Ryan Gagne kicked a 35-yard field goal with seconds remaining to lift Edward Waters to a stunning 41-38 upset of defending CIAA champion Virginia Union on Friday night.

The Tigers (2-0) trailed 17-14 at halftime but exploded for 24 third-quarter points to take control. Quarterback Torey Morrison found Izaiah Jean-Baptiste on a 15-yard scoring strike before Johntar Thomas broke free for a 70-yard touchdown run with 2:20 left in the period. 

Virginia Union (1-1) refused to fold. The Panthers, who dominated Miles College 45-3 on Labor Day weekend, rallied behind quarterback RJ Rosales, who threw two touchdown passes to receiver Jeremiah Francis. 

Rosales capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a 5-yard scoring pass to Francis, cutting Edward Waters’ lead to 31-24 with 5:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

The game’s pivotal moment came at the 4:09 mark when Virginia Union’s Lamumba Howard recovered a fumble and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown to tie the contest 31-31. But Kieren Jackson immediately answered with a 90-yard kickoff return that put the Tigers back ahead 38-31. 

Rosales found Francis again on a 25- yard touchdown pass to cap a nine-play, 66-yard drive that tied the game with 1:47 left, setting up Gagne’s game-winner. 

“It was a tough loss, but we simply can’t make that many mistakes against a good football team,” Virginia Union coach Alvin Parker said. “I was proud of the way our guys competed and fought to the very end. A few more plays down the stretch could have changed the outcome. Hats off to Edward Waters for earning the win.” 

Virginia Union hosts Johnson C. Smith at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at Hovey Field in Richmond. The CIAA contest will be televised on the CIAA Network.