The Lincoln University football teams starts their CIAA divisional play in week #6, hosting Virginia Union University on Saturday at Lions Stadium.

THE BASICS
Game #6: Lincoln (PA) (0-5, 0-2) vs Virginia Union University (3-2, 2-0)
Date/Time: Saturday, October 7, 2017/ 5:00 p.m.
Location:  Lincoln University, Pa.
Stadium (Capacity):  Lions Stadium (2,800)
Live Video/Stats –   http://lulions.com/sports/2014/9/6/GEN_0906142618.aspx
Series – Virginia Union leads the all-time series 30-11-2
First Meeting:  1916 – Virginia Union 13 Lincoln 0
Last Meeting:   Oct. 8, 2016 - Virginia Union 39 Lincoln 6 (at Virginia Union)


THE OPENING KICK

The Lions are seeking their first win of the season the Virginia Union Panthers come to town for the "Cat Fight" at Lions Stadium Saturday. 

The Lincoln-Virginia Union series dates back 101 years and is the oldest series amongst the Lions' CIAA opponents.  Saturday's game is the 44^th meeting between these two teams. 

Lincoln's last win came on September 10, 2016 a 33-23 win over Lincoln University of Missouri at Lions Stadium. 

The Lions are also seeking their first conference win since a 20-10 win over Shaw University on September 26, 2015, a stretch of 21 consecutive losses.  The Shaw win is Lincoln's only CIAA win over the past four seasons.

VIRGINIA UNION AT A GLANCE…
 
The Panthers have won their first two conference games, defeating Fayetteville State 47-40 two weeks ago and St. Augustine's University, Lincoln's week #4 opponent, 28-7 last week.  The Panthers are averaging 27.8 points per game, fifth best in the CIAA.  VUU is averaging 375.4 yards of total offense per game, third highest total in the league and also has the fourth best defense in the league, giving up just 26.6 points per game.
 
LINCOLN AT A GLANCE…
 
The Lions have dropped their first two conference games of the season, losing to St. Augustine's University 81-9 two weeks ago and Winston-Salem State University 48-0 last week.  Lincoln is averaging 13.2 points per game, ranking tenth in the CIAA.  Lincoln is averaging 248.8 yards of total offense per game, also tenth best in the league.  The Lions are giving up 56.4 points per game, the highest total amongst the 12 CIAA schools.
 
THE COACHES…

Reginald Byarse, Jr. was named the interim head coach of the Lions on May 1, 2017. Byarse, 29, has the distinction of being the youngest head coach of an NCAA Division II football program this season.  No stranger to the Lincoln football program, Byarse spent the last season as the Lions' Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach where he coordinated and managed all aspects of special teams position/positions assignment. Lincoln's punt return unit was one of only six Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) schools to average over ten yards per return in the 2016 season.   Byarse also was heavily involved in opponent evaluation and development of defensive game plans and assists with the administrative functions of the program. He spent the previous six seasons working at the high school level in various capacities. He graduated from Cincinnati in 2011.  

Mark James became Virginia Union University's 26th Head Football Coach on January 21, 2014. James joined the Panther coaching staff prior to the 2013 season as the defensive line coach, and he's in his sixth season overall coaching at the collegiate level. James has made several coaching stops along his way to Virginia Union.  He was a Head Coach for nine years at two major high schools in south Florida.  James was able to build powerhouse programs that gained national recognition for producing some of the top division I prospects and several NFL players. In his tenure he has worked with a number of successful past and present NFL players.   His list of NFL players coached includes Patrick Simms, Louis Holmes, Stanley Mcglover, Leonard Hankerson, Major Wright, Hanik Milligan, Daryl Mcglover and Super bowl winning Josh Bynes.
 
LAST MEETING…

Virginia Union University's William Stanback rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns as VUU defeated Lincoln University 39-6 on a rain-soaked Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.  Shawheem Dowdy completed 16 of 24 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns for the Panthers in the win.
Lincoln scored their lone touchdown with 4:58 remaining in the game as Stephen Scott (Baltimore City, Maryland/Bethel College) broke the shutout with a two-yard run.  Scott finished with 44 yards rushing on the afternoon.   Jason Epps (Bowie, MD/Bowie High School) completed nine of 28 passes for 101 yards.  Six different receivers caught at least one pass for Lincoln  

LAST TIME OUT…

The Lincoln University football team suffered their fifth loss of the season Saturday evening, losing to Winston-Salem State University 48-0 at Bowman Grey Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Despite the score, some positive signs emerged as the game played on.  The Lions defense held the Rams to just 293 yards of total offense, the lowest total by an opponent so far this season.  The total included just 48 yards passing, also a team low against the Lions.  The 48 points given up was also equals the fewest given up in a game this season.  Lincoln also had control of the ball for just over 35 minutes, nearly ten minutes longer than the Rams.    Lincoln also cut down on the penalties, getting called for just five in the game (team was averaging 9 per game entering the contest).
 
It was the Rams special teams and defense however that put up the majority of the points on the scoreboard, notching four touchdowns on the evening.  The scoring began right from the opening kickoff when WSSU's Canard Brown ran Cody Waddell (Elkton, Md./Northeast)'s kickoff 95 yards for the first touchdown of the game.  The Ram's special teams struck again on the Lions first possession when Waddell had his punt blocked and the Rams recovered in the end zone.  Brown added a 72 yard punt return for a touchdown and the Rams defense recovered a fumble and ran it in for a fourth score late in the second quarter.  Rams quarterback Rod Tinsley also ran for two touchdowns in the first half as the hosts staked themselves to a 42-0 lead at halftime.  WSSU scored once more in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring.
 
The Lions finished the game with 200 yards of total offense – 72% of that coming from quarterback Trey McCollum (Burlington, N.C./Western Alamance).  McCollum, in his first collegiate start, passed for 92 yards on 12 completions and ran for an additional 53.  Senior wide receiver Andre Price (Rialto, Calif./Jurupa Hills (Chabot)) was McCollum's favorite target, catching four passes for 27 yards. Elijah Smith (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka (Monroe College)), Carlos Croslin (Baltimore, Md./Frederick Douglass (Globe Tech) ) and Rameses Owens (Warrensville Hgts., Ohio/Shaker Heights Robert Morris)) each had three catches.  Owens also gained 34 yards on the ground.
 
The majority of the Rams' offense came on the ground as five runners, led by Kerrion Moore's 93 yards gained a total of 245 yards on the evening. WSSU's special teams accounted for 197 yards with three scores.   Tinsley passed for 48 yards and had two 1-yard touchdown runs
 
QUARTERBACK COMPARISON
                            GP             COMP-ATT-INT           PCT          YDS     YDS/G      TD      LG                              EFF.
 Espinoza (LU)       5                43-90-2                    47.8%       647       129.4        5         66                              122.1
 Taylor (VUU)         5                60-119-2                  50.4%        893       223.3        8         69                              132.3         
 

LIONS TO WATCH
Offense – Wide receiver Andre Price (Rialto, Calif./Jurupa Hills (Chabot)) is currently tied for the league lead with 24 receptions.  He also ranks third in the CIAA, averaging 72.4 yards per game.   Quarterback Vincent Espinoza (Madera, Calif./Madera (West Hills)), who saw limited action last week, has completed 43 of 90 passes for 647 total yards (6^th best in CIAA) with five touchdowns with two interceptions.  His five touchdown passes rank sixth in the CIAA.  Running Back Rameses Owens (Warrensville Hgts., Ohio/Shaker Heights Robert Morris)) netted 199 yards rushing the first five games as a Lion while scoring two touchdowns. Backup quarterback Trey McCollum (Burlington, N.C./Western Alamance) has the longest run from scrimmage this season at 84 yards and is second on the team with 77 net yards rushing.
Defense – Junior linebacker Deion Miller (Sayreville, N.J./Jersey Coast Academy), a Second Team All-CIAA honoree last season, recorded a career-high 18 tackles in the loss at Lincoln (Mo.) on 9/9.  His performance earned him the CIAA Defensive Back of the Week award as well as the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week Award.  He is currently second in the CIAA in tackles per game (9.2). Freshman Rob Thomas is sixth in the CIAA in tackles/game (7.5). The Lions have forced eight fumbles in first five games, recovering five (2^nd in CIAA, 45^th nationally). 
Special Teams – Carlos Croslin (Baltimore, Md./Frederick Douglass (Globe Tech) ) has 304 return yards this season to rank third in the CIAA. His 17.9 yards per returns is the highest on the team.  Deontae Brockington (Randallstown, Md./Baltimore City College HS) is averaging 15.8 yards per kickoff return.  Cody Waddell (Elkton, Md./Northeast), Lincoln's primary punter is averaging 36.4 yards per punt. Waddell is averaging 49.1 yard on kickoffs.

PANTHERS TO WATCH

Offense – Panther quarterback Darius Taylor is ranked in the conference top ten in every passing category, including third in the league averaging 223 passing yards per game and fifth with eight touchdown passes.  Running back Rodney McKay is averaging 54.3 yards per game.   Receiver Jewison Dawkins exploded in the Panthers last game with four catches for 136 yards and touchdowns.  He is currently averaging 18 yards per catch. Lavatiae Kelly leads the team with 18 catches.
Defense – Sterling Hammond and Quantae Battle are leading the team, averaging 6.0 tackles per game. Hammond also has four interceptions.   Taj Conway is the team's leader in sack with 2.5
Special Teams – Kelly who leads the team in receptions is also a threat on special teams, averaging 20.7 yards per kick return and 28.3 yards per punt return.


CIAA PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Lincoln University is picked to finish sixth in the Northern Division this season by the conference's head football coaches.  The Lions were also picked to have the 12th-best team in the CIAA this season.  Virginia Union was predicted to have the fourth best overall record in the CIAA and finish third in the North Division.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE LIONS
Lincoln travels to North Carolina to take on the Elizabeth City State University Vikings on Saturday, October 14, 2017.  The game will be ECSU's homecoming event and kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.