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GAME TIME
Morgan will be looking to snap a 5-game losing streak when they travel to The Tidewater to take on the Norfolk State Spartans on Saturday, Oct. 28. The Spartan's homecoming kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. and will be carried live by ESPN+ and WEAA-88.9 FM.
GAME COVERAGE
ESPN+ will air the game live. Ian Unsworth will call the play-by-play with color analyst Emory "The Czar of the Playbook" Hunt. Cayla Sweazie will be the sideline reporter.
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.nsuspartans.com
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 $120. 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 click 2023 MSU Ticket Information.
THE SERIES
• Saturday's game will mark the 44th meeting between the two schools ... Norfolk State leads the series against Morgan with an overall record of 31-12 since the teams first played in 1965.
• The Spartans have won 14 of the last 15 meetings since 2007.
• Oct. 8, 2022, a pass from Jaylan Adams to Da'Quan Felton in the final seconds that sealed a 24-21 victory for Norfolk State before an announced Homecoming crowd of 10,200 fans at Hughes Stadium.
• MSU posted a 44-27 road win on Nov. 17, 2018 at Norfolk State.
THE COACHES
• Damon Wilson enters his second season as Morgan's head coach. He previously spent 13 seasons as the head coach at Bowie State University where he achieved three straight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference championship 2010-12.
• Dawson Odums (NCCU, '97) enters his third year at the helm of the Norfolk State Spartans. Odums has more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience. Odums enjoyed a stellar 10-year run at Southern University where he had a winning record in each of his eight full seasons at the helm of the program.
A WIN WOULD ...
... give Damon Wilson his sixth win as MSU's head coach.
... mark the Bears' first win against Norfolk State since Nov. 17, 2018 (44-27).
... improve the Bears' record to 13-31 against Norfolk State since 1965.
... mark MSU's first conference road win since defeating Delaware State 37-7 on Nov. 12, 2022.
... snap the Bears' 5-game losing skid.
QUICK HITS
• The 2023 Morgan State Bears will be under the leadership of second year head coach Damon Wilson. Wilson, the 23rd coach in school history, previously served 13 seasons as the head football coach at Bowie State. There, he achieved three straight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference championships, in 2021, 2019 and 2018; five NCAA playoff berths; and three CIAA Coach of the Year honors.
• ODU transfer Dominique Anthony enters Week 8 having completed 50 percent of his passes for 524 yards with three TDs, three interceptions and a 87.3 passer rating. He has also rushed for 44 yards on 28 carries.
• Norfolk State transfer J.J. Davis emerged as Morgan's clear-cut starting running back, playing nearly two times as many snaps as any other Bear at the position in the season's first six games (65 carries, 214 yds).
• Treveyon Pratt (18 rec., 240 yds, 2 TDs) and Demier Shipley (12 rec., 129 yds) have led the Bears' wideouts thru the first six games.
• Morgan has a number of offensive lineman as they enter the 2023 season ... The Bears have 19 OL listed on the roster and will be led by veteran T Dexter Carr Jr. (6-3, 295).
• DL Elijah Williams, a Preseason All-American, emerged as a force on the defensive line for the Bears last season. The New Jersey product registered 60 total tackles (33 solo, 27 assisted) last season, including a league-high 19.0 tackles for loss (ranks No. 5 in FCS) and nine sacks (T-No. 13 in FCS). He currently has 36 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 5 sacks and was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 25).
• DB Jae'Veyon Morton is on the official watch list for the 2023 Black College Football Player of the Year Watchlist, the Black College Football Hall of Fame ... The All-MEAC selection ranks No. 3 in the MEAC in passes defended (5) and has collected an INT in Week 2 at Akron and Week 3 vs. Towson.
• RS Keith Jenkins Jr. was one of the top return specialists in the nation as a freshman last year ... The speedster finished the season with two kickoff returns for touchdowns (T-No. 2 in the FCS) ... he is currently averaging 19.9 yards per kick return (No. 4 in MEAC).
• Senior safety Jordan Toles has been a playmaker for the Bears so far this season. The Baltimore product earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance vs. Akron and has also earned MEAC Specialist of the Week after his play against Towson. He currently leads the MEAC with three interceptions.
A GLANCE AT THE SPARTANS
• Norfolk State finished the 2022 season with a 2-9 overall record and posted a 2-3 mark in MEAC play and went 0-5 at home under the leadership of Dawson Odums.
• Norfolk was picked to finish No. 5 in the MEAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Four Spartans earned recognition on the 2023 Preseason All-MEAC Team. Offensive linemen Vincent Byrd Jr., defensive lineman Anthony Blume, defensive back Joseph White and defensive R.J. Coles were named to the All-MEAC Preseason Second Team.
• QB Otto Kuhns ranks No. 4 in the league in passing (146.4 avg) abd has completed 50% of hids throws (83-165) for 1,025 yards, a league high 11 TDs with five INTs ... in his last outing, he threw for 218 yards, including a TD and a pick in Norfolk's road loss at Howard.
• Sophomore PK Grandin Willcox knocked down both of his PATS and all three of his field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter during the Spartans' tough loss versus Howard.
• WR Andre Pegues ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in reception yards (291) with 17 catches and two TDs ... WR Aaron Moore ranks No. 8 with 12 receptions for 172 yards and three TDs.
• LBs AJ Richardson and Joseph White are two of the top defenders in the conference. Richardson ranks No. 6 in tackles (41), No. 5 in tackles for loss (7.5) with two fumble recoveries. White has 35 stops with two picks (T-No. 2 in MEAC) and three pass breakups.
• NSU ranks among the league leaders in a number of statistical categories: No. 1 in red zone offense (70%), T-No. 1 in interceptions (6), No. 2 in rushing offense (182.7), No. 2 in pass defense (186.3), No. 2 in time of possession (31:53), No. 3 in scoring offense (21.6), No. 3 in total offense (337.0), and No. 3 in kickoff returns (20.7).
• Morgan senior RB J.J. Davis formerly played at Norfolk State ... in 2021 for the Spartans, he was an All-MEAC first-team selection after leading the conference in rushing (80.6 ypg) … led all of Division I FCS with 7.2 yards per carry (123 rushes for 887 yards) … ran for 10 touchdowns (tied for the most in the MEAC).
• Morgan offensive coordinator B.T. Sherman previously spent five years on the NSU football coaching staff. Sherman helped guide the Spartans to the No. 1 rated scoring (33.2) and total offense (440.4) in the MEAC last season. The 2021 Spartans offense also ranked No. 1 in pass efficiency (148.5 pct.) and rushing (212.1) and finished the season ranked No. 2 in pass offence (228.9).
• On Oct. 8, 2022, Otto Kuhns completed 25 of 34 passes for 288 yards, but it was a pass from Jaylan Adams to Da'Quan Felton in the final seconds that sealed a 24-21 victory for Norfolk State before an announced Homecoming crowd of 10,200 fans at Hughes Stadium. Carson Baker finished the day by completing 14 of 21 passes for 126 yards and threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Wilkins. Sophomore linebacker Erick Hunter finished with a team-high eight tackles, while sophomore safety Kaleb Coleman added seven tackles and a game-high four tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Nana Asante had seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
NOTABLE NATIONAL NOTES
Here are a few 2023 FCS national statistics of note on offense, defense and special teams that pertained to the Bears:
• The Bears defense ranks T-No. 2 in blocked kicks (4), T-No. 4 in turnovers gained (15), No. 17 in total defense (308.7), and No. 38 in scoring defense (23.0).
• Senior S Jordan Toles ranks T-2 nationally in interceptions (3).
• Junior DE Erick Williams ranks T-No. 19 in sacks (4.5).
• Junior DE Nana Asante ranks T-No 2 in blocked kicks (3).
A LOOK AHEAD
• Saturday, Nov. 4 will mark the 67th meeting between the two schools.
• Morgan leads the series against Delaware State with an overall record of 39-27.
• The Bears have won 12 of the last 14 meetings since 2008, including a string of 9-straight (2010-2019).
• In their last meeting on Nov. 12, Morgan scored 31 unanswered points and the Bears defense dominated the Hornets in a conference showdown on a sunny afternoon at Alumni Stadium. The Bears absolutely had their way today as they held Delaware State to 81 total yards, recorded eight sacks, and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns to cruise to a 37-7 victory. Morgan quarterback Duce Taylor connected on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Owumi in the back of the endzone to take a 16-7 lead into halftime. Taylor went 9 for 17 for 137 yards. For the game, the Bears amassed 224 yards on 54 plays. Erick Hunter had a game-high 11 tackles with four tackles for loss and two sacks for the Bears. Lawrence Richardson added 10 tackles and Elijah Williams had nine tackles and two sacks.
GRIZZLY WALK
Every home football game the Morgan State football team arrives at campus near Hill Field House on the roundabout (circle) where they unload from charter buses. The group then collectively walks from the roundabout past the Student Center to Legend's Plaza, site of Morgan's legendary coaches Edward P. Hurt and Earl C. Bank. The group then conducts a group prayer before entering the stadium. The official name of the activity is the "The Grizzly Walk".
BEARS OPEN 124th SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 124th season of football and will open the 2023 campaign under second year head coach Damon Wilson.
PRESEASON PICKED 4TH
Morgan State was picked to finish fourth (4th) in the MEAC standings, according to the poll of the conference head coaches and sports information directors.
North Carolina Central has been picked to defend its MEAC Football Championship as the Eagles topped the league's annual preseason poll for 2023.
PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
Six (6) Bears were named to the MEAC preseason team at the 2023 MEAC Football Press Luncheon in Norfolk, Va. Senior linebacker Lawrence Richardson, senior defensive back Jae'Veyon Morton, junior defensive lineman Elijah Williams, and sophomore return specialist Keith Jenkins Jr. were first-team selections. Senior offensive lineman Marvin Atuatasi and junior linebacker Erick Hunter were second-team picks.
RETURN MEN
The 2023 Morgan State Bears return 16 starters - 8 on offense, 8 on defense and 1 on special teams.
CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS
The Bears enter the 2023 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 2023 campaign with two of its first three non-conference matchups coming on the road. MSU opens the season at Richmond (Sept. 2), followed by a game at Akron (Sept. 9). The Bears will host Towson (Sept. 16) and Albany (Sept. 23), before traveling to face Yale (Sept. 30). The Bears round out non-conference play when they host Stony Brook (Oct. 7) for homecoming.
BEARS OPEN 48th SEASON IN MEAC
The Bears will open its 48th season in the MEAC when they host Norfolk State for the conference opener on Oct. 8 ... it will also mark Morgan's Homecoming.
• The Bears opened the 2022 MEAC schedule with a 24-21 loss against Norfolk State (Oct. 8) 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.
MSU LEGEND EARL "PAPA BEAR" BANKS
Earl "Papa Bear" Banks was a legendary head coach at Morgan State University,
• 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.
• He 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.
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS 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 high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 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.
