September 19th, 2025 5:00am
It is a pivotal week in the CIAA, with conference play partially starting up. Several of the old south division teams will have their games count for conference play, while the old north division teams will not have this week’s games count in the standings. This alignment helps the old South teams obtain a 7-game conference schedule. The round robin of my top four teams: Virginia Union, Virginia State, Johnson C. Smith, and Winston-Salem State begins this week. Can someone break into this group and kick one out? Read on.
Games in order of intrigue:
#21 Johnson C. Smith at #25 Virginia Union
Every 2-3 years we get a matchup featuring two CIAA teams in the top 25. Both teams can be explosive on offense, and also excel in ball control. Both defenses are susceptive to giving up big plays. Both also have been playing to the opponents’ level. VUU needs to address consistency in its passing game along with its secondary. What it doesn’t have to worry about is RB Curtis Allen, who is just trouble to bring down for defenses. JCSU needs to address its redzone offense, as it went 1-4 last week with an opponent they should have ran away from in the scoring column. JCSU should be favored in this game, but VUU is a tough place to win. Advantage: VUU, even with the dreaded #25 ranking that has plagued other CIAA schools.
Virginia State at Winston-Salem State
This game features two explosive passing offenses paced by very exciting quarterbacks. The rushing game is also by committee for both teams, and they have several WRs that can step up at any given time. While these offenses are rather parallel in how they operated, the defenses are a different matter. Virginia State allows the fewest first downs of any team in the conference, along with only 26 percent of third down conversions. WSSU is allowing opponents to convert 42 percent of their third downs, and VSU is already converting a higher percentage than that. These issues spell trouble for the Rams. Advantage: VSU on the get back tour
Fayetteville State at Elizabeth City State
This year’s Down East Viking Football Classic features last year’s opponent in Fayetteville State and includes two winless teams. The series between the two teams is split at 5-5, though ECSU has lost the last 3 games. The most glaring issue at first glance is that FSU pass offense is problematic. The Broncos only average 126 yards a game and have already tried three quarterbacks so far (and none of them are QB turned RB/TE Caden Davis). Nothing has proven to be consistent so far. ECSU lacks depth at this point in the rebuild, wilting in the fourth quarter in each of their games despite holding a lead in that quarter. But what ECSU lacks in panache, it gains in persistence, as they do find ways to move the football. FSU’s defense is dead last in the conference in passing yards, and a lot of that has to do with a struggling secondary. Still, FSU’s defensive line is a good unit that will challenge Chris Perkins’ ability to get the ball to its receivers, particularly WR Ka’Trez Bracey. To me, ECSU has a more complete offense, but will it be enough to hold off FSU? Yes, as long as the lead is 4 points or more. Advantage: ECSU, because someone has to win this game, right?
Bowie State at Livingstone
Bowie State travels to the baby blue turf to spar with a relatively even Livingstone. The Bulldogs and Blue Bears give up a lot of yards through the air (about 230 yards). That’s a plus for Livingstone, right below their average, but a real challenge for Bowie State, as they only average around 158 passing yards a game. Contrasting styles also exist in the punting game, with Livingstone averaging 10 yards more per punt. Still, Bowie State has an advantage in the rushing game powered by Micah Robinson. The Bulldogs may be able to exploit Livingstone’s porous run defense, a unit that has given up the second most rushing yards in the conference. This one will come down to which of them can more consistently exploit their strengths. Advantage: Livingstone, in an ugly game
Shaw at Lincoln PA
Shaw hit a lower low than in week 0 when it lost to Division II newcomer Ferrum. It was a penalty fest for the Bears. In another game of the winless, they will travel to Lincoln, a team who has also seen their struggles. Lincoln should have the advantage here, as they have a more competent passing and running game. Shaw just scares me with the passing and rushing game. The Bears are dead last in passing yards, and while Lincoln is more inept at rushing the ball (60 yards vs 80 yards), the passing game more than makes up for it. A players to watch in this game is Lincoln’s RB Rondarius Gregory, who is third in the conference in all purpose yards and actually has more production in the passing game. This game also has two outstanding defensive players in Lincoln DL Lester McCoy (leading the conference in tackles for loss) and Shaw DB Darry Felix, who is third in that same category. Advantage: Lincoln, who is not often the favorite in a game
Idle: Bluefield State, who needs to recover after last weekend’s debacle at Wingate.