NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Morgan State University Bears flew 319 miles to take on the Yale University Bulldogs in the 2023 NAACP Harmony Classic at Yale Bowl stadium.
However, the Bulldogs sent the Bears packing, claiming a 45-3 victory.
“We didn’t play well,” said Richard Reddix, Bears offensive line coach. “We’ve got to make sure that we just come out committed to playing — playing hard for each other and keep swinging our hammer.”
This was the largest margin of victory for a Morgan opponent since the Bears fell 59-7 against Georgia Southern on Sept. 3, 2022. With this, the Bulldogs (1-2) claimed their first victory of the season. They also knocked off the Bears for the second time in the series after defeating them 41-0 in 1984.
Morgan had a 3-0 lead in the second quarter when Field Goal Kicker junior Beckett Leary scored a 39-yard field goal — the first time the Bears opened a game ahead of an opponent since Nov. 12, 2022.
Yale rallied and secured a 17-3 lead by halftime. They continued building this lead in the second half, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive early in the third quarter.
After a Morgan turnover on downs, the Bulldogs used their consistent passing game to pick apart the Bears.
Bulldogs Quarterback Nolan Grooms gained control of the game. He stood in the pocket and fired passes into tight spaces, without faltering and avoiding mistakes.
Grooms finished the game with 29 for 38 completions, 363 yards passing, four touchdowns, zero interceptions and 87 rushing yards.
Mason Tipton, Bulldogs’ senior wide receiver, finished the game with nine catches, 136 yards and two touchdowns.
Yale outgained Morgan 521-204 in total yards.
The Bears’ offense did not answer, scoring only three points in the entire game. The Bulldogs also out rushed them 155-86.
Morgan quarterbacks sophomore Dominique Anthony and freshman Tahj Smith split time and combined, they completed 15 of 30 pass attempts for 118 yards and threw two interceptions.
Shipley said the team needs to “really lock in” as they get ready for teams in the MEAC division. “Everybody just has to focus and do their job doing the little things right,” he said. “If everybody does their job, we are going to be a good team.”
Wide receivers senior Treveyon Pratt and junior Demier Shipley had seven catches and 89 yards combined.
“We gotta focus on being more disciplined and [on] the little things,” Pratt said. “We’re actually a great team. It’s actually the little things that mess us up.”
This is the fourth game of Morgan’s losing streak, which began after their week one victory over 16th-ranked University of Richmond.
Next week, the Bears return to Baltimore for their homecoming game against Stony Brook University on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.
