CHARLOTTE, N.C. - We've reached the halfway point of the 2024 CIAA football season and things are as exciting ever. Week five was filled with intense conference matchups and was highlighted by all the home teams earning victories, including the still-undefeated Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University.

Shaw def. Bluefield State, 35-17
Shaw continues their upwards trend in the CIAA standings, improving to 4-2 after an 18-point home victory over Bluefield State. The Bears' strength came on the ground this week, as they ran to the tune of 272 total yards and three touchdowns. Conversely, the Big Blue dropped their third-consecutive contest and fell to 1-4.

Morgan State def Lincoln (PA), 41-0
Lincoln (PA)'s struggles continued this week as they fell to Morgan State, 41-0, Saturday afternoon. While the Lions were unable to score, they still managed 151 yards on the ground, their second-most this season.

Virginia Union def. Winston-Salem State, 31-13
This weekend, the Panthers had the tall task of playing host to the conference's second-ranked team, Winston-Salem State. They got out to a hot start which saw them grab a big 24-3 lead heading into halftime. The defense continued their dominance into the second half and the offense added one more score, as Virginia Union took down the Rams and improve to 3-2. VUU won the battle on the ground, as they rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns while holding WSSU to just 69 yards and no touchdowns. 

Johnson C. Smith def. Virginia State, 21-17
There appears to be no end in sight for Johnson C. Smith this season, as they improved to 6-0 with a nail-biting 21-17 win over Virginia State. The game was the lowest-margin of victory the Golden Bulls have had all season, with the Trojans keeping things close throughout. JCSU carried a 7-0 lead at the break, but the third quarter saw both teams find the endzone twice, with the Golden Bulls still holding a seven-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Trojans held them scoreless but only managed a field goal, as they dropped their third game of the season.

Fayetteville State def. Bowie State, 27-24 
Fayetteville State returned home for the first time in a month to take on Bowie State. The Bulldogs got out to a hot start and took a 17-14 lead into halftime thanks to a 30 yard scoop-and-score by the defense late in the second quarter. After a scoreless third quarter. the Broncos found themselves back on top after a touchdown and a field goal five minutes into a fourth quarter. Bowie State connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass with just under two mintes remaining in regulation, setting the stage for a potential game-winning drive for FSU. They were able to drive down the field and set up a game-winning field goal attempt and as the clock hit zero, the ball split the uprights to clinch the victory for Fayetteville State.

Livingstone def. Elizabeth City State, 23-17
Livingstone continues to turn heads this season, as they took down Elizabeth City State to improve to 4-2 and already match their win total from the previous two seasons. The game was a very equal match in many different ways, including yards, which saw both teams pass (137) and rush (140) for the exact same amount of yards. The Vikings led at the half and extended their lead to 17-7 early in the third quarter, The Blue Bears remained resilient and responded with a pair of scores, one on the ground and one through the air, to erase the deficit and claim a three-point lead. They'd add some insurance with a field goal later in the quarter and hold ECSU scoreless in the final quarter en route to victory. 

Next week's schedule will see 10 teams take the field in week five of the 2024 football season.

WEEKLY HONORS
Below are the weekly honors:



NAME: Joe Owens
POSITION: Quarterback
CLASS: Graduate
HOMETOWN: Greenville, S.C.
 

Joe demonstrated skill and leadership, completing 26 of 41 pass attempts for an impressive 342 yards. His precision was evident as he threw for 1 touchdown without any interceptions, including a long pass of 69 yards. Despite facing pressure, he was only sacked once, showcasing his poise under pressure.

NAME: Avante George
POSITION: Running Back
CLASS: Junior
HOMETOWN: Goldsboro, N.C
 

George Rushed for 48 yards for one touchdown

NAME: Kameron King
POSITION: Wide Receiver
CLASS: R-Senior
HOMETOWN: Lawrenceville, GA.
 

Kameron showed exceptional receiving skills by making 8 receptions for a remarkable 135 yards. His ability to make big plays was evident with a long reception of 33 yards, and a crucial touchdown. Kameron’s stats highlight his significant impact on the game and his value to the team.

NAME: Michael Todd Jr.
POSITION: Offensive Lineman
CLASS: R-Senior
HOMETOWN: Lumberton, N.C.
 

Michael’s exceptional blocking and protection were crucial in allowing only one sack throughout the game, demonstrating his strength and technique. His efforts were instrumental in helping the offense achieve an impressive 358 total yards. Additionally, Michael’s consistency and reliability contributed to the team’s perfect 4-4 record in red zone scores. 

NAME: Saevion Gibbs
POSITION: Defensive Lineman
CLASS: Senior
HOMETOWN: Black Mountain, N.C.
 

The preseason All-CIAA selection fought off double-team matchups to finish with five total tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack in the Bears 35-17 win over Bluefield State. 

NAME: Benari Black
POSITION: Linebacker
CLASS: Senior
HOMETOWN: Charlotte, N.C.
 

Black lead the defense with 16 total tackles. 8 solo 8 assist. He also had a tackle for loss.

NAME: Noah Gibson
POSITION: Cornerback
CLASS: Sophomore
HOMETOWN: Jacksonville, N.C.
 

Gibson shined in a crowded secondary finishing with six tackles and his second interception in as many weeks as Shaw defeated Bluefield State.   

NAME: John Hernandez-Vargas
POSITION: Kicker
CLASS: Sophomore
HOMETOWN: Biscoe, N.C.
 

John played a pivotal role in Fayetteville State’s victory, successfully making two crucial field goals in the 4th quarter. His 33-yard field goal at 13:58 and the game-winning 22-yard field goal as time expired secured the win for his team. Additionally, John demonstrated his versatility and strength on kickoffs, averaging 57.4 yards over 5 kickoffs, with one touchback. His consistent and clutch performances under pressure make John Hernandez-Vargas a valuable asset to the team.

NAME: Christian Rutledge
POSITION: Running back
CLASS: Freshman
HOMETOWN: Fayetteville, N.C.
 

Rutledge made an instant impact in the Bears win over Bluefield State returning a kickoff 93 yards for a TD after Shaw trailed briefly. The rookie from Fayetteville, NC also finished with 7 carries and a long run of 11 yards.