JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On a night filled with history, heart, and HBCU pride, the
Edward Waters University Tigers pulled off one of the biggest wins in program history, defeating No. 13 Virginia Union, 41-38, in the Inaugural Unity Classic at Nathaniel Glover Community Field & Stadium. The Tigers sealed the victory in dramatic fashion on a game-winning 35-yard field goal by freshman kicker Ryan Gagne as time expired, sending Tiger Nation into celebration and pushing EWU to a 3-0 start for the first time ever in program history.
Quarterback
Noah Bodden battled through the Virginia Union defense, finishing the night 19-of-35 for 283 yards passing with one touchdown and—most importantly—no sacks or interceptions.
In the ground game, running back
Johntarrious Thomas continued his strong season, rushing for 100 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown, punishing the Panthers with physical runs all evening. Fellow running back
Brady Tillman tallied 82 yards on the ground highlighted by a 70 yard touchdown jolt down the Tigers sideline to put EWU ahead 28-17.
The passing attack found its spark through wide receiver
Izaiah Jean-Baptiste, who hauled in five catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns, keeping the Tigers in striking distance. Jean-Baptiste even caught a touchdown pass from fellow receiver
Torey Morrison in the third quarter to break the 14-14 tie. Senior receiver
Makai Lovett delivered a clutch performance of his own with three catches for 91 yards, including a crucial 42-yard grab in the waning seconds to set up Gagne's game-winning kick.
The difference-maker came on special teams, where
Kieren Jackson electrified the crowd with a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown, his second return touchdown of the season, to give EWU a 38-31 lead late in the contest.
Freshman kicker
Ryan Gagne showed poise well beyond his years, finishing a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals, connecting from 27 and 35 yards—including the unforgettable game-winner as the clock hit zero.
Defensively, the Tigers were anchored by defensive back
Travis McNichols, who recorded five tackles on the evening.
Rodney Williams and
Trevon French each chipped in with key stops, helping Edward Waters slow down Virginia Union's explosive offense in the second half and give their offense opportunities to strike.
Jaylen Brown added a tackle for loss and forced a fumble in the ball game.
The win not only marked the Tigers' first-ever 3-0 start, but also came against a nationally ranked opponent, showcasing the growth and resilience of the program under interim head coach Brian Jenkins.
"This is a historic night for Edward Waters University football and for our community," said Jenkins. "Our players showed heart, resilience, and belief in one another. To win the inaugural Unity Classic in this fashion—it's something our student-athletes and fans will remember forever."
The Tigers will look to keep their historic momentum going next week in another highly anticipated matchup, as interim head coach Brian Jenkins makes his return to his former stomping grounds, Bethune-Cookman University, for a renewed rivalry showdown. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on HBCU GO.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.