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GAME TIME
Morgan (1-0) will travel across town to face the Towson Tigers (0-1) at Johnny Unitas Stadium in a non-conference matchup on Saturday, Sept. 7 in the 'Battle for Greater Baltimore'. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore, Md. The game will air on FloSports and Monumental Sports Network. The game will also be broadcast by WEAA, 88.9FM.
GAME COVERAGE
FloSports (online) Click Here | Spiro Morekas will call the play-by-play and color analyst Gordy Combs. Fans in the Baltimore-DC metro area will have another avenue to catch the game, as it will also be broadcast on Monumental Sports Network. To confirm the specific channel and broadcast time, be sure to check your local listings as channel availability can vary depending on your cable or satellite provider.
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.
LIVE STATS: www.towsontigers.com - here
THE SERIES
• Saturday will mark the 29th meeting in the series that began with a 34-7 Morgan Sate win at Towson on Sept. 1, 1979.
• The Tigers hold an 22-6 advantage in the series vs. MSU.
• The Tigers have won 10 of the last 11 meetings against Morgan State since 2005, including the last five matchups.
• Towson handed the Bears a 20-10 loss at Hughes Stadium on Sept. 16, 2023.
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 championship.
• Pete Shinnick was announced as the new head coach of Towson football on Dec. 11, 2022. He became the fifth coach in program history.Shinnick joined Towson after starting the program at West Florida, leading the Argonauts to the 2019 NCAA DII national title and the 2017 NCAA DII title game.
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 also the team's third leading rusher, accumulating 159 yards on 4.1 average carries and scoring two touchdowns.
• RS Keith Jenkins Jr. enters the Fall 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.
• Anthony James Jr. (20 rec., 189 yds, TD) and Demier Shipley (14 rec., 146 yds, TD) return as the Bears' leading wideouts this fall.
• Morgan has a number of offensive lineman as they enter the 2023 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.
A GLANCE AT THE TIGERS
• Towson finished the 2023 season with a 5-6 overall record and finished tied for sixth in the league with a 4-4 conference record, including road victories over then top-15 opponents New Hampshire and William & Mary.
• The Tigers projected to finish 9th overall in the CAA Preseason Poll and three players were named to the 2024 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team: Ralph Paige Jr. at offensive line, Carter Runyon at tight end and Keegan Vaughan at kicker. In addition, Dion Crews-Harris was selected as CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Honorable Mention. All four earn their first-ever CAA Preseason Honors.
• Runyon, Towson's first-ever DI All-American at tight end, led all CAA tight ends in receiving yards with 549 last year, also being Towson's leader in receptions with 43 and receiving touchdowns with four. Going into his senior year, Runyon was an All-American Second Team by the Associated Press and STATS Perform and was All-CAA First Team.
• QB Carlos Davis will be under center for the Tigers this season... In his first game ever with Towson against Cincinnati, Davis threw 21-for-37 for 244 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76-yard touchdown throw to Jaceon Doss, who finished with 87 yards on three catches. John Dunmore had two catches for 35 yards and a TD.
• On defense vs. Cincinnati, Shafeek Smith led Towson in tackles with nine, adding a pass break-up. Daniel Raymond forced a fumble and made five tackles.
• Against Cincinnati, Keegan Vaughan converted each of his field goal attempts from 32 and 33 yards respectively. Vaughn is on the 2024 Fred Mitchell Award Preseason Watch List. The Award is given annually to the top place-kicker in FCS, DII, DII, NAIA and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community.
A LOOK AHEAD
Morgan travel to face the Ohio Bobcats in Athens, Ohio matchup. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Frank Solich Field at Peden 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.
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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.
