November 19th, 2025 11:40am
SIAC Weekly-Division II Playoffs-First Round
Weekly Rewind
A look back at last scores by the numbers, (SIAC teams denoted in bold)
Albany State 22 Benedict 16
Albany State—289 total yds 11 first downs/Passing 182 yds/Rushing 107 yds 2 td
Benedict—278 total yds 18 first downs/Passing 174 yds 1 td 1 int/Rushing 104 yds
Kentucky State 35 Shorter 7
Kentucky State—298 total yds 17 first downs/Passing 181 yds 1 td/Rushing 117 yds 2 td
Shorter—378 total yds 21 first downs/Passing 193 yds 1 td 1 int/Rushing 185 yds
Allen 42 Erskine 24
Allen—327 total yds 19 first downs/Passing 159 yds 4 td/Rushing 168 yds 1 td
Erskine—387 total yds 21 first downs/Passing 281 yds 2 td 3 int/Rushing 106 yds 1 td
SIAC Playoff Matchups-Round One (SIAC teams denoted in bold)
Valdosta State (6-4) at Albany State (10-1)
Valdosta State closed out 2025 on a hot streak to make the playoff field. After finishing runner-up for the national championship just a season ago, the Blazers started this season out 2-4 before rallying to win four straight games at seasons end. VSU plays in the Gulf South Conference. The football playing teams in the conference have been depleted by teams either moving up to Division I (UNA, UWG), moving to Conference Carolinas (Shorter, North Greenville) or shuttering their football program altogether (Florida Tech, Mississippi College). With four football-only members left in the GSC and the new automatic qualifying entry into the Division II playoffs, Valdosta only needed to beat three opponents this year, and that’s exactly what they did. They sealed their playoff spot with a 47-44 double overtime victory over then top five ranked West Florida.
In their most recent victory, Blazers quarterback Jameson Holcomb passed for 331 yards and four touchdowns. Three VSU running backs combined for 106 yards on the ground. The Blazers defense yielded over 500 yards of offense to West Florida.
Albany State, who was the class of the SIAC all season, didn’t play their best half of football in the second half of their conference championship victory against Benedict. They were outscored 9-5 in the second half and held off a late benedict drive to escape with a 22-16 victory. Defensively, they held another opponent under 300 yards as benedict finished the game with 278 yards of offense. Quarterback Isaiah Knowles finished with 182 yards through the air with no touchdowns or picks. Tiant Wyche touched paydirt once while rushing for 75 yards on 16 carries.
The Golden Rams are the #1 seed in region two and they will have a firm test from a hot team in round one. Can they advance?
PREDICTION
Albany State 30 Valdosta State 24
Benedict (9-2) at Wingate (9-2)
Benedict comes into the 2025 playoffs off the heels of a tough defeat against Albany State in the SIAC championship game. Benedicts two losses on the season both come at the hands of the Golden Rams. However, their second game was much closer and competitive. Benedict’s defense has been their strong point much of the season and against ASU in the SIAC championship game, they did not disappoint, only allowing 289 yards of total offense to a team that averages over 400 yards per contest. Offensively, David Smith and Triston Morgan combined for 27 carries and 90 yards on the ground. Quarterback Darius Ocean was a little better the second time around against the ASU defense. The first matchup saw Ocean complete only 10 of 28 passes for 158 yards and no touchdowns with one pick. This time around Ocean completed 12 of 26 passes for 174 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Wingate comes in to the playoffs on a six-game winning streak and as the runner-up in the South Atlantic Conference. Wingate lost two close games to Carson-Newman and Newberry early in the season and have been on a roll ever since. Wingate’s offense is well-balanced as their quarterback Elijah Holmes passed for 2436 yards with 22 touchdowns to only four interceptions. Their leading rusher Xavier Pugh carried the ball 182 times for 946 yards. That’s a 5.2 yards-per-carry average and he also rushed for 18 touchdowns. Defensively Wingate allopwed 2866 yards through eleven games as well as only 178 points. That’s an average of 260. 5 yards per contest and only 16. 2 points per game. This team is sound on both sides of the ball.
Can Benedict’s offense match their defense against Wingate or will the balanced bulldogs be too hard to handle?
PREDICTION
Wingate 27 Benedict 13
Kentucky State (9-2) at Newberry (9-2)
The Thorobreds played an extra game last week against Shorter and got the 35-7 victory. Kentucky State’s offense has been their strength all season long leading all SIAC members in total offense. Denim Johnson has been very effective leading the way at quarterback for KSU. Although he wasn’t at his best against Shorter, Johnson has tallied 1957 yards combined through the air and with his legs. He has six rushing touchdowns, 12 passing touchdowns and only one interception on the season. Defensively, the Thorobreds have given up some points, but in most cases their offense has just outscored the opponent.
Newberry, the champions of the SAC conference come into their contest with KSU on a seven-game winning streak. Out of Newberry’s 10 games this season, seven of them were one-score games. Newberry won all seven of them. The Wolves like to run the ball with Quez Spells and Kermane Brunson and these guys are nearly identical in yards with the former gaining 338 yards rushing on the season and the latter gaining 337 yards. Quarterback Reed Charpia throws for an average of 268.2 yards per game with 23 passing touchdowns on the season to only one interception, Newberry’s rush defense is where they are weakest giving up 190 yards per contest on the ground.
Will Kentucky State find a way to outscore a proficient passing attack that Newberry offers or will the trip southeast to South Carolina prove too daunting?
PREDICTION
Kentucky State 35 Newberry 31
SEASONS PREDICTIONS
Last Week 3-0
Overall 59-23