Football 12/29/2025 10:00:00 AM MSU Athletics Communications

2025 Morgan State Football Season Recap

2025 Season Overview

The 2025 Morgan State Bears football team navigated a demanding schedule that blended FBS opponents, traditional rivals, and the grind of MEAC play. Under the leadership of head coach Damon Wilson, the Bears showcased resilience, competitive growth, and individual excellence, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Despite facing adversity and several close outcomes, Morgan State remained competitive in conference play and continued to establish a foundation for future success within the MEAC.

Season Record & Performance

The Bears finished the season with a 4-8 overall record, including a 1-4 mark in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.
Morgan State began the season with non-conference road tests against FBS opponents South Alabama and Toledo.

Game-by-Game Season Summary

Season Opener — Road Test vs. FBS Competition
Morgan State opened the season on the road against FBS opponent South Alabama, marking the first-ever meeting between the schools. The Bears struck first with a touchdown on their opening drive to grab a 7-0 lead over the Sun Belt opponent. But the Jaguars quickly seized control, answering with 17 straight points to swing the momentum and pulled away with the 38-21 win.

Battle for Greater Baltimore — Towson
In the annual rivalry game against Towson, Morgan State delivered one of its most spirited performances of the season. The Bears battled throughout in a tightly contested matchup; however, turnovers in the red zone ultimately cost Morgan State. Morgan State led 22-21 with 4 minutes remaining, but Towson scored the game-winning touchdown with 24 seconds remaining as the Bears suffered a heartbreaking 27-22 loss.

Early Non-Conference Stretch
The Bears continued non-conference play with additional road challenges, including a first-ever matchup against Toledo, where Morgan faced one of the nation's most explosive offenses and fell 60-0. Though the result favored the host, the game served as a measuring stick against top-level competition.

First Home Victory of the Season
Coming off their tough weekend at Toledo, the Bears bounced back by relying on their defense, recording six sacks and allowing just 15 rushing yards in a 27-0 shutout of SIAC opponent Central State in their home-opener at Hughes Stadium.

Circle City Classic Delivers Dramatic Finish
With 77 seconds remaining and Miles College lined up for a 27-yard attempt that could have given the Golden Bears the lead and capped a stunning comeback. However, Josiah Blake burst through the edge. He got a hand on the kick, sending the ball caroming to the turf, where Jadon Carter scooped it up and raced 94 yards for the touchdown that sealed Morgan State's 24-17 win over Miles in the 41st Annual Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Georgetown Hail Mary
One of the season's most unforgettable moments came in a heartbreaking non-conference matchup against Georgetown, when the Bears suffered a last-second loss on a Hail Mary touchdown as time expired. After battling throughout the contest and positioning themselves defensively for the final play, Morgan State saw the game decided in dramatic fashion.

Homecoming Blowout
The 2025 Homecoming Game was a highlight of the Bears' season, as Morgan State delivered a commanding 44–6 victory over Virginia University of Lynchburg in front of a spirited home crowd at Hughes Stadium. The Bears controlled the game from the outset, amassing a season-high 538 yards of total offense, including a dominant 354 rushing yards, while the defense stifled the Dragons' attack. The performance not only provided a Homecoming win but also a much-needed morale boost as the Bears closed out non-conference play and headed into MEAC competition with momentum.

MEAC Play Begins
Conference action opened with a series of hard-fought games, as Morgan State consistently challenged league opponents:

Howard (Overtime Thriller): One of the season's defining games, the Bears pushed Howard into overtime in a dramatic MEAC showdown that came down to the final possession. Howard's RB ended the game, bursting through the defense for a 25-yard touchdown run to seal Howard's 33-27 overtime victory.
South Carolina State: Morgan State traded scores throughout the contest, staying within striking distance until late, underscoring the team's competitiveness within the league. But a second-quarter surge proved to be the difference as the Bears' furious late comeback came up just short in a 36-30 setback at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

Late-Season Push
As the season progressed, Morgan State continued to battle through injuries and roster adjustments, with younger players stepping into key roles. Several games were decided in the final minutes, reflecting a team that remained engaged and resilient until the final whistle each week.

Delaware State: Morgan State battled the MEAC-leading Delaware State Hornets down to the wire, but a potential game-winning 45-yard field goal by Alex Amaya sailed wide as the Bears' second-half comeback came up just short in a 14-12 loss at Hughes Stadium during a nationally televised contest.
Norfolk State: In a game defined by momentum swings, special teams sparks, and clutch defensive plays, the Bears ultimately made the final push. Morgan State held on late and walked away with a hard-earned 35–28 victory over the Spartans, securing their first conference win of the season.
North Carolina Central: North Carolina Central made enough big plays to pull away for a 33–14 win over Morgan State on Senior Day at Hughes Stadium. The Eagles gained 360 yards, including 264 in the air, while Morgan State finished with 234 yards.

Team & Individual Highlights

Defensive Identity
Defense remained the hallmark of the 2025 Bears.

Linebacker Erick Hunter anchored the unit and emerged as one of the MEAC's most productive defenders, consistently leading the team in tackles and impact plays.
Morgan State ranked among the conference leaders in tackles for loss (No. 2 - 92), sacks (No. 2 - 34), forced fumbles (No. 2 - 13), and interceptions (No. 3 - 10), often keeping games within reach against high-powered offenses.

Weekly & Seasonal Honors

Morgan State Bears earned MEAC Weekly Honors 16 times throughout the season, recognizing standout performances on offense, defense, and special teams. QB Raymond Moore III led the way as he was named Rookie of the Week six times.
Raymond Moore III was named the MEAC Rookie of the Year, giving the Bears back-to-back recipients of the league's top freshman honor.
Morgan State also placed six players on the All-MEAC Teams. LB Erick Hunter was selected to the All-MEAC First Team, along with DL Blanche Gold. WR Justin Perry, DE Lance Byndon, DB Jadon Carter, and DB Hiroshi Carr were named to the Second Team.
Erick Hunter closed out his collegiate career, cementing his legacy in Baltimore, finishing ranked No. 2 on Morgan State's all-time tackles list with 298 stops. Hunter also earned postseason recognition, accepting an invitation to compete in the inaugural American Bowl on Jan. 22, 2026, and was selected to play in the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl (Feb. 21, 2026), joining Bears teammates OL Treyvon Branch, OL Jerrod Burrell, and DB Jadon Carter.
The Bears made a clean sweep of the conference's top individual honors, with standout LB Erick Hunter earning the prestigious title of Preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, and RB Jason Collins Jr. securing the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year nod. Other players who earned first-team selections alongside Hunter were DL Dashawn Fields, DB Jadon Carter, P Shane Messenger, PK Sahr Gbundema, and RS Malique Leatherbury.

2025 Team Statistical Leaders
(Category leaders)

Offense

Passing: Raymond Moore III threw for 1,049 yards on 90-of-166 passing with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also showcased his dual-threat ability with 414 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, emerging as one of the league's most dynamic young playmakers.
Rushing: A committee approach powered the ground game, with Randall Nauden leading the way. The redshirt freshman had 579 yards on 124 carries and scored six touchdowns. He also had 12 catches for 68 yards.
Receiving: Multiple receivers emerged as reliable targets, highlighted by big-play capability downfield. Justin Perry quickly established himself as one of Morgan State's most promising young playmakers. The dynamic wideout had a breakout performance at Georgetown, where he had 127 receiving yards and a touchdown, earning MEAC Rookie of the Week honors. Perry finished the season among the MEAC's receiving leaders with 464 yards (No. 8) on 25 receptions and five touchdowns, while ranking No. 24 nationally (FCS) in yards per catch (18.6).

Defense

Tackles: Erick Hunter, a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, was once again the driving force of the Bears' defense. He finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the MEAC with 102 tackles (tied for No. 36 nationally in FCS). The Capitol Heights, Md. native added 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, and started all 12 games. He also tallied five quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, and an interception — and delivered one of the season's top highlights with a 90-yard blocked-kick return for a touchdown against Norfolk State.
Sacks: Blanche Gold anchored the defensive front as a force of nature, relentlessly disrupting opposing offenses. The Landover, Md., native closed the season ranked No. 3 in the MEAC with 12.5 tackles for loss, added a team-best 7.5 sacks to place fifth in the league, and finished with 45 tackles—sixth most on the roster. His consistent backfield pressure was a cornerstone of Morgan State's dominance in the trenches.
Interceptions: The Bears' defense collected 10 interceptions for the season. Jadon Carter, who entered the year on the prestigious Aeneas Williams Watchlist, honoring the top defensive backs across HBCU Division I football, and his performance lived up to the billing. The senior wrapped up the season as the Bears' third-leading tackler with 55 stops, including 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles across 12 games. He also delivered one of the season's defining plays with a 94-yard blocked field goal return for a game-winning touchdown against Miles College on Sept. 27.

Special Teams

Field Goals: Alex Amaya (4-8 FG) and Sahr Gbundema (2-4 FG) combined for 7-for-14 field goals.
Return Game: Explosive return performances helped flip field position throughout the season. Malique Leatherbury was one of the premier return specialists in FCS football. He led the team by averaging 23.5 yards on kick returns (No. 31 in FCS) and 19.9 yards on punt returns.

Takeaways

Progress Amid Adversity

While the overall record wasn't what Bears fans hoped for, Morgan State showcased growth — competitive play in MEAC games, strong individual achievements, and developing depth across the roster.
The season highlighted leadership on defense, young talent stepping up, and the coaching staff's ability to prepare the team for tough matchups.

Looking Ahead

With key contributors like Hunter concluding standout campaigns and rising talent gaining experience, Morgan State has building blocks for future success in the MEAC.

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 website of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios, and more.
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
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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.

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Players Mentioned

#72 Treyvon Branch: OL; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#2 Jason Collins Jr.: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#85 Shane Messenger: P; 6' 0"; Junior

#1 Jadon Carter: DB; 5' 11"; Senior

#47 Sahr Gbundema: K; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#40 Erick Hunter: LB; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior

#0 Raymond Moore III: QB; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

#20 Josiah Blake: DB; 6' 4"; Junior

#6 Lance Byndon: LB; 6' 3"; Junior

#15 Dashawn Fields: DL; 6' 4"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#72 Treyvon Branch
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: OL

#2 Jason Collins Jr.
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#85 Shane Messenger
: 6' 0"; Junior
: P

#1 Jadon Carter
: 5' 11"; Senior
: DB

#47 Sahr Gbundema
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: K

#40 Erick Hunter
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: LB

#0 Raymond Moore III
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: QB

#20 Josiah Blake
: 6' 4"; Junior
: DB

#6 Lance Byndon
: 6' 3"; Junior
: LB

#15 Dashawn Fields
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: DL