BOWIE, Md. – Sophomore quarterback Amir Hall (Bowie, Md.) scored on a 2-yard run with 9:46 remaining in the game to lift Bowie State University to a thrilling 38-37 come from behind Homecoming victory over Virginia State University on Saturday afternoon. The win puts the BSU Bulldogs in sole possession of first place in the CIAA North.
Hall completed 25-of-36 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns to pace Bowie State’s offense. His primary target, senior Nyme Manns (Baltimore, Md.), recorded game-highs of 129 yards on eight receptions and scored two touchdowns. Junior Daivon Nixon (Laurel, Md.) and graduate student Kevaugn Townsend (Fort Washington, Md.) tallied a game-high 10 tackles each for the Bulldogs.
Bowie State (5-2, 4-0 CIAA, 2-0 North) drew first blood at the 9:20 mark of the first quarter on a Hall Manns 16-yard pass and catch for a 6-0 lead. [easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cart=”y” identifier=”B01E9MRC2S” locale=”US” tag=”hbcusports-20″]
Virginia State’s Kevin Bellamy (Hampton, Va.) put the visitors in front 14-6 by the end of the first quarter with TD runs of two and 24 yards.
Hall and Manns teamed up again to pull the Bulldogs within one at 14-13 at the 9:38 mark of the second quarter, this time for an 18-yard score.
The Trojans quickly responded on their next possession as Cannon rumbled for a 76 yard touchdown run to set the score at 21-13 with 9:16 on the second quarter clock.
Just over a minute later (8:17), Bulldogs’ redshirt sophomore Brandon Britton (Columbia, Md.) caught a Hall pass for a 60 yard touchdown reception, closing Virginia State’s lead to 21-20.
A Matthew Hillquist (Glen Allen, Va.) 29-yard field goal with 19 seconds left on the first half clock sent Virginia State into halftime with a 24-20 advantage.
Virginia State had back-to-back third quarter scores to give the Trojans a 37-20 cushion. Christian Harden (Richmond, Va.) recorded an 11-yard TD reception and Cannon tallied a 30-yard receiving touchdown, both from Ayres.
However, the Bowie State defense turned it up at this point, holding Virginia State scoreless over the final 23:46. Bulldogs sophomore Deron Smith (Bowie, Md.) notched his fourth TD reception of the season with six minutes left in the third quarter, pulling in a 13 yard pass from Hall. BSU’s Chesson recorded his seventh touchdown of the year at the 3:55 mark, rushing for a 24 yard score that cut the deficit to 37-32.
The Bulldogs put together an eight play, 69-yard fourth quarter drive, capped off by Halls eventual game winning touchdown.
Virginia State (5-2, 2-2 CIAA, 1-1 North) was led by the ground attack of Trenton Cannon (Hampton, Va.) and Bellamy with 138 and 104 rushing yards respectively. Cannon had a touchdown run of 76 yards to go along with 197 kickoff return yards while Bellamy accounted for two scores. Tarian Ayres (Buckingham, Va.) recorded 118 passing yards, completing 16-of-31 passes (one interception) and two touchdowns. Brandon Lynch (Norfolk, Va.) led the Trojans on defense with nine total tackles (7 solo and 2 assisted) which included 2.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss.
The Trojans led the team statistics, holding advantages in first downs (23 to 20), total yards (415 to 385) and possession time (33:49 to 26:11.).
The Bulldogs head south next Saturday (10/22) to face the Panthers of Virginia Union University in a key conference Northern Division contest. Game time at VUU’s Hovey Field is 1 p.m. and will nationally televised on ESPN3.
Courtesy: Bowie State Athletics
