Freshman quarterback Niko Johnson was the unlikely hero Saturday as Virginia State defeated two-time defending CIAA champion Winston-Salem State 21-17 Saturday in Durham, N.C., to win the conference championship and end the Rams’ 31-game conference winning streak. Winston-Salem (9-2) was ranked No. 10 in the AFCA Division II poll and No. 4 in NCAA Super Region One.
Virginia State (9-2) was unranked in the AFCA poll and No. 7 in Super Region One. The Trojans secured a berth in the Division II playoffs with the victory and will host LIU Post in a first round game Saturday. Johnson, playing in place of suspended starter Tarrian Ayres, scored the winning touchdown on a 25-yard run with 2:59 remaining in the game. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 125 yards and rushed 13 times for 76 yards and was voted Virginia State’s MVP for the game.
Johnson played sparingly during the regular season. He threw three passes while playing in only three games. But he directed the Trojans’ offense with a deftness that belied his experience while leading Virginia State to its first CIAA title since 1996. Virginia State was ahead in the contest until two fourth-quarter mistakes allowed Winston-Salem to take a 17-14 lead. Punter Matt Hillquist got off a 14-yard punt early in the period. That set the Rams up at Virginia State’s 19, and they capitalized when quarterback Phillip Sims connected with Brendan Felder on a 20-yard touchdown throw that tied the score.
Rams defensive end Duvonte Covington stripped the ball away from Johnson on the third play following the ensuing kickoff, and Winston-Salem, in the championship game for the fourth consecutive year, recovered it at Virginia State’s 30. Virginia State started its winning drive at its 24. A key play on the drive was a short pass from Johnson to running back Kavon Bellamy on third-and-seven that Bellamy converted into a 38-yard gain. Following an eight-yard pass to Willie Stubblefield that moved the ball to Winston-Salem’s 29, Johnson dropped back to pass. However, he saw an opening in the middle of the field and took off for the end zone. “When I saw the opening, it was like the Red Sea parted,’’ Johnson said.
Key Results:
Tuskegee 47, Albany State 41 – The Golden Tigers won their second SIAC championship in three years with a heart-stopping victory in the conference championship game at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. Fullback Michael J. Thornton scored the winning touchdown on a three-yard run with 38 seconds remaining in the game to extend the Golden Tigers’ winning streak to eight straight games giving them their second consecutive Division II playoff berth. They will host West Georgia in a first round game Saturday. Thornton’s touchdown capped an 11-pay, 64-yard drive after Albany State had gone ahead 41-40 with 1:46 play.
Senior quarterback Justin Nared, a starter his first three years who now splits time with redshirt sophomore Kevin Lacey, completed four of eight passes for 57 yards on the winning drive. He also had a crucial five-yard run that gave the Golden Tigers (9-2) first-and-goal at Albany State’s seven-yard line. Nared was 8-for-16 with 230 yards passing and two touchdowns in the game. Sophomore running back Hoderick Lowe rushed for a game-high 150 yards and two touchdowns. Tuskegee dominated the contest statistically, outgaining the Rams (7-3) in total yards 484-266. The Golden Tigers led 21-7 going into the second quarter but were unable to put the Golden Rams away.
Hampton 40, Bethune-Cookman 35 – The Pirates dealt the Wildcats’ hopes for their fourth MEAC championship in five years and an FCS playoff berth a crippling blow with a home victory Thursday night. Freshman quarterback Jerrell Antoine threw for 249 yards and five touchdowns while engineering the upset of the Wildcats (8-3, 5-2 MEAC), who were ranked No. 18 in FCS polls and No. 3 among Black colleges. Freshman running back Eric Carter ran for a career-best 120 yards for Hampton (3-8, 2-5 MEAC).
Bethune-Cookman went into the game in a first-place tie with North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State in the conference standings. South Carolina State lost to Morgan State, leaving North Carolina A&T alone in first place. Hampton never trailed after taking an early 10-0 lead. Bethune-Cookman’s offense produced 483 yards – 242 passing and 243 rushing – but the Wildcats couldn’t contain Hampton’s offense. The Pirates dictated the pace of the game with a balanced attack of their own. The combination of Antoine’s passing and Carter’s running helped them gain 422 total yards to boast a nearly five-minute advantage in time of possession.
Morgan State 24, South Carolina State 21 – Quarterback Moses Skillon’s nine-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds to play lifted the Bears to a home victory and put a damper South Carolina State’s hopes of winning the MEAC championship. It was Morgan State’s first win against South Carolina State since 2002 and the Bears’ first home victory against the Bulldogs since 1974. The win ensures the Bears (6-5, 5-2 MEAC) of at least finishing the season at .500.
The Bears scored the winning points in the final minute in four of their six victories. South Carolina State (7-4, 5-2 MEAC) came into the weekend tied for first place in the conference with Bethune-Cookman, which lost to Hampton Thursday, and North Carolina A&T. In addition to running for the winning touchdown, Skillon passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Skillon’s 18-yard touchdown pass to LeDarious Spearman early in the fourth period gave Morgan State a 17-14 lead. However, South Carolina State recaptured the lead, 21-17, when Antonio Hamilton returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for touchdown.
Howard 28, Central Connecticut State 25 – Quarterback Greg McGhee broke the MEAC career total offense record while leading the Bison to a come-from-behind non-conference road win. McGhee accounted for 235 total yards – 216 passing and 119 rushing – to run his career total to 9,913. Former Howard quarterback Ted White, who is the Bison’s associate head coach and offensive coordinator, held the previous record (9,846 yards). McGhee rushed for 80 yards in the second half as the Bison (4-7) rallied from a 25-7 deficit.
Alabama State 37, Grambling State 23 – The visiting Hornets handed the G-Men their first SWAC loss and ended their seven-game winning streak. Running back Malcolm Cyrus gained 180 yards on 27 attempts for Alabama State (6-5, 5-4 SWAC), which has won back-to-back games after suffering four consecutive losses and putting Coach Reggie Barlow on the hot seat. The loss leaves Grambling (7-4, 7-1 SWAC) tied with Southern for the SWAC West Division lead and sets up a winner-take=all showdown with their intra-state rivals in the Bayou Classic for division title.
Other Results:
MEAC:
Florida A&M 41, Delaware State 7
North Carolina A&T 34, Savannah State 0
North Carolina Central 19, Norfolk State 14
SWAC:
Alcorn State 56, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6 Jackson State 15, Texas Southern 6 Prairie View A&M 38, Alabama A&M 35 Southern 44, Mississippi Valley State 13
Others:
Slippery Rock 56, Cheyney 18
Glenville State 30, West Virginia State 7
Langston 27, Bacone 14
Missouri S&T 14, Lincoln (Mo.) 9
SW Assemblies of God 48, Texas College 0
Photo (HBCUgameday.com)
