Bowie State 14, Virginia Union 13

October 25, 2008

(BOWIE, Md.) Freshman Andre Johnson threw a 10-yard touchdown dart to sophomore Dean Boateng and freshman Michael Gagne added the extra point with 51.7 seconds left in the game to lift Bowie State to a thrilling 14-13 victory over Virginia Union.

Senior Isaac Redman rushed for a team-high 71 yards and scored one touchdown and fellow senior Jason Scott completed 8-of-16 passes for 67 yards to lead the Bowie State offense. Boateng was the games top receiver with four receptions for 45 yards. Senior Jonathan Edwards was a man on a mission, racking up a game-high 14 total tackles (11 solo) and sophomores Terence Peete and Kyle Moore tallied eight tackles each to pace the Bulldogs defense.

Bowie State’s Redman powered in from five yards out at the 7:20 mark of the first quarter and Gagne’s extra point gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 advantage, capping off a 9-play, 47 yard drive. Virginia Union’s Steven Miller made an acrobatic 32-yard catch from Lamar Little just after the start of quarter two. However, VUU’s Gil Hernandez missed the extra point, leaving BSU with a 7-6 lead. Patrick Mills rushed for a four yard touchdown run with one second remaining in the first half. Hernandez converted the extra point, sending Virginia Union into the break leading 13-7.

After a scoreless third quarter, Virginia Union was on the verge of scoring with just under 13 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Mills ran wide left down to the Bowie State two-yard line but had the ball poked away by BSU’s Peete. The ball rolled into the end zone as was recovered by junior Willie McCurdy for the touchback.

Virginia Union’s Panthers and Bowie State’s Bulldogs traded their next respective possession, setting up BSU’s game winning drive. Bowie State began the drive on its own 49 yard line with 4:07 left in the game. Scott rushed four yards to the VUU 47 yard line but was injured on the play. Johnson replaced Scott at quarterback and rushed 21 yards and a first down, down to the Virginia Union 26 yard line on his first play from scrimmage. Bowie State gained a yard and lost a yard on their next two plays before Johnson flipped a pass to sophomore Rodney Webb. Webb dodged and weaved through the Virginia Union defense for a 10 yard pickup and another first down. Redman picked up two more yards just before Johnson’s game tying pass.

Virginia Union (5-4, 3-3) had a chance, as Raymond Loney took the ensuing kickoff back 28 yards to the 50 yard line. Joseph Jean-Pierre took a pass from Little and picked up another 38 yards down to the BSU Bulldogs 12 yard line. Following a Virginia Union timeout Little lost a yard, forcing VUU to call its final timeout. Bowie State called their final timeout just before VUU’s Hernandez could attempt the 30 yard field goal. As the 1,004 rain soaked fans stood on their feet, Hernandez readied himself for the potential game winner. Unfortunately, Hernandez’s 30 yard attempt never got the lift and fell short of its mark.

Mills wrapped up the afternoon with a game-high 135 rushing yards to lead Virginia Union. Little was the Panthers’ second leading ground gainer with 86 yards to go along with 108 passing yards. Defensively, Hurley Hemphill and Stevie Johnson paced the Panthers with nine tackles apiece.

Bowie State (4-4, 3-3) will wrap up the 2008 season next Saturday (11/1), hosting the Trojans of Virginia State at 1 p.m.