Gamenotes (PDF)

MEAC Teleconference

Live Stats

GAME TIME
The Morgan State Bears (4-3, 3-1 MEAC) hit the road for a non-conference matchup when it faces No. 4 Villanova (6-1, 4-0 CAA) on Saturday (Oct. 25) in Villanova, Pa. The Wildcats are coming off a 35-31 victory at William & Mary and is looking to remain among the Top 10 teams in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).  Game time at Villanova Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and will mark Homecoming for the Wildcats.  The game will be broadcast live by Morgan State's flagship station WEAA, 88.9 FM.
 
THE BEARS-WILDCATS SERIES
• Saturday's matchup marks the first between the two schools.
• Morgan State has a 7-21 record vs. teams from the Colonial Athletic Association ... The Bears are: 6-17 vs. Towson; 0-1 vs. James Madison; 0-2 vs. Delaware; 0-1 vs. Maine; and 1-0 vs. Rhode Island.
• The Bears' last win against a CAA school was Sept. 26, 2009. QB Carlton Jackson engineered a 12-play, 86 yard drive that culminated with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Lamont Bryant in the second quarter to put the Bears ahead and the defense kept turning the Tigers back for a 12-9 victory.
 
QUICK HITS
• MSU will enter the 2014 season with a number of veterans... the Bears' roster has 64 returning players and 17 returning starters on its roster ... there are 34 who started at least one game or were considered a starter last year ... the roster also includes a number of veterans - 16 seniors and 13 juniors.
• The Bears return its top receiver from last season in Thomas Martin ... Martin, a Naples (Fla.) product, has started in every game and has eight receptions for 165 yards with a pair of TDs.
• The Bears return an experienced trio of quarterbacks (Robert Council, Seth Higgins and Moses Skillon) ... Council has completed 58-of-130 passes for 791 yards with 7 TDs, he also has 508 rushing yards and 6 TDs.
• Seven (7) starters return from the 2013 defense: Andrew Mitchell (DL), Cody Acker (LB), Christopher Robinson (LB), Ta'Quon Jackson (LB), Bill Hill (LB), Peterson Janvier (FS) and Nate Ayers (SS).
• Cody Acker, a 2013 Third Team All-MEAC selection, returns as one of the league leaders with 97 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, in addition to an interception for a touchdown.
• Coach Hull added six assistants to his initial coaching staff ... the new coaches are: John Morgan (AHC), Fred Farrier (OC), Dwayne Foster (OL), Ken Lucas (RB), Brawley Evans (DB/RC), and Jamari McCollough (WR).
 
FIRST AND 10
• Morgan State has won four of its last five games, including its last two.
• RB Herb Walker Jr. is 18 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
• Head coach Lee Hull and the Bears sit in atop the MEAC in a 3-way tie for 2nd place behind MEAC defending champion and No. 16 ranked Bethune-Cookman. • Senior C Clarence Swain was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week following his performance vs. N.C. Central.
 
BEARS OPEN 116th SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 116th season of football, and the first under head coach Lee Hull.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
• The Wildcats finished with an overall mark of 6-5 during the 2013 season.
• They return 33 letterwinners to go along with seven starters from a team that won its final two games of the 2013 season.
• #4 Villanova remains unbeaten in conference play following a hardfought 35-31 win at William & Mary. The Wildcats rallied from a 38-28 deficit behind the play of QB John Robertson. Robertson threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns, including a 13-yard strike to Kevin Gulyas with 52 seconds left, to lead Villanova to a 35-32 win over William & Mary.
• Robertson, a 6-foot-1, 220 pounder will continue to handle the Wildcats' signal-calling when they host the Bears. The Paramus (N.J.) native has completed119-of-172 passes (194.6 pass effic.) for 1,723 yards with 22 touchdowns and an interception.  He's also the team's second leading rusher with 422 yards on 111 carries, including three TDs. He also ranks No. 8 in the FCS in total offense averaging 306 yards per contest.
• Kevin Monangai is the team's leading rusher by accounting for 441 yards on 95 carries (4.6 avg) with 6 TDs. He also has 13 receptions for 73 yards, including a TD.
• Wideouts Poppy Livers and  Mike Burke are Robertson's favorite targets. Wilkins has 562 receptions yards on 36 catches with six TDs, while Burke has 17 receptions for 245 and three TDs. The Wildcats have five receivers who have double-digit catches.
• The Wildcats defense is allowing 358.6 ypg, close to 20.4 ppg and is absolutely staunch against the run limiting teams to 98 rushing ypg (ranked No. 2 in the CAA).
• Villanova has been led by junior LB Don Cherry. Cherry, the CAA's leading tackler, has recorded 72 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and five forced fumbles. The Bears' offense will also have to account for junior LB Dillon Lucas who has 47 tackles, nine tackles for loss an two sacks.
• Andy Talley is in his 30th year as Villanova's head coach. He has led the Wildcats to a 210-126-1 overall record ... the most wins in school history.
 
MSU TITLES
MSU was a power as a former member of the CIAA. The Bears posted 173 wins between 1929 and 1959 when Edward P. Hurt was the head coach and the Bears won 14 CIAA championships. Earl Banks added to the championship collection by winning four titles during the 1960s and a MEAC title in 1971. Clarence Thomas led the Bears its last MEAC title in 1979.
 
BEAR RUSH
The Bears rushing offense has been stellar so far this season, averaging 245.7 yards per game thus far - the 11th-highest total in the FCS. MSU put up 356 yards on the ground against Holy Cross for its first 300+ yard rushing game since logging 323 at N.C. A&T in 2007. The Bears already have eight rushing plays over 30 yards this season. MSU finished the 2012 season averaging 149.7 yards per game on the ground, and increased its output to 182.8 yards per game during the 2013 season.  
 
NOTABLE NATIONAL NOTES
Here are a few 2014 FCS national statistics of note on offense, defense and special teams that pertained to the Bears:
• Herb Walker Jr. currently ranks in the FCS No. 5 in rushing yards (982 yds), No. 8 in rushing yards per game (140.3 ypg); T-No. 25 in scoring (60), has the No. 3 highest rushing total (271 yds vs. Holy Cross) in the FCS;
•Robert Council ranks T-44 in points responsible for (78);
• Senior LB Cody Acker ranks T-No. 38 nationally in total tackles (64 TT); has the T-No. 6 highest total tackles (19 vs. Eastern Michigan) in the FCS;
• R-Senior LB Christopher Robinson ranks No. 2 nationally in sacks (11), ranks T-No. 8 in tackles for loss (13);
• The Bears rushing offense ranks 11th nationally total offense (245.7);
• Morgan State ranks No. 34 in kickoff returns (22.0);
• The Bears passing efficiency defense ranks No. 2 (90.4) and No. 7 in passing yards allowed (150.3).