Fresh off a bye week the Morgan State Bears head into their second MEAC game of the season, as they travel to South Carolina State University for a Friday primetime matchup at Oliver Dawson Stadium.
The Bears are coming off a 49-17 home loss to #15 North Carolina A&T (NCAT) before the bye week. They look to bounce back from an 0-4 start to the season. The South Carolina State Bulldogs are 1-3 overall and fell to 0-2 in the conference following a 21-7 home loss versus NCAT last Saturday.
The Bulldogs lead the overall series against the Bears 30-6-1 since 1971. SCSU has won nine of the last 10 meetings (2003-2014) against the Bears.
South Carolina State finished 2016 with an overall record of 5-6 and finished third in the conference with a 5-3 record. The Bulldogs offense is led by quarterback Dewann Ford, Jr. The 6-2, 185-pound signal-caller has completed 57-of-106 passes (53.8%) for 770 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions . He also leads the team with 50 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
SCSU’s defense will be led by 2016’s MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Darius Leonard. Leonard, leads the league with 43 tackles (10.8 pg), with 2.0 sacks (ranked T-No. 10), and four quarterback hurries. He was named to the Butkas Award Watch List that honors the nation’s best linebacker.
Through four games the Bears rank No. 2 in pass yards allowed (137.2) and No. 14 in the FCS in total tackles for loss (32). Sophomore linebacker Rico Kennedy currently ranks in the T-No. 24 in the FCS in tackles for loss (6.5).
The game will kick off from Oliver Dawson Stadium Oct 6, at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU and also broadcasted on WEAA 88.9 FM.
