Elizabeth City State 16, Bowie State 12

October 14, 2006

(BOWIE, MARYLAND) It was homecoming on the campus of Bowie State University but Elizabeth City State celebrated by defeating the Bulldogs 16-12. The win improves the ECSU Vikings to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the CIAA. The loss eliminates Bowie State from the divisional crown race as the Bulldogs drop to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

Brandon Fields scored Elizabeth City State’s first points of the game with 5:42 left in the first quarter from two yards out. However, the extra point snapped was muffed by Dan Herlihy, leaving the score at 6-0. Bowie State turned the ball over on its next possession at the BSU 26 yard line and Elizabeth City State capitalized on BSU’s miscue. ECSU’s Curtis Rich completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Jackson and Daniel Mendez added the extra point, extending the Vikings lead to 13-0.

Bowie State’s only points of the first half came in a very strange way. Bulldogs quarterback Lamar Manigo’s pass was intercepted in the ECSU end zone by Justin Hamilton and returned to the Elizabeth City State 44-yard line. However, the Vikings were flagged for an illegal block in the end zone resulting in a safety for Bowie State at the 2:45 mark of the second quarter. The Bowie State Bulldogs managed only 34 yards in total offense in the first half and allowed Elizabeth City State 168 first half yards.

The Bulldogs cut the deficit to 16-9 with one minute remaining in the third quarter, when Manigo completed a 24 yard pass to Anthony Green and John Riley converted the extra point.

Bowie State trimmed the margin to 16-12 early in the fourth quarter on a 26 yard field goal by Riley. The Vikings were faced with third and two from the ECSU 23 yard when the Bulldogs were slapped with 15 yard delay of game penalty (excessive band play), giving new life and an automatic first down to Elizabeth City State at the Vikings’ 38 yard line. Bowie State’s defense did manage to hold, making the Vikings punt the ball with 4:04 to play. BSU’s drive started at the Bulldogs’ 25 yard line but ended five plays later on a Manigo fumble at the ECSU 33 yard line. From that point ECSU milked the clock for the remainder of the game.

Statistically, Bowie State was led by Manigo’s 189 passing yards and Green’s 74 reception yards. Elizabeth City State’s Rich led the Vikings with 106 passing yards and Fields paced the Vikings with 102 rushing yards. Miguel Dean was Bowie State’s top defensive player, accounting for 10 total tackles. Irving Todd and Shawn Dickerson led the Elizabeth City State defense with six tackles each.