Virginia Union 9, Bowie State 7

October 28, 2006

(BOWIE, MARYLAND) Nathaniel Queen rushed for a Bowie State single game record 213 yards but the Bulldogs fall 9-7 to Virginia Union. The old record (209) was set last season by Isaac Redman. The loss drops Bowie State to 4-5 overall (2-4 CIAA) but improves Virginia Union to 7-2 (5-1 CIAA).

The Panthers of Virginia Union scored on their very first series on a Lamar Little to Michael Hampton 34 yard pass and catch with 7:33 left in the opening quarter. Hugo Flores-Diaz’s extra point attempt was missed, leaving the Panthers with a 6-0 lead.

Diaz added a 43 yard field at the 6:51 mark of the second quarter, extending Virginia Union’s lead to 9-0. Bowie State missed a scoring opportunity just before halftime when Lamar Manigo was intercepted by VUU’s Akeem Smith at the Bulldogs two yard line.

Bowie State seemed to be gaining momentum in the third quarter but the penalty bug began to bite the Bulldogs. Faced with a third and eight from the BSU 46 yard line, Queen busted through the Panthers defense for what appeared to be a 54 yard touchdown. However, the Bulldogs were penalized 10 yards for holding, negating six points for the home team. The Bulldogs would turn the ball over to Virginia Union two plays later. Fortunately, Bowie State would recover on its next series when Peter Mensah pounded in for his first touchdown of the season from one yard out with 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter. John Riley converted the extra point, cutting the deficit to 9-7.

The Bulldogs were penalized 15 yards for delay of game on the ensuing kickoff, but the flag was thrown because of excessive band play for the second time this season. Bowie State’s Sherman White blocked a Flores-Diaz 42 yard field goal attempt early in the final quarter, giving BSU good field position at their 32 yard line. The Panthers defense got another heavy dose of Queen, as the senior carried the ball five of eight times on the drive. Bowie State drove down to the Virginia Union 18 yard line but couldn’t capitalize, wasting a 12 play – 62 yard drive. A 33 yard field goal attempt by BSU’s Riley sailed wide left with 6:30 left in the game.

Marcus McFadden picked off a pass by Little at the VUU 44 yard line and returned it to the Panthers 20 yard line. But as the case most of the game, BSU was flagged for an illegal block in the back, pushing the ball back to the VUU 35. However, Bowie State went three and out, turning the ball over to Virginia Union. An 18 yard catch by Herb Jones and a 19 yard run by Elihu Smith (155 rushing yards) were two key plays that helped Virginia Union move the sticks and eventually run out the clock.

Little led VUU with 98 passing yards and rushed for another 30 yards. BSU’s Manigo completed six of 17 passes for 61 yards and DeMarcus Reeves caught four of those passes for 30 yards. Devin Burton led the BSU Bulldogs with 10 tackles and the duo of Saad Alston and Durrell York added another seven tackles each. Hurley Hemphill paced the Panthers with nine total tackles. As for those penalties, BSU was hit 13 times for 124 yards while the Panthers were set back seven times for 30 yards.