By Jarrett Hoffman
(Source: HBCU Sports)
The inaugural HBCU Unity Classic did not disappoint, seeing the Edward Waters Tigers keep their record unblemished with a dramatic 41-38 upset win over the Virginia Union Panthers.
In addition to improving to a perfect 3-0 on the season, Edward Waters is now one of three remaining undefeated teams in HBCU football (Johnson C. Smith and Benedict).
This marks Virginia Union‘s first regular season loss against a non-CIAA Division II opponent since 2021, dropping its record to 1-1 as a result.
Tigers receiver Izaiah Jean-Baptiste was the team’s top performer, hauling in five receptions for 112 yards, accounting for both of the team’s receiving touchdowns.
Quarterback Noah Bodden finished with 283 passing yards, completing 19-of-35 pass attempts, and scoring a touchdown.
Johntarrious Thomas finished with a season-high 100 rushing yards, including a 40-yard touchdown, marking his third career 100-yard rushing game.
Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen produced 147 rushing yards on 24 attempts and two touchdowns. The Panthers’ leading receiver Jeremiah Francis caught four passes for 74 yards and scoring the team’s two receiving touchdowns.
Penalties all around
This game was not clean in the slightest, with both teams combining for a whopping 40 penalties, including 23 by eventual winner Edward Waters.
Virginia Union’s uncharacteristic 17 turnovers is the most it has committed in a game since 2015 and just the second time it has surpassed 15 penalties in a game since 2016.
Many of these penalties would prove to be consequential, putting the opposing team into scoring position on some occasions.
This included each team committing a penalty that set up a touchdown on the following play.
Edward Waters creates separation
Facing a 14-7 deficit with 4:35 remaining in the first half, Edward Waters went on a run to give itself a decided advantage entering the fourth quarter.
The Tigers scores on their next four possessions, including three straight touchdown drives, giving themselves a 31-17 lead.
Edward Waters got creative on its first touchdown of the second half, pitching a lateral to receiver Torey Morrison, then finding Jean-Baptiste in the end zone after eluding a defender in the backfield.
This run was highlighted by a critical missed opportunity by Virginia Union that took them from scoring a game-tying touchdown to settling for a field goal.
Facing fourth-and-goal while trailing 21-14 in the third quarter, the Panthers opted to go for it and seemingly converted what would have been a four-yard touchdown pass.
However, they were flagged for a false start, invalidating the score and keeping them in a deficit at 21-17 after the field goal.
Frantic Finish
With the game beginning to slip away, the Panthers showed their championship spirit, battling back to give themselves a chance to win the game.
They first responded to a Edward Waters field goal with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a five-yard touchdown pass from RJ Rosales to Francis.
The Panthers’ defense then got in on the action on the ensuing possession, forcing a Bodden fumble on the second play from scrimmage, and returning it for a 58-yard touchdown to tie the game 31-31 4:35 remaining.
This began what was akin to a heavyweight fight, with both teams trading haymakers down the stretch of the fourth quarter.
The Tigers struck first on the kickoff after VUU’s game-tying touchdown as Kieren Jackson returned it 90 yards for the touchdown to take back the lead.
After Virginia Union answered with a 23-yard passing touchdown, Edward Waters got the ball back with 57 seconds left to win the game.
With a flare for the dramatic, the Tigers got the ball in the red zone on a 29-yard pass from Bodden to Makai Lovett.
With no timeouts left, Edward Waters hurried its field goal unit onto the field, connecting on a 35-yard field goal for the win as time expired.