Bowie State 14, Johnson C. Smith 13

September 9, 2006

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – History tends to repeat itself and tonight’s Bowie State Bulldogs and Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls football game proved to do just that. For the second straight season, Bowie State survived a scare from JCSU and held on to escape the Queen City with a 14-13 victory.

JSCU’s Herbert Collins’ 49-yard field goal attempt with 15 seconds left in the game fell short of its intended mark and preserved victory for the Bulldogs. “It’s come down to a kick the last two years … We made one last year and they missed one this year,” said a rather upbeat BSU Head Coach Mike Lynn.

Bowie State drew first blood when Lamar Manigo flipped a 10-yard pass to Sean Napper in the left corner of the

JCSU end zone at the 3:16 mark of the first quarter. John Riley converted the extra point, giving the guest a 7-0 lead. BSU’s Nathaniel Queen recorded his second TD of the season with 4:41 left in period two, rushing six yards over left tackle to take a 14-0 advantage into the half. Queen rushed for a career high 176 yards on 33 carries to lead the Bulldogs on offense.

The much improved JCSU Golden Bulls cut their halftime deficit to 14-7 on its first possession if the second half. Yannick Murray capped off a 9-play, 52 yard drive with a two yard touchdown run at the 11:22 mark of the third quarter. Murray led Johnson C. Smith in rushing with 43 yards on six carries.

Johnson C. Smith (2-1 / 0-1 in the CIAA) trimmed the Bowie State lead to just one with 3:52 left to play in the fourth quarter, when Ernest Hodge pounded in from 1-yard out, capping off a 15 play-74 yard drive by the Golden Bulls. However, Collins missed the extra point. Two big 15 yard penalties against Bowie State aided in JCSU’s drive and scoring opportunity. “Coach McNeill and his staff are definitely doing a great job with their program, have those guys headed in the right direction and think (Johnson C.) Smith will have a great season,” said Lynn.

Johnson C. Smith’s Fred Williams led both teams on defense with 14 total tackles. Miguel Dean led Bowie State in total tackles again this week, accounting for eight (2 solo and 6 assisted).

Bowie State University (2-0) travels to Baltimore (MD) next Saturday (9/16) for a 3:30 p.m. clash with Division I-AA Morgan State University. Johnson C. Smith will host Virginia Union next weekend in a CIAA matchup at 7:00 p.m.