Bears return home to host the North Carolina A&T Aggies

MSU Sports Information

MORGAN STATE “BEARS” (2-3, 1-1 MEAC)
NORTH CAROLINA A&T “AGGIES” (0-5, 0-2 MEAC)
GAME #6
Saturday, October 6, 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.ncataggies.com
INTERNET COVERAGE: Live Audio and Live Stats

Setting the Scene

• Morgan State held Bethune-Cookman’s offense scoreless last Saturday night en route to a 33-9 blowout victory during the Wildcats Homecoming festivities. The Bears were once again led by All-MEAC RB Chad Simpson who posted a game-best 98 yards on 30 carries, while Byron Selby completed 7-of-16 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. MSU’s defensive unit held the Wildcats to 146 total yards, 47 on the ground. MSU will look to get in the win column when they host the Aggies.

Photo: Morgan State Head Coach Donald Hill-Eley

• North Carolina A&T is coming off a disappointing 50-20 loss against Norfolk State. The Aggies had four critical turnovers to help Norfolk State walk off the field with an ESPNU nationally televised victory at Aggie Stadium. N.C. A&T RB Michael Ferguson led the Aggies by rushing for 131 yards on 18 carries, while A&T finished with 213 total yards. Defensively, Andre Thornton collected a team-high 11 tackles (3 solo), while Marques Ruffin finished with 9 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. With the loss the Aggies dropped to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the MEAC. Saturday night’s contest will mark the 70th meeting between Morgan State and North Carolina A&T.

• The Aggies have the luxury of fielding two quarterbacks. Shelton Morgan and Herbert Miller have shared the QB duties so far this season. Morgan (r-Fr./6-1/200/Elizabeth City, N.C./Northeastern HS) has completed 22-of-44 passes for 207 yards with 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, while Miller (r-So./6-2/180/Winston-Salem, N.C./Carver HS) has 251 yards on 22-of-41 passes with two TDs and five picks. Miller is completed 3-of-7 passes for a touchdown and an interception duing the Aggies last game against Norfolk State ... he was also sacked three times and had -17 yards on 10 carries, including a 4 yard TD run.

• The Bears defensive unit will attempt to contain running back Michael Ferguson (Jr./5-11/185/Durham,N.C./Northern Durham HS). Ferguson leads the Aggies ground game with 406 yards on 68 carries and a touchdown through four games ... Ferguson also has two receptions for 18 yards ... Ferguson ranks 3rd in the MEAC in rushing by avaraging 101.5 yards per game ...6 yards per carry.

Photo: MSU #2 Chad Simpson runs behind a good offensive line.

• SEE CHAD RUN … INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS - Chad Simpson entered the Towson game just needing 63 yards to reach 1,000 yards in his Morgan State career…he ended up rushing for 195 yards! The All-MEAC running back rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns in the season-opener vs. Savannah State and has increased his career total to 1,593 yards following a game-high 98 yards at Bethune-Cookman ... he now sits 265 yards behind Jason Jackson (2004-05) who ranks #6 in the Bears rushing annals. As a result of his career-high 221 yard output against the Winston-Salem State Rams in Week 3, Simpson was selected as the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week.