Morgan State Bears Fall to South Carolina State, Ending Five-Game Winning Streak
A 51-10 defeat at Hughes Stadium leaves the Bears with 5-4 overall and a difficult path to the MEAC title with three conference games remaining.
By Tomas Gonzalez ·
The Morgan State University football team suffered a decisive defeat on Thursday night, losing 51-10 to South Carolina State at Hughes Stadium in Northeast Baltimore.
The result dropped the Bears to 5-4 overall and 0-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. This marks the third consecutive loss for a squad that began the season with a 5-1 record. South Carolina State improved to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in league play, outscoring the Bears by a wide margin in the second half.
The Bulldogs established an early lead with a one-yard run by Josh Shaw and a five-yard touchdown pass from Keely Watson to Martavious Collins. Morgan State’s defense responded in the second quarter, with safety Raquane Matthews returning a fumble 10 yards for a score. A 30-yard field goal by Alex Amaya capped a 13-play drive, narrowing the deficit to 14-10 with 5:10 left in the half. However, Watson connected with Troy Hillman for a 20-yard touchdown as time expired in the first half.
South Carolina State dominated the second half, adding a field goal and another Watson touchdown in the third quarter before scoring three more touchdowns in the fourth. Watson finished with 279 passing yards and four touchdowns on 27 of 36 completions. The Bears’ offense struggled to gain ground, finishing with 150 total yards and minus-12 rushing yards. Quarterback Cameron Edge completed 17 of 28 passes for 144 yards, while Justin Perry led the receiving corps with five catches for 72 yards.
Head coach Damon Wilson cited the late first-half score and a lack of offensive production as key factors. “Offensively, we didn’t score the ball at all. The only touchdown we got came from the defense,” Wilson said. He added that “the next man has to step up and make plays,” noting that the team is playing without some players, though the school did not specify which ones are out.
The Bears’ recent struggles follow a strong start where they beat Towson, Villanova, and Robert Morris. Morgan State can finish no better than 3-2 in the conference. To contend for the MEAC title, they must win all three remaining league games and hope for upsets involving South Carolina State and Howard. The conference champion traditionally plays in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta in December.
Morgan State has an open week before traveling to Delaware State on November 7. The Bears will host Norfolk State on November 14 for Senior Day, followed by a game at North Carolina Central on November 21. All games air on WEAA 88.9 FM.
Source: Baltimore Chronicle
