By George Kopf (@GeorgeKopf19) & Matt Reynolds (@MattRey30)
It's starting to get cooler, leaves are starting to fall, and teams are increasing the intensity as the football regular season is nearing its end. With basketball on the horizon, it is one of the most exciting times of the year for many athletic departments. We get you caught up on the week that was and get closer to turning the page to the hardcourt in vol. 11 of the Peak Sports Weekly Recap.
Eagles Scavenge on the Bison, Control MEAC Destiny
Celebrating Homecoming, the Eagles feasted on a weak Howard defense, scoring half a hundred in a 50-21 rout. North Carolina Central (7-2, 3-1) relied on the arm and legs of QB Davius Richard, who was responsible for five touchdowns and had the Bison defense confused. Securing their tenth straight victory over Howard, the Eagles stand alone atop the MEAC, controlling their own destiny. They only need to win next Saturday to clinch the conference title and their spot in the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.
Trailblazers Torch Thunderbirds, Regain "The Ax"
Utah Tech has won back-to-back games for the first time since transitioning to Division I after an offensive outburst against Southern Utah, winning 48-36 on their home turf. If you look around the college football landscape, you won't find a hotter quarterback than the Trailblazers' Victor Gabalis. He put up video game-like numbers for the second straight week, this time earning Athlete of the Week honors (see below). Utah Tech (2-7, 2-2) had monster days from receiver Rickie Johnson, who destroyed the school receiving yards record and running back Quali Conley, who put up over 150 yards on the ground. With offensive weapons across the board, the Trail Blazers should finish the year strong and lay the groundwork for success next season.
Demons & Lions Cruise, Sets Up Important Rivalry Showdown Next Week
The Demons and Lions had no trouble in their Southland matchups this weekend. Northwestern State (4-5, 4-0) remained the lone undefeated in conference play, using a dominant second half to put away TAMU-Commerce 41-14. Southeastern Louisiana kept pace in the conference and survived a high-scoring affair 47-31 over Lamar. The Lions (6-3, 3-1) have prevailed in three straight games. By holding serve, both teams square off in a rivalry showdown this Saturday that could determine the Southland Conference champion.
Clinching Conference Crowns
Two of Peak's best teams so far this season took home convincing victories to cement the top spot in their respective conferences. Holy Cross (9-0, 5-0) has been nothing short of sensational this season, and their 42-14 win over Lehigh secured their fourth straight Patriot League championship. The Crusaders are the first Patriot League team to accomplish this feat. Elsewhere, the Pittsburg State Gorillas clinched the outright MIAA title, the school's first since 2014 with an impressive 37-23 road victory. The Gorillas (10-0, 10-0) overcame adversity in this one, as QB Chad Dodson Jr. threw three interceptions but ultimately made timely plays when needed. Both teams have bigger aspirations and should be heavily considered as a contender in their respective playoff brackets.
SWAC Success
If you're a visiting team entering Bragg Memorial Stadium, pack a lunch, because it's going to be a long afternoon. Florida A&M (7-2, 5-1) extends their season win streak to seven games and hasn't lost a home game since 2018. The Rattlers defense continues to be stingy, holding a loud Southern offense to just 16 points. Florida A&M will hit the road, for a Peak Bowl against Alabama State who also had a dominant performance on Saturday. The Hornets (6-3, 4-2) stung Bethune-Cookman in the second half to leave Daytona, FL with a 37-22 win. Saturday's Peak Bowl is going to be a battle from start to finish, with massive stakes on the line.
Greyhounds Grab the Wagon Wheel
Beating a rival seems to make the rest of the season a moot point, especially if it hasn't been a great season. Tell that to the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds. Needing a touchdown with just seconds remaining, QB Kason Martin connected on a 37-yard pass, giving his Greyhounds the 24-21 victory over West Texas A&M for "The Wagon Wheel." Eastern New Mexico (3-7, 2-6) regains possession of the trophy, last having it four seasons ago. The Greyhounds will go for two straight rivalry wins, taking on Western New Mexico in the Chile Bowl, a team they have beaten 16 consecutive times.
Happenings on the Hardcourt
The Alabama State and Florida A&M women's volleyball teams are having great success at the top. Both Peak schools are the only two squads with one loss in SWAC play after the Hornets halted the Rattlers' 24-game conference win streak. Tied at the top, both teams have defeated each other and most likely will share the regular season crown.
College basketball season starts this week, with plenty of Peak schools in action and taking on top-25 teams. Look for more hoops coverage in our weekly recaps as we near the end of the football season.
Scores from Peak Action
#6 Holy Cross 42, Lehigh 14
#7 Ferris State 28, #13 Davenport 7
Delaware State 27, South Carolina State 24 (OT)
Western Carolina 36, Wofford 29
NC Central 50, Howard 21
Fort Valley State 31, Albany State 21 (in Columbus, GA)
#11 Chattanooga 31, The Citadel 21
#5 Pittsburg State 37, Washburn 23
Central Missouri 40, Missouri Western 37 (2OT)
Northwestern State 41, TAMU-Commerce 14
Southeastern Louisiana 47, Lamar 31
Alabama State 37, Bethune-Cookman 22
Portland State 35, Northern Colorado 21
Eastern Kentucky 42, Central Arkansas 14
Austin Peay 38, North Alabama 35
Florida A&M 30, Southern 16
Eastern New Mexico 24, West Texas A&M 21
UTPB 37, Western New Mexico 14
Utah Tech 48, Southern Utah 36
Peak Sports Athlete of the Week
Week 10: QB Victor Gabalis, Utah Tech
When you throw ten touchdowns over two games, you put the college football world on notice. Gabalis threw for 463 yards and five touchdowns on Saturday, along with completing 67% of his passes. The redshirt freshman transfer from Washington State reached his success with multiple deep balls, including two 75-yard touchdowns. His performance led the way for Utah Tech, helping take back "The Ax" in a 48-36 win over rival Southern Utah.
*Photo Courtesy of HBCU Gameday*
