ETTRICK, VA – The Virginia State football team nearly earned the shutout for the second straight week after a dominating victory over St. Augustine's 42-7. After maintaining a slim 14-7 lead going into halftime, the Trojans outscored the Falcons 28-0 in the second half. VSU was able to win all facets of the game as the offense earned 458 total yards and scored six touchdowns while the defense forced four turnovers and nearly pitched a shutout yet again this week.  
 
 
Game Information
Score: Virginia State 42, St. Augustine's, 7
Records: Virginia State (2-1, 0-0), St. Augustine's (0-2, 0-0)
Location: Rogers Stadium (Ettrick, VA)
Series: VSU leads 6-0 in matchups dating back to 2008

Inside the Box Score

• Darius Hagans rushed for over 100 yards yet again this week earning 108 yards on 22 carries averaging 4.9 yards per rush.
• The human joystick Kimo Clarke earned 55 total yards while scoring two total touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing) in the win. Clarke rushed for 27 yards on seven carries and added three catches for 28 yards.
• Upton Bailey earned a first down every time he touched the ball as 56 yards on just five carries led to him averaging 11.2 yards per rush and a rushing touchdown.
• Jabari Blake seemed to find his confidence against the Falcons after completing 15-of-26 of his passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He did however throw an interception on the first offensive play from scrimmage but was able to add value to the run game accounting for five rushes for 24 yards and a score in the contest.  
• Tylique Ray earned a career-high 75 on just one grab after catching a pass across the middle. Ray burned the entire SAU defense as he broke a tackle and took his only reception 75 yards to the house. Justin Oden scored his first touchdown of his collegiate career as he brought down a couple of passes for 37 yards.
• Tyrone Fisher celebrated his return to the field by leading the team in tackles with nine (five solo) in his first game of the season.
•  For the second game straight, Zion Johnson earned a forced fumble as he went on to finish with eight total tackles (three solo).
• Willie Drew earned his first interception as a Trojan and added another pass breakup to his repertoire. Drew finished with four total tackles (three solo)
• Duane Platt earned his first sack of the season in style as he was able to rip the ball away for a sack fumble. Platt earned two solo tackles along with a tackle-for-loss in the contest.
• The VSU passing offense earned a season-high 244 passing yards and completed 60% of their passes.
• The three-headed monster in Hagans, Bailey and Clarke accounted for 191 yards rushing and three scores amongst the three of them.
• The VSU was 7-of-14 on third down (season-high)
• The VSU defense was lights out ounce again forcing four turnovers in the contest.

 
 
FIRST HALF

• The game started off with the defense doing what they do best, forcing a three-and-out. Unfortunately, the ensuing VSU opening drive began and ended with an interception.
• After VSU failed to convert a fourth and one opportunity, the Falcons were able to get on the board first thanks to a 17-yard catch and run into the endzone to make the score 0-7 with 7:58 left to go in the first quarter.
• The next drive, the Trojans fell back on their bread and butter which is the run game as Darius Hagans earned 28 yards on just five carries. The drive was capped by a 31-yard strike from Jabari Blake to Justin Oden to give Oden his first collegiate touchdown and knot the game at 7-7 with 6:03 left in the first quarter.
• The VSU defense held the Falcons scoreless over the next two drives. Jabari Blake went an efficient 4-5 and capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kimo Clarke in which he made an amazing diving grab to make the score 14-7 with 9:29 left in the second quarter.
• The VSU defense would force a pair of fumbles over the next two drives as Zemar Anderson jumped on the first one while TJ Tucker recovered the second as Duane Platt earned himself a sack fumble on the play.

 

• The Trojans took the lead into the locker room 14-7.

SECOND HALF

• Following a false start penalty, Darius Hagans got the drive started with a 33-yard scamper to the SAU 38. After Jaylon Dean caught a pass for 13 yards which allowed VSU to set up shop on the five-yard line, Jabari Blake went into the endzone untouched to make the score 21-7 with 12:19 to go in the third quarter.
• On the ensuing drive, the Falcons posted a pair of chunk plays to land them on the 17 of the Trojans. As the SAU quarterback attempted to make it a one score game with a pass to the endzone, Willie Drew devastated the visitors with an interception on the two-yard line. Drew returned it all the to the VSU 20.
• The start of the fourth quarter began with another touchdown as the Trojans capped a 12-play drive with Kimo Clarke scoring his second touchdown of the day on a seven-yard dash to the endzone to extend their lead out to 28-7 with 13:58 left in the fourth quarter.
• The Falcons offense got the ball all the way down to the VSU eight-yard line before being faced with a fourth and goal opportunity. The Trojans were able to get off the field and give their offense the ball back on their own 15.
• On just his second drive, Jordan Davis delivered a rocket on the money across the middle to Tylique Ray in which he took 75 yards to the endzone to increase the Trojans lead to 35-7 with 7:31 left in the game.
• Following another three-and-out forced by the Trojans defense, Upton Bailey put the team on his back as he earned 46 yards on just three carries and capped the drive with a 28-yard touchdown to give the final score of 42-7.
   
  Up Next
  The Trojans will travel down to Salisbury, NC to check out the blue field turf at Livingstone. The matchup will take place Saturday, September 24 at 4:00 p.m.