Bluefield, WV – Bluefield State University football came up short in a back-and-forth battle against Bowie State, falling 42-37. The Big Blue move to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in CIAA play.
After the Bulldogs struck first, the Big Blue answered with a 92-yard drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run from King Faison to even the score 7-7. The Bulldogs added two touchdowns in the second. The Big Blue cut into the lead just before halftime with a Danny Dales 25-yard field goal to go into the half 20-10.
The Bulldogs extended their lead 35-10 in the third, but Brice Koontz connected with Julian Crawley for a 69-yard touchdown and later found RJ Hairston for a 17-yard score to pull within 35-24.
In the fourth quarter, Koontz found Crawley for a 32-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 11. With just over a minute left, Koontz connected with Brandon Wiley in the corner for an 8-yard touchdown, trimming the deficit to five, but the Big Blue rally came up short as Bowie State held on for the 42-37 win.
Koontz finished 20-of-43 with 357 yards and four touchdowns. Crawley led all receivers with 129 yards and two scores; Hairston added 98 yards and a touchdown with Wiley chipping in 89 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Big Blue were led by Michael Riley with 11 tackles including one for loss with Dillon Gibert and Rowan Baptiste adding eight apiece.
Final: Bluefield State 37, Bowie State 42
Up Next: Bluefield State @ Virginia State, Saturday, October 25th at 2 p.m.
