Trojans rush to third win over chowan 20-13
R-Fr. Thaditguss Lewis (Newport News, VA)
Virginia State University's football team held on late in the fourth quarter to secure a 20-13 win against Chowan University in Murfreesboro, NC on Sept. 25. Justin Parker's 2nd made field-goal (19; 30), from a season long 30 yards out gave VSU a 20-6 lead with 3:23 remaining in the game. Coach Andrew Faison and the VSU Trojans won their first northern divisional conference game with a balance attack of 168 yards passing and 153 yards rushing improving to their best start at 3-1 since the 2002 season.
(3-1) Virginia State University's defense gave up a late touchdown with a minute left in the fourth, after only giving up only two Chowan field-goals the entire game. Chowan rushed for 66 total team yards due to the Trojans stingy and smart defensive group. Led with 9 tackles from senior LaQuentin Milo (Florence, SC), senior James Pratt's (Alexandria, VA) and junior Clifton Haney's (Orlando, FL) 7 tackles the Hawks averaged 1.8 yards rushing on 36 carries. Chowan also received pressure when they attempted to pass as VSU recorded a season high 6 sacks. Red-shirt freshmen Timothy Durant (Hyattsville, MD) and senior Isiah Townsend (San Francisco, CA) both had 2 sacks each and three others each recorded one; senior Andre' Adams (Washington, DC), senior James Pratt (Alexandria, VA), and sophomore Thomas Sykes (Newport News, VA).
The Trojans scored 17 first half points as the offense rolled early on two passing scores and a made 19 yard field-goal. Hooking up for a first quarter score was sophomore quarterback Jarred Battle (Norfolk, VA) and freshmen Dion Futch (Hampton, VA) on a 49 yard pass with 5:20 remaining to give VSU the 7-0 lead. After a 19 yard punt from the Hawks in the second quarter, VSU took over on the Hawks 44 yard line and scored in 11 plays. Battle connected on another score with red-shirt freshmen Thaditguss Lewis (Newport News, VA), as the 6-5 wide receiver jumped high over the Hawks secondary to bring down the 13 yard pass. Battle finished the game passing for 168 yards on 14 of 24 attempts. Senior kicker Justin Parker (Petersburg, VA) made a 19 yard field goal as the second quarter concluded giving VSU a 17-0 lead.
Chowan's kicker Derek Embree made both a 29 and 28 yard field-goal in the second half to give Chowan hope, in an attempt come from behind win at home. VSU's Parker made his second field-goal from a season long 30 yards out to secure a Trojan lead at 3:23 left in the game.
Offensively VSU used five different rushers combining for 153 yards on 40 carries. The offensive line opened up huge holes for two young Trojan running backs that had 25 of VSU's 40 rushes. Red-shirt freshmen Kenay Hawks (Virginia Beach, VA) led VSU with 86 yards rushing and freshmen Aaron Clark (Raleigh, NC) pitched in with 49 yards. Battle scrambled for 12 yards and senior running back Rahoo Walker (Hempstead, NY) carried six times for 25 yards. Senior wide receiver Brian Berry (Conyers, GA) led the Trojans with 5 catches for 62 yards, junior Timothy Paulk (Miami, FL) had 4 for 32 yards, and freshmen Dion Futch (Hampton, VA) finished with 2 catches for 57 yards including a 49 yard score.
Virginia State (3-1 overall, 1-0 CIAA) travels on their third straight road game to battle Bowie State (2-3 overall, 2-0 CIAA) on Saturday, Oct 2 at 1:00 pm. Last season VSU defeated Bowie State 14-12 at Rogers Stadium in VSU's '09 Homecoming.
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