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| COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS |
ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- The Elizabeth City State University Vikings overcame a halftime deficit and a rain delay to capture a 18-10 win over Tusculum College Saturday afternoon at Roebuck Stadium.
The Vikings are the only team in the CIAA to have beaten the Pioneers, both victories coming at Roebuck Stadium (2009, 2014). Tusculum has now lost 18 straight road games and sports a 7-2 record against CIAA opponents.
The two teams played under sunny skies for the first half but during the halftime show the skies opened up with a heavy downpour. Trailing 10-9 entering the second half, the Vikings had the first possession of the third quarter but only ran one play from scrimmage before the game was called due to lightning.
A forty minute rain delay and a quick warmup later, the teams resumed play with the Viking facing 2nd and six at their own 29 yard line.
On Tusculum's second drive of the second half, the Viking defense came up with its first momentum shift of the game. Maliek Wright got his second pick in as many weeks returning the interception to the Tusculum 39 yard line.
ECSU capitalized on the turnover when Jeff Flores connected on a field goal from 33 yards out to give the Vikings a 12-10 lead with 2:26 left in the third.
The Viking defense then forced a three and then went on to control the ball for the next nine minutes, with a 19 play, 70 yard drive that ended with a 2 yard touchdown by Petey Boone (PAT failed) and a 18-10 lead.
The Pioneers got only as far as the ECSU 46 on their ensuing drive and the game ended with the Vikings pitching a second half shutout.
Stephen Williams led the defensive charge with 10 tackles (8 solo) while Kendal Sellers added 8 tackles including 2 sacks for a loss of 10 yards.
Battling the elements of the second half affected both teams' offensive production as the Vikings finished with 293 yards of offense to 287 for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers' opening drive yielded the first score of the game with a 16 play, 81 yard drive ended with a 4 yard TD run by Fernando Smith at the 9:45 mark. The ECSU offense struggled in the opening quarter as Tusculum held the ball for over eleven of the first quarter's opening minutes.
The Vikings finally got on the scoreboard when Malcolm Cherry blocked a punt attempt through the back of the TC end zone for a safety. On the ensuing free kick Lovie Banks-Rose returned the kickoff 62 yard for a score and a 9-7 lead with 2:06 left in the half.
Tusculum rallied to retake the lead as the half expired with a 28 yard field goal by Jose Esparza.
Just the opposite were ECSU's fortunes in the second half as the Vikings won the time of possession edge with their ground game for just over 21 minutes to only eight and a half minutes for Tusculum.
ECSU (1-1) will return to action on Saturday, September 20 at the 17th Annual Down East Viking Football Classic. Game time is scheduled for 4pm at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex. Follow on Twitter @ECSUVikings and visit www.ecsuvikings.com.
Final Stats
COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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