FINAL GAME STATS

(BOWIE, MD) Trailing most of the game, Bowie State University behind a game-high 184 rushing yards by junior Isaac Redman, pulled out a thrilling 41-30 victory over St. Paul's College in the 4th Annual Prince George's Classic. With the win, Bowie State improves its record to 2-3 overall and a 2-0 in the CIAA.   "The key to this win was our guys not giving up and they expected to win," said a visibly drained BSU Head Coach Mike Lynn. 

St. Paul's special teams made big plays, blocking two Bowie State punts and two extra point attempts. Jerome Mann of St. Paul's blocked a Ronald Walls punt and returned it 10 yards for the Tigers' first TD of the afternoon with 1:29 remaining in the first quarter.

Redman recorded his first of four touchdown runs, with his first coming from 39 yards at the 13:36 mark of the second quarter. However, the extra point was blocked, making the score 7-6 St. Paul's. St. Paul's Mann bolted through the Bowie State offensive line to block his second punt of the game, which was recovered by Alrick Sylva and returned 14 yards for a 14-6 Tigers lead by halftime.

The hungry Tigers increased its lead to 21-6 with 11:48 left in the third quarter following a 21 yard rushing touchdown by Larry Graham. Junior Jason Scott connected with fellow junior Jerrod Gaines for a 16 yard pass touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-13 by the 7:28 mark. St Paul's quickly responded three minutes when Henry Ford caught an 11-yard TD pass from Jean Dessein, pushing the visitors lead to 28-13. Bowie State wasted little time responding to SPC's quick score. BSU junior Larry Dixon returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the SPC 46 yard line to start the drive. Bowie State picked up another 44 yards on the drives first play when Scott hit Gaines for a 44 yard pickup down to the St. Paul's two yard line. Redman took it from there, bolting in for a two yard touchdown with 3:52 left in the third quarter.

Bowie State picked up a safety just after the start of the fourth quarter when a center snap sailed over the head of punter Nelson Davalos. Davalos kicked the ball out the back of the end zone, trimming the St. Paul's lead to 28-21. Bowie State's Scott tossed his second touchdown pass of the game, hitting Dixon from 36 yards out, tying the game at 28-28 with 9:54 left in the game. Redman put the Bulldogs in front for the first time, pounding in for a 3-yard TD at the 5:26 mark. The Bulldogs went up 41-28 with just over two minutes remaining in the contest, courtesy of a Redman 17-yard touchdown, his fourth of the game with 28 seconds left to play. However, just as the game started, St. Paul's blocked the extra point attempt and Corey Boston returned it for a two-point defensive conversion. Fortunately, the outcome of the game was decided at that point.

Besides Redman, the games Most Valuable Player, this game marked the first time this season Bowie State has gone over the century mark in passing. Scott completed 10 of 23 passes for 161 yards and Gaines led all receivers with 60 yards on two receptions. As a team, Bowie State rolled up 469 yards in total offense compared to 204 total offensive yards for St. Paul's.

Jermaine Williams led the St. Paul's offense with 79 rushing yards and Jarvis Stokes was tops on defense for the Tigers, racking up a game-high 12 total tackles. Freshmen Terence Peete and Alexander Payton led the BSU Bulldogs defense with four tackles each.

"To score 35 points in the second half is a testament to our guys and to their will to want to win and we're very proud of them," said Lynn.  Bowie State will host Livingstone next Saturday (10/6) at 1 p.m. and St. Paul's (1-4 / 0 -2 in the CIAA) will host Shaw at 1:30 p.m.