CIAA Football Week 1 Recap / Weekly Honors

Virginia State and Fayetteville State Remain Unbeaten as CIAA Football Week 1 Concludes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Week 1 of the 2026 CIAA® football season featured comeback victories, defensive battles and strong individual performances across the conference, with Virginia State and Fayetteville State improving to 2-0 on the season. Virginia Union, Shaw and Johnson C. Smith each earned their first victories of the year, while conference play also began to take shape as teams continued their early-season push toward the 2026 CIAA Football Championship.

Virginia State 42, Bowie State 13

Virginia State improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in CIAA play with a commanding 42-13 victory over Bowie State on Saturday. Quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr. powered the Trojans' offense, completing 26-of-37 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns as Virginia State piled up 545 yards of total offense. Jaylen Pretlow finished with six receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns, while Nazir McKenzie added 62 receiving yards and two scores.

Defensively, Virginia State held Bowie State to 13 points and forced three turnovers. Amir Mateo recorded two interceptions, while Tristan McCall contributed six tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack. The Trojans outgained the Bulldogs 545-342, converted 7-of-12 third downs and scored touchdowns on four of their five trips to the red zone.

Up Next: Virginia State travels to South Carolina State University on Saturday, September 12, for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

West Chester 21, Lincoln (Pa.) 13

Lincoln (Pa.) nearly erased a 21-point halftime deficit in its season opener, scoring 13 unanswered points in the second half before falling 21-13 to West Chester. Quarterback Jayden Triplett led the Lions' comeback effort, completing 13-of-19 passes for 156 yards while adding a team-high 60 rushing yards and a touchdown. Kyrie Tyson caught eight passes for 96 yards, including a 61-yard reception that set up Lorenzo Robinson's third-quarter touchdown.

Defensively, Lincoln shut out West Chester throughout the second half and held the Golden Rams to just 67 passing yards. Charles Thompson led the Lions with 11 tackles, while Robert Castarphen recorded three sacks and three tackles for loss. Brosnan Dukes added nine tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Up Next: Lincoln travels to Chicago to face Mississippi Valley State University in the 2026 Chicago Football Classic on Saturday, September 12, at 3 p.m. at Soldier Field.

Fayetteville State 10, UNC Pembroke 7

Fayetteville State improved to 2-0 with a hard-fought 10-7 victory over UNC Pembroke, capturing the Two Rivers Classic championship. After trailing 7-0 at halftime, the Broncos tied the game in the third quarter when Jamir Dismukes connected with Jaden Butler for a three-yard touchdown. Dismukes finished with 219 passing yards, while Marcus Fleming recorded seven receptions for 128 yards and Braylon Vinson rushed for 81 yards, including a pivotal 63-yard run.

The Broncos' defense delivered when it mattered most, holding UNC Pembroke scoreless in the second half and forcing three turnovers. Zyking Patillo recorded two fourth-quarter interceptions, helping set the stage for freshman John Hernandez-Vargas' game-winning 34-yard field goal with 5:40 remaining.

Up Next: Fayetteville State remains home to face Valdosta State on Saturday, September 12, at 6 p.m. at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium.

Mars Hill 17, Winston-Salem State 0

Winston-Salem State fell to 0-2 following a 17-0 setback to Mars Hill in its home opener at Bowman Gray Stadium. The Rams' defense kept the contest scoreless through halftime before Mars Hill broke through in the third quarter. Jamison Funderburk led the WSSU rushing attack with 36 yards on 11 carries and added 19 receiving yards, while Sean Walker Jr. recorded four receptions for 37 yards.

Defensively, Camden Martin and Maurice Odom led the Rams with 11 tackles apiece, while Caden Hilemon recorded an interception and Davian Lapointe added five tackles and two tackles for loss.

Up Next: Winston-Salem State remains home to open CIAA play against Johnson C. Smith on Saturday, September 12, at 6 p.m. inside Bowman Gray Stadium.

Shaw 23, Barton 13

Shaw earned its first victory of the season with a 23-13 comeback win over Barton, improving to 1-1. After taking an early 10-0 lead, the Bears fell behind 13-10 in the third quarter before responding with 13 unanswered points in the fourth. Landon Melton put Shaw back in front with a nine-yard touchdown run before Fabian Diggs added a 10-yard score to help seal the victory.

The Bears rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns, led by Trey Thorpe's 114 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Quarterback Alexander Marsh completed 21-of-28 passes for 199 yards. Defensively, Shaw held Barton to 285 total yards, with Craig Morton III leading the Bears with seven tackles and Nahseem Deas recording an interception.

Up Next: Shaw returns home to host Ferrum on Saturday, September 12, at 2 p.m. at Durham County Memorial Stadium.

North Carolina Central 27, Elizabeth City State 6

Elizabeth City State fell to 0-2 following a 27-6 setback to North Carolina Central in Durham. The Vikings trailed 21-0 at halftime before breaking through in the third quarter with a seven-play, 42-yard scoring drive capped by quarterback Josef Manley's eight-yard touchdown run. Manley finished with 106 passing yards and added 24 yards on the ground, while Joe Griffin recorded a 31-yard reception.

Defensively, the Vikings recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers. Jaevon Branch led ECSU with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery, while John Earley added 10 tackles. Jalen Levine also recorded an interception and returned it 27 yards.

Up Next: Elizabeth City State enters a bye week before returning to action.

Johnson C. Smith 27, Albany State 7

Johnson C. Smith earned its first victory of the season with a 27-7 win over Albany State on Sunday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The Golden Bulls took control early, building a 20-0 halftime advantage behind a strong offensive and defensive effort. Fabian Duncan powered the offense with three rushing touchdowns, scoring twice in the second quarter before breaking free for a 40-yard touchdown early in the third to extend JCSU's lead to 27-0. Alexis Rosario-Beltran added field goals from 43 and 28 yards.

Defensively, Johnson C. Smith kept Albany State off the scoreboard through the first three quarters and limited the Golden Rams to one fourth-quarter touchdown. The victory moved the Golden Bulls to 1-1 as they prepare to begin CIAA play.

Up Next: Johnson C. Smith travels to Winston-Salem State on Saturday, September 12, for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Virginia Union 49, Livingstone 20

Virginia Union earned its first victory of the season with a 49-20 win over Livingstone in the Willard Bailey Classic at Hovey Field. The Panthers improved to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in CIAA play after building a 28-7 halftime advantage and finishing with 491 yards of total offense. Quarterback RJ Rosales completed 10-of-13 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns to earn Offensive MVP honors, while Tavon McGee rushed for 88 yards and a score. Ramon Brown added two rushing touchdowns as the Panthers totaled 277 yards on the ground.

Defensively, Virginia Union recorded five sacks, led by Defensive MVP Ahmad Ross with nine tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack. Christian Aiken added eight tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Up Next: Virginia Union travels to Murfreesboro, North Carolina, to face Chowan University on Saturday, September 12, at 1 p.m.

Concord 26, Bluefield State 22

Bluefield State mounted a strong second-half comeback but came up just short in a 26-22 loss to Concord. After trailing 17-6 at halftime, the Big Blue scored nine points in the third quarter, including a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown by Taviun Chandler, before taking a 22-20 lead in the fourth on Rishon Holmes' 15-yard touchdown pass to Derek Binder. Concord responded with the eventual game-winning touchdown with 8:15 remaining.

Holmes finished with 106 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding 66 rushing yards, and Justin McBean led Bluefield State with 68 yards on the ground. Defensively, the Big Blue forced three turnovers, including two interceptions. Bluefield State controlled possession for more than 38 minutes and finished with 158 rushing yards.

Up Next: Bluefield State returns home to host Livingstone College in CIAA action on Saturday, September 12, at 6 p.m.

CIAA Football Weekly Honors

The CIAA has announced its Football Weekly Honors following Week 1 of the 2026 season. The weekly honors are voted on by the CIAA Sports Information Directors Association (SIDA).

Quarterback of the Week: Rahsaan Matthews Jr., Virginia State University
Offensive Back of the Week: Fabian Duncan, Johnson C. Smith University
Receiver of the Week: Jaylen Pretlow, Virginia State University
Offensive Lineman of the Week: Tyleek McCoy, Virginia State University
Defensive Lineman of the Week: Osirus Rhodes, Fayetteville State University
Linebacker of the Week: Christian Aiken, Virginia Union University
Defensive Back of the Week: Raegzon Mackey, Johnson C. Smith University
Special Teams Player of the Week: Alexis Rosario-Beltran, Johnson C. Smith University
Rookie of the Week: Gage Miller, Virginia Union University

Road to the 2026 CIAA Football Championship

With Week 1 complete, the road to the 2026 CIAA Football Championship continues as conference play begins to take shape and teams compete throughout the regular season for an opportunity to play for a CIAA title.

The CIAA Football Championship returns to Durham, North Carolina, with Durham County Memorial Stadium serving as the championship venue. Get your tickets now at  https://www.durhamncsports.com/ciaa-football-championship/

Fans can follow the championship race throughout the season and secure tickets and additional information through TheCIAA.com.

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.