ECSU Cruises Past Central State (OH) in Season Opener

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- The first play of Elizabeth City State University Head Coach Anthony Jones tenure was one he'll never forget.  But the Vikings had to buckle down to subdue Central State in a lightning-shortened season-opening, 19-10, in Roebuck Stadium.

GREAT WAY TO START THE SEASON

The Vikings scored on the first play of the season when sophomore defensive back Taeyonn Reynolds stripped the ball from the grasp of Marauder freshman running back Brandon Stevenson at the 35 yard line on the kickoff and raced untouched down the left sideline to put ECSU on the board just 13 seconds into Jones' tenure.  It was a lead that the Vikings (1-0) would not relinquish.

Junior running back Gregory Bryan continued his 2-year dominance of Central.  After rushing for 104 yards and a touchdown in Ohio last fall, he piled up 115 yards on nine totes, highlighted by a decisive 71-yard scoring  on a third-and-10 play to push the Vikings lead to 19-10.  Bryant raced untouched through a gaping hole in the left side of the line, dodged one would-be Central State defender and out-ran secondary to the left side of the end-zone.

Before they could celebrate, the Viking faithful had to sit out a series of lightning delays which stopped the clock with 12:27 remaining until the game was called two hours and 50 minutes later. Prior to the halting of play for lightning, the Viking defense was stifling.  Led by senior linebacker Miacah Cooper with nine tackles (6 solos, 3 assists) including a sack and three tackles for loss, ECSU yielded just 71 yards rushing and 118 passing before Mother Nature interrupted.

"My guys did a great job. I told them that I'm very, very proud of them," Jones said after the contest was called by officials.  "A lot of people don't understand, I got here too late for spring ball, so we didn't have spring ball.  And the first time that I saw most of these guys practice was August 8."

Did the new head coach enjoy the win?

"I know he did.  The smile on his face tells it all," said Cooper.

"We exceeded our expectations," an excited Cooper said about his defensive unit following the game.  "We made big plays, we forced turnovers and flew around the ball.

"It's all about winning, getting the winning environment back here."

It was a defensive struggle until a string of three touchdowns on three consecutive possessions  by the teams preceded the stoppage in play. A 20-yard scoring pass and run from rookie quarterback Kedrick Patterson to freshman wide receiver Jaquarious Bellamy into the right flat was punctuated by a crisp downfield block by junior wide receiver Charles Davis, staking the Vikings to a 10-point edge with 2:48 left in the third period.

After limiting Central to just 45 yards of offense during the third period, the Viking defense was breached when the Marauders marched 71 yards on 10 plays capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Trent Mays to sophomore wide receiver Darius Ford 25 seconds into the final quarter.  That drive trimmed the home lead to just three points because of two missed extra-point kicks by ECSU. But Bryan's touchdown gallop put ECSU back in control and took the wind away from Central (0-1).

The Viking defense, led by Cooper and junior linebacker Vincent Thomas, helped ECSU carry a 7-3 lead into halftime by allowing just 103 total yards and a field goal.  Sophomore defensive back Greg Williams' 27-yard interception return with four minutes left in the opening period and strong stand to limit the Pirates to three points after a first-and-goal to begin the second period spelled the difference.

Thomas and junior linebacker Shawn Bridges dropped Central junior running back Blake McEwen for a 2-yard loss on second down before junior defensive back Jaelan Williams broke up a pass in the end-zone on third down to make the visitors settle for 28-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Trevor Teel with 12:14 left in the half.

Central would not pass its own 41 for the rest of the period.

Senior runningback Chase Byrum added 54 yards rushing  to help the Vikings finished with 166 yards on the ground.  Patterson completed 13 of 27 passes without an interception for 168 yards.  Senior wide receiver Deon Yarborough had game highs of five catches for 82 yards.  Bellamy and junior wide receiver Brandon Joyner pulled in three passes apiece.

Mays connected on 12 of 18 passes for 118 yards while junior runningback Terraris Saffold paced the Marauders' running attack with 49 yards on 17 carries.

The Viking win evened the series against Central at 2-2-1.

ECSU is at UNC Pembroke next Saturday at 6 p.m. for another non-conference contest.

ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS