Bears Drop 51-10 to Bulldogs as MEAC Title Hopes Fade

Morgan State football lost 51-10 to South Carolina State on Thursday at Hughes Stadium. The defeat drops the Bears to 5-4 overall and 0-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. South Carolina State improves to 7-2 and holds a 2-0 record in league play.

The Bulldogs controlled the game through their passing attack. Quarterback Keely Watson completed 27 of 36 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns. South Carolina State scored 30 unanswered points after halftime, according to Morgan State Athletics. The team started fast, scoring on its first two drives to lead 14-0 after the first quarter.

Morgan State’s defense provided the only offensive scoring. Safety Raquane Matthews recovered a fumble and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Alex Amaya kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 14-10 with 5:10 left in the half. The margin vanished on the final play before the break when Watson hit Troy Hillman for a 20-yard touchdown as time expired.

The Bears' offense struggled to gain ground. Morgan State finished with 150 total yards and minus-12 rushing yards, while South Carolina State accumulated 509 total yards. Quarterback Cameron Edge completed 17 of 28 passes for 144 yards. Sophomore receiver Justin Perry led the Bears with five catches for 72 yards. Linebacker Darius Jones recorded 10 tackles and a forced fumble for the defense.

Head coach Damon Wilson cited the lack of offensive production and the late first-half touchdown as key factors. He noted that the team is playing without some players, though the school did not name them. Wilson stated, 'Offensively, we didn’t score the ball at all. The only touchdown we got came from the defense.' He added that 'the next man has to step up and make plays.'

The Bears have three conference games left. They must win all three to finish 3-2 in the MEAC. A share of the title would require losses from both Howard and South Carolina State. The MEAC champion earns a spot in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta in December. Morgan State plays at Delaware State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m.