CHARLOTTE, NC (October 20, 2025) - Week 7 of CIAA football brought excitement and offense in abundance, as six of eight teams scored 24 or more points across a high-scoring weekend of action. With the final month of the regular season now underway, every game is taking on added meaning as teams position themselves for the stretch run.
Bowie State 42, Bluefield State 37
There was no shortage of offense in West Virginia on Saturday as Bowie State battled Bluefield State in a high-scoring thriller. The Bulldogs came out on top, 42-37, in a game that featured a combined 797 yards of total offense between the two teams.
Bowie State dominated on the ground, rushing for 270 yards behind a career performance from Micah Robinson, who racked up 193 yards and four touchdowns. The Bulldogs found the end zone three times on the ground in the first half, including two scores from Robinson, to take a 20-7 lead at the break. Robinson struck again on the opening drive of the third quarter, and Maximus Jones added another rushing touchdown to extend the Bulldogs’ advantage to 35-10.
Bluefield State made things interesting down the stretch behind a strong performance from quarterback Brice Koontz, who threw for 357 yards and four touchdowns. The Big Blue showed plenty of fight in the second half, as Koontz tossed two touchdown passes in just over a minute and a half to pull within striking distance late in the third. He added two more scores in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to five, but Bowie State recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win. The victory marks the Bulldogs’ first CIAA win of the season, improving them to 1-3 in conference play, while Bluefield State fell to 2-2, currently sitting in the middle of the standings.
No. 21 Johnson C. Smith 52, Shaw 0
Johnson C. Smith spoiled Shaw’s homecoming in emphatic fashion, delivering a commanding 52-0 shutout victory on the road. The Golden Bulls completely overwhelmed the Bears on both sides of the ball, posting one of their most impressive performances of the season.
After a quiet first quarter, Johnson C. Smith erupted in the second with three touchdowns to build a 28-0 halftime lead, then added three more scores and a field goal in the third to eclipse the 50-point mark in just three quarters of play. Quarterback Kelvin Durham, the CIAA leader in touchdown passes, continued his stellar season with 281 yards and three passing touchdowns, connecting twice with Deandre Proctor and once with Brian Lane, both of whom topped 100 receiving yards. Durham also added a rushing score, capping off a commanding offensive effort. Defensively, the Golden Bulls were relentless, recording nine sacks, with three players tallying two or more, and holding Shaw to just 103 total yards in the shutout.
The Bears struggled to find momentum offensively, with quarterback Alexander Marsh throwing for 98 yards and Fabian Diggs leading the ground attack with 35 rushing yards. Shaw’s defense managed to settle in during the fourth quarter, keeping the Golden Bulls off the scoreboard late, but the damage had already been done. With the win, Johnson C. Smith improves to 3-1 in CIAA play, staying firmly within the top three of the standings, while Shaw falls to 2-3 on the season.
No. 14 Virginia Union 66, Lincoln (PA) 21
Virginia Union continued to prove why it’s among the CIAA’s elite, rolling to a 66-21 victory over Lincoln (PA) on Saturday. The Panthers piled up 555 yards of total offense, led by quarterback RJ Rosales, who accounted for five total touchdowns, throwing for 247 yards and three scores while adding two more on the ground. Running back Curtis Allen once again showcased his All-America caliber, rushing for over 200 yards for the third time this season and finding the end zone three times. They managed to pick off the Lions three times, led by Jymere Melendez who grabbed two.
The Panthers wasted no time setting the tone, scoring three straight rushing touchdowns on their first three drives to build an early cushion. Lincoln, however, showed resilience behind quarterback Hamas Duren, who answered with touchdown passes on consecutive drives to cut the deficit to seven. Following a Panther field goal, Duren struck again for his third touchdown pass of the half, bringing the Lions within three before Virginia Union closed the half leading 31-21.
After halftime, it was all Panthers. Virginia Union exploded in the third quarter as Rosales tossed two more touchdown passes and Allen added two rushing scores to put the game out of reach. The defense clamped down to hold Lincoln scoreless in the second half, while the offense added one final touchdown in the fourth to seal the statement win. With the victory, Virginia Union stays perfect in CIAA play at 4-0, maintaining its spot atop the conference standings, while Lincoln (PA) falls to 0-4 despite a spirited first-half effort.
Winston-Salem State 42, Livingstone 10
Winston-Salem State put on a show for its homecoming crowd, delivering a statement 42-10 victory over Livingstone behind a powerful offensive performance. The Rams piled up 504 total yards, led by quarterback Daylin Lee, who threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, and a dynamic rushing duo in JaQuan Kelly and Timothy Ruff II. Kelly rushed for 139 yards, while Ruff added 135, as WSSU’s ground game set the tone with four rushing touchdowns.
The Rams were in control from the start, scoring a pair of touchdowns in each of the first two quarters while holding the Blue Bears to just a field goal to take a commanding halftime lead. Winston-Salem State kept the pressure on after the break, with Kelly and Ruff each finding the end zone in the second half to put the game out of reach and secure the impressive homecoming win.
Livingstone continued to fight through the final whistle, capping a 98-yard fourth-quarter drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass, their lone touchdown of the game. Running back Javen Parker led the Blue Bears with 77 rushing yards, contributing to the team’s 102 yards on the ground. With the victory, Winston-Salem State improves to 2-3 in CIAA play, moving ahead of Livingstone, now also 2-3, in the standings via the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Virginia State 24, Elizabeth City State 20
The CIAA’s lone one-score contest of the weekend saw Virginia State edge out Elizabeth City State, earning a hard-fought 24-20 victory in front of their home crowd. The matchup delivered plenty of excitement from start to finish, with both teams trading big plays and momentum swings throughout.
Quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr. powered the Trojans’ offense, completing nearly 75% of his passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, while adding another 65 on the ground. Running back Ri’Jon Hammond added to the attack with 131 rushing yards and a touchdown, as both players found the end zone in the first quarter to help Virginia State build a 17-7 halftime lead.
Elizabeth City State flipped the momentum in the third quarter with a gritty effort on the ground, totaling 207 rushing yards and closing the gap behind a touchdown run from EJ Gatling. Quarterback Christopher Perkins then connected with Traquan Johnson for his second touchdown pass of the day to make it a one-score game heading into the final frame. Both defenses tightened up in the fourth quarter, keeping each other off the scoreboard as Virginia State held firm to secure the win. The victory moves the Trojans to 2-2 in CIAA play, while ECSU drops to 1-3 in conference action.
CIAA WEEK SEVEN TAKEAWAYS
The full updated standings can be found here.
Tickets to the 2025 CIAA Football Championship are now on sale and can be purchased here.
WEEK SEVEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
After an action-packed Week 7 of CIAA football, a number of players delivered exceptional performances that have earned them this week’s conference Player of the Week honors.
Quarterback – Kelvin Durham, Johnson C. Smith
In a commanding 52-0 shutout victory over Shaw, Durham showcased his all-around talent and leadership under center. He completed 15 of 29 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns, consistently keeping the defense off balance. Durham also contributed on the ground with a rushing touchdown, capping off an impressive performance that fueled his team’s big win.
Offensive Back – Micah Robinson, Bowie State
Robinson delivered a career performance in Bowie State’s 42-37 road win over Bluefield State, powering the Bulldog offense from start to finish. The sophomore running back carried the ball 31 times for 193 yards and four touchdowns, averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. His fourth score late in the third quarter sealed the victory and capped Bowie State’s highest offensive output of the season.
Wide Receiver – Deandre Proctor
Proctor turned in a big performance in Virginia State’s 52-0 win over Shaw, showcasing his ability to stretch the field and make key plays. He hauled in six receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns, consistently giving his quarterback a reliable target. Proctor’s production helped the Trojans’ offense maintain momentum throughout their shutout victory.
Offensive Lineman – Savion Moore, Virginia Union
Moore anchored a strong Virginia Union offensive line that paved the way for 555 total yards of offense in a 66-21 Homecoming win over Lincoln (PA). The Panthers’ balanced attack produced 300 passing yards and 255 rushing yards, with Moore setting the tone in the trenches. His steady presence up front was instrumental in VUU’s commanding offensive display.
Defensive Lineman – Kevin Haynes Jr., Johnson C. Smith
Haynes delivered a disruptive performance in Virginia State’s 52-0 shutout victory over Shaw, wreaking havoc in the backfield all afternoon. He recorded five total tackles, including four tackles for loss totaling 37 yards and two sacks for 31 yards. Haynes also forced a fumble and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown, punctuating a dominant defensive effort.
Linebacker – Daniel Williams, Winston-Salem State
Williams stood out on defense in Winston-Salem State’s 42-10 win over Livingstone, showcasing his versatility and physicality. He recorded 11 total tackles, including five solo and six assists, consistently closing gaps and making key stops. His best play came on a crucial sack for a six-yard loss, helping the Rams maintain defensive control throughout the game.
Defensive Back – Mark Burns, Virginia State
Burns delivered an impressive all-around effort in Virginia State’s 24-20 win over Elizabeth City State, making key plays when it mattered most. He tallied five tackles, including one for loss, and intercepted a pass in the red zone to halt an ECSU scoring drive. His timely defensive contributions were pivotal in preserving the Trojans’ hard-fought victory.
Special Teams – Lukasz Smolen, Johnson C. Smith
Smolen showcased his all-around special teams excellence in Johnson C. Smith’s 52-0 win over Shaw. He handled all facets of the kicking game with precision, recording nine kickoffs for 569 yards with seven touchbacks and punting three times for 111 yards, including one inside the 20. Smolen also connected on a 40-yard field goal and went a perfect 7-for-7 on PATs, contributing 10 total points to the Golden Bulls’ victory.
Rookie – Bobby Smith, Johnson C. Smith
Bobby continued to make an impact for Johnson C. Smith, providing consistency and power in the ground game. He carried the ball 15 times for 60 yards and scored one touchdown, demonstrating patience and toughness running between the tackles. His performance added balance to the Golden Bulls’ offense and helped sustain drives throughout their decisive win.
As the season progresses, teams now shift their attention to Week 8, with the race toward the CIAA Championship heating up across the conference.
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@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.
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