ETTRICK, Va. – Elizabeth City State University football battled back from an early deficit but came up just short in a 24–20 road loss to Virginia State on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Stadium.
After trailing 17–0 late in the first half, the Vikings rallied behind a balanced offensive effort led by quarterback Christopher Perkins, who accounted for 230 total yards and three touchdowns.
Virginia State jumped out to a 14–0 lead in the opening quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass and a short rushing score before adding a 34-yard field goal midway through the second period. ECSU responded just before halftime when Perkins capped an 11-play, 77-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to Ka'Trez Bracey, cutting the margin to 17–7 at the break.
The Trojans struck quickly to open the third quarter on a 75-yard touchdown pass, but the Vikings answered with two straight scores. E.J. Gatling punched in a five-yard rushing touchdown following a short field, and later in the quarter Traquan Johnson hauled in a 22-yard scoring pass from Perkins to bring ECSU within 24–20.
A critical defensive stand in the fourth quarter gave ECSU life when Jordan Evans sacked Virginia State quarterback Jakari Joyce for a three-yard loss and forced a fumble, recovered by Drewvon Oxendine at the ECSU 20-yard line. The play halted a Trojan red zone drive and shifted momentum, putting the Vikings in position to take the lead. Despite holding Virginia State scoreless the rest of the way, the Vikings' comeback stalled in the fourth quarter as both defenses tightened.
Perkins finished 14-of-26 passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 81 rushing yards to pace the ECSU ground game. Johnson led the receiving corps with 32 yards and a touchdown, and Bracey added one score through the air.
Defensively, the Vikings limited VSU to just seven second-half points and forced several key stops to keep the game within reach.
With the result, ECSU moves to 1–6 overall and 1–4 in CIAA play heading into next week's road trip to Lincoln (Pa.) on Saturday, October 25. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
