RELEASE DATE: 9/06/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOTLEY PASSES FOR THREE TOUCHDOWNS IN MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY 20-0 OPENING SEASON WIN OVER BOWIE STATE

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University Mountaineers opened the 2003 season with a 20-0 shutout over Bowie State University before 2,237 at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.

“It was a great effort by our defense and our offense came up with big plays when it counted” said head coach Chris Woods.

It was the Mountaineers first shutout since a 14-0 win over Cheyney in the next to last game of the 1996.

Travis Motley (York/Central) passed for 191 yards including touchdowns of 19, 23, and 21 yards and the defense allowed just 144 yards in total offense.

Joe Bennett (Horseheads,NY/Notre Dame) capped off a 44-yard drive in the first quarter with a sliding catch of a Motley pass for a 19-yard touchdown at the 2:06 mark. The extra point kick failed.

Eddie Van Buren (Fulton,NY/Fulton) put Mansfield up 12-0 when he pulled in a 23-yard pass from Motley in the back of the end zone with 6:47 remaining in the second quarter.

Mansfield extended its lead to 18-0 on a 21-yard catch by Dan Bennett (Horseheads,NY/Notre Dame) with 11:10 to play in the third quarter.

Mansfield scored the game final points on a safety when the ball sailed over the Bowie State punter’s head and out of the end zone with 7:10 to play in the third quarter.

The Mountaineer defense held Bowie State to 74 yards rushing and 70 yards passing. Mike Donati (Old Forge/Old Forge) had nine tackles including 2.5 for a loss, a fumble recovery, sack and tipped pass. Ronnie Montgomery had eight tackles and an interception for 20 yards. Dan Holland had eight tackles and fumble recovery.

Motley was 10-31 for 191 yards with Joe Bennett pulling in five catches for 104 yards. Jason Roscoe (York/York) ran for 69 yards on 22 carries with Ernest McNeal running for 48 yards on 13 carries.

Caleb Cranke led Bowie State with 60 yards rushing.

Mansfield is 1-0 while Bowie State falls to 1-1.