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Trojans veer off track

Fred Jeter | 10/26/2023, 6 p.m.
It will be Senior Day Saturday at Rogers Stadium and the seniors, as well as the underclassmen, figure to have ...

It will be Senior Day Saturday at Rogers Stadium and the seniors, as well as the underclassmen, figure to have a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

After seven weeks of flying friendly skies, Coach Henry Frazier’s’ squad hit unexpected turbulence Oct. 21 against visiting Elizabeth City.

Final score: Vikings 17, Trojans 16. No, that is not a misprint. Repeat Vikings 17, Trojans 16.

It was the CIAA’s upset of the year, but the word upset hardly does the occasion justice; shocker or stunner is more like it.

VSU went into the game 7-0; the Vikings limped into to Ettrick 1-6 but scurried back to North Carolina with added pep in their step.

The good news for Trojans and their fans is that all the goals are still on the table. But the bounce back needs to start Saturday against a Lincoln squad coming off a 57-0 loss at Virginia Union.

VSU has won 14 straight against the Lions, including 42-21 last fall in Pennsylvania.

Trailing most of the way, VSU scored on a Jordan Davis to Lucas Nunez pass with 1:20 left to cut the deficit to 17-16. The extra point kick by Matthew Ward failed. Ward hit an extra point and field goal earlier in the game and is 27 for 33 on extra points on the season.

Davis finished 22 for 34 for 282 yards through the air but VSU’s usually potent ground attack lost it legs. The Trojans managed just 46 yards overland.

Carl Poole, a graduate student from Danville, led VSU’s defense with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Now the Trojans can only hope to send their seniors off with a bang against Lincoln.

Lincoln will come to Rogers as a clear underdog, just as Elizabeth City did.