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GAME TIME
Morgan (3-3) will host the Merrimack Warriors (1-4) in a non-conference matchup on Saturday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. at Hughes Stadium. The game will air on ESPN+. The game will also be broadcast by WEAA, 88.9FM.
GAME COVERAGE
ESPN+ will air the game live. Phil Schoener will call the play-by-play with color analyst Emory "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.
THE SERIES
• First Meeting
THE COACHES
• Damon Wilson enters his 3rd 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 championships.
• Mike Gennetti, after 19 seasons as an assistant for the Warriors, was named the head coach of Merrimack College football during the summer of 2024. Since becoming a Division I institution, Gennetti has been on staffs that have made it to the Northeast Conference championship game in back-to-back seasons.
QUICK HITS
• The 2024 Morgan State Bears will be under the leadership of third year head coach Damon Wilson. Wilson, the 24th 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.
• Sophomore quarterback Tahj Smith enters the season as the Bears' starter. Smith's emergence comes after a freshman season in which he appeared in five games and started in the last four games of the season. He completed 29-of-71 passes (40.8 pct) for 426 yards and three touchdowns. He was also the team's third leading rusher, accumulating 159 yards on 4.1 average carries and scoring two touchdowns.
• RS Keith Jenkins Jr. enters 2024 as a Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection and will certainly be one to watch. Appearing in 10 games throughout the season, Jenkins showcased his versatility as both a running back, a receiver, and most notably as a dangerous return specialist. He averaged an impressive average of 23.2 yards per kick return, ranking him fourth in the MEAC.
• Last season, 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 and finished with 116 carries, 584 yd, 2 TDs in 10 games played.
• Morgan has a number of offensive lineman as they enter the 2024 season ... The Bears have 19 OL listed on the roster and will be led by veteran Preseason All-MEAC First Team T Treyvon Branch. (6-3, 290).
• LB Erick Hunter, is on the official watch list for the 2024 Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List, led the MEAC with 75 tackles and ranked No. 6 in tackles for loss (9.5). In addition to his elite tackling ability, Hunter also showcased his versatility and playmaking skills. He registered 7 quarterback hurries, 3.0 sacks (No. 11), two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a pass breakup. Hunter is poised to continue his impressive trajectory and lead Morgan to even greater success in the 2024 season.
• DL Elijah Williams, is on the official watch list for the 2024 Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List, was a defensive standout in the trenches for the Bears in 2023. The New Jersey product registered 50 total tackles, including 31 solo tackles. His ability to penetrate the offensive line and disrupt plays was unmatched, as evidenced by his league-leading 11.0 tackles for loss.
• Morgan is coming off a 41-0 shutout non-conference win against Lincoln-PA. The game marked Homecoming for the Bears, its first since 2022. Morgan's offense racked up 369 total yards, including 235 passing. RB Myles Miree led the ground assault with 51 yards and 2 TDs, while J.J. Davis added 30 yards and a TD. Duce Taylor completed 15-of-17 passes for 197 yards and a TD (WR Andre Crawley). Crawley also threw a 21-yd TD to Marquez Phillip. Morgan jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead and earned their first shutout victory since 2018 (vs. DSU; 9-0). DE Nana Asante paced the defense with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and blocked his third kick of the season.
NOTABLE NATIONAL NOTES
Here are a few 2024 FCS national statistics of note on offense, defense and special teams that pertained to the Bears:
• The Bears rank No. 4 in passing yards allowed (132.5), No. 5 in 4th down conversion pct. defense (.143), T-No. 6 in fumbles recovered (6), No. 7 in scoring defense (15.3), rank T-No. 8 (FCS) in turnover margin (1.00), T-No. 9 in turnovers gained (12), No. 10 in team pass efficiency (120.5), No. 10 in total defense (283.0), T-No. 18 in interceptions (6), No. 19 in fewest penalties per game (5.0), No. 34 in first downs defense (92), No. 43 in time of possession (30.44), No. 54 (150.5) in rushing defense, and No. 47 in rushing offense (163.0). Nana Asante ranks No. 1 in blocked kicks (3) and Elijah Williams ranks T-No. 20 in sacks (5).
LIMITED LAUNDRY
Damon Wilson's Bears are the least penalized team in the MEAC (30 in 6 gms). This achievement is no small feat, as pre-and-post snap penalties are often a significant challenge for many teams - and right now Morgan has demonstrated they are the best at minimizing costly mistakes. This disciplined approach is not merely a statistic but a reflection of the culture Wilson has fostered within the program. As the season progresses, Morgan's reputation as a well-disciplined squad continues to grow.
BEAR FACTS
3 - Consecutive games the Bears have rushed for 100+ yards.
10 - Consecutive games the Bears have recorded at least 1 turnover, dating back to Sept. 30, 2013 vs. Yale.
276 & 207 - Rushing yards for RB Myles Miree (No. 8 in MEAC this season) and RB Jason Collins (No. 11), respectively. Miree's averaging 4.7 ypc and Collins has a 6.3 ypc average.
282.8 - Average net yards allowed for the Bears defense this season, ranking No. 1 in the MEAC. Morgan's pass defense ranks No. 1 (132.5 avg/g) and their 150.3 rushing yards allowed per game stand second only to South Carolina State (115.0).
A GLANCE AT THE WARRIORS
• Merrimack finished the 2023 season with a 5-6 overall record and were 4-3 in NEC play.
• In 2023, the Warriors ranked first in the NEC in rushing defense, allowing 136.4 yards per game, which was over 13 yards better then the second place team. The Merrimack defense has consistently been one of the best units regionally and for his efforts, Mike Gennetti was named Assistant Coach of the Year in FBS/FCS by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in 2022.
• Merrimack will play an independent FCS schedule for the 2024 season alongside Sacred Heart. Both schools are leaving the Northeast Conference after the 2023-24 academic year and will join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2024-25. The MAAC discontinued football after the 2007 season and has not sponsored the sport since then.
• Merrimack fell to Dartmouth in a close game that ended with a final score of 16-14. Jermaine Corbett rushed for a game-high 137 yards and two touchdowns on 21 attempts. Corbett also led the team in receiving after catching three balls for 45 yards.
• The Warriors have been led by QB Ayden Pereira who has thrown for 311 yards (33-59) with a 2 TDs and zero INTs ... he also has 83 yards on 37 carries.
• WRs Donovan Wadley (7 rec., 93 yds), Seth Sweltzer (5 rec., 90 yds, TD) and Jared Dunn (9 rec., 68 yds) are the Warriors' leading receivers.
• Senior RB Jermaine Corbett currently ranks 11th in the CIAA in rushing with 77 carries for 545 yards (7.1 avg) with four TDs ... sophomore RB Brandon Wyatt has added 61 yards on 19 carries.
• R-Sophomore LB DJ Frazier leads the team with 26 tackles (14 solo) and has four tackles for loss and two sacks, while senior S Donte Williams has registered 26 tackles with two forced fumbles and a pick.
KNOW THY OPPONENT
• Notable alumni: Charlie Day - Actor, Director and Musician; Carl Yastrzemski - MLB Hall of Famer; Stephane Da Costa - French professional hockey player; and Billy Costa - Radio and TV host in the Boston area.
A LOOK AHEAD
Following a bye week, Morgan will travel to face North Carolina Central on Saturday, Oct. 26. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Kelly-O'Riddick Stadium. The game will mrk Homecoming for the Eagles and will air on ESPN+.
PRESEASON PICKED THIRD
Morgan State was picked to finish third (3rd) in the MEAC standings, according to the poll of the conference head coaches and sports information directors.
North Carolina Central has been picked win the MEAC Football Championship as the Eagles topped the league's annual preseason poll for 2024. Returning MEAC champion Howard was picked to place 2nd.
PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
Eight (8) Bears were named to the MEAC preseason team at the 2024 MEAC Football Press Luncheon in Norfolk, Va. Senior OL Treyvon Branch, senior DL Elijah Williams, senior LB Erick Hunter, junior RS Keith Jenkins Jr. were first-team selections. Sophomore QB Tahj Smith, senior DL Nana Asante, senior DB Carlvainsky Decius, and sophomore DB Ja'son Prevard were second-team picks.
BEARS OPEN 49th SEASON IN MEAC
The Bears will open its 49th season in the MEAC when they travel to face North Carolina Central for the conference opener on Oct. 26.
• The Bears opened the 2023 MEAC schedule with a 16-10 loss against North Carolina Central (Oct. 19) 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.
BEARS OPEN 125th SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 125th season of football and will open the 2024 campaign under third year head coach Damon Wilson.
RETURN MEN
The 2024 Morgan State Bears return 18 starters - 7 on offense, 8 on defense and 3 on special teams.
CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS
The Bears enter the 2024 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 2024 campaign with three of its first seven non-conference matchups coming on the road. MSU opens the season at Hampton (Aug. 31), followed by a game at Towson (Sept. 6) and Ohio (Sept.14). The Bears will host Virginia Lynchburg (Sept. 21), before traveling to face Stony Brook (Sept. 28). The Bears round out non-conference play when they host Lincoln (Pa.) (Oct. 5) and Merrimack (Oct. 12).
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
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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.
