FINAL STATS

(BOWIE, Md.) Sophomore Michael Gagne (Baltimore, MD, Parkville) nailed a 42-yard field goal with 7:31 left in the contest to lift Bowie State to a 23-21 win over Shepherd University in football action at Bulldogs Stadium.

Bowie State (1-1) took a 7-0 at when sophomore James Proctor, Jr. (Capital Heights, MD, Suitland) took the opening kickoff 98 yards for a score.

Shepherd (1-1) got on the scoreboard with 11:02 left in the first quarter when an errant snap on a Bowie State punt went out of the end zone.

The Rams took a 9-7 lead with 1:58 left in the first quarter when junior quarterback Kevin Clancy (Westminster, MD/ Westminster) teamed with and senior wide receiver Raymond Mends (Leesburg, VA/Park View) on a one-yard scoring toss to cap a nine-play, 66-yard drive. Sophomore kicker Eric Dobratz (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac) added the extra point.

Bowie State retook the lead at 13-9 when quarterback Andre Johnson scored on a one-yard plunge with 8:05 remaining in the second quarter as the Bulldogs drove 78 yards in 16 plays. A two-point pass attempt by Gagne failed after an errant snap. Bowie State took a 20-9 advantage into the break when junior running back Rodney Webb (Baltimore, MD, Milford Mill Academy) rambled 17 yards for a score with 2:38 remaining in the half. The score was set up by a Shepherd fumble.

The Bulldogs dominated time of possession in the first half with a 20:23 to 9:37 advantage.

Clancy teamed with sophomore running back Tommy Addison (Germantown, MD/ Quince Orchard) on a 42-yard scoring play to cut the lead to 20-15 with 10:03 left in the third quarter. Dobratz missed the extra point attempt.

Shepherd took a 21-20 lead when Clancy connected with senior wide receiver Nasser Muhammad (Silver Spring, MD/Sidwell Friends) on a 65-yard scoring strike with 1:03 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete.

Bowie State took a 23-21 lead on a 42-yard field goal by Gagne with 7:31 left in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Delano Johnson (Baltimore, MD, Dunbar) picked off a Kevin Clancy pass with 29 seconds left to seal the victory.

Clancy completed 13-of-28 passes for 199 yards and three scores. Johnson connected on 11-of-18 passes for 115 yards for the Bulldogs.

Webb led all rushers with 105 yards on 23 carries. Junior running back Jimmy Sutch (Hagerstown, MD/St. James) led the Rams with 22 yards on nine carries.  Senior Larry Dixon, Jr. (Baltimore, MD, Dunbar, Morgan State Univ.) had three catches for 73 yards to lead the Bulldogs. Muhammad had four receptions for 58 yards and Mends had three catches for 86 yards to pace the Ram receivers.

Senior defensive end T.J. (Frederick, MD/ Frederick) and junior defensive end Will Wheeler (Chantilly, VA/Westfield) and junior linebacker Brian Taylor (Elkridge, MD/ Long Reach) tied for game-high tackling honors with seven stops each. Junior outside linebacker Ben Minturn (Gaithersburg, MD/Damascus) and sophomore linebacker Jon Schwartz (Annapolis, MD/ Annapolis) added six tackles apiece. 

Redshirt Kenyon Kinard (Baltimore, MD, Dunbar) and true freshman Gregory Jackson, and Johnson had five tackles each to pace the Bulldog defense. 

Bowie State return to home action next Saturday (9/12) to face CIAA Western Division foe Fayetteville State ay 1 p.m. in non-conference contest.