By ADD SEYMOUR JR.
MEAC
North Carolina A&T 52, Bethune-Cookman 35 - A 28-point fourth quarter that included two Tarik Cohen touchdown runs lifted North Carolina A&T (5-1, 3-0 MEAC) over Bethune-Cookman (0-5, 0-3 MEAC). The third of three Larry Brihm to Frank Brown touchdown passes had given Bethune-Cookman a 28-24 lead early in the fourth quarter. Cohen finished with 220 yards and three TDs on the ground for his third straight 200-yard game. Lamar Raynard threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Bethune-Cookman was led by Brhim, who had 376 yards passing and four touchdowns.
South Carolina State 14, Howard 9 - Caleb York's 5-yard touchdown pass to Mykal Moody early in the fourth quarter lifted South Carolina State (2-3, 2-0 MEAC) over Howard (1-6, 1-3 MEAC) in a hard-fought game. The Howard defense only gave up 174 yards of offense to South Carolina State but a mishandled snap by Howard punter Damon Gillespie deep in their own territory set up South Carolina State for a short, 23-yard drive to get the winning touchdown. Darius Leonard had 14 tackles and had two of South Carolina State's five interceptions. Philip Henry also picked off two Howard passes. Howard's Anthony Philyaw was the game's offensive leader with 160 yards rushing. Jalen Day had ten solo tackles for Howard.
North Carolina Central 33, Savannah State 3 - Malcolm Bell threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another TD as North Carolina Central (5-2, 4-0 MEAC) shut down Savannah State (1-4, 1-2 MEAC). Jalen Wilkes caught six of Bell's passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. The NCCU defense only gave up 141 yards and had six sacks. Isaiah Bennett had 11 tackles and an interception for Savannah State while Marquis Smith added ten tackles, two sacks and four tackles for losses.
Florida A&M 41, Delaware State 27 - Florida A&M (2-5, 2-2 MEAC) had 21 fourth-quarter points to break open a 20-20 fourth-quarter tie to pull away for the win over Delaware State (0-6, 0-3 MEAC). During that period, Ryan Stanley ran for a touchdown and threw another while Orlando McKinney picked off a DSU pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. Stanley rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 204 yards and a touchdown. Delaware State rushed for 325 yards on the day, with Brycen Alleyne rushing for 169 yards and two TDs and Mike Waters adding 150 on the ground. Delaware State outgained FAMU, 510 yards to 368.
Hampton 21, Morgan State 12 - Jaylien Williamson threw two touchdowns and caught one from receiver Twarn Mixon as Hampton (3-3, 3-1 MEAC) picked up the homecoming win over Morgan State (2-3, 2-1 MEAC). The Hampton defense shut down Morgan State in the second half to keep the game close as Williamson sealed the win. Devin Vandyke and Steven Smith both had 11 tackles for Hampton. Chris Andrews threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns for Morgan State.
CIAA
Chowan 54, Virginia Union 21 - Chowan (5-2, 3-1 CIAA) jumped out to a 27-0 lead early in the second quarter behind three Tyree Lee touchdowns and cruised from from there to defeat Virginia Union (4-3, 3-1 CIAA). Randall Dixon had a huge day for Chowan, throwing for 412 yards and two touchdowns, one of them to Lee, who rushed for 154 yards and ran for four touchdowns. Tyrone Carter caught eight passes for 194 yards. Virginia Union's Shawheem Dowdy threw for 380 yards and two touchdown passes as he threw 68 passes on the day. Chowan only allowed Virginia Union to rush for 23 yards.
Fayetteville State 37, Johnson C. Smith 21 - Stevie Green rushed for 234 yards and a touchdown as Fayetteville State (2-5, 2-2 CIAA) outscored Johnson C. Smith (1-6, 1-4 CIAA) 27-7 in the second half to get the win. Devin Knudson threw two TDs including one during that second half. Harold Herbin led Johnson C. Smith with two touchdown passes and one rushing.
Bowie State 38, Virginia State 37 - Amir Hall's two-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter proved to be the difference maker as Bowie State (5-2, 4-0 CIAA) erased a 17-point second half deficit to win a battle of the CIAA's top two teams over Virginia State (5-2, 2-2 CIAA). VSU led 37-20 midway through the third quarter after the second of two Tarian Ayres third-quarter touchdown passes. Bowie State got a touchdown pass from Hall, a touchdown run by Robert Chesson and then Hall's touchdown run. Hall finished with 332 yards and four touchdowns passing and one rushing with Nyme Manns catching nine passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns. VSU's Trenton Cannon rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown with Kavon Bellamy adding 104 yards and touchdowns.
Livingstone 23, Shaw 12 - Jarius Richardson rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown as Livingstone (2-6, 1-3 CIAA) defeated Shaw (0-7, 0-4 CIAA). Richardson's 45-yard TD run in the third quarter gave Livingstone a 23-6 lead that put the game out of reach. Xavier Longerbeam threw 163 yards and two touchdowns for Livingstone. Timothy Abbott led Shaw with 178 yards passing, but threw two interceptions. Shaw's Dominique Hannibal had 18 tackles, four for losses and two sacks.
Elizabeth City State 33, Lincoln (Pa) 23 - Daquan Neal threw for 226 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another TD as Elizabeth Cit State (3-4, 2-2 CIAA) got the win over Lincoln (Pa) (1-6, 0-4 CIAA). Lincoln (Pa) led by 15-13 just before halftime, but ECSU followed that with a Joshua Laverty field goal four seconds before the half to get the lead for good. Lavety kicked two field goals and had three extra points. Jason Epps had two touchdown passes for Lincoln (Pa) with Stephen Scott adding 74 yards and a TD rushing and 50 receiving yards. Deion Miller had 14 tackles, 11 solo, for Lincoln (Pa).
Winston-Salem State 45, St. Augustine's 10 - Te'Vaughn Hurse rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown while Kerrion Moore threw for two touchdowns as Winston-Salem State (5-2, 4-0 CIAA) got an easy win over St. Augustine's (2-5, 2-2 CIAA). Rod Tinsley threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns. St. Augustine's was led D.J. Johnson who threw for 142 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 69 yards. Rovonta Johnson had 90 yards rushing for SAU.
SWAC
Alabama State 56, Mississippi Valley State 24 - Khalid Thomas rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown as the Alabama State (2-5, 2-4 SWAC) rushed for 346 yards to get the win over Mississippi Valley State (0-7, 0-5 SWAC). Six ASU players rushed for touchdowns. Quarterback Quinterris Toppings rushed for a touchdown and threw for another. Joshua Banks caught eight passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns to lead Mississippi Valley State.
Alcorn State 23, Texas Southern 20 - De'Lance Turner's blocked punt and then ran a 2-yard touchdown run to lift Alcorn State (3-3, 3-2 SWAC) to the win over Texas Southern (3-3, 3-2 SWAC). The Braves had struggled on offense after starting quarterback Lenorris Footman left the game with a shoulder injury. Footman finished with 196 yards and two touchdowns passing. Norlando Veals caught six passes for 106 yards and two TDs. Darien Anderson had 13 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for losses to lead the ASU defense. Averion Hurts led Texas Southern with 219 yards and a touchdown passing and 53 yards and a touchdown rushing. Sean Jones led the TSU defense with 16 tackles.
Alabama A&M 40, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7 - De'Angelo Ballard had a huge day, rushing for three touchdowns and passing for another as Alabama A&M (2-5, 2-4 SWAC) easily defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-5, 1-3 SWAC). Ballard threw for 214 yards and rushed for 89. Jordan Bentley led the Bulldogs with 91 yards and a TD on the ground. Brandon Duncan led UAPB with 140 yards and a TD passing. UAPB defenders Jentrel Woodard and Willie Duncan both had 11 tackles.
Southern 28, Jackson State 24 - Austin Howard's late third-quarter touchdown pass to Randall Menard lifted Southern (3-2, 3-0 SWAC) to a come-from-behind win over Jackson State (2-4, 2-2 SWAC). Southern had led 21-10 in the second quarter, but Jackson State's Derrick Bobo blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown just before halftime and then Joshua Bates ran a 2-yard TD to give JSU a 24-21 lead in the third quarter. But Southern followed with what proved to be the game-winning drive and then shut down Jackson State the rest of the way to seal the win. Lenard Tillery led Southern with 127 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Howard finished 24-of-35 for 288 yards and two touchdowns, both to Menard.
SIAC
Kentucky State 28, Miles 24 - Kentucky State's Nick Beckhum recovered a Miles fumble with 2:10 left and dived into the end zone to end a 14-point, fourth quarter comeback homecoming win for KSU. Kentucky State trailed 24-14 when Damontre Warr ran for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Miles picked off a KSU pass late in the fourth quarter, but Miles' fumbled it deep in their territory as Beckhum recovery sealed the win. KSU quarterback Jules St Ge had 76 yards and one TD passing and 117 yards rushing while Warr finished with 92 yards rushing. Miles rushed for 314 yards, with quarterback David Whipple finishing with 122 yards and Ger'Kerry Jackson adding 117 and a touchdown.
Florida Tech 48, Fort Valley State 14 - Quarterback Mark Cato threw two touchdowns and ran for three during a Florida Tech (5-1) 41-point first half that sunk Fort Valley State (1-6). Cato finished with 140 yards passing and 26 rushing. Antwuan Haynes added 76 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Panthers. FVSU was led by Domontay Jones, who had 118 yards and a touchdown passing.
Central State 27, Lane 10 - Quarterback Lavon Meeks threw for a touchdown and rushed for two more to lead Central State (1-6, 1-4 SIAC) to their first win of the season. Deonate Gary had 14 tackles for Central State, with Anthony Hamm adding 12 and Okoye Bozeman and Nehemiah Coward each had 10. Lane (3-3, 2-2 SIAC) was led by Marquez Pickett who had 184 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked four times. Javonte Kelly led Lane's defense with eleven tackles, with Whitney Richardson adding ten tackles and two sacks.
Clark Atlanta 27, Benedict 14 - Johnathan McCrary threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns and added 42 yards and a TD rushing to lead Clark Atlanta (5-2, 3-2 SIAC) to a homecoming win over Benedict (3-4, 2-2 SIAC). Trenton Earl caught seven McCrary passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. The win gave CAU the lead in the SIAC East division. George Myers Jr. led Benedict with 115 yards and a TD rushing.
Albany State 26, Morehouse 21 - Caleb Edmonds threw two touchdowns and ran for another in a 24-point second quarter to lead Albany State (3-3, 2-1 SIAC) to the win over Morehouse (2-5, 1-4 SIAC). Morehouse's Kivon Taylor threw two TD passes in the third quarter, but ASU shut down the Maroon Tigers after that to hold on for the win. Edmonds finished with 170 yards passing and 84 rushing. Taylor finished with 151 yards passing for Morehouse. David Smith, last week's SIAC Defensive Player of the Week, had 19 tackles, 4.5 for losses, a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks for Morehouse.
OTHERS
Tennessee State 35, Eastern Kentucky 27 - Ronald Butler ran for two touchdowns during a 35-3 first half for Tennessee State (5-1, 2-1 OVC) as the Tigers held on to defeat Eastern Kentucky (2-4, 1-2 OVC). Butler had a quiet day passing, with 181 yards and no touchdowns, but he rushed for 81 yards. Erick Evans led TSU with 83 yards rushing. Ezra Robinson had a 93-yard interception return for a touchdown during that first half spree. Chris Collins led the TSU defense with 11 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. EKU was led by Bennie Coney, who had 350 yards rushing, but threw four interceptions.
Langston 33, Bacone 32 - Juan Carpio hit a 20-yard field goal with 50 seconds remaining to lift Langston (3-2, 1-1 CSFL) to a homecoming win over Bacone (2-5, 2-2 CSFL). Bacone's Erik King had returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to put them up 32-21. Carpio followed that with a field goal and then Kievon Jackson close the gap to two points after his late third quarter 27 yard touchdown run. Langston's Peter Gordon picked off a Bacone pass with 4:30 left, setting up the Lions for the winning drive.
Arizona Christian 57, Texas College 7 - Gerit Groenwold and Ryan Esslinger combined to throw for 216 yards and five touchdowns as Arizona Christian (4-2, 3-0 CSFL) routed Texas College (0-6, 0-3 CSFL). Arizona Christian held Texas College to only two yards rushing on the day. Quarterbacks Sean Stell had 122 yards passing for Texas College, who's only touchdown came from Carlos Mosby late in the game.
Shippensburg 76, Cheyney 0 - Chase Yocum rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 127 yards and another TD to lead Shippensburg (5-2, 3-1 PSAC) to the rout over Cheyney (1-6, 0-4 PSAC). The Raiders rushed for 334 yards and seven touchdowns, with Colin McDermott and Marcus Lominy each rushing for two touchdowns. Landon Archeangelo threw for 109 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Yocum. Jamal Hines had 11 tackles for Cheyney.
Missouri S&T 65, Lincoln (Mo) 16 - Tyler Swart threw for 215 yards and four touchdowns to lead Missouri S&T (4-3, 3-1 GLVC) to the rout over Lincoln (Mo) (1-6, 0-4 GLVC). Deshawn Jones added 136 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Dennis Vinson led Lincoln (Mo) with 177 yards and a touchdown passing. But he was sacked seven times.
Shepherd 70, West Virginia State 24 - Connor Jessop threw for 480 yards and five touchdowns to lead third-ranked Shepherd (6-0, 6-0 MEC) to an easy win over West Virginia State (1-6, 1-6 MEC). Brandon Hlavach rushed for 100 yards while Jessop added two TDS rushing. Shepherd had 804 yards of offense. Their defense held WVSU to 35 yards rushing. WVSU's Matt Kinnick threw for 154 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked six times.