The road to the Florida Beach Bowl will pit the Johnson C Smith Golden Bulls (7-3) (6-2) from the CIAA conference and the Fort Valley State Wildcats (7-3) (6-2) from SIAC conference, The CIAA and the SIAC will play in a bowl game for the first time since 2012. The champions from each conference played the bowl game in various stadiums across the South. from 1997-2012. The SIAC have a 9-5 record over the CIAA.
This time the game will be played by two at-large teams from each conference. The two champions went to the NCAA Division II playoffs and one team from each conference will represent their conference in the Florida Beach Bowl. The at-large teams will have to earn at least six wins and have high academic standards to get the right to represent their conference.
Over the course of the next few weeks, we will go into detail about which teams that were selected for both conferences. The game will take place on Wednesday, December 13th at 7:30 pm in DRV PNK in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Florida Beach Bowl encourages all Alumni and fans of every school in both conferences to make this an annual tradition to celebrate the great football that is played in the CIAA and SIAC conferences.
Florida Beach Bowl: CIAA SELECTION — At A Glance
*Denotes Conference record
JOHNSON C. SMITH GOLDEN BULLS (7-3) (*6-2) 2nd place
The Golden Bulls are the Inaugural Florida Beach Bowl selection for the CIAA conference. The Golden Bulls became bowl eligible with a win against the Winston Salem State Rams 35-31 on October 28th. The Bulls did not have a chance at the conference championship due to more conference losses. The Golden Bulls earned participation in the Florida Beach Bowl based on the CIAA conference and academic standards.
The Golden Bulls finished second place in the CIAA Southern Conference proving there are plenty of schools that are worthy of bowl eligibility. The Golden Bulls finished 5th in the conference in total offense averaging 22.5 points per game. The Golden Bulls are 7th in the conference in rush offense averaging 117 yards per game and 10th in the conference in the pass offense. averaging 143 yards per game.
The Golden Bulls rank 1st t in total defense holding opponents to an average of 13 points per game. The Golden Bulls rank 1st in pass defense only allowing 137 yards per game and 2nd in rush defense only allowing 77 yards per game. The Golden Bulls kicking game ranks 1st in Field Goals and PATs only missing one FG all season.
TEAMS THAT ARE ELIMATED FROM BOWL ELIGIBILTY
VIRGINA UNION PANTHERS, VIRGINIA STATE TROJANS, BOWIE STATE BULLDOGS, LINCOLN (PA) LIONS, ELIZABETH CITY STATE VIKINGS, BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUE, FAYETTEVILLE STATE BRONCOS, WINSTON SALEM STATE RAMS, LIVINGSTONE BLUE BEARS, SHAW BEARS & ST. AUGUSTINE’S FALCONS
Florida Beach Bowl: SIAC SELECTION — At a glance
*Denotes conference record
FORT VALLEY STATE WILDCATS (7-3) (*6-2) 4th place
The Wildcats were selected for the Florida Beach Bowl. The Wildcats fell to fourth place with a tough loss to Albany State in the 33rd Fountain City Classic 7-13. The Wildcats earned participation in the Florida Beach Bowl based on the SIAC conference and the SIAC academic standards.
The Wildcats finished second place in the SIAC Conference proving there are plenty of schools that are worthy of bowl eligibility. The Wildcats finished 3rd in the conference in total offense averaging 30.4 points per game. The Wildcats are 5th in the conference in rush offense averaging 140 yards per game and 9th in the conference in the pass offense. averaging 180 yards per game.
The Wildcats rank 4th in total defense holding opponents to an average of 23 points per game. The Wildcats rank 12th in pass defense allowing 238 yards per game and 1st in rush defense only allowing 77 yards per game. The Wildcats kicking game ranks 4th in Field Goals and 1st in PATs only missing one FG all season.
TEAMS THAT ARE ELIMATED FROM BOWL ELIGIBILTY
BENEDICT TIGERS, MILES GOLDEN BEARS, TUSKEGEE GOLDEN TIGERS, ALBANY STATE GOLDEN RAMS, ALLEN YELLOW JACKETS, EDWARD WATERS TIGERS, CENTRAL STATE, KENTUCKY STATE, SAVANNAH STATE, LANE, MOREHOUSE AND CLARK ATLANTA
