Gray Matters
By Mark F. Gray, host The SportsGroove, NewsTalk 1450 WOL-AM

Shaw Rains On BSU Homecoming

For the third straight week a tight homecoming game was decided by a fourth quarter rally.  This time, however, the home team came up short as Shaw rolled into soggy Bulldog Stadium and sent the black and gold partisan to the yard for post game festivities with their spirits dampened.

Ryan Powell kicked two second half field goals from 36 and 25 yards as the Bears shocked the homecoming crowd with a 16-14 victory officially ending Bowie State’s CIAA Championship hopes. 

Shaw stuffed the powerful Bears rushing attack holding them to just 33 net yards on 36 attempts.   Junior Isaac Redmond, who rushed for 711 yards in the preceding five games, was held to only 78.   The Bulldogs first score came when Jason Scott connected with Anthony Howe for a 74 yard touchdown early in the second period. Redmond erased the 10-7 halftime deficit with a 48 yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Bowie State’s offense was stuck in the mud from there.  After two days of torrential rains the Bulldogs couldn’t find answers to the muddy turf or the Bears.  Shaw punished Bowie gaining 193 yards rushing and they converted every important third down in the second half.   For the record, Shaw out gained Bowie St. by 204 yards in total offense (348-144).

Alan Atwater did the damage for Shaw on the ground rushing for 101 yards on 22 carries.   Quarterback Omari Avant was an efficient 11 of 14 passing for 133 yards. Clark was just 5 of 16 passing for Bowie for 111 yards and a touchdown.

The loss dropped Bowie State to 3-6 and 3-3 in the CIAA with their season finale at Elizabeth City State next Saturday.

Howard Upsets Norfolk State

Howard had been flirting with a signature win against one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference elite teams all season.   The Bison ruined homecoming at Norfolk State with their most complete game of the season in a 17-10 upset of the previously unbeaten and 23rd ranked Spartans.

Norfolk State has been the surprise team in HBCU football this season.  The Spartans were averaging nearly 28 points and 340 yards per game.  But Howard’s defense held them to only 191 and kept the ball almost 40 minutes.

After leading Howard’s comeback win on homecoming against North Carolina A&T seniors Brian Johnson and Jarahn Williams accounted for both touchdowns before halftime.  Johnson was 11 of 20 for 196 yards and Williams was his primary target with 3 receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns.  They connected on scoring passes of 17 and 53 yards and John Mendoza added a 40 yard field goal which would be enough

Suddenly, Howard is 4-4 and 2-3 in the MEAC with a rookie coach in Carey Bailey who was hired so late he couldn’t recruit.

Morgan Recovers To Beat FAMU

Morgan State shook off their disappointment in Delaware to beat Florida A&M 14-12 at Hughes Stadium.  It was the Bears first win over Florida A&M since 1994.

Morgan erased a 9-0 first quarter deficit thanks to Chad Simpson’s 10 yard touchdown run and a nine yard fourth quarter pass from Byron Selby to Roderick Wolfe.  FAMU had a chance to win with a late field goal but Wesley Taylor’s 17 yard attempt went wide right.

Check out Mark's Last Blog, "BSU Homecoming: The Forgotten One"