Box Score Virginia Union University's Gustavious Dames scored two touchdowns, but Virginia State University scored a touchdown with 1:34 remaining to defeat the Panthers 40-39 on Saturday, November 4, in Petersburg, Va.

The loss puts VUU at 6-4 on the season and eliminated the Panthers from the CIAA championship game.

VUU's Darius Taylor completed 25 of 45 passes for 330 yards, including four touchdowns.  Taylor ended the 2017 season with 22 passing touchdowns, tying him with Shawheem Dowdy for the fourth highest number of passing touchdowns in a single season.

Dames caught four passes for 104 yards, for an average of 26 yards per catch.  

VUU's Sterling Hammond picked up an errant VSU punt and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown.  The punt return TD was the fourth for the Panthers this season, tying the team record set in 1931 and tied in 1939, 1972 and 1981.

Virginia Union's Karl Calhoun led the Panthers with 11 tackles while teammate Cortez Grace grabbed an interception.

VUU entered the game ranked ninth in Super Region 2 of the NCAA.  The eighth-ranked team, Miles College, lost to Tuskegee University 50-20, so the Panthers will have to wait and see what the rankings will be to see if they make the NCAA Playoffs.  

The top eight teams of each of the four Super Regions make the 64-team NCAA playoff field.  The next rankings will be released by the NCAA on Monday, November 6.