It seems like just yesterday that Bowie State University football coach Damon Wilson told the Blade-News, "Realistically, my goal is to win a championship this year."

That quote came in August, just after the Bulldogs were picked to finish seventh in the CIAA during the annual Predicted Order of Finish. "They should have picked us seventh," he said. "(But) I prefer for them to talk about BSU football in November and December."

Wilson reflected on those comments this week after his team won a coin toss among two other teams for a berth in the CIAA championship game Saturday in Durham, N.C. "Here we are in November," said the Bowie State alumnus, "and they're still talking."

The Bulldogs (6-4, 5-2 CIAA) won the CIAA East and will play CIAA West winners Fayetteville State (7-3, 6-1 CIAA) at 1 p.m.

Bowie State appeared as though they had a clear path to the conference title game after starting 5-0 in the CIAA, but consecutive losses to end the season found the Bulldogs in a position to leave their postseason fate to the football gods. After it was determined last week that a coin toss would determine the division winner if necessary, the coin bounced in favor of the Bulldogs. All of the talk and propaganda that Wilson and his coaching staff have fed to the players since their first practice in April is one step away from coming to fruition.

"We're still not there yet, but the path we took to get here has been great," said Wilson, who knows the BSU football program well. He played tight end for BSU (1997-'98), earning All-CIAA First Team honors. The Washington, D.C., native received his bachelor of arts degree from Bowie State in 2000 and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Wilson also served in various coaching capacities on and off over the past several seasons, most recently in 2007 when he was the special teams and running backs coach.

The path that Bowie State took to get in position for a conference title was rather offensive. The Bulldogs averaged 28 points per game during the regular season and earned 170 first downs, an average of 17 per game. The ground game produced 183 yards per game and 25 touchdowns compared to just 53 yards per game and eight rushing scores. The passing attack was more down to earth, but still effective and markedly improved over last season's passing game.

If there is any doubt that the BSU coaching staff has total confidence in their offense, look no further than the team's 44 percent success rate on fourth-down conversions.

The last two weeks have not been the best of times for the Bulldogs. They dropped road games at Virginia Union and Virginia State by a total of three points. BSU dropped a game 30-20 at home against Fayetteville State in Week 3, but several key players were held out of that game with flu symptoms. Saturday's game will feature no such illnesses.

"We're 100 percent healthy and ready to roll," said Wilson.

Bowie State played for the conference title in 2002 and '05 and last won the title game in 1989.

In order to beat Fayetteville State, the Bulldogs will need to rely on the rushing attack that produced 10 runners with positive yardage with leading rusher Rodney Webb gaining 819 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The passing game will likely be led by freshman Emmanuel Yeager, who led the team with a 119.6 passer rating. The position has been worked in to a committee format, so Andre Johnson and Tyrae Reid will figure to contribute as well. The passing game means nothing if the receivers cannot haul in passes. Dominique Budd led Bowie State with 33 receptions for 472 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively the Bulldogs need to stop the run, as they have been apt to do all season. Forty four players made tackles for BSU in 2009, and 18 of those players made double-digit stops. The defensive unit picked off 16 passes and recovered 14 fumbles, something that is necessary in championship caliber football.

The good news for Bowie is that Fayetteville State gave up 108 yards per carry and with the Bulldogs having found success in the running game all season, this title game could come down to the quarterbacks. FSU passed for 171 yards per game but gave up 151 yards. They only threw for 10 touchdowns while their opponents tossed in nine.

Fayettevile has some holes in their game, as was evidenced by their 0-2 start to the season. The Bulldogs might technically have a few soft spots in their game, but with the majority of the skill positions being run on a committee basis, there are options all day long for BSU.

With a conference title on the line, it's words from Wilson that seem to have buoyed his expectations on the 2009 season. "It's very exciting to come back home and head your program as an alumnus. It's always been a dream for me to come back to Bowie State as a head coach, and now it's a dream come true," Wilson said in April. "Right now we're right on pace."