Sunday, October 11, 2015

#1-Ranked Virginia Union Panthers Crush Lincoln 66-27

RICHMOND, Virginia -- Virginia Union University, ranked #1 in the Heritage Sports Radio Network HBCU poll, scored 50 straight points in the second half to cruise to a 66-27 win over Lincoln (Pa.) University on Saturday, October 10, in Lincoln University, Pa.

VUU's Hakeem Holland opened the game by returning the kickoff 93-yards for a touchdown, then added three more rushing TDs on the day, including a 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Holland would rush for a career-high 186 yards in the game. Holland also had 173 yards in kickoff return yardage.

Virginia Union's Shawheem Dowdy completed 10 of 22 passes for 144 yards and three touchdown passes. The game marked the third time this season that Dowdy has passed for three or more touchdowns in a single game. Dowdy has passed for 12 touchdowns this season, the most by a Panther quarterback since Lamar Little passed for 14 TDs in 2008. The school record for most passing touchdowns in a single season is 28, set by Little in the 2007 season.

VUU's Rodeshawn Joseph picked off two passes, including returning one 50 yards for a touchdown. This marked the first time this season that a Panther defensive player has had two interceptions. The last VUU player to have two interceptions in a single game was Charles Davis against Fayetteville State University in 2014.

Virginia Union's Paulin Miano and Joseph Blanks had recovered two sacks apiece, with VUU have a total five sacks as a team. Miano also led Virginia Union with nine tackles. VUU's Joshua Fasavalu and Kameron Mack both recovered a fumble.

The Panther defense also continued to shine against rushing offense. Already leading the nation statistically in rushing defense, the Panthers held Lincoln to 59 total offensive yards.

On the offensive side of the ball, VUU racked up 534 total offensive yards, the fourth-highest in school history. It was the most total offensive yardage for a Panther team since VUU set a school-record of 623 yards against Norfolk State University on October 24, 1992.

Virginia Union had 390 total rushing yards, the eighth-highest in school history, and the most since VUU set a school-record of 490 yards against Virginia State University in 2009.

The win raised VUU's record to 5-1 on the season and 3-0 in the CIAA. The Panthers are tied for first place in the Northern Division of the CIAA with Bowie State University. Lincoln fell to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the CIAA.

Virginia Union returns to Hovey Field for Homecoming 2015 on Saturday, October 17, when the Panthers face Chowan University at 1:00 p.m. in Richmond, Va.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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