skip navigation

FB: Bowie Outlasts Suitland 22-21

By Charles Abankwa, 09/22/15, 12:00AM EDT

Share

For the first time in 14 years when Bowie Bulldogs students go to school, the weekend after playing Suitland Rams, they’ll be the team that came out on top. The Bulldogs were able to complete a fourth quarter comeback and defeat the Rams 22-21, to improve to 3-0 on the season.

“It means a lot for this program (beating Suitland) what coach Lynch built over here at Suitland is great and they been holding it up,” said Bowie head coach Jae Jackson. “It’s always a tough game when you come here, but this win right here, it feels good.”

The Bulldogs got on the board first, quarterback Jason Epps was able to connect with wide receiver Marvin Ransom for a 35 yard touchdown just minutes into the game. Bowie looked to be heading towards a blowout as the team moved the ball 80 plus yards on its next drive before a Tevin Singleton interception for Suitland stopped Bowie’s scoring drive in the red zone.

Five plays later, Suitland got on the board with a 77-yard catch and run from Singleton to Manesseh Bailey. The score tied the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams struggled to get any offense going early in the second quarter. A bad punt by Suitland gave Bowie the ball with a short field. Epps was able to capitalize on the short field with his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, a 33 yard touchdown on a wheel route by Marcus Haynes. The score gave Bowie back the lead at 14-7, with just under five minutes to play in the half.

The first 21 minutes of the half the Rams struggled on offense, minus a Singleton to Bailey touchdown. However, in the last three minutes of the half, the Rams were able to score 14 points. Both touchdowns came on the ground, the first, a nine yard touchdown run by Rakeem Darden to tie the game. The second touchdown came two minutes later. A bad snap on the punt attempt by the Bulldogs set the Rams up at Bowie’s 15 yard line. Four rush attempts later, Darden was in for his second touchdown, giving Suitland its first lead of the game, 21-14, four seconds to go in the half.

Bowie’s first four possessions of the second half ended in a – interception by Isa Bynum, two turnover on downs, and a fake punt run that came up short.

While the Bulldogs struggled on offense in the second half in part due to the defense of the Rams. The Rams offense was never able to capitalize, opening the door for the Bulldogs to get back into the game.

“I mean we had too many penalties today, stupid ones, we just weren’t focused,” said Suitland head coach Ed Shields. “Bowie’s a good team, if you’re not focused and you play a good team, this is what could happen to you.”

After another bad snap on a punt attempt gave Bowie the ball at Suitland’s 30 yard line. Epps, on a quarterback sneak from the one yard line scored what looked to be the game tying touchdown, but his coach had other plans as he signaled for the team to go for the two point conversion and the win.

“My teammates had trust in me on that last drive, I had to show out,” said Epps. “Last year Jordan Green couldn’t get it done, this year, it looked like the same thing, same score everything, just fought through it and my teammates trusted in me and got in for a touchdown.”

The two point conversion was successful, as Epps was able to find back-up running back Antonio Price out the backfield. Price was able to take on a tackle and dive his way into the end zone, giving Bowie its first lead since the second quarter. With just a little over five minutes to play, the Rams would get two chances to win the game.

“We had to go for it; our kicker was Serrano and he went out with an injury, so we had to make that call.” said Jackson.

The Bowie defense was able to step up each time, stuffing Darden on a fourth short attempt, then forcing a Singleton incomplete pass as time expired.

While Bowie remained undefeated on the season, Suitland moved to 2-1.