September 16th, 2025 8:00pm
Weekly Rewind
Let’s take a look back at last week’s scores by the numbers. (SIAC teams in bold)
Clark Atlanta 26 Fort Valley State 21
Game Totals
Clark Atlanta—328 total yds 19 first downs/Passing 180 yds 2 td 0 int/Rushing 148 yds 1 td
Fort Valley State—347 total yds 24 first downs/Passing 142 yds 2 td 0 int/Rushing 205 yds 1 td
Benedict 10 Central State 0
Game Totals
Benedict—275 total yds 13 first downs/Passing 198 yds 0 td 1 int/Rushing 77yds
Central State—272 total yds 13 first downs/Passing 113 yds 0 td 1 int/Rushing 159 yds
Hampton 38 Morehouse 10
Game Totals
Hampton—425 total yds 23 first downs/Passing 269 yds 2 td 0 int/Rushing 156 yds 3 td
Morehouse—182 total yds 11 first downs/Passing 128 yds 1 td 1 int/Rushing 54 yds
Jackson State 30 Tuskegee 0
Game Totals
Jackson State 511 total yds 25 first downs/Passing 259 yds 1 td 1 int/Rushing 252 yds 3 td
Tuskegee 109 total yds 7 first downs/Passing 85 yds 0 td 0 int/Rushing 24 yds
Edward Waters 41 Virginia Union 38
Game Totals
Edward Waters—429 total yds 22 first downs/Passing 298 yds 2 td 0 int/Rushing 131 yds 2 td
Virginia Union—358 total yds 26 first downs/Passing 154 yds 2 td 1 int/Rushing 204 yds 2 td
Alabama State 37 Miles 9
Game Totals
Alabama State—407 total yds 17 first downs/Passing 277 yds 4 td 0 int/Rushing 130 yds 0 td
Miles—238 total yds 19 first downs/Passing 165 yds 0 td 0 int/Rushing 73 yds 1 td
Florida A&M 33 Albany St 25
Game Totals
Florida A&M—462 total yds 26 first downs/Passing 371 yds 2 td 1 int/Rushing 91 yds 2 td
Albany State—321 total yds 21 first downs/Passing 201 yds 1 td 0 int/Rushing 120 yds 2 td
Grambling 37 Kentucky state 31
Game Totals
Grambling—458 total yds 23 first downs/Passing 228 yds 2 td 0 int/Rushing 230 yds 2 td
Kentucky State—356 total yds 18 first downs/Passing 221 yds 2 td 0 int/Rushing 135 yds 2 td
Allen 29 Lane 21
Game Totals
Allen—409 total yds 25 first downs/Passing 257 yds 0 td 0 int/Rushing 152 yds 4 td
Lane—220 total yds 12 first downs/Passing 119 yds 2 td 0 int/Rushing 101 yds 1 td
Week 3 Matchups (SIAC teams in bold)
Tuskegee (2-1, 1-0) at Benedict (2-0, 1-0)
The SIAC will once again kick off this week’s matchups on Thursday night with a battle of defensive minded squads as Benedict will play host to Tuskegee. This game will be streaming live on ESPN+.
Tuskegee comes into this contest after a tough loss to FCS school Jackson State. Offensively they didn’t get on the scoreboard and barely eclipsed the 100-yard mark in total offense. Quarterback Raequan Beal was responsible for most of that as he completed just over 50 percent of his passes for 93 yards. To Beal’s credit, he did not turn the ball over. Beal and the rest of the Golden Tigers defense will have to be much better this week against another stout defense. Tuskegee’s defense hung about as tough as you could expect against a really good offense and a lot of time being on the field. Kaquan Kimber tallied four tackles, two and a half tackles-for-loss and one sack against Jackson State.
The Tigers of Benedict have won both of their games this year by a score of 10-0. They have been brilliant on the defensive side of the ball and have done just enough offensively to be undefeated through two games. Darius Ocean did complete 15 of 22 passes for 180 yards. Turnovers could very easily play a big role in this upcoming contest. It’s imperative Ocean doesn’t turn the ball over like he did once a week ago. Defensively, Benedict outscored Central State and their own offense this past week as the Tigers defense was the only group to see the endzone. Benedict’s defense may have to be opportunistic again to win.
Both teams are 1-0 in conference play and this is a great opportunity to stay at the top of the SIAC pack in the early part of the season. I don’t expect to see the ball to cross the pylon much in this one.
PREDICTION
Tuskegee 13 Benedict 3
Central State (0-3, 0-3) at Morgan State (0-3, 0-0)
Central State found itself on the losing end of a tight one last week. They fell 10-0 to Benedict. But the Marauders were in the thick of it with a chance to win. As the stats show in the earlier rewind portion of the column, CSU was only outgained by three yards and equaled their opponent in first downs with 13. The Marauders are still rotating two quarterbacks as both Qeanu Caldwell-Campbell and Tison Hill are both seeing significant playing time. Running backs Dai’Vontay Young and Jaden Bossie combined for 117 hard fought yards on 22 carries. That may be their bread and butter on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively they held their opponent to three points. They’ll need another good outing from their defense this week as they move up in class to play an FCS team in Morgan State.
Morgan State also finds themselves 0-3 on the year. A competitive loss at South Alabama followed by a heart-breaking loss to Towson and then a 60-0 thumping at the hands of Toledo has MSU wanting someone to take their frustration out on. As an FCS school, they’ll certainly have an advantage.
Can Central State stay competitive is the big question here.
PREDICTION
Morgan State 34 Central State 14
Kentucky State (1-2, 1-1) at Morehouse (0-2, 0-0)
Last week I predicted Grambling would defeat Kentucky State, but my expectation of how the game would unfold was completely off the mark. KSU boasted a 21-17 lead at the break before eventually falling in overtime to Grambling. Denim Jackson and Torrance Bardell both had reps at quarterback and they both played well. Johnson was 15 of 24 for 146 yards and a touch while Bardell finished 5 of 6 for 75 yards and a touchdown. Neither quarterback was intercepted. The offense was balanced as the running game netted 135 yards as well. The Thorobreds defense was steady all day against a potent Grambling attack. Unfortunately, KSU yielded a 17-yard touchdown run with only ten seconds left that allowed Grambling to get the game into overtime where they would ultimately prevail.
Morehouse only trailed by seven points going into the fourth quarter, but getting outscored 21-0 in the final period made the game look more out-of-reach than it actually was. The Tigers will finally enter conference play when they host KSU in their home opener. They’ll need a bit more consistency out of their quarterbacks who combined to complete just one-third of their passes. Defensively, Sean Johnson stood out as he led the team in tackles with 10. He also had 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles-for-loss that offered a net negative of 26 yards.
Morehouse will look to turn things around this week while Kentucky state will look to get over .500 in conference play.
PREDICTION
Kentucky State 31 Morehouse 20
Savannah State (1-1, 0-1) at Miles (0-3, 0-1)
Savannah State is coming off of a bye week after a strong defensive showing against Shorter. This will be their second conference game of the season and they’ll look to get into the conference win column Saturday. After allowing 31 points in the first half opener against Edward Waters, the Tigers have allowed just 10 points in the last six quarters. Against Shorter two weeks ago, the offense grinded it out with Joseph Hampton and David Gardner Jr. combining for 32 carries and 129 yards. I think a solid running game and stout defense is their calling card for victory.
The Golden Bears have had to run the gauntlet to open the season. This week gets a little easier, but not much as SSU is a tough team. As mightily as the current SIAC champions have struggled, they are only 0-1 in conference play. Brinley Vandiver took the majority of the snaps this week at quarterback and played well. He completed 18 of 29 attempts for 163 yards. Roderick Thomas was the only Bear to touch paydirt as he grinded out 55 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Miles struggled, but to their credit Alabama State boasts an explosive offense that no one has stopped this year.
This game feels like a defensive dog fight.
PREDICTION
Savannah State 17 Miles 13
Delta State (2-1, 0-0) at Fort Valley State (0-2, 0-1)
The Wildcats come into this big non-conference matchup 0-2. Unfortunately for FVSU they took a lead into the fourth quarter and just came up short. Last week in a 26-21 loss to conference foe Clark-Atlanta, quarterback Don Hudson played like Houdini. He completed over 80 percent of his passes for 142 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. He also carried the ball 23 times for 119 yards. He’ll need a repeat similar to this showing if they are to defeat a tough Delta State squad. Defensively, Deandre Boykins managed five solo tackles with a tackle-for-loss and a sack.
Delta State lost their spot in the D2football.com top 25 poll after getting upset by UNC Pembroke. The Statesmen opened the season with a win over top 25 Central Missouri and North Greenville before taking their first loss.
Fort Valley will need a full team effort to get a win here.
PREDICTION
Delta State 27 Fort Valley State 20
Edward Waters (3-0, 2-0) at Bethune Cookman (0-3, 0-0)
Edward Waters is the feel-good story of the season so far in SIAC. Maybe I feel this way because I’ve watched them play every weekend via being in every SIAC ESPN game of the week. Their season started at Savannah State trailing 14-0 in the first quarter before they came back to win that game by 27 points. Follow that up with an impressive win against Miles and a fantastic win against then 13th ranked Virginia Union 41-38. Noah Bodden, the former Southern University quarterback continues to shine for the Tigers as he had another great game. He finished with 283 yards passing on 19 completions out of 35 attempts. He tossed a touchdown and did not turn the ball over. Running back Johntarrius Thomas landed right on 100 yards and also had a touchdown. Bodden was at his best late in the game when he led his team on a scoring drive with under a minute to go to get the win. Defensively, EWU had a hard time corralling running back Curtis Allen who bulldozed his way to 147 yards on 24 carries. Butin the Tigers defense, Allen is one of the premier backs in all of division II. He is very physical.
Bethune-Cookman is 0-3 on the year but two of those losses were to FBS schools. Their other loss was a competitive high-scoring affair against South Carolina State where they fell, 55-41.
It’s always difficult to get a win when moving up a division to play an opponent. EWU however may be in ripe position to pull the upset.
PREDICTION
Bethune-Cookman 45 Edward Waters 38
Clark-Atlanta (2-1, 1-0) at Allen (1-2, 1-0)
Both teams enter this contest undefeated in the conference and both are coming off of a close home win in conference play. Last week Clark-Atlanta showed nice balance offensively as quarterback Zy McDonald completed 19 of 30 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Allen Riggins didn’t quite reach the 100 yard-mark but did touch paydirt once and averaged five tough yards per carry. Defensively, CA did a good job of bending but not breaking as they were outgained by their opponent. But they always managed to come up with key stops when they mattered most.
Jamir Dismukes was the SIAC offensive player of the week as he completed 28 of his 33 pass attempts for 257 yards and 0 turnovers for Allen. He did find the endzone with his legs and added 24 yards on the ground. The offense was very balanced as running back Fabian Duncan touched paydirt twice as he finished the game with 27 carries for 125 yards. Defensively, Allen only allowed 220 yards and 12 first downs. But they did allow Lane to stay in the game as they only led by two points with under 10 minutes to play.
I think this will be a critical game for both teams. Allen is 1-2 and have played well enough to be 3-0. CA is 2-1 and could easily be 0-3. I think the game is fairly even on paper with a slight lean towards Allen. The question will be, who makes the most of their opportunities?
PREDICTION
Clark-Atlanta 31 Allen 27
LANE (0-2, 0-1) at Alabama A&M
The Dragons had a tough fought loss to Allen last week. They were outgained mightily and gave up over twice as many first downs than they achieved. Yet, it was only a one score game. Lane seems to be resilient even if things aren’t going exactly the way they would like. They have a tall task this week as they travel to play a very good FCS school. They’re getting solid production from their quarterback Nick Billoups, who accounted for 166 of their 220 total yards of offense. 119 of those yards were through the air while he also led the team in rushing with 47. Defensively, lane allowed over 400 yards, but their defense got enough stops to keep them in the game even though the box score would tell a different story. They are going to have to be fantastic in all three phases of the game to keep this one competitive this week.
Alabama A&M lost their opener to SEC opponent Arkansas. But they have followed that opening season loss up with two close wins over Alcorn State and Tennessee State. This will be a quick reprieve from conference play for them.
Two teams with two different goals this week.
PREDICTION
Alabama A&M 55 Lane 7
Season Predictions
Last Week 8-1
Overall, 20-6