CHARLOTTE, NC - The best football teams from the North and South Divisions of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association<https://theciaa.com/> (CIAA(r)), the nation's first African American athletic conference, will face off in one week on Saturday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m. ET when the conference hosts the 2019 CIAA Football Championship game at Salem Stadium<https://www.virginia.org/listings/SportsVirginia/SalemStadium/> in Salem, VA. The Bowie State University Bulldogs carry their 10-0 record (7-0 conference, 5-0 North Division) to the game against the team they vanquished in the 2018 championship, the Fayetteville State University Broncos who sport an 8-2 overall record this season (6-1 conference, 4-1 South Division). The Broncos will be looking to avenge their 30-10 loss from last year and stake a claim to their fourth CIAA Championship (last one in 2009) while appearing in the conference championship game for the third straight year. The Bulldogs will be hoping to not only defend their 2018 Conference crown and remain undefeated on the year but also earn their second consecutive, and second ever, CIAA title. The teams did not face each other in regular season play this year. The gridiron clash is just one of the festivities being held in Virginia's Blue Ridge in celebration of this year's conference football crown and the NCAA's nationwide commemoration of the 150th anniversary of college football. Family-friendly activities linked to the football finale include - a free Fan Zone featuring the mouth-watering Coca-Cola/Food Lion Tailgate Cook Off; giveaways, interactive events; high-stepping marching bands battling for bragging rights, and appearances from the always crowd favorite cheerleading squads. Players from both teams will leave their legacy on the Salem area through community outreach programs that will take place the day before the game. Virginia's Blue Ridge and the Salem host committee will provide lunch for the teams where those selected to all-conference teams will receive recognition. Advance general admission tickets to the Football Championship are $15 while advance reserved tickets are $25. Both are available now at Ticketmaster.com<https://www1.ticketmaster.com/ciaa-football-championship/event/010056EBE350838D>. Special rates for students with school IDs will be available the day of the event for $10. Admission for children ages 7 and under is free. Tickets are also available at the Salem Civic Center Box Office (Monday - Friday: 10 am - 6 pm, and Saturday: 10 am - 2 pm. Parking is free, and fans are encouraged to begin their tailgating festivities at 9:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 16, 2019. The free Fan Zone is open from Noon - 2 p.m. for family friendly fun and gates open at 2 p.m. for the Championship game. The championship game will be available on the CIAA Sports Network<https://theciaasn.com/> as a pay-per-view option for $9.95 and will also be broadcast on Aspire TV<https://aspire.tv/>. Virginia's Blue Ridge is also home to the upcoming CIAA Volleyball Championships this fall with the semifinals and finals slated for November 22 and 24, respectively, at the Salem Civic Center. By:Bowie State and Fayetteville State Set to Clash in Salem for 2019 CIAA Football Championship
