Morgan State Bears lost to Albany Great Danes last Saturday in double overtime with a score of 23-17. Tomorrow, the Bears travel to New Haven, Conn., in hopes of breaking their three-game losing streak against Yale Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs will enter the game 0-2, losing 49-24 against Holy Cross Crusaders on Sept. 16 and 23-21 against Cornell Big Red on Sept 23. On offense, Yale has run the ball heavily and currently averages 199 rushing yards this season.
Bulldogs Quarterback Nolan Grooms has completed 19 out of 35 passes with 241 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception this season. He is also the team’s leading rusher with 144 yards on the ground.
In recent weeks, the Bears showcased their efficiency when passing. They had 141 passing yards during their last game against the Great Danes but rushed a mere 63 yards.
Damon Wilson, Bears’ head football coach, said Anthony is improving each week and that he recognizes the Bears have to improve their run game against the Bulldogs.
“We got to execute our lanes up front and make some lanes for the running backs,” Wilson said. “Hopefully those lanes open up and hopefully we will have some success.”
Sophomore Quarterback Dominique Anthony, completed 19 out of 39 passes with 141 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the last game. This season, Anthony leads all of Morgan’s quarterbacks with 273 passing yards and a 49.2 completion percentage. Anthony was the first and only quarterback to play an entire game for the Bears this season, as he played last week’s game in its entirety.
Anthony said he is determined to lead the Bears to victory this Saturday.
“I need to take more command of the offense, and get us going,“ Anthony said. “We want to control the tempo, speed it up, slow it down and just take more command.”
The Bears have many options for wide receiver — one being senior Treveyon Pratt, who leads the Bears with 160 receiving yards. In his last game against the Great Danes, he had four receptions for 64 receiving yards.
Pratt said that he and Anthony study films of previous games religiously to improve their game.
“We put the game up on the TV … and we just sit there and study everyday,” Pratt said. “We make sure we know everything and every weakness of every corner that we go up against every week.”
The Bears have accumulated multiple accolades just five weeks into the season, particularly on defense. Elijah Williams, junior defensive lineman, earned MEAC defensive player of the week on Sept. 25.
Williams has 17 tackles, four sacks and one forced fumble this season.
“We are going to go four quarters, we are gonna play you hard and we are not going to give up much,” Williams said, speaking to the defense’s tenacity during games.
The Bears are scheduled to play the Bulldogs at Yale Bowl Stadium tomorrow at noon.
