Morgan Bears ready for shot at Towson Tigers in cross-town matchup

MSU Sports Information

TOWSON “TIGERS” (1-0, 0-0 CAA)
MORGAN STATE “BEARS” (1-0, 0-0 MEAC)
GAME #2
Saturday, September 8, 2007 • 4:00 p.m.
Hughes Stadium (Capacity 10,000) • Baltimore, Md.
RADIO: Morgan State Radio Network WEAA - 88.9 FM:
Rob Long (play-by-play) & Kelvin Bridgers (color).
INTERNET: www.MorganStateBears.com ; www.Towsontigers.com
INTERNET COVERAGE: Live Audio and Live Stats

Setting the Scene

• Fresh off its 47-7 victory over Savannah State last Thursday, the Bears will have their first big test of the season when they host the Towson Tigers on Sept. 8. Towson will be looking for its second win of the season after it stunned Central Connecticut 20-10 last week at Johnny Unitas Stadium. Meanwhile the Bears are looking to start a season 2-0 for the first time in 14 years.

• Towson is coming off a season-opening victory over Central Connecticut at last Thursday night. Sean Schaefer led the Tigers by throwing for 300 yards and he got a lot of help from Tommy Breaux (109 yds) and Rasheed McClaude (111 yds). Saturday night’s contest will mark the 20th meeting between the school’s with the Tigers holding a 14-5 advantage in the series.

• Coach Gordy Combs is one of 19 NCAA FCS coaches who is the head coach at his alma mater, he is one of only three head coaches who have never coached anywhere else. Alvin Wyatt of Bethune-Cookman and Bobby Lamb of Furman are the others. Of those 19 coaches, he has the second-longest tenure at his alma mater, trailing only Jimmy Laycock of William & Mary.

• QB Sean Schaefer will be one to watch as the Tigers prepare for the 2007 campaign. Schaefer returns as one of the top passers in the country and completed the 2006 season with 3,033 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. Schaefer looked sharp in the Tigers first game of the season as he completed 30-of-40 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown.

• MSU ballcarriers need to account for Towson inside linebacker Brian Bradford. Bradford (6-0, 285) led Towson’s defense last week by finishing with a total of 17 tackles (5 solo), a tackle for loss and a forced fumble and was selected CAA Defensive Player of the Week.

SUPER MARIO BROTHERS
QB Mario Melton will have his choice of talented targets when the Bears line-up for the 2007 season. WR Roderick Wolfe returns as one of the league’s top receivers, along with speedster Aaron Moore and dependable receivers Robert Surratt and Terrell White. Returning WR Jai Wilson is expected to wreak havoc as a slot receiver and MEAC preseason selection Rohnie Sykes will cause match-up problems from his tight end position. Melton looked sharp Last Thursday against Savannah State, the junior completed 10-of-17 passes for 112 yards and connected with Wolfe for a touchdown.