Washington is set to join Delaware State as its offensive coordinator, according to 247Sports. Washington spent the last two seasons in Cleveland as the Bill Willis diversity coaching fellow, working with running backs and tight ends. 

The former Bowie State quarterback has already seen success at the college level. 

Washington’s journey to this position is marked by resilience and dedication. After overcoming a serious cholesterol granuloma cyst on his brain, he returned to play five games for Bowie State, completing 73 of 121 pass attempts (60%) for 992 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions, leading the Bulldogs to the CIAA Championship Game as it emerged as a power in HBCU football.

Following his playing career, Washington began coaching as a student assistant at Bowie State from 2016 to 2017, and serving as a contributing writer for HBCU Gameday. He then served as a graduate assistant at West Virginia State in late 2017 before returning to Bowie State in 2019 as a receivers coach. In 2021, he was appointed offensive coordinator at Wheeling University. The offense averaged 30.5 points per game in 2022.

Now he will be returning back to HBCU football, joining a staff that will be headed by 38-year-old DeSean Jackson. He’s a rising star himself in the coaching world and could soon find himself as a head coach — or back in the NFL.

The post NFL assistant joining DeSean Jackson’s staff at HBCU appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

This victory wasn’t an isolated incident for Bowie State this season. Earlier, Bowie State knocked off another Division I HBCU, Hampton University, solidifying their reputation as a giant-slayer. Against Howard, Bowie State showed resilience and grit, erasing a two-point halftime deficit and holding firm under intense late-game pressure.

The Bulldogs were led by Warren Mouganda, who put on a stellar performance with a game-high 23 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with just two seconds left on the clock. Mouganda’s efficiency was on full display, as he shot 9-of-15 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. His efforts were supported by Justin Morrisey, who added 12 points, and Victor Naboya, who contributed 12 points and four rebounds off the bench. 

Bowie State shot an impressive 50 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three-point range, exploiting Howard’s defensive lapses. The Bulldogs also took care of the ball, limiting turnovers to just 10. Defensively, they held Howard to 29.2% shooting in the second half, a stark contrast to the Bison’s scorching 61.5 percent in the first half.

Howard, despite a strong first-half showing, struggled in the second half to maintain momentum. Cameron Shockley-Okeke led the Bison with 26 points, but his efforts were not enough to fend off Bowie State’s relentless attack. Blake Harper added 19 points and eight rebounds for Howard, but the team’s late-game execution faltered under the Bulldogs’ pressure.

Bowie State’s victories over Howard and Hampton this season are a testament to their preparation and determination. These results highlight the competitive nature of HBCU basketball across divisions, proving that Division II programs like Bowie State can stand toe-to-toe with their Division I counterparts and thrive on the big stage.

The post HBCU takes down second Division I foe on the road appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Virginia Union University (Grade: A+)

• Preseason Rank: 2nd
• Final Standing: 1st (6-1 conference, 7-3 overall)
• Offensive Ranking: 1st in Total Offense (479.4 yards/game, 61 TDs)
• Defensive Ranking: 4th in Total Defense (295.2 yards/game, 22 TDs allowed)

Highlights:

• Jada Byers, the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year, dominated the field, amassing 1,497 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. He set school records with 5,311 career rushing yards and 70 touchdowns. This includes a single-game record of 324 yards and six touchdowns against Bowie State.
• Virginia Union clinched the CIAA Championship, defeating Virginia State in a decisive victory.
• The Panthers secured a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs, representing HBCUs on the national stage.
• VUU’s loss to Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), did not count as conference defeats due to CIAA scheduling rules impacted by St. Augustine’s absence from football this year.

Summary: Virginia Union showcased exceptional prowess on both offense and defense, leading the CIAA. This reinforced its status as a powerhouse among HBCU football programs.

Johnson C. Smith University (Grade: A)

• Preseason Rank: 4th
• Final Standing: 2nd (5-2conference, 8-2 overall)
• Offensive Ranking: 3rd in Total Offense (378.4 yards/game, 32 TDs)
• Defensive Ranking: 1st in Total Defense (246.2 yards/game, 17 TDs allowed)

Highlights:

• Head Coach Maurice Flowers was named CIAA Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Bulls to an impressive season.
• Benari Black, the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year, led a stout defense with 113 tackles. He spearheaded the top-ranked defense in the conference.
• JCSU achieved significant victories over Tuskegee and Morehouse from the SIAC, and delivered Virginia Union their only on-field CIAA loss.
• Despite their strong performance, they suffered a crucial conference loss to Fayetteville State.

Summary: JCSU exceeded preseason expectations. They solidified their reputation within the CIAA and HBCU football. The team combined a formidable defense with strategic coaching. This made them one of the season’s standout teams.

Virginia State University (Grade: B)

• Preseason Rank: 1st
• Final Standing: 3rd (6-1 conference, 7-4 overall)
• Offensive Ranking: 2nd in Total Offense (385.7 yards/game, 43 TDs)
• Defensive Ranking: 2nd in Total Defense (283.5 yards/game, 19 TDs allowed)

Highlights:

• The Trojans secured a notable win against Benedict from the SIAC.
• Bruno Onwuazor earned CIAA Lineman of the Year, contributing to an offense that averaged 6.3 yards per play.
• Defensive Rookie of the Year, Marquis Edmond, bolstered an already strong defense.
• Virginia State’s only victory over a team with a winning record was against Benedict, limiting their impact against top-tier opponents.

Summary: Virginia State showed statistical strength. However, they fell short in securing wins against leading teams within the CIAA. This impacted their overall grade. This happened despite their perfect conference record adjusted by CIAA rules.

Go to Page Two for more CIAA grades

The post HBCU Football: CIAA football grades 2024 appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Bowie State, picked to finish 11th in the CIAA, came out strong in the first half, leading 43-35 at the break. The Bulldogs’ Elijah Davis played a key role, scoring 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds, while Warren Mouganda added 15 points and six rebounds to help maintain their momentum.

Hampton University, picked to finish near the bottom of the CAA, made a valiant comeback attempt in the second half, led by Noah Farrakhan’s 20 points and Kyrese Mullen’s 14-point effort. However, despite closing the gap and even taking a brief lead late in the game, the Pirates were unable to pull ahead as Bowie State’s defense held firm in the final moments.

This exhibition showcased the strength and talent present within HBCU programs, with both schools delivering impressive performances. For Bowie State, the victory over a Division I opponent was a powerful statement about the competitive quality of HBCU athletics, giving showing that the Division II basketball program could compete with larger HBCUs.

How Bowie State pulled off the D2 upset

With just over a minute left on the clock, Bowie State’s Warren Mouganda sank two critical free throws to tie the game at 69-69, then followed up with another successful free throw to push Bowie State ahead 70-69.

Hampton quickly tried to respond but missed a jumper from Noah Farrakhan, allowing Bowie State’s Victory Naboya to secure the rebound. Naboya was fouled immediately, and although he missed his first free throw, he made the second, extending Bowie State’s lead to 71-69 with just 39 seconds remaining.

Hampton had one last chance to tie or take the lead, but Farrakhan missed a layup under pressure. Teammate Xzavier Long fought hard for the offensive rebound, but his subsequent jumper fell short. In the scramble, Long grabbed another rebound but missed a crucial layup with just 17 seconds left.

Bowie State then regained possession, and Elijah Davis was fouled with 13 seconds on the clock. Davis calmly stepped to the line and hit both free throws, giving the Bulldogs a 73-69 advantage. Hampton’s Farrakhan made a fast break layup with just nine seconds remaining to close the gap to 73-71, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

In the final moments, Bowie State’s Davis turned the ball over, giving Hampton one last shot. Farrakhan drove to the basket for the potential game-tying layup, but his attempt fell short as time expired

The game not only entertained the crowd but also brought attention to the importance of showcasing HBCU matchups — even between different NCAA divisions — inspiring pride within both alumni and supporters. As Bowie State continues its season, this win over Hampton could serve as a milestone achievement for the program.

The post HBCU Basketball: D2 squad knocks off D1 in exhibition appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Virginia State started fast, building a 24-0 lead by halftime. Quarterback Romelo Williams spearheaded the Trojans’ offense, throwing for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Early in the first quarter, Williams connected with Ajenavi Byrd for a 37-yard touchdown, followed by a 47-yard strike to Malik Hunter, pushing Virginia State ahead 14-0. Jimmyll Williams added a 1-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime, extending the lead to 24-0.

Bowie State showed signs of life in the second half. Curtis Murray scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 11:31 remaining in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 24-7. However, Virginia State quickly responded with an 11-yard touchdown scramble by Romelo Williams, followed by another rushing touchdown from Jimmyll Williams, making it 38-7.

The Bulldogs continued to fight in the fourth quarter. Kevin Taylor capped a 64-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, narrowing the score to 38-17 with 6:04 left in the game. Despite their late push, Bowie State’s struggles on third down—converting only 1 of 11 attempts—hampered their comeback effort. Virginia State, meanwhile, was efficient, converting 8 of 18 third downs to control the tempo.

Micah Robinson led the Bowie State offense, rushing for 33 yards and adding 32 receiving yards. Murray contributed 31 rushing yards along with his touchdown, and Joseph Towler recorded 54 receiving yards for the Bulldogs. On defense, Jamal Jones delivered two sacks, a forced fumble, and five total tackles, while the unit as a whole recorded four sacks and eight tackles for loss, limiting Virginia State to 130 rushing yards.

This win keeps Virginia State’s CIAA title hopes alive, improving their conference record to 2-1. Bowie State, now 1-3 in CIAA play, faces a tough path ahead to remain competitive. Both teams will look to regroup as they continue through the HBCU football season.

Bowie State returns home next week to face Bluefield State for their homecoming game on October 19 at Bulldogs Stadium. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on HBCU GO TV. Meanwhile, Virginia State aims to carry the momentum forward as they continue their pursuit of the CIAA championship.

The post HBCU Football: Virginia State dominates in homecoming win appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Storylines

1. Virginia State’s Defensive Strength: The Trojans’ defense has been strong, racking up 11 sacks on the season. Defensive standouts like Cameron Davis and Mustapha Coly will look to dominate Bowie State’s offense, which has struggled to generate consistent production.
2. Bowie State’s Offensive Woes: Bowie State has averaged just 17.8 points per game while allowing 22.4. This game is crucial for Bowie State’s offense to step up, particularly against a Virginia State team that has proven difficult to break down defensively.
3. Quarterback Duel: Virginia State’s Romelo Williams has thrown for 869 yards and 8 touchdowns, giving the Trojans a balanced offensive attack. Bowie State’s defense must find a way to limit his big-play potential.

Key Matchups

1. Jimmyll Williams vs. Bowie State’s Defense: Virginia State’s Jimmyll Williams leads the ground game with 536 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. Bowie State’s front seven must rise to the occasion to contain him.
2. Romelo Williams vs. Bowie State Secondary: Williams has been efficient through the air, connecting with playmakers like Kevin Gayles (251 yards, 5 TDs). Bowie State’s secondary will need a standout performance to limit the Trojan’s passing attack.
3. Virginia State’s Defensive Line vs. Bowie State O-Line: The Trojans have been aggressive up front, with 11 sacks this season. Bowie State’s offensive line must protect their quarterback to stay competitive.

Key Players to Watch

• Virginia State: Jimmyll Williams (RB): With 536 yards on the ground and 5 TDs, Williams is the engine of the Virginia State offense.
• Virginia State: Romelo Williams (QB): Williams has thrown for 869 yards and 8 TDs, connecting with top targets like Kevin Gayles.
• Bowie State: Defensive Line: Their ability to pressure Romelo Williams will be critical in keeping Bowie State in the game.

This HBCU football matchup has high stakes for both teams. Virginia State looks to climb the CIAA standings, while Bowie State hopes to stop the bleeding and earn their first conference win. Expect a hard-fought battle as these rivals square off.

The post HBCU Football: Virginia State vs. Bowie State a CIAA Showdown appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Bowie State struck first with a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Sam Doku, capping a 56-yard drive, but WSSU responded swiftly in the second quarter. A 65-yard touchdown pass from Daylin Lee to Jayden Grimes tied the game. WSSU then added two more touchdowns before halftime— a 2-yard rush by Trevon Hester and a 9-yard pass from Lee to Kaleb Washington—taking a 21-7 lead into the break.

In the fourth quarter, WSSU extended their lead when Lee threw his third touchdown of the game, connecting with Devin Cunningham for a 27-yard score. BSU mounted a late response with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Taylor to Carlos Smith, but it was too little, too late.

Statistically, WSSU’s efficiency stood out despite BSU’s 33:35 edge in time of possession. Lee threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns, with Grimes leading the receiving corps with 79 yards and a score. Hester was the standout on the ground with 76 yards rushing.

Defensively, WSSU dominated with five sacks and two interceptions, thwarting BSU’s offense. Despite the loss, BSU’s Curtis Murray was effective on the ground with 41 rushing yards. The loss dropped Bowie State to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the CIAA.

WSSU’s balanced attack and strong defense propelled them to another key conference win as they look to build on their successful start to the 2024 season. WSSU has won three games in a row with its sole loss coming to FCS rival North Carolina A&T in overtime.

The post WSSU dominant early in win over Bowie State appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Other HBCU alumni taking in the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention included Morehouse College Alumnus and Georgia Senator Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, South Carolina State alumnus Rep. Jim Clyburn and Jackson State alumna Sen. Laphonza Butler of California.

Throughout her tenure as Vice President, Harris has consistently engaged with HBCU communities. She has celebrated their achievements, such as calling the Grambling State University men’s basketball team after their historic NCAA Tournament victory, and delivering messages of encouragement to graduates at HBCUs for commencement. Harris has highlighted the importance of leadership, excellence, and the significant contributions of HBCUs to the broader society.

Her involvement with HBCUs extends beyond symbolic gestures, as she has also been involved in policy initiatives that support these institutions, recognizing their critical role in empowering future generations of Black leaders.

The post Democratic National Convention features heavy HBCU presence appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

At Bowie State, Pryor was a dominant force on the defensive line, consistently disrupting opposing offenses. His impressive performance helped lead Bowie State to several successful seasons, including a strong showing in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Pryor’s college career was highlighted by his ability to make key plays, often leading his team in tackles for loss and sacks. He was recognized for his contributions on the field with numerous awards, including being named to All-CIAA teams and earning Defensive Player of the Year honors.

After his stellar college career, Joshua Pryor caught the attention of NFL scouts and was invited to the Washington Commanders’ minicamp. Although he faced challenges in securing a permanent spot, he was signed to the practice squad, marking the beginning of his professional career. Pryor’s journey from a Division II HBCU standout to an NFL hopeful underscores his talent and determination, as he continues to work towards making a lasting impact in professional football.

The post NFL squad signs former D2 HBCU star appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“Last season was a blessing,” Jackson said. “We finished six and four. Not ideally what we set out to be, but those four games were lessons. Losing a game by five points and turning the ball over five times, playing six quarterbacks, most without prior experience. Still, we managed six wins. That’s something to be proud of, but we know our standards and expectations.”

The Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the CIAA preseason predicted order of finish. Jackson takes this in stride. “Make sure you say the fifth preseason ranked Bowie State University Bulldogs. Rankings are cool, but the game still has to be played. It’s about execution. I know my guys are watching, the community is watching. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder.”

Spring practice was important for the Bulldogs, giving younger players a chance to step up. “Spring was great. It gave us an opportunity to evaluate our roster and see who can help us. It opened our eyes to where we are and where we need to get to.”

Bowie State isn’t avoiding tough competition this season, starting off against Davenport and Lenore-Rhyne, two strong programs outside the CIAA. “We want to put our program in the national spotlight, show that Bowie State football can play with any team. It’s bigger than just Bowie State. It’s about putting HBCU football on that platform.”

Jackson is optimistic about the upcoming season. “These past two years were a lesson. You gotta go through it to grow through it. The guys are hungry to get back to winning ways, and we’ve got a job to do. It’s go time.”

With standout defensive back Devin Williams, the Bulldogs are poised to make a significant impact. With 11 breakups and three interceptions last season, Williams is ready to elevate his game even further.

The CIAA Football Championship is set for November 16th in Salem, Virginia, and Bowie State aims to be there. Coach Jackson and the Bulldogs are ready to show what they’re made of. Get ready for an exciting season of HBCU football!

The post HBCU Football: Bowie State is Ready for the 2024 CIAA Season. appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Anthony Lytton Jr. played college football at Florida State and Penn State, but was on the 2023 roster of Bowie State University, a Division II HBCU. He was killed in the crash along with Jackson and Isaiah Hazel. The trio were killed in a  three-car crash that occurred at 3:14 a.m. Saturday in Prince George’s County, according to police. Lytton and Jackson were 24, Hazel was 23. The three men played high school football together.

Jackson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. 

“We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson’s death following an overnight car accident,” the Minnesota Vikings said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.

A.J. Lytton, was an Under Armour All-American and played a pivotal role in leading Wise High School to 42 consecutive wins and three straight 4A state championships. He was named the 2017 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and the DC Touchdown Club’s Maryland High School Player of the Year. Lytton became the first-ever Elite 22 team selection by Prince George’s County coaches.

On defense, he recorded 32 tackles, three interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles during his senior season. Offensively, he caught 34 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns. His leadership on defense contributed to Wise allowing only 7.1 points per game and achieving six shutouts.

As a junior, Lytton earned first-team all-state honors, second-team junior All-America, and second-team All-Met honors. He was rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN, ranking as the No. 3 prospect in Maryland by 247Sports and Rivals, and the No. 8 cornerback in the nation by 247Sports. He was also ranked 31st in the ESPN300.

He started his career at Florida State win 2018 where he played in 12 games with one start in 2019, recording 14 tackles, including 1.0 for loss, and one forced fumble. He later transferred to Penn State where he played sparingly. He was on the roster at Bowie State University, but didn’t record any statistics as a redshirt senior at the HBCU.

The post Former HBCU player killed in crash with Minnesota Vikings rookie appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Durant raised her family in the shadow of Bowie in Capitol Heights, Maryland, a neighboring town in Prince George’s county. To local residents Wanda Durant is simply known as Mama Durant. It didn’t take her long to settle into her familiar role after breaking away from her prepared remarks on Friday.

“OK. Let me just be Mama Durant,” she said after going into a more extemporaneous moment with Bowie’s graduates.

“When I stand here and look at you graduates, I see myself, I see my sons,” she continued.

“See, I know what it takes to persevere. I came from the streets of Capitol Heights, Maryland. At the time it was the drug capital of the world,” as the crowd roared acknowledging the hometown connection.

“All of your success is not just for your glory. It’s for you to look back to those coming behind you. Continue to pave the way for them” Durant said.  

“I had to raise two sons on my own when I was fearful and not knowing who I was or what I had to offer the world.  I had to do what you did and continue to strive on,” Durant said. “I made a promise to them that we were going to have a plan. Not just dreams but a plan attached to it.” 

Those plans definitely manifested as her son Kevin has since gone on to 14 NBA All-Star appearances.

As president of the Durant Family Charitable Foundation, Durant spearheads initiatives aimed at enriching the lives of youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic and social programs. She has been the keynote speaker for several nationally and internationally known organizations including J.P. Morgan Chase, The Ford Foundation and other corporations and non-profits.  

Last year Kevin Durant made news when the Durant Family Foundation committed $500,000 towards renovations of the basketball arena in the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex at BSU. Renovations will include installation of a new basketball court, expansion of seating capacity and upgrades to the press box area. The gift will also provide financial support for men’s and women’s basketball and university athletics programs. It also will establish a scholarship for Durant Center College Track students who attend BSU.

The post Mother of Kevin Durant speaks at HBCU graduation appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

BALTIMORE, MD — No. 4 Bowie State held No. 5 Livingstone (12-16) to just 13.3 percent from deep in a 2-for-15 shooting performance on the way to a 69-66 win over the Blue Bears of Livingstone at CFG Bank Arena Tuesday, Feb. 27 during the opening round of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s Basketball Tournament. 

The Bulldogs (12-16) had three players score in double figures, led by CIAA Food Lion MVP of the game Warren Mouganda, who had 17 points. Kevon Corley tacked on 15 points and Joel Webb notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Webb pulled down eight offensive rebounds which led the BSU offense which grabbed 14 boards and turned them into 17 second-chance points.

The Bulldogs’ defense held Livingstone to only 13.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 36.1 percent from the field.

How It Happened
After jumping out to a 29-24 advantage, BSU went on a 7-0 run with 1:29 left in the first half to increase its lead to 36-24, a score that would hold until halftime. The Bulldogs relied on its three-point shooting in the half, knocking down five shots to account for 15 of its 36 points.

CIAA TOURNAMENT ARCHIVES | Tournament of Rivals: Livingstone vs Bowie

BSU kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Mouganda’s jumper, to grow the lead to 57-50 with 5:43 to go in the contest. The Blue Bears narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Bulldogs still held on for the 69-66 win. BSU got a boost from its bench in the second half, as non-starters accounted for 10 of its 33 total points.

Game Notes
» Webb notched a double-double for the Bulldogs with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
» The Bulldogs held the Blue Bears to only 36.1 percent shooting from the field.
» BSU never trailed on the way to a 69-66 victory.
» BSU had a stellar day defensively, holding LC to 13 percent from three-point land on 15 attempts.
» The Bulldogs defense forced 19 turnovers.
» BSU cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
» Mouganda led the Bulldogs with 17 points.
» BSU got a team-high 12 rebounds from Webb.

Up Next
The Bulldogs will face South No.1 Fayetteville State on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 6:40 p.m. in the quarterfinals. 

The post Bowie State edges Livingstone in another CIAA Tournament Thriller appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Hinckley sat down with HBCU Gameday to discuss how his journey did not start ideally like most players, but through his mother’s messages of patience, he overcame obstacles to go from a walk-on to an NFL Draft prospect.

“If I didn’t have the patience, I probably wouldn’t be in the position that I am in now,” Hinckley said. “She would always tell me to be patient,”

Before Hinckley stepped onto Bowie State’s campus, his mother became sick and he decided to stay home to be close to her. During this time, he was not on a team but he still aspired to play college football.

“I was still working out, hoping I could go play somewhere but my thought process was my mother first,” He said. “I got here [Bowie State] by luck if we wanna be honest. I was just going to seven-on-sevens and one-on-ones around the Maryland area,”

His talent caught the eye of his Bowie State teammate and he was put in contact with then head coach Damon Wilson.

“After that, it was just me being a pest to Coach Wilson for about 2-3 months and begging him to let me walk on,”

Hinckley’s patience and hard work paid off and in 2019 he officially became a walk-on at Bowie State.

He didn’t see much time at wide receiver in his first season, but he continued to improve during that year and the 2020 canceled season in preparation for the 2021 season. But before he could play a down in the 2021 season, he was struck with tragedy as his mother passed away.

“My biggest cheerleader, unfortunately, [on] July 3, 2021, she died. She died of stage four breast cancer,”

Keshane Hinckley managed to play well through the season but with his mother on his mind, he would quickly walk to the locker room immediately after games once family and friends entered the field.

“I didn’t really stay too long after the games, I was leaving fast, because you know, everybody around their family. I didn’t really have too much family come and see me play. Every game pretty much I’ll just sit in my locker and just be quiet. Head down or head up, eyes closed and be feeling like I’m talking to her little bit,”

His success on the field reminded him of a conversation he had with his mother about being patient and taking advantage of his opportunities.

“She knew what I could do. I told her that I was really going to shake up the CIAA a little bit. She said ‘Yeah, you are when you get the chance to,’ She kept telling me, ‘Your time will come, you just gotta make the best with your opportunity,’”

After the 2021 season, Hinckly earned a scholarship and over the next two seasons, he became Bowie State’s second all-time leader in receiving yards.

He finished his career with 143 receptions for 1,778 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

This season he led the CIAA with 55 receptions and averaging 5.5 per catch.

His performance earned an invitation to the HBCU Pigskin Showdown and HBCU Legacy Bowl and he hopes to hear his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Keshane Hinckley knows patience made a significant impact on his journey. Because he started as a walk-on, he made sure to share the importance of patience with teammates.

“The little stuff that my mom taught me, like patience, I’m trying to instill in them too,” He explained. “If you got the patience, who knows what you can do.”

He made the most of every opportunity and will continue to as he will head to New Orleans to showcase his abilities on the big stage during the HBCU Legacy Bowl on the NFL Network.

The post Keshane Hinckley driven by mother’s wisdom on road to NFL draft appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

WACO, TX — Bowie State head football coach Kyle Jackson was selected for the 2024 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced Monday.

“It is an honor to be selected for the 2024 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute,” said Jackson. “I am grateful for the opportunity and excited to get to Nashville and learn with some of the nation’s best football coaches.”

This year’s class was chosen from a field of over 175 highly qualified applicants.

Jackson, who was officially named the 10th head football coach in Bowie State history on Jan. 23, 2023. The decision followed Kyle 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 (defensive lineman) being named the 2021 CIAA Defensive Player of the Year and five First Team All-CIAA selections. Additionally, Pryor and Jordan Griffin (tight end) 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.

This past season, Jackson and the Bulldogs garnered eight All-CIAA selections, including two First Team honorees in Kaleb Chester (offensive lineman) and Devin Williams (defensive back), followed by Second Team All-CIAA awardees in Justin Zavala (punter/place kicker), Shawan Lewis (defensive lineman), Hasan Mosley (defensive back), Jadon Carter (defensive back) and two All-CIAA Rookie Team selectees in Jordan Morse (quarterback) and Malcolm Sesay (defensive back). Jackson just wrapped up his first season at the helm with a  6-4 overall record, 5-3 CIAA record, capped by a three-game winning streak. 

The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit bsbulldogs.com. 

The post Bowie State football head coach Kyle Jackson recognized by AFCA appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The former Bowie State University star and CIAA Defensive Player of the Year made his NFL debut against the New York Giants last week after being called up from the practice squad.

“It was definitely like a surreal experience for me. Just even from running on the field, it was like a new experience. A crazy feeling,” Pryor told Scott Abraham. “I never felt like that going into a game. Taking in the atmosphere and making the most of that moment.”

The 6″4,” 280 pound pass rusher played in 49 games during his four seasons at Bowie State. Pryor recorded 34 solo tackles (55 total) and 9.5 sacks in his debut season at Bowie State. At the end of his illustrious career with the Bulldogs Pryor compiled 245 total stops, 77 tackles for loss, 32 sacks, three pass breakups, five recovered fumbles, and four forced fumbles. 

In 2018 the All-American was named CIAA Rookie of the Year and All-CIAA First Team. Going into his second season Pryor continued to dominate for Bowie State. Pryor picked up Protect Your Skull Division II Defensive Player of the Year and Bowie State Co-Defensive Player of the Year awards, both in 2019. The Washington Commanders signed him after the NFL Draft. 

“It definitely hit me after the game after everything was done,” Pryor  said. “Like, I really just played. Now that I’m in this space just trying to continue to get more games under my belt and get more experience.”

Joshua Pryor says his plan is to continue to excel on special teams as well as defense and be prepared when his number is called. 

“It’s a blessing just to be here. A little over a month ago, I wasn’t even playing football. So just to be back out here is definitely a blessing, I can’t really describe it.”

Washington Commanders will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys on Thursday. Game time is set for 4:30 PM EST.

The post Washington Commanders giving HBCU rookie a shot appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Jackson State leads the SWAC with nearly 30k. That’s an impressive number, but it is a significant drop from its 2022 number. Norfolk State got a slight bump as it led the MEAC. North Carolina A&T got another sellout it’s first season in the CAA.

Here are the numbers of attendance at each HBCU homecoming game. All numbers were taken from official box scores from each school’s athletic website.

MEAC

Norfolk State-24,976

South Carolina State-22,269

North Carolina Central-13,626

Howard-7,684

Delaware State-6,300

Morgan State-Canceled

SWAC

Jackson State-30,947

Alabama A&M-26,391

Florida A&M-22,338

Southern-21,492

Alcorn State-21,012

Alabama State-17,995

Prairie View A&M-14,224

Arkansas-Pine Bluff-13,469

Bethune-Cookman-9,458

Mississippi Valley State-8,752

Grambling State-8,657

Texas Southern-6,352

CAA

North Carolina A&T-21,500

Hampton-13,811

CIAA

Winston-Salem State-8,200

Virginia Union-5,250

Shaw-5,022

Livingstone – 4,501

Bowie State-4,395

St. Augustine’s-3,719

Fayetteville State-3,680

Elizabeth City State-3,579

Johnson C. Smith-3,452

Virginia State-3,409

Lincoln (PA)-2,117

Bluefield State-N/A

SIAC

Tuskegee-31,726

Clark Atlanta-19,597

Savannah State-12,723

Fort Valley State-12,113

Morehouse-10,213

Benedict-8,589

Albany State-8,371

Kentucky State-2,898

Edward Waters-2,472

Lane-1,753

Allen-905

Central State-N/A

Miles-N/A

Other

Tennessee State-13,975

West Virginia State-3,954

Lincoln (MO)-3,333

Virginia University-Lynchburg-1,753

Florida Memorial-1,200

Langston-N/A

The post HBCU Homecoming 2023 Attendance Tracker appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The University released the following statement via social media on Tuesday:

Bowie State University has canceled classes beginning at 12 p.m. today for the rest of the week to allow additional time for our students, faculty and staff to address mental distress as a result of the incident this past weekend. University administrators will meet with Student Government Association Leaders at 1 p.m. today to discuss what additional steps are needed to support students during this time.

Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta Breaux released a statement earlier in the week regarding the shooting.

“The Bowie State University community is saddened today by the reports of shots fired on the campus last night. After a week of joyous, safe Homecoming celebrations, individuals intent on perpetrating acts of violence shattered the peaceful activities which are the tradition here at BSU.  Sadly, two persons were injured. Police confirm that the individuals were not Bowie State or Morgan State students. Police are actively investigating the incident, and report that there are no further threats to the campus or community.”

The post Bowie State University cancels classes for week following shooting appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The 6″4,” 280 pound pass rusher played in 49 games during his four seasons. Pryor recorded 34 solo tackles (55 total) and 9.5 sacks in his debut season at Bowie State. At the end of his illustrious career with the Bulldogs Pryor compiled 245 total stops, 77 tackles for loss, 32 sacks, three pass breakups, five recovered fumbles, and four forced fumbles.

In 2018 the All-American was named CIAA Rookie of the Year and All-CIAA First Team. Going into his second season Pryor continued to dominate for Bowie State. Pryor picked up Protect Your Skull Division II Defensive Player of the Year and Bowie State Co-Defensive Player of the Year awards, both in 2019.

The post Washington Commanders sign former HBCU star appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Bowie, Md.- The Virginia State University football team traveled to Bowie State to look for revenge for last season’s 41-14 loss. Behing Kimo Clarkes’ four touchdown’s the Trojans remained undefeated with a final score of 44-16. 

Following the open kickoff Bowie State returned it a touchdown. BSU would then attempt a two-point conversion and Jakari Joyce would pick it off and return it all the way for VSU to get on the board.  Then another special team’s touchdown for Bowie would put them back on top before VSU answered with a Kyle Miller field goal. 

Following a BSU touchdown, Virginia State would take over on their own 25-yard line. It would only take one play for  Clarke to run 75 yards for a touchdown. That would end the scoring for the first quarter. 

Then on Virginia State’s second drive in the second quarter Clarke went for another long touchdown as on the third and final play of the drive he went on a 65-yard touchdown run. That made the score 23-13. Bowie would tack on a field goal just before halftime. 

Going into the third quarter Bowie State had not given up any points, that changed when late in the quarter Clarke scored his third touchdown of the game to make it 30-14. Jordan Davis who started at quarterback for the Trojans decided he wanted to get in on the scoring as he delivered the dagger in the fourth quarter with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Tayshau Porter. Clarke would score his final touchdown with just a minute and 24 second remaining to cap off a drive where he had 55 yard rushing. 

On the defensive side of the ball Cameron Davis ended with seven total tackles, five tackles for loss and three and a half sacks as he was in the backfield all game long.  

With the win VSU moves to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play. Bowie State drops to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. With the win Virginia State is now in control of the northern division of the CIAA as the only undefeated team remaining. 

Virginia State returns home for a three-game home stand starting with homecoming against the newcomer to the CIAA Bluefield State with kickoff scheduled for 2:00 p.m. 

The post Virginia State rolls by Bowie State to remain perfect appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Morgan State was scheduled to take on Stony Brook on Saturday, but that game was canceled after an on-campus shooting on Tuesday left students injured and resulted in its homecoming activities being shut down. It’s next home football game is set for Oct. 19 when it will host North Carolina Central in a Thursday night contest.

The post Morgan State University students offered free tickets to Bowie State game appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

A crowd of 2,753 fans in Alumni Memorial Stadium witnessed LC beat BSU for the first time since 2014.

The Blue Bears forced five turnovers and led from start to finish. Marcus Drish led the Blue Bears passing attack, completing 18 of his 32 attempts for 224 yards and four touchdowns. Drish’s most prolific target in the ballgame was Davontay Deloatch, who caught three scoring passes. Ben Coates Jr. got in on the action catching one scoring pass. Drish’s most consistent receiver was Matthew Henery catching eight passes for 130 yards. 

Jaden Echols was a dominant force in the game. He led the defense with 12 total tackles (six solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. Ty Conley recorded eight total tackles, (five solo), one tackle for loss, and a sack. Kobe Pringle recorded six total tackles (two solo), two total tackles for loss, and two sacks. 

LC scored first on a two-yard flip pass to take a 7-0 over Bowie State with 1:46 left in the first quarter. Livingstone opened a 7-0 lead, Bowie State got on the scoreboard with 14:24 left in the second quarter to narrow the margin to 7-6. Livingstone scored to increase its lead to 17-6 after a 5-yard touchdown reception and a 47-yard field goal, Bowie State scored again to narrow the deficit and make it a 17-12 game in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Bears would score two more times in the fourth stanza to extend its lead 31-12 before the Bulldogs responded with a touchdown with 3:00 left in regulation lead. The Blue Bears would emerge victorious ending the game with a 31-18 lead. 

“The entire coaching staff is extremely proud of the resilience and tenacity of this team,” LC head coach Sean Gilbert said after the game. “Each week working hard and making the necessary adjustments to be successful.”

Livingstone College improved to 1-4 on the season and 1-2 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. LC will begin its division play when it faces Winston-Salem State University (2-3 overall and 2-1 CIAA) on Saturday, October 7th in Bowman Gray Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

– Article submitted by Chanel Quick, Livingstone College

The post Livingstone College knocks off Bowie State in CIAA shocker appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The Bulldogs improved to 3-1 on the year and 2-0 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play, while the Falcons fell to 0-4 and 0-2 in the league.

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.How It Happened
Bowie State got on the scoreboard first and opened a 3-0 lead on the first drive of the game. Another Bulldogs score then increased the lead to 10-0 but Bowie State didn’t score again in the game as the Falcons added seven more points to finish off the scoring for the game.

Game Notes
» BSU outgained Saint Augustine’s 193-189, including a 96-75 advantage on the ground.
» The Bulldogs scored first with 11:37 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
» Bowie State tallied 7 points in the second quarter, accounting for 70% of their total score.
» BSU converted 3 of 17 third downs while Saint Augustine’s was successful on 2 of 13.
» Bowie State went 2-for-3 on fourth down, converting on 66.7 percent of attempts.
» The Bulldogs gave up zero points in one Falcons’ trip to the red zone.
» Bowie State won the time of possession battle 36:44 to 23:06.
» Anthony Butler led the Falcons passing attack, completing nine of his 27 attempts for 114 yards and one touchdown.
» Marquis Munoz led the Saint Augustine’s rushing attack with 80 yards.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs will travel to Salisbury, N.C. to face Livingstone on Sept. 30 at Alumni Memorial Stadium. The Blue Bears own a 18-14 all-time record against Bowie State dating back to the first meeting in 1973. BSU has won the last three meetings against LC including last year’s 53-7 for homecoming on Oct. 1, 2022.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.

The post Bowie State holds off feisty St. Aug appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The gift was announced last December.

“We are dedicated to providing resources and possibilities to students for higher education, especially in Prince George’s County,” said Wanda Durant, who leads the Durant Family Foundation, back in December.  “Bowie State was the perfect place to make a meaningful impact.”

The foundation has committed $500,000 towards renovations of the basketball arena in the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex at BSU. Renovations will include installation of a new basketball court, expansion of seating capacity and upgrades to the press box area. The gift will also provide financial support for men’s and women’s basketball and university athletics programs. It also will establish a scholarship for Durant Center College Track students who attend BSU.

Bowie State President Aminta Breaux expressed her gratitude for Durant’s generosity.

“We’re grateful for the resources that Kevin Durant and his family foundation have generously donated to Bowie State University to advance student success in achieving their academic goals,” said Breaux. “His contributions will go a long way towards updating our facilities and ensure a top-tier athletic experience for all of our students. The foundation has already built a network of community-centric services within the Durant Center in Prince George’s County that is exemplary.”

Durant’s donation to Bowie State is just the latest in the Seat Pleasant native’s philanthropic efforts in Prince George’s County. In 2019, Durant’s foundation partnered with College Track to establish College Track at the Durant Center in Suitland, Md, to help first-generation and low-income students pursue higher education.

Durant Family Foundation
The Durant Family Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2013 by Prince George’s County native Kevin Durant. The foundation’s mission is to enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic and social programs. The foundation supports youth athletics, organizations addressing youth homelessness, disaster & emergency relief efforts, renovates basketball courts across the world, and provides educational opportunities for low-income and first generation college students via our partnership with College Track. As of 2019, the Durant Center, based in Prince George’s County, has been the home for Durant Family Foundation charitable programs and community initiatives. 

###About Bowie State:  Bowie State University is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds seeking a high-quality, affordable comprehensive public university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cyber security, teacher education, business and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education.  For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu

The post Kevin Durant basketball court at Bowie State ribbon-cut appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

BOWIE, MD — Behind an impressive defensive effort that kept the Shaw ground attack to 72 rushing yards, the Bowie State Bulldogs took down the Bears 21-7 at home Saturday afternoon in its home opener at Bulldog Stadium.

The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 on the year and 1-0 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play, while the Bears fell to 0-3 and 0-1 in the league.

Senior Carleton Stewart totaled 55 yards to lead the Bulldogs’ ground attack in the game, picking up 6.9 yards per carry along the way while redshirt sophomore Asa Williams also tacked on 22 yards on the ground, picking up 5.5 yards per carry.

Senior James McNeill, III reeled in six catches for 69 yards and two scores while graduate senior Keshane Hinckley got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in five balls for 64 yards.

Sophomore Khalil Glover showed out for the Bowie State defense, totaling seven tackles and a half of sack while redshirt junior Devin Williams added six tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, one interception, and two pass breakups and redshirt sophomore Jadon Carter had one interception in the win.

The Bulldogs won the turnover battle in Saturday’s game, forcing three turnovers while coughing the ball up one time.

Defensively, Bowie State held up fairly well against the Shaw offensive attack, holding the Bears to 235 total yards. The Bulldogs defense disrupted the Shaw passing game on the way to pulling down two interceptions and breaking up five Bears passes.

How It Happened
BSU scored first and took a 6-0 lead with 9:56 remaining in the first quarter.The Bulldogs then extended their lead to 14-0 with another score.

Bowie State kept building its advantage after Shaw made it a 14-7 game, scoring again with 9:40 left in the fourth quarter to go on top 21-7. Neither team scored again in the game.

Game Notes
» BSU outgained Shaw 288-235, including a 100-72 advantage on the ground.
» Bowie State won the turnover battle 3-1 after intercepting two passes and recovering one fumble.
» The Bulldogs scored first with 9:56 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
» BSU had their highest scoring quarter in the third period, when they put up eight points.
» Bowie State converted 6 of 16 third downs while Shaw was successful on 5 of 16.
» BSU went 1-for-1 on fourth down, converting on 100 percent of attempts.
» Bowie State gave up just seven points in three Shaw trips to the red zone.
» The Bulldogs took potential points off the board by forcing two turnovers on their own half of the field.
» The Bulldogs totaled 14 tackles for loss and added two sacks.
» Bowie State won the time of possession battle 30:12 to 29:48.
» BSU got off to a hot start in the contest, putting 14 unanswered points on the board before Shaw could respond.

LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday, Sept. 23 will mark the eighth meeting between Bowie State and St. Augustine’s as the Bulldogs will host its second home contest of the 2023 season from Bulldog Stadium at 1 p.m. The contest is themed as Health Awareness Day and BSU will help raise awareness about all health conditions with a emphasis on Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Mental Wellness and self care while understanding health issues as well as mobilize support for action, from the local community to as large as the national and international stage. 

The post Bowie State gets back on track with win over Shaw appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The triumph improved Bowie State’s record to 1-0 on the season while the DSU fell to 0-1.

“Today was a big win for the program,” said Jackson. “We have been preparing for this moment since last November when the season ended.”

Redshirt sophomore Amir Jenkins led Bowie State’s passing attack with 247 yards through the air. Redshirt junior Corey Johnson totaled 38 yards to lead the BSU’s ground attack in the game and redshirt junior Kevon Campbell also tacked on 21 yards and one touchdown on the ground while graduate senior Keshane Hinckley hauled in seven catches for 101 yards.

Defensively, graduate senior Keith Williams made his presence felt in the passing game, recording three receptions for 93 yards.Graduate senior Uvel Paul led the Bowie State defensive effort, collecting five tackles, 4.0 TFL, and three sacks. Jenkins added one recovered fumble as the Bulldogs combined for one tackle for loss and one forced fumble in the win.

“The guys showed resilience and fought until the end. The coaching staff did a great job preparing the guys for this moment. We will celebrate our win today, but back to work tomorrow.”

Both Bowie State and Delaware State forced one turnover in Saturday’s contest, with the Bulldogs turning that takeaway into eight points.

BSU’s defense limited Delaware State’s offense, giving up 196 total yards. BSU kept Delaware State under 150 yards on both the ground and through the air, allowing 134 passing and 62 rushing yards. The Bulldogs defense took up residence in Delaware State’s backfield all game, racking up four sacks and 11 total tackles for loss.

How It Happened
BSU got on the scoreboard first and opened up a 7-0 lead with 10:08 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs then expanded the lead to 15-0 with another score.

Bowie State continued to expand its lead after Delaware State made it a 15-3 game, scoring again with 13:57 left in the fourth quarter to go on top 22-3. BSU didn’t score again in the game and DSU tacked on eight more points to finish off the game.Game Notes
» Bowie State outgained Delaware State 274-196, including a 247-134 advantage through the air.
» BSU scored first with 10:08 left in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
» Bowie State had their highest scoring quarter in the second period, when they put up eight points.
» The Bulldogs converted 4 of 14 third downs while Delaware State was successful on 2 of 15.
» BSU gave up just 11 points in four Delaware State trips to the red zone.
» Bowie State totaled 11 tackles for loss and added four sacks.
» The Bulldogs won the time of possession battle 30:55 to 29:05.
» Bowie State got off to a fantastic start in the contest, putting 15 unanswered points on the board before Delaware State could respond.
» Jenkins completed 72-percent of his passes on the day, going 18-for-25 while averaging 9.9 yards per attempt.
» Marqui Adams led the DSU passing attack, completing eight of his 16 attempts for 99 yards and one touchdown.
» Jordan Hull was Delaware State’s leading receiver with 50 yards.

Next on Tap
Bowie State travels to Caledonia, MI, to take on the Davenport Panthers on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.

The post Bowie State knocks off Delaware State with a dominant defense appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Delaware State (5-6 Overall in 2022)

The Hornets will enter this season after a 5-6 campaign last year. They averaged 19.3 points and 257 offensive yards per contest in 2022. Defensively, the Hornets conceded an average of 23.1 points per game.

It’s the first game of the season for Delaware State. Last season, Delaware State’s offensive play selection split was 35% pass, 65% run.

Delaware State went 5-6 in 2022. They’ll want to capitalize on this opportunity, as this is the first time they’ve had home field advantage all year. This is Delaware State’s only game against a CIAA opponent this season.

Bowie State (6-4 Overall in 2022)

The Bulldogs will come into this season after securing a 6-4 record in 2022. They averaged 29.9 points and 424 offensive yards per contest in 2022. The Bulldogs’ defense allowed an average of 21.9 points per game.

It’s the first game of the season for Bowie State. Last season, Bowie State’s offensive play selection split was 49% pass, 51% run.

Bowie State enters after putting up a 6-4 campaign in 2022. They’ll want to capitalize on this opportunity, as this is the first time they’ve been on the road all year. This is Bowie State’s only game against an FCS HBCU opponent.

Gameday AI content is produced using Artificial Intelligence technology powered by Boost Sport before being approved and published by HBCU Gameday.

The post Game Preview | Delaware State hosts Bowie State appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Bowie State has been a CIAA powerhouse that has high expectations of returning to the championship game every year. BSU experienced challenges that resulted in an uncharacteristic 6-4 season in 2022, but Jackson hopes to bring the program back to the top of the league.

“Last year definitely was a lot of growing pains. You talk about the quick turnaround that we had. Like I said, we lost about six coaches in a three month time span, lost our O.C. a week before camp started. So putting together pretty much a whole new staff in a matter of two months was a challenge,” Jackson told HBCU Gameday at CIAA Media Day.

Jackson was named the interim head coach after Damon Wilson left Bowie State to become the head coach at Morgan State University. Wilson didn’t go alone as he brought running backs coach David Fant Jr. and strength and conditioning and offensive line coach Richard Reddix to Morgan State. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tyrae Reid entered the Doug Williams Fellowship program and is now in his second year as an Offensive Assistant for the Washington Commanders.

Change happened quickly for the Bulldogs, but Coach Jackson adapted and put together a solid coaching staff that managed to have a 6-4 season.

Most programs that lose key personnel will have a tough season the following year. Jackson made the best of it and sees last year as a transition for the program.

“Last year was a stepping stone for us,” Jackson said. “Like I mentioned before, we were right where we belonged with the circumstances we experienced. But you gotta understand as well, these guys in this program never lost before. We have guys that came into the program 2017-2018. We’ve been winning since, so losing was not a good taste for those guys.”

Bowie State senior Keshane Hinckley agreed with Jackson.

“Last year definitely put a fire under us just because it’s a lot of guys, younger guys, that came up through the system and the program and we weren’t used to losing any games,” Hinckley said. “It just built a big fire under us and you’re going to really see in the season how it changes.”

Bowie State won 42 games from 2017-2021,  including three consecutive CIAA championships and four NCAA Division II playoff appearances.

“6-4 wasn’t really a good year for us. The standard is the standard and we didn’t live up to that standard. Bowie State’s standard is to win, we’re gonna win championships, we’re gonna punch you in the mouth and we just fell short of that a little bit,” safety Keith Williams said. “We did deal with some adversity, but we’re gonna overcome it. It made us hungry. We’re gonna work and look forward to paying everybody back this year.”

Jackson and Bowie State are on a mission to get back to their winning ways. The road to payback begins in Dover, Delaware against Delaware State University on September 2nd.

Correction: Former Bowie State quarterback DJ Golatt’s name was misspelled in the original caption.

The post Bowie State University ready to get back to winning ways in CIAA and beyond appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“We are so very pleased that Coach Brooks will continue at the helm of our men’s basketball program,” said Doughty, Jr. “He has proven over the course of his career that not only is he a fine coach but an educator, advocator, ambassador, and positive role model who instills confidence in not only his student-athletes but all student-athletes within the department. I look forward to seeing him on the bench leading the mighty Bulldogs as we continue our race to excellence.”

Brooks has demonstrated great leadership while overcoming a number of challenges in the last two seasons at Bowie State, including having to navigate rebuilding a program under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2021-22 season, Brooks reached a career and program milestone when he became the all-time winningest coach in Bowie State men’s basketball program history after capturing his 200th career victory against Elizabeth City State on January 29, 2022.

“I appreciate the continued trust shown by President Breaux and VP Doughty in having me lead the men’s basketball program here at Bowie State,” added Brooks. “I am so thankful to God for bringing me to BSU as a freshman basketball player 49 years ago…this is home.”

Bowie State University is 208-169 in 14 seasons under Brooks, including a 126-87 conference mark. Brooks has posted at least 15 wins in 13 seasons throughout his tenure. In his tenure, Brooks has five Northern Division Championships as well as the 2013 and 2017 CIAA Tournament Championships and three NCAA Regional Tournament appearances, highlighted by a regional semifinal appearance in 2011.

Additionally, Brooks has been named the Bowie State Male Coach of the Year four times (2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2014-2015) and was voted CIAA Coach of the Year (2014-2015). 

The post Bowie State University re-ups with Darrell Brooks appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

ORLANDO, FL – On Monday, June 12, former Bowie State Sports Information Director Gregory C. Goings was inducted into the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Hall of Fame during the CSC All-Star Night of Honors presented by ESPN. Goings became the first African American male from an NCAA Division II institution and or non-Division I school to be inducted.

“I am truly honored and extremely grateful to be inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame,” said Goings. “To be part of the Class of 2023 is something I never envisioned but will be cherished for the rest of my life.”

Goings began his illustrious career in the sports information profession in 1988 at Virginia State University, serving in the role of Sports Information Director until 2000. While at VSU, Goings also served as President of the CIAA Sports Information Directors Association from 1993-1999.

From 2003 until his retirement in June of 2021, Gregory C. Goings led the athletic media relations and sports information department at Bowie State University. During his time at BSU, Goings held several leadership positions throughout the athletic communications field including an At-Large Representative for the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) Board of Directors (2011-2015) and President of the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors Association (2011-2014), becoming the first ever African American to hold this position. Additionally, Goings has served as a high school and college basketball official for nearly 40 years and, since 1992, has served as a public address announcer and statistician for several prominent tournaments and televised events, including the CIAA Basketball Tournament, Black Entertainment Television (BET), and many others.

Gregory C. Goings is a three-time recipient of the John Holley CIAA Sports Information Director of the Year awardee and received the CoSIDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. He is a 1981 graduate of Virginia State University and a Lifetime Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

The Washington, D.C. native is a member of College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA), and Black College Sports Information Directors Association (BCSIDA), and served the profession well. He was an at-large college division representative on the CoSIDA Board of Directors (2011-2014) and is a past president of the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA, serving 2010-2014). He also is a past president of the CIAA Sports Information Directors Association and a former member of the Harlon Hill Division II Football Player-of-the-Year Advisory Committee.

Among the many accolades received to date, Goings’s proudest moments were being inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame in February 2022 and the Virginia State University Athletic Hall/Wall of Fame in February 2023.

The post Bowie State former SID inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Leading the way was Hampton University wide receiver Jadakis Bonds. One of the top receivers in the FCS over the past couple of seasons, Bonds showed up at Washington Commanders camp and turned heads. He made several tough grabs and that showed why he caught 180 passes and 34 touchdowns in 40 games at Hampton.

“It’s just good to get an opportunity to come out here and showcase our talent,” Bonds said after the practice via Sports Illustrated. “Especially coming from where we’re coming from, it was just a good opportunity to put on for Hampton University.”

Aside from Bonds, there were three players from the same HBCU getting in work at the camp as well. Bowie State’s safety Raymond Boone, defensive lineman Joshua Pryor and quarterback DJ Golatt suited up for the camp as well, representing the CIAA program. 

“It feels good to be able to run around a little bit…get sweaty a little,” Boone told HBCU Gameday. “I idolized Sean Taylor since I started the game, so to be able to come out here at the place he started at is a great feeling.”

Pryor spent his entire career overpowering offensive linemen in the CIAA. The reigning CIAA Defensive Player of the Year soaked in the atmosphere as his jersey soaked up the sweat.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity, it’s definitely a blessing first and foremost,” Pryor said. “Just trying to come out here, learn as much as I can, make the most of the opportunity that’s in front of me. Just being able to represent my family and university is just an unreal feeling.”

It was the second camp in as many weeks for Golatt. He put in work with the Baltimore Ravens the previous week before heading slightly south on I-95.  It is a route that he’s familiar with. 

“Going to Morgan (State), transferring to Bowie (State) and having different coaches and things like that – it actually helped me a lot going into the NFL process. Cuz I understand how different coaches coach and how their language changes.”

Rookie minicamp is a great way to get on the radar of coaches, but it is only one part of the equation. The first offseason training activity (OTA) set to begin on May 23rd for the Washington Commanders. 

The post Washington Commanders minicamp offers look at HBCU prospects appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“I prayed all night and I ended up getting a call in the morning,” Boone told HBCU Gameday. “I followed them my whole entire life and been to almost 20 games. So it was a great to get that call from my home team.”

Three Bowie State football players earned opportunities with NFL teams after the 2023 NFL draft, including defensive lineman Joshua Pryor, who will be in Washington Commanders camp this weekend.

“You got guys on the team that knew each other since birth, guys knew each other since we were part of elementary school or something like that. And we had guys who were high school teammates,” Boone explained.

“So like to be able to see guys that you went to war with every single Saturday and every day in practice get what they deserve and what they work for is it’s kind of surreal. I would say that it’s a bittersweet moment kind of seeing all three of us leave. But they got some great talent coming back to (Bowie) State.”

As he fights for a roster spot at the Washington Commanders rookie mini camp, Raymond Boone is focused on showing his ability to retain the playbook.

“My plan at mini camp is just to show that I can take the knowledge that we learn in class room and take it to the field as quick as possible,” Boone said. “I wanna show that I’m very consistent and learning my playbook. I wanna make sure that they see that I can take the information from the classroom and bring it on the field instantly.”

The post Washington Commanders minicamp gives Bowie State star a shot appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Company founder Ashley Jones posted an emotional video announcing that Tones of Melanin was selected to be on the very popular show “Shark Tank” via Twitter. For any business looking for the chance to expand, this show is that moment. The owner simple called this opportunity “an answered prayer.”

Now if you’ve been living under a rock and have never heard of this television show, here’s the premise. Shark Tank peremired in 2009 and it is a business reality television show. The show features entrepreneurs delivering business pitches to a panel of five venture capitalists, who are referred to as “sharks,” and determining whether to invest in their companies.

You can catch Tones of Melanin pitching its business plan to the “sharks” Friday, May 19 on ABC. Wishing the company all the luck and sucess.

HBCUs GO INTO THE TANK

This isn’t the first time that a brand connected with an HBCU has made it in front of the “sharks.” Everything Legendary is a black-owned vegan meat company birthed from a Bowie State alum. After its appearance on the show 2021 and successfully securing an investment, Everything Legendary began to sky rocket.

Just recently, the company announced its new partnership with Bowie State University where it will house a vegan burger and taco bar for the student body to enjoy.

The post HBCU Apparel brand prepping for Shark Tank appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

After a solid, if unspectacular career at Clemson, KJ Henry was drafted by the Washington Commanders in the fifth round (137th overall)  of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Keith Henry is a huge fan of the franchise his son was drafted into. In fact, when the Henry family got the news that K.J. was headed to the Washington Commanders, his father was wearing a Washington jersey. 

“I promise you I was very excited, but no one was screaming louder than my dad. Been a Commanders fan all his life. This has been his team and now it’s my team. It was a big moment, KJ Henry told Tigernet.com.

Keith Henry is currently in his second stint as an assistant at North Carolina A&T. He previously served as a defensive assistant under the legendary Bill Hayes from 1993 through 1995. He also coached the baseball program from 1993 through 1994, winning the MEAC title in his first season and being named the conference’s Coach Of The Year in that sport. 

The Commanders didn’t draft any HBCU players, but it did offer a free agent deal to Bowie State’s Joshua Pryor and a camp invite to safety Raymond Boone.

The post Washington Commanders draftee KJ Henry son of HBCU assistant appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

As players inch closer to NFL Draft Day, the Washington Commanders are providing one more opportunity for these men to showcase their talents in front of scouts.

Before Pro Day, the Bowie State lineman made some noise at the Reese’s Senior Bowl back in August and the HBCU Legacy Bowl back in February. During the bowl game, Pryor finished with seven tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks.

The 6″4′ played 280 pound pass rusher played in 49 games during his four seasons. In his debut season, Pryor recorded 34 solo tackles (55 total) and 9.5 sacks. At the end of his illustrious career with the Bulldogs Pryor compiled 245 total stops, 77 tackles for loss, 32 sacks, three pass breakups, five recovered fumbles, and four forced fumbles.

In 2018 the All-American was named CIAA Rookie of the Year and All-CIAA First Team. Going into his second season Pryor continued to dominate for Bowie State. Pryor picked up Protect Your Skull Division II Defensive Player of the Year and Bowie State Co-Defensive Player of the Year awards, both in 2019.

Pryor’s explosiveness played a pivotal part in Bowie State’s three consecutive CIAA championships from 2018-2021.

The post Washington Commanders reportedly work out Bowie State lineman appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Even though Warrick never attended Bowie State she has always had a tie with the university through her former background musician Dr. Clarence Knight. Knight was a former professor and Department Chair for Bowie State’s Fine and Performing Arts Program. Knight urged Warrick to visit the campus a few years back during her quest to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS and took a detour to the arts center. The icon immediately fell in love with the program and the students.

Knight then started the process of dedicating the main theater to the six-time Grammy-nominated singer. But the pandemic slowed down its trajectory; in an interview with the Capital Gazette, Knight explained how having Dionne Warwick’s name attached to the theater would positively enhance the school.

“When you bring credibility to something, people pay attention to it. They get interested in it. We decided to go ahead and see if we could get her to come here and to really make a commitment, and she did.” Knight said.

And he was right, during the dedication ceremony, media, students, and even other celebrities gathered for the momentous occasion. Gospel Singer BeBe Winans joined Warrick for the unveiling along with Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, and Tom Selleck shared their affection through video for their beloved friend.

Warwick’s timeless favorites, such as “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Walk on By,” and “I Say a Little Prayer,” were performed for the first time at the theater bearing her name by former and current Bowie State students.

Among those students was the daughter of Bowie Mayor Tim Adams. “The arts have the power to change our world,” Adams told Capital Gazette. “When you listen to Dionne Warwick you hear of the voice of many.”

Bowie State’s Fine and Performing Arts Program is no stranger to star-studded success. Celebrities like Toni Braxton and Myles Frost are products of the program. Department of Fine and Performing Arts Chair Tewodross Williams knew that having Warrick’s name attached to the theater would unlock new opportunities for funding, special performances, and even possibly some social change.

“We’re not only trying to create artists and creatives, but we want to create what I call socially engaged artists. We want our students to be connected socially, globally, and politically in terms of the world and what affects them. We encourage our students to use their art for social change.” said Williams.

The post Bowie State dedicates performing theater to legend Dionne Warrick appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The fellowship was named after Bill Willis, who, along with Browns teammate and legend Marion Motley, became one of the first two African-American professional football players in the modern era. Willis played with the Browns from 1946-53 and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

After a serious cholesterol granuloma cyst on his brain nearly ended his football career, Nyema Washington played five games and completed 73 of 121 pass attempts (60 percent) for 992 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions, and his success helped the Bulldogs advance to the CIAA Championship Game.

Washington would go on to He went to work as a student assistant role with Bowie State from 2016-17. From there he went to West Virginia State at the end of 2017 as a graduate assistant and returned to Bowie State in 2019 as a receivers coach. He was hired as Wheeling’s offensive coordinator in 2021.

“I’m thrilled to be able to add Nemo to our staff,” Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “When we were looking to replace Israel and looking to add to our staff, we really cast a very wide net and talked to a lot of people. We did a lot of work and just spent some time with Nemo. He has a very unique story, which I’m excited for everybody to learn about, but he’s so excited about this opportunity.

“This is what this program is for – to go find really good coaches out there that you can go develop on the offensive side of the ball – and Nemo, I think, fits the bill really well.”

Washington is also a former contributor to HBCU Gameday. Congrats!

The post Cleveland Browns add HBCU alumnus as coaching fellow appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

BOWIE, Md. —On Saturday, Mar. 4, the Bowie State football program took part in serving the community by visiting the Brookdale Woodward Estates Assisted Living Facility as a means to pay it forward.

“When Coach Jackson was named as the head football coach here at Bowie State University, during our first staff meeting, coach conveyed his expectations for the program,” said Defensive Coordinator Avery Williams.  “Coach Jackson expressed his desire for program members and staff to be very visible within our school community and the local community at large; demonstrating positive character traits.  We were thankful for the opportunity to visit Brookdale Woodward Estates as it provided an opportunity for our student athletes and staff to pay it forward while serving our community.”

During the visit, student-athletes spent time with the residents getting to know them while having conversations and participating in various activities. Members of the Bulldog football program expressed having a great time engaging the residents in board games such as monopoly, scrabble, checkers, etc.; while bringing out the competitive sides of both parties. 

“Both residents and staff expressed gratitude and were thankful that our young men are in their community, they could have been doing many other things on a Saturday afternoon, yet chose to come spend time with them,” added Williams.  “It was an awesome experience, witnessing the residents genuinely enjoying themselves, smiling and laughing throughout our time there.  The lessons learned by our student-athletes regarding practical ways to support others will hopefully be remembered and continued for the remainder of their lives.”

Located in Bowie, Md., Brookdale Woodward Estates Assisted Living Facility is designed for seniors who need a little more day-to-day assistance than residents in independent living settings.  Brookdale’s community offers programs and teams members that can provide support with everything from assistance with daily living and basic care to recreational activities and transportation. 

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.

The post Bowie State football pay it forward within the community appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

BOWIE, Md. — Make that eight-straight crowns as the Bowie State women’s bowling program captured the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Northern Division title with an outstanding weekend at the CIAA Event III hosted by the Bulldogs at the AMF Southdale Lanes in Pasadena, Md.

Prior to Saturday’s competition, Bowie State honored two seniors that featured Erin Pearson and Olivia Watts. Additionally, members of the 2022 CIAA Championship team were honored and presented their championship rings.

The three-day event was the third undefeated weekend for the program this season. The Bulldogs went 12-0 behind a team total pins of 6520 and Baker total pins (2223), combining for 8743 total. Junior Chalia Gray tabbed the North’s Highest Average for the second time this season (157.25). The Glen Burnie, Md., native rolled a 208 — the Bulldogs only 200-game this weekend against Virginia State on Mar. 11.

How it happened

Bowie State started competition with four-straight during day one, defeating Virginia Union (744-574), Virginia State (745-521) while against the Lady Vikings of ECSU; BSU outlasted Elizabeth City State, 694-626. In the final match of the day, Bowie State topped the Trojans of VSU (763-655).

Bowie State continued to bring the heat during Day two with quadruple wins over Virginia State (810-609 and 655-582), Elizabeth City State (703-644 and 695-690) and Virginia Union (711-651).

In Bakers, the Bulldogs cruised to three-straight with a dominating 714-576 win over VSU, 727-601 victory over ECSU and a dictating decision over VUU (782-603).

Five Bulldogs finished in the top-25 individual standings. Gray had the highest with 157.25, followed by Pearson (156.88) for 10^th, Watts at 14^th (152.75), graduate senior Paris Anthony at 16^th overall (149.63) and sophomore Sydney Tabor (123.00) at No. 24.

The Bulldogs (49-12, 44-4 CIAA) will await the announcements for the upcoming 2023 CIAA Women’s Bowling Championships seeding and superlatives. The championship will take place on Mar. 25-26 in Salem, Va.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.

The post Bowie State bowling continues CIAA North dominance appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Fans will be able to attend the Spring Game with free admission. The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. prior to the spring game; the Bulldogs will host junior day and an alumni game at 11 a.m. and 12 noon, respectively.

Bowie State head coach Kyle Jackson and the Bulldogs open 2023 Spring Camp on March 28 with practices times to be announced below:

2023 Spring Camp Schedule
Tuesday, Mar. 28 at 7 pm
Thursday, Mar. 30 at 4 pm
Friday, Mar. 31 at 4 pm

Tuesday, Apr. 4 at 7 pm
Thursday, Apr. 6 at 4 pm
Friday, Apr. 7 at 4 pm
Saturday, Apr. 8 at 1:30 pm

Tuesday, Apr. 11 at 7 pm
Thursday, Apr. 13 at 4 pm
Thursday Apr. 14 at 4 pm
Friday, Apr. 15 at 1:30 pm

Tuesday, Apr. 18 at 7 pm
Thursday, Apr. 20 at 4 pm
Friday, Apr. 21 at 4 pm

Saturday, Apr. 22 
Junior Day at 11 am
Alumni Flag Game 12 noon
Spring Game at 2 pm
Dates and times are subject to change.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.

The post Bowie State football spring 2023 schedule appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Employing a stifling woman-to-woman defense and exploiting a decided height advantage, the Lady Vikings (18-10) jumped up early on the Lady Bulldogs (14-12). They built a 21-12 first-quarter lead and were never headed in rolling to a 76-54 quarterfinal win. 

After 55-44 and 61-51 losses to BSU in the regular season, the victory puts ECSU in Friday’s 2 p.m. semifinal vs. eighth seeded Johnson C. Smith. ECSU lost to Lincoln in last year’s tournament championship game.

Blango sets the pace

Five-seven junior guard Nyasia Blango set the pace for ECSU. She scored 13 first half points including three baskets from 3-point range as the Lady Vikings built a 38-27 halftime lead. ECSU scored the first 11 points of the second half to push the margin beyond 20 points, at 49-27 with 6:51 left in the third quarter. 

Blanco drained another 3-pointer from way downtown at the 1:31 mark of the third quarter. She then punctuated the period with a buzzer-beating jumper. ECSU entered the final period up 58-34. 

BSU (14-12) cut the lead below 18, at 64-48, with 4:59 left, but could get no closer.  

Blanco finished with a game-high 30 points. She was the only ECSU player to score in double digits. Five-nine junior forward Akyia King had 10 rebounds in leading ECSU to a decided 39-25 edge off the boards. 

Junior guard Seanice Lyons had 17 points to lead BSU. Anii Harris added 12. 

The post Elizabeth City State takes down Bowie State to reach women’s CIAA semis appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

BOWIE, MD — Bowie State University has removed the interim tag from Kyle Jackson‘s title, naming him the 10^th head coach in program history of the Bulldogs since football was reinstated in 1972 as announced by the Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Clyde Doughty, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 23.

“It is with great Bulldog pride that we begin the next chapter in BSU football with the hiring of Kyle Lamont Jackson as our next head football coach,” said Doughty, Jr. “During his year as interim, Kyle proved without a shadow of a doubt that he is very capable of commanding the respect of his student-athletes, coaches and opponents while putting our football program in a position to be successful academically and athletically.”

The decision follows Jackson serving in the role as interim in the 2022 season, where he led the team to a 6-4 record and eight players earned Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (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 selected to participate in the second Annual Black College Football HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans.

“It’s a blessing just to be in the same category with some of the guys who had the opportunity to lead this program,” said Jackson. “I’m a homegrown guy. Bowie State is everything to me. It gave me the opportunity to earn my degree and finish playing the sport that I love. It’s a blessing being named the head coach here at Bowie State University.”

Jackson described being the interim coach as a learning experience as he navigated the new challenges that came with assuming head coaching responsibilities. But Jackson feels the experience has helped him grow and is grateful for what he went through before being promoted to full-time head coach.

“The experience was like no other,” said Jackson. “I learned a lot from an administrative standpoint. I also learned a lot about myself, my players and my coaching staff. There was change going on, so that’s something we had to learn to embrace. It was a great experience, and I wouldn’t change anything about it.”

Prior to being named as the defensive coordinator, Jackson served as linebackers and recruiting coordinator during his second stint with the Bulldogs in 2017. Jackson played an integral role in the Bulldogs advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. He helped lead defensive units that ranked in the top 10 nationally in several categories in 2019 and 2021, with strong defensive showings in 2017 and 2018.

A Baltimore native, Kyle Jackson was a four-year starter at linebacker for former head coach Damon Wilson and the Bulldogs from 2007 — 2010 while also serving as a team captain for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. After graduating from Bowie State with a degree in sports management, Jackson worked as a defensive graduate assistant at Emporia State and as assistant to the director of football operations at Georgia State. During his first stint with Bowie State football, Jackson served as the linebackers and tight ends coach from 2011-2013. 
“Coach Jackson is a BSU alum and tutored under Coach Damon Wilson when he began his career on the sideline.  That tutelage has provided him with the necessary foundation to be successful,” said Doughty, Jr. “I look forward to working with Coach Jackson as he continues to develop as a head coach by recruiting academically minded student-athletes who are focused on success.”

Jackson becomes just the third Bowie State alum to lead the program behind Dr. Henry Frazier, III (93′) and Damon Wilson (00′). Jackson will lead his alma mater that has continuously garnered a national reputation.

The post Kyle Jackson named Bowie State head coach, interim tag removed appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

BOWIE, MD — Rasheka Simmons led Fayetteville State (9-5 overall, 5-1 CIAA) with 23 points and two steals on the way to a 53-47 Fayetteville State victory over the Bowie State Bulldogs on the road Monday CIAA cross-divisional play.

Aniylah Bryant tacked on seven points, four assists, two steals, and two blocks and London Thompson helped out with five points and five rebounds.

Bowie State (8-7, 4-2 CIAA) was led by Anii Harris, who finished with 11 points and 4 rebounds.

Fayetteville State pulled down 34 rebounds in Monday’s game compared to Bowie State’s 28, led by six boards from Morgan Graham. The Broncos also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 12 rebounds into six second-chance points.

The Fayetteville State defense held Bowie State shooters to only 32.6 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent from three-point range.

How It Happened

Fayetteville State kept it close in the first quarter but entered the second frame down 11-8.

Bowie State kept adding to that lead, building a 15-8 advantage before Fayetteville State went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Simmons, to take a 16-15 lead. The Bulldogs then came roaring back to take a 25-22 lead heading into halftime.

FSU came out of halftime on fire, going on a 10-0 run to grab a 32-25 lead with 4:58 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Bulldogs had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Broncos still entered the fourth quarter with a 39-36 edge. Fayetteville State took advantage of 11 Bowie State turnovers in the quarter, scoring 10 points off of takeaways.

FSU started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Simmons’ jumper, to grow the lead to 44-36 with 8:30 to go in the contest. The Bulldogs narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Broncos still cruised the rest of the way for the 53-47 win.

Game Notes

» The Broncos held the Bulldogs to only 32.6 percent shooting from the field.
» The FSU bench came alive by adding 28 points to its scoring output.
» Fayetteville State had a 34-28 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Fayetteville State defense forced 18 turnovers.
» Fayetteville State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game.
» Rasheka Simmons led the Broncos with a game-high 23 points.
» FSUgot a team-high six rebounds from Morgan Graham.

FSU will return home with CIAA Southern Division action against Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday, January 14.  The Bronco women will play the second half of the doubleheader with a tip-off at 3:00 pm.  The men will have a CIAA/Black College Sports Broadcasting Network televised game at noon.

The post Rasheka Simmons leads Fayetteville State over Bowie State appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

CIAA members Winston-Salem State University, Bowie State University and Lincoln (Pa.) University will take their men’s squads to the area that birthed the famed Harlem Renaissance. They will play in three afternoon and evening matches against tough NCAA Div. II teams from the Northeast in what is dubbed the “Harlem Renaissance Classic.”

Thomas Jefferson University out of Philadelphia and Felician University of Rutherford, New Jersey play in the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference (CAAC). St. Thomas Aquinas College, from Sparkill, NY in the New York City metro area, competes in the East Coast Conference (ECC)..

The games

The games will be played at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. at the Nat Holman Gym at the City College of New York (CCNY) in Harlem.

The main campus of CCNY is comprised of 36 tree-lined acres running from 133^rd Street to 140^th Street in Harlem, bounded by St. Nicholas Terrance and St. Nicholas Park on the east and Amsterdam Avenue on the west.

HBCU basketball: WSSU vs. Thomas Jefferson

It will be Rams vs. Rams when WSSU (2-1) faces Thomas Jefferson (2-1) in the 3 p.m. opener.

Jefferson finished 21-6 overall last season and 16-2 in the CAAC. TJU lost to Dominican (87-84 in OT) in the CAAC Tournament semifinals. Jimmy Reilly is in his first year leading Felician after 15 years as an assistant to Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee. Erik Temko is the top scorer at 17.7 points per game.

WSSU is coached by fourth-year head man Cleo Hill Jr. The Rams finished 19-7 last season, 12-3 in the CIAA and lost to Virginia Union (71-59) in the CIAA Tournament semifinals.

Six-four junior guard Jaylen Alston is leading the Rams in scoring (17.1 ppg.) and rebounding (10.5 rpg.)

HBCU basketball: Bowie State vs. Felician

Bowie State (1-2) takes the court at 5 p.m. Saturday vs. Felician (2-1).

Felician finished 19-10 last season, 11-6 in the CAAC. The Golden Falcons out of Rutherford, New Jersey, defeated favored Dominican (65-64) to win the CAAC tournament. They made the East Region playoff field but lost in the first round to Bentley (95-63). Head coach Ivan Lewis leads Felician. Six-two redshirt senior guard Jaylen Colon leads the Falcons at 17.7 points per game.

BSU was 8-21 last season under now 11th-year head coach Darrell Brooks. The Bulldogs finished 8-11 in CIAA play. BSU has four players averaging in double-digits led by 16.3 points per game by 6-1 junior point guard Mark Bradshaw.

HBCU basketball: Lincoln vs. Thomas Aquinas

Lincoln (2-1) plays Thomas Aquinas College (2-1) in 7 p.m. finale.

Aquinas finished 28-5 in the 2021-22 season after winning the ECC regular season and tournament titles. The Spartans season ended with a loss to Bentley (82-75) in the East Region finals. They were 25^th last season in the final NABC NCAA Div. II national poll. Tobin Anderson, who took Aquinas to seven straight NCAA Div. II appearances, left to become head coach at Div. I Farleigh Dickinson. Former assistant Matt Capel is the new head coach.

DeVante Jamison leads the Spaartans’ scoring attack at 16.0 points per game. Six-seven freshman James Patterson leads STAC rebounders at 8.7 per game.

James Armstrong is Lincoln’s interim head coach. The Lions were 18-5 overall, 11-5 in CIAA play a season ago under head coach Corey Lowery. Six-foot senior point guard Korey Williams is averaging 27.0 points per game thru the Lions’ three games.

The post HBCU basketball comes to Harlem appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

VUU’s offense came to life in the third quarter as Byers ran for a 23 yard score. Then Jahkari Grant found John Jiles for an 11 yard score to give VUU a 17-9 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Bowie State would answer with 15 points in the fourth quarter, tying the game with a touchdown run from DJ Golatt with 2:25 remaining. That put the game into overtime, and Myers’ field goal proved to be the difference.

Virginia Union improves to 7-0 on the season, 5-0 in CIAA play. Bowie State falls to 4-3 on the season 3-2 in the CIAA. The loss was Bowie State’s first at home to a CIAA program since Oct. 18, 2004. 

The post Virginia Union finishes off Bowie State in OT appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Nationally-ranked teams in both conferences are squaring off Saturday against what appears to be the toughest competition in their respective divisions.  

CIAA North showdown

In the CIAA North, Virginia Union (6-0, 4-0 CIAA) is undefeated and nationally-ranked (No. 11 in AFCA Div. II poll,  15th in d2football.com Top 25) as it travels to face three-time division and conference champion Bowie State (4-2, 3-1) Saturday (1 p.m.). 

VUU, under head coach Dr. Alvin Parker, has come up short in four straight match ups with BSU. The last VUU victory was a 42-35 decision in 2016. Last year, BSU handled VUU 27-7 in Richmond en route to its third straight division and league title. Kyle Jackson is the new interim head coach for BSU.

All signs are indicating this is the year the Panthers may get by the Bulldogs. 

The statistical showdown

VUU comes in with the CIAA’s top rusher in Jada Byers. The 5-7, 180-pound sophomore has rushed for a CIAA- and Div. II-best 1,096 yards in six games (182.7 yards per game). He also leads the CIAA and Div. II with 13 rushing touchdowns. The Panthers are averaging 52.2 points per game, again tops in the CIAA and all of Div. II. They are giving up just 12.3 points per game, which also leads the league.

VUU features quarterback Jahkari Grant, whose 11 TD passes have only been surpassed by BSU QB Dion Golatt Jr., who has 13. Golatt’s 271.0 passing yards per game is second in the CIAA. He has thrown six picks. Grant is throwing for 152.8 ypg. with four interceptions.

So, give the rushing edge to VUU (league-best 258.7 ypg. to 150.7) and the passing edge to BSU (league-best 295.8 ypg. to 165.2).

VUU is first in total defense giving up 244.2 ypg, while BSU is second at 249.3. 

This should be a good one.

SIAC East showdown

The SIAC East showdown has nationally-ranked and division and conference champ Albany State (4-1, 2-0 SIAC), who is 21st in the AFCA Div. II poll and 14th in the d2football.com Top 25, traveling to undefeated upstart Benedict (5-0, 3-0) for the Tigers’ homecoming (2 p.m.). Benedict, who entered both the AFCA and d2football.com polls this week at 23rd, has won just two of 19 games vs. Albany State.

Last year, ASU handled the Tigers 28-6. The last Benedict win was a 17-12 upset victory in 2017. 

The statistical showdown

Albany State has been riding the back of its stingy defense which is giving up just 7.2 points per game. Benedict is also tough on defense surrendering just 9.4 points per game. Benedict leads the league in scoring at 35.0 points per game while ASU is putting up 21.6 ppg.

Head coach Chennis Berry’s Tigers lead the league in total offense (399.0 ypg.) and total defense (203,8 ypg.) Gabe Gardina’s ASU squad is tops in rushing offense at 197.4 ypg. with Benedict just behind at 191,6,

Individually, Benedict senior QB Eric Phoenix has thrown for 704 yards and eight TDs without an interception. ASU junior Dionte Bonneau, the preseason SIAC offensive player of the year, has passed for 785 yards and five TDs with three picks. Benedict freshman Noah Zaire Scotland has run for 360 yards and six TDs to lead the Tigers’ ground game. Junior Marcuis Fulks leads ASU with 355 yards and 5 scores. 

This one should be just as good.

MEAC 

The MEAC race is in its early stages but Norfolk State (1-5, 1-0) has jumped on top with its first win Saturday (24-21) over Morgan State. The Spartans will try to build on that early lead as they entertain Delaware State (3-2, 0-0) for homecoming (2 p.m.).

N. C. Central (4-1) hosts Morgan State (2-3, 0-1) for its first league game Thursday night (7:30 p.m.). Howard (1-4) plays its second Ivy League team as it hosts Harvard (3-1) Saturday (4 p.m.) at D. C’s. Audi Field.  

SWAC

Everyone is chasing but can’t seem to catch Jackson State (5-0, 3-0) in the SWAC East. Deion Sanders’ Tigers are in Jacksonville, Fla. to face Bethune-Cookman Saturday (3 p.m.).

The big SWAC game is in the West that has Southern (3-2, 2-1) at division leader Alcorn State (3-2, 2-0) at 6 p.m. 

Games this Week

(HC) Homecomings

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13

UNC Pembroke vs. West Virginia State in Pembroke, NC 6p

MEAC

NC Central vs. Morgan State in Durham, NC – ESPN2 7:30p

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15

CIAA

Bowie State vs Virginia Union in Bowie, MD 1p

Chowan (HC) vs. Virginia State in Murfeesboro, NC 1p

St. Augustine’s (HC) vs. J. C. Smith in Raleigh, NC – HBCUGo 1p

Eliz. City State (HC) vs. Lincoln (PA) in Eliz. City, NC – Aspire TV 1p

Livingstone (HC) vs. Fayetteville State in Salisbury, NC 1:30

Winston-Salem State vs. Shaw in Winston-Salem, NC 1:30p

MEAC

SC State (HC)  vs. VA-Lynchburg in Orangeburg, SC – ESPN+ 1:30p

Norfolk State (HC) vs. Delaware State in Norfolk, VA – ESPN+ 2p

Truth & Service Classic

Howard vs. Harvard in Washington, DC – ESPN3 4p

SIAC

Tuskegee vs. Central State in Tuskegee, AL – ESPN+ 1p

Fort Valley State vs. Morehouse in Fort Valley, GA 2p

Kentucky State vs. Allen in Frankfort, KY 2p

Albany State (HC) vs. Benedict in Albany, GA 2p

Clark Atlanta (HC) vs. Savannah State in Atlanta, GA 2p

Miles vs. Lane (HC) in Fairfield, AL – ESPN+ 4p 

SWAC

Alabama State vs. Miss Valley State in Montgomery, AL 2p

Grambling St. vs. Florida A&M in Grambling, LA – HBCUGo 2p

Jackson State vs. Bethune-Cookman in Jacksonville, FL – ESPN+ 3p

Southern vs. Alcorn State in Baton Rouge, LA  – ESPN+ 6p

Non-HBCU Conferences

Lincoln (MO) vs. Pittsburg State in Jefferson City, MO 2p

Lyon vs. Texas College in Batesville, AR 2p

Texas Wesleyan vs. Langston in Fort Worth, TX 2p 

Florida Memorial vs. St. Thomas in Miami Gardens, FL 6p

Big South

NC A&T vs. Edward Waters in Greensboro, NC – ESPN+ 1p

CAA

Albany (NY) vs. Hampton in Albany, NY – FloSports 3:30p

OVC

Tenn. Tech vs. Tennessee State in Cookeville, TN – ESPN+ 6p

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

SWAC

Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Alabama A&M in Pine Bluff, AR 3p

The post Showdown time in CIAA, SIAC appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“Our coaches did a great job all week to get us prepared for the week. It was a very important game for us,” Golatt said after the game, with a white towel over his head. “Every game is very important for us. O-line did a great job. Defense, special teams, we just all came together as one and did a good job of winning the game.”

Golatt is a grad student in his last year of eligibility, and he certainly looked the part. He showed poise in the pocket, taking what the defense gave him and picking his spots by using his athleticism when necessary. 

DJ Golatt has paid his dues and earned his stripes

He’s back in the role of starter for the Bulldogs, one that he played well during his prep days at Annapolis Area Christian HS under coach Ceasar Nettles before finishing his career at Riverdale High School. He completed his prep career with 6,425 passing yards, 52 career touchdown passes, 1,108 career rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns before committing to Morgan State. After redshirting at MSU in 2017, he saw spot duty in 2018 and 2019. By 2021 he was looking for a new home via the transfer portal after getting his degree. 

Like many Maryland athletes, DJ Golatt didn’t have to look far. 

“One because of the previous head coach (Damon Wilson), we had a good relationship. Also, just because I felt I needed to come home. I had alot going on, and then I was going to grad school and so I needed to find a place,” the Largo, MD native said. “And I just want to change my scenery. There was alot of coaching changes that happened in my last school. And so I just want to go somewhere where I felt comfortable and just expected to play.”

But just because he was coming from an FCS program “down” to Bowie State at the Division II level didn’t mean he would have anything handed to him. The two-time defending CIAA Champs already had the reigning CIAA Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback in Ja’Rome Johnson, so Golatt had to take the backseat once again. 

“I’ve been a part of winning cultures before, and so it wasn’t too hard. But at the same time, it was a great learning experience,” Golatt said. “I had a full year just to sit back and learn the game, watch a lot of film, a lot of film every day, and just perfecting my craft. Perfecting my craft is a big thing that I harp on just trying to get one percent better every day.”

Johnson led BSU to the CIAA title and a playoff run in 2021, but his eligibility was up. It was Golatt’s chance to prove to himself and everyone else he could do what he did in high school. Ironically, Wilson left Bowie State to take over at Morgan State. But interim head coach Kyle Jackson saw a lot to like in Golatt. 

This spring, he stepped up to the plate and showed great quality and leadership skills that we want in our QB,” Jackson said after the game. “He’s shown growth from the spring through the summer and through fall camp.”

Both Golatt and the team have had ups and downs so far in the 2022 season. It started with a three-touchdown, no-interception performance against New Haven that concluded with a game-winning touchdown pass to Kwincy Hall with nine seconds remaining for a big win. Then came a three-game stretch in which BSU lost back-to-back games and was pushed by St. Augustine’s as Golatt threw more interceptions (four) than he did touchdowns. 

The last two games, however, Golatt and the BSU offense have been sensational. Golatt threw for 439 yards and four touchdowns in a 53-7 win over Livingstone. That yardage total was a new school record, breaking the one set by the immortal Amir Hall. Then came the VSU performance, which brought his season total to 1,626 passing yards on the sea­son, which ranks first in the CIAA and 13th in the nation. He is 24th amongst DII in passing efficiency (150.76).  

“I’m proud of him. I’m proud of the growth, and I’m looking forward to seeing him grow every week,” Jackson added after the game. “Like I say, we had our bumps in the road, but he never backed down. He comes to work every day with his hard hat on.”

The offense will need to remain in high gear this week as Bowie State takes on nationally ranked Virginia Union in a battle for first-place in the CIAA North. As well as it has been playing, DJ Golatt thinks he and his teammates still haven’t hit their ceiling just yet. 

“As an offense I think that we have a lot of ways to go – just trying to still get to learn everybody, still trust in the system and everything,” Golatt said. “So I think that that will come in time.”

The post DJ Golatt has Bowie State offense humming appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“Anytime that we line up against Virginia State, we know it’s going to be a hard-fought game,” Bowie State interim head coach Kyle Jackson said after the game. “One of the things we talked about with the guys – with (Virginia State) coach Henry Frazier being a Bowie State alum – I know that he was going to have the guys ready to fight all game.”

And Bowie State’s preparation definitely showed early. DJ Golatt tossed his first touchdown pass of the day with 12:15 remaining in the first quarter, connecting with Kwincy Hall for a 45-yard score, and a field goal followed to give the visitors a 10-0 lead. Two more touchdowns just before the end of the first quarter – a short run by Larry Williams and a 27 yard pass from Golatt to Keshane Hinckley gave BSU a 24-0 lead heading into the second quarter that pretty much took the wind out of the Trojans’ sails.

VSU would respond in the second quarter with a 12 yard run to cut the margin to 24-7, temporarily giving the home team life. But a methodical 10 play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a Larry Williams score pushed the lead to 31-7 and VSU was never able to recover.

“We got our butts whipped,” Virginia State head coach Henry Frazier said after the game. “They kicked our tails up and down the field. Offense, defense, special teams. They out-coached us. They out-played us. And we just gotta get better.” 

Golatt completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 242 yards, three scores and no picks while Bowie State rushed for 204 yards as a team to pound VSU after the lead had blossomed.

BSU improves to 4-2 on the season, 3-1 in CIAA play, and 1-0 in the CIAA North. It returns home next week to face a Virginia Union program that is currently 6-0 and nationally ranked in a game that will likely have CIAA Championship Game implications. Virginia State is now 4-2 on the season as well, and 3-1 in CIAA play. But the in-division loss means it needs a lot of help to make it to Salem, VA.

The post Virginia State dominated by Bowie State at its homecoming appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

CIAA Football: North Division To Date

Right now, the face of CIAA football is Virginia Union (3-0 CIAA, 5-0 Overall, #12 AFCA, #19 D2football.com), which has supplanted Bowie State in that role. VUU seems to be the conference’s most complete team, and is in some elite company when compared to recent history.  The Panthers lead the country in scoring offense at 52.8 points a game. The last time a CIAA school did this was Bowie State in 2017. That version of BSU ended up being a playoff team. It’s hard to talk about VUU without talking about running back Jada Byers. Byers is a legit Harlon Hill candidate, as he leads the country in major categories such as rushing yards (891 yards), all-purpose yards (1056 yards), and touchdowns (13). The last two individuals from the conference to lead in all-purpose yards? VUU’s own Tabyus Taylor in 2019 and Virginia State’s Trenton Cannon in 2017. The rushing yards pace are also ahead of former Bowie State running back Calil Wilkins pace, and Wilkins was a Harlon Hill finalist last year. But the Panthers are more than just Byers. The offensive line continues to be rock solid and tenured. VUU is only allowing 15 points a game, and 275 yards a game. The defense leads the conference in sacking opposing quarterbacks 21 times, led by defensive lineman Armonii Burden. The Panthers have also been above average on special teams, as wide receiver John Jiles leads the country with five blocked kicks, while the rest of the team has three of their own. 

It’s hard to see anyone other than the Panthers representing the CIAA North in the championship game, but there are two contenders to knock them off.

Virginia State (3-0, 4-1) has been quietly working in the shadows of their rival just north of them, and the Trojans have found their own groove by winning four straight, including a 28-24 thriller over Shaw last week.  While first year VSU coach Dr. Henry Frazier III started the season with transfer Jabari Blake at quarterback, it has been holdover Jordan Davis who has assumed the helm in directing the offense. VSU has not disappointed in the rushing game, headlined by Darius Hagans, who is 13th in the country in rushing yards with 565 yards.  The Trojans’ strength has been their defense, which has strong performers at each level, including DL Miqueal Pillow-Smiley (2.5 sacks), linebackers Tyrone Fisher (25 tackles) and Zion Johnson (34 tackles), safety Kymon Pope (34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions) and defensive back Willie Drew (four interceptions). The Trojans’ defense is second in the country in turnover margin at +11. 

Bowie State (2-1, 3-2) started the season with a big out of conference win over a ranked New Haven, but a surprising slip at Shaw has relegated BSU to playing catchup in the CIAA North race. BSU has found its heir apparent at quarterback with Dion Golatt Jr, who is 11th in country with 1,384 passing yards to pair with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. Golatt surpassed Amir Hall’s single game passing yards record last week against Livingstone when he passed for 439 yards.  The Bulldogs’ defense remains as advertised, only surrendering 243 yards a game.  Their Achilles heel remains untimely turnovers, as it has routinely killed promising drives in high profile games. Additionally, the Bulldogs are heavy offenders of drawing the yellow flag, as they are the conference’s worst in penalties at 101 yards a game.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the CIAA football season so far is Lincoln (1-1, 2-2). The Lions have won more than one game in a season since 2015, and notched its first conference road win since 2009.  Along the way, the Lions seem to have found some stability at quarterback that had been lacking for several years in true freshman Isaiah Freeman (677 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions).  Freeman is also the team’s leading rusher. The return of wide receiver Dah’mear Tripplett (16 receptions, 261 yards, four touchdowns) has helped, as he has emerged as Freeman’s top target. Still, the offense has much to improve upon going into division play, particularly in sustaining drives, as they convert only 25 percent of third down plays. The defense is much improved from prior years, and now gives up less yards than the offense (317 yards on offense, 300 on defense).  Opponents aren’t finding as much success passing the ball against the secondary — the Lions have four interceptions so far this season. 

Elizabeth City State (1-2, 1-4) and Chowan (2-1, 2-3) have been rather unremarkable so far this season. ECSU has significantly struggled on offense, and is near the bottom of the country in several statistical categories, including converting only 21 percent of third down conversions, generating only 211 yards of total offense, and sporting the worst turnover margin in the conference (minus nine).  The offense isn’t the absolute worse in the conference, which is why it has a win.  Still, the result is emblematic of a team with a lot of new pieces that haven’t yet gelled.  Chowan had notable turnover as well coming into the season, but is ahead of schedule in their development with freshman quarterback Caleb Pierce looking like a long-term solution at the position.  The Hawks are another team who has excelled at defense, as that side of the ball has eight interceptions this season, 14 sacks, and linebacker Montre Moore has 8.5 tackles for loss.

The post CIAA Football: VUU in driver’s seat, but VSU and BSU lurking appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

New VSU head coach Dr. Henry Frazier III is a Washington, D.C. native and former BSU quarterback (1986-89) who was head coach of the Bulldogs from 1999-2003. 

Frazier was head coach at Prairie View A&M (2004-2010) where he won a SWAC championship in 2009. He then took over at N. C. Central (2010-2013). Frazier returned to BSU as special assistant to former head coach Damon Wilson as the Bulldogs won the last three CIAA titles.

In May, Frazier was named the new head coach at VSU, returning back to his CIAA football. A month later, Wilson left BSU to become the new head coach at Morgan State. Former BSU linebackers coach Kyle Jackson, who played for and coached under Wilson, was named BSU’s interim head coach.

CIAA football rivalry in focus

Virginia State has not beaten Bowie State during the Bulldogs’ three-peat of north division and CIAA titles, but the games have been close. The rivalry has been made juicier as they will have met at each other’s homecomings in three of the last four seasons. They’ll do it again this year.

The Trojans lost 51-44 last season at Bowie as the teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense. The score was tied at 44 midway thru the fourth quarter.

VSU fell 24-14 at its 2019 homecoming in Ettrick. It was one of only two losses for VSU (the other to Norfolk State of the MEAC) during a 9-2 campaign. BSU led that game 17-14 entering the fourth quarter.

In 2018, VSU fought back from a 20-2 deficit before falling 20-15 at Bowie State’s homecoming. VSU’s attempt at a game-winning drive was halted at midfield in the final minute. The CIAA did not play during the COVID-marred 2020 season.

In fact, before Shaw’s last minute 17-14 win over Bowie State this season, it had only one loss in conference play — 42-23 to Chowan in 2018 — in the last three seasons. 

VSU last beat BSU in 2017, 47-35 behind running back Trenton Cannon’s 234 rushing yards en route to winning the N. Div. and CIAA titles. Cannon is now in his fifth season in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.

This season’s VSU/BSU match-up

So far this season, VSU lost its season-opener to nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne, 38-19. L-RU (4-1) is currently ranked 14th in the Coaches (AFCA) Div. II poll with its only loss to Div. II No. 1 and defending national champion Ferris State (27-5 on Sept. 10). 

Bowie State’s loss was at S. Div. contender Shaw on a last-minute touchdown, 17-14.

Bowie State graduate quarterback Dion Golatt Jr., a Morgan State transfer, has ably stepped in replacing Ja’Rome Johnson. Johnson quarterbacked BSU to the 2019 and 2021 CIAA titles.

After a record 469-yard, four-TD passing performance in a 69-0 win against St. Augustine’s last week, Golatt is second in the conference in passing yardage at 276.8 yards per game. He leads the CIAA with ten passing touchdowns.

BSU averaged nearly 180 rushing yards per game a season ago. They were led by 1,000-yard rusher Calil Wilkins. The Bulldogs are averaging 146 rushing yards per game this season. Redshirt sophomore Sam Doku is BSU’s leading rusher with 299 yards (59.9 ypg.) thru five games with three TDs.

VSU senior running back Darius Hagans is second in CIAA rushing. Hagans averages 116.0 rushing yards per game and 6.0 yards per carry. He has scored three rushing touchdowns. Five-eleven, 210-pound junior Jordan Davis is the VSU quarterback. He has thrown for 738 yards (147.5 ypg.) with six touchdowns and two interceptions thru five games.

Give the passing edge to Bowie State and the rushing edge to Virginia State. Both defenses are solid.

The post CIAA Football: Virginia State-Bowie State rivalry continues to burn appeared first on HBCU Gameday.