Morgan State Needs 4 overtimes to hold off Sacred Heart, 30-27

Boxscore

Quotes

Bear Shots I

Bear Shots II

BALTIMORE, Md. – What a way to begin the Labor Day weekend.

Morgan State fans were treated to a dramatic season-opener, including a 4-overtime 30-27 victory against first-time opponent Sacred Heart today at Hughes Stadium.

“I've never been involved in a four overtime game,” said MSU coach Donald Hill-Eley. “I have been apart of some three's, but never any fours. There's a first time for everything.”

The Bears needed a late field goal by senior placekicker Earvin Gonzalez to beat the Pioneers in front of a crowd of 3,651 fans. The Bears caught a big break in the third overtime, when Chris Oger's field goal was low and blocked by MSU defensive lineman Damarco Bisbee, extending life to the Bears.

It turned out to be the Pioneers biggest mistake.

Sacred Heart had the ball first in the fourth overtime and moved the ball right down the field. Tim Little tossed a 25-yard pass to Rock Tate to set up had first and goal from the Morgan State 6 before things stalled.

The Bears defense stiffened in the red-zone, behind big stops from senior Bakari Smith and a holding penalty on the Pioneers that moved them back to the 16. On 4^th and goal from the 18, Chris Rogers missed a 35-yard field goal wide left, and that gave Morgan State the opening it needed.

Brian Mann pounded forward for 18 yards on four consecutive carries, and Davidson added four yards to take the ball to the Pioneers 6 yard line to set up the game-winning field goal by Gonzalez.

“The thing about winning the opening game, is that you have been preparing to win all year,” said Hill. “The first impression is the lasting impression and to be able to be out in front of your hometown crowd and get a win, it does a lot for these young men.”

Travis Davidson had 107 yards on 22 carries, including a 70-yard TD dash in the third quarter and a touchdown from one yard out that gave the Bears a 24-21 lead with 3:36 remaining in the 4^th quarter.

On the ensuing possession, the Pioneers marched 57 yards in five plays and tied the ballgame at 24 apiece when Rogers connected on a 28-yard field goal.

MSU's sophomore quarterback Seth Higgins completed 14-of-31 passes for 153 yards and was intercepted late in the fourth quarter when the ballgame was tied 24-24.

Davidson spoke about his emotions after the game. “A win is always better than a loss,” he said with a smile. “It would have been a devastating loss with all the work we put in, and all the running we did.”

“Every time we [offense] came to the sideline we discussed that we needed to score a touchdown and not settle for a field goal. But unfortunately it didn't work out that way, we ended up winning by a field goal -- but we will take it however we can get it.”

“It would have hurt to open up the season 0-1, it feels good to open up the season 1-0, and it's always good to win.”

BEAR NOTES:
Junior cornerback Joe Rankin recorded six tackles, had three breakups and returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter

Redshirt junior cornerback Kenneth Ridley posted eight tackles and had an interception in the first overtime

Freshman linebacker Elandon Roberts paced the Bears with 11 tackles

Andrew King finished with five receptions for 61 yards

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