From the CIAA:
2021 CIAA Football Standings
2021 CIAA Football Composite Schedule
2021 Statistics
CHARLOTTE – Week six of the 2021 season saw the start of divisional play across the CIAA. This week’s games featured several that may go a long way in deciding who will advance to Salem to do battle in the CIAA Football Championship, including a matchup between a pair of top 25 teams in reigning champion Bowie State and Chowan.
Let’s look at how each team performed in the first week of divisional play:
Fayetteville State 15, Shaw 12
Fayetteville State took sole possession of first place in the CIAA Southern Division with a 15-12 win over Shaw. In a game that was tight throughout and tied at 12 entering the fourth quarter, the Broncos prevailed thanks to a 43-yard field goal from Elton Andrew with 47 seconds to play. FSU running back Darnell Walker ran for 78 yards and Tyeous Sharpe led all receivers with five catches for 52 yards and a score while the Bronco defense held Shaw to just 136 yards of total offense. Despite FSU’s dominant defensive effort, Bears running back Sidney Gibbs ran for a game-high 95 yards on 16 carries while backfield mate Andre Brandon ran for 33 yards and a touchdown. FSU’s Gerald Simpson and SU’s Da’Shawn Wallace each registered a game-high 10 tackles with five solos.
FULL GAME RECAP: Special Teams Lifts Fayetteville State, 15-12, Past Shaw in Soggy Conditions BOX SCORE: Fayetteville State at Shaw
Next Opponent: SU at LC, October 16 at 1:30 PM; FSU vs JCSU, October 16 at 2:00 PM
Winston-Salem State 26, Johnson C. Smith 12
In a battle of teams looking for their first win, Winston-Salem State outlasted Johnson C. Smith for 26-12 victory on the road. Quarterback Cameron Lewis threw a pair of first half touchdown passes that included a 30-yarder to Antjuan Collins, who had a game-high 126 yards on seven catches, to help the Rams take 16-0 lead into the half. Lewis would add an eight-yard scoring early in the fourth quarter for WSSU’s final points of the game, which pushed the score to 26-0 with 13:10 to play. JCSU would add a pair of late touchdowns, including a 10-yard run by Tyreik Leach, but the deficit would be too much overcome for the Golden Bulls. Lewis finished with a game-high 238 yards passing and led the Rams with 40 yards on the ground. JCSU receiver Reggie Bryant led all pass catchers with 10 receptions for 106 yards. Ta’Shaun Taylor was the game’s top tackler with 10 stops, including six solos and an assisted tackle for loss.
FULL GAME RECAP: BOX SCORE: Winston-Salem State at Johnson C. Smith
Next Opponent: WSSU vs SAU, October 16 at 1:30 PM; JCSU at FSU, October 16 at 2:00 PM
#16 Bowie State 14, #24 Chowan 3
In a matchup between nationally-ranked teams Bowie State knocked off previously unbeaten Chowan, 14-3, to take control of the CIAA Northern Division. In a game that was a defensive slugfest, the Bulldog defense dominated throughout as they held the Hawks, who came into the game as the top scoring offense in Division II, to just 167 yards of total offense and just three points. The BSU defense also scored a defensive touchdown in a game for the fourth time this season thanks to a 33-yard fumble return by Nigel Johnson, who also had a pair of tackles for loss that included a sack. The Chowan defense was just as impressive as they gave up just 112 yards of total offense and just seven points, which came late in the fourth quarter on a six-yard pass from Ja’rome Johnson to Montez Clay to put the game out of reach. BSU defensive lineman Jonathan Ross had a stellar performance with nine total tackles (seven solos), including five and a half behind the line of scrimmage, as well as a sack and forced fumble. CU defender Basilio Fernandez finished with a game-high 13 tackles.
FULL GAME RECAP: #16 Bowie State Cages #24 Chowan, 14-3 in Top-25 and Division Clash BOX SCORE: Bowie State at Chowan
Next Opponent: BSU vs VSU, October 16 at 1:00 PM; CU vs VUU, October 16 at 1:00 PM
Virginia Union 32, Lincoln (PA) 0
Virginia Union bounced back from last week’s loss with a 32-0 win over Lincoln, who remains winless and failed to produce any points for the third time this season. VUU quarterback Khalid Morris threw for a game-high 143 yards that included a 18-yard first half touchdown to James Jackson while backup E’Mond Caldwell tossed a pair of late-game touchdowns to Charles Hall from 28 and 34 yards, respectively. Hall registered his third 100-yard game of the season with a game-high 112 yards on five catches. Elijah Snell (57 yards) and Andrew Banks (56 yards) ran for 113 of Lincoln’s 127 yards on the day while the Lions defense held VUU to just 41 yards on the ground. Virginia Union defender Xzavier Hines had a big game 11 total tackles, including two and a half for loss, and two sacks while Lions had five defenders finish with five tackles apiece, led by Kentrel Pierce with four solos.
FULL GAME RECAP: BOX SCORE: Lincoln at Virginia Union
Next Opponent: VUU at CU, October 16 at 1:00 PM; LUPA vs ECSU, October 16 at 1:00 PM
Livingstone 21, Saint Augustine’s 7
Livingstone registered their first win of the season with a 21-7 victory over Saint Augustine’s on homecoming in Salisbury. The Blue Bears opened the game with 21 unanswered points in the first quarter that included a pair of touchdowns by Tecorey Tutson, who ran for a 22-yard score and caught another one from Miles Hayes from 33 yards out. After two scorless quarters by both teams, Saint Augustine’s finally got on the board late in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Donovan Brewington to Kesean Williams, who finished with a game-high 112 yards receiving on five catches. Tutson led the Blue Bears with 76 yards rushing and 34 yards receiving while defender Jaden Echols finished with a team-high nine tackles that included three tackles for loss. SAU’s Lee Sales led all tacklers with 10 stops, including seven solos.
FULL GAME RECAP: BOX SCORE: Saint Augustine’s at Livingstone
Next Opponent: LC vs SU, October 16 at 1:30 PM; SAU at WSSU, October 16 at 1:30 PM
Virginia State 35, Elizabeth City State 7
Virginia State picked up their second straight win as they defeated Elizabeth City State at home, 35-7. After being tied up at seven midway through the game, the Trojans took control in the second half with 28 unanswered points that was bookended by a pair of touchdowns passes by Jordan Davis to Demetrius Strickland (16 yards) in the third quarter and Andre Jackson (39 yards) in the fourth. Davis completed 11 of 15 passes for 179 yards and running back Darius Hagans ran for 119 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns for the Trojans, who finished with 236 total yards on the ground. ECSU quarterback Kevin Caldwell threw for 174 yards and threw a touchdown to Josiah Hayes, who had a game-high 55 yards receiving on seven catches. Taeyonn Reynolds led ECSU with five tackles while VSU’s Javon Frazier and Adonte Braxton recorded two sacks apiece.
FULL GAME RECAP: BOX SCORE: Elizabeth City State at Virginia State
Next Opponent: VSU at BSU, October 16 at 1:00 PM; ECSU at LUPA, October 16 at 1:00 PM
