BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 4, 2023) – True freshman quarterback Tahj Smith threw two touchdown passes, and J.J. Davis added 75 yards and a score to lead Morgan State to a 24-17 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over Delaware State on Saturday at Hughes Stadium.

Smith and Davis led a Bears offense that amassed 274 total yards, but it was the Bears defense that came up with key stops to lead Morgan (3-5, 2-1) to their second conference victory.

Smith, who made his first career start, completed 6-of-17 passes for 131 yards, including 66 yards on the ground.

"My mindset was just to execute on offense, keep the chains moving and score touchdowns," said Smith. "I have a team that has my back and guys that really care about me, and it felt good to put together a win."

The Bears opened up the scoring on their first offensive series of the game. A deep 38-yard completion to wideout Joseph Owumi had the Bears deep in Hornets territory. An incomplete pass on third down set up Beckett Leary for a 21-yard field goal to cap off the 11-play, 57-yard drive. The Bears took a 3-0 lead with 3:28 left in the first quarter.

Morgan's defense forced a turnover of the Hornets' ensuing drive. On third and one from DSU's 24, running back Jaden Sutton was stripped by defensive end Elijah Williams and defensive back Lovelace Rufus recovered the ball on the Hornets' 28. 

The Bears offense was back on the field and wasted little time in converting the turnover to points. On second down, J.J. Davis took a handoff through the middle of the Hornets' line and bounced outside for a 24-yard touchdown. The extra point by Leary extended the Bears lead to 10-0 to end first quarter scoring. 

The Hornets put together a solid drive midway through the second quarter. Marqui Adams completed a 17-yard pass to NyGhee Lolley to help setup a first down at the Morgan 41. The Hornets had second-and-seven from Morgan's 27-yard line, when Adams dropped back and attempted to throw a sideline pass to wideout EJ Core, however his pass was intercepted by Bryan Stukes.  It was the Hornets' second turnover of the afternoon.

Morgan led 10-0 at intermission.

Smith engineered 4-play, 61-yard drive to get the Bears off to a fast start  in the second half. He tossed a 31-yard pass to DJ Hamler, and followed it up with 53-yard TD pass to Tyler Wilkins to extend the lead to 17-0.

The Hornets responded with a 10-play, 55-yard drive capped by an 18-yard touchdown run by Marquis Gillus to cut the lead to 17-7 with 6:54 remaining in the third.  DSU would close the gap to 17-14 following a 4-yard touchdown run by Jaden Sutton late in the third quarter.

On Morgan's ensuing drive, Smith broke off a 30-yard run to put the ball on the Hornets' 27. Seven plays later, Smith tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Anthony James Jr. to help push the lead to 24-14 with 13:23 remaining in the final quarter.

With 5:29 left, Adams completed a 61-yard pass play to Rahkeem Smith who was tracked down and tackled by Jae'Veyon Morton at the Bears' 5-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 1-yard line,  Adams was hit in the backfield by Elijah Williams for a 2-yard loss.  The Hornets settled for a 25-yard field goal by Nathan Wilson to pull within 24-17 with 1:51 left to go.

The Hornets' ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Bears to help seal the win.

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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.