Virginia Union University’s road to football riches has grown long and bumpy, but there is still a lane to the top.

They figure to begin the uphill climb Saturday, Oct. 9, with the Panthers celebrating homecom- ing against CIAA doormat Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.

Kickoff at Willie Lanier Field at Hovey Stadium is 1 p.m.

The Panthers stubbed their toe badly last Saturday with a 27-7 home loss to CIAA rival Shaw University. The loss drops VUU to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Shaw is 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the CIAA Southern Division.

After scoring a combined 92 points in the team’s previous wins over Virginia University of Lynchburg and Johnson C. Smith University, the Panthers and its offense never got their groove on against the visiting Shaw University Bears.

Shaw outgained VUU 393 yards to 166. The Panthers’ Jada Byers rushed for 67 yards and the Panthers’ lone touchdown. James Jackson, a junior from Highland Springs High School, had three receptions for 58 yards.

Defensively, Domantay Rhem, a transfer from North Carolina State University, had 11 tackles plus an interception he returned for 44 yards.

Here’s where Coach Alvin Parker’s team stands heading into the second half of the season: To have any chance of winning the CIAA Northern Division, the Panthers likely will need to win five straight games and hope other contenders knock each other off.

It’s a difficult situation to be in, but not impossible.

Lincoln University has been the get-well tonic for a lot of CIAA schools in recent years. The Lions will come to Richmond with a 0-5 record, with the most recent setback being a 46-9 loss last week at Fayetteville State University.

Lincoln was 0-10 in 2019 with a 62-0 loss to VUU. Lincoln was 1-9 in 2018 with a 90-0 loss to VUU.

Lincoln is famous for other things besides foot- ball. Alumni include the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and poet Langston Hughes. Both are honored with commemorative stamps by the U.S. Postal Service.

Fritz Pollard coached at Lincoln from 1918 to 1920 before becoming the NFL’s first Black coach with the Akron Pros.