By Perry Green
AFRO Sports Editor
MSU tailback Devan James scored the game’s only offensive touchdown on a seven-yard run in the first quarter. (Courtesy Photo/MSU)
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(October 11, 2009) - The Morgan State Bears’ defense proved on Oct. 10 that they can be just as tough defensively as the Ravens.
The Bears advanced to 4-1 overall on the season after escaping the North Carolina A&T Aggies, 7-6, during MSU’s homecoming at Hughes Stadium. Morgan State earned the win in a tough-fought defensive battle that lasted until the final second of the game.
The Bears scored the only offensive touchdown of the game on a seven yard run by star tailback Devan James, who finished the game with a season high 81-yards on 19 carries. But that was about the only production Morgan State would see from its offensive unit as they recorded only six first downs and turned the ball over four times.
The Aggies’ defensive unit played very well, in large part their new head coach, Alonzo Lee, who served as the Bears’ defensive coordinator the past few seasons. Lee made MSU’s defensive unit one of the best in college football during his tenure there, and both Morgan and N.C. A&T were very familiar with each other’s play style because of the connection in coaching.
“It’s tough to beat somebody with their own thing and vice versa,” Bears head coach Don Hill-Ely said after the game. “We’re running Coach Lee’s defense, they’re running our old offense. So it was the same house on both sides of the field.”
But as well as Aggies played defensively, the Bears played better, forcing turnovers at key moments of the game, including a crucial interception by Bears star cornerback Darren McKahn during a N.C. A&T drive late in the game.
“This is our job. Our job is just to help our offense out,” McKahn said. “With the pressure on the offense a little bit, things were kind of shaky for them, our job is to come in and resolve that for them. Calm it down and get the game back in order.”
McKahn and the Bears’ defensive unit calmed the Aggies’ offense again later in the fourth quarter on the final drive of the game. With less than 30 seconds in the game, N.C. A&T was driving the field without any timeouts left and was in field goal range. But MSU recorded a huge sack that forced the Aggies to rush their field goal unit on the field for the game-winning try. Aggies place kicker Patrick Courtney didn’t have enough time to properly set up his kick and missed the 32-yard try to end the game in defeat.
“This game was like clash of the titans,” Mckahn said after the game. “We know [Bears defensive coach] Herbert Parham and coach Lee coached together. They have similar coaching styles. But thank the Lord for the win.”
The Bears will try to gain a 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record when they take on Howard University on Oct. 15 at Hughes Stadium. This beltway battle will also be televised on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m.