July 22, 2005

ELIZABETH CITY, NC- The 2005 CIAA Preseason All-CIAA team and predicted order of finish, as voted on by the CIAA Football Coaches Association, was released Thursday afternoon in Petersburg, VA. Elizabeth City State University placed three student-athletes on the team and was picked to finish fourth in the CIAA Eastern Division.

For ECSU, both sides of the ball were represented as defensive lineman Greg Moore, offensive lineman William Riddick and punter Kevin Dodson all received nods. Greg Moore, a sophomore from Teachy, NC was named to both the 2004 All-CIAA Defensive First Team and All-Rookie Defensive Team. Last season Moore was the Vikings? top sack man with 10 for 56 yards, which also tied him for first in the CIAA. William Riddick will be entering his final season in a Viking uniform, his third as a starter for ECSU. Regarded as one of hardest working members of the football squad, Riddick will lead an experienced offensive line into the 2005 campaign. Rounding out the Viking honorees is junior punter Kevin Dodson. A First Team All-CIAA selection last season, the Camden, NC native led the conference in punting with an average of 37.6 yards per punt.

According to the predicted order of finish, Fayetteville State and Shaw University, the defending CIAA champions, will finish atop their respective divisions. The predicted order is as follows; CIAA Western Division- Fayetteville State, N.C. Central, Winston-Salem State, Saint Augustine's, Johnson C. Smith and Livingstone. CIAA Eastern Division- Shaw University, Bowie State, Virginia State, Elizabeth City State, Virginia Union and Saint Paul's.

The Vikings will kick off the 2005 football season on August 27th as they will play host to Livingstone College at 7:00pm.