WEST GROVE, Pa.  — Gerald Swain (Burlington Township, N.J./Burlington Township HS) scored on a 65-yard reception early in the first quarter, but the Lincoln University football team couldn't hold on to the momentum as the Lions concluded the four-game homestand on Saturday with a 21-16 loss to Virginia State in a CIAA Northern Division game during Senior Day at Avon Grove High School.
 
“Swain definitely set the tone for the first half,” Lincoln head coach O.J. Abanishe said. “We came out quick, which is what we always want to do. Throughout the season, we have started out slow at times, but today we started out quick and we have to keep it rolling through the second, third and fourth quarters of games.”
 
Lincoln (2-6 overall, 2-4 CIAA) finished with more than 300 total yards of offense for the fifth time this season, but a critical turnover in the second quarter turned the game in Virginia State's favor.
 
After Swain scored on the Lions' opening possession, the Trojans (4-4, 3-3) answered on their first drive as Antwain Lyde, who finished with 31 rushes for a game-high 129 yards, went 48 yards up the middle for the score, tying the game at 7 with 10:39 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
Lincoln responded on its next drive as the Lions moved the ball 54 yards in 16 plays as Kyle Jaski (Escondido, Calif./Kenwood HS) booted a 25-yard field goal to give the Lions a 10-7 advantage with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
 
After a Trojans punt, Lincoln started its drive at its own 22. With the ball on the Lions' 48, Ivan Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) fumbled the ball and Virginia State recovered on the Lincoln 46. Four plays after the turnover, Lyde scored on a 26-yard run to give the Trojans a 14-10 lead.
 
The Lions had a chance to cut the deficit right before halftime, but were unable to get the ball past the Virginia State 25.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, Lincoln used a 9-play, 88-yard drive as Matthew Coston (Queens, N.Y./Dover HS) was all alone down the right side and caught a perfectly thrown pass by Doug Cook (Dania Beach, FL/University School of Nova SE University) for a 29-yard score to give Lincoln a 16-14 advantage with 12:29 remaining.
 
However, on the extra point attempt, Jaski's kick was initially blocked, but a penalty on Virginia State negated the play. On his second attempt, the ball went wide right, keeping the Lions in front, 16-14.
 
But much like Virginia State did in the opening quarter, the Trojans responded to the Lions score by going 60 yards in just six plays as Lyde capped off the big day with his third rushing touchdown – a 6-yard run – to give Virginia State the lead for good at 21-16 with 9:39 left.
 
The Lions had a few attempts to answer, but couldn't get past the Trojans defense.
 
Lincoln got the ball for its final drive with 36 seconds remaining at its own 47. The Lions marched to the Virginia State 43, but couldn't get any closer.
 
“Our defense had a hard time getting off the field in the first half, but they closed out well at the end,” Trojans head coach Andrew Faison said. “Our wide receivers dropped a lot of passes, but we did a good job of taking pressure off of the quarterback by running the football early.”
 
Swain led the Lions in rushing with 55 yards on 13 carries. Cook added 15 rushes on nine carries. In the air, Cook was 29-of-51 for 316 yards with a pair of scores. Philip Jean-Juste (Miami, Fla. /North Miami Beach HS) caught a game-high nine passes for 89 yards, while Swain had 99 yards on six catches.
 
Defensively Brandon McElwee (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City Junior and Senior HS), the CIAA Linebacker of the Week, paced the Lions with 14 tackles, including 11 solo. Daron Jones (Baltimore, Md./Cardinal Gibbons HS) added 12 tackles, including three for a loss of 13 yards. He also had one forced fumble and a sack. Jeff Edward chipped in with nine tackles.
 
“We didn't come out playing our type of football,” McElwee said. “We were kind of trying to see what they would do, and we started picking it up and attacking them. I am proud of being one of the first to play football at Lincoln. It feels good to know that my foundation is going to lead to brighter days in the future. With the new recruits and other players getting experience, I know Lincoln will be a force.”
 
Also playing in his last home game was senior nose tackle Eugene Lancaster (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS), who added five tackles.
 
“It feels great to be a part of the Lincoln family,” Lancaster said. “Just working hard and knowing that we built something special here feels great.”
 
Jarred Battle was 12-of-18 passing to lead Virginia State with 112 yards. Corey Young had five catches for 23 yards and Dion Futch added 32 yards on four receptions.
 
Gary Johnson and Bryant Frazier finished with seven tackles each for the Trojans, who improved to 8-0 all time against the Lions.
 
Prior to the game, Lincoln honored 16 seniors – Carl Beaty (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic HS), Shaton Clark (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham HS), LeAndre Davis (New Castle, Del./Christiana HS), Jeffrey Edwards (Compton, Calif./St. John Bosco HS), Gerald Foster (P.G. County, Md./Oxon Hill HS), Wesley Hansborough (Glenarden, MD/Central), Daron Jones (Baltimore, Md./Cardinal Gibbons HS), Jordan Jones (Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS), Eugene Lancaster (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS), Kester Lewis (Bowie, Md./Grady HS), Ronald Love (Plainfield, N.J./Central HS), Brandon McElwee (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City Junior and Senior HS), Robert McGrier (Philadelphia, Pa./Roxborough HS), D'Ante Smith (Bowie. Md./Riverdale Baptist HS), Brucelee Sterile (Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS) and Anthony Wilson (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington HS) – who played in its final home game for the Lions.
 
“It's real emotional,” Abanishe said. “I told the guys yesterday that everything that Lincoln has become was built on their backs - from the stadium, to the homecoming crowd. We got 16 guys coming to a program that didn't have football, but to have 16 guys come somewhere and want to build a program that is outstanding. I commend those young men.”
 
Lincoln will look to get back into the win column Saturday, Oct. 29 in Roanoke, Va., as the Lions travel to Virginia University of Lynchburg. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., at William Fleming High School.