April Emory
October 02, 2012
ROCKY MOUNT, NC- Senior running back Kevin Swain rushed for two touchdowns as Elizabeth City State University held on for a thrilling 23-21 win over Saint Augustine’s University Saturday afternoon at the 15th Annual Down East Viking Football Classic. Swain capped an 8 play, 69 yard drive with a 16 yard score at the 9:49 mark of the opening quarter and added a 13 yard TD with 53 seconds left in the first half. The Viking defense turned in their best performance of the season holding the Falcons’ offense to a season low 190 total yards while surrendering only one offensive score. ECSU yielded just 55 yards to Saint Augustine’s ground game while Brad Davis pressured SAU quarterback Teddy Bacote four times, sacking him twice during crunch time late in the fourth quarter. Davis’ two sacks went for a loss of 13 yards along with six solo stops, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Even with the Vikings’ stellar defensive effort, the night’s highlight reel belonged to Falcon wide receiver Tyron Laughinghouse. Laughinghouse’s brilliance single handedly kept the Falcons in the game with two huge plays on special teams. After the Vikings went up 21-7 on a 27 yard TD pass from Namon Jones to Keith Strickland, Laughinghouse took the ensuing ECSU kickoff 95 yards to the house for a score. ECSU managed to snatch some of the momentum back when the extra point attempt was blocked by Devon Price and subsequently scooped and returned for a defensive two points by Nigel Rios. That made the score 23-13 with 6:34 left in the third quarter. Although Rios’ scoop and score would prove to be the game’s point differential, Laughinghouse was not finished. He struck again on special teams, this time with a 77 yard punt return with 10:08 left in the game. Brian Richards ran in a two point conversion to make the score 23-21. The Falcons got their last crack a scoring with 1:35 remaining in a drive that began at their own 40. However after converting a first down the ECSU defense stiffened and held at the Viking 45 yard line. The Falcons turned the ball over on downs and ECSU took a knee to end the contest. The win over the Falcons (3-2, CIAA 1-1) make in five straight victories for ECSU at the Down East Viking Football Classic and they have won their last four meeting versus the Falcons. ECSU (3-2, CIAA 2-0) will return to action on Saturday, October 6 when they travel to Petersburg, VA to take on Virginia State University. Game time is scheduled for 1:00pm. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com and follow on Twitter @ECSUVikings.
