BOWIE, MD -- Looking to snap a three game losing skid, Bowie State football will travel to Bluefield, WV to face Bluefield State on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The game will broadcast live on the CIAA Sports Network.
When: Saturday, Oct. 21 at 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: Mitchell Stadium - Bluefield, WV
Watch: CIAA Sports Network
Live Stats: BSUBulldogs.com
Tickets: Purchase HERE
Follow on Twitter: @BSU_Sports_Info
Follow on Instagram: @BowieStateBulldogs
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the first meeting between Bluefield State and Bowie State in program history. The Bulldogs enter Saturday's game on a three game losing skid, falling to Livingstone (31-18) on Sept. 30, Virginia State (44-16) on homecoming (Oct. 7) and most recently a 52-3 setback at Virginia Union last weekend. Meanwhile, the Big Blue's are still in search of its first conference win on the 2023 season. B-State has lost its last six outings entering Saturday's tilt with the Bulldogs. Both teams are winless in the Northern Division.
RECAPPING LAST TIMEOUT
The Bulldogs (3-4, 2-3 CIAA, 0-2 North) were held to a season low three points against the Virginia Union Panthers on Saturday, Oct. 21. BSU's score came from a 48-yard field goal from Justin Zavala in the second quarter. Unfortunately, Bowie State was limited 138 yards of total offense including 62 passing and 76 rushing. The Bulldogs were 2-of-15 in third downs, 0-2 in fourth down situations and accounted for just 13 first downs against the Panthers. Corey Johnson led all Bulldogs rushers with 80 yards in the contest. Keshane Hinckley also added eight yards on the ground. The most prolific target for Bowie State quarterbacks was James McNeill, III who caught two passes for 23 yards. Mychale Salahuddin led the Bowie State defensive effort, totaling one interception while Tyshawn Blow added 1.0 TFL and one sack. Defensively, Bowie State held up fairly well against the Virginia Union passing attack, holding the Panthers to 159 yards through the air.
OFFENSIVE WOES
Offensively, the Bulldogs are scoring 15.57 points per outing after Saturday's loss. As a team, BSU has combined for 131 first downs through seven games this season and 1827 yards of total offense which ranks eighth in the CIAA. Bowie State has used five different quarterback this year led by Jenkins who has competed in six games with 1099 passing yards, five touchdowns on 104 pass completions but he has thrown eight interceptions including four at Davenport. As of recent, both Khalif Welch and Jordan Morse has seen action in the last two games. Welch has thrown 13-of-23 passes for 124 yards while Morse has thrown for 16 yards on two completions and an interception. The Bulldogs rushing game has also struggled this season, BSU has just 474 yards in rushing yardage (67.7) compared to its opponents (1187) and 169.6 average. Johnson owns the team's highest net in rushing yards at 238 on 71 carries while Carleton Stewart has 60 carries for 235 yards and a TD. The offensive line unit has rotated 14 players led by two lineman who have competed in all seven games.
BULLDOGS DEFENSE RANKED IN NATION
Bowie State's defense rank 10th in Division II for third down conversion percentage (defense) at .258 and dropped to 19th in red zone defense (.636) after being 10th a week ago. BSU dropped out of the rankings for total defense this week and moved down to No. 30 in tackle for loss (7.6) from 14th with the loss to Virginia Union. The Bulldogs are top-25 in team passing efficiency defense (104.99) at No. 24 in the nation.
THE JACKSON ERA
The 2023 season will embark the first official season for first-year head coach Kyle Jackson. Jackson was officially named the 10th head football coach in Bulldog history on Jan. 23, 2023. The decision followed Jackson after serving in the role as interim in the 2022 season, where he led the team to a 6-4 record and eight players earned CIAA All-Conference honors, with Joshua Pryor being named the 2021 CIAA Defensive Player of the Year and five First Team All-CIAA selections. Additionally, Pryor and Jordan Griffin were both selected First Team and Second Team All Super Region Two honorees. Jackson also had five Bulldogs participate in the second Annual Black College Football HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans.
HINCKLEY ON THE BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME WATCHLIST
Bowie State wide receiver Keshane Hinckley was officially announced as one of the names on the official watch list of the 2023 Black College Football Player of the Year Watchlist, the Black College Football Hall of Fame announced in July. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University. Hinckley is one of 11 student-athletes listed from the CIAA. The Laurel, Md., native led Bowie State and the CIAA in total receptions (56) in 2022. He registered a team-high (686) receiving yards (2nd in the CIAA) and a team-high (5) TDs last season. Four finalists will be unveiled after the season. The winner of the Black College Football Player of the Year Award, which will be announced during halftime of the 2024 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, will be presented with the Deacon Jones Trophy. The Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl takes place on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will be broadcast live on NFL Network.
SCOUTING THE BIG BLUE'S
Bluefield State (1-6, 0-6 CIAA, 0-2 North) are on a six-game losing skid and have not won a game at home this season (0-3). The Big Blue's are coming off a 39-23 road loss to Virginia State last Saturday led by Isiah Teal's 127 passing yards. Other Bluefield State offensive leaders were Jahdir Loftland with 78 rushing yards and Khyon Smith with 68 reception yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Bluefield State was paced by TJ Gunter with a game-high 11 total tackles which included 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. B-State is sixth in the CIAA for offense, averaging 21.9 points per game while its defense has allowed an average of 31.9 points per game which is 12th in the league. The Big Blue's do rank second in the CIAA for passing yards (1656) with a passing efficiency of 109.4 (6th in the CIAA). Bluefield State was accepted back into the CIAA Conference effective July 1, 2023. Previously, the Big Blue were members of the CIAA from 1932 to 1955. In 2021, Bluefield State revived its football program after a 40-year hiatus and the Big Blue currently sponsors 19 sports, primarily competing as an Independent in NCAA Division II.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs will return home to host Elizabeth City State in its home finale and senior day on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. from Bulldog Stadium. Bowie State is 11-2 against the Vikings since 2009 and own a nine game winning streak heading into the series 40th meeting in program history.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
