WASHINGTON (September 5, 2026) ---The Howard University football team fell behind, 20-0, and it appeared that the game was over, but this team has displayed a never-say-die attitude that is becoming its personality.
 
In the season opener against Alabama A&M (Aug. 29), the Bison led through most of the game, but they fell behind late in the fourth quarter. They rallied with a late drive to pull out a 31-24 victory.
 
In the game against No. 23 Richmond, Howard turned up the heat and rallied with 21 second-half points to get within one possession, but in the end, two costly mistakes may have proven to be the difference as Howard fell, 28-21, before 3,671 at William H. Green Stadium.
 
The Spiders (2-0) got on the board early, scoring on a two-play drive following an interception return. Quarterback Ashten Snelsire connected with Bryce Allen for a 15-yard TD. The opportunistic Bison special team blocked the PAT attempt and Richmond led, 6-0, with 13:06 on the first quarter clock.
 
With the Bison offense sputtering, Richmond began to control the game and the clock finally made it pay off on a one-yard push by Azix Foster-Powell that capped off a 63- yard drive to give the visitors a 13-0 lead just before the end of the first quarter.
 
Again, taking advantage of the Bison's lack of offensive production, the Spiders capped off a 66-yard, seven-play drive that featured a 42-yard hookup between Snesire and Quanye Veney that upped the lead, 20-0, going into the halftime.
 
Howard (1-1) came out inspired in the second half when Gabe Stephens (Charlotte, N.C.) fell on a Richmond fumble in the end zone with just under three minutes into the third quarter.
 
Inspired by the play of the defense, the Bison offense finally got untracked when Ja'Shawn Scroggins (Las Vegas) engineered an 84-yard drive, the longest of the early season, capping off with a 30-yard dart to Antonio Hunter (Cincinnati) that cut the deficit, 20-14.
 
Then came the first of two crucial mistakes in the game for the Bison.
 
Howard muffed a punt that gave the Spiders good field position at the Howard 29-yard line. It took the reeling Spiders two plays to cover the 29 yards that resulted in a 25-yard pass to Sean Clarke with a little less than two minutes remaining in the third period.
 
But this Howard team showed its resolve when it went 75 yards in 14 plays with Billy Roberson II (Lake Orion, Mich.) finished it off with a one-yard push to narrow the deficit, 28-21, with 11:35 on the fourth quarter clock.
 
The Bison kept the pressure on Snelsire and forced him to hurry several times and sacking him on others.
 
Then came what could have been another big play.
 
The Bison forced the Spiders to punt in their own territory. But a Howard player ran into the kicker and instead of having the ball with a chance to tie the score, Richmond continued the drive and although they failed to score due to some stout defense by the Buffalo Soldier defense, they were able to run out the clock and secure the hard-fourth win.
 
NEXT UP: Howard travels to Bloomington, Ind., to take on the University of Indiana Saturday (Sept. 12) at noon.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.