For the second week in a row, Virginia Union ended the season of a North Carolina college football team.
Jada Byers rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns, and the Panthers raced past Lenoir-Rhyne 44-12 in the second round of the D2 playoffs.
Last weekend, VUU knocked out Wingate – the champions of the South Atlantic Conference – in a 34-31 overtime thriller. This time, coach Alvin Parker’s troops KO’d the 2023 SAC champs and runner-up in the SAC’s Piedmont Division.
Virginia Union had never won a D2 playoff game coming into the season. Now, they have two victories in hand over North Carolina foes — and a berth into the D2 quarterfinals coming next Saturday, where they’ll face top-seeded and undefeated Valdosta State for the Super Region 2 title.
Virginia Union improved to 10-3, while Lenoir-Rhyne ended its season with the same mark.
“My heart hurts for our guys, especially our seniors,” Lenoir-Rhyne head coach Doug Socha said after the game. “I’m really proud of what they gave to this program and the position they put us in. I’m an optimistic guy, the sun will come up tomorrow and we’ll reset and evaluate every facet of this program. Winning 10 games isn’t easy and there were so many people around this program that helped us do it. I’m proud of our guys and am excited for what we can accomplish next year.”
Lenoir-Rhyne certainly has nothing to hang its head about despite the humbling defeat. The Bears went beyond the first round of the D2 playoffs for the second year in a row and made their eighth postseason appearance since the 2012 season. The Doug Socha coaching era is off to a solid start with more wins than any other D2 team in the state — and plenty to build on heading into 2025.
But on Saturday, Virginia Union certainly flexed as the superior team. The champions of the CIAA rushed for 345 yards as a team and posted 524 total yards. Byers had company in the 100-yard rushing club, with teammate Curtis Allen adding 132 yards and two more scores. Quarterback RJ Rosales, one of the heroes of the Wingate win, had the other rushing score, picking up 41 yards on eight carries.
“I said back in August that this was a team that could compete for the National Championship,” VUU coach Dr. Alvin Parker said. “I think some people laughed at that and didn’t think we were capable. Now we’re one of eight teams who are still playing. We’re just blessed to have a group that has stayed the course, remained locked in, did a lot of things that we asked of them and played some good football. I’m just happy beyond words right now.”
VUU’s defense held Lenoir-Rhyne to 54 yards on the ground. Quarterback Jalen Ferguson did complete 19 passes for 252 yards and a pair of scoring strikes for the Bears, one to Adonis McDaniel and the other to George Futch. McDaniel finished with 135 receiving yards. Ferguson was picked off twice.
Virginia Union dominated time of possession, 36:38 to 23:22. The Panthers ran 76 plays.
The score was 7-6 early in the second period after a 47-yard scoring strike from Ferguson-to-McDaniel answered a VUU touchdown. But Rosales connected with Reginald Vick for a 74-yard touchdown midway through the period, then Byers added his first TD run for a 20-6 halftime lead.
Rosales, Byers and Allen each found the end zone on running plays in the second half, with Allen’s score covering 65 yards, as VUU pulled away.
The only teams to beat VUU this season: Johnson C. Smith and Virginia State from the CIAA and FCS Hampton (by two points) early in the season.
Virginia Union 44, Lenoir-Rhyne 12 | Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter (00:14): Virginia Union’s Curtis Allen scored on a 5-yard run, capping a 10-play, 72-yard drive in 4:36. Brady Myers added the extra point. VUU 7, LRU 0.
- 2nd Quarter (14:25): Lenoir-Rhyne’s Adonis McDaniel caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Ferguson, finishing a quick 3-play, 67-yard drive in 42 seconds. The extra point was missed. VUU 7, LRU 6.
- 2nd Quarter (09:25): Virginia Union responded with a 74-yard touchdown pass from RJ Rosales to Reginald Vick Jr., wrapping up a 2-play, 78-yard drive in 34 seconds. The extra point was missed. VUU 13, LRU 6.
- 2nd Quarter (04:46): Jada Byers extended Virginia Union’s lead with a 6-yard touchdown run, concluding a 9-play, 63-yard drive in 3:35. Myers made the extra point. VUU 20, LRU 6.
- 3rd Quarter (09:53): RJ Rosales added a 9-yard touchdown run for Virginia Union, ending a 12-play, 58-yard drive in 4:58. Myers converted the PAT. VUU 27, LRU 6.
- 4th Quarter (14:07): Brady Myers hit a 26-yard field goal to finish a lengthy 13-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 7:26. VUU 30, LRU 6.
- 4th Quarter (09:38): Lenoir-Rhyne’s George Futch caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Ferguson after a 9-play, 67-yard drive in 4:22. The extra point attempt failed. VUU 30, LRU 12.
- 4th Quarter (09:27): Curtis Allen broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive, covering 65 yards in just 11 seconds. Myers added the PAT. VUU 37, LRU 12.
- 4th Quarter (00:38): Jada Byers closed the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run, capping an 8-play, 70-yard drive in 5:05. Myers completed the extra point. VUU 44, LRU 12.
PHOTO GALLERY: Click now to see photos from last week’s VUU-Wingate playoff game
Top Five Players from Virginia Union
- Jada Byers – Dominated the ground game with 185 rushing yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his ability to carry the Panthers’ offense.
- Curtis Allen – Complemented Byers with 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns, helping VUU achieve its first dual 100-yard rushing performance since 2021.
- RJ Rosales – Displayed versatility, completing 10 of 17 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a score.
- Reginald Vick Jr. – Exploded in the passing game with three receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown, providing a crucial deep threat.
- Jalen Mayo – Anchored the defense with nine tackles, helping secure VUU’s first-ever spot in the NCAA Playoff Quarterfinals.
Top Five Players from Lenoir-Rhyne
- Jalen Ferguson – Passed for 252 yards and two touchdowns, capping off a record-breaking season with 3,276 passing yards.
- Adonis McDaniel – Delivered a stellar performance with eight catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, reaching exactly 1,000 receiving yards on the season.
- George Futch – Hauled in the first touchdown of his career, providing a bright spot in a challenging game.
- Jaelin Willis and Tre’von Cooper – Defensive standouts with 13 tackles each, leading the Bears’ efforts to contain VUU’s potent offense.
- Songa Yates – Excelled in special teams, returning a punt for 22 yards and two kickoffs for 60 yards, providing key field position opportunities.
