FINAL STATS

(ROANOKE, Va.)  Bowie State University junior Tariq Jones (Baltimore, MD, Edmondson) scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to help lift the Bulldogs to a 16-10 overtime victory over the St. Paul's College Tigers in the Western Virginia Education Classic.  The win improves Bowie State's record to 3-1 in the CIAA and 3-4 overall.

The Tigers of Saint Paul's College held on to the ball most of the first half (21:29) and took a 10-0 lead into halftime. Jason Davis took a sneak field goal in for a 16-yard touchdown at the 7:51 mark of the opening quarter. Preston McCarthy added the extra point for a 7-0 advantage. McCarthy kicked a 21-yard field goal with 11:41 remaining in the second quarter, increasing the St. Paul's advantage to 10-0.

Bowie State finally put points on the scoreboard at the 10:07 mark of the third period when junior Michael Gagne (Baltimore, MD, Parkville) booted a 33-yard field goal, trimming the Bulldogs deficit to 10-3.

The Bulldogs of Bowie State put together a 7-play, 50 yard drive to tie the game at 10-10 with 41 seconds to play in regulation. Junior Clifton Budd (Silver Spring, MD, Sherwood) found sophomore Douglas McNeil, III (Baltimore, MD, New Town, James Madison Univ.) wide open in the left corner of the end zone for a two-yard touchdown. Gagne drilled the important PAT to send the game into overtime.

Bowie State's defense stepped up big in the extra period, holding St. Paul's to a minus 14 yards on the Tigers only overtime possession. Jones ran the ball on BSU's first two plays in overtime before Budd connected on 20 yard pass to junior James Proctor, Jr. (Capital Heights, MD, Suitland), down to the St. Paul's three yard line. Jones (49 yards on 16 carries) went left side for a two yard pickup and then scored the winning touchdown.

Budd threw for a game-high 196 yards, completing 19-of-34 passes and Proctor led all receivers with 73 yards on eight receptions. Senior Sterling Grant-Jones (Baltimore, MD, Edmondson), the games Defensive Most Valuable Player tallied a game-high 11 tackles, forced one fumble and broke up one pass.

Steffan Miller-Colon led the St. Paul's Tigers with 157 passing yards and was named the Classic Offensive Most Valuable Player. The loss drops the St. Paul's record to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

The Bulldogs of Bowie State University return action – Saturday, October 16th, hosting the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania Lions for Homecoming 2010. Kickoff time is 1 p.m. in BSU's Bulldogs Stadium.