Box Score
Aggies pass for just 23 yards against Bears

GREENSBORO, October 11, 2008 – Reputations are built through word of mouth. They are sustained visually. Morgan State’s reputation of having one of the best defensive teams in Division I FCS is fully intact after a sellout crowd at Aggie Stadium witnessed Morgan State’s No. 2 nationally-ranked defense hold North Carolina A&T to just 139 yards of offense in a 41-3 homecoming victory over the Aggies Saturday afternoon.

The Aggies played three quarterbacks, but threw for just 23 yards with an interception on 7-for-29 passing. Those passing woes translated into the Aggies going 0-for-16 on third down conversions. North Carolina A&T head coach Lee Fobbs had two solutions to improve a passing game that has produced just 192 yards over the last three games.

“The one thing we need to do is catch the dang football,’’ said Fobbs. “That’s one thing. I’m also not very pleased upfront. Quarterbacks need protection to throw it and receivers have to catch it. We just didn’t block them and we just didn’t catch it.”

Morgan State’s offense took advantage of the Aggies’ offense inability to move the football. The Bears only led 10-3 at halftime. In fact, the Aggies had even out-rushed the Bears in the first half. But the Aggies defense had a continual presence on the field, and it began to take effect in the second half.

The Bears rushed 225 yards in the second half and 280 yards in the game. Devan James led the way for the Bears with 127 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Quarterback Mario Melton, who was one of three Morgan State quarterbacks who played Saturday, rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on three carries.

“We figured with their offense constantly going three-and-out, we could run on the perimeter to wear down their defense,’’ said Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley. “They have guys with pretty good size, but we figured the plays we were getting two and three yards on in the first half would yield us big plays in the second half if our defense continued to shut them down.”

A 30-yard Aaron Moore kick-off return to start the second half gave the Bears the ball at Aggies 48-yard line. A 44-yard run by Melton gave the Bears a 1^st-and-goal at the Aggies 9. But the Aggies were able to keep the Bears out of the end zone, holding them to a James Meade field goal.

“It all boils down to mistakes,’’ said senior linebacker Brandon Long, who had a team-leading eight tackles. “We felt like we had momentum when we made them settle for three to start the second half. But then they started getting big plays because we were either out of position or we were missing tackles. You can’t overcome that.”

Consecutive three-and-outs by the Aggies offense begin to turn a competitive game into a blowout. With 6:17 remaining in the third quarter, Morgan State running back Keith Lee busted through off-tackle for a 43-yard gain to the Aggies 17. Two plays later, Jeremy Glover found Whitfield Diggs open on a crossing pattern for a 19-yard touchdown and a 20-3 lead.

The Aggies did manage to mount an 8-play drive, but it ended when punter Lee Woodson’s pass slipped through the hands of junior receiver Giorgio Lowrance on a 4^th-and-4 from the Aggies 48. On the next play, Melton ran through tackles, bounced to the outside and scored on a 52-yard run that put the Bears ahead 27-3. It was more than enough as the Aggies offense produced just one first down in the fourth quarter.

“They played up to their reputation today,’’ said Eley about his defense.