Crew Gaither beat Crew Robinson 22-6 within the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium.
The aim of the occasion was to showcase the highest draft-eligible gamers from Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities. In final yr’s NFL draft, not a single participant from an HBCU was chosen.
Geremy Hickbottom of Crew Gaither was named offensive MVP after going 9-of-15 passing for 72 yards with 5 rushes for 25 yards and a rating. On the opposite facet of the ball, Crew Robinson’s Antwan Collier earned defensive MVP after gathering a game-high 9 tackles, together with 1.5 for loss.
Crew Gaither dominated the sport offensively, outgaining Crew Robinson 379-143 and operating 76 performs within the course of.
Gaither’s three quarterbacks mixed to finish 27 of 42 move makes an attempt for 253 yards and a landing to go together with 75 yards on the bottom and two extra scores.
Hickbottom mentioned communication with the remainder of the offense was key find success.
“Guys come from completely different packages, so they could run their out route in a different way, or their nook route completely different,” he mentioned. “So I simply advised them how I’m seeing it; pondering of how to get them the ball. And I do know they need to get the ball. So that you talk after which we simply executed.”
Gaither opened the sport with an 11-play drive that introduced it into scoring place, however Jefferson Sousa’s 51-yard discipline objective attempt was no good. Kickers for each groups struggled, going 1 of two on field-goal makes an attempt and lacking a mixed three further factors.
Crew Robinson was unable to make the most of its luck, with Ezra Grey fumbling on its second play and giving the ball again to Gaither.
After exchanging punts, Gaither lastly acquired issues happening its fourth possession, a 12-play, 65-yard drive that took practically 9 minutes off the clock.
That is when quarterback Steven Witt discovered his rhythm. He went 7-of-8 pasing through the sequence, finishing passes to 6 completely different receivers. He capped the drive with a 12-yard landing move to Imeek Watkins, placing Crew Gaither up 6-0 with simply over 4 minutes remaining earlier than the half.
Crew Gaither maintained its momentum to open the second half with scores on its first two possessions on the best way to constructing a 15-0 lead.
Crew Robinson’s Shemar Bridges was rocked by Wesley Bowers and fumbled the ball at his personal 29. Javon Frazier scooped it up and took it contained in the 5-yard line earlier than being bounced out of bounds on the 3. A 21-yard discipline objective made it 9-0.
Gaither pushed the result in 15-0 as Juwan Carter led a fast landing drive that coated 66 yards in simply 2:46.
Carter accounted for 52 of these yards, passing for 45 and dashing for 17 extra, together with a 7-yard scamper round the proper facet for the landing.
Crew Robinson lastly dented the scoreboard after a 1-yard run by Jawon Go, however Crew Gaither put the sport away with a landing drive to open the fourth quarter.