NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Sept. 30, 2023) — Morgan State scored the first points of the game, but Nolan Grooms helped Yale take control by throttling the Bears 45-3 in the NAACP Harmony Classic at Yale Bowl, Class of 1954 Field.
This was the largest deficit in a loss for the Bears since a 59-7 loss to Georgia Southern on Sept. 3, 2022. It was also Yale's first win of the season and improved the Bulldogs' series record to a 2-0 against Morgan since 1984.
Morgan's defense, the FCS leaders in turnovers gained, continued to add to its collection today. MSU redshirt senior linebacker Sam Alsheimer stripped Grooms in the backfield and junior linebacker Xavier Shell pounced on the football just before the first quarter ended. The Bears would take advantage as junior Beckett Leary connected on a 39-yard field goal for the first points of the game.
From that point forward, it was all about Grooms as he made big plays both in the air and on the ground.
Grooms, a 6-2 senior from Lake Wylie, S.C., led the Bulldogs right down the field and his short scramble came up just shy of the endzone to setup a 4th and goal from the 1. Yale tied the game at 3-3 after a false start forced Jack Bosman to settle for a field goal, capping a 13-play, 69-yard drive.
Yale (1-2, 0-0) returned to the scoreboard midway in the second quarter. Grooms connected with Ryan Lindley on a 21-yard pass play to move the ball into Bear territory. He followed up with a pass to Lindley in the flat for a 12-yd pickup. Grooms capped the drive with a 31-yard TD toss to Mason Tipton in the end zone to help lift the Bulldogs to a 10-3 lead with 5:12 left in the half.
The Bears' quarterback Dominique Anthony was picked off by Yale's linebacker Hamilton Moore with 34 seconds remaining in the half. The Bulldogs wasted little time in capitalizing. Grooms tossed a 3-yard TD pass to Lindley as part of a 6-play, 66-yard drive. Yale went into the halftime break with a 17-3 lead.
The Bulldogs opened scoring in the second half with a 33-yard TD pass from Grooms to Mason Tipton (13:34).
Morgan's freshman quarterback Tahj Smith was inserted for his first action of the season and played the rest of the game.
Morgan was flagged for two personal fouls during Yale's next possession. The penalties helped lead to a 5-yard TD run by Tre Peterson to extend to a 31-3 lead with 7:17 left in the third quarter.
Grooms threw a 25-yard strike to Joey Felton between two Morgan defenders to extend the lead to 38-3 just before the end of the third quarter.
Yale scored the final points of the game when Smith had his pass intercepted over the middle by Joseph Vaughn who returned it 28-yards for a score to give Yale a 45-3 final margin.
Morgan's passing offense struggled, with Anthony and Smith combining for 118 yards. Anthony completed 9-of-15 passes for 92 yards and an interception, and Smith got in and connected on six of his 15 pass attempts, including an interception.
Myles Miree was the Bears' leading rusher. The junior ran for 36 yards on his 13 carries.
As a result of a quiet day from the quarterbacks, Morgan's receivers were limited. Senior standout Traveyon Pratt led the unit with four catches for 44 yards and junior Demier Shipley added 45 yards on three receptions.
In contrast to Morgan, Yale's passing game was explosive.
Grooms completed 29 of his 38 passes (76.3 pct) for 363 yards, including four touchdowns. He also led all rushers with 87 yards on nine carries.
Wideout Mason Tipton rang up Morgan for 136 receiving yards on nine catches, including two touchdowns.
Next Up, Morgan State Homecoming awaits the Bears next Saturday afternoon at Hughes Stadium. The Bears will wrap-up their non-conference schedule when they host the Stony Brook Seawolves. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
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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.
