The Virginia Union Panthers’ season ended in the Regional Finals of the Division II playoffs when they lost 49-14 to Valdosta State.
After claiming their second straight CIAA championship, the Panthers were selected for their third straight Division II playoffs. They became the first HBCU to reach the Regional Final since Bowie State in 2021.
Virginia Union ends the year with a 10-4 overall record, marking the second straight 10-win season (seventh in school history).
Virginia Union Defense Struggles
It was a rough day for the Virginia Union defense, which struggled to stop the high-powered Valdosta State offense.
The Panthers surrendered 560 offensive yards to Valdosta State, the most they have allowed in a game since 2021.
In addition, Valdosta State put up points in a hurry, scoring touchdowns on four of their five offensive drives in the first half.
This included a second-quarter drive in which Valdosta State successfully converted a fake punt, which led to a touchdown that extended its lead to 21-7.
Turnovers Were Too Much To Overcome
Virginia Union committed two turnovers in this game, both proving to be consequential in the final score.
After scoring its first touchdown of the game on its most recent drive, the Panthers offense came back on the field, trying to bring their deficit back to one possession with 1:34 left in the first half.
On the second play of the drive, after gaining four yards on a run, the Panthers lost the ball on a fumble recovered by Valdosta State, giving them the ball in plus territory.
The Panthers’ defense held strong, getting a fourth-down stop to keep Valdosta out of the end zone for the first time.
However, when they got the ball back, a five-yard gain was again upended by a fumble, setting Valdosta up on Virginia Union’s end of the field.
The Panthers were not so lucky the second time, as they gave up a touchdown that extended Valdosta’s lead to 28-7 going into halftime.
Jada Byers eclipses 2,000 yards
Despite a disappointing final result, Jada Byers added another accomplishment to his already historic collegiate career.
The CIAA Offensive Player of the Year finished the game with 109 rushing yards on 22 attempts and a touchdown.
After finishing the first half with 61 rushing yards, Byers officially eclipsed 2,000 yards on the season.
Byers entered this game with 1,952 rushing yards, breaking a school record for rushing yards in a season that he set two years earlier.