CHARLOTTE, NC – With non-conference games complete it’s time to get into the all-important conference play matchups. Let's have a preview of what's to come on Saturday:
Shaw (0-2) at Bowie State (1-1), 1:05 P.M. (WATCH LIVETHEGRIOTV.COM) LIVE STATS
Bowie State (1-1) will host Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) foe Shaw (0-2) in its home opener on Saturday (Sept. 16) at Bulldog Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and the game will be televised live on HBCU GO TV. This game will be the conference opener for both teams. The last time these two teams met at Bulldog Stadium was in 2017 where the Bulldogs suffocated the Bears, 76-7. will mark the 14th meeting in the series that began with a 19-12 Bowie State loss on Oct. 1, 1977. The Bears are 0-2 to start the 2023 season. Shaw is coming off a 26-13 home loss to nationally ranked Virginia Union in non-conference action. Bowie State dropped 24-19 road decision at Davenport. Bowie State has recorded a 35-9 record at home in Bulldog Stadium since 2013 and in the last 10 seasons.
Virginia State (2-0) at Saint Augustine’s (0-2), 1 P.M. LISTEN
The first thing to note about Virginia State at Saint Augustine’s is the game has been relocated to Southeast Raleigh High School and the John H. Baker Jr. Stadium due to field turf replacement at SAU’s George Williams Athletic Complex. Virginia State is one of two early season undefeated teams and ranks 4
th in the conference in scoring, averaging 27.0 points per game. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Saint Augustine’s ranks last, averaging just 3.5 points per game. The VSU Trojans held off at late game drive at home against Tusculum last Saturday, squeaking out a 21-17 victory in a game that was delayed two hours due to lightning. The Saint Augustine’s Falcons were blanked 13-0 by Elizabeth City State last Saturday wet Saturday afternoon versus Saint Augustine’s in the 26th Annual Down East Classic in Rocky Mount, NC.
Elizabeth City State (1-1) at Winston-Salem State (0-2), 6 P.M. LIVE STATS LISTEN
The Elizabeth City State Vikings make a trip down tobacco road to face the Winston-Salem State Rams in the conference opener for both teams. The Winston-Salem State University football team begins its home slate in Bowman-Gray Stadium. This will be the 9th meeting between the Rams and Vikings; the very first matchup took place in 2006. WSSU leads the series 6-2. Last season the Rams fell 20-17 to the Vikings. ECSU has won the last two meetings by a combined four points. The Rams last defeated ECSU in 2015 by a score of 17-10. The Vikings faced off against the Falcons in a defensive battle which led to a 13-0 win by the Elizabeth City State. As both teams' offensive struggles continued into the 4th quarter with the score being 0-0 the Vikings got on the board to take the lead. ECSU used a 6:35 drive to score the very first points of the game on a 36-yard rushing touchdown. ECSU and WSSU are just about even in terms of scoring over its first two games, with ECSU averaging 18.0 points per game compared to 17.5 points per game for WSSU.
Virginia Union (2-0) at Livingstone (0-2), 6 P.M. LIVE STATS WATCH
Virginia Union is the other undefeated team (Virginia State) in the conference heading into Week 3 and is ranked 18
th in the
D2Football.com Top 25. VUU’s Panthers lead the league in scoring average (35.5) and second in CIAA Defense, allowing 13.0 points per game. The Panthers have not been tested so far this season and Saturday’s (9/16) road contest at Livingstone could end up with an easy victory as well. Livingstone lost its home opener on their brand-new blue turf to Bluefield State (41-7) in Week #1 and was no match on the road against cross-town foe Catawba last Saturday, losing in a rout by a final score of 55-15 in the Blue Bears final non-conference game of the season.
Lincoln (PA) (1-1) at Fayetteville State (0-2), 6 P.M. LIVE STATS WATCH
The Lincoln (PA) Lions will hit the road for the second consecutive weekend, this time traveling to the defending CIAA Champion Broncos of Fayetteville State. The Lions have never won against the Broncos, and this will mark the 8
th time these teams have met. Lincoln (PA) picked up its first win of the 2023 season last Saturday in a scoring fest at Post (Waterbury, CT), beating the Eagles 48-32. Quarterback Isaiah Freeman was 13-for-21 on pass completions for 250 yards to lead the Lincoln (PA) Running Back Amir Gerald rushed for 107 net yards on 21 attempts and Wide Receiver Malachi Langley tallied 197 yards, on seven receptions. Fayetteville State dug a hole for themselves from the very beginning, falling behind 24-0 by halftime and couldn’t overcome the deficit to nationally ranked Lenoir-Rhyne. The Lenoir-Rhyne the Bears forced three first half turnovers (five total) and converted them into 21 points offensively to set the tone. Derrick Alston Jr. led all Broncos rushers with 61 yards and one touchdown in the contest, picking up 6.8 yards per carry. Joe Owens, Jr. also added 47 yards on the ground, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Tre' Goode reeled in two catches for 58 yards.
Bluefield State (1-1) at Johnson C. Smith (1-1), 6 PM LIVE STATS WATCH
In one of the many weather-delayed games last Saturday, homestanding Bluefield State came up on the short end of the stick, dropping a 37-14 non-conference decision to visiting Emery & Henry in Week #2. Emory & Henry started out strong, with a 71-yard touchdown pass to get on the board early and continued to dominate for the remainder of the contest. Jai’Que Hart was Bluefield State’s leader on the offensive side of the ball with a game-high 226 passing yards. The leading receivers for the Big Blue were Perry Wilder III and Khyon Smith with 70 and 51 yards respectively on 10 combined receptions. TJ Gunter and Jaylyn Norris contributed a team-high eight tackles each and Brett Brantley added seven tackles in the setback. The Johnson C. Smith University football team fell to the Cavaliers of Walsh University 14-9, inside Irwin Belk Complex in their 2023 home opener last Saturday afternoon. Tyrell Jackson completed 29-of-39 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown, however he had a season high of five interceptions. Jacob Newman had 90 yards on 18 carries to lead the Golden Bulls rushing attack, while his brother Tim had 48 yards on 15 carries. Brevin Caldwell finished with 10 catches for 120 yards. The Golden Bulls finished 356 total yards, 256 passing, and 100 on the ground. The defense limiting the Walsh Cavs to 88 total yards with 55 rushing and 33 passing yards. Benari Black posted eight tackles, and three tackles for loss.