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 since 1964.
Quarterback
Noah Bodden battled through the Virginia Union defense, finishing the night 20-of-35 for 303 yards passing with one touchdown and—most importantly no interceptions.
In the ground game, running back
Johntarrious Thomas continued his strong season, rushing for 102 yards on 16 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 six catches for 113 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 89 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 senior defensive lineman
Jamari Pierre had a fantastic game in the trenches finishing with eight total tackles, two forced fumbles, including a sack fumble, and three tackles for a loss. Defensive back
Travis McNichols recorded six tackles on the evening.
Rodney Williams,
Jaylen Brown,
D'Juan Grant and
Trevon French each chipped in with five tackles each, helping Edward Waters slow down Virginia Union's explosive offense in the second half and give their offense opportunities to strike.
The win not only marked the Tigers' first 3-0 in over 50 years, 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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