FINAL STATS

(BOWIE, Md.)  The Bulldogs rolled up 473 yards in total offense and cruised to a 31-14 victory for Bowie State over the visiting Tigers of Benedict College. This was a designated conference game for Bowie State and improved the Bulldogs overall record to 2-0 (1-0 CIAA).

Junior Kevin James scored the first points of the afternoon for Bowie State, hauling in a 33 pass from senior Clifton Budd  at the 5:33 mark of the opening period. Senior Michael Gagne added the extra point for a 7-0 Bulldogs lead.

Gagne made the score 10-0 Bowie State with 5:39 left in the first half after drilling a 24-yard field goal. Bowie State kept Benedict College in check the first half, holding the Tigers to just 81 yards in total offense while managing 213 total first half yards themselves.

Senior James Proctor, Jr. caught his second touchdown pass of the season with just over minutes remaining in the third quarter, scoring from 12 yards out, this time from senior Andre Johnson. Gagne's extra point extended Bowie State's lead to 17-0.

Benedict (0-2) responded quickly, scoring its first points of the game and of the season. Harlon Samuels connected on a 66-yard bomb to Mujihad Assad and Andy Polanco added the extra point to cut the Bowie Stat lead to 17-7 with 3:57 left in the third quarter.

Bowie State redshirt freshman Kendall Jefferson took a Johnson nine yard pass into the end zone, padding the Bowie State lead.

Benedict's Samuels connected with Emmanuel Houston on a nine yard pass and catch at the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter, closing the Tigers deficit to 24-14.

The BSU Bulldogs added some insurance with 1:21 left in the contest, when senior Kenneth Turner picked up a controversial fumble by Benedict's Samuels and rumbled 51 yards for the touchdown. Gagne converted the extra point, accounting for the final 31-14 margin.

Junior Ramono Flowers was the workhorse for the Bulldogs, rolling up 144 rushing yards in 23 carries. Johnson completed 12-of-20 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns for Bowie State. Proctor led Bowie State with 74 reception yards and senior Douglas McNeil, III along with James added 47 and 41 reception yards respectively.  

Defensively for the Bowie State's Bulldogs, senior Delano Johnson led the attack with eight total tackles and fellow senior Bakarie Bayoh tallied a half dozen tackles in the win.

Samuels was Benedict's top offensive producer, recording 99 passing yards and 53 rushing yards. Assad and Houston accounted for a pair of catches each for 68 and 31 yards respectively. Anthony Davis paced the Tigers with a game-high nine total tackles and G. Sarnie Johnson along with Brandon Beech recorded eight tackles each.

Penalties were a real sore spot for Bowie State as the Bulldogs were flagged 15 times for 180 yards compared to 88 yards for Benedict.

“We didn't get an opportunity to really practice this week because of the bad weather, but the guys responded and made plays when we needed to”, said a satisfied third-year Head Coach Damon Wilson. “If we can eliminate the penalties and get better in the red zone, I believe we'll have a good year.”

Benedict returns home to face CIAA power Shaw University at 5 pm next Saturday (9/17). Bowie State hosts Livingstone College next weekend (9/17) for Homecoming 2011. Game time for the BSU Bulldogs and Livingstone Blue Bears is set for 1 pm.