Brandon Walker for Urban Media Today
Baltimore, MD—Ben Chandler IV returned an 87-yard interception in overtime to complete a 14-point comeback in the 4th quarter, leading Howard to a shocking 26-20 win over Morgan State at Hughes Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“Throughout the game, this team never wavered,” said Howard head coach Ted White after recording the first MEAC victory of his career. “Even when we fell behind by two scores in the fourth quarter, no one gave up. It was a good win for us.”
The action started slow with an exchange of punts, but Alex Amaya got Morgan State on the board first with a 42-yard field goal after Howard shanked a punt. After Howard turned the ball over on downs on its next possession, Justin Perry caught a 17-yard reception for Morgan State, setting up a 28-yard field goal by Amaya.
John Washington returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards, and Howard got into the MSU red zone. Tahj Smith sacked Ja’Shawn Scroggans on third down, forcing Matt Concord to kick a 38-yard field goal to cut the Howard deficit in half.
The defensive struggle continued until Howard drove inside the 10 before the half and kicked a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at six at halftime.
As the defensive struggle continued, penalties affected both teams, and Morgan got into position to kick a field goal, but Amaya missed a 44-yard attempt to keep the score tied.
Morgan State forced a three-and-out, and the home team’s offensive penalties continued as they kept the edge in field position but couldn’t capitalize until Cameron Edge hit Joseph Towler for a 36-yard touchdown pass to put MSU up 13-6.
Washington had another effective run back, but Morgan again held the Bison to another three-and-out. Morgan started driving down the field again late in the third quarter as the Bears maintained their one-score lead. Edge completed the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Alex Simmons, capping an eight-play, 67-yard drive to put the Bears up two scores with 13:26 remaining in regulation.
Morgan State forced a punt on Howard’s next possession, but on 3rd and 1, Morgan State threw the ball on, and the pass fell incomplete, forcing a punt and swinging the game in Howard’s favor. Howard capitalized with Isaiah Freeman scoring on a two-yard keeper to cut the deficit in half with 7:46 remaining. After another stop, Freeman connected with Bill Roberson II on a four-yard pass with 3:09 remaining to tie the score.
Roberson came up big with 76 yards on 14 carries, tied with Semaj Pierre with three catches, and became the main offensive contributor after Scroggans suffered a lower-body injury in the second half.
“It is all about taking advantage of the opportunity,” Roberson said postgame. “I know that we needed a spark and I am happy that I was able to contribute to this big victory.”
Both teams pushed late in regulation but couldn’t score, and the game went into overtime. Morgan State got the ball first, gained yardage on a sack, and on 4th-and-19, Chandler intercepted Edge for the walk-off touchdown.
Morgan State head coach Damon Wilson summed up the missed opportunity to start conference play on the right foot at home, citing several procedural penalties on offense.
“Our execution in all those drives—we end up having a penalty on those drives, and we end up getting behind the sticks, and like I said, you can’t do that and win ballgames,” Wilson said after the game. “It’s already 1st-and-10; it can’t be 1st-and-15 or 1st-and-20 because of self-inflicted wounds, and we did that today, and we showed some of our immaturity at times today on the field.”
Morgan State will stay home to face South Carolina State on Thursday evening, trying to snap its two-game losing streak after being ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in school history. Howard will travel to North Carolina Central, which is coming off a road conference win on Saturday.
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