The Morgan State University Bears opened their football season going into Hampton to take on the Pirates in a matchup of old MEAC foes.
Morgan’s senior running back Myles Miree gained 15 yards on a third down carry with two minutes left in the fourth quarter — setting up his sophomore quarterback Tahj Smith to take three kneel downs and solidify a 30-28 victory over the Pirates.
This is the second time in as many years that the Bears began their football season 1-0. It came off of an offensive explosion the Bears struggled to find early on last season.
“We all different, we got speed, we got power, we got shiftiness. Everybody brings something to the table … it just feels good to let everybody get a piece of the pie,” Miree said. “Man we started 1-0 last year, now we’re starting 1-0 this year … it’s only up from here.”
Morgan’s run game supported this offensive outburst as the Bears ran for 244 yards and four touchdowns with four different running backs and Smith all getting carries.
While Morgan State’s offense was near the bottom of every statistical MEAC category last season, clear direction from Smith, the quarterback, and new offensive coordinator Apollo Wright, look to change that narrative.
Hampton left the MEAC for the CAA in 2018 and the two teams hadn’t met since 2016, when Hampton won 21-12.
Passing was where Hampton did their damage on Saturday. They found an array of short-swing passes, screens and checkdowns to get the ball to their pass catchers in spaces, forcing Morgan defenders to make open field tackles.
The Pirates opened with the same starting quarterback from last year, senior Chris Zellous, then switched to senior Malcom Mays, who played in one game last year.
Zellous and Mays competed to be the number one quarterback for two years according to the Virginia-Pilot and other publications.
Zellous’ day ended when he threw a second quarter interception to junior Jadon Carter, which was his first game with Morgan after transferring from Bowie State.
Going into this game, Morgan’s defense had to live up to the expectations their defense set last year, which was first in the MEAC and allowed only 21.7 points per game.
Morgan held Pirates senior running back Elijah Burris to 43 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. This was Burris’ longest run of the night, a 54-yard carry that referees called back for holding.
Carter said, “I hope I get more, I was trying to get another one. I tried to score but my legs got a little heavy, but it feels good to win.”
Once Mays came in, the Bears struggled to stop him through the air and on the ground as he conducted 33, 75, and 79 yard drives all resulting in touchdowns.
Mays ended the game with 63 rushing yards and was the Pirates’ leading rusher. Mays also went 13 of 17 passing for 168 yards and two touchdowns, which kept Hampton in the game.
Zellous’ interception and a Dorrian Moultrie fumble, which senior safety Josh Graham forced early in the fourth quarter, were two key turnovers that kept Hampton from taking the lead.
Morgan State looks to go 2-0 next week as they attack game two of a three-game stretch on the road to start the season. They are set to take on their crosstown rival, the Towson Tigers on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.
