Bowie State Defense Makes Difference in 34-21 Road Win at Johnson C. Smith

The Bowie State University defense made two huge plays to help the Bulldogs capture a 34-21 road win at Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Bulldogs remain unbeaten in conference play at 2-0 and improve to 4-1 overall. The loss, JCSU’s third in a row, dips the Golden Bulls to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in league play.

Bowie State graduate quarterback Matthew Goggans (Pine Grove, Calif.) led all players on offense with 177 passing yards, completing 17-of-26 and three touchdowns. Sophomore Kerrick Pollock (Miami, Fla.) led the Bulldogs’ receivers with 55 yards on three receptions while redshirt junior Jordan Garrison (Baltimore, Md.) added 53 yards on five receptions. Redshirt sophomore Stephen Willis (Beltsville, Md.) rushed for a team-high and career-best 62 yards on 14 totes.

Redshirt junior Kevaugn Townsend (Fort Washington, Md.) paced the Bulldogs defense with 10 total tackles and forced two fumbles. The Bowie State trio of senior Brian Hall (Capitol Heights, Md.) while freshmen Kyle Jackson and Quinton Jordan, both of Upper Marlboro, Md. recorded six tackles each in the win.

“In spite of the poor playing conditions, we still have work to do but I rather do work being 4-1 instead of being 1-4”, said Bowie State head coach Damon Wilson. “We got the win and our defense kept them under 200 yards in total offense … Turnovers hurt us and we have to sure up our special teams.”

Bowie State opened the scoring on 15-yard pass and catch from Goggans to Garrison at the 4:20 mark of the opening quarter. Redshirt junior Christopher Palmer added the extra point for an early 7-0 lead.

The Bulldogs found the Golden Bulls end zone again at the 11:57 mark of the second quarter on a Goggans to redshirt junior Nyme Manns (Baltimore, Md.) 23-yard score for a 14-0 advantage.

A 77-yard kickoff return by Johnson C. Smith’s Carlo Thomas gave the Golden Bulls great field position at the Bulldogs 10 yard line. Three plays later Tromecia Summers pounded in for a 1-yard score. The Erik Amaya PAT was good, cutting the Bowie State lead to 14-7.

Bowie State got six points back with 4:26 remaining in the first half. Several JCSU pass interference calls help the Bulldogs move down the field. Goggans tossed his third touchdown pass of the afternoon, this time for a 9-yard score to Pollock for a 20-7 lead.

Bowie State’s second turnover of the first half allowed Johnson C. Smith another opportunity and the Golden Bulls capitalized. Jordan Lane threw a 24 yard touchdown to Roderick Carter with 1:42 to go before halftime. Amaya’s extra point trimmed the JCSU deficit to 20-14.

The turnover bug bit the Bulldogs again with 39 ticks left on the clock on a Goggans fumble. Johnson C Smith’s Daron Wright forced the fumble and Javrad Gaines scooped up the wet football and rumbled down the Bowie State sideline for 42-yard Golden Bulls score. The Amaya (35-yard) PAT was good to give the Golden Bulls a 21-20 lead at intermission.

Junior Heleaince Gates (Philadelphia, Pa.) picked up a Johnson C. Smith fumble and rumbled 42-yards for a Bulldogs touchdown. Palmer’s point after was good, giving the Bulldogs a 27-21 lead with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs defense stepped up again late in the fourth quarter when redshirt senior Anthony McDaniel (Fort Washington, Md.) intercepted a Jordan pass deep in Golden Bulls territory, turning the ball over to Bowie State at the JCSU 14 yard line.

Two plays later BSU’s Willis recorded his second touchdown of the season from 14 yards out to give the Bulldogs the final cushion of 34-21 with 1:53 left to play.

There were a combined 12 turnovers between the two teams. Johnson C. Smith was intercepted three times and fumbled the rain soaked football three times. Bowie State was intercepted once and lost four of five fumbles.

The Bulldogs return home for only the second time this season on Saturday (October 10^th), hosting the Chowan University Hawks for Homecoming 2015. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

JCSU hits the road on Oct. 10, traveling to Winston-Salem State.  Kickoff from Bowman Gray Stadium is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.