Phew! Virginia Union University football fans can breathe a sigh of relief and wipe their brows.

Jada Byers is back in the saddle, meaning the rest of the CIAA may fear being trampled.

After missing the better part of four games with a leg issue, the dazzling tailback from New Jersey has returned with a vengeance.

The wiggly 5-foot-7, 185-pound junior zig-zagged for 245 yards (about the length of two and a half football fields) and two touchdowns in VUU’s 42-20 CIAA win at Elizabeth City.

Byers averaged 9.1 yards per carry in North Carolina and turned on his jets for two touchdowns, including a 40-yarder that left a covey of Vikings with nothing but air to grasp.

Now 5-1 overall, Coach Alvin Park- er’s Panthers will play host to CIAA rival Bowie State Saturday at Hovey Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

While the Panthers are hot, the visiting Bulldogs are wounded, following a 44-16 home loss to Virginia State. Bowie dominated the CIAA from 2015 to 2022 but has fallen on harder times.

Bowie comes to Richmond just 3-3 overall, 2-2 in CIAA and on the edge of elimination from postseason play.

The Panthers won at Bowie last year on an overtime field goal by Brady Myers. Prior to that, the Bulldogs had won four straight and seven of eight.

With Byers recuperating from injury, Curtis Allen became the featured back and ran for more than 300 yards combined against Fayetteville and St. Augustine’s, even winning CIAA Back of the Week honors.

At Elizabeth City, Allen carried 11 times for 67 yards.

Last year as a sophomore, Byers led the NCAA Division II, FCS and FBS with nearly 2,000 rushing yards, earning All-America honors.

Allen has impressive straight-ahead speed, but he also is powerful enough at 225 pounds to pick up short yardage on third and fourth downs.

Byers, on the other hand, is the kind of back capable of racing to daylight on any down and distance snap.

While others settle for four on the floor, it’s like No. 3 in maroon and steel has a fifth, even sixth gear. Ricky Key, a sophomore from Newport News, had three receptions for 78 yards and two TDs. Parker continues alternating Christian Reid and RJ Rosales at quarterback. Defensively, Shamar Graham had eight tackles at ECSU and Jalen Mayo, Jabrill Norman and Donald Gatling made interceptions.

VUU will celebrate its homecoming Oct. 21 at Hovey Field against Lincoln. Two years ago during homecoming, the Panthers defeated the Lions, 32-0.