The Virginia State Trojans kicked off their 2025 season with a bang, going on the road to Wilson, North Carolina, and coming away with a 35-7 win over Barton College.
In his first career start for the Trojans, Rashaan Matthews produced 343 passing yards on 21-of-27 passing and scored two touchdowns. He also added 47 rushing yards on 10 attempts.
His top receiver, Kevin Gayles, opened the year with the best game of his college career, catching six passes for 131 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown.
Redshirt sophomore running back Brandon Rose also put forth a strong performance in his first career start, rushing for 67 yards on 17 attempts and scoring two touchdowns.
Virginia State overwhelmed Barton from the opening kickoff, scoring on each of their first three offensive drives, leading to a 21-0 advantage at halftime.
Final from Barton!!!
Stars of the Game
Rahsaan Matthews: 21-27 343 yards 2 TDS
Kevin Gayles: 6 receptions, 131 yards 1 TD
Donavan Howard: 1 interception pic.twitter.com/v0vUpQsFxD— VSU Athletics (@VSUsports) August 29, 2025
Meanwhile, the Trojans’ defense held up their end of the bargain, limiting Barton to just 44 offensive yards in the first half. This included holding Barton to -18 rushing yards on nine attempts and limiting them to just two first downs.
On the first play of the second half, Virginia State picked up where they left off in the first, forcing an interception which led to another score.
The Trojans’ bid for a shutout looked strong up until Barton’s final offensive drive, when they punched in an eight-yard touchdown run for their only points of the contest.
This season-opening win for Virginia State marks the third year in a row they began a season victorious this marking their largest to begin a season since 2016.
In head coach Dr. Henry Frazier’s fourth season with VSU, the reigning CIAA championship runner-ups are aiming for their first conference title since 2017.
Virginia State will return to the football field next Saturday when they go on the road to face Norfolk State in the Battle of the States.
