BOWIE, MD -- The Bowie State football team returns to Bulldog Stadium for the 2023 edition of Homecoming Weekend. The team is set to face conference foe Virginia State. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST with coverage on the Bulldog Sports Network.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: Bulldog Stadium - Bowie, MD
Watch: BULLDOG SPORTS NETWORK
Live Stats: BSUBULLDOGS.COM
Tickets: Purchase HERE (BSU Athletics Ticket Office will not accept cash at the ticket box office on game day)
Follow on Twitter: @BSU_Sports_Info
Follow on Instagram: @BowieStateBulldogs
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Fans will only be able to carry the following style and size bag into the stadium all of which are subject to search.
• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12"
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags, measuring 4.5" x 6.5" with or without a handle or strap
• All other bags will not be permitted. A list of prohibited bags includes but is not limited to: purses, backpacks, drawstring bags that are not clear, briefcases, coolers, fanny packs, luggage, computer bags, camera bags, binocular cases, and diaper bags. Guests are encouraged to return unauthorized items to their vehicles. Bowie State University cannot safeguard items that are not permitted into the stadium.
GAME DAY FORECAST
Virginia State and Bowie State will play in rain showers at times with the forecast calling a high 66F degrees. The low for the day is predicted at 48 degrees while there is 50-percent chance of rain and a 79-percent of humidity level. Saturday will have winds WNW 11 mph. Sunrise is set for 7:08 AM while the sun will set at 6:40 PM. Umbrellas are NOT permitted inside the stadium, therefore we are encouraging spectators to wear ponchos or rain gear to keep dry.
HOW TO WATCH
Saturday's game will be televised live on the Bulldog Sports Network with Evan Johnson (play-by-play) and Jayden Clyne (analyst) on the action. Fans can also log on to BSUBulldogs.com and click "Gameday Central" which will prompt viewers to the Bulldogs Sports Network. Live stats will also be available under "Gameday Central" for all home football contests.
GAMEDAY PROMOTION
Bulldog fans are encouraged to wear GOLD as we celebrate the 2023 Homecoming game against Virginia State. This will be the first time BSU and VSU hit the gridiron for homecoming since 2018. Bulldog alumni are encouraged to make their way back to campus for pregame festivities all week leading up to the highly-anticipated rivalry game.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 36th meeting between Virginia State and Bowie State since 1976. The Trojans own the all-time series, 21-14 but the Bulldogs have won the last four outings between the two including last year's 41-14 for VSU's homecoming contest at Roger Stadium. The last meeting that occurred between the two teams at Bulldog Stadium featured a triumph win for Bowie State, 51-44 in 2021.
A WIN OVER VIRGINIA STATE WOULD...
• Improve Bowie State's conference record to 3-1.
• Extend win-streak to three-straight at home this season.
• Second win for head coach Kyle Jackson against Virginia State.
• Extends active win-streak over Virginia State to five-straight.
• Snap Virginia State's five game win streak.
• Improve all-time conference record to 15-21 overall.
• Improves overall all-time series record to 15-21 overall.
• Extend win-streak at home against VSU to three-straight.
• Begin Division play with a 1-0 mark.
LAST TIMEOUT
Bowie State posted 354 yards in total offense but seven fumbles including four losses and 10 penalties proved to be too much to overcome in the Bulldogs 31-18 to a no-longer winless Livingstone team on the road Saturday afternoon at Alumni Memorial Stadium.The Blue Bears improved to 1-4 on the year and 1-2 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play, while the Bulldogs fall to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in conference action.
Amir Jenkins led Bowie State's passing attack with 286 yards through the air, tossing one touchdown and one interception. Corey Johnson totaled 66 yards to lead the Bulldogs' ground attack in the game, picking up 6.6 yards per carry along the way. Carleton Stewart also tacked on 35 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Jenkins' most prolific target in the ballgame was Christopher Ferguson, who caught four passes for 63 yards. James McNeill, III got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in six balls for 62 yards. The Bulldogs also got 52 yards receiving and one touchdown from Keshane Hinckley in the contest.
Shawan Lewis led the defense with seven tackles, 2.5 tackle for loss and a .5 sack while Cameron Chesley, Mychale Salahuddin and Hasan Mosley all finished with five tackles each. Despite the offensive woes, Bowie State converted on 53.3 percent of third-down attempts as well as going 2-for-3 on fourth down while Bowie State's defense held up against Livingstone's offense, giving up 280 total yards.
HOME SWEET HOME
Bowie State has recorded a 37-9 record at home in Bulldog Stadium since 2013 and in the last 10 seasons. Of those last 10 seasons, the Bulldogs have had three seasons where they've went undefeated at home (6-0 in 2021, 4-0 in 2018 and 4-0 in 2015). It wasn't until last season where the Bulldogs had its 23-game win-streak at home snapped by Virginia Union on Oct. 15, 2022. This will be the second straight home game for Bowie State in 2023, the Bulldogs are 1-1 against SAU since 2012.
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.
BULLDOGS DEFENSE RANKED IN NATION
Bowie State's defense rank ninth in Division II for third down conversion percentage (defense) at .236 and red zone defense (.562). BSU also ranks 16th in the nation for total defense (248.4) and tackle for loss (8.4). The Bulldogs are top-25 in team passing efficiency defense (100.77).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jenkins has already thrown for over 1066-yards through five games, including a whopping 350 yards at Davenport (Sept. 9) his season-best. The Baltimore, Md., native has completed 100 passes on 160 attempts and five TD's as the starting quarterback for Bowie State while the receiving unit has been a trio of Hinckley, Ferguson and McNeill, III for majority of the season, as they all have combined for 781 yards on 63 catches. However, McNeill, III leads the receiving core in total touchdowns with four including two against Shaw on Sept. 16. Defensively, Mychale Salahuddin, Devin Williams and Mosely are the Bulldogs top tacklers with 22, 21 and 19 tackles, respectively. Salauddin is second on the team in tackle for loss (6.0) while Lewis has a team-best 6.5 tackle for loss (32-yards). The Bulldogs sack leader has been Uvel Paul, Jr., who led the CIAA in sack during the 2022 season, he has three on the season thus far.
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 TROJANS
The Virginia State Trojans are on a hot streak entering Saturday's game. VSU is undefeated at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the CIAA, coming off a convincing 38-18 win over Shaw in Raleigh, N.C. last weekend. The Trojans recorded 428 yards of total offense, including 310 passing and 118 rushing led by Jordan Davis who completed 15 passes (24 attempts) for 310 yards and two TDs. Kymani Clarke scored two of the Trojans rushing touchdowns, finishing with 10 carries for 29 yards while Lucas Nunez accounted for 112 yards on three catches and two TD's. The Trojans had three players with a team-high four tackles led by Zemar Anderson who had four tackles, 1.5 tackle for loss and 1.5 sacks. VSU has the top offense in the CIAA this season, averaging 36 points per game while allowing just 14.4 points per outing from the team. Defensively, they also lead the team in interceptions(8) as their defensive efficiency is 75.4, the leagues best. The Trojans are ranked ninth in the nation for total defense.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs will travel to Richmond, Va., to face Virginia Union on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Hovey Field. The Bulldogs are 17-20-1 all-time against the Panthers dating back to 1979. The Panthers claimed a 27-24 win over Bowie State in Bowie, Md., last season.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
