Virginia Union 28, Saint Paul's 3

September 22, 2007

By Darrius Herring

LAWRENCEVILLE, VA.- On the final day of summer the Panthers of Virginia Union continued their undefeated streak as they used a blistering hot running game to ruin Saint Paul's home opener by the score of 28-3 Saturday afternoon in Lawrenceville.

The Panthers rushed for 255 yards on the ground as they ran over, around and through the Tigers Lamar Little was the player to watch going into the game for Virginia Union and he did not disappoint as he threw for two scores and ran one in for Arrington Jones' squad as he accumulated 146 total yards in the win.

For the Tigers the struggles continue as the offense looked stagnant at best and putrid at worst as the amassed 163 yards of total offense on the day, which include a team total of 14 yards rushing, despite controlling the clock for over twenty eight minutes of the game.

Things did start off well for saint Paul's as on the opening possession by the Panthers punter Wayne Motley Jr. couldn't handle the snap and the Tigers had the ball first and ten on the twenty. But on the very first play from scrimmage the Tigers were flagged for a false start and the drive never really got going. After three plays Nelson Davalos booted one through the uprights from 38-yards out to give the Tigers an early 3-0 lead.

Virginia Union would not trail again as they turned up the pressure on defense and started to impose its will on offense via the run. The Panthers forced a turnover when Brandon Smith, who was in the backfield all day, sacked Tiger signal caller Jean Dessin and forced the fumble that was recovered by Jerrin Jones at the VUU 42 yard line.

The offense did the rest as little led a six play 58 yard drive that was capped off with a strike to Steven Miller in the corner of the end zone to put Union ahead 7-3 following the Gil Hernandez PAT.

No matter who was the signal caller for the Tigers they were under the gun all day as the Panthers front four just simply collapsed the pocket finishing the day with eight sacks. Three of which were by Smith.

Little engineered another scoring dive in the second quarter as the Panthers went 59 yards in five plays capped off by an incredible run by Little in which he appeared to be sacked but gets outside and goes the distance for 38 yard score give VUU a 14-3 lead.

But they were not done in the second quarter as the struck again in the two minute offense as Little hit Terence Cunningham from 20-yards outs to make the score 21-3 with under a minute to go in the first half.

The young Tigers who started the game with such zeal and spunk now left the field of play at the half looking dazed and confused.

Virginia Unions final scoring drive was a classic example of how to run the football as they used both of their backs Elihu Smith and Tarian Donaldson exclusively on this drive as they sucked the life out of the Tigers defense. Donaldson finished the game with 81 yards on 13 carries while Smith finished with 101 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. The final 39 yards and the score were on a run right up the middle where he was not touched on his way to pay dirt with 3:38 left to go in the third period to give the Panthers a commanding 28-3 lead.

The final stanza of play Saint Paul's tried to show some signs of life but as it had been the entire game everytime the Tigers took two steps forward they were knocked back five by the stingy Virginia Union defense or by their own futility to do the fundamental things that good teams do.

Virginia Union now 4-0 for the first time since 1991 and clearly the team to beat in the CIAA while the Tigers drop to 1-3 on the season and look to find the answers to right the ship.

Next week the Panthers will host the Saint Augustine's Falcon as it will be homecoming for the team from Richmond, while the Tigers will be on the road at Bowie to participate in the Price George's Classic. Both kickoffs are scheduled for 1:30pm.