BOWIE, Md. — The group for Bowie State College’s house opener was gradual to reach Saturday and barely seated for a game-defining particular groups play. However the Bulldogs’ aspect was packed on the finish on a gorgeous sunny afternoon, celebrating a 21–7 victory in opposition to Shaw College.
“We had a full home and spirit and all the pieces,” Bowie State head coach Kyle Jackson stated on the sphere after his staff improved to 2–1 total, 1–0 within the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Affiliation (CIAA). “I wouldn’t anticipate nothing much less from Bulldog Nation. That’s form of how we do issues.”
Jackson helped create Bowie State’s tradition as a beginning linebacker from 2007–2010 and later a four-year starter at linebacker, and later as an assistant coach underneath his predecessor, Damon Wilson. The Bulldogs gained three consecutive CIAA championships, ending in 2021, after which Wilson departed for Morgan State, and Jackson was named interim coach, inheriting a program that made historical past 35 years in the past
“The historical past of this system has grown,” Andre Crawley stated throughout halftime because the odor of fried fish wafted from the concession stand. A guard on the 1988 Bowie State staff, Crawley and his teammates have been being honored for being the primary HBCU to achieve the NCAA Division II playoffs. “It’s only a matter of those new coaches carrying the torch and holding the custom going.”
Saturday marked Jackson’s first house sport since Bowie State named him head coach in January. He may’ve been 3–0 if the Bulldogs’ rally wasn’t thwarted by an interception – from Davenport College’s 12-yard line with 15 seconds left – the earlier week. There was no want for a comeback in opposition to Shaw. The Bulldogs went forward 5 minutes into the sport and by no means trailed after Elijah Bailey-Lowden recovered a blocked punt ultimately zone.
“Second week in a row we’ve had a blocked punt,” the Shaw Bears’ head coach Adrian Jones stated after his staff dropped to 0–3. “That’s remarkable.”
Shaw halfback Sidney Gibbs, on the verge of turning into his college’s all-time main rusher, gained 62 yards on 15 carries. His 20-yard run made the rating 14–7 because the fourth quarter received underway, however the Bears gained simply 235 yards all day.
“Our protection performed nicely however we haven’t performed good on offense all three weeks,” Jones stated. “Whether or not it’s quarterback play, offensive line play otherwise you title it, we simply ain’t doing what we’re speculated to do. We will’t preserve the protection on the sphere like that. I assumed they performed lights out.”
His star halfback expressed related sentiments. “There’s nonetheless an enormous sense of perception as a result of our protection is without doubt one of the prime defenses within the nation,” Gibbs stated. “They get stops and preserve getting us alternatives, however we’re not capitalizing on these alternatives. They’re not going to surrender on me, and I’m not going to surrender on them.”
The Bulldogs responded to Gibbs’ landing with their greatest drive of the afternoon – aided by a face masks penalty – marching 79 yards in 10 performs. Quarterback Amir Jenkins hit wideout James McNeill III with an 11-yard move for the sport’s closing rating. Bowie State gained solely 25 yards of whole offense earlier than intermission.
“Within the second half, we asserted ourselves,” Jenkins stated. “We lastly confirmed what we might do. We simply received to take that into subsequent week and play like that the entire sport.”
Jenkins, who handed for 350 yards in opposition to Davenport, managed simply 98 yards by means of the air in opposition to Shaw. Fellow quarterback Asa Williams accomplished 5-of-8 passes for 90 yards, together with a 20-yard landing to McNeill halfway by means of the third quarter.
“Offense is all about timing,” Jackson stated. “Once they get to jelling, we’re actually the very best offense on the sphere. Nevertheless, it takes time. Having these guys lastly get going was a blessing however there’s nonetheless some issues we have to tighten up.”
He stated his staff spent a while with members of the 1988 squad to get a way of this system’s custom. Championship banners ultimately zone remind gamers of the staff’s latest success, which Jackson is charged with persevering with.
“There’s no stress,” he stated. “The expectation is the expectation; the usual is the usual. I’ve been part of Bulldog Nation since 2007 as a freshman and it’s instilled in me. I do know what it takes to get the place we belong.”
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