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Gallaudet University

OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY BISON
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY BISON
Gallaudet University football players gather around the large Bison drum at midfield for their traditional postgame celebration following a 45-34 Homecoming victory over the Coppin State University club football team on Oct. 17 at Hotchkiss Field. Players in navy-and-gold uniforms cheer, raise their helmets and pump their fists as a team member pounds the drum, celebrating the win on a sunny fall afternoon in Washington, D.C.
34
Coppin St. CSU 4-1
45
Winner Gallaudet GAL 1-5
Coppin St. CSU
4-1
34
Final
45
Gallaudet GAL
1-5
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CSU Coppin St. 8 8 6 12 34
GAL Gallaudet 14 16 0 15 45

Game Recap: Football | | Sam Atkinson, Associate AD for Communications

Gallaudet football celebrates Homecoming with 45-34 victory over Coppin State

WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University football team gave the Homecoming crowd plenty to cheer about Saturday afternoon as the Bison defeated Coppin State University's club football team, 45-34, before 2,792 spectators at Hotchkiss Field. The cool, overcast conditions gave way to sunshine as the afternoon unfolded, making for a picturesque fall Homecoming in the nation's capital.

The victory was Gallaudet's first since a 39-30 home win over Averett University on Sept. 20, 2025, and snapped a 12-game losing streak. The 45 points were the most scored by the Bison since a 48-0 win over George Mason University's club team on Sept. 28, 2024.

Gallaudet (1-5) scored through the air, on the ground and on special teams as sophomore wide receiver Darius Zarembka (Riverside, Calif.) caught two touchdown passes and sophomore Dwayne Collins II (Frederick, Md.) returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score.

The Bison struck first on an eight-play, 60-yard opening drive capped by first year Nemo Jones (Jackson, Ga.) on a six-yard touchdown run. Coppin State briefly took an 8-7 lead before sophomore quarterback Jayden DeFalco (Indianapolis, Ind.) connected with Zarembka on a 16-yard touchdown pass to put GU back in front, 14-8.

Sophomore kicker Hawkins Morgan (Whitesboro, Texas) made a career-long 24-yard field goal early in the second quarter. First-year defensive lineman Xavier Gamboa (Ontario, Calif.) later intercepted a pass that set up a 21-yard touchdown strike from DeFalco to sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Baxter (Riverside, Calif.) to extend Gallaudet's lead to 24-8.

Coppin State (4-1) answered with a touchdown late in the first half, but Collins electrified the Homecoming crowd with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 40 seconds remaining to send the Bison into halftime ahead, 30-16.

The Eagles cut the deficit to 30-22 in the third quarter before junior quarterback Stevie Oursler (Prince Frederick, Md.) found Zarembka for a 19-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth. The duo connected again on the two-point conversion to make it 38-22.

Coppin State pulled within 10 points, 38-28, before senior running back Marcus Brown-Gabriel (Beeville, Texas) helped seal the victory. Brown-Gabriel broke free for consecutive runs of 20 and 31 yards before an errant snap on the next play landed in his hands. The senior alertly grabbed the ball and scampered 11 yards into the end zone to give Gallaudet a 45-28 advantage with 5:06 remaining.

Brown-Gabriel finished with 92 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. DeFalco completed 14 of 20 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while Oursler added 44 passing yards and a score. Baxter led the receiving corps with eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Zarembka followed with five receptions for 73 yards and two scores.

Junior linebacker Lawrence Rivers (Chiefland, Fla.) led the Bison defense with nine tackles (five solo), three tackles for a loss of six yards, one sack and three quarterback hurries. First-year defensive back Josiah Garner (East Arcadia, N.C.) added eight tackles, while sophomore defensive lineman Alen Rubinshteyn (Austin, Texas) finished with seven.

Coppin State quarterback Tariq Clarida completed 18 of 36 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 64 yards and two scores. Wide receiver Khire Brown caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.

BISON TRACKS
  • The Bison finished with 377 yards of total offense (226 passing, 151 rushing).
  • Gallaudet recorded four sacks, seven tackles for a loss, six pass breakups and six quarterback hurries.
  • Zarembka handled all eight Gallaudet kickoffs, totaling 430 yards and three touchbacks.
  • The Bison scored 30 first-half points, their highest first-half total this season.
  • Coppin State is a club football program. The result and individual statistics count toward Gallaudet's program records but are not included in NCAA official statistics or standings. Gallaudet remains 0-5 against NCAA opponents this season.
  • Prior to kickoff, one of Gallaudet's cherished Homecoming traditions took place as alumni representing the classes of 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 participated in the annual Alumni Class Parade around the Thomas O. Berg Track. The celebration included special recognition of the Class of 1976, marking its 50th anniversary, and the Class of 2001, celebrating its 25th anniversary.
UP NEXT
Gallaudet will host Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology's club football team on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. at Hotchkiss Field for Senior Day. The Bison defeated the Bulldogs, 21-14, in their last meeting on Sept. 18, 2021.
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