BOWIE, Md. – The Bowie State University Bulldogs embarrassed the Johnson C. Smith University Golden Bulls 52-0 in non-conference football play on Saturday afternoon. The win pulls the Bulldogs season record even at 1-1 while the Golden Bulls drop to 0-2 on the year.
As a team, Bowie State rolled up a season-high 619 yards of total offense (357 RUSHING AND 262 passing), which ranks second best all-time for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs defense held the Golden Bulls to a season-low 98 yards of total offense (18 rushing and 80 passing).
Redshirt freshman Amir Hall (Bowie, Md.) threw for a game-high 262 passing yards, completing 23-of-40 but was intercepted twice. Hall’s primary target was redshirt senior Nyme Manns (Baltimore, Md.) who recorded game-highs of 103 reception yards on six receptions. Sophomores Maurice Williams (Baltimore, Md.) and Robert Chesson (Annapolis, Md.) led the Bulldogs’ ground attack with 154 and 113 rushing yards respectively. Williams tallied two rushing touchdowns and Chesson was responsible for one. Sophomores Taylor Johnson (Washington, D.C.) and Jaylen Harris (Clinton, Md.) along with junior Lamar Montgomery (Baltimore, Md.) paced the Bulldogs defense with four tackles apiece.
Bowie State’s defense scored the first points of the afternoon when graduate student Antoine Young (Washington, D.C.) scooped up a fumbled a rumbled 70 yards for six. Freshman Gene Carson, II added the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead at the 11:37 mark of the first quarter. BSU’s Williams rushed for a 19-yard touchdown and Carson’s PAT gave the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead after one quarter.
Hall faked out the Johnson C. Smith defense and practically walked into the end zone from six yards out at the13:08 mark of the second quarter for a 21-0 lead. Chesson recorded his second rushing touchdown of the season with 5:43 on the clock, penetrating the JCSU end zone for a 7-yard score and 28-0 halftime cushion.
Bowie State’s Carson booted his first collegiate field goal early in the third quarter (11:24), drilling it right down the middle from 33 yards out to increase the Bulldogs lead to 31-0. Redshirt freshman Brandon Abrams recorded his first score in a Bulldogs uniform at the 9:09 mark of the third quarter, busting through for an 8-yard score. Hall notched his second rushing TD of the game with 3:53 left in the third quarter, this time from seven yards out, padding the home team lead at 45-0.
Williams’ dodged through the Golden Bull defenders and outran the secondary for a 57-yard touchdown run with 13:07 left in the game to account for the final 52-0 margin.
Harold Herbin (Fayetteville, N.C.) led the JCSU quarterback combo with 46 passing yards while Desmond Dozier (Longs, S.C.) paced the Golden Bulls receivers with 37 yards. Desean Binyard (Winston-Salem, N.C.) was JCSU’s leading rusher with 20 yards. The Johnson C. Smith trio of Basir Wright (Douglasville, Ga.), Lorenz Taylor (Blufton, S.C.) and Carlo Thomas (East Orange, N.J.) were the games’ top tacklers with seven each.
Bowie State will move up one level next Saturday (September 17), traveling to Division I (FCS) Central Connecticut State. Game time versus the Blue Devils is set for 3 p.m.
