WEST GROVE, Pa.  — Tariq Jones rushed for a career-high 171 yards and the Bowie State University football team dominated the clock as the Bulldogs held off Lincoln, 22-10, on Friday night in a CIAA Northern Division tilt at Avon Grove High School.
 
“We made a few mistakes we hadn't made in the past,” Lions head coach O.J. Abanishe said. “Bowie came out in a totally new scheme. They usually run a spread offense, but they came out in the I-formation. We can tell they wanted to keep our offense off the field, and they did that. We have to do a better job of stopping the run, and taking advantage of turnovers.
 
“They (Bowie State) had the ball for 22 minutes to our eight minutes in the first half. We made adjustments in the second half. Our first drive, we came out like we usually do and scored, but an uncharacteristic turnover from Doug (Cook) and Gerald (Swain) on the next two drives hurt us. We told them at the half we must take advantage of every opportunity.”
 
Bowie State (4-3 overall, 3-2 CIAA), which dominated the first quarter by holding the football for nearly 14 minutes, opened the scoring as Jones scored on a 6-yard run to complete an 11-play, 60-yard drive to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 9:52 left.
 
After a Lincoln punt, Bowie State, which amassed 305 rushing yards, continued to use the clock by driving 73 yards in 24 plays as Michael Gagne booted a 28-yard field goal with 12:08 remaining in the first half.
 
The Lions (2-5, 2-3) answered the Bulldogs' scoring driving by going 67 yards in 14 plays as Kyle Jaski (Escondido, Calif./Kenwood HS) kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-3.
 
However, Gagne's second field goal, a 38-yarder, extended the Bowie State lead to 13-3 right before the half.
 
Lincoln opened the second half and went 60 yards in just eight plays as Cook, who was 15-of-28 passing for 163, scored on a 5-yard run to cut the margin to 13-10 with 11:53 remaining in the third quarter.
 
With the momentum shifting to Lincoln, the Lions forced a punt by Bowie State and were driving for the potential go-ahead score before Cook got intercepted by Kenneth Turner in the endzone to halt the Lincoln scoring opportunity.
 
Bowie State, which had the ball for 40:26, forced Lincoln to start inside its own 5 on back-to-back drives and the Bulldogs capitalized as Oladimej Layeni sacked Cook in the endzone for a safety with six minutes left and on the next Bowie State drive, Tyrae Reid scored on a 36-yard run to put the game away with 5:01 remaining.
 
Defensively, Brandon McElwee (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City Junior and Senior HS) and Daron Jones (Baltimore, Md./Cardinal Gibbons HS) had a huge night for the Lions. Both finished with 16.5 tackles
 
“We feel like the score really doesn't show what we did today,” McElwee said. “We don't feel the short week hurt us because we don't have a practice field and it rained all week. It's all about focus. I won't be able to sleep tonight after a tough loss like this.”
 
Swain paced the ground game for the Lions with 40 yards on nine carries, while Cook had 26 yards on eight rushes.
 
Anthony Wilson (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington HS) caught two passes for 48 yards, while Kester Lewis (Bowie, Md./Grady HS) had two receptions for 40 yards. Ivan Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) also was a big target for Cook, catching five balls for 32 yards.
 
Besides Jones' big night on the ground, Ramono Flowers had 63 yards on 14 carries. Reid, who had 24 yards on seven touches, finished with 58 yards on 9-of-15 through the air.
 
Bekewele Amadi had 5.5 tackles to lead the Bulldogs, while Antonio Bond recorded 4.5.
 
The Lions conclude their four-game homestand with Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Avon Grove High School against Virginia State in a CIAA Northern Division contest. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.