RALEIGH, N.C. – Saint Augustine's College held high-powered Elizabeth City State University to a season low in total offensive yards, but was unable to pull out the victory in 29-27 CIAA football loss on Saturday (Sept. 26) at Broughton High School Stadium.
The Vikings entered the game averaging a league-high 428.2 offensive yards, but were held to 172 yards. The Vikings gained over 400 yards in each of their first three games, but were held to under 200 yards for the first time this season. Meanwhile, the Falcons gained 368 offensive yards which is their second highest total this season.
Despite winning the battle in total offensive yards, the Falcons failed to win for the second straight time when their 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Justin Hamilton as time expired.
Jone' Harris (Jr./Fairfield, Calif.) led the Falcons with three receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns, including a 34-yard leaping grab in the fourth quarter which put the Falcons ahead 27-23 with 3:02 remaining in the game. It was the second straight 100-plus yard receiving day for the Falcons' tight end.
Joaquin Green of the Falcons completed 11-for-27 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions. Richard Abney caught four passes for 45 yards and a score for the Falcons.
Cedric Blacknall of the Vikings rushed 10 times for 40 yards and two touchdowns, including a two-yard run with 1:22 left which turned out to be the game-winner. The Falcons drove to the Vikings' 17-yard line on their next possession where they attempted the potential winning field goal with three seconds left. Hamilton's block preserved the victory for the Vikings.
Creven Powell completed 6 of 18 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, but he threw two interceptions, one to Jamil Berry (So./Jonesboro, Ga.) and the other to Charles McKenzie (Jr./Warner Robins, Ga.).
Linebacker Steven Stanback paced the Falcons with 10 total tackles, and defensive end Marcus Crump (R-Sr./Pittsboro, N.C.) added seven tackles and 0.5 sacks. Kobi Williams sparked the Vikings with a game-high 11 tackles.
The game, played in rainy conditions, featured six lead changes, 11 turnovers and two safeties after the ball sailed over the punter in the end zone. The Vikings scored first on Blacknall's two-yard run, but the Falcons led 10-7 at halftime on a 43-yard pass to Harris from Kris Brownlee (R-So./Philadelphia, Pa.) and a 36-yard field goal by Adison Daniels (Sr./Raleigh, N.C.).
The Vikings regained the lead 16-10 on a safety and an eight-yard run by Daronte McNeill. The Falcons countered by scoring on a safety and a six-yard pass to Abney from Green for a 19-16 lead going into the fourth quarter. There were three lead changes in the last seven frantic minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Falcons dropped to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the CIAA, and the Vikings upped their record to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the league. The Falcons will visit crosstown rival Shaw University at Millbrook High School starting at 1 p.m. next Saturday. The Vikings will travel to Virginia State University for a 1 p.m. game.
