Morgan State University Athletics

It’s difficult to win a game when you spot a team 20 points and turn the ball over six times.  Saturday afternoon, in a nationally televised game at Hughes Stadium, Morgan State dropped a, 28-21, decision to the Aggies of North Carolina A&T in front of 5,615 fans.

Aggie quarterback Randall Rankins threw for two touchdowns before leaving the game with an injury, and backup Marshall Glenn completed 8-of-11 passes for 125 yards.  The duo combined for 218 yards on 13-for-20 passes.

The No. 8 team in the Sheridan Black College Poll took advantage of early Bear turnovers to win its fifth game of the season.  It was the Aggies first win against Morgan State since the 2000 season.

Randall Rankins led NCA&T to its first score as the Aggies took the opening possession 78 yards in 9 plays capped by a 6-yard touchdown reception by Douglas Brown.

N.C. A&T (5-1, 2-0 MEAC) were back in business when MSU’s George Hopkins lost the handle during the kickoff return and A&T recovered the ball on the Bear’s 16.  Two plays later Rankins connected with Joshua King for a 16-yard TD and a 14-0 lead with 9:10 remaining in the 1^st quarter.

During the second quarter the Bears’ offense continued to have trouble getting into any rhythm.  The Aggies capitalized when kicker Yonnic Matthews nailed a 50-yard field goal to give his team a 17-0 lead. 

Morgan State (2-4, 1-3 MEAC) ended up turning the ball right back as Bradshaw Littlejohn fielded his first kick-off of his career and fumbled as a result of being hit from behind by A&T’s Charles Parker.  The Aggies setup shop at Morgan’s 13.  The Bears defense did an excellent job defending its goal.  On 3^rd and 13 Randall was knocked out of the game as a result of a punishing hit by Bear linebacker Shannon Maynard.  The play forced the Aggies to kick another field goal, pushing the lead to 20-0 at the 13:39 mark.

The Bears buckled down on defense for much of the second quarter as backup quarterback Marshall Glenn had trouble moving the ball.  Meanwhile, Morgan’s offense began showing signs of life when they scored on its final possession of the half when Christian Sweat ran in from 1-yard out. 

Trailing 20-7, LeJominick Washington scored on a quarterback draw to complete a 7-play 80-yard drive.  The Bears found themselves down 20-14 with the crowd sensing a comeback.

The excitement was cut short when Washington threw an interception on a 3^rd and 14 play that was picked-off by Aggie standout Curtis Deloatch.  The interception setup a 4-yard TD run by Carl Scriven.  Glenn’s pass to Douglas Brown was good for the 2-point conversion and a 28-14 lead.   

A&T had a chance to nail the coffin shut when MSU tight end Chris Cash fumbled the ball as the Bears were threatening to score.  James McCoy pounced on the ball at A&T’s 12 and raced 65-yards before being pushed out of bounds by a hustling Washington on the Morgan 23 yard line.

Three plays later, the Aggies gave Morgan another shot at cutting the lead when safety Thomas Potts forced a Scriven fumble and linebacker Vincent Brown recovered it on the Morgan 13. 

The Bears marched to the Aggies’ 25 as a result of costly A&T penalties and a 36-yard pass completion by Washington to Cash.  Washington made the most of the great field position when he found Sean Napper open in the endzone for a 25-yard TD strike.  The Jon Voroshilin extra point cut the Aggies’ lead to 28-21 with 3 minutes remaining in the game.

Voroshilin’s onside kick attempt was scooped up by Douglas Brown as he raced 18 yards before being tackled on Morgan’s 26. 

All A&T had to do was run out the clock and the game would be over.

However, on a 1^st and 10 from the 15 A&T’s Carl Scriven coughed up the ball as a result of a hit by Albert Gamble and Choo Choo Davis fell on it to give the Bears one last gasp at potentially winning or sending the game into overtime. 

Yet, two plays later Washington’s pass intended for Sean Napper sailed high and was picked-off by Aggie defensive back Douglas Okorocha.  Game over.

Washington led the team by rushing for 89 yards on 18 carries and completed 9-of-28 passes for 142 yards with 3 interceptions.  Tommie Manus had 4 receptions for 32 yards and Chris Cash finished with 3 catches for a game-high 70 yards.

The Bears’ defensive unit held A&T to 50 yards rushing, but 218 yards in the air.  Standout newcomer Vincent Brown finished with a game-high 14 tackles (9 solo) and 4 tackles for loss.  Shannon Maynard was also a beast for the defense as he racked-up 10 tackles (4 solo) and 3 for loss.  Defensive tackle Aaris Johnson and safety Choo Choo Davis completed the game with 9 tackles each.

Morgan State will host Howard this Saturday for the Bears’ Homecoming at Hughes Stadium.  The Bison are coming off of a 16-14 upset victory against Florida A&M.  Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.