Shaw clinches; Albany State next?
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
The Bears (7-2, 5-2), who returned to CIAA play just two years ago, had a stellar defensive effort holding the Trojans to just 175 yards and one third quarter touchdown while amassing 375 yards en route to the win.
Second-year head coach Deondri Clark
was understandably elated but still
focused.
"As we descend from Cloud Nine, we've got to get back down to business," said Clark, whose squad closes out the regular season at home Saturday (1:30 p.m.) against Kentucky State (7-2) of the SIAC in a game that could have implications for the Bears in the NCAA Div. II playoff picture.
"It's great to get the division championship, but we're trying to build a reputation for this program not just in the conference but on a national level," Clark said. "I'm excited as I can be for the kids to win a division championship but KSU is a ranked team (this week, #12 in Southeast Region) and whoever we play in the Championship Game will be a ranked team. We're playing (the KSU game) for pride and regional exposure."
The Bears will now wait to see who their West Division opponent will be in the CIAA title game. Two-time division and CIAA champion Fayetteville State (7-2, 5-1 W) needs a win at home Saturday (1:30 p.m.) over Livingstone (2-7, 2-4 W) to clinch the title and earn a rematch with Shaw in Durham.
Fayetteville State beat Shaw 24-14 on Sept. 25 in Raleigh.
North Carolina Central (7-2, 5-1 W) is still alive but needs a homecoming victory over Virginia State (6-3, 3-3 E) Saturday and an FSU loss to claim the West Division title.
To reach the Div. II playoffs, Shaw would likely have to defeat KSU and then either FSU or NCCU in the CIAA title game.
The NCAA Div. II championship playoff field has been expanded this year from 16 to 24 teams. That means six teams, rather than the previous four, will be selected from each of the four Div. II regions.
The Southeast Region, where both the SIAC and CIAA are stationed,
along with all of Div. II has gone to an
"Earned Access" system to determine the
six berths in each region. The formula assures that each of the four conferences
in the Southeast Region (CIAA, SIAC, Gulf South and South Atlantic) will have
a team in the playoff field provided each conference has a team in the final
Top Ten rankings. (See Southeast Region Rankings, below).
SIAC
Albany State needs to win one of its final two games to claim its
second consecutive SIAC crown.
The undefeated Golden Rams (8-0, 6-0), up to fourth nationally in the latest Sports Network NCAA Div. II poll and atop the Southeast Region rankings, travel to Atlanta this weekend to do battle with Morehouse (4-4, 3-3) at homecoming.
The traditional season-ending tilt against Fort Valley State, Nov. 6 in Columbus, Ga., closes out the Golden Rams' schedule.
MEAC
With its big 52-36 win over South Carolina State
last week, Hampton is now in the driver's seat for the
MEAC title.
The Pirates (7-1, 4-1), up to 14th in the latest Sports Network I-AA poll, have an open date this week before their homecoming game showdown vs. Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 6. They close out their MEAC schedule Nov. 13 at home vs. North Carolina A&T.
B-CC (4-2, 2-1) plays at N. C. A&T Saturday (1:30 p.m.), and if the Wildcats get by the Aggies they will play for a share of the conference lead on their Nov. 6 date with Hampton. The 'Cats host Howard on Nov. 13.
S. C. State (5-2, 2-1) travels to face Delaware State (2-6, 2-2) at homecoming this weekend (1 p.m.) hoping to retain its share of the league lead. The Bulldogs have home dates left with Howard (Nov. 6), and Morgan State (Nov. 13) before facing A&T in Charlotte on Nov. 20.
SWAC
Alabama State (5-1, 3-1 E) and Alabama A&M (4-3, 3-1 E) meet Saturday in Birmingham (Al.) before
what should be a crown of over 55,000 fans in the 63rd edition of the
Magic City Classic (3 p.m.). The SWAC East Division
lead hangs in the balance.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5-1, 4-0 W) tries to keep pace with Southern in the West Division with its homecoming game Saturday (2:30 pm) against Jackson State (2-5, 2-2 E). The Jackson State game replaces UAPB's matchup with Southern on the Golden Lions' Western Division ledger. Southern refused to schedule the Golden Lions though both are in the West.
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