Box Score
PETERSBURG, Va. — Virginia State maintained control of the division with a convincing 42-0 win over Lincoln University Saturday at Rogers Stadium.
The Trojans remained undefeated in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) North Division by improving to 4-0. The Lions' quick-strike capability in the preceding conference road games went dormant against the conference's No. 3 scoring defense entering the game.
Lincoln had put up double-digit first-quarter leads in each of its three CIAA road games, but Saturday, Virginia State established control early en route to a Homecoming win.
The offense did have chances, though. Behind a career-high five catches by Philip Jean-Juste (Miami, Fla. /North Miami Beach HS) for 83 yards, including two catches of at least 20 yards, the Lions saw four drives end inside the red zone.
Despite VSU's highest point output of the season, the game was a defensive struggle. The Trojans totaled just 285 yards of offense but limited Lincoln to 225 including just 70 on the ground. Relieving injured Laquan Williams (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram HS), quarterbacks Steven Torres (Yonkers, N.Y./Gorton HS), Aaron Thomas (Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area HS), and Steven Morris (Palmyra, N.J./Palmyra HS), the Lions held a slight edge in the air, 155-145.
Turnovers and the inability to pick up fourth down conversions halted the momentum. The Lions were intercepted three times, fumbled the ball away twice and picked up three of six fourth down tries.
In a scoreless game early in the first quarter, Torres hit Jean-Juste on a 19-yard completion, but Jeremy Pruit jarred the ball loose and returned it to the Lincoln 29.
Three plays later Aaron Clark reached the end zone on a rush from seven yards out to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead with 9:42 remaining in the first quarter.
Lincoln could not answer, going three and out, and Virginia State drove 74 yards in nine plays capped by a Jarred Battle five-yard run to establish a 14-0 lead with 4:12 left in the opening period.
The offense would awaken. Each of Lincoln's three second-quarter drives entered Virginia State territory, and twice those drives stalled inside the 20-yard-line on fourth-down attempts.
On the kickoff following Virginia State's second score, Ivan Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) returned it to the LU 48. A 21-yard completion to D'Ante Smith (Bowie. Md./Riverdale Baptist HS) and a 22-yarder to Gerald Swain (Burlington Township, N.J./Burlington Township HS) set Lincoln up at the VSU 15. On the first play on the second quarter on fourth and 3, the Trojans stuffed a sneak by quarterback Thomas for a turnover on downs. Two drives later, Torres fumbled behind the line of scrimmage on a fourth-and-six from the VSU 15.
The Trojans, motivated by the string of stops, not only changed the field position but countered with a touchdown to close out the half. Going 82 yards on eight plays Battle hit Thaditgus Lewis for a 24-yard touchdown and a 21-0 edge.
The second half was not much different. Virginia State scored touchdowns on its first two drives for an additional cushion, but LU was not without opportunities.
Torres again found Jean-Juste. The 27-yard play moved the ball to the VSU 34, but Torres' next pass was intercepted by Ian White and returned 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Trojans up 35-0 with 10:02 to go in the third.
In the fourth quarter, Jean-Juste reeled in his a 22-yarder from Thomas. A combined 27 rushing yards by D'Ante Smith (Bowie. Md./Riverdale Baptist HS) on four carries moved Lincoln inside the red zone for the fourth and final time, but Thomas' pass sailed out of bounds on fourth-and-six and cemented the shutout.
Defensively, LU was led by the familiar linebacker tandem of Brucelee Sterile (Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS) and Brandon McElwee (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City Junior and Senior HS). Sterile led Lincoln with 13 tackles and reached the double-digit plateau for the fifth time in 2010 and 13th time in his career. McElwee had 10 stops for the first time this year and ninth time overall, but he was a beast behind the line, recording 2.5 tackles for a total loss of 15 yards including an 11-yard sack. He also had a pass breakup.
Junior defensive end Maurice Bertrand (Yonkers, N.Y./Cherry Hill HS) had a career-high six tackles.
Up Next
LU finally plays a home game, a showdown with Saint Paul's College. Its only game at Avon Grove the season was against Saint Augustine's College on Sep. 25. Saturday's game will be Homecoming. Lincoln is 16-5 all-time against the Tigers but has dropped the only meetings since the reinstatement of the football program. In 2008, LU lost 23-20 at Avon Grove High School, and last year, SPC prevailed 16-6.
— LU —
