For the second time in three years, Virginia Union emerged victorious in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic.
The Panthers took down Miles College in a lopsided 45-3 win, as the defending Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions triumphed over the defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen was unstoppable, rushing for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Allen’s performance was highlighted by a 53-yard score during the second quarter in which he broke several tackles and hurdled a defender.
His touchdown gave Virginia Union a 10-0 lead. While Miles College responded with a field goal on the ensuing drive, the Panthers scored 35 unanswered points to close out the game.
Virginia Union’s dominance on the ground was too much for Miles College to handle, as the Panthers amassed 375 rush yards as a team compared to just 50 yards for the Golden Bears.
Redshirt junior RJ Rosales also made his presence felt at quarterback for Virginia Union, finishing 9-of-15 for 120 yards and a touchdown. Rosales recorded 54 rushing yards and found the end zone as a runner as well.
For Miles College, quarterback Kamren Ivory finished 21-of-39 for 174 yards but threw two interceptions.
Virginia Union will now look to continue building momentum in its second contest of the season, a clash with Edward Waters University on Sept. 13.