There’s a fine line between dynasty and devastation in the crucible of competitive athletics. Teams are remembered as much for the number of championships won as they are for the times they fell short.
A second consecutive loss to Winston Salem State in the CIAA Football championship game moves the Bulldogs into that dubious place. They’ve earned the unwanted title of “the team that can’t win the big one.”
The Bowie Bulldogs have now lost four championship games. (Twitter)
After recovering from the heartache of a walk off field goal that cost them the 2015 championship Bowie State looked overmatched against the CIAA’s gold standard. Winston Salem St. seized the moment once again and played with the poise of a champion. Bowie St. played like a team who was a neophyte. The northern champs broke down in every facet of the game while the Rams were nearly flawless in winning their fourth championship since 2011.
It wasn’t about a dearth of talent either. Bowie State led the CIAA with 13 all conference players including the offensive player of the year. Quarterback Amir Hall’s game typified the Bulldogs problems on championship Saturday. After playing wise beyond his years all season the clock struck midnight for the redshirt freshman on his biggest stage.
He matched his gaudy regular season average passing for 348 yards and three touchdowns. However, he was late on a pass to fellow all-CIAA receiver Nyme Manns which set the tone for the day on the game’s opening drive. From deep in Winston Salem State territory Hall’s pass was underthrown and intercepted by Tyrell Flemming in the endzone. It was the first of four giveaways by the Bowie St. quarterback on a day where he was punished by the Rams.
The performance of Hall’s counterpart personifies why Bowie State is winless in four official trips to the championship game. Rod Tinsley, who led Winston Salem State to the 2015 title and a perfect conference regular season, was flawlessly efficient. His pedestrian statistics – 11 of his 25 passes for 194 yards with three touchdowns and 0 interceptions – don’t tell the story. Tinsley made big plays and imposed his will on the game early. Meanwhile Hall made mistakes that dug his team a hole they could never climb out of.
The Rams played without their all-CIAA running back Te’Vaughn Hurse after foot surgery. Kerrion Moore – the backup out rushed Bowie State 177 – 153 alone. Tinsley broke the game open with a 50-yard strike to Will Walton on the ensuing drive after Hall’s interception for their first score. Winston Salem State took control and Bowie State played catch up for the rest of the game.
Their resilience – which erased a 14 point lead midway through the second quarter – wouldn’t be enough to propel them to victory. After Robert Chesson’s three yard score to tie game, Winston Salem State’s Canard Brown took the following kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. From there it was game, set, and match.
This has been an unprecedented era in the history of Bowie State football. The senior class won two straight north division titles with a 13-2 CIAA record. However, the harsh reality for this class is that despite leaving the program in a better place they couldn’t find a way to bring home the big prize.
Championship teams make championship plays in championship games. Bowie State hasn’t found its clutch gene despite the talent and experience to make enough plays to win a football championship and define their greatness. They must win a championship game now or forever be remembered as a good football program at a basketball school.