WILSON – Barton College's football team faced a harsh reality check in their 2025 season opener, falling 35-7 to Virginia State University Thursday evening at Truist Stadium in what became a lopsided affair that exposed several areas needing immediate attention for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs (0-1) found themselves in an early hole as Virginia State jumped out to a commanding 21-0 lead in the first quarter alone. Barton's defense struggled to contain Trojans quarterback Rahsaan Matthews, who torched the secondary for 343 passing yards while finding receivers with alarming ease throughout the contest.
The early struggles that plagued Barton from the opening kickoff were evident as Virginia State's talented skill position players found success against the Bulldogs' defense. The Bulldogs allowed Virginia State to score on their first three possessions, including a devastating 58-yard touchdown pass that came just over a minute into the game.
Offensively, Barton faced significant challenges establishing any rhythm against a Virginia State defense that seemed to have an answer for every play call. The Bulldogs managed just 115 total yards compared to Virginia State's overwhelming 569, with the ground game particularly struggling as Barton finished with negative-3 rushing yards on 18 attempts.
Senior quarterback Trevor Nored, expected to be a leader for this Barton squad, completed 10 of 14 passes for 114 yards but found himself under constant pressure. The Waldorf, Maryland native was sacked twice, though he did connect with sophomore running back Jackson Parrish for Barton's lone touchdown in the fourth quarter.
That scoring drive represented Barton's most sustained success of the evening, as Nored methodically moved the Bulldogs 71 yards in eight plays, capping the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Parrish with 9:42 remaining in the game. The Graham, North Carolina product's touchdown reception prevented what appeared destined to be a shutout and provided the home crowd of 3,335 with their only opportunity to celebrate.
Defensively, senior linebacker Ja'Correy Bible provided the lone bright spot for Barton, leading all tacklers with 13 total tackles in a tireless effort to slow down Virginia State's multi-faceted attack. The San Antonio, Texas native was seemingly everywhere on the field, making tackles from sideline to sideline while trying to rally his teammates throughout the difficult evening.
The statistical disparities painted a stark picture of Barton's struggles. Virginia State controlled the clock for over 40 minutes compared to Barton's 19:46, forcing the Bulldogs into eight punting situations while Virginia State punted just twice. Barton's inability to convert on third downs (2-of-10) and sustain drives left their defense on the field for extended periods, contributing to the mounting fatigue as the game progressed.
For first-year players and newcomers to the program, the opener served as a sobering introduction to college football at this level. The speed and physicality displayed by Virginia State exposed areas where Barton must improve quickly if they hope to compete effectively in conference play.
Special teams also presented challenges for Barton, with punter Andrew Bontekoe working overtime throughout the evening. Despite the heavy workload, Bontekoe averaged a respectable 36.8 yards per punt and placed two kicks inside the 20-yard line, providing some field position assistance when the offense struggled.
Looking ahead, Barton faces another significant test next Saturday when they travel to Institute, West Virginia, to face West Virginia State at noon. The road environment will present additional challenges for a young Bulldogs squad still searching for their identity.
The team must learn from this experience and use it as motivation while building on the character they showed by continuing to fight throughout the game as they prepare for next week.
The loss, while disappointing, represents just the first chapter in what the program hopes will be a season of growth and development. With 11 games remaining on the schedule, Barton has ample opportunities to address the issues exposed Thursday night and show the progress expected from a program building toward sustained success.
For Barton fans, patience may be required as this team finds its footing, but the foundation for improvement was evident in moments throughout the contest, particularly in Bible's defensive leadership and the late scoring drive that showed the offense's potential when everything clicks together.
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