Morgan State looks to keep playoff hopes alive vs Delaware State
Morgan State University’s Bears look to win at their first home game of the season against the Delaware State Hornets today their last scheduled home game.
The game tomorrow marks the 67th matchup between the two teams. The Bears lead the series 39-27 and have won eight of the last 10 matches.
Sophomore Defensive Back Keith Jenkins Jr. was named MEAC specialist of the week after his 158 kick return yards and pivotal touchdown against the Spartans. This season, Jenkins has 20 kickoff attempts for 478 kick return yards. Jenkins said he is going to try to get another touchdown when they play the Hornets tomorrow.
“I feel like it’s us versus just us so we got to stay on the same page as a team and not get too high or too low,” Jenkins said.
The Bears are fresh off of an impressive comeback win against the Norfolk State Spartans last Saturday – in which, the Bears were behind 28-10 in the third quarter. However, they scored an additional 22 points in the fourth quarter and won the game 32-28.
Their win against the Spartans was the Bears’ first in MEAC and made them eligible for the Celebration Bowl and playoffs.
The Hornets enter tomorrow’s game with a 1-7 record and lost to the Howard Bisons last Saturday 17-10. This loss left the Hornets with a 0-2 MEAC record.
On offense Delaware State is ranked fifth just ahead of Morgan in terms of points per game where they average 18.3 points. The Hornets are led by Redshirt Freshman quarterback Marqui adams. Adams has 1,181 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, and an interception to this point. He is also the second leading rusher on the team with 196 yards and a touchdown. The Hornets do have the worst ranked rushing attack in the MEAC but they do have a top five rusher in the conference. Redshirt Sophomore Marquis Gillis is their leading rusher with 434 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Hornets have two bright spots on their defensive line. Junior Defensive Linemen Eric Montes and Darren Cook. Montes is the leading tackler with 37 and leads the team in sacks with 4.5. Montes also has 6.5 tackles for loss. Cook leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
The Hornets are also having a great year in their return game. Sophomore Rahkeem Smith is having an All-MEAC type of season. Smith has two kickoff return touchdowns and a punt return touchdown so far this season. Redshirt Junior Wade Igne also has a punt return touchdown.
The Bears and Hornets last faced each other Nov. 12, 2022, when the Bears beat the Hornets 37-7.
The Hornets are ranked last in the MEAC standings, their only win of the season being against Virginia University of Lynchburg, 48-10 on Sept. 30.
The Hornet’s average 18.3 points per game while the Bears average 15.71 points.
Today, the Bears are scheduled to face the Hornets at 1 p.m. at Hughes Memorial Stadium.
