Morgan State grinds Bulldogs

by Keith Henry

This was a game only defensive players and senior placekicker Kemar Scarlett would love.

In their first game of the season, some may have looked at Bowie State as a tune-up for their game next Saturday at Maryland. But in a defensive affair, Morgan State forced five turnovers to help aid a 14-7 victory over the Bulldogs at Hughes Stadium.

The offense came in the form of Scarlett, who booted a team record four field goals. But Scarlett was smiling once he found out about the record while at the same time; he wasn’t satisfied because he had six opportunities on the game for field goals. Scarlett said, “I didn’t know about the record until you guys informed me about it. But the record, I think it’s nice. I really don’t try to let it get into my head. As kickers, we’re mental players. So I just had to keep that out. But I’m happy about the record. It would’ve been great if I had made all six. But I feel good about my record.”

The previous record for field goals made in a game was three by Scarlett vs. Norfolk State in 2009, James Meade vs. North Carolina A&T in 2007 and Dwayne Danner vs. Howard in 1976.

Morgan head coach Donald Hill-Eley said about Scarlett, “Anytime you got a kicker that could make 50 yard field goals, it makes it easier for the offense. If you can move the chains at least two or three times, you know that you have an opportunity for points. It’s good to be able to have a guy that from 35 in and sometimes from 40 in, he’s going to make the plays for you.”

The Morgan State offense ran into some problems early and often getting it together. However, the defense held tough as the Bears held the Bulldogs to only 73 yards in the game. Morgan State (1-0) stuffed the Bulldog rushing game, holding them to -33 yards. Hill Eley said, “Our defense has always been strong. We have a lot of new faces on the defense. They played well together against a team that last week, Bowie had a chance to play before us. They looked sharp. Our defense did a good job with some three and outs and they held them so until we could get something going offensively.”

MSU sophomore linebacker Allen Stephens added, “Coach Bryant played the run first. When we play the run first, we got good defensive linemen holding up everything, we scraping over the top. So we’re pretty much filling the holes the defensive line opened up for us.”

Bowie State’s defense held the Bears to 44 yards in the game. But despite not scoring a touchdown, Morgan State was able to move the chains more effectively, leading to those four critical Scarlett field goals.

Despite offensive troubles from Bowie State (0-2), the Bulldogs capitalized on one opportunity in the second quarter. With MSU ahead 3-0, Bowie State scored their only points of the game on a 10-yard scamper from running back Rodney Webb with 2:54 left in the first half. Those points came after MSU defensive lineman Sheldon Jacques was called for roughing the passer. That turned a potential fourth down and short into a first and goal for the Bulldogs at the time.

The big break for Morgan came with 9:44 left in the third quarter as BSU long snapper Maurice Wilson launched a bad snap that went out of the end zone, turning a 7-6 deficit into an 8-7 advantage that the Bears managed to hang on to for the rest of the game.

Bowie State punt returner James Proctor was about to break a big punt return in the fourth quarter when Scarlett stepped up and made a huge stop late. Scarlett said about that play, “I’m not an average kicker. I have to make the play. The team depends on me. Not only am I a kicker, I’m a football player. If somebody breaks through, he’s breaking through my line. I got to stop that. It can’t happen. I just look at it as me making a play, saving a touchdown. Because we could have lost or have the game tied. So I was just making a play.”

Redshirt freshman defensive back Joe Rankin, who had one of the Bears’ three interceptions on the day, learned a lot from last night. Rankin said it’s, “How to keep focused. Given the fact that we’ll get the turnover and we have to get right back out there. We have to keep that mindset of defense wins games. We have to keep a positive attitude and go out there and execute. Never sell ourselves short and work hard 110% on every play. Work for turnovers and try to get points off those turnovers.”

Morgan State steps up to the FBS level next Saturday night when they take on the Maryland Terrapins at College Park.