The Morgan State Bears football team opened its 2012 season in dramatic fashion on Sept. 1 as the Bears held on for a 30-27 win over Sacred Heart in quadruple overtime at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore, Md.
It was the first 4-OT game since Bears head coach Don Hill-Eley took over the team more than 10 years ago.
“I’ve never been involved in a four overtime game,” Hill-Eley said. “I have been a part of some three’s, but never any fours. There’s a first time for everything.”
Morgan State survived with the home victory thanks to a late field goal by senior placekicker Earvin Gonzalez; earlier in the third overtime period, Sacred Heart kicker Chris Oger’s potential game-winning kick was blocked by Bears freshman defensive lineman Damarco Bisbee, which eventually led to MSU’s game-winning kick.
Morgan State leaned on its rushing attack on offense. Senior running back Troy Davidson ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, including a 70-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. His one-yard touchdown run gave the Bears a 24-21 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Davidson said he wanted to end the game with another touchdown run, but was still satisfied with the field goal for the victory.
“Every time we came to the sideline we discussed that we needed to score a touchdown and not settle for a field goal. But unfortunately it didn’t work out that way, we ended up winning by a field goal–but we will take it however we can get it,” Davidson said after the game.
“It would have hurt to open up the season 0-1, it feels good to open up the season 1-0, and it’s always good to win.”
Morgan State (1-0) will now travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to face University of Buffalo on Sept. 8.