Today's games
Virginia State (7-2) at Bowie State (5-4)
Site: Bulldog Stadium, Bowie
Time: 1 p.m.
Series: Virginia State leads 12-3
Last Week: Bowie State lost to Fayetteville State, 13-7; Virginia State beat Virginia Union, 21-14.
Outlook: Bowie State's road to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game has become clear despite last week's loss to CIAA Western Division champ Fayetteville State. The Bulldogs can earn a rematch with Fayetteville State for the league title next Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C., with a victory today over Virginia State, which has won seven of its past eight games. Virginia State's only loss in those eight games was a 20-10 defeat at the hands of Fayetteville State. This CIAA Eastern Division championship duel sends Bowie's defense, No. 1 in the CIAA, against Virginia State's offense, No. 1 in the league. The featured attraction will be Bowie's three defensive stars (Atcheson Conway, Damian Walker and Charles Alston) against the passing of Trojans QB Kevin Jones.
Morgan State (5-4) at Norfolk State (2-6)
Site: William "Dick" Price Stadium, Norfolk, Va.
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WEAA (88.9 FM)
Series: Tied 8-8
Last week: Morgan beat Morris Brown, 42-41 (OT); Norfolk State lost to Howard, 21-0
Outlook: Morgan State, which has become a thrill-a-minute football team, is getting close to its first winning season in 23 years. A four-game winning streak, spiced with overtime wins the past two weeks, has changed everything. T.J. Stallings has suddenly emerged as a candidate for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, piling up chunks of rushing yardage and being a big-time receiver. He ranks in the top eight in the MEAC in five offensive categories. QB Bradshaw Littlejohn could return this week after missing two games with an ankle sprain. Norfolk State has lost six straight since opening 2-0.
Salisbury (8-0) at Ferrum (5-3)
Site: W.B. Adams Stadium, Ferrum, Va.
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WICO (1320 AM)
Series: Ferrum leads 6-4
Last week: Salisbury beat Wesley, 22-19; Ferrum beat Greensboro, 25-13.
Outlook: Unbeaten Salisbury is finally getting some Division III respect, moving up to No. 17 in the country this week, one notch above once-beaten McDaniel College. However, the Sea Gulls no longer have the top rushing offense in the nation after gaining just 158 yards last week against Wesley. Salisbury, averaging 359.9 yards, is No. 2 in rushing after five weeks at No. 1. Freshman QB Dustin Johnson leads Salisbury in rushing with 113.5 yards a game. Ferrum is led by junior FB Moncrief Holmes, who averages 6.6 yards a carry and went 66 yards for a touchdown last week against Greensboro.
McDaniel (7-1) at Bethany (3-6)
Site: Bethany Field, Bethany, W.Va.
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WTTR (1470 AM)
Series: First meeting
Last week: McDaniel beat William Paterson, 34-0; Bethany beat Newport News Apprentice, 34-7.
Outlook: Scoots Crowell finally provided some offensive spark at quarterback for McDaniel, which ran its winning streak to seven last week. Crowell will start again today, as the Terror heads toward next week's season-ending, emotional matchup with Johns Hopkins. The McDaniel defense limited William Paterson to 55 yards rushing last week. Bethany received a four-touchdown, 178-yard rushing performance from RB Will Anderson last week.
Johns Hopkins (6-2) at Franklin & Marshall (3-5)
Site: Williamson Field, Lancaster, Pa.
Time: 1 p.m.
Series: Franklin & Marshall leads 33-18-2
Last week: Hopkins beat Dickinson, 17-10; F. & M. was idle.
Outlook: Hopkins needs a victory today to set the stage for a showdown with McDaniel at Hopkins next Saturday. If the Blue Jays win today and pull off a second straight upset over the Terror, they would create a three-way tie with McDaniel and Muhlenberg for the Centennial Conference title.
Frostburg State (5-3) at Waynesburg (Pa.) (5-3)
Site: John F. Wiley Stadium, Waynesburg, Pa.
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WFWM (91.9 FM)
Series: Waynesburg leads 22-11-1
Last week: Frostburg beat Westminster, Pa., 24-17; Waynesburg was idle.
Outlook: The Grant Burrough quarterback show for Frostburg has eight school records established this season by the former C. Milton Wright standout. Burrough is 10th in the nation (Division III) in total offense, averaging 304.3 yards. Last week, in a come-from-behind victory over Westminster, he went 23 of 40 for 288 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.