South Carolina State (4-3) at Norfolk State (1-6)
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
On the air: ESPN+, 91.1 FM
The Bulldogs: S.C. State is coming off back-to-back wins over Savannah State and North Carolina A&T, getting above .500 after a rugged early schedule that included losses to South Carolina and South Florida. The Bulldogs have a tandem at quarterback in Ryan Stubblefield (1,052 yards, five TDs) and William Atkins IV (713 yards, five TDs), a transfer from JMU, while the top target has been Jalen Johnson, a graduate student who transferred from Grambling State.
The Spartans: NSU and first-year coach Michael Vick hope homecoming helps snap a five-game losing streak. The Spartans are coming off a bye after a 31-14 loss to Wofford (S.C. State beat the Terriers 16-15 in the season opener). Otto Kuhns has settled in at quarterback and has thrown for 1,355 passing yards with eight TDs, and the Spartans have relied on X’Zavion Evans (320 yards, four TDs) in the backfield while Kevon King (270 yards, three TDs) missed the previous two games.
Monmouth (6-1) at Hampton University (2-6)
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
On the air: MNMT, FLO College
The Hawks: Monmouth, winner of four straight games, is 3-0 in Coastal Athletic Association play and is ranked 10th nationally in a pair of polls. Frankie Weaver, a redshirt freshman, is expected to make his first start at quarterback for the injured Derek Robertson. Weaver will try to steer an offense that under Robertson ranks third in the FCS and first in the CAA in scoring offense at 45.3 points per game. RB Rodney Nelson has five 100-yard games this season.
The Pirates: HU hosts its 95th homecoming game and faces another ranked opponent after falling 56-14 at No. 14 Villanova. The Pirates rank second in the CAA in rushing with 183.4 yards per game, and QB Earl Woods III helped last week with 102 rushing yards of his own. Jah’Kei Chavis and Isaiah Freeman lead HU in rushing with 318 and 295 yards, respectively, while on defense linebacker Harold O’Neal III ranks fifth in the CAA with 9.3 tackles per game.
William & Mary (4-3, 3-1) at New Hampshire (4-4, 2-2)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
On the air: FloCollege; 92.3 FM and 107.9 FM
The Tribe: In the wake of impressive rallies in back-to-back CAA wins, something good might be going on with the Tribe. They’re averaging almost 31 points the past four games and continue to get big production from dual threat QB Tyler Hughes, who is averaging 239.1 yards of total offense and has accounted for 18 touchdowns. Transfer receiver Deven Thompson had TD catches of 16 and 39 yards in the 26-21 win over Elon last week and, at 19.8 yards per grab (15th nationally), has given the Tribe the longball threat they’ve lacked for years. The defense has shown marked improvement the past game and a half, with freshman lineman Justin Krueger (7.0 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 1 QB hurry against Elon) the latest to emerge.
The Wildcats: Ranked in the top 25 prior to the season by Lindy’s, the Wildcats suffered a stretch of four losses in five games before scoring the final 15 points to rally past Campbell 24-10 a week ago. Like W&M, UNH has a productive quarterback in Matt Vezza (243.1 ypg), who can get the job done passing or running (eight passing TDs, six rushing TDs). He completed nine passes to Chase Wilson for 76 yards against Campbell. At just 22.1 points per game allowed, the Wildcats are the second stingiest defense in the CAA. Kicker Nick Reed is a weapon, with 16 of 21 field goals made, including 7 of 8 from 40 yards or more.
— Marty O’Brien
Christopher Newport at William Paterson
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
On the air: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY-FXpE58hw, 99.1FM
The Captains: At 6-0, 3-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, they’ve had a dream start. The Captains are on a school-record 11-game winning streak dating to last season and have climbed to No. 15 in the d3football.com poll, their highest ranking in 18 years. Between running back Gunner White, CNU’s all-time touchdown scorer, and quarterback Connor Barry, a three-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Week this season who leads the country in pass efficiency, they have at least a pair of All-America candidates. They are 8-1 all-time against William Paterson, including last year’s 45-7 dusting.
The Pioneers: William Paterson (2-4, 1-2), in Wayne, New Jersey, is coached by former UCLA and NFL defensive back Shaun Williams, but is just 4-17 in conference games under him. In last week’s 45-16 loss to Rowan, Nigel Jennings completed 11 of 20 for 189 yards and a touchdown and ran for 72 yards and a TD on 15 carries. Fellow sophomore Ray’Mir Johnson had 71 yards on 14 carries.
— Sonny Dearth
Barber-Scotia at Apprentice
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Video: youtube.com/@GoBuilderSports
The Builders: Apprentice (4-3, 2-0) has played its way into contention for a spot in the New South Athletic Conference’s first championship game. A victory against Barber-Scotia would ensure that next week’s game at Clayton State in Morrow, Georgia, would be for a berth. Kendall Hunt was 15-of-23 for 182 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 45-21 victory over Keystone and ran for 96 yards on 13 carries. Poquoson’s Baker Green returned a kickoff 82 yards last year to earn NSAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the Builders, who will take the field over .500 for the first time this year.
The Sabers: Barber-Scotia (1-4, 0-2 NSAC), from Concord, North Carolina, figures to be a large underdog today as its only victory was a forfeit by Daytona Elite. The Charlotte-area Sabers lost 20-10 to South Carolina Central Christian, a team Apprentice defeated 59-0.
— Sonny Dearth
