CHARLOTTE, NC – We’re coming down to the home stretch of the regular season and heading into Week #8. Here’s a snapshot of what to watch for this Saturday:

Bowie State (3-4 / 2-3 CIAA / 0-2 North) at Bluefield State (1-6 / 0-5 CIAA / 0-2 North) 1 PM   
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Both Bowie State and Bluefield State are desperately looking for a win. The BSU Bulldogs are on a three-game slide while the BSU Big Blue are on a six-game downward spiral. Bowie State ranks 10^th in conference scoring at 15.6 points per game and ranked 7^th in defense, allowing 25.1 points per game. Bluefield State ranks 6^th in scoring (21.9) but ranks 12^th overall in CIAA defense, allowing 31.9 points per game. Bowie State’s Bulldogs have two players that rank in the Top 5 of two statistical categories. Amir Jenkins ranks second in passing (183.2 yards per game) and Keshane Hinkley ranks 5^th in receiving yards per game (56.4 yards per game). This will be the first ever meeting between the two teams.
 
Lincoln (PA) (4-3 / 3-2 CIAA / 2-0 North) at #20 Virginia Union (6-1 / 4-1 CIAA / 2-0 North) 1 PM   
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The Panthers of Virginia Union will celebrate Homecoming on Saturday and look to stay in the hunt for the CIAA Northern Division crown.  Both teams are on three-game win streaks, but VUU cannot afford to look past the surging Lions. Virginia Union is ranked 20^th in the latest D2Football.com poll and leads the CIAA in defense, allowing a meager 12.3 points per game. The VUU Panthers rank second overall in scoring, putting up 35.3 points per game. The LUPA Lions are right behind Virginia Union in scoring, averaging 30.6 points per game. Virginia Union is led on offense by the CIAA’s leading rusher Jada Byers who averages 134.6 yards per game. Byers’ backfield mate Curtis Allen ranks third in conference rushing with a 77.0 yards per game average. Lincoln (PA) quarterback Isaiah Freeman leads the league in passing with 1,749 yards, 20 TD’s and 249.9 yards per game. LUPA’s Malachi Langley leads the CIAA in receiving with 110.7 yards per game average.


Shaw (2-5 / 2-3 CIAA / 1-1 South) at Livingstone (2-5 / 2-3 CIAA / 1-1 South) 1:30 PM 
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Shaw is looking to roll into Alumni Stadium on Saturday to spoil Homecoming festivities of Livingstone. The Shaw Bears currently ranks 11^th in conference scoring (14.3 points per game) and Livingstone is 9^th in scoring (15.7 points per game). Shaw and Livingstone rank 10^th and 11^th respectively in team defense at 29.3 and 30.7 points per game.  The Shaw Bears are led on offense by quarterback Silas Cruse (116.0 passing yards per game), Sidney Gibbs (45.3 rushing yards per game) and Donte Lee Jr. (47.6 reception yards per game). Elijah Adams and Jaden Jones lead the Bears defense with 47 and 35 total tackles respectively. Livingstone is led offensively by quarterback Marcus Drish (149.3 passing yards per game) and JyMikaah Wells (32.2 rushing yards per game). The Livingstone Blue Bears receivers are led by Matthew Henery (90.7 reception yards per game) and Davontay Deloatch (41.4 reception yards per game).


Saint Augustine’s (0-7 / 0-5 CIAA / 0-2 South) at Winston-Salem State (3-4 / 3-2 CIAA / 1-1 South) 1:30 PM
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Saint Augustine’s is still in search of their first win of the season and has hopes of spoiling any Homecoming celebration for Winston-Salem State. The WSSU Rams have been up and down during the 2023 season and looking for their second win in a row for the second time this season. Saint Augustine’s continues to struggle to put points on the scoreboard, averaging a league-low 5.6 points per game. The WSSU Rams rank 4^th in CIAA scoring, averaging 25.4 points per game. WSSU’s Daylin Lee ranks third in conference passing (168.9 passing yards per game) and RJ Mobley also ranks third in CIAA receiving (71.9 yards per game). This will be the 36th meeting between the Rams and the Falcons dating back to 1946. WSSU leads the series 21-12-2. The Rams have won the last four games and the Falcons won last in 2017, 17-14 in Raleigh.
 
Elizabeth City State (1-6 / 0-5 CIAA / 0-2 North) at #24 Virginia State (7-0 / 5-0 CIAA / 2-0 North) 2 PM   
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Elizabeth City State is currently on a five-game losing streak while Virginia State continues to show why they are the CIAA’s best and only undefeated team. The ECSU Vikings have not tasted victory since week two of the season. Meanwhile, VSU’s Trojans have not been really tested in conference play so far this season, leading the CIAA in scoring at a 37.6 points per game clip. Elizabeth City State is scoring 17.3 points per game and allowing 23.6 points per game. Donoven Davenport is ECSU’s leading passer (124.7 passing yards per game), and Zechariah Adams-Duckson is the leading ground gainer (75.7 yards per game) for the Vikings. Elizabeth City State’s top tacklers are Teonne Porter (52) and Demorian Smith (51). The nationally ranked and unbeaten Trojans offense is led by the league’s second leading rusher Kymani Clark (91.2 yards per game). VSU’s Cameron Davis, Miguel Pillow-Smiley and Carl Poole have recorded 30 tackles each to pace the Trojans defense.


Johnson C. Smith (5-2 / 4-1 CIAA / 1-1 South) at Fayetteville State (5-2 / 4-1 CIAA / 2-0 South) 2:30 PM  
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The Johnson C. Smith at Fayetteville State Homecoming game could be the matchup to watch on Saturday. The two schools come into the contest with identical overall and conference records and are only separated by one game within the division. FSU has put together five straight wins while JCSU has won four of their last five contest. The defending CIAA Champions of Fayetteville State ranks second in conference defense, allowing just 14.1 points per game. The much-improved Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith are right behind the Broncos in conference defense, giving up 14.3 points per game. JCSU’s leader on offense is Brevin Caldwell who ranks fourth in CIAA receiving with 56.6 reception yards per game. Benari Black is JCSU’s and the CIAA’s leading tackler (66). Fayetteville State quarterback Joe Owens leads the Broncos offensively with 486 passing yards (97.2 per game) and David Baros’ 266 reception yards.