Courtesy of Morgan State Athletic Communications
The medical crisis impacting the nation and the world has caused sports across the globe to come to a standstill for the time being. For example, the Olympics scheduled for the summer of 2020 in Japan has been postponed until 2021.
While we wait on the sports world to get back on track, this is a good time to revisit the illustrious past of Morgan Athletics. Over the next few weeks we will tap into the archives for historic game recaps and stories.
Here's what happened on October 19, 2002:
Classic Bear Recaps: T.J. Stallings sets school-record; Bears win 38-20
MorgaStateBears.com
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 19, 2002) -- T.J. Stallings set a school-record by rushing for 5 touchdowns today as Morgan State came away with a 38-20 victory against Howard, ending a seven-game losing streak to the Bison. The game was played before 13,500 fans in attendance for Howard's Homecoming.
The Bears were flying high coming off of their upset victory in Greensboro against North Carolina A&T and looked impressive as they sliced through Howard's defense. Morgan State racked up 397 total yards and averaged 5.8 yards per play.
Head Coach Donald Hill-Eley
Stallings, who entered the game ranked second in all-purpose yards in the conference, had 36 carries and compiled a career-high 206 of the Bears' 307 total rushing yards. The All-MEAC candidate had an incredible day as he combined for 312 yards of total offense.
"Last night [Friday], we had curfew at 9 o'clock with lights out at 10. I laid in bed from 9 until 12:30 trying to go to sleep, but for some reason I just couldn't," said Stallings, who broke a 36-year record. "I just knew today was going to be a big day, I didn't know I was going to break a record."
Stallings rang up his third touchdown of the contest following an 80-yard drive to push the lead to 24-12 early in the 3rd quarter. The Bison answered following a personal foul penalty on Morgan spotting the ball at the Bears' 17. Two plays later, Donald Clark handed the ball to Jay Colbert for an 8-yard TD run cutting the lead to 24-20 and firing up their Homecoming fans. However, the excitement for the Bison faithful was premature as the Bears marched back down the field. LeJominick Washington's 19-yard completion to rookie Kelvin Dickens setup Stalling's 4-yard record-tying TD run to end the 3rd quarter with a commanding 31-20 lead.
QB LeJominick Washington
Morgan's defense shutout Howard during the final period and played steady throughout the course of the contest. Sekou Goings led the defensive frontline as he recorded 5 tackles, 3 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Linebacker Albert Gamble and defensive back Thomas Potts combined for 16 tackles. The defensive unit perstered HU's quarterback into a poor throwing day as Clark completed 15-for-41 passes and was sacked 6 times.
Morgan's final series ended on a 20-yard TD sweep by Stallings for the record-breaking fifth TD of the game. John Fuqua set the previous record in 1966 when he scored 4 touchdowns against Virginia Union.
Howard took the early lead on the first play of the game when Donald Clark hurled a 79-yard TD strike to Jonathan Brewer. Vaughn Waters' missed extra point left the Bears trailing 6-0 with 14:40 remaining in the 1st quarter. On Morgan's next possession, Stallings completed a 4-play drive by dashing in for a 6-yard TD. Jon Voroshilin's extra point gave the Bears the lead 7-6.
Morgan's next possession was setup when standout defensive lineman Jason Whaley sacked Clark into fumbling the ball and Tim Cayson pounced on it at Howard's 23. The Bears were able to convert the turnover into points when Stallings ran in a 4-yard TD midway through the 1st quarter. Howard got back on the scoreboard toward the end of the period when Clark connected with Jonathan Brewer for his second TD catch following a 14 play, 84-yard drive. Brewer finished the game with 6 receptions for 151 yards. HU's 2-point attempt failed as the Bears held on to a 14-12 lead.
The only scoring during the 2nd quarter came off the foot of Voroshilin as he booted a 36-yard field goal to give the Bears a 17-12 halftime lead.
Bear Notes:
?? At 3-4 (2-2 in the MEAC), Morgan surpassed its win total from the previous season and had three wins for the first time since the 1997 season.
?? Stallings, who had a then-career high 142 yards in the previous weekend's win at North Carolina A&T State, had 164 in the final two periods against Howard.
??Despite allowing 406 yards, Morgan's defense was able to withstand several Bison threats, forcing four fumbles and sacking Howard quarterback Donald Clark six times.
??Stallings was named 2002 Black College All-American following a record-breaking season in which he averaged 4.8 yards per carry and rushed for 1,169 yards.
??T.J. Stallings currently ranks No. 1 on the school's all-time rushing TDs in a game (5); No. 1 in rushing TDs in a season (19; 2002); No. 5 in rushing yards in a season (1,169; 2002); No. 4 in career rushing TDs (19); No. 4 in rushing yards per game/season (106.2; 2002); No. 12 on the school's all-time rushing list with 1,510 yards.