MSU Gamenotes
GAME TIME
The Bears will face new conference member North Carolina Central when they hit the gridiron on Saturday (Oct. 15) at O'Kelly Riddick Stadium. The Eagles are coming off of a 49-38 heartbreaking loss at South Carolina State, and will attempt to snap a 3-game losing streak. MSU will try to make it two wins in a row following a 44-17 offensive explosion against Savannah State during last week's Homecoming festivities. Game time at O'Kelly Riddick Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. and there will be a live radio broadcast of the game on WEAA, 88.9 FM.
THE BEAR-EAGLES MATCHUP
• The Bears and Tigers will meet for the 36th time in history ... Morgan leads the series 21-12-2.
• During their last matchup, MSU RB Devan James rushed for 114 yards and touchdown and the Bears collected a school record six interceptions, three returned for touchdowns, en route to a 49-7 win over North Carolina Central on Sept, 14, 2008 at Hughes Stadium.
• The last time the two teams met in Durham was on October 10, 1981. MSU defeated the Eagles 35-27 during Thomas Morris' first and only stint as the Bears head coach. The Bears finished the season with a 4-5 record.
QUICK HITS
• Against Savannah State, true freshman
Seth Higgins, making his second start of the season, completed 14-of-24 passes for 239 yards and tossed four touchdowns.
• For the second consecutive game, Bear QBs have connected with eight (8) different receivers.
• Senior DE
Zary Stewart collected five tackles, including one of the Bears' three sacks of the day.
• Against Savannah State standout junior LB
Allen Stephens led the Bears with eight tackles and two tackles for a loss.
• Senior wideout
Andre Nelson led the Bears with 116 yards and scored two TDs, including a 59-yarder from Higgins to open the scoring versus Savannah State.
• Redshirt-junior punter
Nicholas Adams had 3-of-5 punts drop inside the 20 yard line against the Tigers last week; “Turbo” finished the game with a 42.6 average.
MSU LEADS MEAC, RANKED T-No. 1 IN TO MARGIN
One of the positives of season has been MSU's ability to take care of the football as the Bears have turned the ball over nine times (3 fumbles, 6 interceptions). MSU
ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in turnover margin at plus-1 per game. Against N.C. A&T, MSU turned the ball over twice, while getting one takeaway from its defense in the loss. The Bears also
rank T-No. 5 in the FCS in turnovers gained (14).
N.C. CENTRAL NOTES
• The Bears and the Eagles will be meeting for the 36th time in history. Morgan leads the series 21-12-2.
• The Eagles (1-4, 0-2 MEAC) will enter Saturday's contest in search of its first conference win of the 2011 season. They started the season by being shutout at Rutgers (L, 0-48) and captured their first win of the season versus Central State (W, 42-3) before being dropped in their next three games with losses at home to Elon (L, 22-23), Savannah State (L, 30-33) and on the road at South Carolina State (L, 38-49).
• The Eagles are averaging 324.6 yards of total offense and 110.4 yards on the ground ... NCCU amassed a season-high 474 yards of total offense in last week's loss at South Carolina State.
• One of the key problems for North Carolina Central this season has been in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball. The Eagles rank T-9 in the sacks against category and have surrendered 19 sacks in five games. NCCU's offensive line will have to step-up when they host an MSU team that ranks No. 3 in the MEAC in sacks (16).
• Senior quarterback Michael Johnson (6-2, 210, Durham, N.C.) has completed 93-of-187 passes for 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns and ranks No. 3 in the MEAC in passing average (203 avg) and No. 10 in pass efficiency (109.4 effic.). Johnson has also thrown five interceptions.
• The Eagles' passing attack currently ranks No. 4 in the MEAC by averaging 214.2 yards in the air.
NEXT UP
After Saturday's contest the Bears will travel to Dover (Del.) for a conference matchup against the Delaware State Hornets ... Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on October 29 at Alumni Stadium.
