Week 4 of the HBCU soccer season was a showcase for the MEAC, who had its finest efficiency of the season throughout the board.
These embrace a pair of rivalry video games ending in uncontested blowouts and a win streak that hasn’t been seen in over a decade.
Elsewhere, a matchup between prime CIAA contenders encompasses a robust offensive efficiency. Additionally, the upset of the weekend sees an SIAC workforce getting revenge over its former coach.
Listed here are the 5 Takeaways from Week 4 of the HBCU soccer season.
1. NC Central record-setting efficiency in opposition to NC A&T
North Carolina Central had itself a day for the ages within the renewal of the Aggie-Eagle Traditional, rewriting the document books to the tune of a 66-20 win over North Carolina A&T.
The Eagles set a brand new faculty document with 765 offensive yards, changing the earlier mark of 684 yards set in 1982.
As well as, NCCU claimed its fourth straight win over the Aggies, serving because the longest streak for the Eagles on this sequence since 1974.
Walker Harris completed with 380 passing yards, the second straight sport he has accomplished so after throwing for a career-high 387 yards in opposition to Fayetteville State final week.
Eagles operating backs Chris Mosley and Arthur Rodgers mixed for 297 speeding yards and 5 landing, out gaining the Aggies’ whole offense (294 offensive yards).
After having its FCS shedding streak snapped final week in opposition to Hampton, North Carolina A&T dips again into convention play subsequent weekend with extra questions than solutions as to its life like expectations transferring ahead.
2. Howard snaps shedding streak in opposition to Hampton
North Carolina Central was not the one workforce to safe a dominant win over a former convention rival now within the CAA, as Howard took down Hampton 34-7, ending its lengthy shedding streak within the sequence.
The Bison had misplaced eight straight in opposition to the Pirates earlier than their win on Saturday, with this being their first win within the Battle of the Actual HU since 2014.
Howard took management of this sport from the opening kickoff, solely needing three performs from scrimmage to attain its first factors and by no means let up.
The 27-point margin of victory serves as the biggest for Howard in opposition to Hampton since 1976.
Apart from a single turnover within the first quarter, this was as near an ideal efficiency that the Bison might probably have.
Now that the proverbial monkey has been faraway from Howard’s again, they will now shift their focus to
3. Delaware State’s wins third straight
We’re not accomplished with the MEAC because the convention’s nice day, by which they completed 3-1 in opposition to FCS opponents, additionally featured Delaware State coming away with a 39-10 win over St. Francis.
The win was Delaware State’s third in a row, marking its first three-game win streak since 2012, which was additionally the final time the Hornets completed with an total successful document.
As well as, that is the Hornets second win in opposition to a non-conference FCS opponent, one thing they haven’t accomplished in a single season since 1991.
DeSean Jackson’s first season as head coach has exceeded expectations, having the Hornets producing the perfect outcomes they’ve had in over a decade.
For the primary time in a very long time, Delaware State have a practical alternative to compete MEAC championship in an accelerated rebuild underneath Coach Jackson.
A fourth straight win might strengthen the Hornets’ unprecedented argument to be in consideration for a spot within the FCS playoffs.
4. Curtis Allen leads Virginia Union to key win
Shifting to the CIAA, the reigning two-time champion Virginia Union Panthers bounced again from their first lack of the season, taking down prime contender Johnson C. Smith 28-10.
Panthers operating again Curtis Allen was the star of the sport, speeding for 108 yards on 23 makes an attempt, and accounting for all 4 of the workforce’s touchdowns.
Allen now has eight speeding touchdowns via three video games, placing in a five-way tie for probably the most in Division II soccer (Allen operating again Fabian Duncan can also be amongst that group).
Whereas this sport didn’t depend towards Virginia Union’s convention document, it was vital in restoring religion of their quest for a three-peat.
The Panthers’ mistake-laden efficiency in opposition to Edward Waters final weekend briefly casted doubt on their championship aspirations.
Now it’s Johnson C. Smith who should reply questions on its championship hopes, with its resolve within the face of adversity being the subject of dialogue.
5. Allen upsets Clark Atlanta
The Upset of the Weekend award with out query goes to the Allen Yellow Jackets, who knocked off former head coach Teddy Keaton and reigning SIAC championship runner-up Clark Atlanta 49-38.
Regardless of Clark Atlanta beginning quarterback Zy McDonald being taken out of the sport on account of an undisclosed harm, freshman backup Xzavier Jackson entered in reduction of the Jackson State switch and gave the workforce an opportunity to win.
He tossed 4 touchdowns, together with a 3rd reference to Armone Harris that gave the Panthers a 38-35 lead within the fourth quarter.
Nevertheless, two unanswered touchdowns down the stretch sealed the upset win for Allen, getting revenge over its former head coach of 5 years.
Being picked to completed ninth within the preseason SIAC standings, the Yellow Jackets are one in every of three groups that improved to 2-0 in convention competitors.
This sport is an ideal illustration of the unpredictable, thrilling nature of SIAC soccer. Followers can by no means know what to anticipate in any given weekend within the SIAC and this sport is simply one other instance of that.
