MORGAN STATE RECAP
Piscataway, NJ - Rutgers spotted Howard University a 14-0 lead and then reeled off 52 unanswered points to pull away to an easy 52-14 win in a non-conference game at High Point Solutions Stadium.
The Bison (0-2, 0-0 in the MEAC) set the tone early on their opening possession, driving 89 yards on 9 plays with Kalen Johnson connecting with Robert Mercer from eight yards out to take a 7-0 lead at the 10:51 mark of the first quarter.
Inspired by the scoring drive, the defense did its part on the Scarlet Knights first possession when Alonte Dunn picked off a pass that set up Howard’s next score. It took three plays to go 24 yard as Johnson did the honors this time with a 15-yard jaunt at the 9:26 mark.
The Bison continued to move the ball effectively, but a series of untimely penalties and miscues on offense stalled potential scoring drives that prevented them from increasing the lead.
Rutgers (1-1, 0-0 in the Big Ten) fought and scrapped its way back in the game. It started with an 84-yard kick return by Janarion Grant that cut the deficit to 14-7.
“That was a big turnaround,” said Howard head coach Gary Harrell. “Anytime in a football game, you can get a punt return, a blocked kick or anything on special teams, it can deflate the other team and give your team a boost. I wouldn’t say it put us in the tank, but it was pretty good momentum boost for them because it put them back into a one-possession game.”
The Bison defense continued to hold the hosts in check and had opportunities but again, as in the loss at Maryland, the team found ways to shoot itself in the foot with bobbled snaps and false starts.
The Scarlet Knights finally got an offensive touchdown when Chris Laviano found Andre Patten from 22 yards out to tie the score at 14 at the half.
“I knew two scores against this team was not a safe haven and that we would have to continue to play well,” noted Harrell. “We had a lot of mistakes, missed tackles and it was a sloppy finish. I was very disappointed in the way we finished.”
It was all Rutgers in the second half as it used its decided depth to wear down the fatigued Bison on both sides of the ball. The Scarlet Knights run game dominated the Howard front, gaining huge chunks of yards in an equal opportunity effort by a number of runners. The Scarlet Knights amassed 512 yards of total offense, 361 in the second stanza.
“I guess you could say we got worn down,” said Howard defensive end Elijah Anglin. “We have to find a way to play through the heat and fatigue and not use depth as an excuse.”
The Rutgers defense shut down the Bison offense which showed so much life at the beginning of the game, limiting them to five yards of total offense and only one first down in the second half and that came courtesy of a face mask penalty.
The Bison got another fine performance from Anthony Philyaw. The junior running back led all rushers with 112 yards.
“They came out more ready to play than we did,” said Philyaw, who was held to minus three yards rushing in the second half. “We have to learn from this and move forward.”
MORGAN STATE
HUNTINGTON, WV – Morgan State's defense recorded a turnover on Marshall's opening drive and forced the Herd to trot out their punt team during their second drive of the game.
However, the Herd had other thoughts in mind as they picked up a first on a punt fake and proceeded to march down the field on their Baltimore opponents.
Chase Litton tossed a 21-yard strike to Michael Clark for what became just the beginning of a 62-0 lopsided Marshall win over Morgan State Saturday in front of an opening day crowd of 26,488.
Litton went 13 for 16 and threw for 309 yards and six touchdowns – in just first half. Michael Clark had 56 yards and two touchdowns, while Deon-Tay McManus, Emanuel Byrd, Justin Hunt, and Ryan Yuracheck each caught one. Tony Pittman added 68 yards on the ground and scored a TD for the Herd, who posted a total of 530 yards.
"It's definitely disappointing when you don't score any points and you turn the ball over like we did," said MSU interim head coach Fred Farrier. "I feel like looking back, I have to do a better job of preparing the kids to play. Marshall is a good football team, but they are not a team we should lose 62-0."
George Davis added a fumble recovery for a 95-yard return for a touchdown. The Herd defense forced four Morgan State fumbles and recovered three.
"Too many turnovers and simple mistakes, which I have to do a better job of making sure the offense, defense, and special teams are ready to play," said Farrier. "The way we played today was unacceptable, I take the blame for it and we have to find a way to play better."
Marshall scored 21 points in the first and 28 in the second for a 49-0 lead at the half.
"They made some big plays, and they had players who made some really nice plays. For us, it's not just getting in position to make the play, but we have to get there and make the play when the opportunity is there to stop big plays like they had."
Marshall's defense harassed the Bears quarterbacks throughout the game and collected 10 quarterback hurries, nine tackles for loss and four sacks. Those statistics don't include at least another handful of big hits.
MSU's starting quarterback Chris Andrews lasted until halftime and finished the night just 6 of 17 passes for 84 yards. The Bears' true freshman backup DeAndre Harris played the entire second half. Harris threw for 91 yards on 9 for 16 passing, and was sacked three times.
By the end, Marshall handed the Bears its first shutout loss since dropping a 45-0 decision at North Carolina A&T on Nov. 8, 2014.
"Our kids need to pull the trigger and trust the coaches and themselves better," Farrier said. "There are some things to build on, we have a bye week next and us as coaches will look at the film and build on this to prepare our team better."
Bear Bits
On Marshall's first drive, LB Damare Whitaker (9 tackles) forced a fumble by RB Hyleck Foster that LB Greg Gibson (game-high 12 tackles) scooped and returned before he was hit from behind and fumbled. The ball was recovered by Whitaker at the Herd 37 with 13:24 remaining in the first quarter.
WR Thomas Martin led the Bears with 4 receptions for 72 yards; WR Ladarious Spearman had 4 catches for 37 yards
Alex Raya had a season-best 45-yard punt, inlcuding three punts inside the 20
LB William White recorded his first career sack and finished with four stops