By Brandon Walker
Curtis Allen’s 156 yards and two rushing touchdowns, and a defense that held Virginia State without a touchdown score, Virginia Union in the L. Douglas Wilder Unity Game 14-3 on Saturday at Hovey Field.
In the first quarter, Virginia Union (9-1, 7-0 CIAA Conference) forced two turnovers on interceptions thrown by Rashaun Matthews Jr.; however, Virginia State (6-4, 4-3 CIAA) was winning the field position battle throughout the quarter. Allen temporarily left the game for a couple of plays late in the first quarter.
After a scoreless first quarter, both teams regrouped for the second.
VUU opened scoring with a four-yard Allen touchdown, set up by RJ Rosales’ big pass to Jeremiah Francis.
After stopping the Trojans on downs, Allen scored again from two yards out on a drive featuring a 25-yard Ramon Brown run.
VUU led 14-0 at the end of the first half.
Joshua Campbell’s 25-yard field goal marked the culmination of a long drive by VSU.
Penalties and stalled drives ate up the quarter, leaving the score 14-3 at the third’s end.
Virginia State finally attempted to generate some offensive production late in the game; however, VUU was held scoreless in the final quarter.
Lamumba Howard recorded 11 tackles and half a sack on defense for VUU, while Melhkhi Johnson recorded 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack for VSU.
Virginia State will compete in the CIAA Championship game next Saturday against Johnson C. Smith University at Durham Memorial Stadium. VUU previously defeated JSU 28-10 on Sept 20 in Hovey Field.
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