Baltimore’s HBCU Morgan State University faced another tough defeat in the Battle for Greater Baltimore, falling 14-9 to Baltimore PWI Towson University, in front of a crowd of 8,394 at Towsend’s Johnny Unitas Stadium. Morgan fought hard but couldn’t break its losing streak, marking the seventh consecutive loss to its city rival.
The game started with promise for Morgan State (1-1) as Carlvainsky Decius intercepted Towson quarterback Carlos Davis’s first pass. This set up a 40-yard field goal by Beckett Leary, giving the Bears an early 3-0 lead. However, Towson quickly responded with a touchdown pass from Davis to Sam Reynolds, putting the Tigers ahead 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Towson added to their lead with a 6-yard touchdown run by Christopher Watkins before halftime, sending Morgan State into the breakdown 14-3. In the third quarter, Morgan State struck back when quarterback Tahj Smith connected with Joseph Kennerly Jr. for a 74-yard touchdown, narrowing the gap to 14-9. Unfortunately, a blocked extra point attempt prevented the Bears from closing the margin further.
Morgan State’s defense stepped up in the second half, shutting down Towson’s offense. Linebacker Arturo Mattocks led the way with nine tackles, while defensive lineman Elijah Williams contributed two sacks. Despite their defensive success, the Bears’ offense couldn’t capitalize, with Smith completing 13 of 20 passes for 163 yards but suffering five sacks.
As the clock wound down, Morgan had one last chance to mount a comeback, but a critical sack by Towson’s Will Middleton sealed the game. Towson University held on to secure the win, extending their dominance over Morgan State in this rivalry.
For the HBCU community, a win would have been a significant achievement, giving Morgan State the chance to reclaim local bragging rights. As the Bears prepare for conference play, they’ll look to build on their defensive efforts and find more offensive consistency.
Final Score: Towson 14, Morgan State 9.