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By Mark F. Gray, AFRO Staff Writer, [email protected]
Three homecomings on the same day marked the midway point in college football season. Bowie and Morgan State gave the alumni and friends a reason to celebrate, while Howard was badly outplayed amid the festivities.
#16 Bowie State Rolls Chowan
After a sluggish start the nationally ranked Bulldogs got the wake up call and blew out the Chowan Hawks 64-17. The win pushed the defending CIAA Champions to 6-0 (3-0 CIAA) as the started northern Division play at 1-0. This victory was as important for their record as it was cosmetically, since dominance over bad teams helps enhance their rating for the Division II Playoffs and the prospects for hosting another postseason game.
The Bulldogs rolled to a season-high 569 yards of total offense as junior quarterback Ja’rome Johnson led them with 290 and six touchdowns. Johnson finished with a career-high 193 rushing yards, three TD’s, then passed for 97 passing yards and three other scores. As a team they rushed for 404 yards against a porous Chowan defense.
Bowie State now faces the best two teams in the north in what should amount to a two-game season. Virginia State and Virginia Union are the most formidable teams left on their schedule. If the Bulldogs win these two dangerous games the road to the CIAA Championship would appear to be secure since they will be prohibitive favorites in their final two games – at home vs. Lincoln (PA) and at Elizabeth City State).
Next: at Virginia State Oct. 19 Petersburg, VA/Aspire-TV 2 PM
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Morgan Gets First Win Over Delaware State
The homecoming tonic proved to be the elixir Morgan State needed (along with a visit from the projected last place team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) to win for the first time this season.
Head coach Tyrone Wheatley, the former New York Giants running back, finally earned his first win as head coach of the Bears with a 34-3 drubbing of Delaware State University (DSU) at Hughes Stadium. Josh Chase ran for two touchdowns, DeAndre Harris passed for two other scores. Chase ran for 116 yards rushing and Harris completed 11 of 19 passes for 161 yards in a homecoming victory that improved them to 1-5 (1-2 MEAC).
DSU’s Richard Harris rushed for a career-high 151 yards rushing on 21 carries for the 1-5 (0-4 MEAC) Hornets who have lost 31 consecutive road games dating back to 2014.
NEXT: At S.C. State (Oct.19 WEAA 88.9FM 1:30 PM
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Howard Rocked By Norfolk State
Fortunately, there were many distractions on the quad in Northwest, D.C. to keep visiting alumni and fans occupied as things kept disintegrating for this edition of the Howard football team. The defense continued yielding big plays as Norfolk State beat them 49-21 in a sold out Greene Stadium.
Howard fell to 1-6 overall (1-2 MEAC), Norfolk State improved to 2-5, (1-2 MEAC). The Spartans intercepted two passes and finished with a season-high five sacks. Howard was held scoreless in the second half as NSU scored 28-unanswered points to pull away.
Big plays by Norfolk State University put a damper on Howard University’s Homecoming festivities as the Bison fell to the Spartans. The Spartans intercepted two passes and finished with a season-high five sacks.
Norfolk produced 649 total-yards of total offense. Howard starting quarterback Quinton Williams finished 11-of-23 passing for 122 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Williams also rushed for a season-high 62 yards. Running back Dedrick Parson ran for a season-high 119 yards and a touchdown for the Bison.
NEXT: at NCA&T Oct. 26 Greensboro, N.C.
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