We are now across the halfway point the season.

Going into divisional play, the CIAA North features a cluster of teams capable of winning the division. Your contenders are:
    • Bowie State (3-2, 2-0) is the reigning champions and features the 13th most productive offense (by total yards) and 6th
    • Chowan (4-1, 2-0) has a plethora of offensive weapons. While their diverse offense gets a lot of praise, their defense has found ways to keep opposing teams out of the end zone (more on that later). Chowan is the only school in the conference without a D-II loss.
    • Virginia State (4-1, 1-1) leads the conference in rushing and has a rejuvenated defense. Its no secret that its passing game has a tendency to ebb at the most inopportune times when it should be flowing.






There are some intriguing storylines to follow thus far:

  • QB controversies are pending: When Bowie began the season, BSU was without presumptive starting Nyema Washington. Washington should be getting healthy soon. With Amir Hall doing so well, what does Bowie do exactly? Sit him out this year? Let him play? What say you, Bulldogs. In the South, WSSU is without Rod Tinsley, who suffered a concussion against VUU in week 3. Enter AJ Nocciolo, and a much more improved offense in the last two games. Tinsley and Nocciolo are different players, with Tinsley more athletic and Nocciolo more likely to hurt you with his arm. What happens when Tinsley gets healthy?
  • Can Chowan pull off their best season finish ever? Chowan has finished with a record over .500 once and certainly has the ammunition to do it.





Bowie State @ Chowan: THIS is your game of the week. I am so excited to see this matchup.At Thursday at 6 pm eastern, tune into the Livestream as we should witness two teams that could turn out one heck of an offensive show. Yes, I said Chowan typically stops offenses from scoring, but they give up A LOT of yards (exhibit A is giving up 375 to Livingstone). They both give up quite a bit of yards (Bowie 289, skewed by shutting out JCSU and an offensive weakling in FSU and Chowan 100 more yards a game). Speaking of FSU, the common opponent, Bowie only allowed 163 yards to the Broncos last week, while Chowan permitted double that in game 1. If there is a positive thing I can say about the Hawks, is that they have outlasted an opponent in a hotly contested game (35-28 vs West Florida at home) whereas Bowie seems to lose shootouts.

ECSU @ Virginia State: This game was moved up to Friday evening, just so you know. ECSU lost to JCSU and barely got by a young Shaw. It will likely be a long day for the Vikings as VSU only allows 12 points a game.

Fayetteville State @ Shaw: Someone has to break into the win column. FSU has the more reliable offense of the two win its run game. Shaw has the ability to get more yards, but repeatedly hamstrings itself with turnovers (now the tied for 2nd worst turnover margin in the country at -2.33). Look for FSU to get their first win of the season.

@ Livingstone: Who is tied with Shaw in the turnover margin category you ask? Division-mate Livingstone is one of those teams. The Blue bears have really regressed on offense.

Winston-Salem State @ JC Smith: Just when you think JCSU takes a step forward, they take a step back. Harold Herbin was running for his life last week against an aggressive Chowan defense.and you have a recipe for a WSSU win.

VUU @ Lincoln:This wont be pretty. At all. Lincoln was steamrolled by a one-dimensional gameplan of run run run and VUU simply has too many ways to hurt the Lions.