2022 CIAA Football Standings
2022 CIAA Football Composite Schedule
2022 CIAA Football Statistics

CHARLOTTE - After the fifth week of the 2022 football season, only two teams remain undefeated in CIAA action as two previously unbeaten in conference teams suffered their first league losses this week. Due to the threat of inclement weather, two contests were moved up to Thursday and another was not played at all. In total, 10 CIAA teams were in action.

Let's focus in on the week five results for all teams across the conference:

Chowan 10, Fayetteville State 13 (Thursday)

Chowan suffered its first loss in the CIAA play Thursday despite recording 16 more first downs than Fayetteville State and outgaining the Broncos, 413-181. Adopting the old adage "bend but don't break," the FSU defense continued to make play after play, coming up with six sacks and five takeaways, including two turnovers on the Hawks' final two drives. The Broncos were led by Cameron Merritt and his game-leading 12 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery. FSU's Kolby Meritt had 11 tackles and two stops for a loss, Devin Cowan had 10 tackles and two sacks, and Brandon Barnes-Brown ended the game with an interception at his own goal line. There were also two missed field goals that hurt the Hawks, including one blocked kick. Chowan's Caleb Pierce went 19-of-31 for 227 yards and a touchdown while Nijere Peoples led the Hawks with 95 yards rushing. Tyrek McNeil was the team's leading receiver with six catches and 78 yards, and he added 57 yards on eight rushes for Chowan. 

FULL GAME RECAP:  Turnovers Costly As Hawks Fall to Broncos, 13-10 (Chowan) // Broncos Hold Chowan for 13-10 Victory (FSU)     BOX SCORE: Chowan at FSU

Next Opponent: Chowan at Lincoln (PA), October 8 at 1:00 PM // St. Augustine's at Fayetteville State, October 8 at 2:00 PM


Elizabeth City State 14, Johnson C. Smith 49 (Thursday)

After three very close and intense losses, Maurice Flowers and the Golden Bulls scored 35 unanswered points to earn their first win of the season. JCSU put up 411 yards of total offense and 30 first downs en route to a season-high 49 points. Jacob Newman rushed for 83 yards and scored three of the Golden Bulls' six rushing touchdowns. Devon Lawrence had a score and 59 yards on the ground and Tyreik Leach had two rushing touchdowns. JCSU's Brevin Caldwell continues his first team all-conference campaign with nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Jaquirius Smith had six tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception, one of three takeaways for the Golden Bulls. The Vikings' Tesean Jones threw two first-quarter touchdowns to make it a 14-14 game entering the second quarter. Jones found Darien Dalton for a 35-yard score for the first points of the game and then capped a nine-play, 77-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown to Prestige Edwards. ECSU's Demorian Smith had a team-high seven tackles and two stops for a loss.

FULL GAME RECAP: JCSU Gets First Win of Season (JCSU) //  Football falls to JCSU 14-49 (ECSU)  BOX SCORE: ECSU at JCSU

Next Opponent: Shaw at JCSU, October 8 at 1:00 PM // ECSU at Virginia Union, October 8 at 12:00 PM 


Shaw 24, Virginia State 28

Jordan Davis rushed for the game-winning touchdown with 12 seconds remaining and Kymon Pope intercepted Shaw on the last play of the game to lift Virginia State to the win. There was a lead change following every score with Davis' touchdown being the seventh and final change. Davis had two rushing scores and a passing touchdown, while throwing for 257 yards and rushing for 33. Trojan Darius Hagans was the team's leading rusher with 94 and Tylique Ray was the team's leading receiver with four catches, 76 yards, and a score. Davis had a 39-yard strike to Ray in the third quarter, which gave VSU a 21-17 lead. Christian Peters gave Shaw a 24-21 lead on the very next drive when he found Elliot Dangerfield Jr. for a seven-yard score. Peters had three total touchdowns, including a 39-yard pass to Jon Barnes and a 27-yard rush. The Bears' Sidney Gibbs had a game-high 96 yards rushing on just 17 carries. Keshaun Denham totaled a team-high 11 tackles for Shaw and Jaleel Scroggins had nine tackles and two pass breakups. For the Trojans, Kymon Pope had 12 tackles and a team-high 3.5 stops for a loss, along with an interception and Willie Drew recorded two first-half interceptions. Shaw's Tyrone Fisher and his 14 tackles were a game-high.

FULL GAME RECAP: Late Score Pushes Trojans Past Bears (Shaw) //  Trojan Football Scores Go-Ahead Touchdown Late in Fourth Quarter to Earn Fourth Straight Victory After Defeating Shaw 28-24? (VSU)  BOX SCORE: Shaw at Virginia State

Next Opponent: Shaw at JCSU, October 8 at 1:00 PM // Bowie State at Virginia State, October 8 at 4:00 PM


St. Augustine's 0, Virginia Union 69

Virginia Union scored one touchdown in the first quarter before catching fire and scoring three touchdowns in each of the next three periods. The Panthers also outgained the Falcons, 526-167. Virginia Union's Jahkari Grant earned the spotlight with 247 yards passing and four touchdowns on 14-of-21 passing. He also added 27 yards rushing. Jada Byers, Division II's leading rusher, added to his yardage total with 114 yards and two scores on just 12 carries for the Panthers. VUU's John Jiles had four catches for 91 yards and a score and James Jackson converted his three receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns. For the Panthers, Damontay Rhem had a game-high 10 tackles and two stops for a loss. On the other side of the field, Lee Sales and Kenjray Coffield each had a team-high eight tackles. Ty'queron Hines had three tackles and an interception, one of two takeaways for the Falcons.

FULL GAME RECAP: VUU Moves to 5-0 with 69-0 Win Over Saint Augustine's (VUU)    BOX SCORE: St. Aug at Virginia Union

Next Opponent: St. Augustine's at Fayetteville State, October 8 at 2:00 PM // ECSU at Virginia Union, October 8 at 12:00 PM 

Livingstone 7, Bowie State 53

Bowie State's 666 yards of total offense is the most in a single-game for the Bulldogs since the 2017 season and the 108 yards allowed to the Blue Bears is a Bulldogs season-low. They racked up four sacks, three interceptions, and two safeties. Dion Golatt Jr.'s 32 completions and 439 yards are a career-high and the receiving duo of Kwincy Hall and Keshane Hinckley combined for 18 receptions, 227 yards, and a score. Defensively for Bowie State, Uvel Paul Jr. had a game-high 2.5 tackles for a loss and Raymond Boone had two interceptions. Livingstone's Kevin Larkins Jr. recorded the team's only score with an 83-yard pick-six and he had five tackles. Jaden Echols led the Blue Bears with 11 tackles and Christian Bostic added five tackles, two stops for a loss, and a sack.

FULL GAME RECAP: The Blue Bears Fall on the Road to Bowie State (LC) // The Bulldogs Upend Livingstone on Homecoming, 53-7 (Bowie St)   BOX SCORE: Livingstone at Bowie State

Next Opponent: Winston-Salem State at Livingstone, October 8 at 1:00 PM // Bowie State at Virginia State, October 8 at 4:00 PM


Lincoln (PA) at Winston-Salem State, CANCELLED
Wednesday, September 28, Winston-Salem State made the decision to cancel the Homecoming game against Lincoln and all Winston-Salem State-sanctioned Homecoming activities after noon on Friday due to the severe weather potential of Hurricane Ian.

Next Opponent: Chowan at Lincoln (PA), October 8 at 1:00 PM // Winston-Salem State at Livingstone, October 8 at 1:00 PM