Box Score ELIZABETH CITY, NC- The Vikings opened conference play with a 19-14 win on the road against the Rams of Winston-Salem State University Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Vikings improve to 1-3 overall, 1-0 in the CIAA.  The Rams drop to 0-3 overall, 0-1 in the CIAA.

"I'm very proud of the team because they played as a disciplined team and their energy was outstanding," said head coach Anthony Jones. "This was a great team all three phases played an important role in the victory."
 
Senior quarterback Kevin Caldwell (Philadelphia, PA) completed 20-out-of-38 passes for 169 yards, two touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, and two interceptions. 
 
Freshman receiver Cameron Saunders (Charlotte, NC) recorded 43 yards and a touchdown on three catches, while junior receiver Zion Riddick (Ahoskie, NC) added 43 yards on six catches.
 
Junior running back Melvin Smalls Jr. (Savannah, GA) rushed for 51 yards on eight carries. 
 
The Vikings were defensively led by senior linebacker Gregory Miller (Philadelphia, PA), tallying eight tackles (3 solo), one forced fumble, and one tackle for a loss, while junior defensive back Elijah Baliff (Forestville, MD) recorded six tackles (5 solo) and a pair of interceptions. 
 
The Vikings were able to put together an 18-play drive for 80 yards, highlighted by a touchdown on their opening drive of the game.  A quarterback keeper from Caldwell on 2^nd and goal at the WSSU 1-yard line gave the Vikings the touchdown after a pass interference penalty advanced the Vikings to the Rams 5-yard line on 4^th and goal. The extra point attempt from Erick Meija was good. The drive lasted for over seven minutes; both teams endured their fair share of struggles to end the first quarter. ECSU took a 7-0 lead into the second stanza.
 
The Vikings have struggled with penalties prior to entering conference play, but today penalties ailed the Rams working in ECSU's favor. The Vikings received five penalties totaling 23-yards, while the Rams seven penalties totaled 109-yards. Midway through the second quarter, a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty stalled the Rams attack bringing up first and 25 at the Vikings 44-yard line. Cameron Davis rushed for a pair of big runs to get the Rams a first down right before ECSU charged a timeout with 6:50 left in the first half.  
 
The Vikings defensive unit came out of the timeout blazing. Sophomore linebacker Erick Meija (Alexandria, VA) recorded a tackle for a 5-yard loss pushing the Rams back on 1^st and goal. On the next play, a fumble forced and recovered by Miller gave ECSU the ball back with 4:41 left to play in the second quarter.
 
The defensive effort paid off on the Vikings next drive. Caldwell connected with Saunders for a 33-yard touchdown giving the Vikings a 13-0 edge. 
 
The Rams attempted to get something going on the next possession, but it was short-lived after Baliff snagged an interception at the Vikings own 41-yard line. Unfortunately for the Vikings, ECSU exchanged interceptions, as the Ram's Deiontae Jones picked off a pass to give WSSU the ball back with .38 seconds left in the second quarter. The Vikings took a 13-0 lead into halftime. 
 
The Vikings got the ball to start the second half, but Caldwell's pass was intercepted on 3^rd and eight giving the Rams offense a chance to get going. WSSU put together a nine-play 44-yard drive to make it a 13-7 ECSU lead at the 9:44 mark. Neither team was able to re-visit the endzone, ending the third quarter 13-7 Vikings. 
 
An interception by senior defensive back Taeyonn Reynolds (Virginia Beach, VA) gave the Vikings momentum after a slow start to the fourth quarter. With 8:23 left on the game clock, senior receiver Brandon Joyner (Fairbanks, AK) reeled in a 21-yard pass to make it a 19-7 ECSU lead.
 
The rams answered back on their next drive to make the score 19-14 with 2:26 left to play. Both offenses exchanged drives to end the game, but the Rams final drive was ended by another interception into the hands of ECSU's Baliff to secure the 19-14 victory. 
 
Next Saturday, the Vikings will be back in action at Roebuck Stadium to host Livingstone College for Take a Kid to the Game Day. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 pm, and all kids accompanied by a ticket-holding adult will receive free entry into the game. 
 
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