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GAME TIME
Morgan State (1-4, 0-1) returns to action with a road game against Savannah State (1-4, 0-2). The match-up will kick off in T.A. Wright Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 13th at 1 p.m. and will streamed live on ESPN3 and also broadcast on WEAA, 88.9 FM. The Bears enter the 2018 season under the leadership of interim head coach Ernest T. Jones. SSU completed the 2017 season  with a 3-8 overall mark and went 3-5 in the MEAC. The Tigers will enter the contest fresh off of a 23-3 home win versus Charleston Southern. 

GAME COVERAGE
RADIO: WEAA, 88.9 FM is the flagship station for the Morgan State Bears ... Lamont Germany will call the play-by-play with Kelvin Bridgers in the booth. The game will be broadcast live on 88.9 FM and streamed on WEAA.org. 

LIVE STREAM: ESPN3

LIVE STATS: Click Here

SOCIAL NETWORKS
Fans can keep up-to-date with all MSU Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/MorganStBears and @MorganStateFootball. You can also become a fan of the Bears on Facebook at Facebook.com/MorganStateBears.

TICKETS
Season ticket plans—which include a ticket to all five home games, including homecoming start at only $95. Premium seats are now available for purchase by calling 443.885.1522 or visiting MSU Student Center Athletics Ticket Office during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or visit  morganstatebears.com/tickets.

THE SERIES
• Saturday matchup marks the 11th meeting between the two schools.  
• The Bears lead the overall series 10-0 since 2000.
• Morgan State posted a 48-28 victory in the team's last meeting in Baltimore in 2016.
• The Bears posted a 35-24 victory in the last matchup in Savannah (Nov. 26, 2016).

THE COACHES
•  Morgan State - Ernest T. Jones (Alcorn State, '95) joined the Bears as the Defensive Coordinator in 2016 and was previously a JUCO head coach at ASA Miami (2015 - 8-2 record); he has also worked at Connecticut, Notre Dame, Univ. of Buffalo, Cincinnati, Alcorn State, Central Michigan, Oberlin, Kentucky State and Concordia. CAREER RECORD (11-16, 2 yrs); RECORD AT MSU (1-4, 1st yr).
•  Savannah State - Erik Raeburn (Mt. Union, '94) leads the Tigers in his third season at the helm.  Prior to taking the reins at Savannah State, Raeburn spent eight seasons at Wabash where he accumulated a record of 78-13, earned five trips to the Division III playoffs and had 16 student-athletes earn All-America status. RECORD AT SAVANNAH STATE (7-19, 3rd yr), CAREER RECORD (142-58, 19 yrs).QUICK HITS
• Junior DeAndre Harris, a 6-4, 210-pound quarterback from Washington (Ga.) has connected on 47 of 99 passes for 646 yards, including a three of TDs. He also ran for a season-high 107 yards on the ground in Week 3 at UAlbany.
• The Bears recorded a season-high 229 yards on the ground against UAlbany. Junior RB Josh Chase finished with a season-high 20 carries for 68 yards, including his first TD of the season.
• Senior LB Damare' Whitaker ranks second in the MEAC with 46 total tackles (32 solo). 
• LB Rico Kennedy, the team's leading tackler in 2017 with 70 stops, in addition to 19.5 tackles for loss (No. 3 in the FCS), has posted 29 tackles, a team-high 6 TFLs, with 2.5 sacks and three QB hurries through 5 games.
• MSU's defense forced five turnovers at UAlbany. Sophomore CB Donte Small (3 INTs),  and r-junior CB DJ Trigg (INT)  and r-senior DL  AJ Agbelese had a fumble recovery.
• The Bears defense held #4 NCAT to 1 of 12 in 3rd down conversions.
• Morgan State currently leads the MEAC in time of possession (32:34).
• Ernest T. Jones' Bears are predicted to finish 9th in the MEAC's 2018 Preseason Order of Finish. 

LAST TIME vs. Savannah State - SEPT. 14, 2017
BALTIMORE, Md. -- If there were a game the Morgan State Bears had to win it would have been the homecoming of Morgan's 150th year. Morgan Alumni, young and elderly, packed Hughes Stadium to see their Bears get their first win of the season as they defeated Savannah State 48-28.
• After losing three non-conference games and dropping two MEAC games, the Bears played effectively on both sides of the ball to pull out the homecoming victory.
• Elijah Staley threw three touchdown passes and Morgan State jumped to a 42-7 first-half lead.
• Savannah State would draw first blood when running back Uriah Oliver took a screen pass 83 yards to the end zone on the Tigers first possession of the game.
• Morgan would respond on their second possession when junior running back Eric Harrell snuck in from the one yard line to tie the game up at seven.
• The strength of the Bears team this year has been the defense. The Bears D came up with a fumble recovery on the Tiger's 26 yard line in the first quarter. The Bears offense would take advantage of the turnover when Staley tossed the ball to Amonta Poteat for a 21 yard touchdown giving Morgan a 14-7 lead in the first quarter.
• Staley was 14 of 22 for 220 yards while Harrell gained 114 yards on 16 carries. Herb Walker Jr. added 19 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown and Manassah Bailey pulled in five catches for 116 yards and a score.

A WIN WOULD ... 
... give Ernest T. Jones his second win as MSU's head coach and his 12th career win.
... mark the Bears' 11th straight win against SSU since 2000.
... mark MSU's first conference win since defeating Savannah State 48-28 for Homecoming on Oct. 14, 2017.
... mark the Bears first conference road win since defeating Savannah State 35-24 on Nov. 19, 2016.
... extend the Bears' series record against SSU to 11-0 since 2000.

A GLANCE AT THE TIGERS
•  Savannah State finished 2017 with an overall mark of 3-8 and went 3-5 in  conference play. The Tigers finished 2-2 in home contests.
•  Savannah State dominated Charleston Southern en route to a 23-3 non-conference victory, the Tigers' first against a Big South Conference opponent. The win snapped a four-game losing streak. 
•  Erik Raeburn (SCSU, '75) leads the Tigers in his third season at the helm.  Prior to taking the reins at Savannah State, Raeburn spent eight seasons at Wabash where he accumulated a record of 78-13, earned five trips to the Division III playoffs and had 16 student-athletes earn All-America status.
• SSU's offense is led by sophomore QB D'Vonn Gibbons. The 6-2, 205-pound Stone Mountain (Ga.) product has completed 15-of-41passes (43%) for 216 yards, a TD and 2 INTs. He also leads the team with 59 carries for 185 yards (3.8 avg) and a TD.
• Senior RB Rashad Saxton is averaging 32.2 rushing yards per game with a TD. The 5-8, 170 pounder has 161 yards on 42 carries (3.7 avg) and has two receptions for 24 yards.
• James Kicklighter (5-8, 150) and D'Andre Snead (6-3, 190) lead the Tigers air attack. Kicklighter has 6 catches for 68 yards (11.3 avg) and Snead has 5 catches for 55 yards.
• SSU is allowing 384.2 yards of total offense (rushing 190.2; passing 194.0).  Opponents are averaging 5.6 yards per play.
• The Tigers have also forced 9 turnovers (6 INT; 3 FR). 
• SSU's D is led by a pair of DBs in senior Mulik Simmons and junior Donald Rutledge. Simmons, (6-0, 225) ranks T-No. 15 in the league with 30 tackles (8.8 pg), while Rutledge (6-1, 205) ranks T-No. 18 with 29 stops.
• SSU has one of the best kick return specialists in the league in Jamichael Baldwin. The 5-9, Conyers, Ga. native is ranked No. 4 in the league by averaging 23.9 yards on 15 returns.

NOTABLE NATIONAL NOTES
Here are a few 2018 FCS national statistics of note on offense, defense and special teams that pertained to the Bears:
• Senior LB Damare' Whitaker ranks No. 9 nationally in solo tackles (32) and T-No. 33 in total tackles (46).
• Sophomore CB Donte Small ranks T-No. 2 nationally in interceptions per game (0.8; 4 ints) and T-No. 3 in passes defended (10).
• R-Junior Dominick Trigg ranks T-No. 35 in passes defended (6).
• Senior DL Ayodeji Agbelese ranks T-No. 3 nationally in fumble recoveries (2).
• MSU ranks T-No. 12 nationally in turnovers gained (13) and T-No. 3 in passes intercepted (9).
• The Bears rank No. 2 nationally in 3rd down conversion defense (.234).
• The Bears rank No. 17 nationally in passing efficiency defense (109.69).
• The Bears rank T-No. 7 nationally in defensive TDs (2).
• MSU ranks No. 31 nationally in total defense (345.8).

PRESEASON PICKED 9TH 
Morgan State was picked to finish ninth (9th) to MEAC defending champion and Preseason #1 North Carolina A&T and #2 Howard.
 
PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
Seven (7) Morgan State football players were named to the 2018 MEAC preseason team, which was voted on by the conference head coaches and sports information directors.  Senior defensive lineman Malachi Washington and junior linebacker Rico Kennedy were first-team selections. Senior offensive linemen Joshua Miles and Matthew Thompson were third-team picks, along with junior wideout Manasseh Bailey, junior linebacker Ian McBorrough, and senior defensive back Carl Garnes. The seven preseason All-MEAC performers are part of a group of 37 lettermen and 16 starters returning for the 2018 Morgan State football season.
 
BEARS OPEN 120th SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 120th season of football and will open the 2018 campaign under interim head coach Ernest T. Jones, set to enter his first year at the helm and his third year at Morgan State.
 
RETURN MEN 
The 2018 Morgan State Bears return 37 letterwinners, including 16 starters - 7 on offense, 8 on defense and 1 on special teams.
 
CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS 
The Bears enter the 2018 season looking to post their first winning season since going 6-5 in 2009. MSU's 7-6 record in 2014 was vacated. 
 
NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Bears will open the 2018 campaign against four non-conference opponents. MSU opens the season against Towson (Sept. 1) in the 'Battle for Greater Baltimore', followed by road trips versus  Akron (Sept. 9), Univ. at Albany (Sept. 15) and the N.C. A&T (Sept. 22) game will also be recorded as a non-conference contest. 
 
BEARS OPEN 41st SEASON IN MEAC
The Bears will open its 41st season in the MEAC when they host South Carolina State for Homecoming on Oct. 6.
• The Bears opened the 2017 MEAC schedule with a 49-17 loss against #15 N.C. A&T at Hughes Stadium. 
• The Bears kicked off its first season in the MEAC in 1971. Morgan State withdrew from the conference at the end of the 1979-80 fiscal year, before returning to the MEAC in 1984.
 
EDWARD SCOTT NAMED TO FCS ADA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Division I Football Subdivision Athletics Directors Association announced that Morgan State's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Edward Scott will serve on its Executive Committee. Scott represents the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE CLASSROOM
The Morgan State football team has had great success in the classroom.
• Most recently, the Bears produced a 3.24 GPA during Summer 2018.
• The 2017-18 school year saw the Bears achieve their highest single-year GPA in program history.
• The program had 31 Athletic Director Honor Roll Members in the Fall of 2017, a 41% increase from the previous Fall. 

MSU LEGEND EDDIE P. HURT NAMED TO 2019 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME BALLOT
76 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 32 coaches from the divisional ranks make-up the 2019 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.  Morgan State head coach Eddie P. Hurt is among the list of nominees.
•  Hurt led Morgan's football teams to six Black College National Championships and won 14 CIAA titles. 
• Eleven of his squads executed undefeated seasons, including a non-losing string of games from 1932 to 1938. 
•  His 1943 team did not allow a score from a single opponent.
 
FOLLOW US IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
            Facebook: /MorganStateBears
            Twitter: @MorganStBears
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