You can add another weapon to Virginia Union University’s growing football arsenal.

As if upcoming foes didn’t have enough to worry about before, now Cassious McDowell has been unveiled in maroon and steel colors.

Hapless Lincoln (Pa.) had no defense for the elusive tailback last week as the 5-1 Panthers racked up historic numbers in a 78-13 homecoming win at Hovey Field.

With only a handful of carries in VUU’s first five games, Lincoln had to wonder, “Who’s No. 23?”

Complicating the scouting report, the native Floridian is listed as a wide receiver on the VUU roster.

A transfer from Division I Toledo of the Mid-American Conference, the 5 foot-9, 190-pound McDowell raced for 174 yards on just nine carries and scored four touchdowns on runs of 67, 49, 10 and one yard.

All of his scoring came in the first three periods.

“Cassious is a very explosive runner. All he needs is a crease,” said VUU first-year coach Mark James.

So why did it take so long to show him off?

“He’d been injured,” said James. “This was really the first week he was full strength.”

Operating behind a well-choreographed offensive line that included 314-pound, room-clearing center Addison Hayes, McDowell got that crease – and then some – against Lincoln.

Hayes, from Savannah, Ga., was converted to a center after spending the past two seasons as a backup defensive lineman.

Among those applauding the position transition was McDowell, who scored almost as many touchdowns (4) as times tackled (5).

McDowell’s 19.5 yard-per-carry average was the most by a Panthers back since Judge Thomas averaged 20 per tote in 1976 against St. Paul’s.

His four rushing TDs were one short of the school record of five, set in 1926 by R.S. Morton against Johnson C. Smith.

Other big Panther statistical feats from last Saturday’s game:

VUU’s 78 points were the most since 1921, when the Panthers defeated Morgan State 85-0.

The 697 yards of total offense broke the old mark of 623 set against Norfolk State in 1992.

Troy Krepich’s 10 extra-point kicks were an all-time mark, as were his 11 tries.

Quarterback Kenneth Graham was 14 of 25 passing for 338 yards and two TDs. Nine different receivers caught passes.

Game-breaker Donte Gross had three receptions for 53 yards and the day’s first TD, bringing his season total to 19 catches, 542 yards and six touchdowns.

And it could have been worse.

“Basically, we ran the ball the whole fourth quarter to shorten the game,” said James.

He recalled when McDowell was the opposition rather than an ally. James was coaching Boyd Anderson High in South Florida when McDowell was playing for nearby Deerfield Beach.

“I remember they beat us his senior year,” said James.

McDowell’s Deerfield teammates included Denard “Shoelace” Robinson, who is now with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

During his three seasons at Toledo, McDowell rushed for 372 yards in 2012 and 137 last year. He has just this one season on Lombardy Street.

VUU will be favored to improve to 6-1 Saturday at North Carolina’s Chowan University, which is coming off a 39-11 loss to Bowie State.

“We’re starting to change the culture,” said James. “Day by day, week by week, we’re getting a little better.”

Sure enough, VUU’s scoring total has improved each week, from 12 in the opener against Siena Heights, to 21 to 25 to 27 to 31 to 78.

To be fair, the Panthers haven’t played any national contenders. The records of the five victims are a combined 8-21. Chowan is 1-5.

In fact, VUU may not face another team with a winning record until it meets Virginia State in its regular season finale game at Hovey Field on Nov. 8.

By then, you can be sure the opposition will know who No. 23 is.