LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
Albany State is in as SIAC champion and Johnson C. Smith is in as CIAA champ (See CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECAPS) after play this past week. They are on with three other teams to the NCAA Div. II playoffs this weekend.
The MEAC champion will be decided this week in Dover, Delaware when South Carolina State travels to meet upstart Delaware State.
Prairie View A&M is in as one participant in the Dec. 6 SWAC Championship Game. Jackson State can clinch the other spot with a win this
week.
NCAA Div. II playoffs
Five black college teams are in the 32-team championship field for the NCAA Div. II playoffs that begin Saturday. All four participants in the SIAC and CIAA championship games received bids along with SIAC member Kentucky State.
Albany State, J. C. Smith and Virginia Union are hosting first round games Saturday. Benedict and Kentucky State are playing on the road.
Albany State (10-1), the No. 1 seed in Super Region II, plays host to Gulf South champion Valdosta State (6-4) Saturday at 1 p.m. (ESPN+). The teams have one common opponent, SIAC member Clark Atlanta. The Blazers defeated CAU 31-28to open the season while Albany State easily handled the Panthers 32-7 at home on Oct. 11.
SIAC runners-up Benedict (9-2) is seeded fifth in Super Region II and will travel to face fourth-seed Wingate (9-2) out of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) at 2 p.m.
Kentucky State (9-2) is the sixth seed in the region and is on the road at third-seeded SAC champion Newberry (9-1) at 1 p.m.
CIAA champion J. C. Smith and runners-up Virginia Union are seeded second and third respectively in Super Region I.
JCSU is hosting Mountain East Conference champion Frostburg State (9-2) Saturday in Charlotte, N. C. at 1 p.m. (ESPN+). VUU is playing at home in Richmond, Va. at 1 p.m. vs. seventh-seed California (PA) (8-3) out of the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC).
PSAC champion Kutztown (11-0) is the region’s top seed and hosts Bentley (7-3).
Nobody predicted this!!
The matchup of defending champion South Carolina State and Delaware State at DSU’s home field Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN+) was not billed as the MEAC title game but that’s exactly what is has become. The winner will represent the MEAC in the Dec. 13 Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.
The SCSU Bulldogs and DSU Hornets, both 8-3 overall, come into the regular-season finale tied at the top of the conference with 4-0 records. While Chennis Berry’s Bulldogs were expected to be in this position, the same can’t be said of first-year head coach DeSean Jackson’s Hornets. The Bulldogs were picked to finish first and the Hornets sixth (and last) in preseason voting of conference
head coaches and sports information directors.
The turnaround under Jackson, the formerNFL all-pro receiver, has been remarkable. After going 2-22 over the past two seasons, he has DSU playing with passion and grit. One indication of the Hornets’ rise should have been the way they battled to a 4-3 non-conference schedule before entering conference play.
In MEAC stats, the Hornets are second in scoring offense (33.6 points per game), first in scoring defense (24.5 ppg.), first in total offense (442.9 ypg.) and first in rushing offense at 276.5 yards per game, more than 100 yards per game ahead of the next team. They are also second in rushing defense (122.5 ypg.). It is a recipe for success.
SC State counters with senior QB William Atkins IV who has thrown for over 2,000 yards with 15 TDs and just four interceptions. In four MEAC games, he has particularly been prolific passing for over 1,300 yards and ten TDs.
The game likely comes down to whether SC State can control the Hornets’ ground game and get its prolific passing attack going.
SWAC East goes down to the wire
Prairie View A&M’s 56-9 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday clinched the league’s West Division title and lands first-year head coach Tremaine Jackson just where he said in the preseason his Panthers (8-3, 6-1 SWAC West) would be – in position to win the SWAC title and represent the league in the Celebration Bowl.
The Panthers lead the league in scoring defense (13.6 ppg.), total defense (281.2 ypg) and passing defense (130.3 ypg.) and feature senior QB Cameron Peters (1,858, passing yards, 16 TDs, 5 ints.). PVA&M closes the regular season on the
road at Mississippi Valley State Saturday (2 p.m., SWAC TV).
Defending champion Jackson State (8-2, 6-1 E) can clinch the spot opposite Prairie View in the SWAC title game with a win at home Saturday (2:30 p.m., ESPN+) vs. Mississippi rival Alcorn State (5- 6, 4-3 W).
The Braves would like nothing more than to spoil JSU’s celebration. That could happen if the Tigers lose and Alabama State (8-2, 6-1 E) prevails in its season finale at home (12 noon, HBCUgo.tv) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-7, 2-5 W).
Heading into their finales, both JSU and ‘Bama State are dealing with injuries to their starting quarterbacks are are playing freshmen.
JSU starter Jacobian Morgan has missed the last three games with a left foot injury but head Coach T. C. Taylor was expecting him back into practice this week. Jared Lockhart has led JSU to three straight wins in Morgan’s absence.
ASU has been without starter Andrew Body since he suffered a shoulder injury against Prairie View on Nov.1. He is likely considered doubtful for Saturday against UAPB. Freshman Te’Sean Smoot has led the Hornets to victories over Mississippi
Valley State and Texas Southern in the last two weeks.