The Lincoln University football team fell to nationally-ranked Virginia Union Saturday, 45-20, in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association action inside the LU Athletics Stadium.

Virginia Union scored the first 17 points of the game to take the 17-0 lead into the break.

On the Panthers' first drive of the second half, senior Kai Gray (Newark, N.J./Saint Peters Prep) – who was all over the field – forced a fumble that was recovered by senior Mike Johnson (Edgewood, Md./Edgewood) at the 24 yardline. Lincoln took advantage of the favorable field position as sophomore Amir Gerald (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) found pay dirt from five-yards out. It marked the first Lincoln touchdown against VUU since 2017.

Lincoln's touchdown was the beginning of stretch in which the team's combined to score touchdowns on four straight possessions. The Lions' other score during that span was a 12-yard touchdown rush by freshman Isaiah Freeman (Chester, PA/STEM Academy).

Freeman also registered a passing score, connecting with freshman Antwain Banks (Middle River, Md./Edgewood) on a 71-yard catch and run. He finished 16-of-28 for 228 yards, the aforementioned touchdown and his first interception of the season. The rookie signal caller opened his collegiate career with 168 passes before his first interception. Freeman also led the team with 69 yards rushing.

Banks finished with 116 yards on four catches and a touchdown, while sophomore Drew Stephens (Newark, N.J./Abraham Clark) finished with 62 yards on four receptions.

Defensively, Gray had 17 tackles with 1.5 for loss and two forced fumbles, while Johnson had seven tackles, one for loss and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Darius Sterling (South Chesterfield, Va./Thomas Dale) led the team with a pair of tackles for loss with six total stops. Senior Eric Best (Burlington, N.J./Burlington), redshirt freshman Jahad Green (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro), sophomore Jesse Jackson (Washington, D.C./Dunbar), and sophomore Makhai Beasley (Washington, D.C./McKinley Tech) all had six tackles.

Lincoln (2-5 overall, 1-4 CIAA) hosts Virginia State 1 p.m. Saturday in CIAA action.