Box Score ETTRICK, VA- The Virginia State University Trojans came up short, 28-27, to the Virginia Union University Panthers on November 7th at Roger Stadium. The Trojans end their 2015 season with a 6-4 overall record, 4-3 in conference play. The I-95 rivalry matchup also  served as Senior Day in recognition of ten student-athletes who have remained dedicated and made the Trojan Nation family very proud.
 
VSU's offense was led by sophomore running back Trenton Cannon (Hampton, VA) who recorded 165 yards on 14 carries for the Trojans and added 62 yards on 2 receptions. Sophomore wide receiver Josh Harris (Mechanicsville, VA) recorded a season high of 101 yards on 3 receptions and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Tarian Ayres (Dillwyn, VA) was 13 for 22 in pass completions for 224 yards. 
 
Defensively, the Trojans were led by senior defensive back Darion Thomas (Virginia Beach, VA) who recorded 9 total tackles (8 solo).
 
The Panthers offense was led by Izegwire who recorded 154 yards on 9 receptions and a touchdown. Defensively, the Panthers were led by Blanks who recorded 9 solo total tackles.
 
A 46 yard pass to Josh Harris on 1st down and  5, placed the Trojans at the VUU 3 yd line.  Junior running back Kavon Bellamy (Hampton, VA) entered the end zone 2 plays later on a 2 yard run to put the Trojans out in front on their first drive of the game. 
 
The Panthers answered back nearly five and half minutes later after putting an 11 play drive together for 74 yards resulting in a 11 yard touchdown by Holland. 
 
The tie game would disappear quickly as the Trojans revisited the endzone with a quick 67 yard pass to Trenton Cannon on the first play of the drive. The two play drive only chipped twelve seconds off of the game clock and gave the Trojans a 14-7 point lead.
 
VSU's defense held the Panthers off and forced a punt on 4th down with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter. On 2nd down and 10 for the Trojans, Cannon sprinted the field for a 50 yard gain to the VUU19 yard line. The Panthers were able to hold the Trojans to a field goal from sophomore kicker Mathew Hillquist (Glen Allen, VA) that would extend the Trojan lead 17-7. The Trojans maintained the lead to end the first quarter.
 
The Panthers came out to start the second quarter with a  60 yard pass to Anderson to the VSU 8 yard line. On 2nd down and goal, the Trojans junior linebacker Geo Feggins (South Hill, VA) came up with an interception to stop the Panther offense in their tracks. On their next drive of the game, the Panthers turned the ball over again in VSU territory after freshman linebacker TyVaughan Kirby-Johnson (Richmond, VA) forced a fumble on 2nd down and 1 and junior defensive lineman Ray Prosise (Petersburg, VA) recovered the ball for the Trojans. Three plays later the Trojans maximized off of the Panther turnover, as Ayres linked up with Harris for a 47 yard touchdown to extend the Trojans lead, 24-7. 
 
The Panthers responded to the pressure and started their next drive with a 62 yard pass to Izegwire at the VSU 10 yard line. On 4th down and goal, the Panthers manage to get into the endzone on a 9 yard reception by Wright to chip away at the Trojan lead. The Panthers extra point kick was blocked by junior defensive back Bryce Bradley (Richmond,VA) who ran it back to the VSU 20 yard line before being tackled. 
 
On the Panthers next drive Bryce Bradley came up big for the Trojans with an interception on 3rd down and 9 in VSU territory. The Trojans carried a 24-13 lead into halftime. 
 
On the second drive of the third quarter, junior linebacker David Turner (Richmond, VA) blocked a punt which was recovered by freshman defensive back Tarell Cisneros-Harrison (Richmond, VA) at the VUU 20 yard line, but the Panther defense would hold off the Trojans to a missed field goal attempt. 
 
Two plays later on 2nd down and 12, VSU stepped in for another interception that landed in the hands of senior defensive back Dontrell Jones (Hampton, VA) who rushed for 18 yards to the VUU 22 yard line. The Trojans attempt a field goal, but come up short. VSU's offense made a quick return to the field after the Panthers commit their fifth turnover of the game with a fumble recovered by Trojans sophomore defensive lineman Shaquille Edwards (Richmond, VA) at the VUU 14 yard line. 
The Trojans took their 24-13 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Panthers rally back on their first drive of the fourth quarter and put together a 10 play drive for 94 yards and a 15 yard touchdown pass to Izegwire. A successful two point conversion pass to Holland cut the Trojan lead down 24- 21 early in the fourth quarter.
 
A 54 yard completion to McKenzie on the Panthers second drive in the fourth quarter gave the Panthers their first lead of the game 28-27 with 6:38 remaining on the game clock. The Trojans could not regain their momentum and took the 28-27 loss.

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