FINAL STATS

PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Lawrence Johnson)

(BOWIE, Md.) Bowie State University rolled up 413 yards of total offense and rolled to a 41-14 Homecoming victory over Livingstone College. The win improves the Bowie State Bulldogs to 3-0 overall (2-0 in the CIAA) while Livingstone's Blue Bears fall to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the CIAA.

“I think it was good win for the University and hopefully picked up the spirits of the alumni, students, faculty and staff after the tragic loss of one of our students (Dominique Frazier) earlier in the week”, said Bowie State Head Coach Damon Wilson.

Livingstone got on the board first, briefly quieting the BSU Homecoming gathering. Jamel Moore pounded in from two-yards out and Hamilton Tabi added the extra point to take a 7-0 Blue Bears lead at the 14:04 mark of the second quarter.

Bowie State redshirt freshman Kendall Jefferson pulled the Bulldogs within one at 7-6 with 8:05 left in the first half, returning a Livingstone punt for a 42 yard touchdown. However, the PAT by senior Michael Gagne hit the left goal post.  

Livingstone's John Papillion coughed up the ensuing kickoff which was recovered by BSU redshirt sophomore Dwayne Price at the Blue Bears 24 yard line. Seven plays later, Bowie State senior quarterback Clifton Budd rushed for a three-yard touchdown. Gagne converted the extra point giving the Bulldogs the lead at 13-7.

The Bulldogs added six more points with 1:56 left in the first half on a Budd to junior Kevin James 35 yard pass and catch, sending Bowie State into halftime with a 19-7 advantage.

Livingstone cut the deficit to 19-14 early in the third quarter when Justin Johnson intercepted a Budd pass and returned it 51 yards for a Bears touchdown.

As a team, Livingstone tallied 132 yards of total offense (59 rushing and 73 passing).

Bowie State rebounded from that turnover and opened up a 27-14 lead on their very next possession. Budd completed an 8-yard pass to senior Douglas, McNeil, III, capping off a 10 play-70 yard drive.

BSU senior Tariq Jones scored his first touchdown of the season at the 6:17 mark of the third quarter, punching up the middle for a one-yard score. Freshman Gregory Koepping added the extra point to extend the Bulldogs lead to 34-14.

McNeil found the end zone again with 10 seconds remaining in the third, this time hauling down a pass from senior Andre Johnson, scoring an 11-yard touchdown and closed out the scoring at 41-14.

Budd threw for a game-high 149 yards, completing 12-of-20 passes but was intercepted three times. BSU senior James Proctor led all receivers with a game-high 79 yards and McNeil was a close second with 75 reception yards. Junior Ramono Flowers led the Bulldogs rushers for the second game in a row, carrying the ball 18 times for a game-high 82 yards.

Senior-transfer Terrance Hemsley along with junior Bekewele Amadi paced the Bowie State defense with eight tackles each.

“We have to do a better job protecting the ball offensively, especially scoring in the red zone and we must get our defense off the field on third down and stop giving those guys an opportunity to convert”, said Wilson.

Livingstone quarterback Jaren Troutman led the Blue Bears with 73 passing yards, completing 10-of-21 with two interceptions. Papillion was Livingstone's top receiver with 38 yards on four receptions.

Wesley Jackson and Tyheim Pitt led Livingstone on defense with 11 and 10 tackles respectively.

Turnovers were plentiful for Bowie State and Livingstone. The Blue Bears and Bulldogs fumbled the ball a combined eight times, losing two each. Bowie State was intercepted four times on the afternoon while Livingstone was picked off twice.

The Bulldogs hit the road next week, traveling to Richmond (Va.) to face the Panthers of Virginia Union University in a 1 pm nationally televised conference matchup. Livingstone will host Virginia University of Lynchburg at 6 pm in Alumni Stadium.