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Clinching time for one, showdowns for others
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
One team is in position to clinch a conference title and postseason berth this Saturday, others can put themselves right on the brink of the same, while others are involved in showdowns with conference foes looking to seize control of their conference races.
That's the state of things as the 2008 black college season enters its home stretch.
The team in position to clinch is Elizabeth City State in the CIAA East. Shaw in the CIAA West and Tuskegee in the SIAC are right on the verge.
Showdowns and perhaps games of the week are on tap in the MEAC, where Hampton and South Carolina State, currently tied for the top spot, tangle in Orangeburg, S.C., and in the SWAC West where Prairie View and Southern meet trying to stay in touch with division leader Grambling State.
The SWAC East also has what certainly could be called a showdown as Alabama State and Alabama A&M tangle in their traditional October battle at the 67th annual Magic City Classic in Birmingham (2:30 p.m.).
CIAA
Elizabeth City State (5-3, 5-0) has a two-game lead in the CIAA East and can clinch the division title and a spot in the Nov. 8 conference title game in Durham (N.C.) with a win Saturday at its homecoming (1:30 p.m.) vs. St. Paul's (4-4, 2-3).
Head coach Waverly Tillar's high-scoring Vikings (34.9 points per game) are led by QB Curtis Rich who is passing for 186 yards per game with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. His favorite target is junior wideout Dexter Manley who is averaging a remarkable 27.3 yards per catch on 26 receptions with a league-best nine touchdowns. ECSU also features dangerous punt returner Reggie Smith who has brought two punts back for TDs.
St. Paul's has lost two straight after knocking off division favorite Virginia Union three weeks ago. The Tigers have scored just one touchdown in each game.
Shaw (5-3, 4-1) is currently tied with Fayetteville State (6-2, 4-1) atop the CIAA West but leads the division based on its 19-12 decision over FSU on Oct. 12. Head coach Darrell Asberry's defending division and CIAA champion Bears can take a big step towards returning to the league's title game with a win Saturday (1 p.m.) at Livingstone (3-5, 3-2). FSU plays at dangerous St. Augustine's (3-5, 2-3) Saturday (1:30 p.m.).
Any combination of Shaw wins and FSU losses totalling two would give the Bears the title. Shaw closes its regular season at Johnson C. Smith next week while FSU hosts Livingstone.
SIAC
Undefeated defending SIAC and black college national champion Tuskegee (7-0, 6-0) puts its 23-game winning streak on the line Saturday as it hosts (1 p.m.) Kentucky State (3-5, 1-5).
With a two-game conference lead and three games to play, head coach Willie Slater's BCSP No. 1 Golden Tigers can clinch at least at tie for the league title with a win and will win the title outright with a win and a loss by Clark Atlanta. CAU (5-3, 4-2) is at Lane (2-6, 2-4) Saturday (2 p.m.).
Tuskegee plays at Clark Atlanta next week and closes the SIAC portion of its schedule at home vs. Lane on Nov. 8.
MEAC
The game of the week is down in Orangeburg, S.C. where league favorite South Carolina State (5-2, 3-0), still looking for its first title in seven years under head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough, and Hampton (5-1, 4-0), both undefeated in league play, hook-up (1:30 p.m.) with the winner taking over the top spot in the MEAC.
SCSU has beaten Hampton the last two seasons, 13-6 in 2006
and 28-24 last season, but its problem has been with
Delaware State, a team SCSU plays next week that
has beaten the Bulldogs late in the last two seasons to knock them out of a crown.
First things first, however. In Hampton, S.C. State is facing a team that is back in the thick of the things in the MEAC despite losing long-time head coach Joe Taylor to Florida A&M during the offseason. Former defensive coordinator Jerry Holmes has taken over the reins of the Pirates' program and it hasn't missed a beat. Holmes and the Pirates also overcame the loss of preseason all-MEAC QB T. J. Mitchell, who was an academic casualty. Herbert Bynes has replaced him and is playing at an all-conference level (248 passing ypg., 60.2%, 11 TDs, 5 ints.). The Pirates have also been buoyed by sterling special teams play. Punt returner Jeremy Gilchrist has brought back three punts for touchdowns while Kevin Teel has two kickoff return TDs. They along with punter Jamahl Blanchard (43.0 avg.) and placekicker Carlos Turavani lead the MEAC in their respective categories and are among the nation's best.
SCSU counters with the league's best defense. Minus the Bulldogs' 54-0 loss to BCS and ACC member Clemson, they are giving up an average of 13 points per game. Pough will need great games out of his defense, sophomore QB Malcolm Long, WR Oliver "Tre" Young and scintillating RB Wil Ford who is averaging 113 rushing yards per game with 8 touchdowns, to hold off the Pirates. Also in the MEAC, Delaware State (3-3, 3-1) is at Morgan State's (4-3, 2-1) homecoming (1 p.m.) in a battle of teams that trail the leaders by one game.
SWAC
Prairie View's (6-1, 3-1) only loss is to Grambling and Henry Frazier's troops need a win over high-scoring (32.3 ppg.) Southern (4-3, 3-0) to get back in the West Division race. The Panthers are surrendering a league best 13.1 points per game but must contend with league passing leader Bryant Lee, who is averaging 277 passing yards per game with 16 TDs and just 3 interceptions.
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