Bowie State 18, Fayetteville State 7

When they toppled the Broncos of Fayetteville State University, 18-7, in Bulldog Stadium Saturday, it put the Bulldogs in a position that no one ever thought they would be in at this late in the season.

"Last year we were trying to win our first game at Homecoming, and this year we are in second place with a chance to win the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) Eastern Division championship," said Bulldogs' head coach Henry Frazier.

The Bulldogs (5-3 overall, 3-2 CIAA) will have to beat Virginia State University on the road, then hope that the Broncos can rebound from today's loss and defeat Virginia Union University ( 6-2, 4-1) at home in Fayetteville. The Bulldogs hoped to get some help from Virginia State University today, but Virginia Union took care of business with a 42-20 win in Petersburg, VA.

On Senior Day, it was the Bulldogs' youngsters that shone the brightest. Freshman running back Kelvin Collins ran for two touchdowns, giving him six for the season, including a 40-yard burst that put the Bulldogs up 12-0 early in the second quarter. Freshman running back Caleb Cranke scored on a 10-yard catch and run in the first quarter for the Bulldogs' first score. He rushed for 19 yards on five carries late in the game, setting up Collins second score. And once again, freshman linebacker Atcheson Conway put his imprint on the game with 10 tackles, a forced fumble that led to a score and an interception.

With the win, the Bulldogs cooled off a Broncos team (6-3, 4-1) that entered with a three-game winning streak and having won five of their last six. The Bulldogs offense was efficient enough throughout the game to get it done, but came up big in the first half after the defense caused turnovers.

After a Kendall Stewart interception at the Fayetteville 27, thanks in large part to a tip by defensive end Charles Alston, it took six plays before quarterback Dante Harris found Cranke for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was wide left and the lead was 6-0 with 1:17 left in the first quarter.

On the Broncos' next possession, Conway forced a fumble that defensive tackle Bruce Banks fell on at the Broncos' 35. Two plays later, Collins burst through the right side virtually untouched, scoring the Bulldogs' second touchdown from 40 yards out. The pass for two points was incomplete and the lead was 12-0 with 12:50 to play in the half.

"It was important that when the defense gave us the ball, the offense was able to take advantage of it," said Frazier.

Defensively, the Bulldogs had a number of outstanding performances, led by Conway Alston tied for team-high with 10 tackles as well. Senior linebacker Harry Brunson had eight tackles and a forced fumble and Banks finished with eight tackles and a fumble recovery.

The special teams unit has made big plays all season, and they came up with a huge play that changed momentum that the Broncos were building.

With a first-and-goal from the Bulldogs' eight, the defense stiffened, driving them backwards. The Broncos still had a chance to get some points on the board and salvage their drive, but Antone' Sewell blocked the 36-yard attempt and the Bulldogs took possession.

The Bulldogs were out-gained by the Broncos, 188-148, but Collins did finish with 93 yards rushing on 14 carries. Quarterback Dante Harris started in place of injured Kernis Faison, finishing 3-12 for 14 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

The Broncos did finally get on the board, using a 15-play, 90-yard drive culminating in a Nathaniel Benton one-yard touchdown run with 8:40 to play in the game, cutting the lead to 12-7.

Broncos' quarterback Duane Taylor was 11-28 for 89 yards with two interceptions and was sacked twice. Benton finished with 74 yards on 15 carries and the touchdown.

Two possessions later, the Bulldogs put the game away for good when Mike Bryant took a handoff at the Bronco 14, wove his way to the 10 where he pitched it to the trailing Collins who ran it in the final 10 yards.

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