Last Week's Game of the week, FVSU vs Stillman College

I have never been one to say I told you so, however this is what I wrote last week, the jury is still out on Stillman, and no one in the East Division are convinced they should be in the Championship game. Head Coach Donald Pittman has a chance to salvage a detrimental season and he will. Well, the final score says it all FVSU 52 vs Stillman College 3. What a turn-around for The Valley. The loss is the first of the season in SIAC play for Stillman, which falls to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play. FVSU improves to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play. We are looking at it as a new season and want to win the last three games, FVSU head coach Donald Pittman said, now we have one. The Wildcats of FVSU jumped out quickly to a 24-3 halftime lead and continued the onslaught the second half. The Wildcats cats scored four second-half touchdowns while also keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.

We started out good, and in the second half, we have not finished, said star receiver Chris Slaughter, who caught two touchdown passes. We finished (Saturday). Freshman QB, Cameron Pearson passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns, including the two to Slaughter, a former standout at Peach County. Slaughter hauled in a 33-yard pass for FVSU first score of the game, and the other came with 2:15 to go in the third quarter as Slaughter made a catch in the back of the end zone. The play stretched the FVSU lead to 38-3, and that was padded by two fourth-quarter scores: a 3-yard run by Courtney Aaron and an 85-yard Demario Barber punt return.
Another former Peach County standout, Travis Richmond, had a big day, as well. He led the Wildcats on the ground with 15 carries for 93 yards and touchdown while also throwing Stillman off balance by catching passes coming out of the backfield, hauling in four catches for 42 yards.

Each team exchanged a second-quarter field goal, including a 52-yarder by the Wildcats held the Tigers offense to 118 yards of total offense and forced four fumbles and two interceptions. Stillman committed six turnovers; four resulted in FVSU touchdowns, sending the large crowd home with a homecoming victory.

Rest of the SIAC: Morehouse withstood a fierce comeback from a much-improved Benedict team and won 37-31. Kentucky blanked Tuskegee in Frankfort, Kentucky 20-0. Miles College is poised to tie for first place in the West Division after completely annihilating Lane College 37-3. Albany State University edged Clark-Atlanta 19-13 in the Rumble in the Swamp Classic in Waycross, Georgia. Now the true challenges begin in both the East and West Divisions. Consider, Miles College is still the hunt for the West Division lead if they can defeat Stillman on Thursday night in the game of the weak. Also, consider Albany State University faces two extremely improved teams in their last two games in Benedict and the most heated rivalry in the SIAC The Fountain City Classic in Columbus, GA. At any rate both teams competing for the Inaugural SIAC Championship will not be determined until the last week of the season, making the season more exciting for fans. I must admit, if the planners (SIAC) knew or even suspected this type of parity, they are a lot smarter than I am. On to the battles of the gridiron, good luck to all in contention for post-season play. Those in contention are ASU, Stillman, Miles and Morehouse. I predict the D2 selection committee will chose ASU and Morehouse if any teams are to make the D2 playoffs from the SIAC.

Game of the Week (Thursday night) Stillman vs Miles

Miles is not under anyone radar anymore. If you are a viewer of this column, you know that. I have said this for the last four weeks. Now, the West Division has its own Championship game. Bottom-line if Stillman wins, it is a slam-dunk; if Miles wins, we have to wait until they play their final game (Tuskegee) as there will be a tie for first in the West. Stillman College understands the importance of this game and will play hard at home. Head Coach Reginald Ruffin (Miles) is on a mission however, he is a defensive mastermind. Coach Ruffin has Miles players believing in themselves, his concept of teaching his young men, the 12 Building Blocks to success, not only makes winners of them on the football field but in life as well. Is that not what college is suppose to do, make productive citizens of its students. Speaking with Coach Ruffin on Sunday night, he had me wanting to put my pads back on and play for him. He said, the game of football teaches us so many facts about life, and we must use this time to prepare our next generation. This will be an exciting game, so take Friday off, and come on down to Tuscaloosa and watch a slugfest Thursday night. Hard fought battle, but Miles is on a mission Miles 29 vs Stillman 20 See u there!

Players to Watch: Stillman-Dondre Purnell (QB), Desmond Holloway (WR), Lakeevis Tabb (CB), Ronnie Partridge (P), Antonio Johnson (CB), Jarrell Thomas (LB), and Jeremy Hall (DL)

Miles College- David Thomas (QB), Jordan Lewis (RB), Patton Chambers (K), Julantate English (LB), and Ronnie Stephens(DB)

Albany State University 28 vs Benedict 17
Not an easy victory for ASU even though its homecoming in Albany. The offense looks to prove it can control a game. ASU offense reached the red zone four times last week without a TD until late in the third quarter (Kicker Brandon Hamilton, 4 field goals). The Dirty Blue (defense) will play hard as always.

Tuskegee University 30 vs Clark-Atlanta 22
Tuskegee returns to winning ways. Whispers of a new coach are rumored; my response is are you crazy? Willie Slater is a legend in the SIAC with four Conference Championships and one Black National Championship in the 2000 decade.

Morehouse College 32 vs Fort Valley State University 30
The most difficult pick of the week. Morehouse is playing on all cylinders and so is Fort Valley. This could have been the game of the week. I chose Morehouse in a nail bitter tough, possibly OT. Morehouse is trying to secure a playoff spot, and that is their motivation. Head Coach Pittman has a bag of offensive tricks tough and will show the vulnerabilities of Morehouse defense.

Kentucky State University 48 vs Lane College 12
KSU offensive has season high output.

Marvin Broadwater, Sr.
D2 Football SIAC Columnist