The medical crisis impacting the nation and the world has caused sports across the globe to come to a standstill for the time being. For example, the Olympics scheduled for the summer of 2020 in Japan has been postponed until 2021.
While we wait on the sports world to get back on track, this is a good time to revisit the illustrious past of Morgan Athletics. Over the next few weeks we will tap into the archives for historic game recaps and stories.
Here's what happened on October 4, 2003:
Washington and Bears Defense Drops No. 5 Bethune-Cookman
MorganStateBears.com
Boxscore
DAYTONA, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2003) – For the second week in a row, Morgan State University found itself in an overtime thriller. And this time they came out on top.
Last week the Bears fell short in overtime to the Hampton Pirates, but today quarterback LeJominick Washington and the Morgan State defense led the Bears to a thrilling, 31-24, overtime victory in front of a Wildcat home crowd of 7,465 at Municipal Stadium.
The Bears handed Bethune-Cookman (4-1, 1-1) its first loss of the season, and its first overtime loss since 1986. The 'Cats entered the contest ranked No. 1 in the Sheridan Black College Poll and No. 5 in the Div. I-AA Football Poll. Previously, Morgan State had never defeated a top 10 ranked team, and the last time they beat B-CC was in 1997.
Head coach Donald Hill-Eley
Morgan State (2-3, 1-2) opened up the scoring early in the game as the Bears offense marched 73-yards capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Washington at the 10:23 mark of the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession the Wildcats' quarterback Allen Suber electrified the home crowd by scoring on a 40-yard run. The extra point knotted the game at 7.
Suber led his team to two more scores by the end of the quarter as he connected with Johnathan Summers for a 49-yard touchdown strike and kicker Jesus Cortez nailed a 50-yard field goal to push B-CC's lead to 17-7.
Morgan State kept the 'Cats offense off the field throughout most of the second quarter as a result of sustained long drives. Jon Voroshilin booted in a 39-yard field goal following a 12 play, 67-yard drive and Washington hooked up with tight end Chris Cash for a 39-yard touchdown to cut the 'Cats lead to 17-16 at the intermission.
Morgan's defense held on B-CC's first drive of the third quarter, when Cortez' 45-yard field attempt fell short of its mark. But on the Bears' ensuing possession tailback Christian Sweat fumbled and B-CC's William Hudson recovered the ball on MSU's 27-yard line. Five plays later, Suber found paydirt as he swept right for a 9-yard TD. The 'Cats held a 24-16 lead with 10:26 remaining in the third quarter. It ended up being B-CC's last score of the contest as the Bears defense would go on to dominate the rest of the game and Morgan's offense took advantage.
Washington scrambled and found wideout Tommy "Taco" Manus open in the endzone for a 49-yard touchdown bomb. Washington ran the ball in for the 2-point conversion to tie the game, 24-24, with 1:58 remaining in the third.
Both defenses stepped up in the fourth quarter as neither team could get on the scoreboard. The teams were forced to settle the outcome in overtime.
In overtime, B-CC won the toss and elected to be on defense. The Bears took the lead five plays later when Washington ran left off tackle for a two-yard touchdown and Larry "Choo Choo" Davis intercepted B-CC's Allen Suber to preserve the Bears' 31-24 victory.
"Choo Choo" Davis
Washington recorded his best game of the season as he led the Bears' offense by completing 12-of-26 passes for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he also had 29 carries for 131 yards and 2 TDs. The Bears offense gained 415 yards of total offense, compared to the 'Cats 226.
Christian Sweat was very instrumental down the stretch for the Bears. In his first start of the season, Sweat had 19 carries for 51 yards.
Allen Suber was the 2003 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year
The Morgan State defense had another solid performance as they limited the 'Cats high-octane offense to 138 rushing yards. The Bears were like kryptonite for Allen "Suberman" Suber. Suber completed just 3-of-17 passes for 88 yards and finished the game with 32 rushing yards on 22 carries.
The 'Cats were held to 2-of-14 on third down conversions.
Cliff Johnson led the Bears with 6 tackles (5 solo) and linebacker Shannon Maynard harassed Suber throughout most of the contest as he finished with 6 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss of 20.
All-MEAC kicker/punter Jon Voroshilin
Voroshilin had a stellar performance in the Bears overtime upset of B-CC. Not only did the All-MEAC kicker boot in a 39-yard field goal, but he also had 7 punts for 310 yards (44.3 avg.), including setting a new school record by recording a 72-yard punt. It was his second 70-yarder in two weeks.
Bear Notes:
▪️ Head coach Donald Hill-Eley led the Bears to a 6-5 overall record, it marked MSU's first back-to-back winning seasons in over 30 years (1970-71 seasons).
▪️ The Bears had (3) three players selected to the MEAC's First Team and (5) five honored on the Second Team -- It was the most All-conference selections for Morgan State since 1979.
▪️ Albert Gamble earned All-MEAC First Team honors for the second year in a row -- he ranks No. 2 on the school's all-time career tackles list with 292 (2000-03).
▪️"Choo Choo" Davis finished the 2003 with five (5) interceptions.
Albert Gamble ranks among the school's all-time leading tacklers.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 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.
