1 p.m. Kick-off at Fitton Field, Morgan State vs. Holy CrossComplete Gamenotes (PDF)
GAME TIME
Morgan State will face Holy Cross on the road for the Crusdaer's home-opener on Saturday (Sept. 6). The Bears enter the 2014 season under the leadership of new head coach Lee Hull. Holy Cross completed the 2013 season with a 3-9 overall record and was 1-5 in the Patriot League. Morgan State posted a 5-7 record and was tied for third in the MEAC with a 5-3 record in conference play. Game time at Fitton Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game will televised on Charter TV3 and will also be broadcast live by Morgan State's flagship station WEAA, 88.9 FM.
THE BEARS-CRUSADERS
• Morgan State and Holy Cross will meet for the first time in history.
QUICK HITS
• MSU will enter the 2014 season with a number of veterans... the Bears' roster has 64 returning players and 17 returning starters on its roster ... there are 34 who started at least one game or were considered a starter last year ... the roster also includes a number of veterans - 16 seniors and 13 juniors.
• The Bears return its top receiver from last season in Thomas Martin ... Martin, a Naples (Fla.) product, started in every game and finished with 352 yards on 28 receptions.
• MSU returns a corps of running backs in 2014 with Lamont Brown III, Herb Walker Jr. and Tracy Martin the most likely candidates in the backfield.
• The Bears return an experienced trio of quarterbacks (Robert Council, Seth Higgins and Moses Skillon) ... Council started Week 1 vs. EMU and completed 18-of-28 passes for 285 yards with 3 TDs.
• Seven (7) starters return from the 2013 defense: Andrew Mitchell (DL), Cody Acker (LB), Christopher Robinson (LB), Ta'Quon Jackson (LB), Bill Hill (LB), Peterson Janvier (FS) and Nate Ayers (SS).
• Cody Acker, a 2013 Third Team All-MEAC selection, returns as one of the league leaders with 97 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, in addition to an interception for a touchdown.
• Coach Hull added six assistants to his initial coaching staff ... the new coaches are: John Morgan (AHC), Fred Farrier (OC), Dwayne Foster (OL), Ken Lucas (RB),Brawley Evans (DB/RC), and Jamari McCollough (WR).
FIRST AND 10
• Morgan State and Holy Cross are meeting for the first time Saturday.
• Morgan State is playing in the state of Massachusetts for the sixth time in school history. The Bears have played at: Boston College ('83), Boston University ('83 & '84) and Massachusetts ('78 & '85).
• Senior LB Cody Acker was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week following his performance vs. Eastern Michigan.
• Lee Hull will be making his return to Holy Cross, where he was a wideout under head coaches Rick Carter and Mark Duffner, and coached alongside Dan Allen.
• Redshirt freshman Matthew Thompson received his first collegiate start as the right tackle last week at Eastern Michigan.
BEARS OPEN 116th SEASON OF FOOTBALL SINCE 1898
MSU enters its 116th season of football, and the first under head coach Lee Hull.
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
The Crusaders finished with an overall mark of 3-9 during the 2013 season. Seven (7) of Holy Cross' losses were by seven points or less.
• They return 47 letterwinners to go along with 16 starters from a team that dropped it s final five games of the 2013 season.
• Holy Cross is 0-1 after its tough 14-13 loss to Albany. The deciding play of the game happened when Neil Morrison recovered a fumble and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown with 44 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, as Albany came from behind to pulloff the victory.
• The Crusaders will be led on offense by sophomore quarterback Peter Pujals. He completed 23-of-42 passes for 323 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore wideout Jake Wieczorek had a career-high seven receptions for 149 yards and a score against Albany on Saturday.
• The running back position will be led by Gabe Guild, who finished with 75 yards on 23 carries in the Crusdaer's season-opener.
• The defense was led by sophomore free safety Luke Ford, who finished with 11 tackles and two pass breakups, while John Zakrzewski add nine tackles.
• Head coach Tom Gilmore enters his 11th year at Holy Cross. The Crusaders stand 47-43 overall (53-49 in the Patriot League since the beginning of the 2005 season). Under Gilmore's leadership, the Crusaders have been one of the most successful program's in the conference.
MSU vs. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
Morgan State is 0-1 vs. current members of the Patriot League Conference. Morgan State has only played Patriot League team once in its history. The Bears were defeated at Bucknell 37-10 on Sept. 4, 1999. It marked the first game under MSU's new head coach Stanley Mitchell.
COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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