CHARLOTTE, NC (October 6. 2025) - Week five brought a medley of exciting, high-scoring CIAA football action as seven teams surpassed 30 points this week. Fayetteville State and Virginia Union’s high-flying offenses contributed to big wins that helped them stay atop the conference standings at 3-0 and 2-0, respectively, meanwhile Livingstone was handed its first conference loss by Elizabeth City State to send them down to third along with rival Johnson C. Smith. Here’s how things shook out:
Bluefield State 35, Shaw 33
Bluefield State exploded out of the gate with a dominant first quarter to secure their second win of the season, already doubling last year’s total. The Big Blue put on a complete performance, scoring on offense, defense, and special teams, while also adding a safety, all within the opening 15 minutes.
Zaire Riley set the tone early, intercepting a Shaw pass and returning it for a touchdown just 18 seconds into the game. Quarterback Brice Koontz tossed three touchdown passes, including one during the early surge, while special teams added a 70-yard punt return to extend their lead.
Bluefield State finished with 366 total yards compared to Shaw’s 312, using that balanced effort to maintain control despite a late push from the Bears. Shaw’s valiant effort saw quarterback Alexander Marsh throw for 183 yards and two touchdowns, while the team added three scores on the ground. Still, the Big Blue’s explosive start proved too much, propelling them into the top half of the conference standings at 1-1 while Shaw fell to 1-2 in conference play.
Fayetteville State 38, Bowie State 10
Fayetteville State leaned on its dominant ground game to power past Bowie State, rushing for 193 yards and four touchdowns en route to a balanced 338-yard offensive performance. Quarterback Demari Daniels led the charge with 146 passing yards while also pacing the team on the ground with 74 rushing yards and two scores, showcasing his dual-threat ability throughout the afternoon.
The Broncos struck early with rushing touchdowns from Caden Davis and the aforementioned Daniels to build a 14-0 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the game. They continued to find the end zone in every quarter, using a strong second half to extend their advantage and maintain control on both sides of the ball.
Despite the setback, Bowie State put together a strong offensive showing with 332 total yards. Quarterback Joseph Towler threw for 271 yards and connected on a 28-yard touchdown pass as the first half expired, keeping the Bulldogs within reach. However, Fayetteville State’s consistency proved too much, as the Broncos moved atop the conference standings at 3-0, while Bowie State fell to 0-2 in CIAA play.
Elizabeth City State 39, Livingstone 27
Elizabeth City State quarterback Christopher Perkins put on a show in front of the home crowd, turning in a career-best performance to lead the Vikings past Livingstone. Perkins was unstoppable, throwing for 216 yards and a career-high four touchdowns while also rushing for 128 yards and another score, directly accounting for every ECSU touchdown in the win.
Holding a slim 13-7 advantage at halftime, the Vikings came out firing in the third quarter as Perkins threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers, breaking the game wide open. On the other side of the ball, ECSU’s defense was relentless, recording five sacks, forcing a fumble, and snagging an interception to keep the Blue Bears’ offense in check.
Livingstone totaled 321 yards behind quarterback Elijah Alexander, who threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns. His top target, Tavion Jackson, caught eight passes for 127 yards and a score, but the Blue Bears couldn’t match the Vikings’ second-half surge. The win marked Elizabeth City State’s first conference victory, improving to 1-1, while Livingstone fell to 2-1.
No. 19 Virginia Union 44, Winston-Salem State 34
Virginia Union’s ground game once again stole the spotlight, powering the Panthers to a 44-34 win over Winston-Salem State behind a staggering 408 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Conference rushing leader Curtis Allen continued his sensational season, racking up 249 yards and four scores, strengthening his case as one of the league’s top offensive players. Three of Allen’s touchdowns came in the first half, helping Union build a commanding 30-14 lead at the break.
While the Panthers controlled the tempo early, Winston-Salem State’s offense refused to go quietly. Quarterback Daylin Lee continued his standout sophomore campaign, throwing for 278 yards and three touchdowns while adding 48 yards and another score on the ground. Receiver Jahari Mitchell was Lee’s go-to target, hauling in all three touchdown receptions and finishing with 151 yards through the air.
Offense defined the night, as both teams combined for 951 total yards in a back-and-forth battle. The Rams rallied with three second-half touchdowns from three different players to keep the game within reach, but Virginia Union’s early dominance proved too much to overcome. With the win, the Panthers improved to 2-0 in conference play and look poised for another championship run, while Winston-Salem State fell to 1-2 in CIAA action.
Johnson C. Smith 31, Virginia State 20
Johnson C. Smith quarterback Kelvin Durham continued his impressive season, leading the Golden Bulls to a 31-20 victory over Virginia State. Durham carved up the Trojans’ defense with 251 passing yards and four touchdowns, guiding a balanced offensive attack that kept JCSU in control for most of the afternoon. His efficiency through the air once again proved to be the difference, as the Golden Bulls capitalized on key scoring opportunities.
Virginia State managed to outgain Johnson C. Smith 422-381 — the second time this season they’ve outproduced an opponent in a loss. Quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr. was dynamic, throwing for 259 yards and two touchdowns while adding 86 yards and a score on the ground. After trailing 17-7 early, Matthews connected with Brian Lane Jr. for a 12-yard touchdown before halftime to trim the deficit to three, but the Trojans couldn’t carry that momentum into the second half.
Durham found Reginald Daniel and Isaiah Perry for second-half touchdowns to help JCSU pull away, while the Trojans managed one final touchdown in the fourth quarter that wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. With the win, Johnson C. Smith climbed above .500 and now sits third in the CIAA standings at 2-1, while Virginia State dropped to 1-2 and into the bottom half of the conference.
CIAA WEEK FIVE TAKEAWAYS
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Winston-Salem State, Bowie State, Shaw, and Virginia State all suffered losses to fall below .500 in conference play.
WEEK FIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Quarterback – Christopher Perkins, Elizabeth City State
Christopher Perkins powered Elizabeth City State to its first win of the season, accounting for 84% of the team’s 409 total yards in a 39-27 victory over Livingstone. The quarterback tallied 344 yards and five total touchdowns, highlighted by a 73-yard scoring run that gave the Vikings the lead for good before halftime.
Offensive Back - Curtis Allen, Virginia Union
Curtis Allen posted his second straight 200-yard rushing performance, carrying 34 times for 249 yards and four touchdowns. His dominant effort powered Virginia Union to a 44-34 road win over Winston-Salem State.
Receiver - Jahari Mitchell - Winston-Salem State
On October 4th against Virginia Union, Mitchell delivered a standout performance with five receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his big-play ability throughout the game. His highlight came on a 36-yard scoring grab, where he broke free from defenders and found the end zone with ease.
Offensive Lineman - Christian Solomon, Virginia Union
Myles Solomon anchored a dominant Virginia Union offensive line that paved the way for 551 yards of total offense in a 44-34 road win over Winston-Salem State. Behind his leadership, the Panthers controlled the trenches, piling up 408 rushing yards to stay perfect in conference play.
Defensive Lineman - Cameron Davis, Virginia State
Cameron Davis anchored the Virginia State defense with a standout performance that showcased his leadership, toughness, and relentless pursuit of the football. He stuffed the stat sheet with 13 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble, setting the tone for a defensive unit that fought hard from start to finish.
Linebacker - Vincent Hill, Johnson C. Smith
Hill turned in a strong defensive performance, recording 10 total tackles, four solo and six assisted, while consistently disrupting the opposing offense. He also forced a fumble and added a tackle for loss, making his presence felt on multiple key plays throughout the game.
Defensive Back - Evan Powell, Winston-Salem State
On October 4th against Virginia Union, Powell led the defensive charge with 15 total tackles, including six solo and nine assisted stops. He consistently came up big in crucial moments, delivering key tackles that helped steady the defense throughout the game.
Special Teams - John Hernandez-Vargas, Fayetteville State
John Hernandez-Vargas was a standout on special teams in Fayetteville State’s win over Bowie State on October 4, using his consistency and power in the kicking game to control field position and maintain momentum throughout the contest. He executed seven kickoffs for 414 total yards, averaging an impressive 59.1 yards per kick — over five yards longer than Bowie State’s average — and was perfect on point-after attempts, going 5-for-5 to add crucial points to the scoreboard.
Rookie - Alexander Marsh, Shaw
Marsh efficiently led multiple scoring drives through the air, completing 13 of 20 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground with 14 rushing attempts for 64 yards, adding a dual-threat dimension to his performance.
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. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.