Virginia State University scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second half to break open a close game as the Trojans spoiled Elizabeth City State University's first home game at Roebuck Stadium in a month, 36-7.
With the score just 13-0 at halftime, Virginia State halfback Jimmyll Williams broke touchdown runs of 45 yards and 47 yards to give the visitors a four-touchdown cushion, an insurmountable lead for a struggling ECSU offense.
The Trojans dominated the line of scrimmage, completely stopping the Vikings' running game, and forcing quarterback Damarcus Creecy to throw on almost every down.
Scrambling under constant pressure, the freshman from Daytona Beach, Florida, often had to throw on the run. He would complete 14 of 29 attempts for 149 yards and a touchdown. However, the Virginia State defense recorded 12 sacks, two interceptions, and a safety.
The very first series of the game pretty much was an indication of how the game would unfold. ECSU received the opening kickoff, but two sacks on its first three plays forced a punt from the Vikings' own end zone. A 48-yard kick by Darius Satterfield placed the ball at midfield where the visitors took possession.
Three runs by halfback Williams earned two first downs to the Viking 30-yard line. From there quarterback Romelo Williams threw to running back Williams who was wide open on a wheel route coming out of the backfield. The 30-yard touchdown was followed by a successful conversion kick by Joshua Campbell and the Trojans led 7-0 with 11:07 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession, the Vikings drove the ball from its own 35-yard line to the Trojan 29-yard line in nine plays. Creecy completed one pass to Kash Foley and two to Shai Wheeler, the second a diving catch, but the drive stalled, and the ball turned over on downs.
That was as close as the home team would get in the first half as the Trojans' Campbell would connect on two field goals of 27 and 38 yards to increase Virginia State's lead. After surrendering the early touchdown, the Vikings' "Code Blue" defense played well, recording five sacks of their own to halt Trojan drives.
Whether it was a letdown or a blocking adjustment to start the second half, Williams bolted through two gaping holes for his touchdown runs in the third quarter. After the second score, ECSU held the ball for nine plays, the biggest gain a 21-yard completion from Creecy to sophomore wide receiver Terrance Holland.
Again, successive sacks stopped the drive, and Satterfield dropped back to punt. The junior boomed the ball down into the "coffin corner" and when the Trojan returner fumbled the ball, Viking senior defensive back Carlton Hunt recovered the loose ball. ECSU had the ball first and goal at the Virginia State 4-yard line.
Creecy converted immediately with a touchdown pass to Holland who was crossing across the end zone. The extra point kick was converted by Riley Higgins and the score was 27-7 as the third quarter ended.
ECSU could not get any closer as Virginia State added a defensive safety, and then a final score on a 68-yard touchdown pass from Williams to wide receiver Tylique Ray.
The scoring play lifted the passing statistics for the Virginia State quarterback to 13 of 18 attempts for 231 yards and two touchdowns. His teammate, running back Jimmyll Williams, finished with 132 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns.
Sophomore quarterback Chase Williams from Hyattsville, Maryland, got into the game for one series for the Vikings. He completed his one pass attempt to Foley for a first down, but a subsequent tackle for a loss took the home team off the field on its final possession.
The win moved the Virginia State record to 4-3 and 3-1 in the CIAA. ECSU falls to 2-5 and 0-4 in the CIAA. The Vikings will play their homecoming game Saturday against the Lincoln University Lions.
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