LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
Chennis Berry’s (l.) undefeated Benedict Tigers lead the SIAC while (r.) Dr. Alvin Parker’s Virginia Union Panthers lead the CIAA North.
The football races in the CIAA and SIAC are hurtling toward rousing finishes over the next two weeks. Both conferences have their championship games on the weekend of Saturday, November 11 though the title game participants will be determined by different means.
The CIAA championship game at the Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Va. at 3 p.m. will match winners of the North and South Divisions. CIAA officials confirmed Tuesday that the teams with the best records in the eight-game conference schedule will claim division titles.
The SIAC moved away from its East and West divisions this season and will stage its championship game in Atlanta’s Lakewood Stadium between the two teams at the top of the standings.
CIAA North
The battle for CIAA North Division supremacy took another turn after Saturday’s results. A missed PAT by Virginia State with just over a minute left allowed Elizabeth City State to pull out a 17-16 upset win. The outcome drops VSU to 5-1 in conference play, tied with Virginia Union in first place. Lincoln (Pa.) and Bowie State are two games behind in the North at 3-3.
In key battles Saturday in the North Division, VUU is at 0-6 conference newcomer Bluefield State (1 p.m.) while VSU and Lincoln lock horns in Ettrick, Va. (2 p.m.). ECSU and Bowie State, clash in Bowie, Md. (1 p.m.).
A VUU win Saturday knocks BSU and ECSU from contention. A VSU win over Lincoln sets up a showdown for the division title between VUU and VUU on Nov. 4 in Richmond, Va. A Lincoln win over VSU coupled with a VUU win over Bluefield State gives the division title to VUU.
CIAA South
In the South, Fayetteville State at 6-0 has clinched the division title.
FSU plays at Shaw Saturday (1 p.m.) while WSSU is on the road (2 p.m.) at Johnson C.
Smith. Livingstone hosts Saint Augustine’s (6 p.m.).
SIAC
At 6-0 in conference play, AFCA No. 5 Benedict (8-0) sits atop the SIAC race and is in the NCAA Div. II Super Region II rankings that debuted this week. With a win Saturday (3 p.m.) at Savannah State (2-6, 1-5), Benedict can clinch one of the two championship game berths.
There are a lot of options for the second berth. Three teams – Fort Valley State (6-1), Tuskegee (5-1) and Miles (5-1) – have one SIAC loss. Benedict handed both Miles (27-24) and FVSU (48-6) their only SIAC losses. There are three other 4-2 teams – Albany State, Edward Waters and Allen.
Miles is at Albany State Saturday (2 p.m.) while FVSU has a non-conference date (2 p.m.) hosting Virginia Lynchburg. Tuskegee hosts (1 p.m.) winless Clark Atlanta and Edward Waters, riding a five-game win streak, plays at Allen’s homecoming (2 p.m.).
SWAC
The big game in the SWAC is a battle of division leaders as East leader Florida A&M (6- 1, 5-0 E) hosts (4 p.m.) West co-leader Prairie View A&M (3-4, 3-1 W). Alcorn State (4-3, 3-1), hosting Miss. Valley State and Southern (4-3, 3-1), hosting Texas Southern are the other West co-leaders. Jackson State (5-3, 3-2 E), two games back of FAMU, is at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
MEAC
NC Central, Howard and SC State got wins as MEAC play got underway last week. NCCU has its second straight Thursday night game (7:30 p.m.) hosting S. C. State in Durham, N. C. SCSU handed NCCU its only MEAC loss last season. Howard is at Delaware State Saturday (12 noon) and Norfolk State hosts Morgan State (2 p.m.).
