Isaiah Freeman threw three touchdown passes, and sophomore cornerback Ronald Thomas III’s interception in the final minute sealed a 27-21 Lion win over Elizabeth City State, boosting LUPA’s record to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in CIAA play.
The four wins are the most in a single season since Lincoln restarted football after a 48-year absence in 2008.
Elizabeth City State (1-6 overall, 1-5 CIAA) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter without throwing a pass. The Vikings ran for 140 yards in the period, capped by two one-yard quarterback sneak touchdowns from junior Donoven Davenport.
Lincoln responded 90 seconds into the second quarter thanks to an 8-yard touchdown run by receiver Malachi Langley. On ECSU’s next possession, Quinzel Lockhart fumbled an end-around run, and Rodney Stubbs fell on the ball for LU at the Viking 25. Five plays later, quarterback Isaiah Freeman found Dah’Mear Triplett open in the end zone for a 12-yard score. After ECSU’s blocked PAT was called back for an offsides penalty, Freeman flicked a two-point conversion pass to Amir Gerald for a 15-14 lead.
Freeman and Triplett connected again to make the score 21-14 Lincoln at the half, but Elizabeth City State responded with another scoring drive, this time through the air. Davenport and Lockhart converted a 2nd and 30 into a 55-yard pass and run, then linked up again on a 20-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 21.
Freeman threw another touchdown pass, this one from 24 yards out to Eli Riddick, but the two-point attempt failed, giving the Lions a 27-21 lead heading into the fourth.
ECSU’s final chance came when Lincoln punter Andre Jandayan shanked a punt that gave the Vikings a short field.
After two fumbled snaps that Davenport was lucky to recover, the third time wasn’t the charm as a wobbly pass was intercepted by Thomas and returned deep into ECSU territory to seal the win for the Lions.
