There was a little bit of everything in last weekend’s slate of black college football games. A HUGE surprise out of the CIAA, a shocking shootout between the SWAC and the MEAC, and the continued strength of the SIAC’s premier football program, all made for some memorable homecomings and plenty of excitement and intrigue.
Who would’ve guessed that the Virginia State Trojans would roll into Virginia Union’s homecoming and leave Richmond with a 14-7 victory? The bigger surprise in their victory was their stout performances on both sides of the ball, as the Trojans limited reigning CIAA Player of the Year Lamar Little to 130 yards passing and 51 yards rushing.
The win puts the Trojans in second place in the CIAA Eastern Division behind Elizabeth City State, who is undefeated in conference play. The Panthers are all but guaranteed to miss a second-straight appearance in the CIAA championship game, as they will have to win out to have a chance of catching the Vikings.
Everyone expected the shootout that took place between the Florida A&M Rattlers and the Southern Jaguars, but Curtis Pulley and the Rattlers edged the Jags for the third consecutive time in Baton Rouge with a 52-49 nail-biter. Pulley, who could be the MEAC Player of the Year, was responsible for more than half of the Rattlers total output, rushing for 118 yards, and passing for 172 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass.
That kind of performance can almost make you forget that SU quarterback Bryant Lee had a tremendous game, throwing for 407 yards and three touchdowns, and leading the Jags in rushing with 76 yards.
While the game matters not in their conference play, it was an emotional roller coaster that took a lot out of both teams as they attempt to keep pace in the MEAC and SWAC championship races.
And finally, Tuskegee beat Albany State 33-20 in the SIAC’s Game of the Year. You wouldn’t know from the final score that the Golden Tigers needed two scores in less than five second to secure the win, but both teams showed that the standings don’t lie.
Tuskegee has won 23 consecutive games for a reason, mostly with talent, but more with luck last Saturday. That’s not to knock Willie Slater and his team, but they’ve been played close a lot this season. Albany State QB Kisan Flakes did all he could do with 229 yards of total offense and two touchdowns, but inevitable has been the Golden Tigers motto for the last two years.
And its a motto that hasn’t failed them yet.
