FINAL STATS

(ETTRICK, Va.)  Virginia State's Jarred Battle stretched in from two-yards out, lifting the Trojans to a stunning 28-21 overtime victory over the division leading Bulldogs of Bowie State.  The loss, Bowie State's second in a row, drops the Bulldogs record to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the CIAA.

Virginia State (3-2 overall, 2-1 CIAA) scored the first points of the evening on a quarterback keeper by Jarred Battle from inside the one at the 13:26 mark of the second quarter.  William Rudd added the extra point for a 7-0 lead which is where the score stayed at halftime.

Total yards were relatively even in the first 30 minutes as Virginia State accounted for 155 (124 passing) and Bowie State had 144.  Bowie State missed on all five of its third down tries, was 0-for-4 on fourth down and 0-for-1 inside the red zone in the first half.

Bowie State capitalized on the Trojans' second turnover of the game with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter, when senior James Proctor took a pitch from senior quarterback Andre Johnson and sprinted around left end for the first six Bulldogs' points.  Senior Michael Gagne converted the extra point, tying the game at 7-7.

Senior Delano Johnson squashed a Virginia State scoring opportunity with 13:31 left to play, intercepting his second pass of the season in the Bulldogs end zone.  Unfortunately, Bowie State was not able to take advantage of VSU's third miscue of the night.

Virginia State's Futch fumbled the ball at their own 34-yard line and three plays later, Bowie State senior Tariq Jones punched it in from 3-yards out to put the BSU Bulldogs in front 14-7.

However, VSU's Spencer Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.  Rudd drilled the extra point to knot the game up at 14-14 with 3:19 remaining in the third.

Bowie State regained the lead at 21-14 with 58.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard rumble up the gut of the Virginia State defense by redshirt freshman Keith Brown.  BSU redshirt freshman Darius Clair picked off a Battle pass on fourth and eight and Bowie State was on the verge of victory.  Unfortunately, Gagne mishandled a snap on an attempted fourth down punt giving the determined Trojans of Virginia State a chance to send the game into overtime.

Virginia State took just one play to tie the game at 21-21 when Battle connected with a streaking Timothy Paulk for a 21 yard touchdown, creating the overtime scenario.