Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley was sure even if his team got stopped on fourth-and-goal from Towson’s 1-yard line midway through the fourth quarter, it would get the ball back.
But Tigers defensive linemen Scott Bullock and Marcus Valentine stuffed Bears running back Devan James. And Towson controlled the ball for the final nine minutes, 21 seconds to beat its local rival, 21-16, on Saturday night at Johnny Unitas Stadium in front of 4,705 fans.
The win was Towson’s fourth straight over Morgan State.
“You get the ball to the 1/2-inch line and all those 300-pounders up front [on the offensive line], hell, you’re going to try,” Hill-Eley said. “We have to be able to persevere and get one yard.”
The Tigers (1-1), who trailed by nine at intermission, took control of the game in the third quarter by scoring on its first two drives of the second half. Towson senior quarterback Sean Schaefer connected with receiver Steve Holmes for a 12-yard touchdown pass on a quick slant just over three minutes into the second half, cutting the deficit to 16-14. On the Tiger’s next possession, he found receiver Marcus Lee diving into the front right corner of the end zone to give his team a 21-16 lead with 1:59 left in the third.
But the Bears (0-1) appeared ready to retake the lead early in the fourth quarter when they had first-and-goal on Towson’s 9-yard line. Running back James carried the ball to 1-yard line on first-and-goal, but the Tigers defense didn’t budge on two straight runs to set the stage for Bullock and Valentine’s heroics.
In the game-clinching drive, Schaefer completed a 40-yard screen pass to receiver Hakeem Moore that not only resulted in a first down at the Bear’s 31-yard line, but also moved him into sole possession of first place on the school’s all-time passing list.
Schaefer (8,931 yards) broke Dan Crowley’s record of 8,900 yards set from 1991-94. He finished the game 18-of-25 for 243 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
“We still have a long season ahead of us,” Schaefer said. “Anytime something like that happens, you just want it to help your team win.”
Towson raced out to an early 7-0 lead just over two minutes into the game on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Schaefer to receiver Casey Cegles. But a bad snap by Towson long snapper Brendan Ray sailed through the back of the end zone with 4:36 left in the opening quarter to cut Towson’s lead to 7-2.
On Morgan State’s ensuing possession it capped a 9-play, 52-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Carlton Jackson to receiver Robert Suratt for a 9-7 advantage.
The Bears took a 16-7 lead into intermission when defensive end Justin Lawrence – filling in as a fullback – scored on a run up the middle on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, with just four seconds left in the half.
Morgan State outgained Towson, 374 yards to 275, but had nine penalties for 85 yards compared to just three for 26 for the Tigers.
James carried 33 times for 178 yards, and Surratt finished with eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.
“We talk about winning the [Football Championship Subdivision] championship of Maryland,” Towson coach Gordy Combs said. “We’ve got it under our belts for one more year.”
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