DOVER, Del. (November 9, 2024) — Redshirt junior quarterback Duce Taylor threw a touchdown pass, and redshirt freshman Jason Collins Jr. added a season-high 138 yards and a score to lead Morgan State to a 36-28 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over Delaware State on Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
Taylor and Collins led a Bears offense that amassed 457 total yards, while the Hornets finished with 456 total yards, but it was the Bears special teams came up to help lead Morgan (5-5, 2-1) to their second conference victory.
Taylor, who made his fourth start of the season, completed 17-of-28 passes for 218 yard.
With their latest victory, the Bears have now won 14 of the last 16 meetings against Delaware State since 2008, including a current string of 6-straight (2018-2024).
The Bears finally broke through on the scoreboard, behind the duo of Taylor and sophomore wideout Malique Leatherbury. Faced with a critical 4th and short situation, Taylor unleashed a perfectly timed pass to Leatherbury, who secured the catch and accelerated through defenders, sprinting 46 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. The Bears led 7-0 with 3:05 remaining in the first quarter.
Delaware State (1-9, 0-3) offense got in gear on the ensuing possession behind the play of standout running back Jaden Sutton. Sutton broke off a 24-yard run through the middle of the Bears defense before being gang tackled at mid-field. C.J. Henry capped the drive by tossing a 44-yd TD pass to Christian Tate. The extra point by Nathan Wilson tied the game at 7-7 with 13:28 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bears responded in a flash when Jason Collins Jr. took a pitch around the end and raced up the sideline 75-yards to paydirt. The extra point by Sahr Gbundema gave the Bears a 14-7 advantage with 13:14 left in the second quarter.
The Hornets regained momentum during their next drive. Henry tossed a simple screen pass to Sutton who covered 55-yards to the end zone, completing a 5-play drive that consumed 1:59 as the Hornets tied the game at 14-14.
Leatherbury burst through the coverage on the ensuing kickoff, weaving past defenders for a 67-yard touchdown return, signaling a pivotal shift in momentum, but the joy was short-lived. As the players celebrated, the officials huddled together, and it quickly became clear that a penalty had been called back—which forced the score to be wiped off the board.
Morgan's drive commenced at the Hornets' 45-yard line, setting the stage for a promising offensive opportunity. Taylor guided the Bears down the field, showcasing a combination of precise passing and strategic play-calling that brought them to the Hornets' 8-yard line. Momentum was clearly on the Bears' side as they closed in on a potential touchdown, but disaster struck when Collins was hit hard and fumbled the ball. In a dramatic turn of events, the Hornets managed to scoop up the loose ball and dart towards the end zone, only to have their touchdown celebration cut short as they were ruled down by contact. The Hornets took over 1st and 10 with 7:57 remaining in the half.
On their next possession, Henry completed a 67-yard pass to NyGhee Lolley who is tripped up a by Gregory Young II before going down at the Morgan 5. Moments later, the crowd erupted as Sutton sealed the deal with an 8-yard run off the right side. Sutton crossed the goal line, helping the Hornets reclaim the lead at 21-14 with just 4:24 left on the clock.
The Hornets defense got a heavy dose of Bears running back Myles Myrie. Myrie gained all 52-yards of a 7-play drive, including a 22-yard run, capped with a 2-yd TD trot to knot the game at 21-21 with 1:32 left to go to tie the game at 21 apiece.
As the clock ticked down in the closing moments of the first half, the Bears had regained possession, and quarterback Taylor took the helm. With a series of precise passes and well-timed calls, he methodically marched his team down the field. With only 4 seconds remaining, the moment rested on the shoulders of Sahr Gbundema, who stepped up for a crucial 21-yard field goal attempt. The ball sailed through the uprights solidifying a 24-21 lead for the Bears as they headed into halftime.
The Bears opened the second half scoring when Gbundema entered the game to tack on a 25-yard field goal. It marked his second field goal of the game and extended the Bears lead to 27-21 with 1:00 left in the 3rd quarter.
In a stunning display of athleticism and determination, Sutton burst through the defense on a thrilling 65-yard touchdown run that electrified the crowd and shifted the momentum of the game. The play put the Hornets back in charge at 28-27 with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Bears marched back down the field when Taylor connected with Marquez Phillips for a 37-yard gain to the Hornets' 26. The drive stalled but the Bears were able to retake the lead on the left leg of Gbundema who connected on a 36-yard field goal. Morgan reclaimed the lead at 30-28 with 11:40 left to go.
In a high-stakes moment, the Hornets' defense delivered a critical stand, forcing a punt. The punt by Shane Messenger with just under three minutes left on the clock, was muffed and Morgan's Jaden Coffen recovered the ball at the Hornets' 39, giving the Bears a prime opportunity to seize control of the game.
Capitalizing on this unexpected gift, Andre Crawley motioned into the backfield before taking the handoff. and raced around the right side untouched into the endzone. Although the Bears faced a slight setback with Gbundema's missed point-after attempt, they still managed to take a 36-28 lead with just 1:46 remaining on the clock.
The Hornets faced a critical 4th down and 4 situation deep in their own territory. C.J. Henry took the snap and was met by Lance Byndon who registered a sack, eliminating any designs of a comeback.
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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.
