The Bowie State University football team fell to Virginia State 42-13 on September 5, 2026, at Rogers Stadium in Ettrick, Virginia, in its season opener. The Bulldogs forced three turnovers and scored 10 points off those takeaways, but Virginia State passed for 401 yards and five touchdowns.
Bowie State finished with 231 passing yards and 111 rushing yards. This matchup marked the first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association competition for both teams.
Bulldogs Start Strong
The Bulldogs opened the scoring when Joshuah Keith connected with Challenger Valentine on a 32-yard touchdown pass. Peter Lipscomb added the extra point to give Bowie State a 7-0 lead.
Virginia State answered with two passing touchdowns in the first quarter, including scoring receptions by Jaylen Pretlow and Nazir McKenzie. After the quarter, Virginia State led 14-7, with both teams recording eight first downs and one interception during the opening period.
Bowie State gained 59 rushing yards without a rushing loss in the first quarter and added 67 passing yards. Zayden Flemmings intercepted a pass before Keith threw the touchdown to Valentine, helping the Bulldogs score off a turnover.
Virginia State Takes Halftime Lead
Virginia State outscored Bowie State 14-3 in the second quarter to take a 28-10 lead into halftime. Lipscomb supplied the Bulldogs’ points with a 31-yard field goal.
The Trojans added two touchdown passes in the quarter. Quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr. completed 25 of 36 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns and added 43 rushing yards.
Bowie State had 57 passing yards and 23 rushing yards in the second quarter. The Bulldogs lost one of four fumbles, including a turnover recovered at the Virginia State 3-yard line.
Bowie State’s Acey Leads Receiving Corps
Bowie State scored the only points of the third quarter when Lipscomb made a 35-yard field goal. The Bulldogs entered the fourth quarter trailing 28-13 after Keith completed a 72-yard pass to Makhy Acey.
Acey led the Bulldogs with seven catches for 170 yards. Valentine finished with four receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown and added a 4-yard rush.
The Bowie State defense forced and recovered two fumbles in the third quarter. Aaron Anderson forced one fumble that James McPhatter recovered at the Bowie State 2-yard line, while Chase Francis recorded seven tackles, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Virginia State Seals the Victory
Virginia State scored the only points of the fourth quarter. Matthews threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Gayles before Melvin Brown added a 25-yard touchdown run to produce the final margin.
Pretlow caught six passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 13 yards and forced a fumble. McKenzie added three receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns, while Amir Mateo recorded two interceptions and four tackles.
Keith completed 11 of 20 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Bowie State. The Bulldogs finished with 342 total yards, including 231 passing yards and 111 rushing yards, while Virginia State totaled 545 yards.
Next Up for Bowie State
The Bulldogs will remain on the road when they travel to Dover, Delaware, to face Delaware State University on Saturday, September 12. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Bowie State created three turnovers and produced an early lead, but Virginia State’s passing production proved decisive. Acey delivered a major receiving performance, while Lipscomb made two field goals, but Virginia State scored five touchdown passes and controlled the game after the first quarter.
The Bulldogs will next try to turn their takeaway production and big-play passing into a more complete performance against Delaware State University.
Source: Original report
