Dr Kenyatta Cavil contribued to this report
Week 3 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Mid Major Division Rankings featured stability in the top 3 slots. However, there was substantial movement in the other 5 positions, with two teams dropping out and positional shifting with the remainder of the top 7.
7. Florida Memorial University ( 1-1-1, 0-0)
The Lions enter this week at no, 7. FMU is coming off a 47-35 loss at Cumberland. Walter Wilbon ran for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries, which included a 54-yard scamper for the game’s opening score. FMU starting quarterback Cedquan Smith completed 4 of 7 passes for 65 and a 9-yard scoring toss to David Studstill that put the Lions up 14-7. Smith was injured in the second quarter, and backup David Buggs threw for 251 yards and a touchdown but also 3 costly interceptions, which led to 14 Cumberland points. Next week Florida Memorial faces St. Thomas in the Battle of Miami, which also serves as their conference opener. St. Thomas defeated FMU 31-17 in their most recent matchup on October 14, 2023
6. West Virginia State (2-1, 1-0)
The Yellow Jackets defeated West Liberty 57-37 in their most recent outing. The WVSU defense forced 5 turnovers, however, the West Virginia State offense was not just along for the ride, with the unit producing a 300-yard passer, a 100-tard receiver, and a 100-yard rusher. Quarterback Isaiah Bess connected on 18 of 25 passes for 319 yards and 4 touchdowns, Amare Ary hauled in 5 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, while Joel Felder ran for 102 yards on 16 carries. The Yellow Jackets will meet West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday.
5. Fayetteville State (2-1, 0-0)
Unranked the previous week, Fayetteville State enters this week’s rankings at no.5. The Broncos throttled Elizabeth City State 31-7. Newly minted CIAA Linebacker of the Week Elijah Casey and the FSU defense held the Vikings to just 154 yards of offense. Up next for the Broncos is a Saturday meeting with Virginia State. The Broncos doubled up the Trojans 28-14 in their last meeting, which took place September 25, 2021.
4. Shaw University (3-1, 1-0)
Shaw moves up two spots to number 4. The Bears thumped Lincoln (PA) 48-14 last week in their CIAA opener.
CIAA Wide Recorvef of the Week, Ah’shaan Belcher hauled in 4 passes for 90 yards and a pair of scores. His teammate, sophomore cornerback Reagzon Mackey, who was named CIAA Defensive Back of the Year, spearheaded a secondary that surrendered just 84 yards through the air and forced three interceptions.
At 3-1, Shaw has already equaled their win total from last season, when they posted a 3-7 mark. Up next for the Bears is a meeting with Virginia Union, who beat Shaw 26-13 in their matchup last season.
3. Winston Salem State (3-1, 1-0)
Winston-Salem State maintained the no. 3 ranking from the previous week. The Rams needed nearly all sixty minutes to get by then-no. 5 Virginia State, with Gilberto Lorenzana with 0:06 remaining in the contest, allowing WSSU to squeak by VSU, 15-14. The win lifted Winston-Salem State to 3-1, a mark the Rams have not enjoyed since 2014. WSSU has a date with Bowie State on Saturday.
2. Clark Atlanta University (3-0, 2-0)
Clark Atlanta held its no.2 position in the polls. The Panthers went down to Daytona, FL last weekend and left with their unblemished record still intact, having defeated Bethune-Cookman. Leonardo Cabrera’s 55-yard field with just 0:03 to go in the game completed a 38-37 come-from-behind win, in which at points in the game Bethune held leads of 21-0 and 31-7. Recently named BOXTOROW HBCU National Player of the Week and SIAC Offensive Player of the Week, CAU quarterback David Wright III completed 31 of 49 passes for 376 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Up netx for the Panthers is a meeting with Lane College in the Bluff City Classic in Memphis, Tennessee.
1.Johnson C. Smith (4-0 1-0)
Through the early portion of the season, the 4-0 Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith have been the class of the CIAA. Also ranked no.1 in the BOXTOROW HBCU Division II Poll, JCSU defeated defending CIAA champion Virginia Union 21-16 in their most recent outing last Saturday. The Johnson C. Smith defense held Virginia Union to 180 yards of total offense, including holding all-conference running back Jada Byers to just 40 yards on 19 carries. Johnson C. Smith has the no. 1 ranked defense in the CIAA, allowing 225.5 yards per contest, and just 59.8 yards per game on the ground. Up next for the Golden Bulls is a road matchup against Bluefield State, whom JCSU handily defeated 30-13 in their meeting last season.
Dropped out: Virginia State (1-2, 0-1), Virginia Union (1-2, 0-1)
Receiving Votes: Virginia State (1-2, 0-1), Virginia Union (1-2, 0-1), Texas State College (2-1, 0-1)
