LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (October 15, 2008) – After two consecutive road games, the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania football team returns home to host Elizabeth City State University in its first Homecoming contest in 48 years Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m. (GAME NOTES)
The game can be heard live on www.brandywineradio.com with John Schaeffer calling all of the action beginning with the pre-game show at 12:45 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on-line at EZ-TIXX.com or at Lincoln on Wednesday and Thursday from 3-8 p.m. in the ticket booth outside of the Main Gym inside of Manuel Rivero Hall. Tickets are $20 (reserved), $15 (general admission), $10 (students) and free for Lincoln students with identification.
The Lions (1-6 overall) lost at Virginia Union, 68-6 last week. Elizabeth City State (4-3 overall, 4-0 league) rallied from a 14-point deficit to defeat Bowie State, 29-28. This will be the first meeting in school history between Lincoln and Elizabeth City State.
Junior quarterback and physical education Kareem Dennis (Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln) (Philadelphia, PA/Abraham Lincoln) finished with 122 passing yards and one touchdown against VUU. Freshman business major D'Ante Smith (Bowie. Md./Riverdale Baptist HS) (Bowie, MD/Riverdale Baptist) scored Lincoln's touchdown, a 6-yard catch. Smith also finished with 116 return yards, including a 35-yard kickoff return. The Lions are 9-for-13 in the red zone with eight touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver and physical education major Trey Thomas (Canton, GA/Woodstock) (Canton, GA/Woodstock) leads Lincoln with 39 catches for 420 yards. Thomas has 17 catches that have covered 10 or more yards. He also leads the Lions with three touchdown catches.
Defensively, freshman linebacker Gerald Foster (Temple Hills, MD) had seven tackles and three sacks last week against Virginia Union. For the third time in four games, freshman linebacker and business major Bruce-Lee Sterile (Miami Beach, FL/North Miami Beach) finished with 10 or more tackles. Sterile leads Lincoln with 67 tackles.
Elizabeth City State received one vote in this week's AFCA Division II Top 25 poll. The Vikings are the only CIAA team without a league loss. Elizabeth City State is in the driver's seat for the CIAA Eastern Division championship. If the Vikings defeat Lincoln, Saint Paul's and Virginia Union, they will qualify for the CIAA Championship game in Charlotte on November 8. The Vikings are playing their final road game of the season
The Vikings top player has been junior wide receiver Dexter Manley. He leads the CIAA in receiving yards per game (105.5) and yards per catch (28.8). Manley has caught 22 passes for 633 yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Curtis Rich is among the league leaders in passing averaging 182.6 yards per game. He has completed 50 percent of his passes and has thrown 11 touchdowns.
Reggie Smith anchors the special teams. He has returned two punts and a kickoff for a touchdown. Defensively, the Vikings have recorded 49 sacks. Rod Jones is ECSU's leading tackler with 65. The Vikings are 11th in total defense (392.3) and 11th in passing defense (202.7). However, ECSU is second in the conference in passing offense (201.4), fourth in scoring offense (29.9) and fourth in total offense (321.9).
Next week, Lincoln visits Virginia State beginning at 1:30 and Elizabeth City State hosts Saint Paul's College starting at 1:30. Elizabeth City State and Virginia State will be celebrating Homecoming.
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