Morgan State fell to Stony Brook 22-3 on Saturday, in what was a tough non-conference matchup for the HBCU football program. Despite taking an early lead, the Bears struggled to maintain momentum and couldn’t overcome the Seawolves’ dominant rushing attack. Offensive issues, particularly in finishing drives and ball security, plagued Morgan State throughout the game, contributing to their third loss of the season. Stony Brook capitalized on those mistakes, keeping Morgan State’s offense in check while building a comfortable lead.
| Statistics | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
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Morgan State struck first with a 25-yard field goal by Beckett Leary, following a solid 74-yard drive in the first quarter. But from there, the offense sputtered. The Bears managed only 259 total yards, with 146 yards on the ground and 113 through the air. Turnovers were a major issue, as Morgan State fumbled twice, both at key points in drives.
Stony Brook’s running back Roland Dempster was the star of the game, rushing for 158 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. The Seawolves totaled 287 rushing yards, consistently breaking through Morgan State’s defense. Dempster’s 1-yard touchdown late in the second quarter extended Stony Brook’s lead to 16-3, and the Bears never recovered.
Morgan State’s defense, led by Bryan Stukes and Arturo Mattocks with 13 tackles each, tried to keep the game within reach. However, they couldn’t stop Stony Brook’s ground game in critical moments. The Bears forced a missed field goal and came up with some key stops, but their offense couldn’t capitalize. Quarterbacks Duce Taylor and Dominique Anthony combined for 113 passing yards, with no touchdowns and little success moving the ball downfield.
With Morgan State sitting at 2-3 after this game, the next two games will be crucial in determining their momentum heading into conference play. They’ll need to address their offensive struggles, particularly in finishing drives and ball security, to turn things around before facing tougher HBCU opponents. These upcoming non-conference games provide Morgan State with an opportunity to fine-tune their offense and build confidence heading into the heart of the season.
For Morgan State, improving execution in the red zone and limiting turnovers will be vital as they prepare for the MEAC conference stretch. The Bears’ season could hinge on how well they adjust in the next two games to ensure their place in the HBCU football national title game in Atlanta, the Celebration Bowl.