Nov. 3, 2012
Final Stats
BOWIE, MD-Elizabeth City State University running backs Daronte McNeill and Petey Boone combined for 278 yard rushing and two scores as the Vikings held on for a 14-13 win over Bowie State University Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.
65 of ECSU's 70 plays from scrimmage were on the ground on Saturday. McNeill broke his own record for carries in a game with 44 touches for 177 yards. Boone went for 101 yards and accounted for the Vikings' only scores of the afternoon, with first half TD runs of 6 and 30 yards.
The Bulldogs cut in into the Viking lead with a 1 yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Tyrae Reid which capped a 3 play 38 yard drive with 3:57 left in the first half.
The Vikings then orchestrated a 10 play drive into BSU territory but it stalled when Boone fumbled at the Bowie State 33 yard line and the Bulldogs took over with 43 seconds left in the half.
Two plays later William Davis intercepted a Reid pass at the ECSU 26 yard line and returned it to the BSU 25 before he was tackled by Keith Brown.
The Vikings were set to attempt a 26 yard field goal with 3 seconds left before the break but a mishandled snap was fumbled and recovered by Quentin Walker. Walker then pitched a lateral to Darius Clair who rumbled 67 yards for the score.
The Bulldogs (5-5, CIAA 2-5)attempted a 2-point conversion but the pass failed as the Vikings held the one point lead at the half.
Neither team would break the goal line in the second half but ECSU's ability to run the ball efficiently kept the Bulldogs' offense off the field. In the fourth quarter alone the Vikings amassed 108 yards on 25 plays to just a 5 play, 28 yard output by the Bulldogs. In the final 15 minutes the Vikings were 3-6 on third down and McNeill converted a crucial fourth and seven with 2:10 remaining as ECSU was able to run the clock out.
ECSU (7-3, CIAA 6-1) take on Winston-Salem State University in the 2012 CIAA Football Championship on Saturday, November 10th at Durham County Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm.
