THE MATCHUP
Lincoln enters the 12 Annual Western Virginia Education Classic with Virginia University of Lynchburg after back-to-back losses.
The Lions (2-6), who concluded a four-game homestand, take to the road for their final two games of the season.
During Senior Day Last Saturday at Avon Grove High School, Lincoln started off strong against Virginia State as
Doug Cook (Dania Beach, FL/University School of Nova SE University) connected with
Gerald Swain (Burlington Township, N.J./Burlington Township HS) for a 65-yard touchdown to give the Lions a 7-0 lead with 14:18 remaining in the first quarter.
However, Virginia State answered as Antwain Lyde scored the first of three rushing touchdowns on a 48-yard run to tie the contest at 7 with 10:39 left.
A
Kyle Jaski (Escondido, Calif./Kenwood HS) 25-yard field goal broke the 7-all tie and gave the Lions a 10-7 advantage with 4:45 remaining in the opening quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Lyde found daylight and went 26 yards for the touchdown to give the Trojans a 14-10 lead.
Neither team found the endzone in the third quarter, and Lincoln grabbed a 16-14 advantage when
Matthew Coston (Queens, N.Y./Dover HS) caught a perfectly thrown ball by Cook down the right sideline for the score.
Virginia State answered - much like it did all game - as Lyde scored on a 4-yard run with 9:39 remaining.
Lincoln had a few chances to cut the margin, but couldn't find a way to score the game-winning touchdown.
Cook was 29-of-51 passing for 316 yards and no interceptions.
Philip Jean-Juste (Miami, Fla. /North Miami Beach HS) caught nine passes for 89 yards and Swain finished with three catches for 99 yards. Swain was also the leading rusher with 55 yards on 13 carries.
Defensively,
Brandon McElwee (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City Junior and Senior HS) led the Lions with 14 tackles, while
Daron Jones (Baltimore, Md./Cardinal Gibbons HS) had 12. Jeff Edwards chipped in with nine.
The Dragons (2-5) enter today's contest off an open week. On Oct. 15, VUL was blanked at home by Wesley College, 46-0.
In that game, Wesley led, 3-0, after the first quarter and took a 17-0 advantage into the break.
Wesley used a 15-point third quarter and a 14-point final quarter to get the win.
VUL had just 27 rushing yards, while Wesley finished with 221.
Avery Neloms threw for 114 yards on 7-of-20 passing, while Delont Williams was 4 of 9 for 57 yards. Neloms paced the ground game for the Dragons with 45 yards on 17 carries. Kevenski McGee added three receptions for 65 yards and Daray Crawford chipped in with 51 yards on four catches.
Defensively, Mario Woods and Marquevi Myers each recorded nine tackles and Dontra Matthews had six.
THE SERIES
This is the first meeting between the two schools.
UP NEXT
The Lions step back into CIAA action next week. Lincoln concludes the season in Elizabeth City, N.C., agianst Elizabeth City State. The Vikings clinched the Northern Division.
