Seven Pivotal HBCU Football Games On 'Statement Day' Saturday | Week 10
HOUSTON - Saturday in Week 10 was "Statement Day" for HBCU football teams in the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA, and SIAC. Statement Day 2023 gave us the cream of the crop contenders fighting for top conference positions and entrances in postseason championship games. The SWAC East is settled, with Florida A&M awaiting its opponent out of the West. It's become a division filled with the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly this season. Who wants the Crown?
The MEAC title is close in hand for the NCCU Eagles. Down in South Carolina, the undefeated Benedict Tigers will prepare for a title tilt with Albany State in The ATL. On the east coast, VA Union and Fayetteville State will pay their respects at the SIAC Championship on Saturday afternoon in Salem.
NCCU Athletics; Credit: Doug Burt
NCCU Eagles Too Dominant For NSU Spartans
Stopping the NCCU Eagles (8-1, 3-0 MEAC) won't be easy, as the Norfolk State Spartans learned on Saturday. Senior quarterback Davius Richard led the nation's No. 9 team to a Homecoming win over the Spartans, 38-24. They remain unblemished in the MEAC. Trei Oliver's team had 320 yards of total offense with 169 yards on the ground and recorded five touchdowns. Next week, NCCU travels to D.C. for a showdown with Howard at 3:30 PM ET. Defeating the Bison would all but secure the Eagles' second straight MEAC Football Championship and a trip to the 2023 Celebration Bowl.
AD Sykes and Coach Simmons; Credit: FAMU Athletics
Florida A&M (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) Stops Bulldogs Upset Bid, Will Host SWAC Championship Game
Willie Simmons' knows his Rattlers have been prone to lulls in games. However, he also knows the offense's firepower and how the Dark Cloud defense can change a game's momentum. The Bulldogs rallied from a 17-point deficit to score 21 unanswered points.
Moussa and Rattlers responded with a 4-play, 67-yard drive finished with a Kelvin Dean 4-yard touchdown run to recapture the lead, 24-21. The SWAC East Division winners didn't look back as they floored the gas to win 42-28. Florida A&M (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) will host the 2023 SWAC Football Championship Game at Bragg Memorial Stadium for a 4 PM ET kick-off on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Alcorn State Braves Beat Southern, 44-21; Credit: Larry Hubbard
Alcorn State Bludgeons Southern
We said it a few weeks ago: Watch out for the Alcorn State Braves (6-3, 5-1 SWAC). Saturday's contest against Southern (5-4, 4-2 SWAC) gave us a glimpse of the one team that could spell trouble for Florida A&M. Fred McNair's squad bludgeoned the Jaguars to a 44-21 victory to solidify their hold atop the SWAC West.
Next week, they have a difficult assignment in Houston versus a scary Texas Southern team that's been close to registering upsets the past few weeks. Should Alcorn State fall at Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday and Prairie View defeat Southern on the road, PV would hold the advantage for the division title. For the moment, the Braves are in control!
PVAMU Beats UAPB; Credit: Taliyah Galindo
Prairie View Slices Through UAPB
The Prairie View Panthers (4-5, 4-2 SWAC) took care of business, defeating the Golden Lions 38-14 in front of a Homecoming crowd. Bubba McDowell's defense finally surrendered points in the third quarter en route to notching a SWAC West victory. Saturday, the Panthers will battle against their old ball coach and the Jaguars in Baton Rouge, then end the season at home with Alabama State. PV is not out of representing the West!
Benedict Undefeated; Benedict Athletics - Credit: Nathan Salley
Benedict Prove They're Still The Kings Of Columbia
Coach Chennis Berry and the No.1-ranked Super Region II Benedict Tigers (10-0, 8-0 SIAC) return to the 2023 SIAC Football Championship Game with their second consecutive undefeated regular season. The Tigers knocked off their "across-the-street" foes from Allen, 37-9, to become the Kings of Columbia, SC. Albany State gained a berth into the 2023 SIAC Football Championship Game to square off against Benedict at Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta, GA, on Saturday, Nov. 11. Tigers are going for their second straight conference title and entrance into the Super Region II NCAA Playoffs.
VA Union defeats Virginia State; Credit: VA Union Athletics
VA Union Bests Virginia State
The Virginia Union Panthers (9-1, 7-1 CIAA) clinched the CIAA Football Northern Division title with a 30-20 victory over the Virginia State Trojans (8-2, 6-2 CIAA). Saturday's clash had over 15,000 in the stands watching two of the best teams in the conference battle for 60 minutes. Coach Alvin Parker featured his top player, Jada Byers, who delivered a 155-yard performance. At halftime, VA Union had a 23-13 lead.
The Panthers and Trojans added seven points apiece in the 3rd quarter, but neither scored in the final stanza. VA Union punched its ticket into the 2023 CIAA Football Championship game to rumble with Fayetteville State e (8-2, 8-0 CIAA) in Salem, VA. The Panthers last won a conference championship title in 2001.
Albany State vs Benedict; Credit: SIAC Athletics
A 4th Quarter Rally Advances Golden Rams To Championship Game
The Fountain City Classic had a thrilling fourth quarter of action for the Albany State Golden Rams (6-4, 6-2 SIAC) and Fort Valley State Wildcats (7-3, 6-2 SIAC). Quinn Gray's team was trailing 7-0 entering the final quarter when they mounted a rally to score 13 points and win 13-7. In his first season, Gray has done a tremendous job as head coach. Now, they have the unenviable task of facing the Benedict Tigers for the 2023 SIAC Football Championship crown.