A Classic Bulldog Win

By  Jamal A. Henderson

It was rainy, wet, and maybe a bit unpleasant for a spectators, but you couldn't ask for a better stage or better ending to the 6^th Annual Prince George's Classic. The Bulldogs defeated the Bears of Shaw University 31-24 in double-overtime. Ironic?

The most valuable player of the game was freshman quarterback Emmanuel Yeager.  His biggest highlight was his 30-yard touchdown pass to senior wide-out Larry Dixon.  That very play in the second overtime turned out to be the game winning pitch and catch. Yeager passed completed 15of 22 for 128 yards and two touchdowns. 

The team's leading rusher Rodney Webb had an exceptional game as well.  He was nothing short of a Bulldog express. Rushing for a career and game high 174 yards in addition to two touchdowns.

All is well that ends well, was the perfect expression for the Bulldogs in the first quarter. A Bowie State fumble was recovered by Shaw's LaMichael Howell and taken 58 yards for six. Moreover, another Bowie State turnover set up a one yard touchdown run by Raymond Williams with 2:36 left to play in the first quarter. It was then that the Bulldogs switched gears.

Sophomore Michael Gagne put up the first points of the game for Bowie State. Gagne kicked a 24-yard field goal at the 12:40 mark of the second quarter.  This finished off a 10 play, 78 yard drive making the score 14-3.  The Bears' own Lyncon Shepherd answered back with three points of his own connecting from 37 yards.

Later in the quarter, Yeager connected with sophomore receiver Clifton Budd for a 31-yard touchdown pass and catch.  Shaw's Travis Brown threw the Bears' first interception to red-shirt freshman Marcelus Manear.  That proved costly because it set up a 47-yard by Rodney Webb.  By the end of the half it was 17 squared. 

In the second half it was all defense from both sides.  The Bears' Callahan Bright had game high of 10 tackles while Frederick Sparkman followed with nine of his own.   As opposed to one half, Bowie State played outstanding defense all day as a unit.

Out of Baltimore's Dunbar High, Delano Johnson and Yusef Dorman-El  led the defense with eight tackles and seven tackles.  After a couple missed potential game-winning field goals by Shaw, the action picked up in the overtime periods. The Bears' Williams answered the first bell in the first overtime rushing for a 24 yard touchdown. Then Bowie State's Webb answered with a two-yard score of his own.  Eventually, Shaw (4-1, 1-1 CIAA) turned the ball over on downs to set Bowie State's (3-2, 2-0 CIAA) game winning drive.

Receiving leaders for the Bulldogs were senior Anthony Green with four catches for 43 yards , and sophomore Clifton Budd with three catches for 38 yards.