The Morgan State Bears blew a chance at a comeback victory over the Florida A&M Rattlers, falling 31-17 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup on Oct. 30 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Morgan managed to erase an early 14-point lead, tying the game at 17 in the fourth quarter, and had a chance to take the lead with only seven minutes remaining in the game. But MSU quarterback Delonte Williams’ pass was intercepted and returned for a 37-yard touchdown by Rattlers’ Jerrell Stewart, and A&M running back Philip Sylvester sealed the win with an 89-yard touchdown run.
“Mistakes plagued us early,” MSU coach Don Hill-Eley said. “I thought once we got back into the game, we thought the momentum was on our side. The kid ended up throwing an interception for a touchdown. Victory goes to them . They made their plays and they had a good schematic game across the board.”
FAMU’s Sylvester terrorized Morgan State all game, rushing for 192 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
But the biggest contribution for FAMU (5-3 overall, 4-1 MEAC) came from its defense. MSU’s Delonte Williams entered the game as the MEAC’s Rookie of the Week after a strong performance against Delaware State Oct. 23. But Williams was held to very limited success, completing just 7 of 22 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. He was also sacked four times and picked off late in the fourth quarter.
Morgan State fell to a 4-4 overall record, 3-2 in the MEAC, and will face Norfolk State on Nov. 6.
