CIAA Football Week 9 Recap: Johnson C. Smith Wins Overtime Thriller, Virginia Union Remains Unbeaten as Championship Race Intensifies
Golden Bulls stun Virginia State, Panthers record third shutout, and Fayetteville State rallies past Bowie State as the regular season enters its final week
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (November 2, 2026) — Week 9 of Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) football delivered dramatic finishes, defensive dominance and several statement victories as the conference approaches the final week of the 2026 regular season.
Johnson C. Smith delivered one of the weekend's biggest victories, defeating Virginia State 39-33 in overtime to hand the Trojans their first conference loss. Meanwhile, Virginia Union remained undefeated in CIAA competition with a commanding 62-0 victory over Lincoln (Pa.), recording its third shutout of the season.
Fayetteville State overcame an early deficit to defeat Bowie State 21-17 during Senior Day, while Elizabeth City State delivered an impressive defensive performance in a 5-0 shutout of Winston-Salem State.
Bluefield State earned its first victory of the season with a thrilling 45-42 win over Shaw, and Livingstone secured a 37-14 nonconference victory over Virginia University of Lynchburg.
With one week remaining in the regular season, the race for championship positioning continues to intensify.
WEEK 9 GAME RECAPS
Johnson C. Smith 39, Virginia State 33 (OT)
Johnson C. Smith delivered one of the most thrilling victories of the 2026 CIAA football season, defeating Virginia State 39-33 in overtime on Saturday at the Irwin Belk Complex in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Golden Bulls bounced back from their first conference loss of the season to hand the Trojans their first CIAA defeat, shaking up the championship race with just one week remaining in the regular season.
Johnson C. Smith established control early, building a 26-13 halftime advantage behind quarterback Damien Mazil and running back Fabian Duncan. Mazil connected with Brian Lane for a 36-yard touchdown and Duncan for an 11-yard score, while Duncan added an 11-yard rushing touchdown. Virginia State responded in the third quarter with 13 unanswered points to tie the contest at 26-26, but Mazil answered with a 64-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Brigman to restore the Golden Bulls' lead.
Virginia State refused to go away, as quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr. connected with Nazir McKenzie for a touchdown to tie the game at 33-33 and force overtime. In the extra period, Duncan delivered the decisive play, breaking free for a 14-yard touchdown run to secure the six-point victory. Mazil finished with 256 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Duncan accounted for 203 total yards and three touchdowns, including two rushing scores. Brigman added 98 receiving yards, highlighted by his 64-yard touchdown reception.
Matthews Jr. led Virginia State with 476 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, while Jaylen Pretlow recorded 117 receiving yards and a score. Despite the Trojans' impressive offensive production and second-half comeback, Johnson C. Smith made the decisive play in overtime to secure a crucial conference victory.
Up Next: Johnson C. Smith travels to Livingstone on Saturday, November 7, for a 2 p.m. kickoff in Salisbury, North Carolina for Senior day and the 134th anniversary of the Commemorative Classic in Salisbury, North Carolina. This rivalry commemorates the very first intercollegiate football game between two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), played on December 27, 1892, in Salisbury, North Carolina, between Biddle University (now JCSU) and Livingstone College.
Virginia Union 62, Lincoln (Pa.) 0
Virginia Union continued its dominant run through CIAA competition with a commanding 62-0 victory over Lincoln (Pa.) on Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the "One Philly HBCU Week 2026 Game" . The Panthers improved to 8-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play, recording their third shutout of the season while remaining the CIAA's only undefeated team in conference competition. Virginia Union built a 31-0 halftime advantage and never looked back, accumulating 462 yards of total offense while limiting the Lions to just 112 yards.
Senior running back Ramon Brown led the Panthers' offensive attack with a career-high 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Quarterback RJ Rosales completed 12-of-16 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Rosales connected with Zyaire Tart for a 44-yard touchdown and Latrell Sutton for a 16-yard score, while Raphael Tucker contributed a rushing touchdown. Montrell Wright and Lyvarius Gilbert also hauled in touchdown receptions as Virginia Union accumulated 320 rushing yards and converted all nine red-zone opportunities into points.
Defensively, the Panthers delivered another outstanding performance, holding Lincoln to just 60 rushing yards and 52 passing yards while recording two sacks and four tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Ahmad Ross led the defensive effort with five tackles as Virginia Union secured its third shutout of the season. The Panthers have allowed just 20 points over their last six games, further demonstrating their defensive dominance heading into the final week of the regular season.
The victory extended Virginia Union's winning streak to eight games and positioned the Panthers at the top of the CIAA standings entering their highly anticipated regular-season finale against arch-rival Virginia State.
Up Next: Virginia Union travels to Virginia State on Saturday, November 7, for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Petersburg, Virginia.
Fayetteville State 21, Bowie State 17
Fayetteville State celebrated Senior Day and Broncos Athletic Club Appreciation Day with a hard-fought 21-17 comeback victory over Bowie State on Saturday at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Broncos overcame an early 10-point deficit to secure an important conference victory heading into the final week of the regular season.
Bowie State established an early advantage with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the opening quarter before adding a field goal early in the second period to take a 10-0 lead. Fayetteville State responded when Isaiah Silver broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 10-7 before halftime. The Broncos carried that momentum into the third quarter as quarterback Jamir Dismukes connected with Marcus Fleming for a 31-yard touchdown pass to take their first lead. Fleming later capped a 13-play, 77-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, extending Fayetteville State's advantage to 21-10.
Fleming finished with two touchdowns, recording three receptions for 42 yards and adding a rushing score. Dismukes completed 14-of-19 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown while contributing 41 rushing yards. Silver led the ground attack with 83 yards and a touchdown on five carries as the Broncos totaled 359 yards of offense, including 199 rushing yards.
Defensively, Fayetteville State delivered several key performances to preserve the victory. Jason Melton II led all players with 19 tackles, while Ryan Debow recorded eight tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. Kadynce Watson added seven tackles and a sack, and Sedrick Clarke contributed a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery. Bowie State narrowed the deficit to four points with a fourth-quarter touchdown, but the Broncos held firm, with Amari Best securing an interception in the final two minutes to seal the victory.
Up Next: Fayetteville State travels to Winston-Salem State on Saturday, November 7, for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Elizabeth City State 5, Winston-Salem State 0
Elizabeth City State delivered one of the most impressive defensive performances of Week 9, shutting out Winston-Salem State 5-0 on Saturday during Senior Day in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The Vikings improved to 3-6 overall and 3-4 in CIAA competition, securing their second consecutive victory and first shutout of the season. Winston-Salem State fell to 2-7 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
The Vikings' defense controlled the contest, limiting Winston-Salem State to just 122 yards of total offense while keeping the Rams off the scoreboard. Freshman linebacker John Earley led Elizabeth City State with eight tackles, including three solo stops. Redshirt sophomore Ajani Farmer delivered a standout performance with seven tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss totaling 31 yards and two sacks. Redshirt freshman defensive back Terrence Lamb added an interception as the Vikings consistently disrupted the Rams' offensive attack.
The defensive effort proved decisive in a low-scoring contest as Elizabeth City State protected its narrow advantage throughout the afternoon. The shutout marked another important step for the Vikings, who have now won back-to-back games heading into the final week of the regular season.
Up Next: Elizabeth City State travels to Bluefield State on Saturday, November 7, for a 2 p.m. kickoff in Bluefield, West Virginia.
Bluefield State 45, Shaw 42
Bluefield State earned its first victory of the 2026 season with a thrilling 45-42 win over Shaw on Saturday in Durham, North Carolina. The Big Blue improved to 1-8 overall and 1-6 in CIAA competition, overcoming a late fourth-quarter rally by the Bears to secure their first conference victory. Bluefield State's explosive offensive performance helped the Big Blue build a 17-point second-half advantage before holding on for the three-point win.
Quarterback Rishon Holmes delivered an outstanding performance, accounting for six touchdowns while leading Bluefield State's offensive attack. Holmes completed 10-of-22 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns while adding 158 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. His performance included touchdown runs of 67 and 43 yards in the third quarter, helping the Big Blue extend their advantage.
Wide receiver Julian Crawley contributed four receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns, including a 59-yard scoring reception in the opening quarter. Curry Kates Jr. added a 22-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to push Bluefield State's lead to 45-28. Kicker Eli Adams also played a key role, converting all six extra-point attempts and connecting on a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving the Big Blue a 24-21 halftime advantage.
Shaw mounted a determined fourth-quarter comeback, narrowing the deficit to 45-42 with 1:37 remaining in regulation. However, Bluefield State held on in the closing moments to secure the victory and snap its season-long losing streak.
Up Next: Bluefield State hosts Elizabeth City State on Saturday, November 7, at 2 p.m. for Senior Day in Bluefield, West Virginia.
Livingstone 37, Virginia University of Lynchburg 14
Livingstone delivered a strong performance in its final nonconference matchup of the regular season, defeating Virginia University of Lynchburg 37-14 on Saturday at Alumni Memorial Stadium in Salisbury, North Carolina. The Blue Bears used an explosive second quarter, a balanced offensive attack and a defensive touchdown to secure the victory ahead of their regular-season finale against Johnson C. Smith.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Livingstone found its offensive rhythm in the second period, scoring three touchdowns to build a 20-7 halftime advantage. Javen Parker opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run before Andrew McClain added rushing scores of 16 and six yards to give the Blue Bears control heading into the break.
Livingstone continued its momentum in the third quarter when McClain connected with Avery Hoggard for a 38-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 27-7. Virginia University of Lynchburg responded with a 17-yard touchdown reception by Dustin Placide, but Jason Zapata answered with a 21-yard field goal to maintain the Blue Bears' advantage.
McClain led Livingstone's offensive effort with 115 rushing yards and 167 passing yards, while Jordan London added 53 rushing yards. Hoggard provided a key scoring reception, and defensively, Manny Moss delivered one of the game's biggest plays, returning an interception 60 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory.
Up Next: Livingstone hosts Johnson C. Smith on Saturday, November 7, at 2 p.m. for Senior Day and the Commemorative Classic in Salisbury, North Carolina. This rivalry commemorates the very first intercollegiate football game between two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), played on December 27, 1892, in Salisbury, North Carolina, between Biddle University (now JCSU) and Livingstone College.
CIAA FOOTBALL WEEKLY HONORS
The CIAA will announce its Football Weekly Honors following Week 9 of the 2026 season. The weekly honors are voted on by the CIAA Sports Information Directors Association (SIDA).
Quarterback of the Week: Rishon Holmes (Bluefield State)
Offensive Lineman of the Week: Ahmad Wilson (Bluefield State)
Receiver of the Week: Julian Crawley (Bluefield State)
Defensive Back of the Week: Zyking Patillo (Fayetteville State)
Linebacker of the Week: Jason Melton II (Fayetteville State)
Defensive Lineman of the Week: Davion Watkins (Livingstone)
Special Teams Player of the Week: Zyaire Tart (Virginia Union)
Rookie of the Week: Eli Adams (Bluefield State)
Offensive Back of the Week: Fabian Duncan (Johnson C. Smith)
ROAD TO THE 2026 CIAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
With one week remaining in the regular season, the race for the 2026 CIAA Football Championship continues to intensify as teams battle for championship positioning.
With championship positioning still undecided, the CIAA will apply its established tiebreaking procedures, if necessary, to determine the final standings and championship participants.
Per the CIAA Football Sporting Code, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Conference winning percentage
- Head-to-head competition
- Results against common conference opponents, including point differential (Secondary)
- Coin toss, if necessary
The final week of regular-season competition will determine the championship field, with official seeding announced by the conference following the conclusion of all applicable games and tiebreaking procedures.
For championship updates and ticket information, visit TheCIAA.com.
TUNE IN TO MATISSE IN THE MORNING: CIAA FOOTBALL COACHES LIVE SHOW
Stay connected to all the action across the conference by joining us every Monday at 9 a.m. ET for "Matisse in the Morning," the CIAA Football Coaches Live Show!
Next Monday hear directly from CIAA head football coaches who are in the top 4 within the standings and will make an appearance in the CIAA Football Championship Weekend. They will recap the weekend's biggest moments, discuss standout performances, and preview upcoming matchups in the 2026 CIAA Football Championship Weekend.
Fans, alumni, students and supporters are invited to join the conversation live each Monday.
Register to watch:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uy17wDnySiKfPnnA7060-g
Media Contact
Matisse S. Lee
Senior Associate Commissioner, Communications & Marketing, Special Projects / SWA
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
mlee@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University.
For more information on the CIAA , visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.