Bowie State 17, Shaw 14

October 7, 2006

           (RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA) Bowie State University senior kicker John Riley booted a 43-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, lifting the Bulldogs to a 17-14 victory over the Bears of Shaw University.  When Bowie State Head Coach Mike Lynn was asked why he decided to go for the eventual game winning field goal, he responded, “He (Riley) said Coach let me kick it!”  “To be honest we were thinking about not doing it but he wouldn’t come off the field.”

            Nathaniel Queen capped off a 13 play, 42-yard drive, scoring from 1-yard out at the 3:03 mark of the opening quarter.  Shaw’s Terrence Ford blocked Riley’s extra point attempt but Bowie State still led 6-0. 

            Shaw quarterback Jermonty Kimbrough snuck in behind his left guard early in the second quarter, tying the game at six. Frances Nicolas booted the extra point through the uprights, giving the lead to the Bears at 7-6.  Kimbrough scored his second touchdown of the wet afternoon with 12 seconds left before halftime, again from 1-yard out, pushing the Bears lead to 14-6.

            The Bulldogs knotted the game at 14 with 12:03 left in the fourth quarter, when Queen busted up the middle for a 36-yard touchdown.  Bowie State converted the two-point conversion on a Deon Trotter to DeMarcus Reeves pass and catch.

Bowie State’s defense stepped up big on Shaw’s next possession, snuffing out the Bears on a fourth and one at the BSU 44 yard line.  Devin Williams picked off a Kimbrough pass at the BSU 49-yard line on Shaw’s next possession.  The Bulldogs went 3-and-out and punted to Shaw with 41 seconds left to play.  BSU’s Brandon Clarke intercepted a Kimbrough pass on Shaw’s final drive, sealing the victory for Bowie State.

             Queen led the Bulldogs offense 162 rushing yards on 25 carries.  Joel Ellerbe added another 42 rushing yards and Reeves paced BSU’s receivers with 68 yards.  Shaw (2-4 / 1-2 in the CIAA) was led by Reginald Price with 96 rushing yards (27 carries) and Kimbrough with 99 passing yards.  James Pettaway was the recipient of five Kimbrough passes for 92 yards.

            Durrell York, Darvin Dinkins and Christopher Johnson paced the Bulldogs of Bowie State with seven tackles each.  Galen Houston and Pierre Reeves were Shaw’s top defensive players with 12 and 10 tackles respectively.

Bowie State (3-3 / 1-2 CIAA) will host the division leading Vikings of Elizabeth City State next Saturday (10/14) for homecoming.