Virginia Union University's Jada Byers rushed for 223 yards and two touchdowns as VUU defeated Bowie State University in record-setting fashion 52-3 on Saturday, October 14, at Hovey Stadium in Richmond, Va.

The 52 points were the most points Virginia Union scored against Bowie State, bettering the previous record of 48 points set in 2000.

The 49-point margin of victory was also the largest margin between the two schools, beating the previous record set in a 41-0 VUU win over the Bulldogs during the 1980 season.

"Like I always tell everybody, women lie, men lie, numbers don't lie. I've got the best front five in the nation," Byers said Saturday, speaking of his blocking.

Bowie State's first play ran into Isaac Anderson, Virginia Union's tone-setting, quick-off-the-ball defensive tackle. No gain.

"That's nine," a press-box spotter said, identifying Anderson by his number.

The Panthers put Bowie State in a third-and-19 dilemma a series later. Anderson, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound redshirt junior from Gifford, Florida, dug that hole deeper by delivering a sack.

"That's nine," the spotter said.

It was a refrain heard again and again as Saturday afternoon unfolded.

The Panthers are also rolling this year behind Anderson and a defense that entered Saturday leading Division II in rushing defense (22 ypg) and ranked eighth in scoring defense (13.8 ppg). Anderson finished with 11 tackles, among them four for losses, and two of them sacks.

The Panthers (458 yards) unleashed Byers and smothered the Bulldogs (138 yards), improving to 6-1 (4-1 CIAA).

"Actually, they've been playing like that all season," VUU coach Alvin Parker said of his defensive players. "Our defense is lights out. They gave up that field goal early, but they were destined not to give up anything else. I was proud of them."

Imperfect weather didn't disrupt the VUU offense. The Panthers, ranked No. 22 in Division II, are accustomed to adjusting to unfavorable conditions. Union previously this season waited out a two-and-a-half hour lightning delay before winning at Shaw 26-13 and played in heavy rain during a 10-7 loss to Fayetteville State.

Steady rain, light mostly, clearly bothered Virginia Union's defense not at all. The Panthers, who led 28-3 at halftime, stopped Bowie State (3-4, 2-3 CIAA) from generating any offensive momentum. The Bulldogs had 76 rushing yards on 44 attempts, for an average of 1.7 yards per attempt.

"We always stop the run. Our whole defense is going to do what they've got to do," Byers said. "Anywhere you go on our defense, everybody's going to make a play. Our whole 11, plus the backups."

Byers missed about two-and-a-half games earlier this season with a leg injury, and then announced his full-go return last Saturday with 246 rushing yards in a 42-20 win at Elizabeth City State. The 5-7 185-pounder against Bowie State contributed first-half runs of 43, 38 and 54 yards.

"He has so many things that make him special," Parker said of Byers. "He can make guys miss. He can catch. He can run. He can block. He brings so much to the game."

Lefty QB Christian Reid hit Said Sidibe with a 33-yard TD pass to open the scoring, and then long Byers' runs repeatedly set up Panthers' first-half touchdowns. Byers, from Bridgeton, New Jersey, ran for 194 yards on 13 carries (14.9 ypc) in the first half. VUU gained 313 yards before the break.

The Panthers' offense watched as Virginia Union scored in other ways in the third quarter. VUU's Ephraim Moore blocked a punt and Jalen Mayo recovered it in the end zone for a TD to make it 35-3. VUU's Donald Gatling, who had a first-half interception, picked up a fumble and ran 40 yards for a score as Virginia Union took a 42-3 lead with 7:13 left in the third quarter.

VUU will now face Lincoln University of Pennsylvania next week for the Panthers' Homecoming.  VUU and Lincoln will kick off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, at Hovey Stadium in Richmond, Va.