Virginia Union blanks Lincoln 62-0 in Philly HBCU Week opener

Virginia Union defeated Lincoln 62-0 on Friday at Lincoln Financial Field. The shutout capped the opening night of One Philly HBCU Week, a six-day event hosted by the City of Philadelphia and the Eagles. Despite the lopsided score, both programs shared the stage with thousands of fans and alumni.

Christian Aiken, a linebacker for Virginia Union and a South Jersey native, led the Panthers' defense. Aiken, who leads the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in sacks, rushed to the stands after the final whistle to greet family members wearing his custom No. 44 gear. "Being a Philadelphia Eagles fan, getting an opportunity to come out here, play with my teammates, and just enjoy this stage," Aiken said. "One Philly HBCU week, get out of here, come out and put on a showcase. It's amazing.. I got my whole family out here, man. I got cousins, everybody."

Lincoln, a Chester County college, participated in the festivities due to its role in the first HBCU Classic in 1919. That initial game against Howard also took place in Philadelphia. Charles Thompson, a Lincoln linebacker from Chester, described the event as an "unbelievable experience." Thompson noted that the stadium is approximately 15 minutes from his home. "Riding past the stadium anytime I have to go to Philly, its about 15 minutes from my house, so it was awesome," he said.

Before kickoff, supporters from both schools gathered in joint tailgates outside the stadium. Fans displayed school colors and Greek letters. Chris Barnes, a Lincoln alum, compared the atmosphere to a homecoming. "HBCUs, it's a vibe," Barnes said. "It's almost like a homecoming. Anytime we get a chance to get together, watch the game, do some cooking, share stories about when we were on campus. It's just a really, really good atmosphere. … See some folks we probably haven't seen in a couple days."

The week began on Tuesday at West Philadelphia High School with performances from community cheer groups and marching bands. For Halloween, the Marching Orange & Blue performed Michael Jackson's "Thriller," with members wearing zombie makeup. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said the event brought together various local institutions. "We had the cheerleaders and the young bands, the school bands, and they're competing [in the Battle of the Bands]," Parker said. ".. Temple was there. Father Judge was there. That's what 'One Philly' is, right?"

Friday's festivities included a step show before the game and a halftime performance by rapper Ludacris. Step is a dance form popularized on HBCU campuses in the early 1900s that uses stomping and clapping to create beats. Jasir Jeffcoet, a member of Lincoln's Kappa Alpha Psi chapter, called the step show a "historical moment." He noted that it was the group's second step show win within a week. "This is our second step show win within a week, so we make history day by day," Jeffcoet said. "Great to be at the HBCU Classic doing our thing. We appreciate everybody here that gathered to make sure everything got right today."

Jamire Boyer, a member of the Marching Orange & Blue, performed with the band during the event. Boyer said he was initially nervous about performing at the Eagles' stadium. However, his apprehension turned to excitement after interacting with other performers during the week. "It makes me inspired to do it more and more often," Boyer said. The city also held a college and career fair earlier in the day on Friday.