CHARLOTTE, NC – This Saturday will mark the final cross division games of the season for all teams. Here’s a snapshot of what’s on tap this Saturday:
 
Johnson C. Smith (3-1 / 2-0 CIAA) at Elizabeth City State (1-3 / 0-2 CIAA), 1 PM    LIVE STATS
Johnson C. Smith enters week #5 in hopes of remaining unbeaten in league play while Elizabeth City State looks to earn its first conference win of the season when the Golden Bulls and Vikings meet up on the gridiron this weekend at ECSU’s Roebuck Stadium. The JCSU Golden Bulls come into the contest ranked second overall in scoring average at 28.8 points per game. The ECSU Vikings are ranked 8^th in conference scoring average at 15.0 points per game. In terms of team defense, Johnson C. Smith is third overall, allowing just 13.3 points per game while Elizabeth City State is 6^th, allowing 18.8 points per game. JCSU is led by quarterback Tyrell Jackson and running back Jacob Newman on offense and Benari Black leads the Golden Bulls in tackles on defense. ECSU’s Vikings are led offensively by running back Zechariah Adams-Duckson, who averages 73.2 yards per game on the ground. The Vikings defense is paced by Demorian Smith and Teonne Porter.
 
Virginia State (4-0 / 2-0 CIAA) at Shaw (1-3 / 1-1 CIAA), 1 PM    LIVE STATS

Virginia State will play the first of two straight road games this Saturday and are the only unbeaten team in the CIAA. The Trojans lead the league in scoring average (35.5 points per game) ranked second overall in team defense, giving up just 13.3 points per game. VSU quarterback Steve Williams has thrown for 598 passing yards and averages 149.5 passing yards per game. Trojans running back Upton Bailey leads the conference in rushing yard per game (84.0) and Williams is 10^th overall in league rushing (49.0). Shaw picked up their first win of the season last Sunday on the road in a game of two different halves. The Bears have struggled through the four games this season to score points as Shaw averages only 10.0 points per game. Shaw is led offensively by quarterback Silas Cruse and running back Sidney Gibbs. Cruse has completed 34-of-74 passes for 429 yards so far this season, which averages 143.0 per game. Gibbs is the Bears’ leading ground gainer with 223 net rushing yards and an average of 55.7 yards per game. Leading Shaw’s defense are Elijah Adams, Malik Charles and Jaden Jones. Adams and Charles lead the team with 26 tackles each and Jones has tallied 25 tackles this season.


Fayetteville State (2-2 / 2-0 CIAA) at Bluefield State (1-3 / 0-2 CIAA) 1 PM   LIVE STATS
Fayetteville State will make a trip over to Bluefield State this Saturday for the second of three consecutive road games for the Broncos. Fayetteville State is coming off a huge nationally televised win at Virginia Union last Saturday while Bluefield State is looking to snap a three-game losing streak. BSU’s Big Blue rank 7^th in CIAA scoring at 17.0 points per game while FSU’s Broncos are ranked 9^th in league scoring at 14.3 points per game. FSU quarterback Joe Owens has completed 40-of-78 passes for 478 yards which averages out to 121.7 yards per game over four outings. Gerald Simpson and Kolby Merritt anchor the FSU Broncos defense with 24 and 23 tackles respectively. Bluefield State is led by freshman quarterback Jai’que Hart and his 841 passing yards which rank him second in conference passing.


Virginia Union (3-1 / 1-1 CIAA) at Saint Augustine’s (0-4 / 0-2 CIAA), 1 PM    VIDEO
The Panthers of Virginia Union head south this Saturday to face the Falcons of Saint Augustine’s at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School. Virginia Union dropped its first game of the season last Saturday at home to Fayetteville State. Saint Augustine’s dropped its fourth straight game of the season last weekend, coming up just short to Bowie State. Virginia Union quarterback Christian Reid is the teams leading offensive producer with 478 passing yards (119.5 per game). Curtis Allen is VUU’s top rusher with 286 rushing yards (5.7 yards per carry) and 71.5 yards per game. Shamar Graham and Isaac Anderson are Virginia Union’s top two tacklers with 29 and 28 tackles respectively. The Saint Augustine’s Falcons have really struggled to put points on the scoreboard, averaging a league low 6.5 points per game. Anthony Butler has been the Falcons leading passer this season, throwing for 233 yards and one touchdown. Marquis Munoz is SAU’s leading rusher with 99 net yards and 80 of those yards occurring in last Saturday’s game.                                                                                                                                     
 
Winston-Salem State (2-2 / 2-0 CIAA) at Lincoln (PA) (1-3 / 0-2 CIAA), 1 P.M    LIVE STATS 
Winston-Salem State at Lincoln (PA) could be the most interesting game in the CIAA this weekend. The WSSU Rams shut out their opponent (30-0) last Saturday and the LUPA Lions lost a tough back and forth game by a score of 27-20. Quarterback Daylin Lee leads the Rams offensive charge with 742 passing yards, completing 60-of-104 passes and four touchdowns. Lee’s primary target has been RJ Mobley with 321 reception yards (80.2 yards per game average). The Lincoln (PA) Lions are led by the CIAA’s leading passer Isaiah Freeman. Freeman has completed 55-of-96 passes for 891 yards and nine touchdowns and averages 222.8 passing yards per game. Melachi Langley has been the recipient of 17 of Freeman’s passes for 448 yards and five touchdowns. Langley leads the league in reception yards per game (112.0). In terms of team stats, Lincoln (PA) ranks 4th in the conference in scoring (26.3) and Winston-Salem State is ranked 5^th in scoring (22.3). LUPA averages 319.5 yards of total offense compared to 277.8 yards of total offense for WSSU.


Bowie State (3-1/ 2-0 CIAA) at Livingstone (0-4 / 0-2 CIAA), 4 P.M.   VIDEO
Bowie State will make a trip to Salisbury (NC) this Saturday to take on the winless Blue Bears of Livingstone in the only late game (4 pm) of the day. Saturday's game will mark the 33rd meeting between Livingstone and Bowie State since 1973. The Blue Bears own the all-time series, 18-14 but the Bulldogs have won the last three outings between the two including last year's 53-7 for BSU's homecoming contest at Bulldog Stadium. The last meeting that occurred between the two teams at Alumni Memorial Stadium featured a shutout for Bowie State, 49-0 in 2021. BSU’s Bulldogs average 292.0 yards of total offense compared to 229.5 for the Blue Bears. One glaring stat for Livingstone is the Bears allowing a CIAA high 437.3 yards per game. BSU’s Amir Jenkins leads the Bulldogs passing game with 780 yards and 195.0 yards per game average. The leading Bulldogs receiver is Keshane Hinkley with 273 reception yards while Carleton Stewart leads the BSU ground attack with 169 rushing yards. Brenton Hilton is Livingstone’s leading passer with 320 yards and three touchdowns. Kameron Howard has also seen action at quarterback, completing 24-of-58 passes for 220 yards.