Virginia State preview capsule

The skinny Coach^[1]: Andrew Faison^[2] (10th season, 49-42)

2010: 8-3, 6-1 CIAA

Offense: Junior QB Jarred Battle will attempt to take his game up a notch from last year. In the backfield, Antwain Lyde and Kenay Hawks combined to rush for 1,070 yards last year. Two receivers, Timothy Paulk^[3] and Corey Young^[4], come back with plenty of experience.

Defense: Last year, the Trojans' defense allowed 15.6 points per game, which tied Winston-Salem State for fewest in the league. Seniors Howard Spencer^[5] (CB), Larry Armstead^[6] (DB) and Jeremy Pruitt^[7] (LB, preseason all-CIAA) return from last year's team.

Specialists: Punter Billy Rudd^[8] (Meadowbrook, preseason all-CIAA) averaged 39.4 yards per punt last year, second-best in the league. This year, he'll try kicking, too, taking the place of all-CIAA kicker^[9] Justin Parker^[10]. But Faison^[11] said there are freshmen who will challenge Rudd^[12] for the kicking job.

Quotable: "Jarred Battle was a sophomore last year. He's a junior this year. Last year changed his game. He got a lot of experience. He got a lot of hits. He got knocked down; he got back up." Faison

Outlook: VSU has only three home games and plays two FCS teams, Norfolk State and Gardner-Webb. The Trojans reached the title game last year on sound defense and special teams. But with a tough schedule, their offense better upgrade itself.

Bottom line: 6-4, 4-2 CIAA

Eric Kolenich

Date	Opponent	Time
Sept. 3	at Norfolk State	6
Sept. 10	at West Virginia State	1
Sept. 17	at Johnson C. Smith	4
Sept. 24	Chowan	6
Oct. 1	Bowie State	6
Oct. 8	at Fayetteville State	1
Oct. 15	at Elizabeth City State	1:30
Oct. 22	at Lincoln	1:30
Oct. 29	Virginia Union	1:30
Nov. 3	Gardner-Webb	6

References

1. ^{^} Topic - Coach (www2.timesdispatch.com)
2. ^{^} Topic - Andrew Faison (www2.timesdispatch.com)
3. ^{^} Topic - Timothy Paulk (www2.timesdispatch.com)
4. ^{^} Topic - Corey Young (www2.timesdispatch.com)
5. ^{^} Topic - Howard Spencer (www2.timesdispatch.com)
6. ^{^} Topic - Larry Armstead (www2.timesdispatch.com)
7. ^{^} Topic - Jeremy Pruitt (www2.timesdispatch.com)
8. ^{^} Topic - Billy Rudd (www2.timesdispatch.com)
9. ^{^} Topic - All-Ciaa Kicker (www2.timesdispatch.com)
10. ^{^} Topic - Justin Parker (www2.timesdispatch.com)
11. ^{^} Topic - Andrew Faison (www2.timesdispatch.com)
12. ^{^} Topic - Billy Rudd (www2.timesdispatch.com)