NCCU, Albany State host showdowns
It's hard to say which of this Saturday's showdowns is the biggest.
Is it the battle of CIAA unbeatens in Durham, N.C. between Triangle rivals North Carolina Central and St. Augustine's at NCCU's homecoming? Or is it the SIAC grudge match in Albany, Ga. between conference favorite Tuskegee and defending champion, Albany State? It likely depends on where you're from and what you like.
If you're a CIAA fan, nothing could be better
than two teams who have not won a conference
championship since 1980 vying in the middle of the season for
West Division king-of-the-hill status and the favorite's
role headed into the final month of the season.
If you follow the SIAC, a game pitting the most dominant programs over the last decade _ with some intriguing recent history _ getting it on with the winner having a leg up on the 2005 title is more than you could ask for.
Either way, they are the two prime matchups as the season rockets into its second month.
NC Central vs. St. Augustine's
NC Central is 5-0 (2-0 CIAA W) for the first time since 1969, a span of 36 years, and that will add spice to what's sure to be a packed homecoming crowd as they face St. Augustine's (5-0, 2-0 CIAA W), a program yet to win a CIAA grid title, at high noon in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
En route to their 5-0 marks, both teams have big wins over South Atlantic Conference foes, with NCCU downing Lenoir-Rhyne 28-21 in overtime and St. Aug's beating Mars Hill, 13-6. But neither's win has gotten them respect on the national level. NCCU is 24th in the D2Football.com poll while St. Aug's is unranked.
The game will be like deja vu for NC Central and head coach Rod Broadway. Previously unbeaten Bowie State (4-1, 1-1 CIAA E) came into last Saturday's game vs. the Eagles leading the nation in total defense, rushing defense and scoring defense. They left after giving up 38 points, 201 rushing yards and 302 total yards in the Eagles' 38-19 win accomplished without the services of starting QB Adrian Warren. Warren nursed a bruised shoulder while junior wideout-turned-QB Charles Futrell ran for 55 yards and one TD and passed for 101 yards and another score in the win. Even without Warren's services, the Eagles maintained their status as the CIAA's highest scoring (39.2 ppg.) and most prolific offense (397.8 ypg.).
After posting its second shutout in five games Saturday, a 7-0 win over Elizabeth City State, Michael Costa's St. Aug's squad enters Saturday's game having all but replaced Bowie State in the national stats. The Falcons have given up 6, 0, 6, 14 and 0 points in its five wins and now lead all of Div. II in total defense (184.8 ypg.) and pass defense (66.8 ypg.), are second in scoring defense (5.2 ppg.) and third in rushing defense (54.8 ypg.).
One big question is whether Warren has healed enough to be at the controls of the Eagle offense. Futrell, a former high school QB, last played under center for NCCU in 2003 but ran the Eagles' no-huddle offense Saturday to near-perfection. Another question will be whether the Falcons can get contributions on offense from someone other than QB Darrell Nesbitt and WR/KR Eddie Montgomery. NCCU won last year's game 10-7. Those who can't attend the game can follow it on the internet at NC Central's website (nccu.edu and click on Athletics).
Tuskegee vs. Albany State
A year ago the Tuskegee Golden Tigers and Albany State Golden Rams both came in undefeated and staged the game of the year. This year's matchup, set for 7 p.m. in Albany, could be much the same.
Last year's battle royale ended with ASU scoring 26 fourth-quarter points, the final score coming on a 52-yard Hail Mary pass in the game's final seconds to pull out a 33-29 comeback win that paved the way to the Golden Rams' perfect 11-0 regular season. It was a game Tuskegee thought it should have won, and as it turned out was the only blemish on their 10-1 regular season mark.
This year, only Tuskegee (4-0, 3-0 SIAC) under Rick Comegy is undefeated while James White's Albany State squad is 3-1, but the stakes are identical. Albany State's only loss is to defending NCAA Div. II champ Valdosta State, a game that somehow counts on the Rams' SIAC ledger. Though the race will be far from over _ both teams still have to face 4-1 Fort Valley State _ the winner will certainly be in the driver's seat.
The two are nearly even in stats. Tuskegee (28.0) is slightly ahead of ASU (25.5) in the scoring stats. Tuskegee has the better passing numbers (216 to 129 ypg.) while ASU has the better rushing numbers (218 to 186 ypg.). QB Kenneth Huff (208 passing ypg., 7 TDs) and WR Kenneth Henderson (26 rec, 19.8 ypg., 5 TDs) are offensive standouts for TU while RB Antwan Andrews (116.5 rushing ypg.) and QB Hosea Harris lead the ASU offense.
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