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SAU Football Stays Close Until Final Quarter in Loss To VSU

@SpectacularMag

RALEIGH, NC – Saint Augustine’s University played Virginia State (VSU) to nearly a standstill for almost the entire football game in a 33-9 CIAA loss in Ettrick, Va., on Saturday, Oct. 2.

It was a hard-fought loss for the Falcons despite the score. The contest, played at Rogers Stadium, was tied 9-9 in the second quarter. Virginia State only led 16-9 in the fourth quarter before scoring the final 17 points.

VSU
Deandre Proctor, shown here against Chowan, made several highlight-reel grabs against Virginia State. (Photo: Jerrell Johnson)

The tandem of quarterback Christopher Perkins (Fr./Spring Lake, NC) and wide receiver Deandre Proctor (Fr./Elizabeth City, NC) sparkled offensively, and a defense led by linebackers Lee Sales (R-Fr./Winston-Salem, NC) and Joseph Harris (Jr./Jacksonville, FL) was tenacious much of the contest.

Perkins, making his starting debut, completed 9 of 15 passes for 120 yards and added 53 yards on the ground. Proctor caught six passes, including several highlight-reel grabs, for 86 yards. Sales recorded a game-high 11 tackles and Harris collected 10 tackles.

The Trojans scored a touchdown on the game-opening drive, but the Falcons wouldn’t go away. A high snap over the VSU punter’s head went out of the end zone for a safety that pulled the Falcons within 6-2.

After a Trojans’ field goal in the second quarter, Perkins keyed a 15-play, 84-yard scoring drive that tied the game at 9-9. The Trojans could not stop the elusive Perkins, who used his legs to scramble out of trouble for long gains.

Keyshown Lindsey (Fr./Fayetteville, NC) capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run on fourth down with 1:19 left in the half after taking a pitch from Perkins.

But on the ensuing possession, the Trojans, aided by two SAU penalties, scored on a pass play right before halftime for a 16-9 lead. The score stayed that way until the fourth quarter when the Trojans pulled away.

VSU quarterback Dvonte Waller was 15 of 26 for 232 yards and one touchdown pass.

Next Saturday, SAU will be on the road for the second consecutive time when it visits Livingstone College in a CIAA Southern Division matchup in Salisbury, N.C. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.