ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. -- After a one year hiatus of the Down East Viking Football Classic due to Hurricane Florence, the 22nd edition is set to be played on Saturday, September 28th at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex. In this year's edition of the Down East Classic, Elizabeth City State will face off against Fayetteville State. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.

The Down East Viking Football Classic has some added prestige this year as the game will be covered by the ASPIRE TV network as a part of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association television deal.

WHO | Elizabeth City State vs. Fayetteville State

WHEN | Saturday, September 28th at 4:00 p.m.

WHERE | Rocky Mount, N.C. (Rocky Mount Athletic Complex)

SERIES | Elizabeth City State leads 38-24-6

GAME NOTES |     Elizabeth City State            

HOW TO FOLLOW |    Live Stats              Watch               WRVS 89.9

Some notes on the contest:

• Elizabeth City State has started off the 2019 campaign with three losses on the road and will continue the five game road swing to start the 2019 season with a trip to Rocky Mount to face off against CIAA rival Fayetteville State. 

• This contest marks the 22nd Annual Down East Viking Football Classic in Rocky Mount, N.C. However, it will mark the 20th time that the game will be played due to losing two Classics to Hurricane Floyd and Hurricane Florence.

• ECSU has faced off against the Broncos in the Down East Viking Football Classic eight times which marks the opponent that the Vikings have played the most in the Classic. ECSU currently sports a 3-5 record against Fayetteville State in the Classic.

• Fayetteville State and ECSU faced off in the inaugural DEVFC with the Broncos taking the 10-7 win. ECSU and FSU faced off in the Classic again in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 20010, 2012, and in 2017. In that 2017 meeting, the Vikings won an exciting game by a final of 45-42. That 45 points was the second most scored in a DEVFC, behind the 49 point outburst from ECSU in the 2011 matchup with Livingstone.

• ECSU has a tremendous amount of history with Fayetteville State. The Broncos are the longest standing opponent that the Vikings face. The first matchup occurred back in 1939, with Fayetteville State winning that inaugural meeting, 12-6. Since 1939 the Vikings and Broncos have faced off 68 times. The longest time that the rivalry was not played was in between 1942 and 1947, due to the challenges of football during World War II.

• The Vikings currently lead the all-time series with FSU, 38-24-6.

• Junior Taeyonn Reynolds has been the leader of the Viking defensive attack as the junior has registered 13.5 tackles, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups during the 2019 campaign.

• The Viking offense has struggled at times this season as they have faced a brutal schedule to start off the 2019 season. In the losses at Hampton and at North Carolina Central the Vikings have mustered last than 65 total offensive yards. However, against CIAA opponent Livingstone, the Vikings found their stride and accumulated over 200 yards of total offense.

• This contest marks the fourth of six road trips for the Vikings during the 2019 campaign. The Vikings dropped their first three contests on the road at Hampton, at Livingstone, and at N.C. Central and will travel to St. Augustine's (Oct. 5), Chowan (Oct. 26) and Virginia Union (Nov. 2).

• ECSU's contest vs. Allen on September 7th was postponed due to Hurricane Dorian's apparance on the North Carolina coastline. That game will now be made up on Friday, November 15th. Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon will be holding her Installation Ceremony and Ball during the weekend of October 12th when the Vikings host Virginia State. ECSU Athletics will also be hosting their annual Roast and Toast Ceremony during that weekend as well.

• Fayetteville State will be making their first road trip of the season when they make the short 97 mile trip north on Interstate 95. The Broncos started their season with a 35-21 win over visiting Benedict on September 7th. FSU followed that with a close 34-24 loss to South Atlantic league member Wingate on September 14th. Fayetteville State then destroyed fellow CIAA member Lincoln 51-6 last week.

• Fayetteville State's Jordan Ferguson was named the Food Lion CIAA Rookie of the Week for last week. The freshman defensive back totaled three tackles, including a tackle for loss and a QB hurry in Fayetteville State's 51-6 win over Lincoln. Ferguson also recorded his first career interception for the Broncos.

• Fayetteville State's Kion Smtih was named the Food Lion CIAA Offensive Player of the Week for last week. The junior graded out highest among the Broncos offensive linemen and didn't give up a sack or a tackle for loss in the Broncos 51-6 win over Lincoln. Smith helped the FSU offense produce 514 total yards, including 276 yards on the ground and an average of 5.5 yards per rush attempt.

• Fayetteville State sports an even offense with 177 yards passing and 130 yards rushing per contest. The Broncos rushing attack is led by senior running back Stevie Green who has rushed for 213 yards on the 2019 season. Collyn Anderson has led the passing attack for the Broncos as the redshirt senior has passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns.