Chris Streeter, VSU Sports Information
The Trojans’ defense did not allow Lincoln University’s offense to score any points on Homecoming 2012 in a 23-3 win for Virginia State on October, 20th. VSU’s defense recorded 5 sacks, an interception, and recovered a fumbled punt for a touchdown in the win.
VSU’s Kenya Hawks (Rs.-Jr./Virginia Beach, VA) and Tyler Wilson (So./Stafford, VA) led the Trojans ground attack for much of the game. Hawks had 16 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown, while Wilson had 12 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. Wide receivers Corey Young (Sr./Virginia Beach, VA) and freshman Ja’von Smallwood (Fr./Virginia Beach, VA) caught 8 passes each, linking up with quarterback Jarred Battle (Sr./Norfolk, VA) for a combined 166 yards receiving. Smallwood hit the century mark with 107 total yards and Young pitched in with 59 yards receiving.
Defensively, Sean Smith (Rs.-Jr./Atlanta, GA) kicked things off with an early interception in the first quarter. He intercepted the Lincoln quarterback on their 28-yard line setting up the offense with great field position. Kicker Devonte Hunt (Jr./Newport News, VA) booted a season-long 40 yard field goal with 11 seconds left in the quarter, giving the Trojans a 3-0 lead. Quarterback Jarred Battle led the Trojans completing 5 of 9 pass attempts for 48 early yards. Hawks had 4 carries for 14 yards rushing.
Linebackers Bryan Frazier (R-So./Richmond, VA) and Alandus Beggs (R-Sr./Hampton, VA) continued to apply pressure as each added another solo sack in the fourth quarter. After a VSU interception, the Lions finally found the end zone on a 22-yard made field goal by Kyle Jaski with 10:22 left in the game. The Trojans stuck to their pounding ground game for the remainder of the game and were able to control the clock as well as the tempo. The game was sealed by a huge special teams play courtesy of defensive back Perry Sutton (Sr./Rock Hill, SC). Sutton recovered a muffed punt in the end zone scoring the Trojans final touchdown. The Trojans cruised to a 23-3 victory in front of a packed crowd in Rogers Stadium on Homecoming.
Huge defensive plays, throughout the game, held the Lions to no offensive points and a shut out through three quarters of play. Beggs led the Trojans with a career-high 12 tackles, with 3 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss of 2 yards, with 2 quarterback hurries. Frazier broke out for a career-high 2.5 sacks and Ronald Lewis (Rs.-So/Virginia Beach, VA) had one sack.
Virginia State University improves to 3-0 in the Northern Division of the CIAA with a 4-4 overall record. The Trojans will host Chowan University on Senior Day in Rogers Stadium on Saturday, October, 27, in their final home game of the 2012 season.
