DURHAM, N.C. — The Lincoln University football team fell behind early and couldn't rally from a big first-quarter deficit as the Lions dropped a 34-17 decision to Saint Augustine's College in a CIAA contest on Saturday at Durham County Stadium.

Lincoln (1-3 overall, 1-2 CIAA), which was looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since 1954, fell behind, 28-0, early in the second quarter. The Lions answered with 17 consecutive points, but it wasn't enough.

The Falcons (2-2, 1-1), who amassed 387 total yards of offense, took the opening drive and marched 48 yards in just three plays as Teddy Bacote connected with Tyron Laughinghouse for a 37-yard touchdown to give Saint Augustine's a 7-0 lead with 13:30 remaining in the first quarter.

Just two minutes later, Laughinghouse returned a punt 58 yards for the score, giving the Falcons a 14-0 advantage with 11:15 left in the first.

Saint Augustine's wasn't done in the opening quarter as Jeremaine Jones caught a 70-yard pass by Bacote to increase the margin to 21-0. The Falcons put together a 10-play, 80-yard drive at the end of the first quarter and start of the second quarter as Laughinghouse caught a 32-yard pass from Bacote to extend the advantage to 28-0 with 14:53 remaining in the first half.

But the Lions refused to go quietly as Kyle Jaski (Escondido, Calif./Kenwood HS) booted a 21-yard field goal to trim the margin to 28-3 with 9:22 left to complete a 12-play, 83-yard drive.

Four minutes later, Doug Cook (Dania Beach, FL/University School of Nova SE University), who was 14-of-29 passing for 174 yards, connected with Anthony Wilson (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington HS) for a 4-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-10 with 5:57 remaining.

The Lions ended the first half by getting a score by the defense.

With the momentum slowly shifting to Lincoln, the Lions got a huge boost from the defense as Tim Green (Fanwood, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS) sacked Bacote and forced the ball loose on the play. Green quickly recovered the ball and went 33 yards for the score to cut the Falcons lead to 28-17.

Despite getting an interception late in the first half, Lincoln couldn't cash that turnover into points as the Lions went into the break trailing 28-17.

Saint Augustine's took advantage of a Lincoln punt at the end of the third quarter by marching 64 yards in eight plays as Dennis Mathis scored on a two-yard run with 9:50 remaining to extend the lead to 34-17.

After the kickoff, the Lions got the ball on their own 31, but quickly moved the ball downfield as Cook found LeAndre Davis (New Castle, Del./Christiana HS) for a 53-yard pickup. However, two plays later, Chaz Robinson intercepted Cook's pass at the Falcons' 19 to halt the Lincoln drive.

Davis led all Lincoln receivers with three catches for 88 yards. Philip Jean-Juste (Miami, Fla. /North Miami Beach HS) added 34 yards on seven catches.

Defensively, Brucelee Sterile (Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS) led the Lions with 12 tackles, including a sack. Brandon McElwee (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City Junior and Senior HS) finished with eight tackles and Kenny Johnson (Randallstown, Md./Randallstown HS) had six tackles and a sack.

Bacote had a big game for the Falcons through the air by throwing for 249 yards on 10 of 20 passing, including tossing three touchdowns. Laughinghouse caught four balls for 98 yards, while Jones had two receptions for 83 yards. Jamian Smith finished with 59 yards on two catches.

Besides the Falcons' big night through the air, Mathis carried the ground game with 157 yards on 27 touches.

Defensively, Robinson had 10 tackles, while Desi Savage and Shonquez Nelson added seven and six, respectively.

Lincoln opens a four-game homestand noon on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Avon Grove High School in West Grove, Pa., against West Virginia Wesleyan in a non-conference game.