Oct. 11, 2008
Final Stats
BOWIE, MD- The Elizabeth City State Vikings erased a 14-point deficit in the final 4:24 of regulation to upend the Bowie State University Bulldogs 29-28 before a Homecoming crowd of 5,329 Saturday afternoon at Bulldogs Stadium.
The Vikings improve to 4-3 overall and more importantly remain undefeated (4-0) against CIAA opponents and are now in sole possession of first place in the CIAA Eastern Division. The win also cemented the Vikings as a Homecoming spoiler for the Bulldogs. ECSU has won the last three times they served as guests at BSU's Homecoming football game. (2004 ECSU 11-0, 2006 ECSU 16-12)
With 3:05 remaining the Vikings drew within a point of a tie after an 8-yard run by Cedric Blacknall capped a 5-play, 60-yard drive. After a Viking called time out, ECSU faked the extra point attempt and holder Reggie Smith rushed untouched into the left corner of the end zone for the 29-28 lead.
Yet the Bulldogs had two more attempts at the win.
An illegal out-of-bounds kickoff gave BSU possession on their 40-yard line. The Bulldogs then drove the length of the field to the ECSU 23 setting up a 40-yard attempt by Bowie State kicker Michael Gagne. Gagne's kick sail wide right but he would get another stab at it when the Vikings were whistled offsides. Gagne's second attempt from 35-yards fell short and ECSU took a knee on their ensuing possession to kill the game's final 14 seconds.
ECSU's three other touchdown's all came courtesy of the continued brilliance of wide receiver Dexter Manley. Manley caught three passes on Saturday all for touchdowns. His first went for 29-yards on the Vikings first drive of the day. He then was the recipient of Curtis Rich Jr.'s longest career touchdown pass, an 88-yard reception with 5:38 left before the intermission. His final catch and score of the afternoon began the Vikings' fourth quarter rally, a 9-yard reception with 4:24 left in the game. Manley finished the day with 126 yards for his three catches. Rich finished the day with 217 yards on 11-18 passing including the three TD strikes to Manley
The Bulldogs (2-4, CIAA 1-3) held ECSU scoreless for the majority of the second half and simultaneously took a two touchdown advantage (28-14) into the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. Bowie State trailed 14-7 at the half but then opened the third quarter with a two-play drive that featured a spectacular 56-yard rushing touchdown by Isaac Redman. A missed extra point made the score 14-13. BSU captured their first lead of the afternoon in the 4th quarter on a 2-yard scoring run by quarterback Jason Scott which was followed with a Redman rush for a 2-point conversion and a 21-14 advantage. With 8:53 left in the game Scott found Anthony Howe for a 40-yard touchdown and what then appeared to be an insurmountable deficit of 28-14 for the Vikings.
ECSU will return to action on Saturday, October 18 when they travel to Lincoln University of Pennsylvania for the Lions' 2008 Homecoming. Game time is scheduled for 1:00pm. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com.
