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Title clinching time in CIAA?
Lut Williams
BCSP Editor
With one showdown out of the way
South Carolina State's 35-20 handling of
Florida A&M in last week's big MEAC
match-up it's time this week for a few more.
This Saturday, surprise CIAA East Division leader Bowie State (6-2, 5-0) plays to clinch the division crown and a spot in the league's Nov. 7 championship game when it travels to Richmond, Va. (1 p.m.) to take on second-place Virginia Union (5-3, 4-1) in the Panthers' homecoming game. Fayetteville State (5-3, 4-1) also plays to clinch the CIAA West Division title and its spot in the Nov. 7 title game when it plays in its homecoming (2 p.m.) Saturday vs. St. Augustine's (3-5, 3-2).
In a game Thursday in Baton Rouge, La., to be carried live on ESPNU, West Division leader Prairie View A&M (4-1, 3-0) is at Southern (4-2, 1-1) in a big SWAC divisional contest (6 p.m.).
Saturday in Albany, Ga., Albany State (7-0, 6-0), the only undefeated team in black college football, has its SIAC showdown (2 p.m.) with longtime nemesis and perennial conference kingpin Tuskegee (5-2, 5-1). The game will be carried live on ESPN 360 and re-aired Sunday on ESPNU at 12:30 p.m.
These are the top games this week as the 2009 season swings towards home.
CIAA
The East Division showdown features two teams with new coaches.
Bowie State was picked by league coaches to finish fourth in the East Division but, under new head man Damon Wilson, the Bulldogs have prospered. Two keys have been the running of Rodney Webb (87.9 ypg., 10 TDs) and the quarterback play of Tyrae Reid and Emmanuel Yeager.
BSU's only CIAA loss was to Fayetteville State (30-20 on Sept. 12) when they were victimized by five interceptions. The Bulldogs got critical wins beating two-time defending champ Shaw 31-24 in overtime on Sept. 26 and surviving a 37-33 shootout with Elizabeth City State two weeks ago.
Virginia Union, also playing under a new coach in Michael Bailey, suffered its only CIAA loss in a 13-9 decision to St. Paul's on Oct. 3. VUU currently leads the CIAA in scoring defense (16.4 ppg.) and rushing offense (212.4 ypg.), a lethal combination. The Panthers have rushed for 788 yards in their last two games, wins over Lincoln (298) and Virginia State (490).
In the West, Fayetteville State lost two non-conference games to start the season and his since won five of six. It's only CIAA blemish was a 25-20 loss to Virginia State where the Broncos gave up two long scores on turnovers. Among head coach Kenny Phillips' weapons is placekicker Austin Turner, who has converted 16 of 25 field goal attempts.
The Broncos' opponent, Saint Augustine's under head coach Michael Costa, has gained over 300 yards of total offense and scored 27 points or better in five straight games, all against CIAA opponents. Two of those games however have been close losses to Shaw (42-32) and Elizabeth City State (29-27). The Falcons have limited opponents to minus net rushing yards in two consecutive games.
SWAC
Henry Frazier's Prairie View squad is riding high atop the SWAC West Division coming off its first win over Grambling in 22 meetings two weeks ago and last week's 38-0 shutout of Mississippi Valley State.
The Southern game will match perhaps the two best quarterbacks in the conference.
Prairie View quarterback and Western Kentucky transfer K. J. Black is perhaps the hottest player in the league and the early favorite for the league's offensive player of the year award.
Not only did his sterling play help produce the landmark win over Grambling, but Black has gone 3-1 in his four starts, completing 72.9% (70 of 96) of his passes for 861 yards and 7 TDs with just one interception. He's also rushed for 124 yards and 4 TDs. He is averaging 215.2 passing yards per game, second best in the SWAC, and leads the league in passing efficiency (170.2).
Southern QB Bryant Lee, the 2008 SWAC offensive POY, is just ahead of Black in passing stats and just behind him in efficiency, averaging a league-best 229 passing yards thru six games with 14 TDs and 6 interceptions. Lee is completing 58.7% of his passes (108 of 184) and has an efficiency rating of 140.1.
But the QB comparison is not the only interesting match-up in this game. Southern leads the league in scoring (37.5 ppg.) while Prairie View has the stingiest defense (14.0 ppg.). The Panthers will have to account for Southern WR Juamorris Stewart, the SWAC receiving leader (47 receptions, 8 TDs). Prairie View also has weapons in RB Donald Babers and wideout Anthony Weeden.
Also in the SWAC, Alcorn State (2-3, 2-1), coming off a big 34-16 win over Alabama A&M Saturday and playing well behind hot QB Tim Buckley, puts its newfound East Division lead on the line when it travels to Montgomery, Ala., to face Alabama State (3-3, 0-3).
SIAC
Either Albany State or Tuskegee has won every SIAC grid title since 2000 so its no wonder this year's title could come down to Saturday's game.
ASU got a big scare and was almost knocked from the unbeaten ranks Saturday by Clark Atlanta and its new coach Keith Higdon, escaping with a 32-29 overtime win. Now the Golden Rams will try to end a three-game losing streak to the Golden Tigers, who've won the last three SIAC championships.
Running back Demetrice Johnson (84.7 rushing ypg., 11 TDs) and QB A.J. McKenna (176.9 passing ypg., 14 TDs, 1 int.) are the top offensive threats for the Golden Rams.
ASU comes into the game ranked 8th nationally and second in the NCAA Div. II Super Region II. Tuskegee is ranked 18th.
The outcome will also break a tie in the series. Both teams have won 18 games with one game ending in a tie.
MEAC
After its big win over Florida A&M Saturday, South Carolina State hopes to keep its drive alive for a second straight MEAC title as it travels to Hampton for the Pirates' homecoming. Hampton will be trying to recover from a 46-6 drubbing at the hands of cross-Bay rival Norfolk State Saturday.
Morgan State (5-1, 3-0), currently tied with SCSU for the MEAC lead, will try to keep pace with the Bulldogs as they travel to play Delaware State in its homecoming (1 p.m.) in Dover, Del.
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