CIAA Football Weekly Recap: Unbeaten Teams Continue to Make Their Mark in Conference Play
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Week 3 of CIAA® football action featured pivotal conference matchups, dominant defensive performances and standout individual efforts across the league. Johnson C. Smith, Virginia State and Virginia Union remained unbeaten in CIAA play, while Livingstone secured its second consecutive victory and Shaw delivered one of the weekend's strongest offensive performances with 49 points and 483 yards of total offense.
Johnson C. Smith 20, Fayetteville State 14
Johnson C. Smith remained unbeaten in CIAA play with a 20-14 victory over Fayetteville State on Saturday at Irwin Belk Complex. The Golden Bulls improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference action, while the Broncos moved to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the CIAA. Kamarro Edmonds scored twice on the ground for JCSU, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown with 49 seconds remaining. Alexis Rosario-Beltran added field goals of 31 and 32 yards.
Fayetteville State briefly took a 14-13 fourth-quarter lead behind Jamir Dismukes' 30-yard touchdown run, but JCSU responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 6:15 before Edmonds' go-ahead score. Dismukes led the Broncos with 114 rushing yards. Defensively, Vincent Hill paced the Golden Bulls with 11 tackles and a tackle for loss, while Jamaris Stevens added seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Virginia State 28, Elizabeth City State 14
Virginia State used a 14-point fourth quarter to earn a 28-14 road victory over Elizabeth City State. The Trojans improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in CIAA play, while the Vikings moved to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in conference action.
Rahsaan Matthews Jr. led Virginia State with 264 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception while adding 31 rushing yards and a touchdown. Jaylen Pretlow caught eight passes for 80 yards and a score, while Kevin Gayles added 51 receiving yards and a touchdown.
With the game tied 14-14 entering the fourth quarter, Virginia State scored 14 unanswered points to pull away. The Trojans outgained Elizabeth City State 427-252 and controlled possession for more than 36 minutes. Raja'ee Jones led Virginia State with nine tackles. For Elizabeth City State, Troy Smith threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns, while Josef Manley led the Vikings with 53 rushing yards.
Up Next: Virginia State hosts Winston-Salem State on Saturday, September 26, at 1 p.m.
Livingstone 21, Winston-Salem State 13
Livingstone earned its second consecutive victory with a 21-13 win over Winston-Salem State on Saturday in Salisbury. The Blue Bears overcame a 13-7 halftime deficit, scoring 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to take control.
Maliq Staten opened the scoring for Livingstone with a one-yard touchdown run before Jamol Horton added an eight-yard score in the third quarter. Brandon Edinburgh Jr. then connected with RJ Lindsey for a 49-yard touchdown to extend Livingstone's advantage to 21-13.
From there, the Blue Bears' defense shut out Winston-Salem State for the remainder of the game to secure Livingstone's first victory over the Rams since 2023 and its second straight win of the season.
Up Next: Livingstone travels to Shaw for CIAA action on Saturday, September 26, at 1 p.m.
Shaw 49, Lincoln (Pa.) 27
Shaw rushed for 335 yards and produced 483 yards of total offense in a 49-27 CIAA victory over Lincoln (Pa.) on Saturday at Durham County Memorial Stadium. The Bears improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while the Lions moved to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the CIAA.
After Lincoln scored first, Shaw answered with 28 consecutive points. Trey Thorpe led the ground attack with 108 yards and two touchdowns, while Fabian Diggs added 106 yards and a score. Alexander Marsh threw for 148 yards and two touchdowns without an interception and added a rushing touchdown.
Lincoln quarterback Jayden Triplett threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, with Kyrie Tyson recording nine receptions for 145 yards and two scores. Defensively, Shaw forced four turnovers, including two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Ethan Cason-Guyton added 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss.
Up Next: Shaw remains home to face Livingstone in CIAA action on Saturday, September 26, at 1 p.m. at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Alabama A&M 45, Bowie State 3
Bowie State fell to 0-3 following a 45-3 road loss to Alabama A&M on Saturday in Huntsville, Alabama. The Bulldogs leaned on their ground game, rushing for 158 yards and controlling possession for more than 34 minutes.
Maximus Jones led Bowie State with 74 yards on 18 carries, while Daniel Coles Jr. added 61 yards on 15 attempts. Peter Lipscombe accounted for the Bulldogs' points with a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter, capping a 15-play, 63-yard drive.
Defensively, Ashton Mayeux led Bowie State with eight tackles, while Chase Francis added seven.
Up Next: Bowie State travels to Elizabeth City State for CIAA action on Saturday, September 26, at 1 p.m.
Virginia Union 42, Bluefield State 0
Virginia Union continued its unbeaten run through CIAA play with a dominant 42-0 victory over Bluefield State on Saturday at Hovey Field. The Panthers produced 414 yards of total offense, including 259 rushing yards, while holding Bluefield State to just 106 total yards.
Latrell Sutton caught two touchdown passes, while Tavon McGee, Travon Tensley and Raphael Tucker each added rushing scores. Special teams provided one of the game's biggest plays when Zyaire Tart returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. Tart finished with 140 yards on four punt returns.
Virginia Union was equally impressive defensively, recording six sacks, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception while keeping Bluefield State off the scoreboard. Ramon Brown led the Panthers' rushing attack with 89 yards on 14 carries.
Up Next: Virginia Union travels to Fayetteville State for CIAA action on Saturday, September 26, at 1 p.m.
CIAA Football Weekly Honors
The CIAA has announced its Football Weekly Honors following Week 3 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: Kyrie Tyson, Lincoln University (Pa.)
Offensive Lineman of the Week: Ashton Williams, Shaw University
Defensive Lineman of the Week: Ethan Cason-Guyton, Shaw University
Linebacker of the Week: Jessiah Gildersleeve, Virginia Union University
Defensive Back of the Week: Derrick York, Livingstone College
Special Teams Player of the Week: Zyaire Tart, Virginia Union University
Rookie of the Week: Gage Miller, Virginia Union University
Road to the 2026 CIAA Football Championship
The conference race continues to take shape as Johnson C. Smith, Virginia State and Virginia Union remain unbeaten in CIAA play. With each week carrying greater implications, programs across the conference continue to battle for position on the road to the 2026 CIAA Football Championship.
The September 26 slate will bring another important round of conference action, including Virginia Union at Fayetteville State, Livingstone at Shaw, Winston-Salem State at Virginia State and Bowie State at Elizabeth City State.
Fans are encouraged to continue supporting their teams throughout the regular season and follow the race to championship weekend. Visit TheCIAA.com for championship and ticket information.
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.