Morgan State and Miles College will clash on Sept. 27 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It marks the first time both teams will play in the longtime HBCU classic. The bands — Purple Marching Machine and the Magnificent Marching Machine — will also join their respective teams for the popular HBCU showdown.

Alice Watson, the president and CEO of Indiana Black Expo, said that it is important “now more than ever to bring HBCU talent and exposure to the Midwest.”

“We hope that alumni and new fans alike will come out to Lucas Oil Stadium to support not only the tradition of the HBCU football game but also celebrate the talented bands,” Watson said in a press release.

In the 2024 campaign, Morgan State finished 6-6 and 3-2 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play while Miles notched an unprecedented season. The Golden Bears finished 14-3 including a perfect 12-0 mark in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action. Miles made a second round appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs and finished with a national ranking for the first time in program history. 

This season, former NFL’s Indianapolis Colts player Chris Goode will enter his first year at the helm of the Golden Bears’ program after former head coach Sam Shade departed Miles to become the football coach at Alabama A&M.

North Carolina Central played in the last two editions of the Circle City Classic. Last season, NCCU defeated Norfolk State 37-10.

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SIAC coaches and sports information directors voted on the players selected for each team as well as the league’s Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Miles College guard Alvin Miles was named the SIAC Player of the Year while Golden Bears head coach Fred Watson earned Coach of the Year honors. Fort Valley State forward Hassane Diallo earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, Lane guard Elijah Greer Dawson received Newcomer of the Year, Edward Waters forward Myles Hosten notched Freshman of the Year honors while Morehouse guard Cedric Taylor III earned Elite 16 honors.

Miles, a native of Memphis, Tenn., was one of the SIAC’s top 10 scorers this season, averaging 15.9 points per game (10th in the conference). He became the first player in program to earn the league’s top player award since Avery Brown accomplished the feat in 2020. Miles was the only SIAC player this season to score 400 points, grab 100 rebounds and notch 100 assists. He finished with double-figure production in 22 of the Golden Bears’ 26 contests while recording seven games of 20 or more points.

Diallo registered 177 rebounds with 120 coming on the defensive side of the ball in 28 games this season. He also finished second in the league in blocked shots (42) while registering 22 steals and averaging 10.5 points per contest.

Dawson averaged 16.8 points while shooting 44.4% from the field, dishing 3.0 assists and connecting on 76.9% from the free throw line per game in 18 contests this season. Beyond his scoring, Dawson averaged 4.1 rebounds per game while tallying a total of 39 steals and six blocks on defense.

Hosten averaged 8.0 points while shooting 38.8% from the floor and notched 4.8 rebounds in 13 games this season.

Watson registered his third Coach of the Year honors at Miles and the ninth of his career. He led Miles to a SIAC-best 23-3 mark that includes a 19-1 record in conference play and a perfect 12-0 mark at home, the Golden Bears best record inside Knox-Windham Gymnasium in program history.

Player of the Year

Alvin Miles

Defensive Player of the Year

Hassane Diallo

Newcomer of the Year

Elijah Greer Dawson

Freshman of the Year

Coach of the Year

Myles Hosten

The complete listing of the SIAC all-conference selections and individual awards winners can be found below.

All-SIAC First Team

• Shakur Poteat, Albany State
• Alvin Miles, Miles
• Walter Peggs, Jr., Miles
• Cedric Taylor III, Morehouse
• Lavar Miller Jr., Kentucky State

All-SIAC Second Team

• Kevin Sesberry, Tuskegee
• Jalen Williams, Clark Atlanta
• Prince Davies III, Edward Waters
• Kusamae Draper, Tuskegee
• Blaise Wallace, Albany State

All-SIAC Third Team

• Steven Lyles, Spring Hill
• Shemani Fuller, Clark Atlanta
• Corey Trotter, Miles
• Aziel Blackwell, Kentucky State
• Khalil Genwright, LeMoyne-Owen

All-SIAC Freshman Team

• Myles Hosten, Edward Waters
• Rocco Lamuno, Spring Hill
• Abdoul Sacko, LeMoyne-Owen
• Brandon Peters, Morehouse
• Christian Gary, Albany State

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Virginia Union University, from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, will face Miles College, from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, in the 2025 Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton on Aug. 31. For the first time in the six-year history of the Labor Day weekend game, the newly dubbed “Clash at The Classic” will feature the defending HBCU football champions from the CIAA and SIAC — two athletic conferences primarily composed of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

“Clash at The Classic”

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on the campus of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. NFL Network, which will provide coverage of the game, announced the teams and new conference arrangement today during its broadcast of the 2025 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans, La.

“We are grateful to the commissioners and teams of the CIAA and SIAC for their commitment to playing in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic game,” said Jim Porter, president & CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “The format of bringing in the defending conference champions sets up the ‘Clash at The Classic’ as an entertaining, well-matched game annually, with top-tier players representing their historic universities.”

Virginia Union head coach Alvin Parker and the Panthers are making their second appearance in Canton; they defeated Morehouse College 45-13 in the 2023 Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic. In 2024, the Panthers posted a 10-4 record that included two wins in the Division II NCAA tournament before falling to the eventual national runner-up Valdosta State Blazers in the quarterfinal round.

The 2025 “Clash at The Classic” will serve as Miles head coach Chris Goode’s first game at the helm of the Golden Bears. The program finished a historic 2024 season with a 10-3 record that included school records for most victories, most consecutive wins in a single year (10), and its first NCAA Division II playoff victory. The Golden Bears’ season also ended at the hands of Valdosta State, one week before the Blazers ousted Virginia Union.

Fans can purchase their seats now to see the game and energizing band performances featuring the Virginia Union Ambassadors of Sound Marching Band and the Miles College Purple Marching Machine. Tickets, starting at $40, are available here.

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“It’s special I’m truly honored and humbled to be here amongst some of the greatest of the game — not just HBCU but NFL guys like Shack Harris and Doug Williams — that’s an honor,” Shade told New Orleans Saints Media.

Shade has yet to coach a game at Alabama A&M — he was hired in December — but he earned his spot into coaching at the fourth iteration of the game at Miles College. In three seasons he took the Fairfield, AL-based HBCU from a one-win rebuild job to an SIAC champion and won the program’s first-ever Division II playoff game.

As one of the coaches of Team Robinson — named after Grambling State legend Eddie Robinson — Shade will get a chance to coach Miles offensive lineman Christian Twymon one last time. But he won’t be the only player that Shade has coached in New Orleans this week. 

“A big part of this week is also the career fair that the HBCU Legacy Bowl puts on. That’s a great event,” Shade said. “We’ve got a couple players here from Miles College — where I coached before — that are looking forward to it. They’ve got their resumes right, they’ve got their gear ready for it to maybe land a job outside of football.”

Shade will be working with Jackson State head coach T.C. Taylor who is coming off an 11-2 season in his second year, guiding Jackson State football to the Celebration Bowl. 

“I was very happy for him that they were able to win it in the SWAC conference that I’m in now. I’m excited to be in it, but it does present a huge challenge on that SWAC East side of things,” Shade said with a smile. “I’m going to enjoy this week with T.C. and hey, at some point during the season, we’ll get the chance to compete against each other. But he’s done a tremendous job and got a really good football team and it’s an honor for me to be a part of the conference.”

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Alabama HBCU Miles College has named Chris Goode as its new head football coach, effective immediately. Goode is a former stalwart for the University of Alabama and in the NFL and looks to bring his wealth of football acumen to the Golden Bears program. Goode replaces another Alabama football great, Sam Shade, who led the Golden Bears to a 10-3 record, a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship, and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2024. Shade was named head coach at Alabama A&M in December.

“We are excited for the future of Miles College football under the direction of Coach Chris Goode and are confident that Coach Goode’s leadership will bring continued success to Miles College football,” said Fred Watson, Miles Director of Athletics.

Goode will be formally introduced at a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 11:30 a.m., at the Williams Welcome and Admissions Center, located on 59th Street on the campus of Miles College. The press conference will be viewable to all fans via the Miles College Facebook page.

This will be Goode’s first head coaching stint on the collegiate level. After his playing career concluded, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Birmingham Steeldogs of the Arena Football League. He has stayed connected with young athletes through his own Goode Elite Prep, a post-graduate academy for student-athletes. With his extensive local, statewide, and national connections, Goode is uniquely positioned to recruit talent and drive fundraising efforts for the Miles football program, while continuing to raise the profile of the HBCU.

“Chris Goode’s leadership and dedication to student development makes him the ideal choice to guide our football program forward,” said Miles President Bobbie Knight. “We are excited to see how his guidance and vision will propel our student-athletes to continued success both on the field and in the classroom.”

Goode was drafted in the 10th round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts after a standout collegiate career at Alabama. He played his entire seven-year NFL career for the Colts, finishing with seven interceptions, six fumble recoveries, two sacks, and a touchdown in 96 regular season contests (66 starts). He has had multiple business and sports-related ventures since his retirement, including serving as the president of the National Football League Player Association (NFLPA) Birmingham Chapter, which was named Chapter of the Year under his stewardship in 2016.

The Golden Bears look to remain as one of the top HBCU football programs in Division II under Goode. Last season, they went 10-3, winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs while finishing the season nationally ranking for the first time.

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VALDOSTA, Ga. — The end to a historic 2024 HBCU football season for Miles College came on Saturday afternoon at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as No. 22 Miles lost to No. 1 Valdosta State 33-17. The loss snapped the Golden Bears’ 10-game win streak but did not put a damper on a campaign that saw the team reach several significant milestones, including most victories, most consecutive wins in a single year, and a first-ever win in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Miles College (10-3) had several opportunities early to make the game a lot closer early. But the Golden Bears never got in the end zone in the first three quarters, being held to a 28-yard field goal by Roderick Smith over the first 30 minutes. After driving from its own 1-yard line to get the ball to midfield late in the second quarter, Kamren Ivory threw an interception that VSU (11-0) converted into a field goal at the end of the half for a 16-3 advantage.

The HBCU football champions of the SIAC held serve through most of the third quarter before VSU took control. Facing a third-and-goal from the Miles 18, the Blazers got the benefit of a personal foul penalty that gave them new life. Blake Hester punched it in from three yards out with 37 seconds left to extend the lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Miles was unable to recover the kickoff and VSU recovered at the Miles 13. After a penalty, Hester scored his third touchdown of the game on an 18-yard run, giving VSU two touchdowns in nine seconds and a 30-3 lead with 27 seconds left in the third.

Miles got touchdown passes from Ivory to Jaih Andrews (six yards) and Franck Pierre (20 yards) in the fourth quarter but the hole was far too steep from which to climb back even. Ivory finished with 224 yards passing, Jonero Scott was the top rusher (54 yards on 17 carries) and Jaquel Fells led the receivers with 92 yards on seven receptions.

Defensively, Jeremiah Hudson-Davis had a team-high seven tackles and Lashon Young added six stops. Jamichel Rogers (five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss) and Zion Sharpe (three tackles, sack) were strong on the line of scrimmage as well for the Golden Bears in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. 

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Valdosta State comes into the game with one of the most dominant defenses in Division II football, allowing just 9.1 points per game and holding opponents to 245.3 yards per game. Offensively, the Blazers average an impressive 43.1 points per game, led by quarterback Sammy Edwards, who has thrown for 2,449 yards and 23 touchdowns. Running backs Blake Hester and Alfonso Franklin have combined for 1,325 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, providing a balanced attack. Receiver Rodney Bullard is a key target, amassing 766 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

Miles College, riding high after its historic 14-13 win over Carson-Newman, has been a surprise contender this postseason. That victory marked the first NCAA playoff win for the HBCU program, showcasing their resilience.

The Golden Bears are averaging 29.8 points per game while holding opponents to 16.9 points. Their defense, which has forced 24 interceptions this season, will be critical in slowing down Valdosta State’s high-powered offense. Offensively, quarterback Kamren Ivory has thrown for 1,476 yards and 14 touchdowns, while running back Javonta Leatherwood has tallied 393 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns .

This matchup pits Valdosta State’s explosive offense and stifling defense against Miles College’s scrappy and opportunistic style. The Golden Bears will look to build on their momentum, but they face a formidable challenge against a Valdosta State team with championship aspirations. Expect a hard-fought battle with playoff intensity as both teams vie for a spot in the quarterfinals.

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Miles came out strong in the first quarter. Quarterback Kamren Ivory led an efficient 11-play drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jaquel Fells, putting the Golden Bears ahead 7-0. Carson-Newman responded in the second quarter, tying the game at 7 after Jayden Sullins capped a 60-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Later in the quarter, the Miles defense forced a fumble deep in Carson-Newman territory. Running back Jonero Scott capitalized with a 5-yard touchdown run, giving the Golden Bears a 14-7 lead.

Carson-Newman trimmed the deficit with a 43-yard field goal before halftime, making it 14-10. Early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles added another field goal, cutting the lead to 14-13. With less than two minutes to play, Miles fumbled while trying to run out the clock, giving Carson-Newman one last chance. However, safety Malachi Oglen made the play of the game, intercepting a pass deep in Miles territory to seal the victory.

The Golden Bears’ defense, led by linebacker Jeremiah Hudson-Davis with nine tackles and Jamichael Rogers with a critical sack, delivered in key moments. Offensively, Ivory threw for 84 yards and a touchdown, while Scott rushed for 48 yards and a score. Carson-Newman’s standout performer, Sullins, rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown, but costly turnovers and missed opportunities plagued the Eagles.

This win is a huge step for Miles College and HBCU football, showing the competitiveness of HBCU programs on the national stage. The Golden Bears now move on to the next round of the playoffs, continuing their historic run.

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The Golden Bears finished a perfect romp through the conference schedule with a 53-25 win over Clark Atlanta in the 2024 SIAC Championship Game on Saturday at Sloan-Alumni Stadium. In the process, Miles College (9-2) won its fifth SIAC title during the Division II era (since 1987) in a game that the team never trailed. It was the ninth consecutive win for the Golden Bears, which ties the school record for wins in a single season and sets the school mark for consecutive victories in a single campaign.

The win also – most assuredly – clinches a trip to the NCAA Division II Football Championship tournament, with the bracket set for release on Sunday at 5 p.m. The Golden Bears may – for the first time – get a chance to host a playoff game in its third appearance in the national tournament.

It did not take Miles long to grab control of the contest. On Clark Atlanta’s first possession, Keith Green blasted quarterback David Wright for his league-leading third forced fumble. The ball popped into the air and linebacker William Hardy grabbed it and raced 48 yards for a touchdown which gave Miles a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, Miles went right down the field – all of it on the ground, save one penalty – and finished a 60-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by Jonero Scott, his fourth on the season, for a 14-0 advantage with just more than a minute left in the opening period.

Miles College continued to pile on before closing the first quarter, with more help from the Panthers. After forcing another three-and-out, a high snap on the punt sent the ball hurtling into the end zone. To keep from Miles pouncing on the loose pigskin for another touchdown, CAU punter Leonardo Cabrera kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety and the Golden Bears would go into the second quarter with a 16-0 lead.

After getting the ball on the free kick, Miles went right back on the offensive. Aided by a big 45-yard pass from Kamren Ivory to Franck Pierre, the Golden Bears increased their lead to 23-0 when Javonta Leatherwood powered in from three yards out less than three minutes into the second quarter.

Clark Atlanta was able to get some momentum and fought its way back into the contest with touchdowns on consecutive drives. But down nine with the ball, CAU was stymied by the Miles defense on its two ensuing drives. First, JaMichael Rogers forced the issue on an incomplete pass on fourth down inside the Miles 30 to thwart the first drive. Then, Lashon Young picked off Wright in the end zone – his NCAA-leading eighth on the season. His big return gave Miles some breathing room and the offense took advantage.

A short completion to Jaih Andrews was followed by two big ones to Keidarris Griffin (44 and 14 yards). But the biggest pass was the shortest, a 2-yard toss to Leatherwood. His first receiving grab of the season sent Miles into the break with a 29-14 lead in the SIAC championship game.

The second half saw Miles College continue to shred CAU on both sides of the ball. Jeremiah Hudson-Davis has interceptions on the Panthers’ first two drives of the half. After the first pick, Scott found his way into the end zone for the second time – a 6-yard jaunt – before Roderick Smith booted one in from 30 yards to increase the lead to 39-14.

The Golden Bears’ defense continued to obliterate the Panthers. Josh Ruff got his first career interception on the ensuing drive, then Miles got a fourth-and-1 stop at the Miles 2-yard line. CAU would get a safety on a blocked punt and a touchdown to open the fourth quarter to draw to within 39-23. But a big Jamari Riley 31-yard run set Leatherwood up for a 4-yard scoring run – his 11the rushing touchdown and 12th overall on the season – to give Miles more cushion.

On the ensuing kickoff, John Robinson forced a fumble that Tifton Dobbs recovered and returned to the CAU 12. Two plays later, Derrick Davis rumbled in from nine yards out for a 53-23 lead with 6:51 left. The celebrations really began to ramp up on the Miles sidelines.

But the defense continued it’s assault on the Panthers, who had replaced Wright – who was forced from the game on multiple occasions after taking brutal, legal hits from the Miles pass rush – with Heath Williams, Jr. Two interceptions by Cam Williams gave him three on the season and gave Miles six for the game and eight total turnovers forced. As the clock rolled to zero, the celebration began in full force as the Golden Bears shared hugs and handshakes before taking possession of the SIAC championship trophy.

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In their previous meeting, Miles ran away with a 49-28 victory, relying on their bruising rushing attack and opportunistic defense. However, Clark Atlanta has grown since that game and enters the championship brimming with confidence, particularly after a strong close to the season, including a pivotal win over Tuskegee.

Keys to Victory

Clark Atlanta:

1. Unleash the Air Attack: Quarterback David Wright III is the catalyst for Clark Atlanta’s offense, leading one of the top passing attacks among HBCUs at 293.6 yards per game. Connecting with playmakers like Armone Harris and Jamal Jones will be critical against a Miles secondary that has tallied 17 interceptions this season.
2. Contain the Rushing Game: Miles thrives on the ground, averaging 173.4 rushing yards per game behind Javonta Leatherwood and Jonero Scott. Clark Atlanta’s defense must rise to the occasion, particularly in the trenches, to prevent another runaway game.
3. Play With Urgency: Clark Atlanta has been dynamic late in games, but starting fast is essential. Establishing rhythm early and avoiding turnovers will be crucial in silencing the Miles home crowd.

Miles College:

1. Control the Tempo With the Run Game: Miles, one of the most physical HBCU programs, will look to dictate the pace by leaning on their rushing attack. Leatherwood’s explosiveness and Scott’s consistency make them a nightmare to defend.
2. Disrupt the Passing Game: Clark Atlanta’s aerial prowess is their biggest weapon, but Miles’ defensive front has racked up 36 sacks this season. Applying pressure on Wright III will force mistakes and limit big plays.
3. Seize the Moment: This game offers Miles the chance to cement themselves as one of the premier HBCU programs in the SIAC. Playing clean, mistake-free football will be key to completing their championship quest.

The Stakes

This game is more than a title bout—it’s a celebration of HBCU football excellence. Miles is chasing their second SIAC title in three years, while Clark Atlanta looks to add to create a legacy and reassert their presence in the HBCU football landscape. With both teams representing the pride of their institutions and the broader HBCU community, expect a passionate, hard-fought game that will come down to execution and heart.

Prediction: Miles College’s physicality and balanced attack make them the favorites, but if Clark Atlanta can play their best game of the season, this could become an instant HBCU classic.

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1. Miles College (6th, 8-1 overall, 8-1 in-region) – Miles holds a critical advantage as it will compete in the SIAC Football Championship game against Clark Atlanta this week. A win here would solidify its position in the top seven, while a loss could endanger its playoff spot. Currently, it is in control of its own destiny.

2. Johnson C. Smith University (7th, 8-2 overall, 8-2 in-region) – JCSU is clinging to the seventh and final NCAA playoff spot, but it will be idle this week after dropping a game to Livingstone. This leaves its fate partially in the hands of other teams’ performances. Johnson C. Smith needs key teams, like Virginia Union and West Florida, to falter if they hope to hold their position in the final playoff bracket.

3. Virginia Union University (9th, 7-2 overall, 6-1 in-region) – Virginia Union has a crucial opportunity to improve its standing as it faces Virginia State in the CIAA Championship game. A win could boost it into playoff position, depending on how other results fall. It’ll be aiming to move past Johnson C. Smith, taking advantage of JCSU’s idle week despite the fact it lost the head-to-head matchup with it. 

4. Winston-Salem State University (10th, 7-2 overall, 6-2 in-region) – Winston-Salem State dropped in the rankings despite a thrilling 37-31 overtime victory over Fayetteville State. Like Johnson C. Smith, WSSU will be idle this week, limiting its ability to make a final impression. It will be watching the outcomes of the SIAC and CIAA championships closely, hoping for results that might create an opening for it.

With two of these four HBCU football programs (Johnson C. Smith and Winston-Salem State) idle, their NCAA playoff hopes will rest largely on the performances of Miles and Virginia Union. This week’s results will be decisive in determining which HBCUs make it into the playoff field. For more insights on team scenarios and standings, check HBCUGameday.com for the latest updates.

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TUSKEGEE, Ala. — Historically, Tuskegee has been a thorn in the collective side of the Miles College football program. But while one win – even as thoroughly dominant as the one the Golden Bears put together in a 37-7 dismantling of the Golden Tigers at Cleve Abbott Memorial Stadium on Saturday – does not erase the past, it has charted a new path where Miles is now the hunter, not the hunted in Division II HBCU football and the SIAC.

The victory was the eighth straight this season for Miles College (8-2, 8-0 SIAC) and capped the program’s first undefeated romp through the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in more than 40 years as a Division II institution. The win streak now matches the longest in-season run in the program’s modern history. Just as impressive, it is the fifth win in seven tries at Tuskegee (5-5, 5-3) since 2011, with three of them coming on TU’s Homecoming.

Miles’ defense continued its dominant run, allowing just 134 total yards and nine first downs. 65 of those yards came on Tuskegee’s final drive of the game when the outcome was no longer in doubt. The Golden Tigers entered the fourth quarter with just 48 yards of offense and had turned the ball over twice, both on interceptions by Donshae Gaither.

The blistering defense was a wonderful compliment to the offensive production, as Miles churned out 394 yards. The ground game continued to impress as the Golden Bears racked up 245 yards on the ground and averaged more than five yards a carry. Jonero Scott led the charge with 63 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown run on the opening possession that gave Miles a 7-0 advantage. But six different players had at least 25 yards rushing as Tuskegee offered little resistance to an offensive line that had its way.

The Golden Bears led 17-0 at the half as Roderick Smith connected on a 31-yard field goal early in the second quarter and Kamren Ivory hit Keiderris Griffin for a score on fourth-and-goal from the 3. Miles continued to pour it on in the second half. Javonta Leatherwood scored his ninth touchdown of the season on a 1-yard blast in the third quarter before Ivory (200 total yards) and Griffin connected again – this one from 41 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 31-0 advantage. The final score came when Edward Osley, in to control the ball and burn some clock, spun out of a tackle and dashed 38 yards for his fourth touchdown of the season.

With the HBCU football regular season complete, Miles now turns its attention to the SIAC Championship Game, where it will host Clark Atlanta on Saturday at 11 a.m. It is a rematch from Week 7 when the Golden Bears downed the Panthers 49-28 on their Homecoming. But the stakes are much higher this time, with an HBCU conference championship and potential NCAA Playoff bid on the line. It will be the seventh SIAC Championship Game appearance for the Golden Bears but the first time that they will not face Albany State, the opponent in the previous six encounters.

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ATLANTA — Entering week ten of the football season, there is a lot left to be determined about who will compete in the 2024 SIAC Football Championship presented by Cricket. Matchups, contenders, pathways and possible outcomes are detailed below.

WEEK 10 SIAC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

MILES COLLEGE
Miles (7-2, 7-0 SIAC) secured the No. 1 seed with its win over Morehouse last week. The game against Tuskegee will not affect Miles’ position in the standings.

• Miles holds the common opponent tiebreaker over Fort Valley State after defeating Clark Atlanta in week 7. Clark Atlanta defeated Fort Valley State in the season opener.

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Fort Valley State (6-3, 6-1 SIAC) controls its own destiny in week 10. The Wildcats will be the No. 2 seed if they defeat Albany State. Fort Valley State will be eliminated from contention with a loss because Albany State will hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
Clark Atlanta (6-2-1, 5-2 SIAC) will need to win against Morehouse and Fort Valley State lose for an SIAC Football Championship berth. 

• The scenario will leave Clark Atlanta, Fort Valley State and Albany State with 6-2 SIAC records. 
• Clark Atlanta holds the head-to-head over Fort Valley State.
• Clark Atlanta will have a higher combined SIAC opponent win percentage than Albany State.

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY
Albany State (5-4, 5-2 SIAC) will need to win against Fort Valley State, a Tuskegee loss and a Clark Atlanta loss. 

The Golden Rams will also have the potential to play in the championship if they win against Fort Valley State, Clark Atlanta loses, Tuskegee wins and Allen wins. 

• This scenario will create a combined SIAC opponent win percentage tie with Tuskegee. 
• The team ranked highest in the regional rankings will receive the No. 2 seed spot. 
• If neither team is ranked in the region, a draw by lot will occur.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY
Tuskegee (5-4, 5-2 SIAC) will need to win against Miles, a Fort Valley State loss, a Clark Atlanta loss and an Allen loss.

• In this scenario, Tuskegee will have the higher combined SIAC opponent win percentage over Albany State.

If Tuskegee beats Miles, Fort Valley State loses, Clark Atlanta loses and Edward Waters loses, the Golden Bears will also have the potential to play in the championship.

• This scenario will create a combined SIAC opponent win percentage tie with Albany State.
•  The team ranked highest in the regional rankings will receive the No. 2 seed spot. 
• If neither team is ranked in the region, a draw by lot will occur.

SIAC FOOTBALL STANDINGS 
**As of 11/3/24

Savannah State, Kentucky State, Benedict, Lane, Edward Waters, Morehouse, Allen, and Central State have all been eliminated from championship contention. 

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Miles College took a 37-3 decision over Morehouse on Saturday afternoon at Sloan-Alumni Stadium, a result that was not surprising entering the contest. But the victory was significant. It gave the Golden Bears (7-2, 7-0 SIAC) a berth in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship game on Nov. 16, which the team will host. It will be the first time the team has appeared or hosted the HBCU title tilt since 2021, a significant turnaround for head coach Sam Shade and his crew after being 1-9 just two seasons ago.

The victory marked the first time in program history that the team won its first seven conference games in a season and leaves it one short of the modern school record of eight straight wins, set in 1954 and duplicated across the 1957 and 1958 seasons. The win also keeps the Golden Bears in line to represent HBCU football in the Division II playoffs. But most importantly, it showcased that Miles is in the midst of one of its most dominant stretches of football. Morehouse (1-8, 1-6) had just nine first downs and 110 yards of total offense – the fewest allowed by a Miles team in the past 15 seasons – while having 10 yards or fewer on nine of its 12 possessions.

The afternoon started with the program honoring 19 players who played their final regular season home game on Senior Day. But there was no room to celebrate when quarterback Kamren Ivory was intercepted on the Golden Bears first play from scrimmage. The Maroon Tigers turned that turnover into a field goal for a 3-0 advantage with 9:36 left in the opening quarter.

But from there, Miles College dominated the ball game. On the ensuing drive, Ivory (10-of-19, 181 yards) hit big pass plays to Keidarris Griffin (32 yards) and Franck Pierre, whose 24-yard touchdown catch put the Golden Bears ahead 6-3. After a punt, Miles continued to hand the ball to Jonero Scott – who had not played since rushing for 178 yards against Allen at the end of September. He proceeded to get three carries on the possession for 17, 11, then 38 yards, the last being a touchdown run to extend the lead. Scott did not play after the first quarter but still finished with 84 yards on six carries.

The ability to continue to rest Scott was sealed on the final play of the first quarter when Lashon Young made his Division II-leading seventh interception. This one was returned 52 yards for a score – his first this season – and gave Miles a 20-3 lead. The Golden Bears continued to pour it on in the second quarter. Ivory threw two more touchdowns, a 42-yard effort to Griffin (five catches, 117 yards), and a 9-yard toss to Bradley Caldwell, his first with this season. Miles led 34-3 at the half and got a Roderick Scott 29-yard field goal in the third quarter, which amounted to all the scoring in the second half.

Morehouse never got close to scoring because the Miles defense spent most of the game in the Maroon Tigers’ backfield. The Golden Bears had 15 tackles for loss, led by Roc Dowdell (six tackles, 4.5 TFL, one sack) and six sacks (Roderick Campbell, 2, Dowdell, Jamichael Rogers, William Hardy, Carson Pritchett). The Maroon Tigers finished with minus-57 rushing and did not have a run longer than seven yards on the afternoon.

Miles College will close out the SIAC regular season at Tuskegee on Saturday. The HBCU football kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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ATLANTA — Clark Atlanta’s HBCU football program has been all the rage of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in 2024. It’s aerial attack on offense, a big win over Division I Bethune-Cookman, and an audacious, new red turf at Panther Stadium getting a lot of attention leading into its Homecoming contest with Miles College.

But since 2011, there have been no new outcomes in a series that – like Saturday’s game – has been dominated by the Golden Bears. Miles scored touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams while scoring 35 consecutive points en route to a 49-28 romp over the Panthers. Miles (5-2 overall, 5-0 SIAC) has now won eight straight games against CAU (5-2-1, 3-2), five consecutive games this season, and has put itself in the driver’s seat to reach the SIAC Championship Game for the first time since 2021.

The numbers belie how Miles dominated the HBCU football contest. The Golden Bears gave up nearly 500 yards of offense – more than 300 of them in the air – and did not have a 100-yard rusher or receiver. But after allowing an opening-drive touchdown, CAU had very little success until the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Miles College got on the board thanks to its special teams play. After forcing a three-and-out, the Panthers’ first punt of the game was blocked by John Robinson. Tifton Dobbs recovered the ball in the end zone to help tie the game with 6:07 left in the opening quarter. Clark Atlanta would drive the ball downfield on its ensuing possession but safety Lashon Young picked off quarterback David Wright near the goal line for his fourth interception of the year. Young had another interception nullified by penalty but the Miles defense slowed the high-octane Clark Atlanta offense and continued to give the offense great field position.

It finally paid off midway through the second quarter when Miles had to drive just 39 yards to take the lead. Reserve quarterback Khalil Anglin, making his second consecutive start, hit Jaylin Peterson (four catches, 40 yards) for a 20-yard touchdown pass – his first of the season – for a 14-7 advantage the team would take into the half. But things got much worse for Clark Atlanta after its extended homecoming halftime break.

Miles came out and scored three touchdowns in less than six minutes to thin out the celebratory Clark Atlanta crowd. Javonta Leatherwood scored on a 27-yard run on the Golden Bears’ first possession of the third quarter to extend the lead. When CAU got the ball for the first time in the second half, it drove into the red zone before Young (four tackles) came up big again. He blasted Panthers receiver Jamal Jones, who lost the football. Jeremiah Hudson-Davis (seven tackles) scooped up the loose ball had flipped the field, nearly getting to the end zone. On the next play, Anglin (12-of-20, 122 yards passing) connected with Franck Pierre for a 14-yard score. 

When Clark Atlanta got the ball again, Wright’s first pass was picked off by wide receiver-turned-defensive back Keidarris Griffin, who ran it back 32 yards for the pick-six. The Golden Bears led 35-7 with 5:44 left in the third quarter. The rout was on.

Miles College forced Wright, the reigning SIAC Offensive Player of the Year, to turn the ball over three times. He threw 308 yards and three touchdowns, but 210 of those yards and all of the touchdowns came after Miles had opened its four-touchdown advantage. In the fourth quarter, Edward Osley (39 yards, seven carries) got his second rushing touchdown of the season on a 16-yard run and Leatherwood (83 yards, six carries) got into the end zone for the seventh time this season on a 39-yard jaunt. Miles had 222 yards rushing and held the ball for nearly 32 minutes.

Freshman linebacker Matthew Yafondo had a team-high nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble and freshman defensive lineman Keith Green had three tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup to pace the defense for Miles, which travels to face Benedict on Oct. 26. The HBCU football kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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Miles started the scoring with a 33-yard field goal by Roderick Smith in the first quarter. They extended their lead in the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kam Ivory to Jaih Andrews, followed by a 20-yard rushing touchdown by Jonero Scott. Allen responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jamir Dismukes, but a blocked PAT left the score 17-6 at halftime.

Miles continued to dominate in the second half, adding a safety early in the third quarter and a 10-yard touchdown run by Ivory. Allen’s Winston Reese connected with Dismukes for a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Miles sealed the game with a 28-yard rushing touchdown by Edward Osley.

Offensively, Miles was powered by a strong ground game, racking up 270 rushing yards. Scott led the charge with 179 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown, while Osley added 56 yards and a score. Ivory contributed 24 yards and a rushing touchdown in addition to his 53 passing yards and one touchdown.

Allen struggled offensively, managing only 75 rushing yards and 177 passing yards. Dismukes passed for 128 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions while also rushing for a touchdown. Despite outgaining Miles in first downs, Allen’s offense was hampered by eight sacks and three costly interceptions.

The victory solidified Miles’ strong start to SIAC play, while Allen looks to rebound from the tough loss.

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Knight and Coleman will work together to position the legacy of Birmingham Southern and the future of Miles College. “The purchase agreement is for the physical property – acreage and buildings – but not the College itself,” Coleman said. “BSC will continue to operate as a corporate entity through the remainder of the wind-down, which includes wrapping up a range of business matters.”

President Bobbie Knight added, “we are carefully and thoughtfully constructing and curating our next chapter to provide tools and resources for our students to have the highest possible opportunity to succeed. While at the same time, we are positioning our professors and stakeholders to drive research and innovation that will lead to transformative products and services. We have secured partners to join us in creating a consortium for Centers of Excellence and we are pursuing partnerships including with the City of Birmingham to frame the best possible outcomes for all involved.”

Once the sale is complete, BSC will work with the Alabama Attorney General’s office to develop a proposed plan for the College endowment and will then seek court approval of that plan as is required by state law. “We expect that process will take many months or even years to complete, and we will communicate with our endowment contacts once we know more,” Coleman said.

Founded through the merger of two Methodist colleges in 1918, Birmingham-Southern College ceased normal operations in May following an 18-month effort to obtain bridge funding from a $30 million state loan program conceived and enacted to save the 168-year-old, nationally ranked liberal arts institution.

Miles College, a private historically black college in Fairfield, Alabama was founded in 1898, by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME Church). It has a rich history of social and economic change, including its role in the Civil Rights Movement and its graduates who have made history and blazed a trail of national prominence in civil rights and social justice, law, medicine, business, and education.

Neither BSC nor Miles will have further comments on the details of the agreement. The BSC campus will remain closed to all visitors until further notice.

About Miles College: Founded in 1898 Miles College is located in Fairfield, Alabama. We are a private, liberal arts, Historically Black College (HBCU) with roots in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The College, through dedicated faculty, cultivates students to seek knowledge that leads to intellectual and civic empowerment. Students are transformed through rigorous study, scholarly inquiry, and spiritual awareness, thereby enabling graduates to become responsible citizens who help shape the global society. Miles College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

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The Arthur Blank Family Foundation has announced a $6.5 million gift. This generous grant underscores the foundation’s ongoing support for HBCUs and their vital role in fostering educational and athletic excellence.

The funding will be distributed across four institutions: Albany State University in Albany, Georgia; Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta; Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama; and Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia. These enhancements will provide top-tier facilities that support the development of student-athletes and strengthen the athletic programs at each school.

All four of the institutions compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, made up of Division II programs from South Carolina to Alabama. 

Albany State University has used the grant to convert its natural grass football and soccer field at Albany State University Coliseum to blue turf, offering a modernized playing surface. Clark Atlanta University, located in the heart of Atlanta, replaced the aging turf at Panther Stadium, enhancing the home field for its football team with a red surface. In Alabama, Miles College will convert the natural grass at its practice facility to turf, allowing for better training conditions. Savannah State University is replacing the turf at Ted Wright Stadium, ensuring its football and soccer teams compete on a state-of-the-art field.

The Atlanta Falcons, whose owner Arthur M. Blank has long been a supporter of HBCUs, have expressed pride in the foundation’s commitment to these institutions. This investment is expected to have a lasting impact, not only on the athletic programs but also on the broader campus communities.

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Miles Director of Athletics Fred Watson continues the drive towards his mission of creating and sustaining an athletic department that will compete – athletically and academically – at the highest levels. He recently secured a $100,000 donation to the athletic department, which will go directly towards positively impacting Miles College and its student-athletes.

Watson, who is in his second year as the school’s Director of Athletics, has been able to raise the dollars for athletics while also serving as the Golden Bears’ head men’s basketball coach. While balancing both jobs is not easy, he understands that he has to place emphasis on his work outside of the gym to accomplish his goals for athletics.

“When trying to grow the department and athletic offerings, I understood that I would have to increase my fundraising efforts,” Watson said. “So I set out to meet people who would help us work towards our goal of expanding the offerings and support for our student-athletes with the desire to give them a first-class experience while promoting the first-class product that we have at Miles.”

This year, Miles offered men’s track and field as a varsity sport and is growing three junior varsity programs to give more student-athletes an opportunity to compete at the Division II level.

“There was a challenge from our leadership team here at Miles to grow our athletic participation, which is why we added the additional programs. But I did not want to rely solely on institutional monies, so this gift will go a long way in accomplishing that goal,” Watson said.

Watson has been able to secure several hundred thousand dollars during his time at Miles. But he is not going to rest on that accomplishment. He is already on the hunt for more donations as the Golden Bears continue to work towards building an expansive and inclusive athletic department.

“Our College leadership has been very supportive of Athletics. Now, I want to make sure that Athletics is doing our part to support the College’s mission,” Watson said.

For more information on how you can make a donation to the athletic department at Miles, contact Fred Watson at fwatson@miles.edu

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Ja Morant has generously outfitted the Golden Bears and the Lady Bears with his signature shoe – the Nike Ja 1 – for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. The kicks will make their Miles debut at Knox-Windham Gymnasium on Saturday, when the Golden Bears host a matinee against Rust College. Tip-off is scheduled at 2 p.m.

Watson, who has a long-standing relationship with Morant’s father, Tee, said the programs appreciate the kindness and generosity from the Morants.

“I’ve known Tee for quite some time. That’s my guy,” Watson said. “I made one call to him and within minutes, I was on the phone with Ja’s shoe rep setting up the arrangement.”

Ja Morant, the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2019-20 and a two-time All-Star, didn’t just let others do the work. He made sure to connect with members of the Golden Bears after the deal was done.

“Once we received the shoes, Ja made a point to say some positive words to our guys during a phone call. Our guys may have, otherwise, not been in a position to receive that type of encouragement from a player of his stature. That was very meaningful and appreciated,” Watson said.

While having the connection with the reigning NBA Player of the Week is important for Miles’ program, Watson let it be known that it was just as important for the Golden Bears to highlight Morant’s work.

“A lot of times, the media doesn’t show this side. This is a great young man doing uplifting work in the community,” said Watson, who is attempting to lead the Golden Bears to a fourth Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in five seasons.

“Ja is with us now. He is our supporter in our quest to repeat as SIAC champions. His closing words to us was “win one in my shoes.””

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Jackson State leads the SWAC with nearly 30k. That’s an impressive number, but it is a significant drop from its 2022 number. Norfolk State got a slight bump as it led the MEAC. North Carolina A&T got another sellout it’s first season in the CAA.

Here are the numbers of attendance at each HBCU homecoming game. All numbers were taken from official box scores from each school’s athletic website.

MEAC

Norfolk State-24,976

South Carolina State-22,269

North Carolina Central-13,626

Howard-7,684

Delaware State-6,300

Morgan State-Canceled

SWAC

Jackson State-30,947

Alabama A&M-26,391

Florida A&M-22,338

Southern-21,492

Alcorn State-21,012

Alabama State-17,995

Prairie View A&M-14,224

Arkansas-Pine Bluff-13,469

Bethune-Cookman-9,458

Mississippi Valley State-8,752

Grambling State-8,657

Texas Southern-6,352

CAA

North Carolina A&T-21,500

Hampton-13,811

CIAA

Winston-Salem State-8,200

Virginia Union-5,250

Shaw-5,022

Livingstone – 4,501

Bowie State-4,395

St. Augustine’s-3,719

Fayetteville State-3,680

Elizabeth City State-3,579

Johnson C. Smith-3,452

Virginia State-3,409

Lincoln (PA)-2,117

Bluefield State-N/A

SIAC

Tuskegee-31,726

Clark Atlanta-19,597

Savannah State-12,723

Fort Valley State-12,113

Morehouse-10,213

Benedict-8,589

Albany State-8,371

Kentucky State-2,898

Edward Waters-2,472

Lane-1,753

Allen-905

Central State-N/A

Miles-N/A

Other

Tennessee State-13,975

West Virginia State-3,954

Lincoln (MO)-3,333

Virginia University-Lynchburg-1,753

Florida Memorial-1,200

Langston-N/A

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The homecoming featured an appearance by rapper Boosie Badazz at the Fairfield, AL College. The action on the field was a treat as well.

Miles College – the home team – won the game 28-21, keeping itself in line for a shot at Benedict in the SIAC championship game.

Apparently the school’s supporters were feeling pretty good about the homecoming win and celebrated long after the game was over. Long enough for the Allen University football squad to get showered and dressed and on its bus as it prepared to head back to Columbia, SC.

A video posted online in the game’s aftermath showed the Allen University bus surrounded by a crowd as it attempted to maneuver its way out of the parking lot. The video showed the bus being tapped on as it moved through the crowd, which chanted with loud music. 

“Get your hat, your coat, and leave,” the crowd chanted with glee.

We reached out to Allen University officials for comment. 

By all accounts, the moment didn’t result in any injuries or serious repercussions. Many people saw it as a humorous/enjoyable moment of glee after a big football win – HBCU style. Others saw it as potentially dangerous, especially considering the fact that some fans danced in front of the bus as it was trying to move.

After watching the video, what are your thoughts? Just some kids having harmless HBCU homecoming fun or a potentially dangerous situation?

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Fayetteville State and Miles College will step into homecoming against tough opponents who look to ruin the fun and can make or break their chances at a spot in the CIAA and SIAC championships.

Fayetteville State is at the top of the CIAA Southern Division with an overall record of 5-2 and conference record of 5-0. Johnson C. Smith is right behind Fayetteville State with an overall record of 5-2 and a conference record of 4-1. Both Fayetteville State and Johnson C. Smith are the toughest opponent on both team’s schedules. Saturday’s matchup could go a long way towards determining the eventual winner of the CIAA Southern Division. The Southern Division Champion will meet the Northern Division Champion in Salem, Virginia for the CIAA championship game.

Miles College comes into the it’s HBCUhomecoming weekend ranked fifth in SIAC, but they not completely out of the race to reach the SIAC Championship game. The four teams ahead of Miles College are Benedict College who is undefeated and Fort Valley State, Allen University and Tuskegee University. Fort Valley State is currently 5-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play. Allen is currently 5-1 overall and 5-2 in conference. Tuskegee and Miles are both currently 5-2 overall and 4-1 in conference.

Miles will play Tuskegee two weeks later. In the new SIAC format without east and west divisions, the top two teams will play in the conference championship. If Miles College wins its homecoming game and and their final two games of the season, they will have a shot to play in the championship if Fort Valley loses one of its final conference games.

Here is the full list of HBCU homecoming games for the week of Oct. 21.

HBCU Homecoming: Oct 21

ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF vs. Alcorn State

BENEDICT vs. Kentucky State

CLARK ATLANTA vs. Central State

DELAWARE STATE vs. South Carolina State

FAYETTEVILLE STATE vs. Johnson C. Smith

FLORIDA MEMORIAL vs. Webber International

FORT VALLEY STATE vs. Morehouse

HOWARD vs. Norfolk State

LANE vs. Virginia-Lynchburg

LANGSTON vs. Arkansas-Baptist

LIVINGSTONE vs. Shaw

MILES vs. Allen

SAVANNAH STATE vs. Tuskegee

VIRGINIA UNION vs. Lincoln (Pa.)

WINSTON-SALEM STATE vs. Saint Augustine’s

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Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-2 Overall)

Pine Bluff will look to add another win to their earned record thus far of 0-2. Scoring points has been a struggle for them so far this season. They’re only averaging 10.5 points per contest. Pine Bluff’s defense is conceding an average of 448 yards and 33.0 points per game.

Johness Davis gears up after an impressive performance in Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s last game. Davis rushed for 167 yards and one touchdown in the team’s loss.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff has a rush-heavy offense, with a 63-37 rush-pass play selection split.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff went 3-9 in 2022. They’ll want to capitalize on this opportunity, as this is the first time they’ve had home-field advantage all year. This is Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s only game against a SIAC opponent this season.

Miles (2-0 Overall, 1-0 in SIAC)

The Golden Bears will look to add another win to the 2-0 record they’ve earned so far this season. They’re putting up an average of 4.0 touchdowns and 29.0 points per contest. Their defense allows an average of 382 yards and 20.5 points per game.

Jonero Scott gears up after an impressive performance in Miles’ last game. Scott rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s win.

Miles’ offense makes a concerted effort to get the ball to their star receiver. Jaih Andrews has collected 35% of the team’s receiving yardage this season.

Miles enters after putting up a 1-9 campaign in 2022. They’ve only had one away game this season, in which they put up 21.0 points to come away with the win. This is one of Miles’ two games this season against an FCS HBCU opponent.

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Miles prevailed in a tough battle against Alabama State on Saturday evening, winning by a final score of 21-17.

Jonero Scott starred in the ground game for Miles, rushing for two touchdowns. Down the field, Jaih Andrews was the Golden Bears’ best option. Andrews finished with six receptions for 95 yards. Extra possessions were a big factor in the Golden Bears’ success, they won the turnover battle 3-1.

Kisean Johnson, Dematrius Davis, and Ja’Won Howell were all contributors for Alabama State in the loss. The Hornets made some costly mistakes on Saturday, giving up 11 penalties.

Key Metrics to Victory: Miles

• Play selection – leaned on the run game, with a 71-29 run-pass split with 50 rushing attempts and 20 passing attempts
• Possession – controlled the ball for 34:11 (57% of the game)
• Third down success – converted on 47% of third downs (7-15) while Alabama State converted just 27% (3-11)
• Turnover battle – turned the ball over just one time while collecting three turnovers from Alabama State
• Penalties – recorded six penalties for 35 yards while Alabama State had 11 penalties for 75 yards
• Red zone efficiency – converted on 100% of red zone trips as opposed to Alabama State’s 50% efficiency

Miles continued its perfect start to the season. The Golden Bears will head to Pine Bluff for their next contest, a September 16 matchup with Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Alabama State lost for the first time this season this evening. A Septemebr 23 matchup with conference rival Florida A&M in The Highest of Seven Hills is the Hornets’ next shot at a win.

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Alabama State (1-0 Overall, 1-0 in SWAC)

The Hornets come into this contest with a 1-0 record on the season. They are scoring an average of 14.0 points per contest, with a total of 2 touchdowns on the year. On the other side of the ball, the Hornets’ defense allows 10.0 points per game on average.

Keep your eyes on Kisean Johnson downfield. Johnson showed out in Alabama State’s last game, collecting nine receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s win.

Alabama State’s offense is constantly looking to get their star receiver involved. Kisean Johnson has collected 59% of the team’s receiving yardage this season.

Alabama State went 6-5 in 2022. They’ve only had one home game this season, in which they put up 14.0 points to come away with the win. This is one of Alabama State’s two games against a SIAC opponent this season.

Miles (1-0 Overall, 1-0 in SIAC)

The Golden Bears will enter this match with a 1-0 campaign. They’re putting up an average of 5.0 touchdowns and 37.0 points per contest. Their defense has allowed an average of 24.0 points per game this season.

Wideout Jaih Andrews will be leading the way for Miles. Andrews has accumulated 4 receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown thus far this season.

Miles relies on a committee rushing offense. No single player claims more than 26% of rush attempts.

Miles enters after putting up a 1-9 campaign in 2022. They’ll want to capitalize on this opportunity, as this is the first time they’ve been on the road all year. This is one of Miles’ two games this season against an FCS HBCU opponent.

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On the women’s side, CIAA champion Elizabeth City State earned the eighth seed, which means it will face the top seed in the Atlantic Region. That would be Glenville State, the defending NCAA Division II champion. ECSU comes into the tournament 20-10 after winning the CIAA as the fifth overall seed. 

Joining ECSU in the Atlantic region is West Virginia State out of the Mountain East Conference. WV State picked up the no five seed in the region with its 22-6 record. It will take on Shippensburg of the PSAC, which was granted a no. 4 seed with a 24-6 record.

SIAC champion Tuskegee, like their CIAA counterpart, earned the no. 8 seed in its respective region. Tuskegee will be an eighth seed despite a gaudy 26-3 record, which included a perfect 22-0 record against SIAC opponents. 

NCAA D2 HBCU men get two at-large bids

The NCAA D2 Tournament will feature four HBCUs on the men’s side – two from both the SIAC and two from the CIAA. 

CIAA Champion Winston-Salem State (21-8) was awarded an eighth seed. It will face no. 1 seed Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which enters the tournament with a 30-1 record. One of those wins came early in the season against WSSU as it came away with a 67-50 win after WSSU cut an early deficit to single digits. 

Virginia Union received an at-large bid to the NCAA D2 Tournament, picking up a no. 4 seed despite falling in the semifinals of the CIAA Tournament to WSSU. VUU (23-7) will take on no. 5 Fairmont State of the MEC. 

SIAC Champion Miles College picked up a – you guessed it – no. 8 seed in the South Region. Miles (23-6) will get to take on top seed Nova Southeastern which comes in with a 30-0 record. 

Like Virginia Union, Tuskegee managed to pick up an at-large bid. ‘Skegee picked up a no. 7 seed in the South Region and will take on no. 2 seed West Alabama in the first round. 

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Tournament Most Valuable Player Rodney Battlescored the first points of the game on a 3-pointer and Miles College never trailed from that point. He scored eight of his game-high 15 points in the first half but he was not his dominant self in this contest. Watson has said that he and Battle both know that teams are going to design game plans to stop him but that there are others on the team who can step up in his stead to get the job done. 

Normally, that is guard Eddie Smith. But against Benedict, Smith was grinding through an injury that only allowed him to play 13 minutes and take two shots from the field (he missed them both). So others had to move to the forefront, and they did in a big way.

Last season, Yasim Hooker and Mykayle Carterwere the two go-to players on offense. Hooker was a First Team All-Conference performer in 2022 but ceded the primary scoring responsibility to Battle and concentrated on other parts of his game. But in need of some scoring against the Tigers, he stepped right up, scoring 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots. Miles closed the first half by scoring the last 10 points. The final three came on a 50-foot heave from Hooker that swished through as the horn was sounding to give Miles a 33-19 lead at the half. He also showed his skywalking abilities, rocking two monster dunks in the second half en route to a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Carter, a long-range marksman who averaged more than 10 points per game and shot 43 percent from downtown last season, saw both numbers regress in 2022-23 and was coming off an 0-for-6 shooting performance in Friday’s overtime win over Morehouse. But he finally found his stroke against Benedict. He scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 on 3-pointers. He followed Hooker’s two dunks with back-to-back 3-balls that gave Miles a 47-30 lead midway through the second half and had Benedict on the ropes.

Before January 30, Chase Ballard was averaging just under 17 minutes of playing time per contest. He has been the backup point guard all season, but in crunch time, he was not always on the floor. Since then, the sophomore has seen hs playing time jump nearly nine minutes per game. He was already playing big minutes down the stretch in this tournament but when Smith was hobbled early, he was the first man up. His consistent brand of defense was supplemented with a career-high 14 points in 31 minutes against Benedict. He was 4-of-6 from the floor, had a team-high four assists, and was perfect from the charity stripe – including four straight freebies inside the final two minutes that iced the championship for the Golden Bears. Even though he did not start a game during the tournament, he was named to the All-Tournament Team.

No one on this year’s team was a part of the previous two SIAC Championships at Miles and each of them, along with their coach, savored the road traveled to get to the league’s pinnacle. But the group, as a whole, has bigger aspirations and they will come more into focus on Sunday night when Miles finds out its opponent in the NCAA South Region Tournament as the SIAC automatic representative in the national tournament.

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Miles came out to tie the game at the 17:26 mark at 31-31 in the second half, yet the lead was short-lived as the Golden Tigers regained the advantage until the 11-minute mark. The two teams went back-and-forth over the next several minutes of the game, as neither team gained a significant lead until the Golden Bears went up 49-44 with five minutes to play.

 
Tuskegee responded with another run moving forward, as Deveraux Davis (Minneapolis, Minn.) scored four straight to reduce the deficit to a point, followed by a score in the paint from Devin Booker (Chicago, Ill.) to regain the lead for the final time at 50-49.
 
From there, Boyd split a pair of free throws to gain a two-point lead and was followed by Miles splitting a pair for a chance to win the game, giving Tuskegee the 51-50 win.
 
Following Boyd’s 15 points and three rebounds was Davis with 11 points, three rebounds and three steals, while Booker finished with a near double-double with nine points and nine boards in the win.

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There’s also the matter of pedigree to throw into the mix. New ASU coach Eddie Robinson Jr., was a shining star on a championship team for the Hornets in the early 1990s. Both he and Shade were drafted into the NFL and went on to have productive careers in the league. Both coaches, now in their forties, will influence the game from the sideline however, not in between the lines.

Shade will make his debut as head coach just one week after Robinson who coached his team to victory in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Howard. Miles College was predicted to win the SIAC Western Division once again and return to the championship game in hopes of a title. Last year’s team fell short against Albany State but that was during the Reginald Ruffin era. Ruffin moved on to coach Tuskegee during the offseason.

But many of the star players from last year’s team will return for another run at the SIAC title. The Golden Bears return five student athletes who were named to the preseason all conference team in the SIAC. Mitchell Smiley, Tyler Lowery, Roosevelt Thompson, Marcus Lodge and Jackson Spradlin.

All Conference Selections

Smiley, a First Team defensive back is a two-time All-SIAC selection who has also been an all-conference pick at linebacker. Lowery was also a First Team All-SIAC pick in 2021 as an offensive lineman. Thompson, a sophomore, was named to the preseason First Team on the defensive line. Last season, he finished with 34 tackles (18 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a blocked kick on special teams.

Lodge was named to the First Team at wide receiver. Last year, he caught a team-high 20 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Spradlin, a Second Team place kicker, made 7-of-11 field goals, including a long of 50 yards last season.

Alabama State only has two All SWAC preseason selections in offensive lineman Robert Alston and defensive back Irshadd Davis. Both players were selected to the First Team. However, no one wins a trophy for preseason accolades, and the best to come for ASU may have landed via the portal.

New quarterback dazzles in first start

Quarterback Demetrius Davis was a huge recruiting gem for Alabama State. The Auburn transfer had the high school resume to fawn over, 2,453 yards passing with 30 TD and 529 yards rushing with 14 scores as a high school senior. He was rated the No. 4 dual threat recruit nationally at the time.

In his first game as a Hornet, he was only upstaged by mother nature and a five hour plus marathon of game riddled by stoppages for lightning. But Davis provided the thunder, going 16-23 passing for 184 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 37 yards.

Miles College will be looking for a huge bang to start the tenure of Sam Shade with an upset on Saturday. It’s not that far fetched of an idea, Alabama State barely won in overtime last year, 14-13, against Miles.

Robinson Jr. has the Hornet faithful talking about championships again in Montgomery. You can’t win one in week one but you can certainly build some momentum in the home opener.

Kickoff is set for 6pm EST/5pm CST on ESPN Plus. I will have the pleasure of being on the television broadcast along with Santoria Black.

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That likely overshadowed the fact that the conference has not named a replacement for longtime Commissioner Greg Moore, who announced in late May that he was stepping down after nearly 14 years leading the conference.

Nonetheless, the day went smoothly. Associate Commissioner for Communications Tyler Williams deftly handled the proceedings. Seven new head men were among the coaches that made their way to the stage in downtown Atlanta to be interviewed by host James Verett after sitting down with the various media outlets in attendance.

That’s new men at the helm of more than half the 13 SIAC programs. Of the current head coaches, Morehouse head coach Richard Freeman, in his 11th season leading the Maroon Tigers, now has the longest tenure at one school.

A brand new crop in the West

In an interesting twist, four of the five West Division programs have new faces at the helm. Two of them have moved from one conference program to another. Three in all are getting their second head coaching assignment in the league. All three come with conference championship credentials.

The shake-up of sideline mentors had little bearing however on who the head coaches and sports information directors voted to win division titles (watch here). Albany State in the East and Miles in the West are picked to repeat.

Here are profiles of the new coaches. Let’s begin with those that have SIAC titles.

Willie Slater: From Tuskegee to Clark Atlanta

Willie Slater, the new coach at Clark Atlanta, spent the last 15 years as the head man at Tuskegee. He also spent the last five years as Tuskegee’s athletics director.

“I enjoy working,” said Slater of his 44-year career as a coach. “I guess I could have retired and all that. But I enjoy working and enjoy working with young men. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

Slater posted a sterling record of 110-29 (.791) with six seasons of double-digit wins and another four nine-win seasons in his first 12 seasons at Tuskegee. He had only one losing campaign in those dozen years. That stretch included seven SIAC titles and nine West Division titles.

But over the last three seasons, his Golden Tigers were just 13-18, never finishing above .500. Maybe, the double duties of coach and AD caught up to him. He’ll only have to focus on coaching the Panthers.

Slater, who said he has been calling plays since the 10th grade, said he won’t be calling plays for the Panthers. “Well, they embarrassed me at Tuskegee. They said I’m old and my play-calling skills are old and all that stuff. So, rather than have any controversy, Coach (Richard) Moncrief is our offensive coordinator.”

CAU finished 2-8 overall and 0-6 in the SIAC last season under head coach Tim Bowens. They open on Sat., Sept. 3 at new conference member Edward Waters.

Reginald Ruffin: Taking on the double duties at Tuskegee

The double-dip of head football coach and AD at Tuskegee has now been taken on by former Miles head coach Reginald Ruffin. He also served in both capacities for the Golden Bears. Ruffin has said he will spend just one year in both jobs before surrendering the coaching duties.

Ruffin had two stints as an assistant at Tuskegee under Rick Comegy ((2002-2003) and Slater (2006-2010) before becoming head coach at Miles in 2011. He spent the last 11 years leading a resurgence for the Golden Bears challenging and often overcoming Slater and Tuskegee in the SIAC’s West Division. He won the last three West titles, six overall, and corralled four conference championships leading Miles.

“For me it’s a blessing,” Ruffin said of returning to Tuskegee. “Because the three winningest top coaches in the history of Tuskegee — Cleve Abbott, Rick Comegy and Willie Slater, — I was fortunate to coach under two of them. That’s a blessing for me that propelled me in my career as a coach because of what I leaned from those guys.”

Tuskegee and Ruffin, coming off a 3-8 record in Slater’s last season, open against Fort Valley State in Montgomery, Alabama on Sun., Sept. 4 at the first annual Red Tails Classic.

Kevin Porter: From Fort Valley State to Central State

New Central State head coach Kevin Porter was last in the league in 2019 completing the last leg of a four-year stint (2016-19) leading Fort Valley State. Porter guided the Wildcats to the SIAC title in his inaugural season, 2016.

The Marauders, who changed coaches from Bobby Rome to interim head coach George Ragsdale during the 2021 season, are coming off a 1-9 campaign. Porter will make his CSU coaching debut on Sunday Sept. 4 against Winston Salem State at the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton, Ohio. The game will be televised on the NFL Network.

“The opportunity to play on national television at the Hall of Fame game is impetus for the football team and the program to get out there and start on the right foot and do a great job of representing the university,” said Porter during a sit-down interview with this reporter at the SIAC Media Day. “The University obviously has tremendous tradition as far as the football program goes and I want to make sure our kids understand that tradition, where that comes from and what we’re planning.”

The Marauders won three NAIA Division II national championships from 1990-95, and were runner-up in 1983 while competing in NCAA Division II.

The first timers: Sam Shade at Miles

Stepping into the formidable shoes of Ruffin at Miles is Sam Shade, who grew up in Birmingham before playing at Alabama and in the NFL. He has been a state championship high school coach in Alabama and has also coached on the collegiate and NFL levels.

“I grew up ten minutes away from Miles College,” Shade said from the stage at SIAC Media Day Tuesday. “In fact, my father lives eight minutes away. I’ve got two sisters that graduated from Miles and a nephew that actually played at Miles. I actually played coach Ruffin. I’m very familiar with the program and I’m very excited about the opportunity.”

Miles was 6-4 overall, winning the West with a 4-2 record before falling to Albany State in the championship game, 31-0. Shade debuts at Alabama State on Sat., Sept. 3.

Aaron Kelton at Savannah State

Savannah State made a run at the SIAC East title under Shawn Quinn last season finishing 8-2 overall, 5-1 in league play. Quinn left to become linebackers coach at Virginia Tech.

Aaron Kelton, a Boston native, takes over at Savannah State from Howard where he was the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He also served as interim head coach at Howard in 2019.

“The city of Savannah, the university, its rich history, the great climate and to be able to play in a conference like the SIAC is what really attracted me,” said Kelton of his coming to SSU. “We’re at the end of a transition period in the program. We’ve lost guys to graduation and all those different kinds of things. So we’re excited, and a little anxious to see what we can do.”

SSU opens at Southeastern University on Sat., Sept. 3.

Shawn Gibbs at Fort Valley State

Shawn Gibbs comes to Fort Valley State after working the last 19 years as running backs at NC Central, Grambling and NC A&T. He also was assistant head coach and running backs coach under Rod Broadway and Sam Washington at N. C. A&T. But he’s quite familiar with the SIAC.

“Well, I’m a third-generation black college product, so I’m familiar with HBCUs in general,” Gibbs said. So, I’ve known about the SIAC forever. I know it’s tradition-filled. I know it has a lot great coaches, a lot of great players and a lot of history.”

“The thing about coach Broadway is that you have to be accountable. That’s as a coach, an assistant coach and the players. Do your job and do your job well. That’s what coach Broadway preached and that’s what coach Washington preached. That’s my motivation.”

That experience will be critical as he takes over a Wildcats’ program that finished 5-5, 3-3 in the SIAC last season under Maurice Flowers.

Ramon Johnson at Kentucky State?

Apparently taking on some degree of head coach/athletics director’s duties is Kentucky State’s Ramon Johnson. Johnson, who just completed his first year as AD, introduced himself as the interim AD and acting head coach. Interestingly, he brought KSU offensive coordinator Paul Hamilton to join him on stage to talk about the team.

After back-to-back seven-win seasons, Charlies Jackson left Kentucky State to become assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at Air Force. The Thorobreds were 7-4 overall while finishing second in the West at 4-2 in the SIAC.

“What we wanted to do is to provide some consistency for our student athletes and our athletic program,” said Johnson on stage at Wednesday’s SIAC Media Day. “Coach Hamilton has been very instrumental in helping me navigate those waters making sure that we’re able to retain a great number of our student/athletes from last season.”

Johnson was non-committal about whether he will be on the sidelines when the Thorobreds open at Fort Valley State on Sunday, Sept. 11. “Well, at this particular point what I can say is that Kentucky State will continue to move in a positive direction.”

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The Miles College athletic department has received a donation for its sports medicine program that should advance the treatment and recovery times for the school’s student-athletes.

The Diowave 60-watt high power therapeutic laser was donated by Technological Medical Advancements. The donation to Miles College Sports Medicine, secured by Miles athletic director Fred Watson, was made by Technological Medical Advancements Dr. Bruce Coren on behalf of his father, the late coach Ben Coren and former Miles head football coach William “Billy” Joe.

“We are grateful to Coach Joe and Dr. Coren for this generous donation. Miles College now has the best technology in the world to accelerate athletic injury recovery,” Watson said. “This state-of-the-art device aligns with our goal of enhancing the student-athlete experience.”

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The Diowave 60 Watt Stealth Laser is the most powerful and clinically advanced therapeutic laser device in the world, used to manage neuro-musculoskeletal pain from athletic injuries to post-surgical pain as well as accelerate post-surgical injury recovery. Its use will help student-athletes return to health and the playing fields and courts in a shorter amount of time.

“This is a class 4 laser device that stimulates tissue healing and tissue regeneration,” Coren said. “It will heal any tissue in the pathway of the laser beam. It will accelerate athletic recovery anywhere from 25 to 75 percent faster than normal healing.”

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Without going too long, HBCU Gameday is introducing its inaugural staff polls for FCS and Division II/NAIA HBCU Football. Our polls will come out weekly throughout the season as we watch and vote.

Points were assigned for each vote, with a first-place vote being worth ten points and a 10th place vote being worth one point. Points were tabulated to compile the top 10. 

The FCS poll results can be found here.

Without further ado, here is the inaugural HBCU Gameday Preseason D2 HBCU Football poll as voted on by our staff. 

HBCU Gameday Staff D2 Poll

10. Lane College
Lane showed its teeth early in the 2021 season but the Dragons soon ran out of fuel. Can it maintain it and make its move this year?

9. Kentucky State
Kentucky State had some moments in 2021, but it will be heading into 2022 with a new head coach.

8. Benedict College
Benedict made some strides under Chennis Berry last year, so some expect them to be the top challenger to Albany State in the SIAC East. 

7. Tuskegee
The Reginald Ruffin Show is here for a good time, but not a long time. Will it be enough to get the Golden Tigers back in the hunt? 

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6. Savannah State
Savannah State is starting over with a new head coach and has seen an exodus of many of its key players. 

5. Miles College
Reginald Ruffin has left the building, and headed down the street. Can Miles still keep the West on lock?

T-4. Shaw
Shaw has been the bridesmaid to the bridesmaid in the CIAA South. Can it ruin the Broncos planned coronation?

T-4. Va. Union
Virginia Union has been waiting in the wings of the CIAA North for nearly a decade. If not now – when? 

3. Albany State (one first-place votes)
After rising to the top of the SIAC, Albany State now has the task of staying on top of the conference. 

2. Bowie State (Two first-place votes)
Bowie State has undergone massive change since last season. From its head coach to its defensive coordinator to many of its top players. All eyes are now on Prince George’s County. 

1. Fayetteville State (Two first-place votes)
Fayetteville State has been the bridesmaid in the CIAA for the last half-decade. Is this the year it finally breaks through and claims the big prize?  At least two of our voters think so. 

Receiving votes: Virginia State, Langston and Morehouse

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Former Miles student-athlete Kingston Davis has signed a contract with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL (United States Football League.) He is scheduled to begin practice with the team this week.

“This is a great opportunity to play and I’m elated to be a part of it, ” Davis said prior to signing his contract. “I’ve got to get in and learn the plays, learn the offense, as soon as possible. Hopefully I’ll be able to come in and contribute right away. But we’ll see. Only time will tell.”

Davis, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound running back from Montgomery, Ala., played his final collegiate season with the Golden Bears after earning his degree from Lane. Despite missing one game and splitting time in the backfield, Davis had an outstanding campaign in 2021. He rushed for 721 yards and six touchdowns on 128 carries. His 5.6 yards per rush led the team and his rushing yards were top-5 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Davis also added 102 yards receiving.

During the season, Davis had three 100-yard rushing performances, including a career-high 170 yards and two touchdowns at Lane, which earned him SIAC Player of the Week honors.

“I want to thank God, first and foremost. My journey in making it to this level has been a long process,” Davis said. “I want to thank my family, fans and coaches. Everyone in my life, at some point, has inspired me and pushed me to get to this point. I can’t thank everyone enough.”

The Generals are 4-1 this USFL season. They are back in action on Sunday, when they play the Houston Gamblers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game can also be seen on FOX Television.

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Jacob Bisharat hit three home runs, scored 10 times and reached base all 14 times he came to the plate. Michael Archie also hit three home runs and reached base in 13 of his 14 plate appearances with 13 runs batted in. Other big weekend performances came from Kody Long, who extended his hit streak to 14 games and is currently batting .406; Will Cantey, who had eight hits and drove in 10 runs, including his first career home run; Eli Snelson had a team-high nine hits and 11 runs scored; and Max Davenport, who hit two home runs, scored eight times and stole three bases to remain perfect in 19 stolen base attempts this season.

On the mound, Kolton Easterwood struck out four over six innings to win the series opener and move his record to 6-1. Long, now 6-0 on the mound, struck out nine in five innings. Justin Allen allowed one run and struck out three over three innings out of the bullpen on Sunday to pick up his second victory.

Miles College will travel to Savannah State next weekend for a three-game series against SIAC East-leading Tigers on Saturday and Sunday.

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CIAA Champion Fayetteville State will take on no. 1 seed and host IUP in the first round of the Atlantic Region. It is the lone CIAA team to make the field after two received bids in 2020. 

Fayetteville State finished the regular season 18-8, good for second in the CIAA South. It went into the CIAA Tournament as the top overall seed, however, due to the CIAA’s seeding criteria. It made the most of its chance at the NCAA Tournament, knocking off a talented Virginia Union squad 67-64 in the CIAA Championship Game to earn the autobid into the NCAA Tournament.

The SIAC, meanwhile, will get two bids in the Southern Regional.

SIAC Champion Savannah State will take on no. 1 seed Nova Southeastern as a no. 8 seed. Savannah State had an up-and-down season – finishing 12-13 in the regular season –  but it has gotten itself playing its best ball when it matters the most. SSU took down back-to-back 20-plus win teams in Morehouse and Benedict, both of whom had swept it in the regular season.

Miles will get a chance to redeem itself in the NCAA Tournament thanks to its 24-4 record. It earned the fifth seed in the region, and will take on fourth-seeded Union (TN) who comes in at 23-8.

Also in the Atlantic Region is West Virginia State as the no. 7 seed. It will take on West Liberty, the no. 2 seed in the Atlantic region. WVSU finished 23-7, losing in the MEC Tournament.

On the outside-looking-in is Virginia Union who finished with an identical 23-7 record to WVSU and won the head-to-head contest 75-49 on Nov. 22. Morehouse College also sees a 20-plus win season end without an NCAA Tournament bid. 

The regional tournaments are hosted by the eight No. 1 seeds and will take place on March 12, 13 and 15.

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“We played poorly, but that’s because Benedict played well defensively. I don’t take credit away from anybody who plays well, had a good game plan, and did a heck of a job. I mean, we just didn’t have any answers for it. And so, you know, I give kudos to them.”

The loss was just the fourth this season, all of them to teams that have won at least 20 games. It also snapped an 18-game winning streak.

“I don’t mind losing to a better team when we play as hard as we can, when we play as well as we can,” Watson continued. “They forced us to play poorly. And that’s the mark of a good team.”

Miles stands at 24-4 overall, tied for the second-most wins of any team in the South region, behind only Nova Southeastern who enters Saturday 27-0. It entered the week ranked no. 3 in the South region, and the top eight will get an NCAA bid when they are announced on Sunday.

Watson says while the loss hurt, there wasn’t time for the team to hang its head. 

“We got beat tonight,” he said. “We got beat severely in every aspect, from coaching to playing to executing. And we just gotta reset, go watch the film. We’ve got to be better next time we step on the floor. I mean, guys can’t feel sorry for themselves. Like I said, it wasn’t a lack of effort. It was just a better effort from Benedict – a well-prepared team. And you know, we’ll reset, we’ll regroup, we’re still a great team and we going to go out in the (NCAA Tournament) regional and try to prove that.”

The NCAA Selection show will be shown here on March 6 at 10:30 P.M. EST.

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Miles College announced Wednesday that Coach Sam Shade has been selected to take the reins of the football program. Shade is a former assistant football coach for the Cleveland Browns, Georgia State University, and Samford University. Shade recently served as head football coach and athletic director for Pinson Valley High School.

During his extensive coaching career, Shade has led the Pinson Valley Indians to a 2020 6A State Championship and was a 2021 6A Playoffs Quarterfinalist. Shade is a native of Birmingham, a former football standout at Wenonah High School, The University of Alabama – where he won a national championship under the leadership of Coach Gene Stallings – and a former NFL standout.

“This is a pivotal moment for Miles College and its athletic program,” said Bobbie Knight, President of Miles College. The experience, professionalism, and resources that Coach Shade brings will be extremely valuable to the College and the football program.

“Sam Shade’s credentials and consistency speak for themselves. He is the epitome of a winner. He has been successful in football at every stage of his life, and this is just the next stage for success,” said Fred Watson, Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach at Miles. “We are thrilled to welcome him and his family to Miles College, and I’m excited to work with him as we aim to build on the championship legacy of Miles College Football.”

The College will host a press conference on Friday, January 28, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. in the Welcome and Enrollment Center.

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Miles remembers the life of former head men’s basketball coach Roosevelt Sanders passed away this past weekend. He was 84 years old.

He coached the Golden Bears from 1998-2006. His official ledger shows that he went 78-106 during his tenure but he had 36 wins taken away via NCAA penalties against the Miles athletic department five years after he coached his final game. Still, he took a mediocre program and brought it on the brink of greatness before he left.

In his final season, he helped push a struggling team that started 1-9 and had won just seven regular-season games on an outstanding run through the SIAC tournament. The Golden Bears were seeded ninth for the 2006 tourney but authored upset wins over Fort Valley State, Benedict and Albany State and led by 10 points with just more than four minutes to go in the championship game before falling by three points to Stillman.

Under Sanders, Miles had some other good campaigns. The Golden Bears went 16-12 in the 1999-2000 season and made it to the SIAC semifinals. The next two season, Miles won 33 games combined but suffered losses in the conference tourney quarterfinals. When he left the program, he had the second-most wins in school history. He is still third on the all-time list.

Before coming to Miles, Sanders had already built his résumé as the leader of the powerhouse Central High teams in Tuscaloosa. He won 699 games at Central, winning back-to-back Alabama High School Athletic Association titles in 1990 and 1991, along with four other appearances in the finals. He also won a state title at Tallassee in 1969.

Sanders is enshrined in the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame, was the first coach in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and his name adorns the gymnasium at Central High.

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Shade played in 116 games and recorded 528 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 8.5 sacks throughout his career.

He started coaching at the high school level in 2004. Shade has also spent time as an assistant coach with Samford, Georgia State, and the Cleveland Browns as an assistant special teams coach.

Miles is coming off a SIAC Western Division title – it’s third in a row – but it finished the season with a 31-0 thumping by Albany State. It will now have to face the man that built its program every spring moving forward. Pinson’s high school experience plus his previous coaching experience make him a potential good fit for the program from Farfield, AL.

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Only the SWAC men and women on Monday (Jan. 10) were able to get in a full slate of games without a postponement or cancellation.

The MEAC has had the most cancellations or postponements with 17 of the last 19 men’s games not hitting the court. MEAC women’s programs have almost been hit as hard as 13 cancellations or postponements have occurred since just before the new year. 

That means it’s hard to get a bead on the top prospects or teams in the young season.  

HBCU Basketball – SWAC

Southern posted the best non-conference mark in the SWAC at 5-7. Sean Woods’ Jaguars (4-0 SWAC) have won their first four SWAC games to jump to the early lead in conference play. NC A&T transfer forward Tyrone Lyons (13.7 ppg.), 6-4 Murray State transfer Brion Whitley (12.5 ppg.)and 6-1 senior guard Jayden Saddler (11.6 ppg.) are leading the Jaguars. 

Southern plays at Grambling State Saturday (5:30 p.m.).

Alcorn State (4-12, 3-0) won just one of 13 non-conference games but head coach Landon Bussie has the Braves off to a 3-0 start in league action behind the play of Prairie View transfer Lenell Henry (13.0 ppg.). Alcorn has a key date with preseason favorite Texas Southern (5-8, 3-1) Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Braves then host Prairie View (1-11, 1-3) on Monday. 

HBCU Basketball – MEAC

On the Div. I level — men’s teams in the MEAC or SWAC — only the 10-4 MEAC defending champion Norfolk State Spartans under Robert Jones entered the new year and conference play with an above .500 record.

The Spartans have been led by 6-1 senior guard Joe Bryant’s 14.2 points per game. Six-nine redshirt senior forward Kris Bankston (11.2 ppg.) and 6-2 junior guard Christian Ings (10.5 ppg.) are other double-figure scorers. Bryant tallied a game-high 29 points as the Spartans knocked off Delaware State Wednesday, 80-51 for in their first conference tilt.

They hope to add to that record Saturday (4 p.m.) at  Howard (6-6), who had the second-best non-conference slate. It will be the first conference game for Howard and an early indicator of just how good the Bison are.

Head coach Kenny Blakeney’s squad has six players scoring in double-digits led by 6-10 sophomore forward Steve Settles’ 13.1 points per game and senior sharpshooter Kyle Foster’s 14.6 ppg. off the bench. Foster has made 42 of 82 3-pointers to lead the conference at .512 shooting from behind the arc. His 3.5 3s per game is also tops in the conference. 

Norfolk State plays at Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday (4 p.m.).

MLK Special on FOX

After the Norfolk State game, the Bison are set to host Notre Dame Monday (Jan. 17) at 2:30 p.m. in a special game on FOX Sports honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the day of his national holiday. The coverage will include special messages from prominent figures sharing stories of Dr. King and what his legacy means to them. 

The matchup marks the first time in its history that Notre Dame will visit and play at an HBCU campus.

Brey / Blakeney connection

The coaches, Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey and Howard’s Blakeney, have a lot in common. Both began their hoop careers playing under late legendary head coach Morgan Wooten at local DeMatha High School, one of the top prep programs in the nation. Brey also became an assistant on the bench with Wooten before he launched his college coaching career.

Blakeney played under Mike Kryzyzewski collegiately at Duke. Both Brey and Blakeney also worked as assistants under Coach K. Blakeney was also on Brey’s staff at Delaware before he became head coach at Notre Dame.

Two of Howard’s best players – Settles and freshman point guard Elijah Hawkins (12.6 ppg., league-best 7.0 assists per game) are DeMatha products. 

Howard alumnus to call the game

The game was originally scheduled for MLK Day in 2021 but was cancelled as the teams battled COVID-19 issues.

Howard alum Gus Johnson, now a play-by-play announcer for FOX College Hoops, will call the game with NBA vet and College Hall of Famer Jim Jackson providing analysis.

Host Mike Hill and analysts Steve Lavin and Donny Marshall will provide pregame, halftime and postgame coverage on-site from Howard’s Burr Gymnasium. FOX COLLEGE HOOPS TIP-OFF begins at 2:00 p.m. on FOX.

HBCU Basketball – CIAA

A traditional MLK weekend game in the CIAA will pit Virginia Union and Virginia State Saturday in Ettrick, Va. (4 p.m.). Jay Butler’s  VUU squad (10-3) is undefeated in league play at 3-0. Lonnie Blow’s Trojans of VSU are 5-7 overall, 2-3 in the CIAA.

VUU has a date Monday at Saint Augustine’s and Wednesday at Bowie State. 

Fayetteville State (8-5, 3-0 S) and Lincoln (10-4, 4-0 N) are the early CIAA division leaders. FSU is at J. C. Smith Monday (4 p.m.) and at Livingstone Wednesday (7:30 p.m.). Lincoln is at BSU Saturday (4 p.m.) and hosts Elizabeth City State Wednesday (8:30 p.m.). 

HBCU Basketball – SIAC

Benedict (11-3, 7-0 N) and Miles (9-3, 4-1 S) are the leaders in the SIAC North and South respectively. Benedict is on the road at Morehouse Saturday (2 p.m.) and at Albany State Monday (7 p.m.). Miles hosts Central State Saturday (3 p.m.) and Kentucky State Monday (7:30 p.m.).  

HOOPS GAMES THIS WEEK

SAT., JAN. 15

CIAA

Fayetteville State @ JC Smith 4

Lincoln @ Bowie State 4

Virginia Union @ Virginia State 4

W-Salem State @ St. Augustine’s TBA
Elizabeth City State @ Shaw 5

Livingstone @ Claflin 7:30

MEAC

NC Central @ SC State 4

Norfolk State @ Howard 4

Coppin State @ Morgan State 4

SIAC

Allen @ Albany State TBA

Savannah State @ Ft. Valley State TBA

Benedict @ Morehouse 2

Central State @ Miles 3

LeMoyne-Owen @ Kentucky State 4

Spring Hill @ Lane 5

Clark Atlanta @ Edward Waters 6

SWAC

Texas Southern @ Alcorn State 3

Florida A&M @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff 5:30

Bethune-Cookman @ Miss. Valley St. 4

Alabama A&M @ Alabama State 4:30

Prairie View A&M @ Jackson State 5:30

Southern @ Grambling State 5:30

BIG SOUTH

Presbyterian @ Hampton 5:30

NC A&T @ High Point 7

OVC

Morehead State @ Tennessee State 4

OTHERS
Central Oklahoma @ Lincoln (MO)` 3

W. Va. State @ Alderson Broaddus 4

Langston @ Mid-America Christian 4 

MON., JAN. 17

CIAA

Virginia Union @ St. Augustine’s 4

MEAC

Notre Dame @ Howard 2:30

Norfolk State @ Md.-E. Shore 4

SIAC

Benedict @ Albany State 7

Allen @ Morehouse TBA

Central State @ LeMoyne Owen 7

Clark Atlanta @ Savannah State 7:30

Kentucky State @ Miles 7:30

Tuskegee @ Lane 8:30

SWAC

Prairie View A&M @ Alcorn State TBA

Texas Southern @ Jackson State 7:30

B-Cookman @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7:30

Florida A&M @ Miss. Valley State 7:30

OVC

Tennessee Tech @ Tennessee State 2

TUES., JAN. 18

Spring Hill @ Fort Valley State 8:30

WED., JAN. 19

CIAA

JC Smith @ St. Augustine’s 

Claflin @ Winston-Salem State 7:30

Shaw @ Virginia State 7:30

Fayetteville State @ Livingstone 7:30

Virginia Union @ Bowie State 7:30

Elizabeth City State @ Lincoln 8:30

SIAC

Albany State @ Allen 4

BIG SOUTH

Hampton @ Radford 6:30

NC A&T @ UNC-Asheville 6:30

OTHERS

W. Va.State @ Glenville State 7:30

The post HBCU Basketball Rundown: Jan. 15 – 19, 2022 appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

As part of the partnership, Miles College students will get an inside look at the business of professional sports, learning first hand from professionais in the Squadron’s front office to build the skills and knowledge needed to advance in the industry. Miles College will also play a major role in the Birmingham Squadron’s HBCU Night on February 12, 2022.

We are excited to bring Miles College on board with us for our inaugural season,” said David Lane, Squadron General Manager of Business Operations. “Miles College students will have a very unique opportunity to see the ins and outs of what it’s like to work in professional basketball, and more specifically what all It takes to launch a new team in Birmingham.

Our goal is to give these students a boost to the start of their careers in the wonderful world of sports, and we look forward to seeing where their careers take them in the years to come.

Students will also have the opportunity to attend the Birmingham Squadron’s Sports Industry Night presented by Teamwork Online on January 31, 2022 – where they will be able to network with leaders in the sports industry, hear from a panel of professionals and shadow the team’s staff during Squadron’s game against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers:

“We are truly excited to stamp a relationship where we can highlight not only the great things that Miles College has done for their students, but also the consistent impact it has on the surrounding communities of Birmingham – building on the pride and progress of HBCUs,” said Philicia Douglas, Squadron Director of Sales. 

“Miles College has some of the brightest students and is exactly what the industry is looking for when it comes to recruiting the next sports business superstars!”

“Miles College is proud to partner with the Birmingham Squadron as their official HBU,” said Bobbie Knight, President of Miles College, This type of hands on workforce training is exactly what our students need. It gives them the opportunity to gain valuable work experience from professionals in the business. We are confident that it will lead to a sustainable career for those interested in working in the sports industry.”

The post G-League Birmingham Squadron reach deal with Miles College appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Fairley, who came off the bench, made all eight of his shots from the field and was perfect on four free throw attempts to finish with a game-high 20 points to go with 12 rebounds, four steals, three assists and three blocked shots. Logan, a starter, made all five of his shots from the field including three 3-pointers. He finished with 13 points and six rebounds. Even Ivan Lawson, who played the last two minutes off the bench, made both of his shots from the floor.

But Miles (1-0) was making shots from everywhere. The Golden Bears connected on a school-record 15 3-pointers, nine coming in the first half, as they rolled to a 50-25 halftime lead. Roger Davis was red-hot over the opening 20 minutes, scoring all 15 of his points on 6-of-9 shooting with three 3-pointers. Edward Waters (3-2) got off to a solid start but shot just 29 percent from the field in the first half to find itself in a big hole.

The Golden Bears shot 51 percent from the floor in the first half but were even more spectacular in the second half. Logan knocked down a triple to open play and Yasim Hooker (eight points) slammed one home on a breakaway that forced the Tigers to call timeout just one minute into the final stanza. Logan and Josh Hill (four points) would hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Chase Ballard (nine points) Miles made five of its first six shots in the second half to open a 64-31 advantage with 14:54 remaining.

While the outside shot was falling for Miles, the work around the basket was stellar as well. The Golden Bears had several dunks in the game, none more impressive than a one-handed facial Hooker served up with 8:45 left that gave Miles a 77-36 lead. Overall, the team shot 75 percent in the second half (18-of-24 from the field, 6-of-8 on 3-pointers, and 3-of-4 from the free throw line) and led by as many as 46 points in coasting to victory.

Khalil Brown had 18 points and Elias Harden added 14 to lead Edward Waters. Brandon Miller had 12 points and eight assists and Mykayle Carter added nine points on 3-of-3 3-pointers for Miles, which hosts Southeastern Baptist College on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The post Miles College blows out Edward Waters appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The 2021 NCAA Div. II football campaigns have wound through ten grueling weeks for the CIAA and SIAC regular season races to end at the same places they have for the last two campaigns.

For the FCS conferences — the MEAC and SWAC, as well as the OVC and Big South — regular season play towards crowning a champion continues this week. Those titles will be determined over the next two weeks.

HBCU Football Rundown – NCAA Div. II

This Saturday (1 p.m.), North Division champion Bowie State (9-1, 7-0 CIAA N) will face South Division champ Fayetteville State (8-1, 7-0 S) in Salem, Virginia for the third straight year in the CIAA Championship Game. 

While in Fairfield, Alabama Saturday (2 p.m.), Western Division winner Miles (6-4, 4-2 W) will tangle with East Division champion Albany State (9-1, 6-0 E) also for the third time is as many SIAC title games.

The results in both conferences have also been the same. 

Bowie State has won the last two CIAA championship games. Ditto for Miles in the SIAC. There are a few reasons this year’s outcomes may be different. 

CIAA title game matchup

Head Coach Damon Wilson’s Bowie State Bulldogs have defeated Richard Hayes Jr.’s Fayetteville State Bulldogs by 30-10 (2018) and 23-7 (2019) scores in the last two CIAA title games. 

Of course, that has not sat well with Hayes. He has vowed after each of those losses that his team and program were taking the steps necessary to reverse those outcomes. 

Offense – Team stats

As the scores of those title games indicates, one of the things Hayes had to address was his team’s ability, or lack thereof, to put points on the board. To that end, the Broncos finished as the second-highest scoring team in the CIAA (to Chowan’s 38.5 ppg.) at 32.9 points per game this season. The Broncos were just above Bowie State, who scored at a 32.3 points per game clip. 

The Broncos are also above the Bulldogs in total (394.4 yards per game to 383.3) and passing (237.9 to 186.6 ypg.) offense.  

Perhaps the additional tell-tale sign that the combatants are more evenly matched now is on defense. The two are on near even terms when defensive numbers are compared. 

Defense wins and both are good

Fayetteville State leads the CIAA in total defense surrendering just 203.1 yards per game and in scoring defense giving up just 12.0 points per game. Bowie State trails in both categories but not by much. The Bulldogs give up just 208.9 yards and 13.8 points per contest. 

Bowie State is first (84.4 ypg.) and FSU second (89.0 ypg.) in rushing defense with the order reversed in passing defense (FSU, 114.1 ypg., BSU 124.5 ypg.).

Given these numbers, it is easy to see why both teams were undefeated and dominant in their respective divisions.

Individuals – Offense

Individually, Bowie State senior Calil Wilkins is second (943 yards, 8 TDs) in the CIAA rushing stats. FSU’s Donshel Jetton is fourth (627 yds., 4 TDs). FSU QB Khari Lane’s 2,081 passing yards, 231.2 yards per game, is just above BSU’s Ja’Rome Johnson’s totals of 1,551 yards and 155.1 ypg. Lane has 20 TD tosses while Johnson has 18. 

Tyeous Sharpe, who also doubles as a dangerous kick returner. leads the FSU receivers with 38 catches for 499 yards and 7 TDs. Keshan Hickley tops the Bowie State receivers with 24 grabs for 344 yards and two scores. 

Individuals – Defense

Who plays better between the two stingy defenses is likely to determine Saturday’s winner. 

The defensive playmaker and disruptor for the Broncos is 6-3, 280-pound graduate defensive end Keyshawn James. He has totaled league-bests of 10.5 sacks and 21.0 tackles for loss this season and leads FSU with 62 tackles. Redshirt sophomore Jonathan Ross (6-3, 260) and redshirt junior Joshua Pryor (6-4, 280) have been the defensive standouts for BSU. Ross has 19.0 tackles for loss and six sacks while Pryor has 15.5 TFL and five sacks. BSU freshman defensive end Joseph Murray has posted eight sacks.     

Fayetteville State and Bowie State dominate the all-CIAA teams that were just announced on Wednesday. FSU placed 11 players on the team with James chosen as the defensive player of the year and senior Greg Brooks named the offensive lineman of the year. BSU players garnering nine spots. Wilson was named coach of the year. Bowie State is ranked 12th nationally in the AFCA Div. II Coaches Poll.

SIAC title game match up

The scenario entering the SIAC Championship Game is similar.

Miles prevailed over Albany State in the 2018 SIAC title game 50-23 and bested the Golden Rams in the 2019 championship game, 21-6.

Fifth-year head ASU head coach Gabe Giardina has turned those losses around already in 2021. His Rams ran by 10th-year head coach Reginald Ruffin’s Golden Bears on Oct. 2 this season, 31-3. 

Though the score indicates a blowout, it wasn’t that way. Albany State capitalized on Miles mistakes while Miles did not do the same. ASU scored off an interception and fumble recovery to pull away. 

Albany State defense best in nation

Albany State has surrendered just 5.2 points per game, tops in the SIAC and best in all of NCAA Div. II football. The Golden Rams have four shutout wins and have only surrendered double-digit points in three games.

Their only loss on the season was 21-3 to undefeated AFCA No. 2 Valdosta State (9-0) on Sept. 18. VSU averages 41 points per game. Albany State is ranked 18th in the latest AFCA poll.

The ASU defense is led by linebackers Stephan Pierre (82 tackles) and graduate LB Coemba Jones (47). Offensively, freshman QB Dionte Bonneau (1,583 passing yards, 17 TDs, 8 ints.) has been a revelation. Running back Marcuis Fulks (589 rushing yards, 10 TDs) has been a nice compliment. Placekicker Gabriel Ballinas’s ten field goals tops the conference. 

Miles an underdog again. Watch out!

With four losses on its resume, including the earlier loss to Albany State, Miles will come in as a decided underdog. That’s nothing new for Ruffin and the Golden Bears. When they defeated Albany State 50-23 for the 2018 title, they came in with a 4-6 record including a 30-24 loss to Albany State that season.

Bruising running back (6-0, 225), junior Donte Edwards (976 yds., 5.5 ypc., 8 TDs), is the SIAC’s top rusher. Grad Kingston Davis is another bruiser (6-0, 225). The two should help the Golden Bears control the ball. Redshirt junior QB Claude Newell has passed for 1,211 yards and 12 TDs with just two interceptions. Sophomore wideout Christopher Brown tops the receivers with 12 catches for 337 yards and four TDs. Sophomore LB Andrew Gaylor leads the team with 54 tackles.  

The NCAA Div. II playoff picture

Both the CIAA and SIAC are in Super Region II as it relates to NCAA Div. II designations for postseason play.

In this week’s rankings, Bowie State is second and Albany State third in the region. Savannah State of the SIAC is eighth and Fayetteville State is tenth. Only seven teams from each of the four Div. II regions make the 28-team playoff field.

Based on the rankings going into this week’s CIAA and SIAC title games, both Bowie State and Albany State are likely to make the playoff field from the region. Fayetteville State has an outside shot to get in to one of the seven slots with a win over BSU.

The NCAA Div. II Selection Show where the 28-team field will be unveiled is this Sunday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. ET. The Selection Show will be carried live on ncaa.com.

HBCU Football Rundown – SWAC and MEAC

There were some key developments in the SWAC and MEAC football races this past weekend but the races are not quite over.

SWAC

The big news in the SWAC was in the West Division where Alcorn State dropped a 35-31 decision to previously winless Bethune-Cookman Saturday.

The loss gives Prairie View A&M (7-1, 6-0) a two-game lead in the West over Alcorn State (5-4, 4-2 W) and at least a share of the division title. The Panthers and Braves have just two conference games left.

Prairie View plays at Alcorn State Saturday (2 p.m.) and closes on Nov. 27 hosting Mississippi Valley State. Alcorn State closes at Jackson State next Saturday (Nov. 20). Any combination of a Prairie View win or Alcorn State loss over these last two games gives the Panthers the division title and spot in the Dec. 4 SWAC Championship Game.

Jackson State (8-1, 6-0 E) is in the driver’s seat in the East as it travels to Baton Rouge, La. to face Southern Saturday (6 p.m.). A JSU win gives the East title to the Tigers. Florida A&M (7-2, 5-1 E), still a game behind JSU in the East, is at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday (2 p.m.). 

MEAC

The big news in the MEAC Saturday was Norfolk State’s 38-36 double-overtime loss to North Carolina Central.

That decision gives South Carolina State (5-4, 4-0) and head coach Buddy Pough at least a share of the league’s regular season title. The Bulldogs can claim the title outright and a spot in the season-ending Celebration Bowl with either a win in its last game on Nov. 20 vs. Norfolk State or a Norfolk State loss.

Norfolk State (6-3, 2-1) plays at Delaware State Saturday (1 p.m.).  

Big South and OVC

Both NC A&T (4-5, 3-3) and Hampton (4-5, 2-3) are just behind Kennesaw State (5-0) and Monmouth (5-0) in the Big South but out of contention for the league title. NC A&T has a non-conference game against former MEAC rival South Carolina State in Orangeburg, SC (1:30 p.m.) this Saturday before finishing with conference foe Gardner-Webb next week.

GAMES THIS WEEK

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021
Bethune-Cookman vs. Grambling State in Grambling, LA 11 am

Missouri Western vs. Lincoln (Mo.)  11 am

Charleston vs. West Virginia State in Institute, WV 12 noon 

Morgan State vs. Albany in Albany, NY 1 pm ET

Edward Waters vs. Allen in Columbia, SC 1 pm ET

Prairie View A&M vs. Alcorn State in Lorman, MS 2 pm 

Kentucky State vs. Erskine in Greenwood, SC 4 pm ET

SAGU vs. Langston in Langston, OK 4 pm

Florida Memorial vs. Southeastern Univ. in Lakeland, FL 7 pm

STREAMING GAMES

Norfolk State vs. Delaware State in Dover, DE (ESPN+) 1 pm ET

NC Central vs. Howard in Washington, DC (ESPN+) 1 pm ET

Alabama State vs. Miss. Valley State in Itta Bena, MS (ESPN+) 1 pm

Hampton vs. Campbell in Buies Creek, NC (ESPN+) 1 pm

NC A&T vs. S. C. State in Orangeburg, SC (ESPN+) 1:30 pm

Alabama A&M vs. Texas Southern in Houston, TX (ESPN+) 2 pm

Florida A&M vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, AR (ESPN+) 2 pm

Austin Peay vs. Tennessee State in Nashville, TN (ESPN+)  2 pm

Jackson State vs. Southern in Baton Rouge, LA (ESPN3) 6 pm

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

SIAC Championship Game

Albany State vs. Miles in Fairfield, AL 2 pm ET

CIAA Championship Game

Bowie State vs. Fayetteville State in Salem, VA (Aspire TV) 1 pm ET

The post HBCU Football Rundown – Week 11 appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

DONTE EDWARDS VS GOLDEN RAMS RUSHING DEFENSE

The Miles College offense has been getting it done on the ground. The Golden Bears finished third in the conference in rushing yards per game with an average of 208. Junior running back Donte Edwards has been a key contributor averaging 98 yards a game and putting up eight touchdowns on the season. Edwards is the leading rusher in the SIAC and will have no intention to slow down. He will be facing off against an Albany State defense that is number one in the SIAC in stopping the run. Albany’s junior linebacker Stephan Pierre has been a tackle machine racking up 52 in seven games. Pierre and the Golden Rams will have their hands full trying to contain the Golden Bears rushing attack.

DIONTE BONNEAU VS GOLEN BEARS SECONDARY

Albany State’s strength this season has been their defense. The defense typically wins championships but getting help from the offense is always essential. ASU’s sophomore quarterback Dionte Bonneau will need to play a clean game against an aggressive Miles College secondary. Miles College has the second-best pass defense in the conference and has grabbed six interceptions in 10 games. Junior linebacker Mitchell Smiley has two alone. Bonneau has been struggling to make safe passes downfield as his completion rate is only 51%. He has thrown six interceptions to nine touchdowns this season. Miles College’s secondary will be looking to force Bonneau to keep making mistakes.

MARCUIS FULKS VS ANDREW GAYLOR

Albany State’s freshman running back Marcuis Fulks has ten rushing touchdowns in ten games. His production has made him a leading scorer in the conference. Fulks is averaging 4.8 yards a carry and 77 yards a game. Miles College’s sophomore linebacker Andrew Gaylor has been a consistent run stopper all season. He leads the team in total tackles with 54 and also has three pass breakups and a sack. Gaylor will be the primary candidate to try and slow down Fulks on Saturday. Both teams have stellar run defenses but one will be forced to bend or break.

The post SIAC championship matchups to watch – Miles vs Albany State appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Miles blew open an otherwise close game by outscoring Tuskegee 31-6 in the second half.

Coming into the third period Miles led 21-17 before putting together a 65-yard drive that culminated with a Donte Edwards touchdown. After a later field goal Miles went into the fourth quarter with a 31-17 lead. Miles started the quarter scoring on three consecutive possessions to ultimately win 52-23.

Claude Newell finished the game with 225 yards passing and two touchdowns. Edwards finished with 114 rushing yards for Miles.

The victory sets up a matchup with Albany State next weekend in the SIAC Championship game. Albany State wrapped up the SIAC East title last week but continued in top form on Saturday against Fort Valley State. The Golden Rams defeated rival Fort Valley State 57-0 in the Fountain City Classic.

The format of the SIAC Championship includes alternating sites yearly between champions of the east and western division. This year’s schedule falls to the western division as the host, which means Albany State will travel to Fairfield next weekend.

Kentucky State did its part to keep its championship hopes alive by demolishing Central State. The Thorobreds won 63-0 over Central State, which might also be a message for the Division II playoff committee. Despite the win, Kentucky State will miss out on the chance at a SIAC Championship this season.

Lane College had an outside shot at the divisional title but fell on the road Saturday to Benedict 24-20.

Miles and Albany State met in the last SIAC Championship played in 2019. Miles won that game 21-6.

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We’re In

Bowie State in the CIAA North, Fayetteville State in the CIAA South and Albany State in the SIAC East clinched division titles and championship game berths in their respective conferences with wins Saturday.

That means Bowie State and Fayetteville State will face off for the third straight year in the CIAA Championship Game in two weeks (Nov. 13) in Salem, Va. 

The last team to earn a spot in HBCU Div. II championship games will come out of the SIAC West Division and face Albany State for the SIAC championship game on Nov. 13. Three teams — Kentucky State, Miles and Lane — will go into the final week of regular season play this week tied with 3-2 conference marks and with a shot at the division title.

HBCU Football Rundown – Season-enders

Head coach Reginald Ruffin and Miles (5-4, 3-2 W), who have close wins this season over both Kentucky State (28-21) and Lane (34-31), clinch their third consecutive SIAC West Division title and championship game berth with a win at home Saturday (2 p.m.) over in-state rival Tuskegee (3-6, 2-3 W). 

The Miles-Tuskegee battle is right up there with the greatest of season-ending HBCU in-state rivalries.

Columbus, Georgia is the site of another season-closing SIAC gem this week, the 31st annual Fountain City Classic, that pits Georgia in-state rivals Albany State and Fort Valley State (2 p.m.). Included among them is the Virginia State vs. Virginia Union showdown to close out regular season play in the CIAA this Saturday (2 p.m.). The upcoming in-state Louisiana battle between Southern and Grambling State on Thanksgiving Saturday (Nov. 27) dubbed the Bayou Classic brings a close to the SWAC regular season.

Before this year, NC A&T and NC Central closed out the MEAC regular season. That ended this year as A&T bolted to join the Big South Conference.

Miles vs. Tuskegee history

Tuskegee, under 16-year head coach Willie Slater, has won six of the last ten games with Miles. But Miles has won the last two and split the last six.

Ruffin, in his tenth year at Miles, spent the previous five years under Slater as defensive coordinator at Tuskegee. Since coming to Miles, he has turned around the rivalry once dominated by Tuskegee. Over the last ten years, Tuskegee and Miles each has won four SIAC championship games and represented the West Division (Miles 5, Tuskegee 4) in all but one of the title games. Ruffin’s Golden Bears have won the last two SIAC championships.

Miles will come in as the favorite after winning its last three games. Tuskegee has lost three of its last four. A Miles loss will open the door for either Lane or Kentucky State to take the West title and championship game berth.

Kentucky State hosts Central State Saturday (1 p.m.) while Lane plays at Benedict (3 p.m.). KSU has a 49-14 win over Lane in head-to-head competition this season. 

HBCU Football Rundown – MEAC

Preseason MEAC favorite S. C. State (4-4, 3-0 MEAC) and second choice Norfolk State (6-2, 2-0) are both undefeated in conference play and could be headed for a season-ending showdown on Nov. 20. But each has a couple more hurdles to get there in a conference where teams appear to be evenly matched.  

SC State is hosting Howard (2-6, 1-2) this Saturday (1:30 p.m.) while Norfolk State visits N. C. Central (3-5, 1-1).

Delaware State (4-4, 1-1) has just one loss in MEAC play and is still in it as it travels to Morgan State for a Thursday night (7:30 p.m.) game.    

HBCU Football Rundown – SWAC

East Division leader Jackson State (7-1, 5-0 E) goes into its third game Saturday without head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. The Tigers, after surviving 28-19 at Mississippi Valley State last week, are hosting a dangerous Texas Southern (2-5, 2-3 E) team Saturday (1 p.m.). The game comes amidst new reports that Sanders’ name has been mentioned for another FBS job (at TCU).

Florida A&M (6-2, 4-1 E) is traveling to Baton Rouge, La. (6 p.m.) to face Southern (4-4, 3-2 W). The Jaguars are riding high after halting Alcorn State’s four-game win streak Saturday, 38-35. 

FAMU is coming off a 26-3 homecoming win last week over Grambling but is catching some flak for security at the game.

West Division leader Prairie View A&M (6-1, 5-0 W) is welcoming new interim head coach Travis Pearson and the Hornets of Alabama State (3-4, 2-3 E) for homecoming Saturday (2 p.m.).     

HBCU Football Rundown – Independents

Perhaps the biggest game this week involves Tennessee State and head coach Eddie George.

While “Coach Prime” Sanders and Jackson State have been soaking up most of the headlines, first-year head coach George and his Tigers of Tennessee State (5-3, 3-1) have now won four straight games and sit tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Tigers have their biggest test yet as they meet OVC leader UT-Marin (7-1, 3-0) on the road Saturday (2 p.m.). 

On the flip side, NC A&T (3-5, 2-3) will be looking to break a three-game Big South Conference losing streak on the road at Charleston Southern (3-4, 2-3).

GAMES THIS WEEK

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Delaware State vs. Morgan State in Baltimore, MD (ESPN2) 7:30 pm ET

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021
Livingstone vs. J. C. Smith in Charlotte, NC 1 pm ET

Shaw vs. Saint Augustine’s in Raleigh, NC 1 pm ET
Lincoln (Pa.) vs. Chowan in Murfreesboro, NC 1 pm ET

Elizabeth City State vs. Bowie State in Bowie, MD 1 pm ET

Central State vs. Kentucky State in Frankfort, KY 1 pm ET

Lincoln (Mo.) vs. Emporia State in Emporia, KS 1 pm ET

Virginia State vs. Virginia Union in Richmond, VA 2 pm ET

Winston-Salem State vs. Fayetteville State in Fayv., NC 2 pm ET
Morehouse vs. Clark Atlanta in Atlanta 2 pm ET

Arizona Christian vs. Langston in Langston, OK 2 pm ET

West Va. State vs. West Liberty in W. Liberty, WV 2 pm ET

Lane vs. Benedict in Columbia, SC 3 pm ET

Edward Waters vs. Savannah State in Savannah, GA 5 pm ET

SW Assemblies vs. Texas College 6 pm ET

STREAMING GAMES (All on ESPN+ except one)

Alcorn State vs. Bethune-Cookman in Dayt. Beach, FL 11 am ET

Texas Southern vs. Jackson State in Jackson, MS 1 pm ET

Miss. Valley State vs. Alabama A&M in Huntsville, AL 1 pm ET

Gardner-Webb vs. Hampton in Hampton, VA 1 pm ET

NC A&T vs. Charleston Southern in Charleston, SC 1 pm ET

Howard vs. South Carolina State in Orangeburg, SC 1:30 pm ET

Norfolk State vs. NC Central in Durham, NC (ESPN3) 2 pm ET

Grambling State vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, AR 2 pm ET

Tuskegee vs. Miles in Fairfield, AL 2 pm ET

Tennessee State vs. UT-Martin in Martin,TN 2 pm ET

Florida A&M vs. Southern in Baton Rouge, LA 6 pm ET

CLASSIC GAMES

31st Fountain City Classic (ESPN+)

Fort Valley State vs. Albany State in Columbus, GA 2 pm ET

HOMECOMINGS

Webber Int’l vs. Florida Memorial in Miami, FL 1:30 pm

Alabama State vs. Prairie View A&M in Pr. View, TX (ESPN+) 2 pm ET

The post HBCU Football Rundown – Week 10 appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

THE FRESHMAN IS FOREAL

The Golden Bears got their first win of the season in a 37-14 victory over the Maroon Tigers at Lakewood Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Miles College was fueled by a two-touchdown performance from freshman receiver Jaih Andrews. The score remained close until the middle of the third quarter when Andrews and the Bear’s offense took off. Andrews scored off a 47-yard reception from starting quarterback Claude Newell with nine minutes remaining in the third. A six-point game turned into a 27-14 lead that the Golden Bears would not let go of. Jaih Andrews put another six points on the board after a 24-yard reception from Newell to end the third quarter.

“We saw the coverage they were playing so we knew what we had to do and what routes we were going to run,” Andrews told HBCU Gameday after the win.”

“I got open and made big plays,” He finished.

“I am proud of the offensive line, proud of the receivers, proud of our running backs,” Miles College Head Coach Reginald Ruffin exclaimed.

TIGERS FIZZLED OUT

The Tigers would not score again after starting off strong. Morehouse led 14-13 going into the half but penalities killed any momentum they could create. The team lost 87-yards off of 12 penalties in the game. They found the endzone twice in the first half but never crossed that threshold in the second. The Tiger’s running back Santo Dunn scored off a 1-yard one in the first quarter. Running back Fran Bailey Jr. scored off of a 2-yard run at the end of the second quarter for the Tiger’s final touchdown.

MOREHOUSE NUMBERS

Quarterback Michael Sims was the leading passer for the Tigers with 85 yards on 17 completions. Sims had one interception and took three sacks. Fran Bailey Jr. led the Tigers in rushing with 92 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown. Marqueiz Pride was the leading receiver for the Tigers with 48 yards on 4 receptions.

MILES NUMBERS

QB Claude Newell led the night with 207 yards on seven completions and three touchdowns. Newell took two sacks. running back Donte Edwards was the leading rusher for Miles College with 139 yards on 22 attempts. Jaih Andrews led the Golden Bears in receiving yards with 71 on two receptions. He had two touchdowns as well

The post Miles College cruises past Morehouse in Atlanta appeared first on HBCU Gameday.