The Lincoln University football team travels to Charlotte, N.C. for their first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association road game, taking on Johnson C. Smith for the Eddie McGirt Classic.

GAME NOTES | WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

ON THE AIR
The game will be featured on HBCUgo.com. Additionally, all four home games can be viewed on the Lincoln University Sports Network. Koy Stewart will be providing the play-by-play with Drew Darby adding the color analyst. Additionally, you will be able to find three Lincoln University football games (Oct. 8, Oct. 22, and Oct. 29) on HBCUgo.tv
    
SERIES HISTORY
Lincoln has dropped three of the four meetings, including the last three, to Johnson C. Smith. 
    2019 - Johnson C. Smith 26, Lincoln 19    2013 - Johnson C. Smith 49, Lincoln 10
    2018 - Johnson C. Smith 50, Lincoln 13    2012 - Lincoln 55, Johnson C. Smith 53    
    
THE LAST TIME OUT
A dominant effort by the young Lincoln University football team fell just short as Johnson C. Smith University escaped with a 26-19 win at Irwin Belk Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Lincoln racked up over 100 more yards of total offense then the host Golden Bulls (433-304) produced more first downs (22-17) and held the advantage in possession time.  The Golden Bulls however produced two fourth scores to erase the Lions 19-14 lead at the end of three quarters and held off the Lions in their final drive to bring home the win.

RUSHING OPTIONS
After not playing in the season opener, sophomore running back Amir Gerald (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) has carved out a role in the Lincoln offense. He scored the go-ahead touchdown in the week 2 win over Central State, and then gained a career-high 126 yards in last week's loss to South Division favorite Fayetteville State. His 126 yards nearly matched his career seven-game total of 143 yards. 

Lincoln will continue to utilize three to four different running backs and two quarterbacks in the ground attack.

STOUT DEFENSE
Lincoln's defensive unit is ranked second in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, allowing 14.7 points per game. Part of the Lions' success is getting off the field on third down. Lincoln is ranked fourth in the CIAA in allowing opponents to 33.3 conversion rate. 

Veteran experience on the backend of the Lincoln defense, which features returners Rontay Dunbar (Brooklyn, N.Y./Freedom), Kentrell Pierce (Calumet City, Ill./Harold Richards), and Eric Best (Burlington, N.J./Burlington), is a huge reason for the defensive success. 

FRESHMAN SIGNAL CALLER
Freshman quarterback Isaiah Freeman (Chester, PA/STEM Academy) has garnered the respect and admiration of his teammates and coaching staff two starts into his collegiate career. Through five halves of football, he is 33-of-58 for 379 yards and three touchdowns. He is also second on the team in rushing with 142 yards.

STAYING FRESH
Lincoln's defensive line has a rotation of six players, led by Darius Sterling (South Chesterfield, Va./Thomas Dale) and Derrick McCoy (Bridgeton, N.J./Bridgeton). However, Malik Malloy (Washington, D.C./McKinley Tech), Shayne Lynch (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon), Christ Adechokan (Philadelphia, Pa. /Frankford), and Devon Harris (Drexil Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) have all made impacts despite the lack of individual stats. 

MEET THE GOLDEN BULLS
Johnson C. Smith enters the game 0-2 after falling to Chowan on a last second touchdown last week. The Golden Bulls surrendered almost 500 yards of total offense to the Hawks, while compiling 391 yards of their own. JCSU did most of its damage through the air with 317 passing yards.

Junior quarterback Tyrell Jackson, a transfer from Fort Valley State, is guiding the offense with 688 yards on 56-of-90 passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Graduate receiver Reginald Bryant and freshman Brevin Caldwell have combined for 31 catches and 393 yards with Caldwell have all four touchdowns. 

Defensively, junior safety Sharrod Simmons lead the Golden Bulls with 16 tackles and one interception.