COLUMBUS, O.H. – Virginia State loses defensive battle, 10-7, in first ever meeting against the Panthers of Ohio Dominican Saturday afternoon.

Game Information
Score: Ohio Dominican 10, Virginia State 7
Records: Ohio Dominican (1-1), Virginia State (0-2)
Location: Panthers Stadium (Columbus, OH)
Series: Ohio Dominican leads 1-0

How It Happened

• A 24-yard punt by Jesus Valenzuela gave the Panthers the ball on their own 43-yard line. Despite the starting field position, a sack by senior Javon Frazier put the Panthers behind the sticks which forced them to kick a field goal to make the score 3-0 with 9:21 to go in the first quarter.
• The Trojans started their third drive of the day on their own six yard line, but a defensive pass interference forced by junior Tylin Oden and a contested catch from graduate student Sean Daniels for 28-yards set up the VSU offense on the ODU 44 yard line. A holding penalty against the Trojans made the down and distance 3^rd and 20. Redshirt freshman Kimo Clarke nearly single handedly gained all of the yardage back with a 18-yard gain to set up the VSU offense with a 4^th and 2 situation on the ODU 26 yard line. Graduate student Demetrius Strickland was stopped in his tracks for a loss of two to give the ball back to the home team with 12:45 left to go in the 2^nd half.     
• The next drive saw ODU convert on a 3^rd and 14 situation with an 18-yard completion down to the Virginia State 48 yard line. Five plays later, ODU quarterback Evan Ernst found wide receiver James Morgan wide open in the back of the end zone on a miscommunication by the Trojan defensive backs. The 13-yard touchdown pass made the score 10-0 with 8:41 left in the half.
• Redshirt sophomore Mark Wright was extremely sharp the following drive going 4 for 4 for 45 yards through the air which eventually set up the Trojans with a 4^th and 1 opportunity with the ball on the Ohio Dominican five yard line. A crucial false start pushed the offense back five yards that forced Head Coach Reggie Barlow to trout the field goal team out. After a botched hold, Valenzuela tried to escape the defense right before he threw the ball into traffic, which resulted in an interception. What looked to be a pick-six was spoiled by a touchdown saving tackle by the kicker, senior, Nick Woolfolk. ODU took over at the VSU 27 yard line with 2:16 left in the half.   
• The Trojan defense showed heart stopping the prolific ODU offense on the goal line forcing them to kick a chip shot field goal. The ODU kicker, Jed Quackenbush missed the short field goal attempt holding the score at 10-0 heading into the half.
• Following a couple punts by both teams, the Panthers got the ball back on their own 10 yard line with 10:07 left to go in the third quarter. ODU's offense looked to be on their way to the red zone once again but Frazier had other plans. He beat the left tackle cleanly before a sack and forced fumble picked up by redshirt senior Adonte Braxton that was taken down to the opponents 43 yard line to set up the Trojan offense with the best starting field position of the day with 6:05 left to go in the third quarter.
• Sophomore quarterback Jordan Davis entered the game after Mark Wright suffered lower body injury two drives back. The 6'4 frame of Odin drew another defensive pass interference penalty, which led to an 11-yard completion down the ODU 19 yard line. Following two incompletions by Davis came an interception by the leading tackler of the game, linebacker Brady Blattner, as he was able to get under a crossing route. Blattner returned it 21-yards to their own 25 yard line with 4:12 left in the third quarter.
• Following a Trojan defensive stop, the arm of Davis led a touchdown drive that started on their own two yard line and took 7:14 off the clock in 15 plays capped off with a 2-yard Kimo Clarke run to make it 10-7 with 8:11 left in the game.
• The Trojan defense came up with a crucial stop to force a punt to give the Trojan offense a chance to go tie or go – ahead in the game with 4:59 left.
• Following back-to-back sacks to set up a 3^rd and 20, the ODU defense forced two more incompletions by Davis to give the ball back to their offense with 2:09 left in the game.
• While the VSU defense came up with a third down stop to set up a 4^th and 3 opportunity for the Trojans, ODU's Fredrick Pitts V rushed for four yards and a first down to put the game on ice and give us a final score of 10-7 with the Panthers taking the victory.

Inside the Box Score

• The Trojan defense shut ODU out in the second half.
•  Both teams were 8 for 17 on third down.
• The Trojan offense averaged 4.6 yard per play throughout the game.  
• The Trojan offense out earned the Panthers in the first down category as they moved the chains 20 times in the game.
• Javon Frazier accounted for two sacks and a clutch forced fumble on the day.
• Adonte Braxton and Na'Shawn Reid-Carlos combined for 13 total tackles along with a sack from Braxton and a half tackle for loss from Reid-Carlos.
• Mark Wright displayed great efficiency through the air completing 71% of his passes for 126 yards.
• Kimo Clarke rushed 10 times for 50 yards and a score to give him two touchdowns in two weeks.
• Tylin Oden caught five passes for 55 yards while sophomore Marquez Phillips reeled in four passes for 54 yards. Sophomore Roy Jackson III also added 3 catches for 56 yards in the game.   

 
Up Next
Following an open week, the Trojans will travel down south to Fayetteville, North Carolina to take on the Broncos of Fayetteville State University. The Trojans will look to extend a 4-3 series lead against the Broncos. The contest will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed live from the CIAA website.
 
*Link to livestream - https://www.theciaasn.com/vsu/