BOWIE STATE ATHLETICS: Bowie State (1-1) will host Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) foe Shaw (0-2) in its home opener on Saturday (Sept. 16) at Bulldog Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and the game will be televised live on HBCU GO TV. This game will be the conference opener for both teams.
When: Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1:05 p.m. (ET)
Where: Bulldog Stadium – Bowie, MD
Watch: HBCU GO TV
Live Stats: BSUBULLDOGS.COM
Tickets: Purchase HERE
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HOW TO WACH
Saturday’s game will be televised live on HBCU GO TV. Download Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV or check your local listing to watch the game for FREE!
GAMEDAY PROMOTION
Fans are encouraged to wear Black for the 2023 home opener against the Bears of Shaw. The last time these two teams met at Bulldog Stadium was in 2017 where the Bulldogs suffocated the Bears, 76-7. Bowie State will recognize 2023 Sports Hall of Fame inductees, Alumni student-athletes and the 1988 Bowie State Football Team at halftime.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday, Sept. 16 will mark the 14th meeting in the series that began with a 19-12 Bowie State loss on Oct. 1, 1977. The Bulldogs hold a 7-6 advantage in the series versus Shaw. Prior to last year’s loss (17-14) on the road, Bowie State had won the last four outings against the Bears. The last meeting between the two teams occurred on Sept. 17, 2022 with the Bears edging the Bulldogs, 17-14 in Durham, N.C. Prior the loss, Bowie State had won four-straight against Shaw which was the longest win-streak between the two teams in program history. BSU is 2-0 against Shaw at Bulldog Stadium. The contest will serve as the home opener for the Bulldogs and is themed as the Athletic Alumni Appreciation.
LAST TIMEOUT
Redshirt sophomore quarterbackAmir Jenkins threw for 350 yards and redshirt junior wide receiver Christopher Ferguson churned out 105 receiving yards, but the Bowie State Bulldogs (1-1) fell to Davenport 24-19 on the road last weekend. Jenkins went 39-for-59 on the way to the 350-yard, two-touchdown outing but had four interceptions. On the ground, Jenkins led all Bulldogs rushers with 25 yards in the contest while redshirt junior redshirt junior running back Corey Johnson also added 24 yards on the ground. Ferguson’s 105-yard performance led the Bowie State receiving core while graduate senior receiver Keshane Hinckley also hauled in 11 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown and redshirt sophomore receiver Jamir Roberts chipped in with nine grabs for 75 yards as well.
Junior defensive back Hasan Mosley, graduate senior defensive back Keith Williams and redshirt junior defensive lineman Tyshawn Blow all added six tackles apiece to lead the Bulldogs defensively in the loss. Williams tacked on a pair of breakups while Blow recorded a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. Bowie State registered 32 first downs compared to the Panthers 17. BSU converted on 60-percent of third-down attempts going 12-for-20 on the day. The Bulldogs also went 1-for-1 on fourth down but recorded just 50 net yards rushing. Defensively, Bowie State held up fairly well against the Davenport offensive attack, holding the Panthers to 342 total yards while producing 413 of its own highlighted by 363 yards through the air.
HOME SWEET HOME
Bowie State has recorded a 35-9 record at home in Bulldog Stadium since 2013 and in the last 10 seasons. Of those last 10 seasons, the Bulldogs have had three seasons where they’ve went undefeated at home (6-0 in 2021, 4-0 in 2018 and 4-0 in 2015). It wasn’t until last season where the Bulldogs had its 23-game win-streak at home snapped by Virginia Union on Oct. 15, 2022.
PORTER NAMED OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Bowie State right guard Kamrin Porter was named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Offensive Lineman of the Week by the CIAA Monday. The nod is the first for any Bowie State player in 2023 thus far. Porter helped pave the way for 413 offensive yards, including 363 through the air and 32 first downs in the setback to No. 24 Davenport. The Upper Marlboro, Md., native helped Amir Jenkins throw over 300-yards against the Panthers passing defense.
HBCU D2 COACHES POLL
Bowie State football dropped to No. 4 in this week’s HBCU D2 Coaches Poll announced by BOXTOROW. The Bulldogs started the preseason poll at No. 6 before the season opener at Delaware State and moved up to No. 4 week 2 but after the lost to nationally ranked Davenport, the Bulldogs took a dip in one spot.
HINCKLEY ON THE BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME WATCHLIST
Bowie State wide receiver Keshane Hinckley was officially announced as one of the names on the official watch list of the 2023 Black College Football Player of the Year Watchlist, the Black College Football Hall of Fame announced in July. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University. Hinckley is one of 11 student-athletes listed from the CIAA. The Laurel, Md., native led Bowie State and the CIAA in total receptions (56) in 2022. He registered a team-high (686) receiving yards (2nd in the CIAA) and a team-high (5) TDs last season. Four finalists will be unveiled after the season. The winner of the Black College Football Player of the Year Award, which will be announced during halftime of the 2024 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, will be presented with the Deacon Jones Trophy. The Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl takes place on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will be broadcast live on NFL Network.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jenkins has already thrown for over 500-yards in two games combined, including a whopping 350 yards at Davenport last weekend. The Baltimore, Md., native has completed 57 passes on 84 attempts for 597 yards and two TD’s as the starting quarterback for Bowie State while the receiving unit has been led by both Ferguson and Hinckley who have combined for 395 yards, 27 receptions and a touchdown. Williams has a 11 tackles to lead Bowie State defensively, while Mosley and Mychale Salahuddin both have 10 tackles apiece. The sack leader for the Bulldogs is Uvel Paul, Jr. with three for 28 yards.
CIAA PRESEASON POLL
Bowie State football has been selected to finish second in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), as announced by the league office at the annual CIAA football media day in July. The All-CIAA Preseason Team was voted upon by the CIAA Football Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors. Of the 18 returning players from 2022, BSU had a pair of Bulldogs named to the CIAA Preseason Team including Keshane Hinckley and Jadon Carter. Amongst the CIAA Divisions, Bowie State was projected to win the Northern Division while Fayetteville State, the 2022 defending champions was picked atop in the overall preseason poll and Southern Division.
THE JACKSON ERA
The 2023 season will embark the first official season for first-year head coach Kyle Jackson. Jackson was officially named the 10th head football coach in Bulldog history on Jan. 23, 2023. The decision followed 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 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 participate in the second Annual Black College Football HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans.SCOUTING THE BEARS
The Bears are 0-2 to start the 2023 season. Shaw is coming off a 26-13 to nationally ranked Virginia Union in nonconference action. The Bears also suffered a 55-0 loss to nationally ranked Benedict during its season opener. SU is averaging just 6.5 points per game (11th in the CIAA) while its opponents have posted 39 points per outing (11th in the CIAA). The Bears are first in the league for kickoffs (12) for 314 yards and an average of 26.2 but rank 10th in the league for team rushing (85), rushing defense (166.0), seventh in passing (301) and 12th in passing defense (274.5). Donte Lee, Jr. is the Bears top receiver with four catches for 156 yards and a TD while the running game has been led by Sydney Gibbs who has 27 carries for 99 yards. The Bears starting quarterback Christian Peters did not see action against Virginia Union while Silas Cruse the backup has been responsible for 18 completions for 276 yards and a TD. Shaw’s top leader in tackles is Elijah Adams with 15 tackles, followed by Jaden Jones (13) and Noah Terry (12). Led by Adrian Jones in his seventh season at the helm, Shaw was predicted to finish fourth overall in the CIAA, second in the CIAA Southern Division and ninth in the HBCU Gameday DII Preseason Polls. Four players from the 2022 season was selected to the 2023 CIAA All-Preseason Team highlighted by Sydney Gibbs, the team’s top running back. Shaw was 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the CIAA in 2022
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.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
