LUT WILLIAMS, BCSP Editor
Its showdown time this week in the CIAA North Division and the SIAC East Division.
Nationally-ranked teams in the CIAA and SIAC are squaring off against what appears to be the toughest competition in their respective divisions Saturday.
CIAA
In the CIAA North, Virginia Union (6-0, 4-0 CIAA) is undefeated and nationally-ranked (No. 11 in AFCA Div. II poll, 15th in d2football.com Top 25) as it travels to face three-time division and conference champion Bowie State (4-2, 3-1) Saturday (1 p.m.).
VUU, under head coach Dr. Alvin Parker, has come up short in four straight match ups with BSU. The last VUU victory was a 42-35 decision in 2016. Last year, the Bulldogs handled the Panthers 27-7 in Richmond en route to their third straight division and league title.
All signs are indicating this is the year the Panthers may get by the Bulldogs.
VUU comes in with the CIAA’s top rusher in Jada Byers who has rushed for a CIAA- and Div. II-best 1,096 yards in six games (182.7 yards per game). He also leads the CIAA and Div. II with 13 rushing touchdowns. The Panthers are averaging 52.2 points per game, again tops in the CIAA and all of Div. II and are giving up just 12.3 points per game, which also leads the league.
VUU, under interim head coach Kyle Jackson, features quarterback Jahkari Grant, whose 11 TD passes have only been surpassed by BSU QB Dion Golatt Jr., who has 13. Golatt’s 271.0 passing yards per game is second in the CIAA. He has thrown six picks. Grant is throwing for 152.8 ypg. with four interceptions.
So, give the rushing edge to VUU (league-best 258.7 ypg. to 150.7) and the passing edge to BSU (league-best 295.8 ypg. to 165.2).
VUU is first in total defense giving up 244.2 ypg, while BSU is second at 249.3.
This should be a good one.
SIAC
The SIAC East showdown has nationally- ranked Albany State (4-1, 2-0 SIAC), who is 21st in the AFCA Div. II poll and 14th in d2football.com
Top 25 travelling to undefeated upstart Benedict (5-0, 3-0) for the Tigers’ homecoming (2 p.m.). Benedict, who this entered both the AFCA and d2football.com polls this week at 23rd, has won just two of 19 games vs. Albany State. Last year, ASU handled the Tigers 28-6. The last Benedict win was a 17-12 upset victory in 2017.
Albany State has been riding the back of its stingy defense which is giving up just 7.2 points per game. Benedict is also tough on defense surrendering just 9.4 points per game. Benedict leads the league in scoring at 35.0 points per game while ASU is putting up 21.6 ppg.
Head coach Chennis Berry’s Tigers lead the league in total offense (399.0 ypg.) and total defense (203,8 ypg.) Gabe Gardina’s ASU squad is tops in rushing offense at 197.4 ypg. with Benedict just behind at 191,6,
Individually, Benedict senior QB Eric Phoenix has thrown for 704 yards and eight TDs without an interception. ASU junior Dionte Bonneau, the preseason SIAC offensive player of the year, has passed for 785 yards and five TDs with three picks. Benedict freshman Zaire Scotland has run for 360 yards and six TDs to lead the Tigers’ ground game. Junior Marcuis Fulks leads ASU with 355 yards and 5 scores.
MEAC
The MEAC race is in its early stages but Norfolk State (1-5, 1-0) has jumped on top with its first win Saturday over Morgan State. The Spartans will try to build on that early lead as they entertain Delaware State (3-2, 0-0) for homecoming (2 p.m.). N. C. Central (4-1) hosts Morgan State (2-3,
0-1) for its first league game Thursday (7:30 p.m.). Howard plays its second Ivy League team as it hosts Harvard Saturday at D. C’s. Audi Field.
SWAC
Everyone is chasing but can’t seem to catch Jackson State (5-0, 3-0) in the SWAC East. Deion Sanders’ Tigers are in Jacksonville, Fla. to face Bethune-Cookman Saturday (3 p.m.).
The big SWAC game is in the West that has Southern (3-2, 2-1) at division leader Alcorn State (3-2, 2-0) at 6 p.m.
