Morgan State Stuns Robert Morris 28-27 With Last-Second Touchdown in Homecoming Thriller
By Brian Hradsky | October 11, 2026
The Morgan State Bears pulled off another remarkable comeback Saturday afternoon, defeating the Robert Morris Colonials 28-27 in a thrilling homecoming matchup at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore. Senior running back Keith Jenkins Jr. scored the game-winning touchdown with just 24 seconds remaining, completing a dramatic comeback from a 14-point deficit in front of 11,200 fans. The victory improved Morgan State to 5-1 overall, giving the Bears their best start since 2009 and extending their winning streak to four games. For the second consecutive week, head coach Damon Wilson’s team delivered a last-minute victory, further establishing Morgan State as one of the most exciting teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Morgan State Bears
5-1 overall
28
Robert Morris Colonials
3-3 overall
27
FINAL • OCTOBER 10, 2026 • HUGHES STADIUM
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan St. | 0 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 28 |
| Robert Morris | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
Robert Morris Controls the First Half
Robert Morris opened the game with an impressive offensive performance, using a methodical 12-play, 99-yard drive to establish an early advantage. Quarterback Carson Haggard connected with Attawan Mays for a 28-yard touchdown with one minute remaining in the opening quarter, putting the Colonials ahead 7-0. Haggard continued creating problems for Morgan State’s defense during the second quarter, adding a four-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0. The Bears struggled to generate offensive momentum during the opening half, while Robert Morris controlled possession and kept Morgan State’s offense on the sidelines.
Morgan State finally responded late in the second quarter, assembling a 13-play, 69-yard drive that consumed six minutes of game time. Kicker Gavin Fetty converted a 30-yard field goal as the first half expired, putting the Bears on the scoreboard and reducing the deficit to 14-3. Although Morgan State entered halftime trailing by 11 points, the lengthy scoring possession provided some much-needed confidence for an offense that had struggled to establish a rhythm. The Bears needed a significantly stronger second-half performance to keep their homecoming winning streak alive.
Morgan State Explodes for 18 Third-Quarter Points
The Bears emerged from halftime with renewed energy, opening the third quarter with a nine-play, 42-yard drive that ended with Fetty’s 19-yard field goal. Morgan State’s defense then provided an opportunity for its offense to continue building momentum, and quarterback Cameron Edge capitalized with one of the biggest plays of the afternoon. Edge connected with wide receiver Joseph Towler for a 56-yard touchdown, bringing Morgan State within one point at 14-13 with 6:31 remaining in the quarter. The explosive scoring play energized the homecoming crowd and transformed what had been a one-sided contest into a competitive matchup.
Robert Morris quickly answered when Haggard connected with Noah Schaerli for a 54-yard touchdown, extending the Colonials’ advantage to 21-13. However, Morgan State refused to let the game slip away, responding with another explosive play from Jenkins. Facing fourth-and-one, Jenkins broke through the Robert Morris defense for a 45-yard touchdown run, bringing the Bears within two points. Edge then completed a two-point conversion pass to Alex Simmons, tying the game at 21-21 entering the fourth quarter.
Jenkins Delivers Game-Winning Touchdown With 24 Seconds Remaining
The fourth quarter featured another dramatic momentum swing when Robert Morris regained the lead with 4:16 remaining. Haggard connected with Eyasu Palmore for a nine-yard touchdown, giving the Colonials a 27-21 advantage after the extra-point attempt failed. Morgan State faced the challenge of driving the length of the field with limited time remaining, but Edge demonstrated the composure that helped the Bears defeat Villanova the previous week. The quarterback directed an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ultimately produced the winning touchdown.
Edge made several crucial plays during the possession, including a 22-yard scramble on third-and-seven that moved Morgan State deep into Robert Morris territory. He later scrambled nine yards to the one-yard line, positioning the Bears for a final rushing attempt. Jenkins took the handoff and leaped over the defensive line for a one-yard touchdown with just 24 seconds remaining, tying the game at 27. Fetty converted the extra point, giving Morgan State its first lead of the afternoon and sending the homecoming crowd into celebration.
Robert Morris still had one final opportunity, but Morgan State’s defense delivered when it mattered most. Haggard completed a 27-yard pass to Jaqai Carter, moving the Colonials into Morgan State territory with seconds remaining. Defensive lineman Donovan Moyer then sacked Haggard and forced a fumble, which Jordan Jeudy recovered to secure the victory. The defensive stand completed Morgan State’s remarkable comeback and preserved another memorable homecoming celebration.
Jenkins and Edge Lead Morgan State’s Offense
MORGAN STATE’S TOP PERFORMERS
Keith Jenkins Jr.
98 YDS
13 carries • 2 rushing TDs
Cameron Edge
181 YDS
18/29 passing • 1 TD
Joseph Towler
66 YDS
3 catches • 1 receiving TD
Darius Jones
10 TKL
Team-leading tackles
Jenkins delivered his most productive rushing performance of the season, finishing with 98 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. He also contributed five receptions for 47 yards, providing another reliable option for Edge in the passing game. His 45-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and game-winning one-yard score demonstrated his ability to make plays in crucial situations. Jenkins finished with 145 yards from scrimmage and emerged as one of the primary reasons Morgan State escaped with the victory.
Edge completed 18 of 29 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown while adding 61 rushing yards on seven carries. His mobility proved especially important during the game-winning possession, allowing Morgan State to overcome difficult down-and-distance situations. Towler led the Bears with 66 receiving yards, including his 56-yard touchdown reception that sparked the third-quarter comeback. Justin Perry and Malachi Bryant also contributed three receptions apiece, helping Morgan State maintain offensive balance.
Morgan State Overcomes Statistical Disadvantage
| Category | Morgan State | Robert Morris |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 369 | 437 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 376 |
| Rushing yards | 188 | 61 |
| First downs | 20 | 22 |
| Third-down conversions | 4/11 | 6/11 |
| Fourth-down conversions | 3/3 | 1/1 |
| Penalties | 8-45 | 6-53 |
| Time of possession | 27:10 | 32:50 |
Statistics from Morgan State and Robert Morris official box scores.
Despite surrendering 437 total yards, Morgan State’s defense made several important plays that ultimately determined the outcome. Haggard completed 23 of 30 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns, repeatedly challenging the Bears’ secondary with explosive completions. However, Morgan State limited Robert Morris to just 61 rushing yards on 31 attempts, preventing the Colonials from establishing a consistent ground attack. The Bears also converted all three fourth-down attempts, demonstrating their willingness to take risks in critical situations.
Jones led Morgan State’s defense with 10 tackles, while Justin McIlwain contributed nine tackles and one tackle for loss. Kristopher Boyd added seven tackles, and Moyer recorded three tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. Moyer’s strip-sack in the final seconds provided the decisive defensive play, ensuring Robert Morris never attempted a potential game-winning field goal. Although the defense allowed several explosive passing plays, its ability to deliver in the closing moments preserved the victory.
Morgan State Continues Its Historic Start
Saturday’s victory improved Morgan State to 5-1, continuing one of the program’s most promising starts in recent memory. The Bears have now won four consecutive games and secured their third straight homecoming victory, generating considerable excitement around Wilson’s program. Morgan State also defeated Villanova 38-35 on October 3, with Edge scoring the winning touchdown with 36 seconds remaining. Two consecutive victories decided in the final minute demonstrate the Bears’ resilience and their ability to execute under pressure.
Wilson praised his team’s response to adversity following another dramatic finish, emphasizing that finding ways to win remains the program’s primary objective. Morgan State has demonstrated improved confidence in late-game situations, particularly with Edge directing the offense and Jenkins providing a dependable rushing threat. The Bears have also established a physical identity, using their running game and defensive front to compete against difficult opponents. Maintaining that identity will be essential as Morgan State approaches conference play.
What’s Next for Morgan State?
Morgan State will travel to face Tennessee State on Saturday, October 17, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Bears will look to extend their winning streak to five games before beginning MEAC competition against Howard on October 24 at Hughes Stadium. The Tennessee State matchup represents another important opportunity to demonstrate that Morgan State’s impressive start is sustainable against quality competition. Continued offensive balance and improvements in pass coverage could help the Bears maintain their momentum entering the conference schedule.
MSB Take
Morgan State is becoming one of the most exciting college football stories in Maryland, and Saturday’s comeback victory provided another example of the program’s remarkable improvement. The Bears could have folded after falling behind 14-0, but instead responded with 18 third-quarter points and another clutch final drive. Edge deserves considerable credit for remaining composed under pressure, while Jenkins delivered the type of performance that can define a season. Winning close games requires confidence, execution and leadership, and Morgan State demonstrated all three qualities when the outcome was on the line.
However, the Bears cannot continue allowing opposing quarterbacks to throw for nearly 400 yards and expect to escape with victories every week. Robert Morris repeatedly exploited Morgan State’s secondary, and those defensive breakdowns could become costly once conference play begins. Wilson and his coaching staff must address the pass coverage while maintaining the aggressive defensive approach that produced the game-sealing turnover. The offense has demonstrated its ability to overcome adversity, but improved defensive consistency would make Morgan State a much more complete team.
The most encouraging development is that Morgan State continues finding ways to win games it might have lost in previous seasons. At 5-1, the Bears have an opportunity to turn their promising start into a genuinely special season, particularly if they carry this momentum into MEAC competition. Jenkins, Edge and the rest of Morgan State’s emerging playmakers have given supporters plenty of reasons to believe this program is moving in the right direction. If the Bears continue executing in critical situations, they could become a serious contender in the conference championship race.
Sources: Morgan State Athletics official recap · Robert Morris Athletics recap · Official play-by-play and box score · MEAC conference roundup · HBCU Legends game analysis · ESPN game summary.
