NORFOLK, Va., – First place will be on the line in Greensboro, N.C. this Saturday, as Bethune-Cookman visits BB&T Stadium to take on North Carolina A&T State to see who will enter the final weekend in the driver’s seat to the MEAC title and Celebration Bowl. That game will be broadcast live on ESPN3, then rebroadcast on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on ESPNU. South Carolina State will look to stay in the race, hitting the road to take on North Carolina Central, and Florida A&M will be coming off a bye week to play host to Howard. Delaware State will welcome Norfolk State to Dover, Del., and Morgan State will pause its conference schedule to take on Virginia University of Lynchburg.
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 MEAC) vs. North Carolina A&T Aggies (6-3, 4-2 MEAC)
Saturday, Nov. 16 • BB&T Stadium • Greensboro, N.C. • 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN3 (rebroadcast on ESPNU @ 10:30 p.m.)
Both teams are coming off upset losses on the road this past weekend, setting up a three-way tie (along with South Carolina State) atop the conference standings. The Aggies’ Jah-Maine Martin was held to just 80 yards in the Aggies’ 22-16 loss to Morgan State. The Wildcats’ Akevious Williams threw for 138 yards and ran for 46 in the 16-13 loss to Delaware State. The two teams have split the last ten meetings, with the Aggies winning the last four, including last season, 35-10.
Virginia University of Lynchburg Dragons (0-8) vs. Morgan State Bears (2-8, 2-5 MEAC)
Saturday, Nov. 16 • Hughes Stadium • Baltimore, Md. • 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN3
Morgan State’s Ian McBorrough was named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Bears’ 22-16 upset win over No. 25 North Carolina A&T State this past Saturday. McBorrough helped the Bears hold the Aggies below their league-leading 34.5 points per game to just 16 points. He paced the defense with 12 tackles (2.5 for loss) as the Bears posted their second straight upset of a ranked Aggies team. Manasseh Bailey had seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. He’s now tied for fifth place on the Bears’ all-time receiving list with 1,802 yards. Deandre Harris threw for 218 yards and a score. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Dragons are coming off a 58-7 loss to Southern.
Norfolk State Spartans (4-6, 3-3 MEAC) vs. Delaware State Hornets (2-8, 1-6 MEAC)
Saturday, Nov. 16 • Alumni Stadium • Dover, Del. • 2 p.m.
TV: MEAC Digital Network / ESPN3
Delaware State is coming off a 16-13 upset of Bethune-Cookman this past Saturday. Thomas Bertrand-Hudon ran for a career-high 133 yards and a touchdown in that contest, and he became the first Hornet with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Jaashawn Jones did it against North Carolina A&T State (144) and Morgan State (114) in 2010. The win for the Hornets snapped a six-game losing streak to Bethune-Cookman, dating back to 2008. Juwan Carter threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 38-21 win over North Carolina Central this past Saturday, spoiling the Eagles’ Homecoming and giving Norfolk State its third win in the past four games. The Spartans defense racked up eight sacks, which was the most by the program since 2012.
South Carolina State Bulldogs (6-3, 4-2 MEAC) vs. North Carolina Central Eagles (4-6, 3-3 MEAC)
Saturday, Nov. 16 • O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium • Durham, N.C. • 2 P.M
TV: MEAC Digital Network / ESPN3
South Carolina State has been operating with a two-quarterback system all year, but freshman quarterback Corey Fields might have ended that debate in the Bulldogs’ 62-21 win over Howard this past Saturday. Fields was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week after completing 18 of 29 passes for 333 yards and a program-record seven touchdowns. He tied Florida A&M’s Pat Bonner for second in MEAC history with seven touchdowns in a single game. He was also named the STATS FCS Freshman of the Week. De’Montrez Burroughs was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Week after catching seven passes for 140 yards and a school-record five touchdowns, and with the win, South Carolina State is back in the MEAC race, tied atop the standings with Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T State. North Carolina Central’s Davius Richard threw for 384 yards, which was the sixth-most in school history, and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 38-21 loss to Norfolk State this past Saturday. The Eagles have won four of the last six meetings between the schools, including the last three. The Eagles beat the Bulldogs 21-17 last season in Orangeburg, S.C.
Howard Bison (1-9, 1-5 MEAC) vs. Florida A&M Rattlers (8-1, 6-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Nov. 16 • Bragg Memorial Stadium • Tallahassee, Fla. • 4 p.m.
TV: MEAC Digital Network / ESPN3
Dedrick Parson ran for 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Howard’s 62-21 loss to South Carolina State this past Saturday, while Kyle Anthony added six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. Anthony, Howard’s career record holder for receptions, needs seven catches to break 200 for his career. The Rattlers, undefeated in conference play (despite being ineligible for the MEAC championship and postseason play) are coming off a bye week. The Bison have won the last two meetings between the two schools, including a 31-23 win in Washington, D.C. last season that helped keep Florida A&M out of the Celebration Bowl.
Courtesy: MEAC
