Big Games in Final SIAC and CIAA Regular Season Weekend to Determine Next Week's Football Championship Games; Rundown of ALL of Today's HBCU Games

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

It's the final regular season weekend in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and a handful of games will determine who will move on to conference championship games next weekend.

In the CIAA, as unlikely as it may have seemed most of this season, but Winston-Salem State could return to the conference championship game with a win over Fayetteville State Saturday.

A young Rams team has struggled this season, losing four of their first give games and carrying a 4-5 overall record heading into the weekend.  But the Rams lost to UNC Pembroke, Valdosta State, Tuskegee and Chowan, with the first three having strong changes to go to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

But since then, they have defeated CIAA South Division rivals Johnson C. Smith, St. Augustine's and Livingstone before last Saturday's overtime homecoming loss to Shaw.

"It's a one-game season, and there's nothing else to focus on but this one game," WSSU head coach Kienus Boulware told the Winston-Salem Journal.

Bowie State can win the Northern Division outright with a win over Elizabeth City State.  But if Bowie State loses and Virginia Union beats Virginia State today, then Union is headed to the title game.

Things are a little simpler in the SIAC as two games determine which teams will play in the conference title game on Nov. 14 in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Western Division representative will be determined in Tuskegee's homecoming game when they host a hot Miles team Saturday.  Both teams are 4-0 in SIAC play.  Tuskegee defeated Miles last year to advance to the title game.

"It's been 365 days since that we've been waiting for it, so now we get the opportunity," Miles head coach Reginald Ruffin said on the school's athletics web site.

"It's big. Every time I talk about it, I catch chills," Tuskegee star linebacker Jewell Ratliff told the Montgomery Advertiser. "It's a big one."

Miles started off the season with three straight losses to three of the nation's best Division II football programs in North Alabama, West Georgia and West Alabama.  But since then, the Golden Bears have won five of their last six games, including the last four.

Tuskegee, the nation's top Division II HBCU football team in the ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT football poll, has only lost this season to UNC-Pembroke, the 10th ranked team in the latest NCAA Division II Super Region III rankings.  But at 8-1 and sporting the SIAC's top offense and defense, Tuskegee is the third ranked team and is poised for another Division II playoff appearance, as well as representing the SIAC West in the conference title game with a win Saturday.

The winner faces the winner of the 26th Annual Fountain City Classic between Albany State and Fort Valley State.  Both teams are 5-3 overall and 3-0 in SIAC play.

Albany State started the season by losing three of their first four, though those losses came against three of the nation's top D-2 football programs in Valdosta State, Tuskegee and Delta State.  Since the 1-3 start, the Golden Rams have won four straight using a balanced offense and a stingy defense ranked second overall to Tuskegee in the SIAC.

Fort Valley State's three losses came in blowout losses to Delta State and Florida Tech and a heartbreaking 7-point defeat to Alderson Broaddus.  But their SIAC wins have all been convincing, including last week's 35-3 rout of Morehouse.





Here is the entire HBCU football schedule for Saturday

SIAC

Stillman at Kentucky State
Concordia (Ala) at Central State
Southeastern at Benedict
Lane at Morehouse
Clark Atlanta at Samford

MEAC

Stony Brook at Howard
Florida A&M at Hampton
North Carolina A&T at South Carolina State - South Carolina State is trying to claim a share of the MEAC lead with a huge game today.  A&T has only lost one conference game while A&T is still undefeated in conference play.  A loss will make last year's multi-team MEAC tie another possibility. NCAT's Tark Cohen only needs 88 yards to become the school's all-time leading rusher, but that'll be tough as the Bulldogs sport one of the MEAC's toughest defenses, particularly against the run.
Savannah State at Norfolk State
Delaware State at North Carolina Central - North Carolina Central needs to win today and next week against North Carolina A&T to challenge for the MEAC title. An NCAT loss today would be a huge help for the Eagles.
Morgan State at Bethune-Cookman - Morgan State's slim conference title hopes hinge on the next two games and a little help.  They've lost two MEAC games while Bethune-Cookman, sitting in second place, is 5-1.  Bethune-Cookman is hoping for a South Carolina State win over NCAT today, which would put them just short of first place (A&T narrowly defeated BCU in Octoer).

CIAA

Chowan at Lincoln (Pa)
Johnson C. Smith at Livingstone
St. Augustine's at Shaw

SWAC

Mississippi Valley State at Alabama A&M
Prairie View A&M at Alcorn State
Texas Southern at Grambling
Southern at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Alabama State at Jackson State

OTHERS

Murray State at Tennessee State
Cheyney at Millersville
West Virginia State at Concord
William Jewell at Lincoln (Mo)
Lyon at Texas College
Langston at Wayland Baptist

Tuskegee and North Carolina A&T Remain On Top of ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT Football Top Ten FCS and Division II Polls

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

FCS

1) North Carolina A&T
2) Grambling
3) Alcorn State
4) Bethune-Cookman
5) South Carolina State
6) Prairie View A&M
7) North Carolina Central
8) Hampton
9) Southern
10) Morgan State

Division II

1) Tuskegee
2) Bowie State
3) Virginia Union
4) Virginia State
5) Fort Valley State
6) Chowan
7) Albany State
8) Miles
9) Fayetteville State
10) Elizabeth City State/Winston-Salem State

Tuskegee Survives Defensive-Minded Central State; Recaps of EVERY HBCU Football Game from Saturday

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Central State may not have the sterling record, but Tuskegee knew what they were in for Saturday.

The Marauders, sporting the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's toughest defense, held Tuskegee, the nation's top-ranked Division II HBCU football team, to less than 300 yards of total offense in a hard-hitting game in which Central State actually led at halftime

But Tuskegee's defense was tougher as they held the Marauders to 133 offensive yards in a 19-7 win.

While Tuskegee quarterback Kevin Lacey threw a touchdown pass, he was only 7-of-20 for 129 yards on the day.  Running back Dennis Norfleet gave the Golden Tigers offense stability, gaining 106 tough yards on 14 carries.

Deonate Gary led the hard hitting Central State (4-5, 2-3 SIAC) defense with nine tackles, forced and recovered a fumble and had a quarterback hurry. Gervell Morton added eight tackles and a sack.

Tuskegee (8-1, 7-0 SIAC) got monster defense efforts from Jewell Ratliff, who had 19 tackles and an interception that he returned for a touchdown, and Osband Thompson who had 15 tackles and was in on a sack.

Ratliff's defense gave the Golden Tigers their first lead and energized his team.

"It was big, bigger than we think," Ratliff told the Montgomery Advertiser. "It was dead on our sideline.  Our energy wasn't like it usually is, but after that pick, I saw the energy pick up."

The Tuskegee victory, head coach Willie Slater's 90th, sets the stage for next week's battle with Miles to determine who will win the SIAC West Division and go to the Nov. 14 SIAC Championship game.

Central State closes out their season with Concordia (Ala).

Here are recaps of EVERY HBCU football game from Saturday

MEAC

North Carolina A&T 28, Florida A&M 10 - North Carolina A&T (7-1, 5-0 MEAC) won their sixth straight game and sits on top of the MEAC standings with a solid win over Florida A&M (1-7, 1-4 MEAC).  Tarik Cohen continued his stellar season with 163 yards and a TD rushing, along with catching two passes for 25 yards.  Cohen is only 88 yards away from becoming A&T's all-time rushing leader.  The Rattlers on the other hand only had four yards rushing all day.
North Carolina Central 24, Norfolk State 16 - Dorrel McClain rushed for 93 yards and two TDs while Malcolm Bell passed for 193 yards and a touchdown as North Carolina Central (5-3, ?-? MEAC) outscored Norfolk State (2-6, ?-? MEAC) 17-9 in a wild fourth quarter to get the win. Greg Hankerson Jr. led Norfolk State with 89 yards and two touchdowns rushing and 230 yards passing.
Bethune-Cookman 49, Delaware State 21 - Bethune-Cookman (7-2, 5-1 MEAC) rushed for 353 yards and five touchdowns as they powered their way over winless Delaware State (0-8, 0-5 MEAC). Larry Brihm led the Wildcats with 141 yards and two TDs rushing while Michael Jones added 98 yards and a TD.  Quentin Williams also threw two touchdown passes.  The Wildcats are a game behind A&T in the conference championship race.
Howard 55, Savannah State 9 - Howard (1-7, 1-5 MEAC) got their first win of the season as quarterback Kalen Johnson threw for 219 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score. Leon Prunty threw a TD to lead Savannah State (1-6, 1-4 MEAC).
South Carolina State 34, Hampton 20 - Jalen Simmons rushed for 135 yards while Caleb York threw three touchdowns to lead South Carolina State (5-3, 4-1 MEAC) to the win. Jerrell Antoine led Hampton (4-5, 3-3 MEAC) with two touchdowns passing and another TD rushing.  South Carolina State sits in a third place tie with North Carolina Central in the MEAC race.

CIAA

Virginia State 32, Chowan 28 - After being down 28-13 midway through the third quarter, Virginia State (6-3, 4-2 CIAA) scored 19 unanswered points to get the comeback win. Jordan Watkins had thrown two TD passes and ran for another touchdown to lead Chowan (5-4, 3-3 CIAA) to the early lead. Trenton Cannon rushed for 105 yards and a TD for VSU while Tyree Lee had 108 yards and a TD on the ground for Chowan.
Shaw 32, Winston-Salem State 25 (2OT) - A tough season for a young Winston-Salem State (4-5, 4-2 CIAA) team continues as Marquise Grizzle ran a 25-yard TD in the game's second overtime and Bruce Parker Jr. intercepted a WSSU pass to give Shaw (1-8, 1-5 CIAA) their first win of the season, spoiling WSSU's homecoming day. Grizzle rushed for 209 yards and became Shaw's all-time rushing leader.  Terrence Shambry threw for 267 yards and three TDs for Shaw.
Livingstone 42, Fayetteville State 35  (OT) - Latrell Flowers ran a two-yard TD in overtime and then Billy Moore picked off a Fayetteville State pass to give Livingstone (4-3, 3-3 CIAA) the win. Drew Powell led Livingstone with 364 yards and two TDs passing and two more touchdowns rushing.  Derek Bryant led Fayetteville State (4-5, 4-2 CIAA) with 262 yards and two touchdowns passing.
Virginia Union 43, Elizabeth City State 31- Shaheem Dowdy threw for 221 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score as Virginia Union (7-2, 5-1 CIAA) held off Elizabeth City State (4-4, 2-4 CIAA). Daquan Neal led ECSU with 255 yards and two TDs passing and rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson C. Smith 22, St. Augustine's 3 - Johnson C. Smith (4-5, 3-3 CIAA) gave up only 141 yards of offense and forced five turnovers as they kept St. Augustine's (0-9, 0-6 CIAA) winless.  The Golden Bulls defense returned a fumble for a TD and had a safety.
Bowie State 57, Lincoln (Pa) 3 - A balanced Bowie State offense rumbled past Lincoln (Pa) (3-6, 1-5 CIAA). Bowie State (8-1, 6-0 CIAA) was led by Nyeema Washington's three touchdown passes and one rushing TD, along with Kendall Jefferson's 95 yards and two TDs rushing.  Bowie State clinched a spot in the CIAA championship game as they own the tie-breaker with second place Virginia Union and Virginia State in the CIAA North.

SWAC

Alcorn State 48, Southern 7 - A week after a big loss to Grambling, Alcorn State (5-2, 4-1 SWAC) had no problem with Southern (4-4, 4-2 SWAC).  It's Alcorn State's fifth consecutive win over Southern.
Jackson State 23, Mississippi Valley State 16 - Jackson State (3-5, 3-4 SWAC) got 17 fourth quarter points to keep Mississippi Valley State (0-9, 0-7 SWAC) winless. Jordan Williams rushed for a TD while La Montiez Ivy threw a 24 yard TD during that fourth quarter. Ryan Deising had four field goals for JSU.  Slade Jarman threw a TD and rushed for another to lead MVSU.
Alabama State 35, Alabama A&M 20 - Daniel Duhart threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for three other scores to lead Alabama State (4-4, 4-3 SWAC) to the win. Brandon Eldemire rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns to lead Alabama A&M (2-5, 2-3 SWAC).
Prairie View A&M 54, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 29 - Trey Green threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another TD to lead Prairie View (5-2, 5-1 SWAC) to the win. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-7, 0-6 SWAC) was led by Brandon Duncan's 308 yards and three TDs passing.
College of Faith at Texas Southern - GAME WAS CANCELLED

SIAC

Fort Valley State 35, Morehouse 3 - The Morehouse (4-5, 2-3 SIAC) offense sputtered as they mustered only 137 yards of offense against a ferocious Fort Valley State defense on homecoming day. Meanwhile Malcolm Eady threw two touchdown passes while Otis Brown tossed another and ran for a TD to lead Fort Valley State (5-3, 5-0 SIAC).
Albany State 35, Benedict 9 - Albany State (5-3, 3-0 SIAC) held Benedict (0-9, 0-4 SIAC) to -17 yards rushing and didn't allow a touchdown as the Rams got an easy win.  Jarvis Small continued his strong running, rushing for 103 yards and a TD. Caleb Edmonds added 80 yards and a TD on the ground and threw for 182 yards and another touchdowns. Tavarius Washington led the Albany State defense with 12 tackles while Darien Corley had 2.5 sacks and recovered a fumble. Mason Duckett led Benedict with 193 yards passing.
Lane 21, Kentucky State 14 - After being down 14-0 at halftime, Lane (3-6, 2-5 SIAC) scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to defeat Kentucky State (2-7, 2-4 SIAC).  Marcus Reynolds threw two second half TD passes while Carias Moore added two field goals. Kentucky State's Reginal Harris rushed for 142 yards and two TDs.
Miles 37, Stillman 7 -
Clark Atlanta at Concordia (Ala) - NO CONTEST BECAUSE OF WEATHER

OTHERS

Tennessee State 20, Austin Peay 6 - The Tennessee State (4-4, 1-4 OVC) looked like the TSU defense of old as they only allowed a pair of field goals in getting their first conference win. Blair Edwards led the TSU defense with 13 tackles, six of them solo.
UNC-Pembroke 45, West Virginia State 21 - UNC Pembroke erased an early 6-point deficit with five unanswered touchdowns and cruised to the win. Patrick O'Brien, who threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns, and B.J. Bunn hooked up from for three TD passes during that streak. Matt Kinnick threw for two TDs for West Virginia State (5-4, 5- MEC).
Panhandle State 62, Texas College 7 - Thirty-four first quarter points ended this game early. Panhandle State had 570 yards in total offense to rout Texas College (1-7, 1-3 CSFL).  Shane Truelove threw three touchdowns, Brandon Ramon tossed two and Eddie Thomas added one the Panhandle State passing game accounted for 379 yards.
McKendree 65, Lincoln (Mo) 0 - Issac Fisher threw for 308 yards and three TDs and rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown to lead McKendree to the rout of Lincoln (Mo) (1-8, 0-6 GLVC). McKendree had 31 first downs and 587 yards of offense.
West Chester 41, Cheyney 20 - Cheyney (0-9, 0-6 PSAC) kept it close early, but couldn't handle a balanced West Chester offense in the end.  Pat Moriarty threw for 251 yards and three TDs while Eerin Young rushed for 131 yards.  Dominick Trautz threw for only 74 yards for Cheyney, but three of his seven completions were for touchdowns.
Langston 48, Lyon 14 - Langston (5-3, 3-1 CSFL) piled up 537 yards of offense as they sped past Lyon for the win. Mark Wright rushed for 129 yards while Kendrick Robertson added 103 yards and two touchdowns for Langston.  Langston will need wins in their final two games to keep hopes alive for a CSFL conference title.