title image via
Courtesy of Virginia Union Athletics
34
Winner VUU
31
WU
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VUU | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 34 |
| WU | 10 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 31 |
Virginia Union University’s Mark Wright passed for 202 yards and two touchdowns while Jada Byersrushed for 92 yards as VUU won the first NCAA Division II Playoff Game in the 125-year history of the football program as the Panthers downed Wingate University 34-31 in overtime on Saturday, November 23, in Wingate, N.C.
VUU’s RJ Rosales came on in relief of Wright in the fourth quarter and rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown while passing for 49 yards and another TD to engineer a dramatic VUU comeback.
Rosales twice rushed for first downs on fourth downs to keep the game-tying scoring drives alive. The redshirt sophomore dove over the goal line in overtime to give Virginia Union the historic win.
VUU’s Reginald Vick, Jr., caught four passes for 92 yards and a touchdown while the Panthers’ Shamar Graham had 10 tackles and a sack.
“This means everything,” said VUU Head Football Coach Dr. Alvin Parker. “We’ve been close in years past, but we’ve never been able to kick in that door. I knew this team was special and that they had the capability to do it. I said that at the beginning of the season and some people laughed at it. But I knew we had what it took to get to this point and I’m just really proud of this group. Words can’t really explain it, to make history like this. I’m happy for the guys and we’re going to relish it for a little while, but then we’re going to get ready for the next round.”
LVirginia Union will face unseeded Lenoir-Rhyne University in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs on Saturday, November 30. A time and location for the game will be determined by the NCAA on Sunday evening.
