One Top 5 and One Top 10 Matchup with Maybe a SCG Preview

#5 Prairie View is traveling to Montgomery to battle #1 Alabama State for what many believe is a prelude to the SWAC Championship Game matchup. In Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, #6 Hampton goes on the road to #2 Norfolk State with conference first place on the line.

By Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil and Brandon Bolden
Inside the HBCU Huddle Columnists
College Sporting News

The Spartans are undefeated and the Pirates come in with one conference loss. The Delaware State Hornets travels to the resurging #8 Aggies in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competition and in the Southwestern Conference the #3 Jackson State Tigers travel to face in state rival Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in Itta Bena, Mississippi.

HBCU Major Division Top 10

Week 6 – Released 10/10/11
1. Alabama State--(5-1)
2. Jackson State--(5-1)
3. Norfolk State--(5-1)
4. S. C. State--(3-3)
5. Prairie View A & M--(4-2)
6. Hampton--(3-2)
7. Alabama A & M--(4-2)
8. N. C. A & T State--(3-2)
9. Howard--(3-3)
10. Florida A & M--(3-3)

@-Texas Southern--(2-3) = N/R
@ = TSPN & 3C 2010 HBCU Football Major Division National Champion

HBCU CLASSIC GAME OF WEEK

#6 Hampton (3-2, 1-1) at #3 Norfolk State (5-1, 3-0)

The Battle of the Bay Classic features a top ten match-up in Dr. Cavil’s Major Division Poll as the No. 6 Hampton Pirates takes on No. 3 Norfolk State. Hampton prepares for the Bay Classic in high spirits after defeating Princeton last Saturday 28-23, snapping a two-game losing skid. Pirates QB, David Legree led the attack throwing for a season-high 302 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with WR, Dyrri McCain for both scores. McCain finished the game with six grabs for 123 yards. Norfolk State currently sits atop the MEAC conference with a 5-1 record (3-0 in conference). The Spartans are coming off another impressive win as they downed conference foe Delaware State, 48-31 last week. Spartans QB, Chris Walley threw for a career-best 327 yards, two touchdowns and rushed for another helping Norfolk State topple the Hornets. Norfolk State RB, Takeem Hedgeman recorded a career-high performance as well, rushing for 132 yards and two scores. This game has the makings of an all-out offensive showcase this Saturday with two of the most prolific offenses in the MEAC this season going head to head. Norfolk State leads the conference in total offense averaging 406 yards per game followed by Hampton who averages 396 yards. The Spartans came-up short in their last matchup against Hampton University losing by one point in a low-scoring game, 7-6.
Game Outcome: Norfolk State (Score 47-28)

HBCU MAJOR DIVISION GAME OF WEEK

Mississippi Valley State (0-6, 0-5) at #2 Jackson State (5-1, 3-1)

Jackson State and the “Air Raid” offense looks to continue their dominance of the SWAC conference as they go on the road to Itta Bena, home of the struggling Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State. The Blue Bengals are currently ranked No. 2 in Dr. Cavils HBCU Major Poll and showed why last Saturday, as they dismantled Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 48-10. Quarterback, Casey Therriault recorded another stellar performance, completing 17 of 22 passes for 263 yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing. Jackson State displayed a full offensive assault against the Golden Lions on the ground as well as in the air, rushing for 223 yards on 35 carries and four scores. Mississippi Valley State is trying to find the answer after being routed by Alabama A&M, 14-37, pushing the Devils conference losing streak to 19 straight. Valley only had 203 yards of total offense on the day, passing for 187 and rushing for a measly 16. Basing off conference statistics the woes might continue this Saturday for Mississippi Valley State, who currently has the worst defense in the conference, as they matchup against the number one ranked offense in Jackson State. In their last season matchup, Jackson State had their way with the Delta Devils 43-7. This contest should not be close.
Game Outcome: Jackson State (Score 56-7)

MEAC GAME OF WEEK

Delaware State (2-4, 0-3) at #8 North Carolina A & T State (3-2, 2-0)

Delaware State continues their journey for their first win in conference play this season as they travel to Greensboro to go head to head with North Carolina A&T State. The Aggies are striving to put three conference wins together with a win on Saturday after collecting back-to-back conference wins for the first time in eight years. North Carolina A&T dominated Bethune-Cookman last week, 22-3, behind an amazing performance from their defense. The Aggies defense owned the Wildcat offense, recovering three fumbles, forcing a pick and recording a safety. North Carolina A&T also held Bethune-Cookman to just five yards rushing and fewer than 108 yards in total offense on the day. Aggie RB, Mike Mayhew took care of the damage on the offensive side of the ball for A&T rushing for 117 yards and a touchdown. Delaware State is trying to find the brakes on the losing skid as they were defeated by Norfolk State, 38-21. The Hornets QB, Nick Elko had a good outing, throwing for 339 passing yards and two touchdowns. Delaware State rushing attack on the other hand was not so special, only manufacturing 28 yards off of 25 carries. In their 2010 meeting, the Hornets defeated the Aggies 31-26.
Game Outcome: North Carolina A&T State (Score 35-17)

SWAC GAME OF WEEK

#5 Prairie View A & M (4-2, 4-1) at #1 Alabama State (5-1, 5-0)

This is a top five Black College match-up and could be a possible preview of this years’ SWAC Championship Game as the Western division leaders No. 5 Prairie View A&M travel to Montgomery to take on Eastern division leaders and the No 1 ranked Black College team in the country, Alabama State. The Panthers are coming off a close win, edging Southern University 23-20 off a Christopher Barricks’ 19-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in regulation. Prairie View has almost stayed perfect in conference play with a 4-1 record, always finding a way to win late in the game. Barrick’s game-winning field goal capped a 12-play; 41-yard drive that was motored behind the Panther’s running game. As a team, Prairie View rushed for 161 yards. Alabama State won in a rematch of last season’s SWAC Championship game as they defeated the Texas Southern Tigers, 43-29, last Saturday. The Hornets trailed the Tigers 22-16 before QB, Greg Jenkins connected with WR, Nick Andrews on a 4-yard TD pass giving Alabama State the lead, 23-22. On the ensuing drive, the Hornets took advantage of Texas Southern’s bad-snap while punting, as the ball was recovered by Jazeric Peterson in the Tiger’s end zone, increasing their lead, 30-22. Even though Alabama State passing attack was held under 200 yards and the running game was almost non-existent, with only 43 yards registered, the Hornets capitalized on mistakes to win the game forcing three bad snaps and two fumbles. This game has the making of being an instant classic, in their last season matchup, the Hornets defeated Prairie View, 18-15 in Prairie View, Texas.
Game Outcome: Prairie View A&M (Score 13-10)