TOWSON, Md. -- Morgan State's suffocating defense kept Towson in check, but it was the Bears offense that proved to be the deciding factor tonight at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
Monty Fenner's interception set up the only touchdown which led to Towson beating Morgan State 10-0 in a defensive struggle as the cross-town rivals met in the Battle for Greater Baltimore on Saturday night in the season opener.
The game marked the first meeting between the two schools since 2011. Towson improved its series record against the Bears to 18-6 since 1979.
Fenner intercepted an Elijah Staley pass, returning it 32 yards to the Morgan State 2. Shane Simpson took a quick pitch in for the score on the next play. Aidan O'Neill's extra point gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 9:04 left in the first half.Â
Aidan O'Neill added a 42-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the first half. The Tiger defense picked off three Morgan State passes before halftime. Morgan Scroggins and Tyron McDade each had an interception.
Towson (1-0) quarterback Morgan Mahalak, an Oregon transfer, had his struggles also as he was picked off three times too. Brandon Griffin, Ian McBorrough and Cravon Rogers all grabbed one.
Both quarterbacks were sacked three times.
"Our defense dominated today," said sophomore linebacker McBorrough. "Our coaching staff did a good job of game-planning and they just expect excellence from us on defense. We spent a lot of time in the film room breaking down [Towson's] favorite plays and tendancies. Our defense executed tonight."  Â
The Bears limited Towson to just 102 total yards, including 17 yards on the ground. It was the fewest amount of rushing yards allowed by Morgan State since holding Bowie State to -33 yards in 2010.Â
Griffen led the Bears with 8 tackles and a sack, while Malachi Washington added five tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Staley completed 23 of 46 passes for 185 yards, but the offense stalled when it came to scoring in the red-zone. The Bears finished the night 0-for-3 in scoring opportunities inside the 20.
