FINAL STATS

(RICHMOND, Va.) Virginia Union University's Cheston Hickman threw for a game-high 320 yards, leading the Panthers to a 32-29 conference victory over previously unbeaten Bowie State. The BSU Bulldogs record drops to 3-1 overall (2-1 CIAA) while Virginia Union improves to 3-2 overall (1-1 CIAA).

“Virginia Union is a good football team and they capitalized on our mistakes”, said an upset Bowie State head coach Damon Wilson.

The visiting Bulldogs capitalized on a Virginia Union turnover at the 6:12 mark of the first quarter. Senior Kenneth Turner scooped up a fumble by Daishun Jackson and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. Senior Michael Gagne added the extra point to give Bowie State a 7-0 lead.

Virginia Union's Kenneth Graham took a lateral pass from Washington and connected with Leroy Harmon for a 34-yard touchdown with 10:38 remaining in the second quarter. BSU senior Delano Johnson blocked the Stephen Velasquez extra point, leaving the Bulldogs with a 7-6 lead.

Gagne gave Bowie State a little breathing room at 10-6 after booting a 22 yard field goal with 7:56 left in the first half. However, Virginia Union took the lead for good at the 3:44 mark of the second quarter on a Jerrell Washington 8-yard touchdown run. The Panthers PAT kick was blocked again by BSU's Johnson, but Virginia Union took a 12-10 lead into halftime.

Bowie State turned the ball over via a fumble on their first possession of the second half and Virginia Union took advantage of the miscue. VUU's Hickman connected on a 49-yard strike to Matias Parker down to the BSU three yard line. Washington punched it in two plays later increasing the Panthers lead to 18-10.

Redshirt freshman Keith Brown caught a two-yard pass from Budd to trim the deficit to 18-16, capping off a 10 play-79 yard drive with 7:28 left in the third quarter.

After Virginia Union and Bowie State traded their next respective possession, VUU's Hickman threw his only touchdown pass of the afternoon, connecting with Washington for a 39-yard score. Fracisco Macias converted the extra point, making the score 25-16 after three periods of play.

Virginia Union's Washington scored his fourth touchdown of the game at the 7:02 mark of the fourth quarter, punching it in from four yards out to take a 32-16 advantage.

There was still some fight left in the Bulldogs as Bowie State's Brown recorded his second touchdown of the game, this time rushing for a two-yard score, cutting the Virginia Union lead to 32-22 with 3:02 remaining in the contest.

Bowie State attempted an onside kick that appeared to be recovered along the VUU sideline by BSU senior Douglas McNeil, III. However, the official ruled that Douglas came down with the ball out-of-bounds after going the necessary 10 yards, giving possession to Virginia Union at the BSU 43 yard line.

The Bowie State defense held the Panthers to a three and out, forcing Virginia Union to punt. VUU Paul Jones punted the ball 40 yards down to the Bowie State two and Budd returned it 11 yards to the BSU 13.

Bowie State put together a nine-play, 87 yard drive that was capped off with a Budd to junior Kevin James three-yard pass and catch. Gagne added the extra point to pull the Bulldogs within three at 32-29 with just under a minutes remaining in the game.

Bowie State attempted another onside kick but was called for an offside penalty, giving Virginia Union a first and 10 at the 50-yard line. The Panthers simply took a knee on two straight plays, running out the clock and sealing the victory.

Raymond Mack was Virginia Union's top receiver with 107 yards on six receptions. Matias was second best on the team in reception yards with 97 and Harmon accounted for 79 reception yards. The Panthers were led on the ground by Washington with 68 yards on 19 carries. Antonio Harris and Patrick Grant paced the Panthers defense with a dozen tackles each. 

Budd led the Bowie State offense with 247 passing yards, completing 24-of-38 passes, 141 rushing yards and 17 punt return yards. James recorded team-highs of six receptions and 61 yards to lead the Bulldogs receivers. McNeil and senior James Proctor caught four passes each for 51 and 20 yards respectively.

Redshirt freshman Kendall Jefferson led Bowie State's Bulldogs in All-Purpose Yards with 191 (62 rushing and 129 kick return). Juniors Bekewele Amadi and Marcelus Manear were tops on the BSU defense with nine and seven tackles respectively. Senior Delano Johnson was credited with six tackles, two pass breakups and two blocked kicks.  Johnson's two blocks tied the Bowie State career mark of 10 with Robert Zachery (1989-92).

In terms of team statistics, Bowie State recorded 551 total offensive yards but was penalized 10 times for 113 yards. The BSU Bulldogs also committed three turnovers, fumbling the pigskin three times, losing two and had one pass intercepted.

Virginia Union amassed 508 yards of total offense, averaged 17.7 yards per catch and was penalized just four times for 20 yards. Of VUU's penalties, all occurred in the first half.

“We had too many penalties and we turned the ball over too many times … When you do those things against a good team, you're going to lose”, said Wilson as the team boarded the buses heading for home.

Bowie State will play the second of six straight road games, traveling to Virginia State next Saturday (October 1) for a 6 pm contest against the Trojans.