Courtesy: Saint Augustine Athletics
RALEIGH, N.C. (April 30) — Four home games against CIAA teams and the annual Raleigh Classic showdown against Shaw University highlight the 2019 Saint Augustine’s University football schedule, which was released on Tuesday.
Northern Division contender Virginia State University comes to the George Williams Athletic Complex for the Falcons’ home opener on Sept. 21. Both teams were scheduled to play on the Falcons’ campus last season but the game was canceled due to Hurricane Florence. The contest is a non-conference affair between the CIAA teams.
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In October, the Falcons host Elizabeth City State University and Livingstone College in back-to-back CIAA games. The Oct. 5 matchup against Elizabeth City State, a Northern Division team, marks the home conference opener for the Falcons, who defeated the Vikings 24-17 in Elizabeth City, N.C., last season. The Oct. 12 game against Livingstone is the Southern Division opener for the Falcons, who beat the Blue Bears 26-15 last year in Salisbury, N.C.
The homecoming contest against Johnson C. Smith University is Nov. 2. The Falcons are looking to avenge last season’s 31-3 defeat in Charlotte, N.C., on the Golden Bulls’ Homecoming Day.
The season-ending game against crosstown rival Shaw University is set for Nov. 9 at an undetermined site. The Falcons will attempt to regain the Raleigh Classic Trophy after falling to the Bears 27-10 at home in 2018.
Shaw is one of six away games for the Falcons, who open the regular season against defending South Atlantic Conference (SAC) champion Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., on Sept. 7. The following week, the Falcons visit Mars Hill University, another SAC team, in Mars Hill, N.C., on Sept. 14.
On Sept. 28, the Falcons travel to Bowie State University in Bowie, Md., in the CIAA opener. In 2018, the Bulldogs visited the Falcons and came away with a 32-22 win.
Winston-Salem State University and Fayetteville State University, both Southern Division contenders, await the Falcons in consecutive games during the latter part of October. The Falcons head to Winston-Salem, N.C., on Oct. 19 and Fayetteville, N.C., on Oct. 26.
Last season, the Falcons lost to Winston-Salem State 36-6 on the road and Fayetteville State 31-28 at home. Fayetteville State is the two-time defending Southern Division champions.
Below is the 2019 SAU schedule including times. The Falcons are looking to rebound from last season’s 2-4 conference mark in the Southern Division and 2-7 overall record.
2019 Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| Sept. 7 | at Lenoir-Rhyne | Hickory, NC | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 14 | at Mars Hill | Mars Hill, NC | TBA |
| Sept. 21 | VIRGINIA STATE | RALEIGH, NC | 1 P.M. |
| Sept. 28 | at Bowie State* | Bowie, MD | 4 p.m. |
| OCT. 5 | ELIZABETH CITY STATE* | RALEIGH, NC | 1 P.M. |
| Oct. 12 | LIVINGSTONE* | RALEIGH, NC | 1 P.M. |
| Oct. 19 | at Winston-Salem State* | Winston-Salem, NC | TBA |
| Oct. 26 | at Fayetteville State* | Fayetteville, NC | 1 p.m. |
| NOV. 2 | JOHNSON C. SMITH*# | RALEIGH, NC | 1 P.M. |
| Nov. 9 | at Shaw*% | TBA | 1 p.m. |
| Nov. 16 | CIAA Championship | Salem, VA | TBA |
*CIAA Games
# – Homecoming
% – Raleigh Classic
TBA — To Be Announced
Home Games in BOLD CAPS at George Williams Athletic Complex