Virginia State University now has its foot firmly on the gas, speeding toward what might be a winning season.

Coach Reggie Barlow’s Trojans, who improved to 3-4 following last Saturday’s 27-7 homecoming win over Lincoln University, can finish above .500 with two closing victories.

VSU will play host to Chowan University this Saturday, Oct. 30, at Rogers Stadium. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

The Trojans will finish the regular season Saturday, Nov. 6, at Virginia Union University in the I-95 Bowl.

Following a jittery 0-3 start to the season, VSU has won three of its last four games, with the lone loss during that stretch being a 51-44 cliffhanger to CIAA leader Bowie State University.

The VSU offense is now in the hands of junior quarterback Chauncey Caldwell, who transferred to the Ettrick campus from North Carolina Central University.

Coach Barlow appears to have settled on Caldwell after jockeying three other quarter-backs earlier this autumn. Caldwell hit 16 of 29 passes against Lincoln for 195 yards. His primary target was Marquez Phillips, who had six receptions for 76 yards.

Darius Hagans rushed for 51 yards and caught two Caldwell passes for 43 more, including a touchdown.

Nick “The Kick” Woolfolk from Richmond’s Thomas Jefferson High School booted three field goals and two extra points.

On defense for the Trojans, Kolby Hunter had three sacks worth 28 yards and Kymon Pope added 11 tackles, including two sacks, and an interception he returned for 15 yards.

Pope, a 190-pound freshman defensive back from nearby Dinwiddie High School, will be asked to help defend against another Dinwiddie General this Saturday. Chowan, now 5-3 after three straight defeats, is led by senior quarterback Bryce Witt from Dinwiddie High.

The all-time passing leader in most categories for Chowan, Witt is 176 for 258 on the season, with 25 touchdowns and 2,392 yards.

Witt will close his brilliant Hawks career Saturday, Nov. 6, against Lincoln University.

If VSU is successful against Chowan, it will set up a classic, season-ending VSU versus VUU matchup. The Nov. 6 grand finale on Lombardy Street will likely determine which of the two rivals finishes with a winning season.