Bowie State University football defeated Shaw 34-29 on Oct. 3, 2026, at Bulldog Stadium in Bowie, Maryland, overcoming a 10-point first-quarter deficit in its first home game of the season. The victory moved Bowie State to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in league play, while Shaw dropped to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in league play.
Bowie State scored 21 consecutive points across three scoring drives after falling behind 10-0. The Bulldogs finished with 436 total yards, including 287 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 41 carries, and converted 8 of 12 third-down opportunities.
Daniel Coles Jr. delivers two touchdowns
Daniel Coles Jr. led Bowie State with 121 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. He also completed his only pass for a 34-yard touchdown to Devean Byrd and later broke a 70-yard touchdown run that gave the Bulldogs a 34-23 lead with 11:51 remaining in the fourth quarter. The extra point after the 70-yard run failed.
Joshuah Keith contributed two total touchdowns for Bowie State. He completed 9 of 15 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown while adding 63 rushing yards and another touchdown on 14 carries.
Ibrahim Barry caught three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. Maximus Jones added a 3-yard rushing touchdown, while Bowie State finished with 149 passing yards and two passing touchdowns without an interception.
Bowie State responds after falling behind
Keith opened Bowie State’s scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. With two seconds remaining before halftime, he connected with Barry for a 20-yard touchdown that sent the Bulldogs into the break with a 14-10 lead.
Coles Jr. then connected with Byrd for a 34-yard touchdown on a one-play drive in the third quarter. Shaw answered with touchdowns by Trey Thorpe and Zyier Hines, but Jones’ 3-yard scoring run helped Bowie State take a 28-23 lead into the fourth quarter.
Shaw cut the deficit to 34-29 on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Landon Melton to Nahseem Deas with 3:28 remaining. The conversion attempt failed, and Bowie State used runs by Keith and Jones to move the chains before Jaylin Solomon kneeled to end the game.
Special teams help Bowie State secure the win
Chase Francis blocked a punt at 11:15 of the second quarter, and James Francis recovered the ball at the Shaw 29-yard line. Xavier Clark opened the third quarter with a 58-yard kickoff return to the Shaw 32, giving the Bulldogs another strong field position opportunity.
Malik Hemmeian recorded seven tackles to tie for the Bowie State team lead. Shaw totaled 433 yards, including 221 passing yards and 212 rushing yards, while Bowie State scored touchdowns on three of four red-zone trips.
Next game for Bowie State University football
Bowie State is scheduled to visit Winston-Salem State University on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs will enter that game with a 2-3 overall record and a 2-1 league record.
Read the official Bowie State University Athletics recap for the complete game details.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Bowie State University football showed its resilience by turning a 10-0 deficit into a five-point victory. The Bulldogs’ 287-yard rushing performance and Daniel Coles Jr.’s 70-yard touchdown run proved decisive as Bowie State held off Shaw’s late push.
Source: Original report
