LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
Amidst a slew of 16 homecomings this Saturday, the featured black college game this week could be the first one on the schedule.
That would be Thursday when undefeated defending SIAC champion Benedict hosts once- beaten Fort Valley State in a key SIAC match up (7:30 p.m. on ESPN2).
Benedict (6-0, 4-0), led by head coach Chennis Berry, enters the game with the stingiest defense in all of Div. II football.
The Tigers, led by pass-rushing specialists in defensive end Loobert Denelus and defensive lineman Jayden Broughton, are giving up just 37 points (6.17 ppg.) thru their six contests. Denelus, a first team AFCA Div. II all-American, tops Div. II with 9.0 sacks (1.50 per game) while Broughton is third nationally with 7.5 (1.25 per game). As a team, Benedict is best in the nation with 27.0 sacks (4.5 pg.) and tackles for loss at 67.0 (11.2 pg.).
FVSU (5-1, 5-0), led by second-year head coach Shawn Gibbs, tops the SIAC and is 22nd nationally in scoring at 37.2 points per game. Wildcats’ QB Kelvin Durham leads the league in passing efficiency (157.9) and is tied for the SIAC lead with 14 passing TDs with just four interceptions. He is passing for 226.0 yards per game. Running back Brandon Marshall is also among the league leaders averaging 84.5 rushing yards per game (3rd) and 5.0 yards per carry.
The Benedict offense counters with 36.5 points per game led by grad senior QB Aeneas Dennis (64.0%, 244.7 ypg., 10 TDs, 2 ints.). Running back Zaire Scotland leads the SIAC with 11 rushing TDs.
FVSU is giving up a league-worst 271.5 passing yards per game. En route to its 11-0 regular season in 2022, Benedict downed FVSU 45-13.
Tuskegee (vs. Edward Waters), Allen (vs. Albany State), Lane (vs. Kentucky State) and Savannah State (vs. Central State) all have homecomings Saturday. The other SIAC game has Miles at Morehouse.
CIAA
In the CIAA, the schedule now shifts to intra-TO divisional games to the end of the season.
On Saturday, Virginia Union (5-1, 3-1 CIAA N) tries to keep pace with undefeated Virginia State (6-0, 4-0 N) in the North, when it hosts Bowie State (1 p.m.). VSU has Bluefield State for homecoming Saturday (2 p.m.). Also celebrating homecoming in the North is Lincoln (Pa.) (vs.Elizabeth City State).
Johnson C. Smith (vs. St. Augustine’s) is the lone homecoming game in the South. Livingstone (2-4, 2-2 S), coming off two straight wins, is at South division leader Fayetteville State (4-2, 4-0 S) and Winston-Salem State is at Shaw.
SWAC
With division leader Florida A&M (5-1 4-0 E) idle this week, the Jackson State homecoming vs. Alabama State (2 p.m. on ESPN+) takes center stage in the East.
Alabama A&M (vs. Grambling State), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (vs. Miss. Valley State), Texas Southern (vs. Bethune-Cookman) and Southern (vs. Lincoln Ca.) are also celebrating homecoming.
West Division leader Prairie View A&M (3-3, 2-1) has a non-conference home date vs. Houston Christian.
MEAC
The MEAC has its final week of non- conference games before starting conference play next week. Defending champion North Carolina Central (5-1), up to ninth this week in the AFCA FCS national coaches poll, is off this week.
Games Saturday have Norfolk State at Tennessee State’s homecoming (5 p.m.), South
Carolina State entertaining Tennessee Tech (1:30 p.m.) and Howard at Harvard (1 p.m.). All three games are being streamed on ESPN+
CAA
North Carolina A&T (1-4, 0-2) and Hampton (3-2, 1-1) continue their trek thru the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
NC A&T travels to meet CAA co-leader and AFCA FCS No. 8 Delaware (4-1, 2-0). Hampton plays at Monmouth (2-3, 1-1).