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GAME TIME
As the Morgan State Bears prepare to take on the Delaware State Hornets on Saturday, Nov. 9, the stakes are high for both teams at Alumni Stadium. With a record of 4-5 and a conference standing of 1-1, the Bears are eager to build momentum. Conversely, the Hornets, struggling with a record of 1-8 and still searching for their first conference win at 0-2, are looking to turn their season around. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Alumni Stadium. The game will air on ESPN+ and will also be broadcast by WEAA, 88.9FM.
GAME COVERAGE
ESPN+ will air the game live.
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
• Saturday will mark the 68th meeting between the two schools.
• Morgan leads the series against Delaware State with an overall record of 40-27.
• The Bears have won 13 of the last 15 meetings since 2008, including a current string of 5-straight (2018-2023).
• In their last meeting on Nov. 4, 2023, true freshman quarterback Tahj Smith threw two touchdown passes in his first career start, and J.J. Davis added 75 yards and a score to lead Morgan to a 24-17 win over Delaware State at Hughes Stadium. Smith completed 6-of-17 passes for 131 yards, including 66 yards on the ground. 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.
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.
•
Lee Hull (Holy Cross, '88) was introduced as the 24th head coach in team history on Dec. 20, 2022. A former MEAC champion head coach, Hull brought more than 25 years of coaching experience at the professional and NCAA Division I levels to the position. Hull most recently served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at rival Howard University since 2020.
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.
• 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).
• 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.
• The Morgan State defense and special teams unit overcame early issues with the offense and fought back from an early three touchdown deficit to overwhelm Norfolk State 38-37 in overtime to win their first MEAC game of the season on Nov. 2nd at Hughes Stadium. In a thrilling turn of events during the first play of overtime, Tahj Smith showcased his pinpoint accuracy and poise under pressure. He found an open Jaden Coffen streaking down the field, delivering a crisp 25-yard touchdown pass that ignited the crowd.
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. 5 in passing yards allowed (141.8), No. 6 in total defense (290.1), T-No. 18 in fumbles recovered (7), No. 11 in red zone defense (.690), No. 12 in first downs defense (138), No. 16 in scoring defense (19.7), No. 7 in 4th down conversion pct. defense (.300), T-No. 29 in turnovers gained (14), No. 11 in time of possession (32.19), No. 45 in interceptions (7), and T-No. 43 in fewest penalties per game (5.5)
. Nana Asante ranks T-No. 1 in blocked kicks (3) and
Elijah Williams ranks T-No. 5 in sacks (9).
MOVING THE BALL
Through nine (9) games, the Bears had 11 drives of 10-plus plays, which ended with scores and resulted in a total of 65 points. The Bears also ranked No. 2 in the MEAC in 3rd Down Conversions (41%), and No. 4 in first downs (155; 17.2).
AGENT ZERO
Elijah Williams once again proved why he's a force to be reckoned with on the field. In last Saturday's overtime thriller against Norfolk State, the senior collected a game-high seven tackles in the trenches and finished with two tackles for loss. Notably, "Agent Zero" made headlines by breaking Morgan's school sack record during an intense overtime sequence, securing a pivotal sack that cemented his legacy within the program with 29 career sacks...and counting. Williams currently ranks No. 5 in the nation with 9 so far this season.
BEARS IN OT
• The Bears are 9-7 all-time in overtime games since the NCAA instituted the rule in 1996.
• MSU's last overtime contest was on Nov. 2, 2024 during a conference 38-37 OT win against Norfolk State at Hill Field House.
• It marked the Bears' first overtime win since defeating Sacred Heart 30-27 on Sept. 1, 2012.
A GLANCE AT THE HORNETS
• Delaware State finished the 2023 season with a 1-10 overall record and posted a 0-5 mark in MEAC play and went 1-4 at home.
• DSU was picked to finish last in the MEAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Three Hornets earned recognition on the 2024 Preseason All-MEAC Second Team. Tight end Edward Core, defensive linemen Darren Cook and Eric Montes.
• DSU's last time out, Nov. 2: Ja'Shawn Scroggins threw four touchdown passes, ran for another and Howard shut out Delaware State 38-0 on Saturday in Washington, D.C. Three of Scroggins' scoring passes came in the first half wh/.¯en the Bison built a 24-0 lead. Scroggins was 24-of-41 passing for 304 yards. Two of his touchdown passes went to Kasey Hawthorne, who finished with 105 yards on nine catches. Breylin Smith and Montrell Walker had the other TD catches. C.J. Henry was just 6-of-20 passing for 44 yards with two interceptions for the Hornets, who lost their seventh straight game.
• QB Marqui Adams ranks No. 3 in the league in passing (170.7 avg) and has completed 59% of his throws (92-156) for 1,024 yards, a league high 7 TDs with three INTs ... he also ranks No. 8 in the league in rushing with 264 yards and two TDs.
• RB Jaden Sutton ranks No. 2 in the MEAC in rushing with 822 yards on 125 carries, including eight TDs ... he's currently averaging 6.6 yards per carry.
• Junior Kahleef Jimmison and redshirt junior Barry Wagner are two of the top defenders in the conference. Jimmison has 47 stops and a sack, including 6.0 tackles for loss. Wagner ranks No. 9 in tackles (45) with six passes defended (No. 7).
• DSU ranks among the league leaders in a number of statistical categories: No. 1 in PATs (20-20), No. 3 in punting (40.8), No. 4 in pass offense (156.8), and No. 4 in run offense.
• Lee Hull was named Morgan State's head coach on January 8, 2014 and his first team went 7–5 and won a share of the MEAC championship and also played in the Bears' first-ever appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
• On 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 MEAC win over Delaware State on 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.
A LOOK AHEAD
Morgan return to Baltimore to host the South Carolina State Bulldogs on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Hughes Stadium. The game 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
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.
