ETTRICK, VA – Virginia State University dropped a shootout on the road against #16 Bowie State University.  VSU offense earned a season-high 505 yards against the conference's best defense.  
 
 
 Darius Hagans stockpiled 199 rushing yards for the first time since Cordelral Cook rushed for over 200 yards against Chowan in 2018.                                                                                                          
 
 
Game Information
Score: #16 Bowie State 51, Virginia State, 44
Records: Virginia State (2-4, 2-2), #16 Bowie State (6-1, 4-0)
Location: Bulldogs Stadium (Bowie, MD)
Series: The series is tied 6-6
 
 
How It Happened

• The Bulldogs got in the end zone their opening drive thanks to three chunk plays of 30 or more yards with Ja'rome Johnson capping the drive with a 31-yard scamper to the end zone. BSU took the lead 7-0 with 11:23 left to go in the first quarter.
• Following a three-and-out for VSU, Calil Wilkins rammed his way in the end zone from two yards away making the scored 14 nothing with 7:20 left to go in the first quarter.
• The tide would turn in the favor of the Trojans as Will Adams caught an interception off a tipped pass.
• The ensuing drive would stall out for Virginia State, which gave the ball back to the Bulldogs.
• Ja'rome Johnson and Kenshan Hinckley connected on a 44-yard pass to the end zone that pushed the lead to three scores at 21-0 with 13:37 left in the second quarter.
• Two drives later, the Trojans drove the ball 69 yards down to the one-yard line of the Bulldogs. The top ranked defense stopped the VSU offense three-straight downs on the goal line forcing a 20-yard field goal made by Nicholas Woolfolk to make the score 21-3 with 3:56 left in the half.

 

• BSU took the lead into halftime 21-3.

 

• The VSU offense found life after converting a 2^nd and 22 with a bruising 26-yard run from Hagans.  Later that drive, Chauncey Caldwell tossed his first career touchdown as a Trojan to Roy Jackson, III to bring to lead to 21-10 with 13:14 left in the third quarter.
• Upton Bailey broke through all three levels of the BSU defense on his way to the end zone from 74 yards out to cut into the Bulldog lead to 21-17 with 9:33 left in the third quarter.
• Myles Wolfolk extended the Bulldog lead after scoring on a 27-yard pick-six from Caldwell to make the score 28-17 with 7:26 left to go in the third quarter.
• The next BSU offensive drive ended with a punt that was muffed by Andre Jackson and recovered by Raymond Boone on the VSU 26 yard line.
• BSU would go on to make the best of the short field position scoring in just :28 seconds thanks to a four-yard run by Ja'rome Johnson to make the score 35-17 with 2:32 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
• On the ensuing kickoff, Andre Jackson sliced his way through the Bowie State kickoff team 93 yards to the house to bring the score to 23-35 with 2:23 left in the third quarter.
• Following the touchdown, Joshua Pryor got his hands on the extra point of Woolfolk. Tevin Singleton returned the blocked PAT to end zone for two points to add to the BSU lead 37-23.
• The Trojans would answer with a score of their own the next drive with a 37-yard run from Hagans setting up a 12-yard pass from Caldwell to Oden to make a one score game at 37-30 with 14:45 left in the game.
• The Bulldogs would match the Trojans with a touchdown of their own with a six play, 60-yard drive capped with a 12-yard pass that found Darious Bowman in the back of the end zone for six. The score brought the BSU lead to 44-30 with 11:48 left in the fourth quarter.   
• VSU would quickly strike back with 22-yard dime to Marquez Phillips to cut the Bulldog lead to 44-36 with 11:09 to go.
• The next drive, Zion Johnson jumped on a fumbled from the arms of Wilkins. This allowed the VSU offense to set up shop on the doorstep of the red zone at the 21 yard line.
• The turnover led to an eight-yard strike to Marquez Phillips with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter to make the score 44-44.
• The following kickoff, Kwincy Hall had a return that went 51 yards to the 43 yard line of Virginia State.
• Ja'rome Johnson found Darius Bowman 24 yards away from the end zone on a third and six play to push the score to 51-44.

 

• Following two failed fourth down attempts, Bowie State outlasted Virginia State 51-44.

 
Inside the Box Score

• The Trojans scored 41 points in the second half of the afternoon matchup.
• The VSU Offense gained 366 yards on the ground averaging 8.7 yards per carry against the top ranked BSU defense.
• The passing game of the Trojans continued to flourish with a season-high four passing touchdowns with 12 yards per completion.
• Chauncey Caldwell brought the offense to life in his first start as he threw four touchdowns while rushing for 39 yards in his debut.
• Darius Hagans rushed for 199 on 22 carries averaging nine yards a touch.
• Upton Bailey gained 80 yards on only three rushes and capped his day with a touchdown.
• Marquez Phillips had two catches and two touchdowns while Roy Jackson, III had four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.
• Adonte Braxton has earned a sack in the last four games as he accounted for a sack with six tackles against Bowie State.
• Will Adams had a team-high seven tackles with a momentum changing interception.
• Andre Jackson showed why he is at the top of the country in returns as he racked up 118 yards on just three returns with a touchdown on the day.

 
Up Next
The Trojans will be back in Rogers stadium for homecoming against the Lions of Lincoln University (Pa.). The contest will commence at 2:00 p.m. and will be streamed live from the CIAA Sports Network.