HOW THEY DID IT
Shaw 54, Elizabeth City State 30
Shaw DB Quintez Smith picked off three passes and returned each for TDs (90, 70 and 34 yards), and the Bears (1-0, 0-0 CIAA W) brought back four interceptions for TDs, three in the fourth quarter to break from a 24-24 third-quarter tie and outscore Elizabeth City State 30-6 over the final 15 minutes in a 2008 CIAA Title Game rematch in Raleigh. ECSU (0-1, 0-0 CIAA E) amassed 488 yards of total offense against the vaunted Bears' defense but the four interceptions by QB Creven Powell (17-of-34, 246 yds.) doomed them. In a game of big plays, ECSU opened the scoring on Reggie Smith's 68-yard punt return before Smith scored the first of his three TDs on a 90-yard interception return. ECSU would get scoring runs of 6 and 47 yards from East Carolina transfer Daronte McNeill, who totalled 146 rushing yards on 24 carries. Shaw RB Raymond Williams (16 carries, 57 yards) scored on an 88-yard second-quarter kickoff return. Shaw starting QB Travis Robinson was just 1-for-12 for 9 yards with two interceptions before being spelled by former Grambling QB Brandon Landers, who threw for 161 yards (5-of 11) and 1 TD, a 53-yarder to Julius Gregory.
Clark Atlanta 30, Fort Valley State 24, 2 OTs
Clark Atlanta all-conference RB Winston Thompson ran for 172 yards and the game-tying touchdown in regulation and the Panthers (1-0, 1-0 SIAC) scored on back-up QB Mark Wright's 10-yard pass to Moe Lightburn in the second overtime to knock off Fort Valley State (0-1, 0-1). Wright took over from struggling starter Justin Greene in the third quarter and finished 11-of-18 for 99 yards and 2 TDs. He engineered a nine-play, 78-yard drive that culminated in Thompson's 1-yard TD run with 2:08 left that tied the score in regulation. FVSU missed two game-winning FG attempts in the final two minutes of regulation. Neither team scored in the first OT.
Virginia State 37, Livingstone 7
Virginia State RB Antwain Lyde ran 34 times for 145 yards and two scores (1, 4) and QB Leonard Robinson was nearly perfect completing 13 of 15 passes for 234 yards including a 24-yard scoring strike to J. Norcombe as the Trojans (1-0, 0-0 CIAA E) dominated Livingstone (0-1, 0-0 CIAA W). LC averted the shutout by scoring on the game's final play.
Miles 35, Lane 18
Miles QB Carlton Hill amassed 300 yards of total offense, rushing for 120 yards on 20 carries and scoring 3 TDs (31, 38, 5) while passing for 180 yards (11-of-26) and two scores (55, 28) to lead the Bears (1-0, 1-0 SIAC) to a comeback victory. Lane led 18-15 at the half but was shutout in the second half.
Lincoln (PA) 41, Cheyney 20
Lincoln (1-0) got an historic win, the first over an NCAA opponent since 1959, and just the second since it returned to playing college football last year in downing Cheyney (0-1). In the first meeting between the two schools since 1946, Lincoln scored three defensive touchdowns, two via fumble returns and one via an interception. Lincoln QB Kareem Dennis came off the bench to hit on 11 of 21 passes for 139 yards and 2 TDs.
Morehouse 34, Benedict 13
Morehouse totalled 276 rushing yards and QB William Brack threw for one score and scored once himself as the Maroon Tigers (1-0, 1-0 SIAC) downed Benedict (0-2, 0-2 SIAC). David Carter led the Morehouse ground attack rushing for 126 yards on 18 carries and scoring from one-yard out. Brack (15-30-1, 180 yards) scored on a four-yard run in the fourth quarter and hit Achille Hendje on a four=yard second-quarter scoring pass.
UNC-Pembroke 41, Fayetteville State 34, 2 OTs
In an exciting see-saw opener for both teams, UNC-Pembroke scored a touchdown in the second overtime and then kept Fayetteville State (0-1, 0-0 CIAA W) out of the end zone in its possession to eek out the win. The teams went back and forth over four quarters scoring touchdowns and adding PATs and then traded field goals over the last five minutes of the game to end regulation tied at 31. In the first OT, FSU placekicker Austin Turner connected from 19 yards out to put FSU up 34-31. But UNC-P placekicker Taylor Baskett tied the game at 34 when he hit from 21 yards away. On UNC-P's possession in the second OT, QB Cory Smith hit Jamal Williams from 21 yards away for the go-ahead score. Baskett added the PAT. On FSU's ensuing possession, QB Benjamin Williams was tackled on fourth down at the seven-yard line to end the game. Williams was brilliant in the game completing 16 of 23 passes for 235 yards and 3 TDs (25, 30, 61) FSU RB Calvin Harris caught one of the TD passes and also scored on a 26-yard second-quarter run. FSU's defense was pounded for 353 rushing yards including an 89-yard run by Travis Daniels who totalled 213 yards on 25 carries. Daniels also scored on a 3-yard run.
© 2009 Azeez Communications, Inc.