And now, ladies and gentlemen, the main event you’ve been anticipating.

In the maroon and steel corner, the contender, the undefeated, nationally 12th-ranked, rough ‘n’ ready Virginia Union Panthers!

And in the black and gold corner, the reigning three-time CIAA champs and NCAA quarterfinalists, the biting’ Bowie State Bulldogs!

Both teams are oozing with momentum and will be ready to rumble Saturday at noon, at Bowie, in what could determine CIAA and NCAA postseason opportunities.

VUU, now 6-0 following a rousing 49-0 homecoming win over Elizabeth City State, rates the contender even though it might actually be the favorite on paper.

The Panthers under Coach Alvin Parker, Ph.D. are enjoying one of the best seasons in decades on Lombardy Street.

Still, Bowie is king of the hill until someone kicks it from its lofty perch. While “Coach Doctor” has prescribed mostly good medicine for VUU football, he’s 0-3 against Bowie and still searching for a remedy for “dog bite.”

Bowie pounded the Panthers, 27-7, last year in Richmond.

VUU’s galaxy of stars starts with one of its smallest players, 5-foot-7 sophomore whirling dervish Jada Byers.

Already, the New Jersey native is being compared to some of the elite ball carriers in VUU history, the likes of Cannonball Cooper, Hezekiah Braxton, Judge Thomas, Larry Roberts, Lofell Williams, Bobby Phillips, Monroe Beard, Nathan Fairley and, most recently, Andre Braxton.

Byers is on pace to outgain and outscore them all with the possible exception of A. Braxton. He wears jersey No. 3 but he ranks No. 1 in just about every statistical category.

Combining jet speed, surprising power, and an uncanny knack for finding holes even where there appears to be none, Byers is a strong candidate for CIAA Player of the Year and Division II All-American.

To the delight of VUU’s homecoming crowd of 7,399, Byers carried 29 times for 205 yards and two TDs against the Vikings.

On the season, Byers has dipped and darted for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading all of Division II in both categories. The muscular 180-pounder keeps the chains moving, averaging 7.6 yards per tote.

If Byers represents the “Zoom” in VUU’s running game, freshman Curtis Allen is the “Boom.” The 6-foot-2, 215-pound bruiser from Prince George has eight TDs (including one against ECSU) in just 22 tries.

VUU has excelled in all aspects of the game this season after coming off a less-than-satisfying 6-4 mark in 2021.

The last time VUU posted an undefeated regular season was in 1981, when the Panthers started 10-0 under Coach Willard Bailey. That season ended with a loss to Shippensburg State in the NCAA first round at City Stadium.

It was also under Bailey (in his second tenure as Panthers’ coach) that VUU won the CIAA in 2001.

What has been stressful to younger VUU fans is that the Panthers have yet to make an appearance in the CIAA championships game since it has been hosted in Salem.

Bowie suffered a rare conference loss earlier this season when it slipped up against Shaw. That said, Bowie is 41-5 in CIAA play since 2015.

“Coach Doctor’s” North Siders would seem capable of heading west to Salem, and then to the NCAA playoffs, this go-round.

But, as usual, one school stands in the way.

Bowie suffered a rare conference loss earlier this season to Shaw. That said, the Bulldogs are 41-5 in CIAA play since 2015, and have had four straight wins coming into this Saturday’s fray, including dismantling Virginia State last Saturday, thwarting the Trojans’ homecoming.

There is a lot of football still to be played, but if VUU wants to get where it wants to go, the trip would be much easier by taking its victory tour through Bowie.

The gloves come off Saturday.