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GAME TIME
The Morgan State Bears will look to get in the win column when they host the #14/15 Aggies of North Carolina A&T State on Saturday, Nov. 9. Morgan State fell to 1-8 (1-5 MEAC) on the year with last Saturday's 48-0 road loss to Norfolk State. #14/15 N.C. A&T is 6-2 (4-1) following a 22-20 win at South Carolina State. Kickoff at Hughes Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m EST. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. The game will also be broadcast on WEAA-88.9FM, HSRN.com and SiriusXM.
GAME COVERAGE
ESPN3 | ... Phil Schoener will call play-by-play, Emory Hunt will handle color analysis.
RADIO: WEAA, 88.9 FM is the flagship station for the Morgan State Bears ... Lamont Germany will call the play-by-play with Renard Stubbs in the booth. The game will be broadcast live on 88.9 FM and streamed on WEAA.org, HSRN.com and on SIriusXM 386 and 988 on the SiriusXMmobile app.
LIVE STATS: www.morganstatebears.com | 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 and the football/basketball Bear Pass are both 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 80th meeting between the two schools.
• MSU leads the overall series 43-36-3 since 1930.
• Alex Raya's 36-yard field goal as time ran out lifted Morgan State to a 16-13 upset over #4 N.C. A&T on Sept. 22, 2018 in Greensboro, ending the Aggies' 15-game winning streak.
• The Bears have won 8 of the last 11 against N.C. A&T since 2006.
• The Bears couldn't secure the win in their MEAC 2017 debut, falling 49-17 to #15 N.C. A&T at Hughes Stadium. MSU QB Elijah Staley completed 17-of-39 passes for 303 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Brian Gentry (3 rec., 95 yds). Staley was also picked off three times by cornerback Franklin McCain, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
THE COACHES
• Morgan State – Tyrone Wheatley (Michigan, '08) was announced as the Bears' 22nd head football coach on February 21, 2019 and previously spent two seasons as the running backs coach for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Wheatley also worked at Syracuse University from 2010-12, and then with the NFL's Buffalo Bills from 2013-14. CAREER RECORD (1-8, First Season).
• North Carolina A&T – Sam Washington (MVSU, '82), is in his second season as the Aggies head coach. In his rookie season as a head coach, Washington was named the 2018 MEAC Coach of the Year after leading the Aggies to a MEAC title and a Celebration Bowl victory. He was recent- ly honored by his alma mater Mississippi Valley State. CAREER RECORD (16-4 2nd Season).
A WIN WOULD ...
... give Tyrone Wheatley his second win as MSU's head coach.
... mark the Bears' second consecutive win against NCAT since a 16-13 victory at BB&T Stadium on Sept. 22, 2018.
... mark MSU's 44th win against the Aggies ... MSU would hold a 44-36-3 series record.
QUICK HITS
• The 2019 Morgan State Bears are under the leadership of first year head coach Tyrone Wheatley.
• MSU senior QB DeAndre Harris (6-4, 210) and sophomore DJ Golatt combined to throw for 75 yards (8-for-26), including five interceptions.
• MSU's ground game was held to 78 rushing yards on 31 attempts (2.5 avg).
• WRs Manasseh Bailey (25 yds), Xavier Gravette (23 yds), and Wes Wolfolk (22 yds) each finished with a pair of catches.
• WR Lavelton Williams (9 att., 36 yds) and E'Munn Parker (10 att., 24 yds) led the Bears on the ground.
• R-senior LB Rico Kennedy (6-3, 235) leads the MEAC in tackles (84; Ranks T-No. 22 in FCS), No. 3 in TFLs (12.0), and is T-No. 13 in sacks (3.0).
• Senior LB Ian McBorrough ranks No. 4 in the MEAC in total tackles (78).
• Senior DB Carl Garnes ranks T-No. 4 in the MEAC in pass defenses (9) and has 38 tackles.
• Sophomore PK Nicholas O'Shea ranks T-No. 3 in the MEAC in field goals (10-13, .769).
• MSU had 25 pass completions at S.C. State -- it was the most pass completions since posting 25 vs. S.C. State in 2014.
A GLANCE AT THE AGGIES
• North Carolina A&T State finished the 2018 season with an overall mark of 10-2 and an 6-1 conference record, and won the Celebration Bowl with a 24-22 win against Alcorn State.
• Head coach Sam Washington's (MVSU, 82) offense ranks No. 1 in the league averaging 444.4 yards of total offense (235.2 rushing; 209.1 passing). They have scored 22 rushing TDs and 10 passing. The Aggies are averaging a league-best 34.5 points per contest.
• NCAT enters Saturday's contest fresh off of a huge 22-20 victory at South Carolina State and sit atop the league at 4-1 and 6-2 overall.
• A&T's offense is led by fifth-year quarterback Kylil Carter. The 5-10, 229-pound senior QB from Austell (Ga.) product has completed 114-of-201 passes (57%) for 1,516 yards (ranks No. 3), with 9 TDs and 1 INT. He ranks No. 3 in the league in total offense (235.6 avg).
• RB Jah-Maine Martin is the top running back in the league. The redshirt-junior has 1,014 yards on 125 carries (8.1 avg) and has 16 TDs (No. 1 in MEAC in scoring).
• Senior WR Elijah Bell (6-2, 221) ranks among the league leaders (ranks No. 4) with 44 catches for 589 yards (73.6 avg/c), including a 3 TDs. Zachary Leslie (30 rec., 493 yds, 3 TDs; No. 8) will also be a main target in the passing game.
• Defensively, the Aggies have been led by sophomore standout LB Kyin Howard (6-0, 243) and freshman LB Jacob Roberts (6-0, 218) who have accounted for 57 and 48 tackles, respectively. In the trenches, sophomore Jermaine McDaniel (6-3, 235) has posted 23 tackles with 6 sacks (No. 2 in MEAC), 9.5 tackles for loss (T-No. 6).
• A&T is limiting opponents to a league-best 303.2 yards of total offense (rushing 80.2 avg.; passing 209.1 avg.). The Aggies have also forced 15 turnovers (10 INTs; 5 FR). Opponents are averaging 4.6 yards per play. A&T has recorded 57 tackles for loss.
• The Aggies' placekicker Noel Ruiz (5-11,187) currently ranks No. 1 in the MEAC in scoring (75 pts) and field goals (16-of-19, 84.2%).
• Mac McCain III (6-0, 175) has established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the nation. As a freshman, he recorded 3 INTs vs. MSU -- two of which he returned for TDs. The redshirt-junior currently has 15 tackles, 8 pass defenses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• A&T ranks No. 14 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and is No. 15 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Aggies rank No. 3 in the BOXTOROW COACHES Poll.
• The Aggies control their own destiny. With three games remaining, A&T and idle Bethune-Cookman are tied atop the MEAC standings at 4-1. (Ignore unbeaten Florida A&M, which is on NCAA probation, ineligible for a league title and banned from the postseason). A&T plays at Morgan State, then closes with back-to-back home games against Bethune (4-1, 6-2) and N.C. Central (3-2, 4-5). If the Aggies win out, they head back to the Celebration Bowl.
KNOW THY OPPONENT
• Notable alumni: Jesse Jackson (Politician, Minister of religion); Ronald McNair (Physicist, Astronaut); Franklin McCain (Civil Rights activist and member of the Greensboro Four; staged a sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter in downtown Greensboro on Feb. 1, 1969); and Tarik Cohen (plays for the NFL's Chicago Bears).
NORTH CAROLINA CONNECTIONS
• Morgan State has a couple of connections to the state of North Carolina.
Morgan State - Brian Gentry (Winston-Salem /East Forsyth HS); Simeon Gatling (Greensboro/ Dudley HS); Richard Monroe IV (Greensboro/Dudley HS).
A LOOK AHEAD
• Morgan State will step outside of conference play when they play host to Virginia Lynchburg on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Hughes Stadium.
• Virginia Lynchburg is in search of its first victory of the season. They hold an 0-7 record and have been outscored by a 357-71 margin.
• The Dragons will be coming off a Nov. 9th meeting at Southern in Baton Rouge, La.
PRESEASON PICKED 8TH
Morgan State was picked to finish eighth (8th) to MEAC defending champion and Preseason #1 North Carolina A&T and #2 Bethune-Cookman.
PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
• Ten (10) Morgan State football players were named to the 2019 MEAC preseason team, which was voted on by the conference head coaches and sports information directors. Senior linebacker Rico Kennedy and sophomore tight end Xavier Gravette were first-team selections. Senior linebacker Ian McBorrough, junior defensive back Donte Small and junior offensive lineman Stefan Touani were second-team picks, while senior running back Josh Chase, redshirt-junior offensive lineman Bruce Trigg, redshirt-senior Dominick "D.J." Trigg and redshirt-sophomore defensive lineman Devan Hebron and sophomore Nicholas O'Shea were selected to the third-team.
• The 10 preseason All-MEAC performers are part of a group of 17 starters returning for the 2019 Morgan State football season.
BEARS OPEN 121st SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 121st season of football and will open the 2019 campaign under head coach Tyrone Wheatley, set to enter his first year at the helm.
RETURN MEN
The 2019 Morgan State Bears return 42 letterwinners, including 17 starters - 7 on offense, 8 on defense and 2 on special teams.
CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS
The Bears enter the 2019 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 2019 campaign against three non-conference opponents. MSU opens the season against Bowling Green (Aug. 29), followed by road trips versus James Madison (Sept. 14), and Army (Sept. 21). The Bears will also host Virginia Lynchburg (Nov. 16) in a non-conference contest.
BEARS OPEN 42nd SEASON IN MEAC
The Bears will open its 42nd season in the MEAC when they host North Carolina Central for the conference opener on Sept. 28.
• The Bears opened the 2018 MEAC schedule with a 21-18 loss against South Carolina State (Oct. 6) at Hughes Stadium. *Morgan State's 16-13 upset win at #4 N.C. A&T (Sept. 22) was recorded as a non-conference matchup.
• 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.
MSU LEGEND EARL BANKS RECIPIENT OF AFCA'S 2018 TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Earl Banks, former head coach at Morgan State University, was named the American Football Coaches Association's recipient of the 2018 Trailblazer Award. The award was presented, posthumously, at the 2019 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
• In 1960, Banks took over the head coaching position at Morgan State from 2011 Trailblazer Award winner, Edward Hurt.
• In his 14 seasons as head coach, he would lead the Bears to six CIAA titles, one CIAA Northern Division championship and one Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. Banks had an overall record of 96-31-2 after he retired from coaching 1973 and produced three undefeated seasons from 1965 through 1967.
• He guided Morgan State to four bowl games, winning the 1965 Orange Blossom Classic and the 1966 Tangerine Bowl.
MSU UPGRADES HUGHES MEMORIAL STADIUM
Morgan State University's W.A.C. Hughes Memorial Stadium is currently undergoing a major overhaul of its football field and running track.
• The $2.5 million renovation project, which began on May 28, includes the replacement of the stadium's existing field with a new premium playing surface and the upgrade to a new high-performance, all-weather track.
• BeynonSports was selected to oversee the project and installation which is slated to be completed in time for the start of the fall football camp in early August.
• "The latest phase of upgrades to Morgan's athletic facilities is part of our systematic approach to improving and elevating key assets that we have on campus," said Director of Athletics Edward Scott, Ph.D. "The investment in our facilities represents the University's continued commitment to providing Morgan's coaches and student-athletes with a high caliber athletic experience and the best resources available."
• The upgrade to the playing field comes at an opportune time, as new head football coach Tyrone Wheatley launches a new chapter in the program's history and seeks to field a winning team. The Bears play their first home game this season on the new field against North Carolina Central University on Saturday, September 28, 2019.
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The Bears will be joining the rest of the nation in celebrating 150 years of college football.
• As part of the celebration, Morgan State will wear 150 patches on all of its jerseys throughout the year.
• For more information on College Football turning 150, visit cfb100.org.
• Fans can also follow the celebration on social media by following @CFB100 on Twitter and Instagram and by searching CFB100 on Facebook.
• Army has been an integral part of College Football since the first Army-Navy Game on the Plain at West Point in 1890.
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
Instagram: /MorganStateBears
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
