Bears prepare to be Ram tough

McKhan raced down the sideline 49 yards for the touchdown with his second interception of the day, one of many highlights in the Bears’ 49-7 win over the Eagles at Hughes Stadium.

“It took me back to high school,” McKhan said of the score. “It was my first collegiate touchdown. Hopefully, the first of many.”

The Bears (1-1) forced seven turnovers against the Eagles (0-3), including a single-game, school-record six interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. Morgan State will have to be just as opportunistic against Winston-Salem State (0-2) on Saturday night at 6 when the Bears travel to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Rams upset the Bears, 19-17, on a late field goal at Hughes Stadium last year.

Still, the Bears took a few moments to savor the team’s most lopsided win since a 52-10 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore in 1976.

“You’re just thinking touchdown, scoring those points,” senior linebacker Jerrell Guyton, who also returned an interception for a touchdown, said. “That was Morgan State defense.”

Morgan State’s defense is becoming synonymous with the best in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Bears were among the top units in the country last season, as  Morgan State allowed just 264.8 yards per game — second-fewest in the FCS — and forced 29 turnovers. The secondary was ranked the best in the FCS, allowing an average of just 264.8 yards per game.

The defense expects to have success against Ram quarterbacks. Redshirt freshman Tienne Jefferson and junior Jarrett Dunston combined to complete 9-of-18 passes for 141 yards with two interceptions in a 16-13 loss to perennial cellar dweller Savannah State. 

Morgan State also will have to find a way to stop redshirt freshman Nic Cooper, who rushed for 144 yards with a pair of touchdowns on 21 carries.

“We have a real good team,” McKhan said. “We are just trying to maintain and get to that championship level.”

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