image via the Capitol Gazette
Morgan State just pulled off a statement win on the road. 🐻🔥
The Bears stunned Villanova 38–35 Saturday afternoon, surviving an unbelievable fourth-quarter shootout and a last-second field-goal attempt to improve to 4–1.
And Cameron Edge saved his best for last.
The Morgan State quarterback completed 31 of 40 passes for 444 yards and three touchdowns, the third-highest single-game passing total in program history. Then, with 36 seconds remaining, Edge scored the go-ahead touchdown himself on a 2-yard run.
FOURTH-QUARTER CHAOS
Villanova finally grabbed its first lead of the afternoon when Isaiah Ragland broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown run with 14:12 remaining, putting the Wildcats ahead 28–24.
Morgan State answered almost immediately.
Just 45 seconds later, Edge connected with Joseph Towler for a 64-yard touchdown, putting the Bears back in front, 31–28.
Then Ja’briel Mace flipped the game again.
Mace ripped off a 52-yard touchdown run with 11:52 remaining, giving Villanova a 35–31 advantage.
Three touchdowns.
Less than three minutes.
And the drama wasn’t even close to over.
After Villanova stopped Morgan State on fourth down with 2:45 remaining, it looked like the Wildcats might escape.
Instead, Morgan State’s offense got the ball back with 1:51 left.
Five consecutive completions moved the Bears down the field.
Then Edge finished it himself.
Two yards.
36 seconds.
TOUCHDOWN.
Morgan State 38, Villanova 35.
😱 VILLANOVA HAD ONE LAST CHANCE
The Wildcats weren’t finished.
Pat McQuaide quickly moved Villanova into field-goal range, setting up Dominic LeBlanc for a 47-yard attempt with two seconds remaining.
The kick had the distance.
It looked good.
Then it drifted wide right.
BALLGAME.
Morgan State’s sideline erupted as the Bears secured one of the biggest wins of their season.
BY THE NUMBERS
Morgan State
- 38 points
- 521 total yards
- 444 passing yards
- 77 rushing yards
- 21 first downs
- 4–1 record
Villanova
- 35 points
- 457 total yards
- 266 passing yards
- 191 rushing yards
- 22 first downs
- 2–4 record
Morgan State’s offense was led by Edge’s historic passing performance. Justin Perry finished with 152 receiving yards, including an 88-yard reception, while Keith Jenkins Jr. caught eight passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Villanova’s Isaiah Ragland scored three rushing touchdowns, while Ja’briel Mace added two more and rushed for 103 yards. The Wildcats finished with five rushing touchdowns and still couldn’t get the win.
THIS WAS A STATEMENT
Morgan State entered the afternoon coming off a 41–26 win over Towson.
Now the Bears have gone into Villanova and knocked off a program that reached the FCS semifinals last season.
And Morgan State is now 4–1 for the first time since 2009.
This wasn’t just a win.
Morgan State just announced itself.
PUT SOME RESPECT ON THE BEARS.
