Most of the year, the CIAA is about as predictable as they come. You know that one team may have a brief run towards the middle or the top, or another may have a precipitous fall into the basement.Two schools who exemplify these thoughts are Elizabeth City State and Livingstone.
Yes, they lost to a flailing Johnson C. Smith, and started the season with two FCS schools. At one point, this game was 33-7 in favor of the Vikings. No one has been questioning the Viking offense, but it was really the defense who stole the show. In particular, the defense stopped Chowan on red zone drives twice late in the game to stop the any hints of late game heroics. All of a sudden, ECSU now has a chance to get back to the championship game if they were to win their next two games and avoid a tiebreaker with Virginia State.

On the flip side, struggle life is alive in Salisbury. I mean, I looked up at the score board at one point and thought we were closing in on halftime and we were halfway through the first quarter alone. When you start your game by giving up a safety, it is not a good look. So much for clinching the division on WSSU's home field. Yes, Livingstone managed to make the score a somewhat respectable 40-21, but the offense just seemed to be rather inept at times. Drew Powell and Jalen Hendricks are sorely missed.

Other Notables:

The Bowie State-Virginia State game was one for the ages. Bowie has a tendency to start out fast, and they built up a 28-7 lead. Bowie also has a tendency to not deliver a knockout punch, and it showed. Unlike last week, VUU slowly crept back in the game and eventually eclipsed the bulldogs with a 42-35 finish.In a game that featured the two leading contenders for CIAA Offensive player of the year, it was Running Back William Stanback who got the best of BSU Quarterback Amir Hall.

It was the second time that Stevie ran for more than 150 yards this season.Two takeaways:He should be the Rookie of the year, and I have got to stop betting against FSU.

Cruel.So cruel.VSU was lead by Trenton Cannon, who has over 200 yards of total offense.As for Lincoln, I think Stephen Scott is giving Waldo a run for his money, as his offensive production has largely vanished this year. Can someone find it for him?

Nonetheless, the Bears found a way to persevere.

Playoffs

The first regional rankings came out this week and the CIAA has two participants in the top 10: VUU at 9 and WSSU at 10. There are a lot of great teams in the CIAA that could still emerge as what may be the lone attendee to the annual postseason party. As far as I know, Earned Access is still available if need be, much to the dismay of the other three conferences. Earned Access is only available to a conference champion that ends up in slot number 8 and would bump the team in slot 7 for a place at the playoff table. As for the conference, someone needs to come out of the north with no more than two D2 losses to ensure that the CIAA gets into the playoffs. Otherwise, its 2008 all over again and we will all be sitting at home.

A NDC loss means that they are now joining the ranks of the 2 loss teams and may find themselves out the playoff race. A Fairmont loss means that you have three MEC teams that could potentially make the playoffs with Shepherd (7-0) still in the mix. Fairmont and Shepherd play on the last week of the season.

This week:
ECSU has a dynamic offense lead by deal threat Quarterback Daquan Neal that knows how to pass well. VUU is led by a smorgasbord of weapons and a balanced offense. This game will come down to whether 1. ECSU avoid slow starts that have imperiled them in games prior to last week and 2. whether VUU can eat up the clock on sustained drives.The consensus in this game is for VUU to spoil the Viking homecoming, and I also lean that way.

Chowan travels to Virginia State in a game that will eliminate the loser from the north title.

An eye for an eye.

Fayetteville State may not be able to rely on the run game as much against a surprisingly stout Livingstone run defense, but I do expect the Bronco faithful to be able to turn up after their homecoming win.

JC Smith and St. Augustine's should provide for entertaining fodder given that both teams are pass-happy. St. Augustine's is a bit more balanced with dual threat QB DJ Johnson, and I expect him to lead the Falcons to victory.

They play Lincoln.