FINAL STATS

(BOWIE, Md.)  Virginia State's Jarred Battle threw a 50-yard sideline bomb to Timothy Paulk with 1:07 left in the game to upend the Bulldogs of Bowie State 16-15.   

Battle scored the first points of the afternoon for the Trojans, pushing up the middle for a one yard touchdown at the 6:10 mark of the opening period. Justin Parker added the extra point for a 7-0 Virginia State lead. Bowie State junior Tariq Jones (Baltimore, MD, Edmondson) caught a short seven yard flip pass from fellow junior Clifton Budd (Silver Spring, MD, Sherwood) to pull the Bulldogs within one. Junior Michael Gagne (Baltimore, MD, Parkville) converted the extra point, tying things up at 7-7 with 2:15 left in the first period.

VSU's Parker booted a 39-yard field goal just after the start of the second quarter, shifting the advantage back to the visiting Trojans at 10-7. Budd threw his second touchdown of the afternoon, this time to sophomore Ridwan Cole (Bowie, MD, Bladensburg) in the right corner of the end. However, Gagne's extra point was blocked, but the Bulldogs regained the lead at 13-10.

Bowie State totally controlled the third quarter clock, holding a 12:59 to 2:01 advantage over Virginia State and created three Trojans turnovers. Bowie State took their third possession in the third quarter down to the Virginia State four yard line, but was stopped by the Trojans defense on two rushing plays and one incomplete pass play. Faced with a fourth and goal, Gagne was sent into the game to attempt a 21 yard field goal. Unfortunately, VSU's Howard Spencer blocked the kick.

Two plays into Virginia Stats's next possession, senior Terence Peete, Jr. (Memphis, TN, Northwest), picked off a Battle pass at the Trojans' 48 yard line. Bowie State held on to the ball from the 4:12 mark of the third quarter until the 9:37 mark of period four, running off 16 plays. During that drive, Bowie State missed another red zone opportunity as the Virginia State defensive front came up big again, this time from the Trojans one yard line. Bowie State attempted a fake 23-yard field goal with Budd throwing an incomplete pass to senior Anthony Green (Randallstown, MD, Randallstown).

Virginia State punter Billy Rudd suffered a 30-yard loss after center snap sailed over his head and threw the ball out the back of the end zone. The result of the play was a Bowie State safety and a 15-10 Bulldogs advantage with 5:40 remaining in the game.

Bowie State had a chance to close out the Virginia State with just over three minutes left to play after senior Kyle Jackson (Baltimore, MD, Edmondson) recovered a Battle fumble at the Trojans 28 yard line. Bowie State tried to run the ball to burn some clock, but managed just one-yard on four plays. This is when Battle and Virginia State Trojans made their final run.

With 1:26 left in the contest, Battle completed a 12-yard pass to Brian Berry and followed that with an 11-yard pass completion to Paulk, putting Virginia State at the 50-yard line. A Bowie State defender bit on a stop and go by Paulk that turned into the game winner for the Trojans.

Battle wrapped up the game with a game and season-high 208 passing yards, completing a season-high 20 passes. Paulk hauled in seven of those passes for a game-high 117 yards and Antwain Lyde led the Virginia State ground game with a game-high 71 yards on nine carries. Jeremy Pruitt and Clifton Haney led the Virginia State defense with nine and eight tackles respectively.

Jackson led the Bowie State defense with a game-high 10 tackles and fellow senior Sterling Grant-Jones (Baltimore, MD, Edmondson) contributed eight total tackles and one interception. Senior Kyle Moore (Laurel, MD, Pallotti) recorded his first career interception early in the third quarter.

Budd led the Bowie State offense with 128 passing yards, completing 16-of-29 and rushed for a team-high 61 yards on 17 carries. Junior James Proctor, Jr. (Capital Heights, MD, Suitland) paced the Bulldogs with 29 reception yards (four receptions) and sophomore Reginald McIntyre (Baltimore, MD, North County, Wesley College) tallied 27 yards (three receptions).

Bowie State (2-4, 2-1 CIAA) will look to get back on track next weekend (10/9) against St. Paul's College in Roanoke (Va.) - William Fleming High School in the Western Virginia Education Classic at 1 pm. Virginia State (4-1, 2-0 CIAA) will host Fayetteville State at 6 pm.