SEABROOK- The University of Illinois football team probably does not want to see Javon Leake any time soon.
Everything seemed to be going right for Leake, a running back who had been battling for playing time this season. He scored four touchdowns overall, three by rushing and one on a kickoff return, as University of Maryland rolled to a 63-33 victory over the Illini on Oct. 27. Leake ended up with 140 yards rushing, running for touchdowns of 27, 43 and 64 yards, and a 97-yard kickoff return,
“I’m really happy for Javon Leake,” Interim Head Coach Matt Canada said. “Again, his story was not at the top of the list in the running back room as the season began. We have a lot of talent, and somebody had to be at the bottom. He continued to practice hard, and the last three weeks he’s practiced so well.”
Leake said he was just happy to get a chance to play and show what he could do, and that his offensive line really opened the door for him.
“I was just blessed to get the opportunity to come out,” Leake said. “My O-line was doing a great job blocking and I just did my job and hit the hole. Like I said, the O-line did a great job today and they just set me up to make plays.”
Quarterback Kasim Hill also had a day to remember. Although he played less than three quarters and left with Maryland holding a 30-point lead, completed 11 of 19 passes for a career-best 265 yards and tied a career record with three touchdown passes.
Overall, the Terrapins offense finished with 712 yards in the game, setting a school record for most points in a Big Ten game. Maryland also improved to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten. The Terrapins now need just one more win to becoming eligible for a bowl game.
BOWIE STATE RALLIES TO DEFEAT LINCOLN
Bowie State University struggled on the road early against Lincoln University, a team that only have one win this year, but the Bulldogs eventually turned everything around.
Lincoln scored the game’s two opening touchdowns, but it was all Bowie State after that as the Bulldogs rolled to a 35-14 victory on Oct. 27.
Bowie State became 7-2 overall, 4-1 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) North division, just one game away from locking up the divisional title.
But Lincoln (1-8, 1-4) did not go quietly. The Lions held a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter before Bowie State snapped out of its early-game funk.
Quarterback Amir Hall, who finished with 306 yards passing while completing 24 of 42 passes including four touchdowns, threw a 68-yard scoring pass to redshirt sophomore Montez Clay. The Bulldogs then got a safety before Hall threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Geordan Clark for a 15-14 halftime lead.
Running back Maurice Williams ran for a 13-yard score in the third quarter for a 21-14 edge before Hall found Clark again, this time on a 9-yard touchdown pass to put Bowie State up by 14 late in the quarter.
The Bulldogs scored once more, this time in the fourth quarter when Hall tossed a 33-yard pass to Lansana Sesay for the 35-14 final.
Bowie State finishes the regular season at home on Nov. 3 with a game against Elizabeth City State (N.C.) at 1 p.m.
NAVY’S SLIDE CONTINUES
The Navy football team’s problems continued on Oct. 27 when they went out to San Diego to meet long-time rival Notre Dame.
The third-ranked Fighting Irish handed Navy a 44-22 loss, extending the Midshipmen’s losing streak to five games.
Notre Dame raced to a 27-0 halftime lead, and the Midshipmen got their offense going some in the second half but it was too little, too late. Junior quarterback Malcolm Perry ran for 133 yards in the loss.
Navy will next play at Cincinnati on Nov. 3 and try to end the losing skid.