FINAL STATS

(BOWIE, Md.) The Bowie University Bulldogs recorded a 14-0 Homecoming “Mud Bowl” shutout over the Tigers of Saint Paul's College. The victory moves Bowie State one step closer to claiming the CIAA Eastern Division crown and keeps the Bulldogs unbeaten in the conference at 5-0 (5-2 overall).

It was a cold, rainy afternoon and neither team could produce very much offensively. After a scoreless first quarter, Bowie State sophomore Kenneth Turner (Oxon Hill, MD, Oxon Hill) intercepted an Alwan Lee pass and returned it 37 yards for the Bulldogs first six points. Sophomore Michael Gagne (Baltimore, MD, Parkville) added the extra point and Bowie State led 7-0 at the 14:49 mark of the second quarter.

The first half of play featured seven fumbles and three interceptions. Of the fumbles, Saint Paul's let the slippery pigskin get away two times (losing one) and Bowie State coughed it up five times (losing four). Turner was responsible for Bowie State's two other first half interceptions as well.

Bowie State senior Larry Dixon, Jr. (Baltimore, MD, Dunbar, Morgan State Univ.) recovered a fumble in the Tigers end zone, after freshman Ramono Flowers (Largo, MD) rushed eight yards to the St. Paul's two yard line and then fumbled. Gagne's extra point with 7:26 left in the game, gave Bowie State the final 14-0 cushion.

St. Paul's (3-4, 2-3 CIAA) went four and out in their next two possessions but had Bowie State pinned at the Bulldogs one yard line after a 42-yard punt by Marlon Buchanan with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Bowie State freshman quarterback Emmanuel Yeager (Washington, DC, Coolidge) picked up seven yards on BSU first play from the one, but turned the ball over to St. Paul's via another fumble. Travis Worthington recovered the fumble at the Bowie State eight yard line which was St. Paul's first time in the red zone. Unfortunately for the visiting Tigers, an illegal blocking penalty pushed St. Paul's back to the BSU 22 yard line.

The Bowie State defense was determined not to let St. Paul's score but almost let the shutout get away. Faced with a fourth and goal from the BSU 25 yard line, SPC's Lee completed a pass to Deshawn Edwards for a minus three yards. However, Bowie State was penalized 15 yards for a face mask; giving St. Paul's another first and goal opportunity from the 13 yard line. Following a St. Paul's timeout with eight seconds left in the contest, the Tigers were penalized five yards for a false start. Lee then threw his fourth interception of the game with senior Joseph Embree (Baltimore, MD, Milford Mill Academy) getting the pick to close out the game.

Juniors Sterling Grant-Jones (Baltimore, MD, Edmondson) and Kyle Jackson (Baltimore, MD, Edmondson) led the Bowie State defense with eight and seven tackles respectively. Sophomore Delano Johnson (Baltimore, MD, Dunbar) had five total tackles and added one sack. Turner's three interceptions was one shy of the Bowie State single game record.

St. Paul's was led on defense by Jarvis Stokes with a game-high 12 tackles to go along with one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Offensively, Bowie State's Clifton Budd (Silver Spring, MD, Sherwood) led the Bulldogs with 54 rushing yards. Yeager was second on the team in rushing with 38 yards and completed just two-of-four passes for 20 yards. Flowers caught one of those passes for 12 yards and redshirt sophomore Tariq Jones (Baltimore, MD, Edmondson) caught the other.

Albert Tinsley rushed for a team-high 28 yards on 14 carries and Jermaine Williams added another 16 rushing yards in the loss. Lee completed three-of-nine passes for 12 yards with Emory Addison receiving two of those passes for 15 yards.

Bowie State will return to action next Saturday (10/24) for a nationally televised broadcast at Virginia Union University for the Panthers homecoming. Kickoff time from Virginia Union's Hovey Field is 1 p.m.