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Rematch set for CIAA title
Lut Williams
BCSP Editor
To say that Bowie State backed into Saturday's CIAA Championship Game vs. Fayetteville State would be an understatement. But first-year BSU head coach Damon Wilson doesn't see it that way.
After failing in two attempts on the field over the last two weeks to claim the CIAA
East Division title losses to Virginia Union
(17-16) on Oct. 24 and Virginia State (14-12) last
Saturday Bowie State won a coin toss Sunday
that settled a tie with Virginia Union and
Elizabeth City State and gave them the division crown.
"We don't see look at it as backing our way in," said Wilson Tuesday. "We did what we had to do on the field to get ourselves into this position. We had two opportunities to close everybody out and we didn't get it done. We were disappointed in that but we're in a good mood. "It's an opportunity to continue our development as a ballclub. We're excited to play Fayetteville State."
BSU (6-4, 5-2) is getting a second shot at Kenny Phillips' West Division champion FSU squad (7-3, 6-1), a team that beat BSU 30-20 in Week 3 (Sept. 12) at Bowie State.
In that game, BSU outgained FSU 440 yards to 211 but saw quarterback Tyrae Reid throw five interceptions, four in the red zone. BSU running back Rodney Webb, the CIAA's leading rusher (81.9 ypg.), ran for 113 yards and all three BSU touchdowns. Reid threw for 299 yards but had the five picks.
"On paper, we beat Fayetteville but we didn't protect the football," said Wilson. "They won wear it counts most, in the win column. We'll have to play better, not make as many mistakes if we expect to win Saturday."
Wilson said he will decide this week who starts from among three quarterbacks Reid, Emmanuel Yeager or Andre Johnson. Webb and Ramono Flowers, who rushed for 111 yards Saturday vs. VSU, are both healthy.
Phillips, making his fourth title game appearance in ten years, counters with Calvin Harris (69.3 ypg., 4th) and Richard Medlin (54.4 ypg., 8th) who are among the league's top rushers. Tyler Hosler has taken most of the snaps at quarterback over FSU's last five games since the Broncos' last loss (25-20 to Virginia State) replacing Benjamin Williams.
The teams come in pretty evenly matched. They have the two best overall defenses in the conference (BSU 217.5 ypg., FSU 259.4 ypg.) and against the run. BSU averages 28.2 points per game., FSU 31.1.
Fayetteville State moved into 10th in this week's NCAA Div. II Super Region II poll and needs a win to get as high as eighth and earn access to the playoffs. BSU is not ranked in the top ten and would have to win and jump over FSU up to eighth to earn a spot.
Elsewhere Saturday, MEAC leader South Carolina State (7-1, 5-0) still tenth in the latest FCS national poll, plays (1 p.m.) at Howard (2-6, 0-5). Second-place Florida A&M (6-2, 4-1) hosts (3 p.m.) North Carolina A&T (4-4, 3-3).
SIAC leader Tuskegee (7-2, 7-1) looks to close out its fourth straight league title at home (1 p.m.) for homecoming vs. Stillman (3-5, 2-6). Albany State (8-1, 7-1), still third in NCAA Div. II Super Region I, can wrap up a playoff berth with a win in its regular season finale vs. rival Fort Valley State (6-4, 5-3) in Columbus, Ga. (2 p.m.)
SWAC West Division leader Prairie View A&M (5-1, 4-0) hosts (2 p.m.) Alabama A&M (5-3, 2-2), currently tied with Jackson State (2-5, 2-2) for the East Division lead, in a possible preview of the Dec. 12 SWAC Championship Game. JSU has its homecoming (1 p.m.) vs. Alabama State (4-4, 1-4).
Grambling State (5-3, 3-1) faces Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-3, 2-2) in Little Rock, Ark. (2:30 p.m.) in the Delta Classic 4 Literacy.
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