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GAME TIME
Morgan State (4-1) hosts the Robert Morris Colonials (3-2, 1-0 Northeast) in a homecoming matchup on Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore, MD. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with additional radio coverage provided by WEAA 88.9 FM.
GAME COVERAGE
ESPN+ (online) Click Here | Phil Schoener will call the play-by-play with color analyst Emory "The 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 SiriusXM 386 and 988 on the SiriusXMmobile app.
LIVE STATS: www.morganstatebears.com
THE SERIES
• Saturday will mark the 3rd meeting in the series that began with a 13-12 win by the Bears at Hughes Stadium on Sept. 17, 2011.
• Robert Morris posted a 31-14 win in their last matchup on Sept. 7, 2013 in Moon Township, Pa.
THE COACHES
• Damon Wilson enters his 5th 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.
• Bernard Clark Jr. enters his 9th season as head coach of Robert Morris. Clark, a native of Tampa, Fla., was named the third head coach in program history on Dec. 19, 2017. Prior to RMU, Clark spent four years at UAlbany (2014-17), where he served as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the Great Danes.
THE 2026 SCHEDULE
Morgan State will open the 2026 regular season with back-to-back road contests, beginning with a CAA matchup at North Carolina A&T on Aug. 29, followed by an FBS showdown at Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., on Sept. 5. The Bears return home for their home opener against Virginia University of Lynchburg on Sept. 12, before welcoming Robert Morris for Homecoming on Oct. 10. Morgan State will then open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play at home against longtime rival Howard.
QUICK HITS
• The 2026 Morgan State Bears are under the leadership of fifth-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 won 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.
• Cameron Edge (6-2, 230) was named the starting quarterback for Morgan State, head coach Damon Wilson announced at the conclusion of preseason camp. The competition behind Edge remains ongoing, with Ade Olanegan (6-1, 210) currently listed as the No. 2 quarterback. Tahj Smith (6-1, 200), Raeden Oliver (6-3, 195), Howard Kennedy III (6-1, 204) and Timothy Cole II (5-10, 185) also remain in the mix as the Bears continue to develop depth at the position.
• As a result of Morgan State's 38-35 win at Villanova last Saturday, the Bears improved to 4-1, marking the first time Morgan State has opened a season 4-1 since 2009, when the Bears started that season 5-1 and finished with a 6-5 winning record.
• Edge directed the Bears' offense in his fifth career start for Morgan State against Villanova, completing 31 of 40 passes for 444 yards and accounted for five TDs (3 passing, 2 running).
• RB Keith Jenkins Jr. led the Bears with eight receptions for 87 yards and a TD at Villanova, while WR Justin Perry added six catches for a game-high 152 yards, including a long of 729 yards.
• Justin Perry leads the MEAC with 424 yards (No. 24 in FCS) on 21 receptions, including three TDs.
• Keith Jenkins Jr. had a 95-yard touchdown return against Towson and finished the night by accounting for 213 all-purpose yards. He currently leads the MEAC, averaging 28.3 yards on 11 kick returns.
• Through the opening five games, Donovan Moyer leads the Bears with five sacks, ranking third in the MEAC in sacks and sixth in the conference with 5.5 tackles for loss.
• Morgan has several offensive linemen as they enter the 2026 season ... The Bears have 21 OL listed on the roster and will be led by veterans Adorain Favors (6-7, 300), Alec Washington (6-4, 325), and Daniel Casillas Jr. (6-2, 315).
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
• Robert Morris is coming off a 2025 campaign that ended in a 3-9 overall record and went 2-5 in the Northeast Conference.
• RMU was selected to finish sixth out of eight teams in the NEC. Central Connecticut was chosen to win the conference.
• Senior offensive lineman Mark Koumoundouross was the sole Robert Morris player selected to the 2026 Preseason All-NEC Football Team. He was recognized as one of the veteran pieces anchoring the conference's preseason offensive line.
• Sophomore QB Carson Haggard, a grad transfer from Abilene Christian, has completed 58% of his passes, totaling 1068 yards and 12 TDs through five games. Haggard is averaging 213.6 passing yards per game and has thrown just three interceptions. He enters the Morgan State matchup following a 20-of-28, 296-yard, 4 TD performance in a win against Norfolk State.
• The Colonials feature a trio of talented targets in the passing game. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jacqai Carter (6-0, 170) is enjoying a breakout season and leads the team with 23 receptions for 317 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Galen Combs (6-2, 190) was named the NEC Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 31 following a three-touchdown performance against Wagner. He has added 15 catches for 307 yards and five touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Noah Schaerli has also emerged as a key contributor, recording 11 receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
• Sophomore running back Xavier Goulbourne (6-1, 220) leads the team with an average of 4.1 yards per carry. He has 35 carries for 142 yards, including a TD. Redshirt sophomore Keino Fitzpatrick II (5-9, 185) has added 106 yards on 27 carries.
• Defensively, sophomore Asher Wilson and junior David Johnson lead RMU in sacks. Wilson has 3.5 sacks, and Johnson has 2.5. Junior Amanuel Dickson paces the Colonials with 52 total tackles, including a team-high 31 solo stops with 4.5 tackles for loss and an interception.
• The Colonials boast one of the top offensive lines in the FCS. They currently rank No. 4 nationally in sacks allowed, having surrendered just two sacks this season.
• Robert Morris has been stingy on third down, ranking No. 14 nationally while holding opponents to just 22-of-74 (29.7%) conversions through five games.
A LOOK AHEAD
Morgan State will host the Robert Morris Colonials on Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Hughes Stadium and will mark Morgan State Homecoming.
PRESEASON PICKED FOURTH
Morgan State was picked to finish fourth (4th) in the MEAC standings, according to the poll of the conference head coaches and sports information directors. Returning MEAC champion South Carolina State has been picked to win the MEAC Football Championship as the Bulldogs topped the league's annual preseason poll for 2026. North Carolina Central was tabbed to place 2nd.
PRESEASON ALL-MEAC PLAYERS
The Bears placed nine student-athletes on the 2026 Preseason All-MEAC Team, as selected by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
• Leading the way were three first-team selections: tight end Alex Simmons, linebacker Arturo Mattocks, and defensive back Aki Harvey.
• The Bears also had five second-team honorees, including running back Keith Jenkins Jr., wide receiver Justin Perry, defensive lineman Justin Dutton, defensive lineman Kristopher Boyd, punter Shane Messenger, and return specialist Malique Leatherbury.
BEARS OPEN 51st SEASON IN MEAC
The Bears will open their 51st season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) when they host Howard for the conference opener on Oct. 24.
• The Bears opened the 2025 MEAC schedule with a 33-27 loss at Howard (Oct. 25) at Greene Stadium.
• The Bears kicked off their 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.
MSU IN THE CIAA
Morgan State was a power as a former member of the CIAA. The Bears posted 173 wins between 1929 and 1959 when Edward P. Hurt was the head coach, and the Bears won 14 CIAA championships. Earl Banks added to the championship collection by winning four titles during the 1960s.
MSU LEGEND EARL 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 in 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.
BEARS OPEN 127th SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 127th season of football and will open the 2026 campaign under five-year head coach Damon Wilson.
RETURN MEN
The 2026 Morgan State Bears return 15 starters - 4 on offense, 6 on defense, and 5 on special teams.
CAMPAIGNING FOR SUCCESS
The Bears enter the 2026 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 2026 campaign with seven non-conference contests, including four road games. Morgan State begins the season at North Carolina A&T on Aug. 29 before traveling to Arizona State on Sept. 5. The Bears return to Hughes Stadium for their home opener against Virginia University of Lynchburg on Sept. 12, then head back on the road to face Towson on Sept. 19 and Villanova on Oct. 3. Morgan State returns home for Homecoming against Robert Morris on Oct. 10 before wrapping up its non-conference slate against Tennessee State at Nissan Stadium on Oct. 17.
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
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• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official website of Bear athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios, and more.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate, and certificate programs. 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.