The Morgan State Bears demolished the South Carolina State Bulldogs 41-14 Saturday afternoon at Hughes Stadium.

The Bears (3-5) were coming back from a road loss to University of Delaware last weekend.

The Bears could only muster up seven points against them as they lost their third-straight game after starting the season with a 2-2 record.

This week, the Bears destroyed the Bulldogs, but it did not look like the game would be a blowout in the beginning.

The Bears started the game off strong, going up 17-0 on the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs then responded with two touchdowns late in the second quarter to keep the score close at 17-14 to end the half.

The two teams played great defense in the third quarter. Both punted the ball once and had turnover-on-downs once.

The Bulldogs were in position to tie the game with a field goal near the end of the quarter, but the attempt was blocked by defensive back Jordan Toles and recovered by Morgan to end the Bulldogs’ drive.

In the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Bears kicked a field goal to extend their lead to six. After that, things started to go right for the Bears and wrong for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter. One of their interceptions resulted in a pick-six from defensive back Jae’Veyon Morton that extended the Bears’ lead.

The Bulldogs turned the ball over five times total in the fourth quarter. The Bears scored on three of five of the Bulldogs turnovers to put the game out of reach.

The Bears’ running game and defense helped them strive in their first MEAC win of the season.

Running back Alfonzo Graham dominated the running game for the Bears, rushing for 123 yards off 18 carries, and finishing the game with two touchdowns. The Bears outrushed the Bulldogs 190-95.

Through nine weeks of football, the Bears have shown that running the ball is still the key to their success.

Passing the ball, however, remains to be a question for the Bears as quarterback Duce Taylor only completed seven passes off 25 attempts and threw zero touchdowns and two interceptions. If the Bears’ run game becomes a non-factor in the game, it does not look like the passing game can take over in place of it.

The Bears’ defense looked sharp in the second half. They held the Bulldogs scoreless for the final 30 minutes of the game. The Bears outscored the Bulldogs 24-0 after starting the half up 17-14.

The defensive line kept the Bulldogs’ running game in check and pressured all the Bulldogs’ quarterbacks, causing them to make mistakes during the fourth quarter.

Morton’s pick-six helped the defense keep up their momentum to finish the game. Morton finished the game with two solo tackles and one interception.

The Bears’ end their three-game losing-streak and move to 3-5 on the season. Next Saturday, the Bears are back on the road and will take on Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York at 12 p.m. looking to break their 17-game road losing-streak.