October 23rd, 2025 12:00am
We are at the point in the season where there is a focus on postseason. Apparently, the conference feels that way too, given that they released key points to their five-year strategic plan. That plan includes reviewing “sports scheduling and alignment”, with looking to enhancing and increasing postseason competitiveness. Does that mean an 11-game schedule for more than just the conference championship participants? *gasp* Is it Christmas in October?! To be fair, perhaps the conference’s hand is being forced, as the SIAC has moved to this model with select teams lining up with Conference Carolinas in week 11. With other conferences in Super Region 1 also playing an 11-game schedule and the automatic bid now available, the CIAA is just at a structural disadvantage playing a 10 game schedule and hoping to get two teams into the playoffs. To add salt to the wound, losing St. Augustine’s as a member only creates more scheduling challenges that need resolving since the conference has an uneven number of teams. So, here’s to hoping that there’s something in the works to support the conference’s profile, especially with two ranked teams this season, a third in Fayetteville State who is tied for most wins in conference play, and Virginia State on the outside but looking to play spoiler.
This time is also about the time to start thinking about post season accolades too, because Virginia Union RB Curtis Allen is leading Division II in rushing yards (1360) and total touchdowns (19). The conference’s current ceiling in Harlon Hill voting seems to be fourth place (Amir Hall, Bowie State in 2018 and Jada Byers, VUU, in 2022), with Byers reaching fifth in voting last year. In 2022, Byers set the conference record for rushing yards in a season with 1920 yards, a threshold that is certainly in play for Allen. Could it finally be the year that the CIAA breaks through?
This week’s game, in order of intrigue:
Winston-Salem State at #21 Johnson C. Smith
Last week: JaQuan Kelly and Timothy Ruff II had over 130 yards rushing apiece, 3 rushers scored a TD. Daniel Williams has 11 tackles, half a sack. JCSU shut out Shaw 59-0 behind the tandem of QB Kelvin Durham and WRs Brian Lane and Biggie Proctor. JCSU had 9 (!) sacks in this game, and the defense scored off a fumble recovery. Just a total game from JCSU.
This Week: This basketball turned into football rivalry game is one which puts WSSU against a defense that has several conference-level superlatives: fewest points allowed, second fewest rushing yards permitted, and lowest third down conversion rate allowed (24 percent). On that last point, WSSU has found trouble with defending those short third-down conversions. WSSU’s defense permits opponents to convert 40 percent of their fourth downs, and JCSU’s offense converts 51 percent of the time. Yikes.
Where I expect JCSU to excel is on the ground with Bobby T. Smith, as other teams have laid a blueprint on how to give WSSU fits and it’s a capable run game and a mobile quarterback. JCSU harbors a secondary known to defend passes well (DBs TyQueron Hines and Rontay Dunbar stand out), and DB TJ Taybron is the second leading tackler on the team.
I could easily see a scenario where WSSU gets an early lead in this game because of their home run potential behind QB Daylin Lee and the Plethora of WR. The question is, do you get the WSSU version that digs an early hole (against VUU), the one that is cutthroat (Livingstone), or the version that implodes (VSU, Shaw)? Advantage: JCSU, the more consistent team
Bowie State at #14 Virginia Union
Last Week: Bowie State had 17 penalties for 184 yards, but took advantage of good punt returns (21 yards a return) and rushed for 284 yards in this victory. RB Micah Robinson led the charge with 182 rushing yards. VUU used a second half surge to put away Lincoln. QB RJ Rosales was responsible for 5 touchdowns, and Curtis Allen rushed for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns.
This Week: We know what VUU is on offense (a dousing of running, with an honest passing game behind Rosales and WR Keon Davis). BSU finds themselves now lining up against the top of the conference. This game could be a fast paced one with two teams that favor the run. Bowie’s problem is that its best rushing output was last week, and it is not built to potentially attack VUU where they have some vulnerabilities, which is the passing game. Bowie hasn’t passed for more than 28 times this year, and that was week 2 against an FCS opponent. Tack on their redzone troubles (33 percent of their trips result in a touchdown), and it is just asking out a lot of a n uninspiring Bowie offense to pull the upset. Instead it feels like they are going to experience what Bluefield State experienced against them, except I don’t expect them to score as much. Advantage: VUU, the steamroller
Fayetteville State at Shaw
Last week: Shaw only had 103 yards of offense and got shut out. Not much more to say there. FSU had a bye week.
This week: Shaw lines up against a hot Broncos team that has more than just similarities to last week’s opponent. Last week, the rushing attack, where the Bears feel more comfortable, only notched 5…yes, 5 yards off 37 attempts. The offensive line now has to line up against conference leader rushing yards per game. FSU also leads the conference in sacks, led by DLs Kaydin Thomas and Shawn Robinson. There’s also DB Reginald Troutman, who leads the team in tackles for loss to contend with too. That Shaw is last in the conference in passing yards per game does not help its cause. FSU is looking to continue its hot start behind the steady hand of dual threat quarterback Demari Daniels. FSU is just a team that really thrives off a disruptive defense and short fields. If Shaw wants to win this game, then it really needs to force FSU to drive the length of the field. Repeatedly. Advantage: FSU, the opportunist
Elizabeth City State at Lincoln PA
Last Week: ECSU has lost 3 games by less than 1 score this season. Unlike in other games where they have relinquished late leads, they drew within 4 points in the third quarter, only to not be able to score in the final frame. Lincoln kept pace with Virginia Union in the first half, but then fell flat and went scoreless in the second half.
This Week: This game is every bit of a mini rivalry game. Lincoln has won the last two games and three of the last four. Five of the last six games have been decided by less than a touchdown. Whew. These two teams regularly schedule each other for homecoming, and this year is no exception. So, do not sleep on this game, because it almost always ends up dramatic. Lincoln doesn’t get a lot of respect, but you can expect offensive coordinators to plan for DL Lester McCoy, who leads the conference in tackles (77), tackles for loss (22.5) , and sacks (10.5). Its not really rushing defense that’s the problem for Lincoln, it’s the passing defense, as it averages a conference worst 9.8 yards per pass. When looking at ECSU, its pass offense isn’t really all that hot (second worst at 148 yards a game), and the rushing attack is about average at 135 yards a game. Neither team really kicks the ball much, as each has made a field goal apiece. If ECSU wants to win the game, it will need QB Chris Perkins to attack Lincoln’s suspect secondary. If Lincoln wants to win this game, then It will need a little more production out of its running game. Advantage: It’s a coin flip, but I’ll take Lincoln for homecoming
Bluefield State at Virginia State
Last week, QB Brice Koontz passed for 357 yards, and WR Julian Crawley had 129 yards of receiving yards. The problem though was that B-State could not overcome allowing 298 yards of rushing and 1/12 on third down. Not to mention, special teams wasn’t great, as they permitted Bowie to return an average of 21 yards, and at times nullified punting yards. Penalty yardage was a problem (10 penalties, 96 yards). VSU had Ri’Jon Hammond rush for 131 yards and Jaylen Pretlow has a third straight game of receiving over 95 yards and a touchdown (105 yards, 1 touchdown).
This week: VSU is the clear favorite here, mainly because while Bluefield has the tools to compete with its passing game, VSU can keep that offense off the field with its rushing attack. Plain and simple. If you're new to the column, its no secret that B-State's rushing defense is notoriously suspect, as its .3 yards on average away from being the worst in the country. Bluefield at times ends up playing from behind quite a bit, which it cannot afford in this game. Now with that being said, if VSU falls into its second half lulls again, then don’t be surprised if the final score is within 10 points. Advantage: VSU for homecoming
Virginia-Lynchburg at Livingstone
Last week: Livingstone struggled in a 42-10 loss to WSSU in which the Blue Bears weren’t able to sustain drives or stop a relentless rushing attack. VUL won an “electrifying”…their words, not mine…. homecoming game 55-12 against SC Central Christian. VUL won partially because of Jacob and Tim Newman, Jr – combined, the brothers rushed for 211 yards. If those names sound familiar, its because they played for JCSU in 2023.
This week: VUL is most productive in the passing game behind QB Max Zavala. Outside the win against SC Central Christian, the run game hasn’t been much of a factor. Zavala has multiple games with multiple interceptions, so the question becomes whether Livingstone’s secondary can capitalize. They also have multiple games where they have given up five or more sacks. That weakness could be a boon for DL Kenyon Garner, who has 9.5 sacks this season, and leads the solid defensive line corps. Where it gets interesting is to see how Livingstone bounces back on offense, as WR Tavion Jackson is the clearcut offensive weapon. VUL has yet to defeat an NCAA team this season. Advantage: Livingstone, with more than 5 sacks in this game