The Bowie Jackrabbits picked up their first win of the season on Friday night against Bridgeport.
The Jackrabbits used smash mouth football to run the Bulls into the turf as they won 23-9 in a grind it out type of way.
Both teams came into the game looking for their first win after losing in week one in one-sided contests against teams from bigger schools.
Last year’s game was a high-scoring shootout that lasted until nearly midnight and combined for 125 points with Bridgeport coming out with the win by one point. This year’s game was much different.
Neither team threw the ball much at all, with only 15 passes being attempted all game. This meant the clock was almost always moving and more often than not, it was Bowie that had the ball.
The Jackrabbits had the first chance to score in the game about midway through the first quarter. Unfortunately, despite its success running the ball on the drive, Bowie could not punch the ball into the end zone from the one-yard line.
The Bulls defense got the goal line stand and the ball on their own one-yard line. It was not all bad for the Jackrabbits though.
On the first play of the next series, Bowie linebacker Will Cross shot into the backfield and tackled Bridgeport’s quarterback for a safety as he was trying to run a sweep to his side.
The Jackrabbits were up 2-0.
After the teams exchanged punts on the next possessions, the Bulls punter downed the ball inside of Bowie’s own 10-yard line.
Following a run that lost yards and a penalty that moved the Jackrabbits back more, a rollout to the left never had a chance as Bridgeport’s defensive tackle came through unblocked to sack the quarterback for a safety.
The score was tied with the unusual score 2-2 heading into the second quarter.
After both teams exchanged possessions all quarter, Bowie was able to march down the field and score right before halftime as running back Seth Mann punched the ball in from three yards out. The Jackrabbits led 9-2 at halftime, with the score getting them momentum they would use in the second half.
Bowie’s defense got the stop on Bridgeport’s opening drive. The Jackrabbits then got the ball and methodically drove the ball on a long, time consuming drive.
With only one pass being attempted all drive, Bowie ran the ball down the Bulls throats and ended with Mann scoring from the one-yard line to put the Jackrabbits up 16-2.
Bridgeport was not just going to lie down. The Bulls responded with their own drive, converting at least one fourth down on the way to scoring on a 14-yard run early in the fourth quarter to cut Bowie’s lead to 16-9.
Bridgeport tried to get the ball back immediately with a surprise onside kick, but the Jackrabbits recovered and had good field position.
Again Bowie ran it right at the Bulls and until Mann again ended up capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
The Jackrabbits led 23-9 with a little less than half the fourth quarter to play.
A bad kickoff return set up Bridgeport with the ball inside its own 10-yard line. Eventually, despite being down two double-digits, the Bulls were forced to punt the ball away from inside their own 20-yard line with a little more than three minutes remaining.
From there, the Jackrabbits were able to run out the clock and win the game 23-9.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.