ELIZABETH CITY, NC- The Elizabeth City State University Vikings fall to Norfolk State University on the road 63-26 Saturday night at William "Dick" Price Stadium in CIAA versus the MEAC action.
 
The Vikings dip to 0-3 overall on the season. Norfolk State University improved to 1-2.
 
The Vikings have split quarterback duties all year, but with no De'Abrie Smith this week, Senior Kevin Caldwell (Philadelphia, PA) played the entire game, completing 26-out-of-38 passes for 339 yards and four touchdowns, but Caldwell got pretty banged up taking eight sacks from a ruthless NSU defense. 
 
The Vikings offense was held to only 290 yards of total offense, and ECSU only saw 16 first downs compared to NSU's 675 yards on offense and 38 first downs. 
 
Senior wide receiver Brandon Joyner (Fairbanks, AK) led the Vikings offense totaling 107 yards on four receptions, highlighted by a 71-yard touchdown. Freshman receiver Cameron Saunders (Charlotte, NC) followed up with a personal season-high performance of 94 yards on nine catches and a 21-yard touchdown.
 
NSU's Juwan Carter threw for 353 yards completing 23 of 30 passes and five touchdowns while rushing for 38 yards on five attempts. Justin Smith led the Spartans air attack with five receptions for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and JJ Davis spearheaded the ground attack with 121 yards on eight attempts.  
 
The Vikings defensive unit had a handful of playmakers show up throughout the game, but pass coverage ailed the Vikings. 
 
Senior defensive back Taeyonn Reynolds (VA Beach, VA) led the game in tackles with ten (six solo), a forced fumble, and a pass break up. Sophomore defensive back Javon Rodriquez (Hampton, VA) trailed him with eight tackles (four solo). 
 
Freshman defensive lineman Raevon Freeman (Mathews, NC) left his mark on the contest, recording six tackles (four solo), including two tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, and two sacks.
 
The Spartans scored on their first three drives of the game to jump out in front of the Vikings 21-0 in the first quarter with 5:30 left in the quarter. 
 
After struggling to find an offensive rhythm, Caldwell connected with Joyner on 1^st and ten at the Vikings 29-yard line to complete a 71-yard touchdown and put the Vikings on the scoreboard. At the end of the opening quarter, ECSU trailed NSU by 14. 
 
In the second and third quarters, the Spartans completed a pair of touchdowns each quarter holding the Vikings scoreless for consecutive stanzas making the score 49-7 going into the fourth quarter. 

Caldwell connected with junior receiver Zion Riddick (Ahoskie, NC) on the first drive of the fourth quarter for a 21-yard touchdown, but NSU answered back, making it a 56-14 NSU lead.
 
Norfolk scored again with 6:41 remaining in the game, 63-14 NSU.
 
Despite the game being out of reach, the Vikings managed to score on back-to-back drives in the final six minutes of the game with a 15-yard catch from Saunders and a 36-yard reception from freshman receiver Josiah Hayes (Suffolk, VA) to end the game 63-26 NSU. 
 
Next Saturday, the Vikings will be back in action, traveling to Winston Salem State University to being conference play taking on the Rams at Bowman Gray Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 pm.
 
Follow Elizabeth City State Athletics via its official website at www.ecsuvikings.com to get pre-and post-game stories and updates.
 
ECSU Athletics is also on social media, follow us on Twitter at @ECSUVikings and Instagram at @ecsusports