From the CIAA:
2021 CIAA Football Standings
2021 CIAA Football Composite Schedule
2021 Statistics
CHARLOTTE – It’s week four of the 2021 football season, let the conference games begin! All twelve CIAA teams are in action within the same week for the first time this season as the conference slate kicks off with cross-divisional play. The road to Salem, VA and the 2021 CIAA Championship game begins in earnest this week as every team will look to put their non-conference schedule in the rearview in hopes of making a title run.
Let’s take a look at the results from the first week of conference play throughout the CIAA:
Shaw 41, Lincoln (PA) 6
Shaw got their conference slate off to a good start with a 41-6 win over Lincoln, who remains winless on the season. Holding on to a slim 13-6 lead at the break, the Bears picked things in the second half with 28 unanswered points to leave no doubt about the game’s outcome. Shaw running back Andre Brandon, Jr. ran for 79 yards on 11 carries and scored SU’s first three touchdowns while backfield mate Sidney Gibbs had 60 yards on 14 carries and a score. Lincoln got a pair of field goals (23 & 31 yards) from Samuel Okezie-Imo for their only points of the game while Lions defender Devon Cathcart led all tacklers with nine total stops. The Shaw defense held Lincoln to 167 total yards of offense, including minus-1 yards on the ground, and were led by Devon Hunt and Keyon Tyson, each of whom had six total tackles for the game.
FULL GAME RECAP: Bears Claw Lions In CIAA Opener 41-6 BOX SCORE: Shaw at Lincoln (PA)
Next Opponent: SU at VUU, October 2 at 1:00 PM; LUPA at FSU, October 2 at 7:00 PM
Chowan 59, Saint Augustine’s 12
Chowan remained undefeated with a 59-12 rout of Saint Augustine’s in the CIAA opener for both teams. SAU kept it close early thanks to a 92-yard scoring pass by D’ontre Gilliard to Deandre Procter followed by a fumble recovery in the end zone by Joseph Harris to make it a 14-12 game late in the first quarter. However, Chowan would control the rest of the game as they ran off 45 unanswered points over the next three quarters. Bryce Witt led the charge for the Hawks with 210 passing yards on 22 completions and 4 touchdowns through the air while rushing for four more scores. Witt’s backfield mate Tyrek McNeill ran for 179 yards on 19 carries while Laurence King caught three of Witt’s four touchdown passes and added a game-high 92 yards receiving. Falcons defensive end Demetrius Johnson had a game-high 12 tackles, including six solos. The CU defense gave up just 162 yards of total offense and held SAU to minus-20 yards rushing, led by Simeon Burns with five tackles and Gilberto Ortiz with three and a half tackles for loss and one and a half sacks.
FULL GAME RECAP: Hawks Football Thrash Falcons To The Tune Of 59-12 BOX SCORE: Chowan at Saint Augustine’s
Next Opponent: CU vs WSSU, October 2 at 6:00 PM; SAU at VSU, October 2 at 6:00 PM
Virginia Union 43, Johnson C. Smith 7
Virginia Union took control early and never looked back as they defeated Johnson C. Smith 43-7 to start conference play. VUU quarterback Khalid Morris threw four of his five touchdowns in the first half and passed for 390 yards on the game. Morris’ favorite target on the day was All-CIAA performer Charles Hall, who caught six balls for a game-high 193 yards and two scores. JCSU got strong contributions from quarterback Ollie Sheperd, who threw for 207 yards and a touchdown, and receiver Reggie Bryant, who finished with a game-high nine passes for 129 yards. VUU defensive end Mikal Dobbins had five total tackles with a game-high three and a half tackles for loss and JCSU’s Marvin Strong had four tackles, including two tackles for loss, as both defenses were strong against the run, combining for just 65 yards on the ground.
FULL GAME RECAP: VUU Rolls Over Golden Bulls 43-7 BOX SCORE: Virginia Union at Johnson C. Smith
Next Opponent: VUU vs SU, October 2 at 1:00 PM; JCSU at BSU, October 2 at 2:00 PM
Elizabeth City State 19, Winston-Salem State 14
Elizabeth City State got their first win of the season with a 19-14 win over Winston-Salem State. The Vikings jumped out to an early 13-0 lead thanks to a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kevin Caldwell followed by a 33-yard scoring pass from Caldwell to Cameron Saunders, who finished tied with a game-high 43 receiving yards. Down 19-7, WSSU attempted to rally late as Andrew Hayes scampered eight yards for a score to cut the deficit to single digits, but an interception thrown by Cameron Lewis on the Rams final offensive drive would end any hopes of a comeback. WSSU running back Cameron Davis led all rushers with 80 yards while ECSU got 51 yards on the ground from Melvin Smalls, Jr. Vikings defender Elijah Baliff picked off two passes and registered six tackles and Rams linebacker Kalen Allen finished with a game-high nine total tackles.
FULL GAME RECAP: Vikings Open CIAA Play with a 19-14 Win at WSSU BOX SCORE: Elizabeth City State at Winston-Salem State
Next Opponent: ECSU vs LC, October 2 at 2:30 PM; WSSU at CU, October 2 at 6:00 PM
#23 Bowie State 49, Livingstone 0
Bowie State proved to be too much for Livingstone as they shut out the Blue Bears, 49-0, in their CIAA opener. BSU quarterback Ja’rome Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score while running back Calil Wilkins rushed for a game-high 81 yards and a score. The Bulldog defense continued their dominance this season as they held LC to just 72 yards of total offense, including just 14 yards on the ground. Cameron Chelsey led BSU with two sacks and tied for a team-high four tackles. Blue Bear defender Terrance McPherson, Jr. led all tacklers with 10 total tackles that included five solo stops.
FULL GAME RECAP: No. 23 Bowie State Topples Livingstone, 49-0 in CIAA Opener BOX SCORE: Bowie State at Livingstone
Next Opponent: BSU vs JCSU, October 2 at 2:00 PM; LC at ECSU, October 2 at 2:30 PM
Fayetteville State 28, Virginia State 14
Fayetteville State pulled away late as they defeated Virginia State 28-14 to open conference play. Up 18-14 heading into the fourth quarter, FSU quarterback K’hari Lane hit Tyeous Sharpe on a 14-yard touchdown pass midway through the final period and kicker Elton Andrew added a 22-yard field goal to put the Broncos up 28-14 late in the game. VSU running back Demetrius Strickland, who finished with a game-high 49 yards rushing, provided the Trojans only offensive score on the day with a 37-yard scoring run. Lane threw for 194 yards on 21 completions while Sharpe finished with a game-high 76 yards receiving. VSU had six defenders finish with double-digit tackles, led by Zion Johnson with a game-high 13 stops and Adonte Braxton’s game-high four tackles for loss. FSU’s Gerald Simpson had a team-high nine tackles for the Broncos.
FULL GAME RECAP: Fayetteville State Beats Virginia State 28-14 in Conference Opener BOX SCORE: Virginia State at Fayetteville State
Next Opponent: VSU vs SAU, October 2 at 6:00 PM; FSU vs LUPA, October 2 at 7:00 PM
