Elizabeth City State in need of Down East victory

ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina  -- Elizabeth City State has made Rocky Mount into a second home, and the Vikings certainly like all the pomp and festivities that come with the Down East Viking Football Classic.

This year’s edition, the 16th annual version of the game, is about something much simpler for the 0-3 Vikings.

They need to leave Rocky Mount with win.

“This is a must-win,” Elizabeth City State coach Waverly Tillar said Monday. “It will pretty much identify what type of season that we’re going to have all year going forward.”

Elizabeth City State has won five straight Down East Viking Football Classics, but Saturday’s contest against Fayetteville State is more than a streak to the Vikings. It’s also their Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener and a chance to correct problems that arose in their three nonconference games.

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