By Donald Hunt
For The Birmingham Times
Two of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) best teams will meet this weekend when Miles College (5-2 overall, 4-1 league) hosts Allen University (5-1 overall, 4-1 league) on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m.
The Golden Bears have been very efficient this season with a lot of playmakers on offense. It all starts with quarterback Edwin Kleinpeter and wide receivers Jaquel Fells, Jaih Andrews and Geordon Pollard. The Golden Bears can really throw the ball down the field.
Miles College has also demonstrated the ability to run the football. In the team’s 36-22 victory over Morehouse College last week, running back Jamari Riley had 10 carries for 138 yards. He and Brandon Hicks, the Golden Bears other stellar running back scored two rushing touchdowns against Morehouse College. The ground attack could play a key role in this contest.
Defensively, cornerbacks Chris Ware and Jamarius Brown continue to be the team leaders in tackles. Ware has 21 stops. Brown has 20. They both play the run extremely well.
Allen University tallies 31.2 points a game. Miles College’s defense is holding teams to an average of 18.9 points a game. It looks like ball control and solid defense could be a good combination for the Golden Bears.
In another SIAC contest, Tuskegee University (5-2 overall, 4-1 league) will visit Savannah State (2-5 overall, 1-4 league) on Saturday, Oct. 21. The kickoff will be at 3 p.m. The player to watch from the Golden Tigers is wide receiver Antonio Meeks who has been terrific this season. Meeks has 40 catches for 843 yards and six TDs. He’s averaging 21.1 yards a game. Tuskegee University will utilize his pass catching skills.
In the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Alabama A&M and Alabama State University both have byes, as always, in the week leading up to the Magic City Classic on Oct. 28 in Birmingham’s Legion Field.
SIAC Standings
Conference Overall
Benedict College 5-0 7-0
Fort Valley State 5-1 5-2
Allen University 4-1 5-1
Tuskegee University 4-1 5-2
Miles College 4-1 5-2
Albany State 4-1 4-3
Edward Waters 4-2 4-3
Savannah State 1-4 2-5
Kentucky State 1-4 2-5
Central State 1-4 2-5
Lane College 1-5 1-6
Morehouse College 0-5 0-7
Clark Atlanta 0-5 0-7
SIAC Schedule Saturday, Oct. 21
Morehouse College at Fort Valley State 2 p.m. Fort Valley, Ga.
Allen University at Miles College 4 p.m. Fairfield, AL
Central State at Clark Atlanta 1 p.m. Atlanta, Ga.
Kentucky State at Benedict College 3 p.m. Columbia, S.C.
Virginia Lynchburg at Lane College 3 p.m. Jackson, TN
Tuskegee University at Savannah State 3 p.m. Savannah, Ga.
Albany State at Edward Waters 6 p.m. Jacksonville, FL
SWAC Standings
SWAC East
Conference Overall
Florida A&M 4-0 5-1
Jackson State 2-2 4-3
Alabama A&M 2-2 4-3
Alabama State 2-2 3-3
Mississippi Valley State 1-2 1-5
Bethune-Cookman 0-3 1-5
SWAC West
Prairie View A&M 3-1 3-4
Alcorn State 2-1 3-3
Southern 2-1 3-3
Grambling State 2-2 3-4
Texas Southern 1-2 2-4
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0-3 1-5
SWAC Schedule for Saturday, Oct. 21
Jackson State at Mississippi Valley State 2 p.m. Itta Bena, MS
Alcorn State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2 p.m. Pine Bluff, AR
Southern at Bethune-Cookman 3 p.m. Jacksonville, FL
Florida A&M at Texas Southern 7 p.m. Houston, TX
