Morgan State University Bears. (Photo John Moore/Morgan Athletics)
Sophomore running back Herb Walker Jr. rushed for 120 yards on 21 carries and junior quarterback Moses Skillon scored three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to advance the Morgan State Bears deeper into the NCAA Division I Football Championship Series (FCS) playoffs.
Morgan State fell, 46-24, to the Richmond Spiders in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Nov. 29 at Robins Stadium in Richmond, Va.
Richmond took control of the game early, scoring three touchdowns to build a 22-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. But Skillon ran for a touchdown and the Bears connected on a field goal to cut that lead to 22-10 just five minutes into the second quarter. The Spiders scored seconds before the end of the half to extend their lead to 29-10 at halftime. Richmond scored three more touchdowns in the second half to keep the game out of reach, despite Morgan State scoring two second half touchdowns.
Walker Jr., the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)’s leading rusher this season, ran for more than 100 yards for the eighth time this year, finishing with 120 yards against Richmond. Skillon completed 23 of 45 pass attempts for a game-high 285 yards and two touchdowns, but was also intercepted three times. Skillon also ran for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Richmond senior quarterback Michael Strauss led the game with four touchdown passes on 22 of 32 passing for 272 yards. Junior receiver Reggie Diggs led Richmond with eight catches for 132 yards and two touchdown receptions.
Morgan State’s loss ended a historical season run which resulted in the Bears winning the MEAC for the first time since 1979 and advancing to the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history. Bears first-year head coach Lee Hull was also named MEAC Coach of the Year. The Morgan Bears end their 2014 campaign with a 7-6 record.
Richmond (9-4) will face Coastal Carolina (11-1) in a second round matchup on Dec. 6.