WEST GROVE, Pa. - Saint Augustine's College is off to its best start in five years after routing Lincoln (Pa.) University 52-21 Saturday at Avon Grove High School Stadium,
The win pushed the Falcons to 3-1 overall and stretched their football winning streak to two games. Most importantly, they are 2-0 in the CIAA Southern Division with an important division game against defending CIAA champion Fayetteville State coming up Saturday (Oct. 2) on Homecoming Day at Broughton High Stadium starting at 2 p.m.
The Falcons haven't opened the season this fast since 2005, when they were unbeaten after four games. They went on to post an 8-2 mark that season, their best record since 2002.
The Falcons wasted little time against the Lions, who dropped to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the CIAA Northern Division. The lead was 32-7 by halftime, and the Falcons went on to record their highest point total since 2002.
Walter Sanders (Sr./Baltimore, Md.), the CIAA's rushing leader, continued his string of 100-yard games. His 64-yard touchdown run in the first quarter set the tone for the Falcons. He finished with 15 carries for 111 yards, becoming the first Falcon runner in the modern era to reach the century mark three consecutive contests.
The Falcons scored 26 points in the second quarter to turn the game into a rout. After Alexander Tucker (Fr./Union, S.C.) added a 21-yard field goal, Jeremy Banks (Fr./Montgomery, AL) blocked a punt which Shonquez Nelson (Fr./Lake City, S.C.) recovered off the bounce and scored on a 10-yard return for a 16-0 lead. Deonte Toliver (Soph./Gaithersburg, Md.) exploded 44 yards for another Falcon touchdown before the Lions finally scored on an 80-yard pass from Laquan Williams to Anthony Wilson. Tucker booted a 39-yard field goal for a 32-7 Falcon lead at halftime.
Joaquin Green (Redshirt Soph./Pittsboro, N.C.) connected with Tyron Laughinghouse (Soph./Greenville, N.C.) for a 63-yard touchdown to begin the third quarter. Backup quarterback Teddy Bacote (Redshirt Fr./Hampton, Va.) added two touchdown passes - one to Brian Richards (Fr./Waldorf, Md.) and the other to Jermaine Jones (Fr./Wilmington, N.C.) - in the second half to round out the scoring for the Falcons.
Green completed 7 of 11 passes for 160 yards for the Falcons, who finished with 427 total offensive yards. Jamain Smith (Jr./Kenansville, N.C.) led Falcon receivers with three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
The Falcons' defense did its part as well, holding the Lions to 220 offensive yards including 79 on the ground. It all added up to a complete victory for the Falcons.
