Morgan State University Athletics

Boxscore

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Morgan State and Robert Morris entered today's match-up in search of their first win of the 2011 season. The Colonials lost their first two games at home to Dayton and at #21 Liberty, while Morgan State was beaten at Towson and Bowling Green State.
 
However, a missed extra point by Greg Langer turned out to be the difference in MSU's 13-12 victory over the Colonials at Hughes Stadium this evening.
 
Robert Morris advanced to the FCS Playoffs in 2010, so Morgan State's home-opener was scheduled to be big test for the Bears, as Robert Morris had advanced to the FCS Playoffs during the previous 2010 season.  But the Colonials ended up hurting themselves time after time with costly holding penalties on offense.
 
The Morgan State defense held running back Justin Brooks to 68 yards on 16 carries. They had to make some adjustments on him and quarterback Jeff Sinclair, who gave Morgan some problems with his feet in the first half as well. The Bears defense got the job done when it counted and finished the day by recording four sacks and two interceptions.
 
“The coaches have been making the right call,” said senior defensive end Zary Stewart. “We have guys who are finally stepping it up; Guys who weren't even playing are now playing. Everybody is stepping up to the plate now.”
 
Robert Morris scored the first points of the game with a field goal by Greg Langer with 7:09 left in the first quarter to cap an 11-play, 53-yard drive.
 
Morgan State (1-2) answered late in the second quarter off an interception by freshman linebacker Cody Acker. Sophomore Abraham Mercado booted a 40-yard field goal with 46 seconds left in the second quarter to tie the game at 3.
 
MSU's offense ran into trouble early as the Colonials sacked redhsirt-freshman quarterback Robert Council four times in the first half.
 
Council completed 4-of-8 passes for 93 yards, a touchdown and an interception on the day.
 
RMU (0-3) took advantage of the MSU blitz numerous times completing passes over the middle and finding wide open receivers.
 
The Colonials got back on the scoreboard early in the second half with a 41-yard field goal by Langer with 12:34 left in the third quarter to move ahead 6-3 lead.
 
On the ensuing possession, junior wideout Tyrone Hendrix caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Council down the right side of the field. The extra point a MSU a 10-6 lead with 11:06 remaining.
 
“Coach (Hill-Eley) told me to watch No. 35 (CB Alex Tarr),” said Council. “He was slow on his feet and Tyrone beat him, so I threw it.”
 
 “Hendrix did a good job posting the guy and adjusting to the football and just ran away from the coverage,” Hill explained.  “We knew that Hendrix, when we recruited him, that he was a guy that can run the top off of a coverage, or he can get deep behind people which will open our running game.”
 
Morgan added a 23-yard field goal by Mercado with 10:56 left in the fourth quarter to extend the Bears' advantage to 13-6.
 
The Bears got themselves in trouble late when Council was picked off by RMU linebacker Mike Cook at the Colonial's 40-yard line with 5:03 left in regulation.
 
A few minutes later, Sinclair completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Rickeem Jackson who scampered into the endzone to cut Morgan's lead to 13-12. However, Langer seemed to rush the point after attempt and kicked the ball wide left.
 
MSU opens up Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play with a trip to the Meadowlands to play rival Howard at the Whitney Young Classic next Saturday at 3:30 pm.