Virginia Union dominates Miles in 42 point thrashing
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
CANTON--Ben Wallace isn't the only Virginia Union Panther known for his harassing defense that led to him being an NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons.
The 2025 Panthers can generate defense too.
After spotting the Miles Golden Bears a generous field goal in the second quarter that cut their lead to 10-3 the Panthers defense barred the door shut the rest of the way as their defense concocted a staggering five turnovers and scored 14 points in the second, third and fourth quarters on their way to a 45-3 thrashing in the sixth annual Black College Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
For the Panthers, it was the second appearance in three years. In 2023, they scored a 45-13 victory over Morehouse in which Jada Byers was the lead catalyst for Virginia Union. Only this time, the keys were turned over to Curtis Allen, a 6'2'', 215 lb. senior from Petersburg and he did not disappoint.
Allen's 53-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the first of two scores he had on the afternoon and finished with a game-high 185 yards rushing. Overall as a team, the Panthers rushed for an impressive 375 yards with quarterback R.J. Rosales running for 73 yards while completing nine passes for 120 yards and a touchdown pass to receiver Ricky Key, Jr., a 35-yard strike that was part of their 35-0 scoring run.
Eighth-year Virginia Union head coach Alvin Parker lauded his team's defense and how they were able to hold Miles to a single field goal while keeping them out of the end zone on the afternoon, making the Golden Bears the first team in the six years of this game to not score a touchdown.
"Our defense played lights out and picked up where they left off last year. The defensive coaching staff did an awesome job and we have a lot of talented guys over there that make it happen and it was encouraging to watch that because defense wins championships," Parker said. "Offense makes people excited but defense wins championships and I was happy to see that today."
Miles looked nothing like a team that had won 10 games last season. A bright spot for the Golden Bears was freshman quarterback Kamden Ivory. Despite two interceptions, he passed for 174 yards with Tifton Dobbs being his leading receiver with four catches for 46 yards.
Under first-year head coach Chris Goode, a former University of Alabama linebacker who was hired as the program's head coach after Sam Shade departed for Alabama A&M as their head coach, the Golden Bears will have their work cut out for them if they are to make a return to the NCAA Division II playoffs later on this season.
One game doesn't define a season but they will have to rectify their turnover issues immediately in order to be a relevant team this season.
The Panthers will have a bye week and then will play one more non-conference game against Edward Waters and then will commence CIAA play against Johnson C. Smith. But for now, Parker wants his team to enjoy the win for 12 hours before getting to work on the Tigers, who they will play two weeks from now.
"We have a bye next week so we have to look at some things we need to correct. I feel like we did a lot of things right that it translated over to the game. Our itinerary says that we have a meeting tomorrow so we are right back to work," he said. "I give my guys 12 hours to celebrate a victory and then it's back to work."
Ben Wallace isn't the only Virginia Union Panther that was known for his defense with the Detroit Pistons. For at least today, the Panthers showed they can play defense too.
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