including a 94-yarder, as Virginia State rolled to a 26-6 win over Elizabeth City State.

Winston-Salem State 26, Fayetteville State 24
Matt Hind kicked two fourth quarter field goals, including a 26-yarder with two seconds left in the game, as Winston-Salem State rallied to beat Fayetteville State 26-24 in Fayetteville.

Conference Scoreboard

Livingstone	27	Johnson C. Smith	10
Saint Augustine's	22	North Carolina Central	8
Saint Paul's	41	Virginia Union	35
Shaw	22	Bowie State	20
Virginia State	26	Elizabeth City State	6
Winston-Salem State	26	Fayetteville State	24

Receiver
Herb Jones – Virginia Union, WR, 6’2”, 180, SR, Virginia Beach, VA
Jones continues to put up impressive numbers as he hauled in 7 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 35-41 loss to Saint Paul’s College.

Offensive Back
Darrell Nesbitt - Saint Augustine’s, QB, 6’4”, SR, Walterboro, SC
In Saturday’s Western Division showdown between two undefeated teams, Nesbitt picked apart the Eagles’ secondary, completing 17 of 29 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons spoiled North Carolina Central’s Homecoming 22-8. He also carried the ball 19 times for 74 yards and one touchdown as the Falcons remain undefeated.

Defensive Lineman
Marcus Montgomery - Saint Augustine’s, DT, 6’3”, 280, JR, Oxen Hill, MD
Montgomery terrorized the Eagles’ offense with 8 total tackles (3 solo, 5 assisted), including 2.5 tackles for a loss of 13 yards, 1.5 tackles for a loss of 11 yards and had one pass breakup as the Falcons’ defense held North Carolina Central to 175 yards of total offense.

Defensive Back
Devin Chatman – Shaw, CB, 5’10”, 178, JR, Greensboro, NC
With 28 seconds remaining in the contest, Chatman picked off an interception and returned it for a 94-yard touchdown to seal the Bears victory over Bowie State. He finished the game with a career-high three interceptions, which he returned for 149 yards.

Rookie
Jerome Choice – Virginia State, WR, 6’2”, 205, FR, Richmond, VA
Choice had an impressive showing against Elizabeth City State with 4 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns as the Trojans defeated the Vikings 26-6.

Speciality
Shaun Gutierrez – Saint Paul’s, K/P, 5’11”, 230, FR, Oakland Park, FL
Gutierrez accounted for 11 of the 41 points scored by Saint Paul’s in Saturday’s game against Virginia Union. He converted on two field goals (26 & 35 yards) and connected on 5 of 5 extra point attempts to aid in the Tigers’ win.

Coach
Michael Costa – Saint Augustine’s
In the biggest match up this week, Coach Costa led the Falcons to an impressive 22-8 win over previously undefeated North Carolina Central to take sole possession of first place in the Western Division.