Virginia Union went to Ettrick with the only unbeaten conference record in the CIAA and left with it intact. RJ Rosales threw three touchdown passes, the Panthers held Virginia State to 16 rushing yards, and Virginia Union won 36-14 before 6,857 fans at Rogers Stadium to improve to 8-0 in league play.

In the SIAC, Benedict built a 38-14 halftime lead and then held on as Central State scored 24 of the last 31 points, winning 45-38. Kentucky State matched the Tigers at 7-1 behind five touchdown passes from Juan Gainous. Miles came back to win at Tuskegee before 20,363 fans, and Allen blocked a field goal in the final four minutes to win at Edward Waters. Here is the full Week 10 Division II HBCU football recap.

Virginia Union Stays Perfect in the CIAA

Virginia Union never trailed. Rosales hit Latrell Sutton for a 25-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and Ramon Brown finished a 12-play, 98-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run late in the second.

Rosales found Sutton again from 10 yards with 13 seconds left in the half for a 20-0 lead, then threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Zyaire Tart in the third quarter. Virginia State scored twice in the fourth quarter, including Rahsaan Matthews Jr.’s 1-yard run at 7:27, but Rosales answered with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Christian Aiken sacked Matthews in the end zone for a safety with 1:16 left.

Rosales completed 16 of 22 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Montrell Wright caught eight passes for 118 yards, and Brown ran for 111 yards on 29 carries. Virginia Union outgained the Trojans 384 to 170 and held the ball for 34:51.

The Panthers’ defense made five sacks and intercepted Matthews twice, with Quincy Jefferson picking one off at the Virginia Union 2 and Cortney Davis getting the other. Elijah Candia had three tackles for loss and two sacks. Matthews completed 16 of 39 passes for 134 yards, and Jason Parrilla made 13 tackles for Virginia State, which falls to 6-2 in the CIAA.

Benedict Holds Off Central State

Benedict scored 17 points in the first quarter and 21 more in the second, then needed every one of them. The Tigers beat Central State 45-38 before 1,233 fans at Charles W. Johnson Stadium.

Logan Karwacki opened the scoring with a 36-yard field goal, Christopher Johnson ran for a 4-yard touchdown, and Joshua Stephens returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown with 43 seconds left in the first quarter. Central State answered with a defensive score when Jaysen Quartey returned a fumble 52 yards early in the second. A’chean Durant broke a 26-yard touchdown run, and Jett Peddy threw touchdown passes of 8 and 7 yards to Demetris McKelvey, the second with 45 seconds left in the half.

Central State scored the first 17 points of the second half. Kofi Adubofuor made a 36-yard field goal, Jackson Wasik threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Nicholas Smith Jr., and Isaiah Thompson ran in from 2 yards to cap a 90-yard drive and make it 38-31 at 7:36. Glenn Foreman’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Donnavan Wilmore restored a two score lead, and Wasik answered with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Khamari Adams at 2:26. Benedict ran out the clock after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a punt gave the Tigers a first down.

Peddy completed 24 of 32 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and Benedict piled up 517 yards and 30 first downs. David Smith ran for 86 yards, and Reece Dobard and Jayson Salkey caught six passes each. Ethan Nation intercepted three passes, and Ryan Perry had three tackles for loss.

Wasik threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns, with Thompson catching a 69-yard pass and Smith making five catches for 101 yards. Damon Griffin Jr. returned six kickoffs for 190 yards. Benedict improves to 7-1 in the SIAC, and Central State falls to 6-2.

Juan Gainous Throws Five Touchdowns for Kentucky State

Kentucky State needed six plays to score twice. Juan Gainous threw touchdown passes of 54 and 11 yards to Cam Tucker in the first 6:32, both on three-play drives, and Kentucky State beat Morehouse 34-10 at Alumni Field.

Gainous added a 24-yard touchdown pass to Cory Jackson to finish a 9-play, 98-yard drive early in the second quarter. Morehouse answered with Miles Scott’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Azari Brown and a 42-yard field goal by Davis Rowe, but Gainous hit Darius Cyprian for a 24-yard score before halftime and Joshua Thomas Jr. for a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Gainous completed 21 of 31 passes for 405 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. Cyprian caught eight passes for 156 yards, including a 76-yarder, and Jaden Hale had seven catches for 85. Kentucky State outgained Morehouse 511 to 241 and went 4 for 4 in the red zone.

Scott completed 19 of 31 passes for 163 yards, and Jeremiah Gibson caught six passes for 61. The Thorobreds made four sacks, with Carlos Bazert Jr. getting 1.5 of them. Kentucky State improves to 7-1 in the SIAC.

Bowie State Pulls Away From Lincoln

Lincoln led Bowie State 14-10 early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs then scored the next 21 points and won 47-21 at Bulldog Stadium.

Jaylin Solomon threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Smith, Daniel Coles Jr. scored from 4 yards, and Solomon ran in from 3 yards to make it 31-14. Smith added a 9-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, Chris Gbakinro kicked a 30-yard field goal, and Coles finished a 12-play, 81-yard drive that took 7:10 with a 7-yard touchdown run in the fourth.

Bowie State ran for 273 yards, scored on all eight of its red zone trips, and held the ball for 39:37. Maximus Jones ran for 96 yards, Coles had 92 and two touchdowns, and Solomon added 43 rushing yards and two scores to go with 124 passing yards.

Jayden Triplett completed 15 of 30 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns for Lincoln, and Kyrie Tyson caught 10 passes for 129 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown from Kendu Brown. The Lions were called for 13 penalties for 117 yards. Bowie State improves to 5-3 in the CIAA, and Lincoln falls to 1-7.

Fayetteville State Rallies at Winston-Salem State

Fayetteville State trailed Winston-Salem State 17-7 entering the fourth quarter at Bowman Gray Stadium. The Broncos scored 16 points in the final 15 minutes and won 23-17, then sacked the Rams four times on their final possession.

Winston-Salem State built its lead with Jamison Funderburk’s 7-yard touchdown run, Bryce Johnson’s 86-yard return of a field goal try that Yetristan Brown blocked, and Gilberto Lorenzana’s 25-yard field goal. Fayetteville State’s only first-half points came on Christopher Bentley’s 35-yard interception return.

John Hernandez-Vargas opened the fourth quarter with a 36-yard field goal. Jamir Dismukes threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Lorenzo Southern at 7:15, but the conversion failed, and the Broncos still trailed 17-16. Braylon Vinson put them ahead with an 11-yard touchdown run with 1:53 left.

Winston-Salem State’s last drive began at its own 22. Sedrick Clarke sacked the Rams twice and forced two fumbles, both recovered by Winston-Salem State; Jason Melton II added a sack, and Osirus Rhodes ended it with a sack on fourth and 22. Rhodes finished with 3.5 sacks, and the Broncos had nine in all.

Bentley intercepted two passes, and Melton had the third. Fayetteville State outgained the Rams 241 to 171. Fayetteville State improves to 6-2 in the CIAA, and Winston-Salem State falls to 2-6.

Elizabeth City State Rolls at Bluefield State

Solomon Ford returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and Elizabeth City State beat Bluefield State 58-12 at Mitchell Stadium.

Ford’s 21-yard interception return opened the scoring, and Josef Manley hit Terrance Holland for a 22-yard touchdown a little more than two minutes later. Andre Staley ran for touchdowns of 3 and 29 yards in the second quarter, and Diego Coca-Hernandez made a 40-yard field goal for a 31-12 halftime lead. Derek Binder ran for both of Bluefield State’s touchdowns.

Manley ran for an 11-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, and Ford returned his second interception 40 yards for a score 17 seconds later. Manley added a 66-yard touchdown pass to Kayvawn Simms Rogers, and Amir Pittman-Williams scored from 19 yards in the fourth.

Manley completed 8 of 12 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns, and Holland caught four passes for 133 yards. The Vikings outgained Bluefield State 496 to 161. Elizabeth City State improves to 4-4 in the CIAA, and Bluefield State falls to 1-7.

Albany State Shuts Out Fort Valley State

Albany State scored twice in the first 47 seconds and never stopped. The Golden Rams beat Fort Valley State 49-0 before 21,347 fans in Columbus, Ga.

Cameron Watts returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, then returned an interception 53 yards for another score 33 seconds later. Roderick McCrary broke a 95-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Jeffery Davis threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jaquan Graham for a 28-0 halftime lead.

Davis found Avery Hall for a 2-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, McCrary added a 9-yard touchdown run, and Sincere Rodriguez scored from 22 yards in the fourth. McCrary finished with 110 yards on six carries, and Davis completed 10 of 13 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

The Golden Rams made eight sacks and intercepted three passes. Fort Valley State was held to 207 total yards, went 2 for 14 on third down and came away empty on all three of its red zone trips. Saadiq Teel completed 11 of 24 passes for 117 yards and was sacked six times.

Johnson C. Smith Wins at Livingstone

Fabian Duncan carried 37 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns, and Johnson C. Smith led Livingstone to a 27-14 win at Alumni Memorial Stadium before 1,200 fans.

Duncan scored from 4 yards on the Golden Bulls’ opening drive and from 2 yards in the second quarter. Alexis Rosario-Beltran added 25 and 29-yard field goals, and Johnson C. Smith led 20-0 entering the fourth quarter.

Livingstone scored early in the fourth on Andrew McClain’s 68-yard touchdown pass to Tikey Hayes. Damien Mazil answered with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Daniel at 4:21, and McClain threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Darius Headley with 3:04 left.

McClain completed 17 of 28 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, and Livingstone outgained the Golden Bulls 342 to 312. Jamaris Stevens made 11 tackles for Johnson C. Smith, and Darion Johnson had 1.5 sacks. The Golden Bulls improve to 7-1 in the CIAA, and Livingstone falls to 2-6.

Savannah State Shuts Out Virginia-Lynchburg

Savannah State ran for 234 yards, made six sacks and beat Virginia-Lynchburg 35-0 before 2,978 fans at Theodore A. Wright Stadium.

Zamarian Williams scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter, and Jamari McIvory returned a punt 22 yards for a touchdown early in the second. Rashawn Truell added a 2-yard touchdown run before halftime, then threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Barbas in the fourth quarter; Elijah Stephens scored from 8 yards out with 22 seconds left.

Kendarius Brown led the Tigers with 53 rushing yards, and Savannah State converted 9 of 16 third downs while holding the ball for 35:57.

Truell completed 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards. Nycholas Underwood ran for 64 yards on six carries for Virginia-Lynchburg.

Miles Rallies at Tuskegee

Tuskegee’s Pryce Lewis returned four kickoffs for 214 yards, and the Golden Tigers still lost. Miles scored the final 14 points and won 35-27 before 20,363 fans at Abbott Memorial Stadium.

Lewis answered Miles’ opening touchdown with a 98-yard kickoff return. Anthony Mix threw touchdown passes for 15 and 42 yards to James Gatewood, ran for a 1-yard score, and Ja’Khael Rowser scored a 17-yard touchdown run, while Lorcan Ryans kicked a 36-yard field goal to put Miles up 21-17 at halftime. Lewis returned the second-half kickoff 86 yards to the Miles 9, and Rowser scored from 1 yard three plays later. Ryans added a 31-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for a 27-21 lead.

Miles turned the ball over on downs at the Tuskegee 11, but Christian Kelley recovered a Bryson McGrew fumble at the 11 on the next possession, and Mix ran in from 3 yards at 7:07 for a 28-27 lead. Tuskegee then failed on fourth and 3 at its own 50, and Edward Osley went 47 yards on the next play and scored from 3 yards out at 2:48.

Mix completed 15 of 27 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns, and Osley ran for 97 yards. Miles converted five of six fourth downs and held the ball for 36:24, and Jordan James blocked a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter. EJ Hall caught five passes for 143 yards for Tuskegee. Both teams are 5-3 in the SIAC.

Allen Blocks a Late Field Goal at Edward Waters

Edward Waters led Allen 20-7 after one quarter. The Yellow Jackets scored 24 of the next 32 points and won 31-28 at Nathaniel Glover Community Field and Stadium, sealing it when Marcel Goodwin blocked a 23-yard field goal try with 3:50 left.

Tavion Faulk threw touchdown passes of 4 yards to Jared Lawrence and 61 yards to Kyron Burroughs, and Johntarrious Thomas broke a 37-yard touchdown run in a first quarter Edward Waters dominated. Brent Upshaw Jr. kept Allen close with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Nanders Lawrence with 21 seconds left in the quarter, and he hit Demetri Simmons for a 30-yard score with 23 seconds left in the half for a 21-20 lead after Charles Brown Jr. blocked a Tigers punt.

Simmons ran for a 24-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Faulk’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Izaiah Jean-Baptiste and a two-point pass to Kemauny Welch tied it 28-28 early in the fourth, and Ethan Piel’s 32-yard field goal at 7:15 put Allen back in front. Edward Waters drove to the Allen 5 before Goodwin’s block, and Allen ran out the final 3:50 on the ground.

Simmons ran for 204 yards on 31 carries, and Allen rushed for 308 yards, converted 10 of 16 third downs, and held the ball for 38:46. Upshaw completed 14 of 30 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Faulk threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns, Thomas ran for 131 yards, and Jean-Baptiste caught six passes for 103. Allen improves to 3-5 in the SIAC, and Edward Waters falls to 5-3.

West Virginia State Outscores Frostburg State

Frostburg State scored the first 17 points. West Virginia State scored the next 28 and beat the Bobcats 55-37 at Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium.

Joe Dailey accounted for six touchdowns. He ran for scores of 6, 1, and 13 yards and threw touchdown passes of 32, 16, and 15 yards to Amare Ary, who also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Malik Baker. Devin Cox added a 42-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Dailey completed 17 of 21 passes for 291 yards and ran for 82 more. Ary caught 12 passes for 239 yards, and the Yellow Jackets gained 587 yards and scored on all six red-zone trips.

Brett Patterson ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns for Frostburg State and caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Brooks. Tra’Shaun Timmons caught seven passes for 94 yards and returned six kickoffs for 193.

Lincoln Falls at Missouri S&T

Lincoln (Mo.) held the ball for 37:31 and threw for 291 yards, but Missouri S&T scored on big plays and won 56-28 at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.

The Blue Tigers tied it 7-7 when Antwon McKay Jr. threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Ron Lunz on the final play of the first quarter. Missouri S&T then scored three touchdowns in the final 1:57 of the half, including Marshall Storm’s interception return and Eli Scott’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Reid Weber.

Kantrell Jordan’s 2-yard touchdown run and McKay’s touchdown passes of 16 and 23 yards to Kymani Clary kept Lincoln within range in the second half, but AJ Harris scored the third of his three rushing touchdowns, Tyler Gioia caught a 58-yard touchdown pass and ran for another score, and Aiden Talley added a 4-yard run.

McKay completed 24 of 42 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions. Clary caught 10 passes for 165 yards. Scott completed 15 of 19 passes for 280 yards, and Gioia had five catches for 124.

Championship Weekend Is Set

Virginia Union finished the CIAA regular season at 8-0, and Johnson C. Smith finished a game back at 7-1. The two meet in the CIAA Football Championship on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, N.C., a rematch of last year’s title game.

Championship weekend starts a night earlier this year. Fayetteville State and Virginia State, both 6-2 in league play, meet in the Friday Night Blitz, the conference’s new game between its third- and fourth-place teams, on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT) at the same stadium.

In the SIAC, Benedict and Kentucky State both finished 7-1, and Benedict’s win over Central State earned the Tigers home-field advantage for the SIAC Championship. Kentucky State visits Columbia on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. CT) on ESPNU.