Pioneer Bowl VIII
Tuskegee 28, Bowie State 26

(CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – December 3, 2005) The Tuskegee University Tigers captured their fourth Pioneer Bowl title, defeating the Bulldogs of Bowie State University 28-26. Bowie State and Tuskegee were schedule to meet in the 2002 Pioneer Bowl in Tampa (FL) before the game was abruptly cancelled. With the victory, the Tigers end their season at 11-1 while the Bulldogs close out the 2005 campaign at 8-4.

After a scoreless first quarter, Tuskegee drew first blood, when Kenneth Henderson caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Huff at the 12:41 mark of the second quarter. Roosevelt Echeverry converted the extra point, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead. Tuskegee capitalized on a Bowie State turnover and took a two touchdown lead six minutes later. Richard Fitzhugh pounded in from 3-yards out and Echeverry’s extra point made the score 14-0 Tuskegee. Bowie State scored its first points of the afternoon with 23 second left in the first half on a 17 yard toss from Lamar Manigo to Glenn Thomas. However, Michael Walls’ extra point sailed wide left, making the score 14-6 Tuskegee heading into halftime.

The Bulldogs of Bowie State evened the game up with 9:41 left in the third, when Olayinka Adeboyeku rumbled 34 yards for a touchdown. Isaac Redman rushed in for the two point conversion, tying the game at 14-14.

Bowie State took a 20-14 lead early in period four, when Redman capped off a 10 play – 74 yard drive, scoring from 3-yards out. However, Tuskegee took the lead for good with 10:56 left in the contest, on a Huff to Henderson 48 yard pass and catch. Echeverry’s extra point was good, making the score 21-20 Tigers. Tuskegee struck again with 3:51 remaining in the game on a 15 yard TD run by Fitzhugh, pushing the Tigers lead to 28-20. The Bulldogs made final minutes of the 8th Pioneer Bowl very interesting when Thomas (51 reception yards) outleaped a Tiger defender in the right corner of the end zone, cutting the BSU deficit to 28-26 with 19 ticks left on the American Legion Memorial Stadium scoreboard. Unfortunately, Manigo’s two point pass conversion failed, preserving the win for Tuskegee.

Bowie State’s Redman (the game's Offensive MVP) led both teams in rushing with 207 yards on a school record 37 carries. Kevin Huff threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns, completing 16 of 29 passes for Tuskegee. Tuskegee’s Henderson led all receivers with 11 receptions and 194 yards. Defensively, Tuskegee’s Torres Mozley led all tacklers with 15 followed by Albert Booker with 14. Sterling Green and Terrence Stafford paced the Bulldogs defense with six tackles each and Tyreve Smith and Alonzo Corbett added five apiece.