ETTRICK, Va. – The Bowie State football team fell to Virginia State 42-13 on Saturday at Rogers Stadium in its season opener. The Bulldogs forced three turnovers and scored 10 points off turnovers, but the Trojans passed for 401 yards and five touchdowns. BSU finished with 231 passing yards and 111 rushing yards, including a 72-yard reception by
Makhy Acey in the third quarter.
This matchup marked the first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) competition for both teams.
BSU gained 59 rushing yards with no rushing losses in the first quarter and added 67 passing yards, including
Joshuah Keith's 32-yard touchdown pass to
Challenger Valentine after
Zayden Flemmings' interception. The Trojans answered with 149 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, while both teams had eight first downs and one interception as VSU led 14-7 after the quarter.
The Bulldogs were outscored 14-3 in the second quarter, with
Peter Lipscomb's 31-yard field goal accounting for their scoring as the Trojans led 28-10 at halftime. VSU threw for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the quarter, while BSU had 57 passing yards, 23 rushing yards and lost one of four fumbles, including a turnover recovered at the VSU 3.
BSU scored the only points of the third quarter on Lipscomb's 35-yard field goal and entered the fourth trailing 28-13. The Bulldogs finished with 97 passing yards in the quarter, highlighted by Keith's 72-yard completion to Acey, while the defense forced and recovered two VSU fumbles to keep the home team off the board.
The Bulldogs forced two third-quarter fumbles and recovered both, including Aaron Anderson's forced fumble that
James McPhatter recovered at the BSU 2. The Bulldogs produced 97 passing yards in the quarter, highlighted by Keith's 72-yard completion to
Makhy Acey, and Lipscomb's 35-yard field goal accounted for the only scoring in a 3-0 quarter that left VSU ahead 28-13. The Trojans scored the only points of the fourth quarter, getting a 15-yard touchdown pass from Rahsaan Matthews Jr. to Kevin Gayles and a 25-yard touchdown run from Melvin Brown to close out a 42-13 final.
Acey led the Bulldogs with seven catches for 170 yards. Keith completed 11-of-20 passes for 221 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Valentine finished with four receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown and added a 4-yard rush.
Chase Francis recorded seven tackles, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Matthews Jr. completed 25-of-36 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns and added 43 rushing yards for the Trojans while Jaylen Pretlow caught six passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 13 yards and forced a fumble. Nazir McKenzie added three receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Amir Mateo recorded two interceptions and four tackles.
The Bulldogs will have a quick turnaround and remain on the road as Bowie State travels to Dover, Del., to face FCS member Delaware State University on Saturday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 14 varsity sports teams, visitÂ
www.bsubulldogs.com.
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