BOWIE, MD -- Bowie State football will look to close out Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) cross division play and extend its win-streak to three-straight on Saturday, Sept. 30 when the Bulldogs visit the Blue Bears of Livingstone. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. ET. from Alumni Memorial Stadium in Salisbury, N.C.
When: Saturday, Sept. 30 at 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: Alumni Memorial Stadium - Salisbury, N.C.
Watch: CIAA SPORTS NETWORK
Live Stats: Not Available
Tickets: Purchase HERE
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INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 33rd meeting between Livingstone and Bowie State since 1973. The Blue Bears own the all-time series, 18-14 but the Bulldogs have won the last three outings between the two including last year's 53-7 for BSU's homecoming contest at Bulldog Stadium. The last meeting that occurred between the two teams at Alumni Memorial Stadium featured a shutout for Bowie State, 49-0 in 2021.
LAST TIMEOUT
Led by a crushing defensive effort that kept the Saint Augustine's offense to 189 total yards, the Bowie State Bulldogs was able to hold on for a 10-7 victory at home on a wet Saturday afternoon in Bulldog Stadium.
Carleton Stewart led all Bulldogs rushers with 116 yards while Samuel Doku added nine yards on the ground, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Amir Jenkins' most prolific target in the ballgame was Kyle Parker, who caught one pass for 35 yards. Devin Williams paced the Bowie State defensive effort, totaling four tackles, one forced fumble, and one recovered fumble while Shawan Lewis added 1.5 tackle for loss and one sack in the win.The Bulldogs forced one turnover in Saturday's contest, with Bowie State turning that takeaway into seven points.
Defensively, BSU did a fairly decent job neutralizing the Saint Augustine's offensive attack, holding the Falcons to 189 total yards. The Bulldogs kept Saint Augustine's under 150 yards on both the ground and through the air, allowing 114 passing and 75 rushing 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.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jenkins is currently third in the CIAA for passing, the Baltimore, Md., native has combined for 780 yards four touchdowns on 75-of-122 completions. He averages 195.00 per game as the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs while the receiving game is led by Hinckley who is third in the league with an average of 68.3 per game, the Laurel, Md., native has 24 catches for 273 yards and one touchdown through four games. Defensively, Williams has a 18 tackles to lead Bowie State, while Keith Williams also has a team-high 18 tackles. Additionally, Mychale Salahuddin and Uvel Paul, Jr. both have 15 tackles. Paul, Jr. is the sack leader for the Bulldogs with three for 28 yards and there both Williams and Jadon Carter have recorded an interception each against Shaw.
NATIONALLY RANK DEFENSE
The Bulldogs defense has been a bright spot this season. Bowie State ranks ninth in the lead for 3rd down conversion percentages (.228), 10th in team total defense (240.5) and 16th in team tackle for loss (8.5). The Bulldogs are only giving 12.25 poitns per game which is a conference best.
HBCU D2 COACHES POLL
Bowie State football remained No. 5 in this week's HBCU D2 Coaches Poll announced by BOXTOROW. The Bulldogs started the preseason poll at No. 6 before the season opener at Delaware State and moved up to No. 4 week 2 but after the lost to nationally ranked Davenport, the Bulldogs has remained at No. 5 for the second straight week.
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.
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.
SCOUTING THE BLUE BEARS
It has been a tough start to the 2023 season for the Blue Bears of Livingstone as they have dropped each of its first four contests. In its season opener, LC was handed a 41-7 setback at the hands of Bluefield State. A week later, Catawba outscored the Blue Bears 55-15 in non-conference action, followed by a 28-20 loss to nationally-ranked Virginia Union and most recently a shutout loss to Virginia State, 33-0 that dropped the Blue Bears to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the league. LC is 10th in the league in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game while the Blue Bears defense have allowed its opponents to score nearly 40-points per game. Angel Carrillo ranks fifth in the CIAA for receiving average per game (61.3) and he's fifth in the league for kick returns with an average of 22.3. Defensively, Jaden Echols has 32 total tackles (3rd in the CIAA) and fourth amongst averages per game at 8.0 tackles per contest. The Blue Bears are led by Sean Gilbert who's in his second season at the helm.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs will return home to host the Trojans of Virginia State in its division opener and 2023 homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Bulldog Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
