Test time for Towson, Morgan State University

Photo: MSU Chad Simpson

by Ken Murray, Baltimore Sun

Big-play threats have local rivals feeling defensive

One week after Morgan State toyed with Savannah State, the Bears find out if their revamped secondary can withstand a precision passing game.

One week after Towson University was vulnerable to the option pitch in a tight win, the Tigers find out if they can hold up against a power running game.

Two weeks into the season, it's show-and-tell for Morgan and Towson in their annual turf battle for bragging rights. Both teams have a lot to prove in a 4 p.m. kickoff today at Hughes Stadium.

"I think this is the best team Donnie's had since he became head coach," Towson coach Gordy Combs said of Morgan's Donald Hill-Eley. "This is his sixth year and I think that's what it takes to change the culture when a new coach comes in."

Hill-Eley hasn't started 2-0 in any of his five previous seasons at Morgan. He has a chance today if the Bears can defuse the prolific passing attack of Towson quarterback Sean Schaefer, who had the eighth 300-yard passing game of his 22-game college career last week.

It is a daunting challenge for a team that finished last in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in pass defense a year ago.

"Our biggest matchup is that Gordy has a great quarterback, a great receiving corps and is able to throw the ball around," Hill-Eley said. "We've shored up our secondary. This will be a good test for us."

The key additions to Morgan's defensive backfield are safeties Gary Albury and Willie Hardemon, and cornerback Darren McKahn.

Towson's receiving corps is loaded with three top seniors (Demetrius Harrison, Dayron Arnold and Paul Perry) and junior Marcus Lee. In a 20-10 win over Central Connecticut State, the Tigers found another playmaker in 6-foot-9 Tommy Breaux (Randallstown), who had seven catches for 109 yards.

Morgan's tallest cornerback is 6-3 Dakota Bracey, who expects to line up opposite Breaux at some point.

"I've never played anybody that tall," Bracey said. "I played basketball, though, and I'm ready for jump balls. I can get up there, too."

Towson's challenge, meanwhile, is to stop Morgan tailback Chad Simpson, who rushed for 142 yards in the opener, a 47-7 win over Savannah State.

"He has the great ability when he's in the open field to make you miss," Combs said. "He's quick, and their offensive line is very much improved."

Towson won last year's meeting 30-2, beating a Bears team that had nine academic suspensions, according to Hill-Eley. The Tigers have dominated the series, winning 14 of the past 16. Combs is 8-2 against the Bears, 2-2 away from Towson.

"We see each other around [town]," Towson linebacker John Webb said. "It's kind of nice to have bragging rights."

This game is about more than territorial bragging rights, though. It's an indication of which school is most ready to make the leap to the Division I Championship Subdivision playoffs. Both teams have playoff aspirations.

"If we can beat Towson, it's going to get these wheels rolling," Bracey said. "It's all about momentum."

• NOTES // In two career games against Morgan, Schaefer has averaged 9.62 yards per pass attempt, but he's also thrown five interceptions. ... Although Towson center Austin Weibley was replaced by Nick Bradway after having trouble with shotgun snaps last week, Weibley will start against Morgan. ... Tigers wide receiver Hakeem Moore, who dislocated his ankle in the opener, had surgery and is out for the season.