BALTIMORE, Md. – North Carolina A&T head coach Alonzo Lee couldn’t help but state the obvious.

His presence at the N.C. A&T vs. Morgan State game on Saturday had a direct influence on how the game was played. It was a gritty defensive struggle the entire afternoon with both teams combining for just 487 yards of total offense in a 7-6 Morgan State victory.

In fact, Morgan State’s lone touchdown drive which occurred in the first quarter went 80 yards. The Bears most efficient drive following the score was 24 yards. Meanwhile, the Aggies offense consistently made the Bears bend but could never break them.    

“On the defensive side, we played well enough to win,’’ said Lee, who served as Morgan State’s defensive coordinator over the previous three seasons. “You can’t take anything away from their defense. Heck, I helped build that monster over there.”

While Lee’s credentials for putting together nasty defenses were on full display Saturday, the first-time head coach does not skim over the game’s other two phases easily. A game after the Aggies missed two field goals, had an extra point blocked and failed to score on three out of the possessions they had in the red zone, Lee will continue to implement the same formula that has worked for him as a defensive coordinator and has vastly improved the Aggies defense this season.

Patience and competition.

Lee has stated numerous times that there are no names on any positions in football. For example, it is not the Carlton Fears position, it’s the quarterback position. By the look of things this season, it is not just rhetoric.

While fans and media were discussing the Aggies “quarterback controversy” between freshman Lewis Kindle and Fears, what went unnoticed were the numerous changes in the Aggies lineup.

Freshman D’Vonte Graham is a starter at cornerback with Justin Ferrell moving to safety. Linebacker mainstays in seniors Andre Thornton and Jamison Hedgepeth now share time with Jamal Wardlaw and Jeremy Graham (Graham led the Aggies with 10 tackles on Saturday).

Freshmen receivers Larry Raper and Buster Cooper have started this season along with freshman tight end James Thomas. On Saturday, freshman running Dontavious Payne carried the ball 11 times, sophomore running back Mike Mayhew carried the ball 10 times and junior college transfer running back Tony Coles scored the Aggies only touchdown.

“Life is about competition,’’ said Lee. “If you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do on the job, they’re going to bring someone in new to get the job done. We believe we’re here not only to get these men ready to play football, we’re also here to get them prepared for life.” 

The latest shakeup will likely come at the kicking position. Freshman Patrick Courtney has handled the duties over the first six games after veteran kicker Eric Houston was not available to play this season. Inside of 29 yards, Courtney is 3-for-4 in field goal kicks. But outside of 29 yards, he has connected on just one of the six field goals attempted.

When the Aggies lined up for a potential game-winning 51-yard field goal on Saturday, it was leading receiver Wallace Miles and not Courtney who made the last-second desperation attempt. The kick had enough height but the kick’s rushed nature made Miles’ kick come up short.

 “We want to give our young guy every opportunity,’’ said Lee referring to Courtney. “But we’re probably going to make that switch because Wallace can get the job done. I know he can.”

Lee’s willingness to competition within his own team helped to put the Aggies in an excellent situation. N.C. A&T is soon to be 4-3 after a guaranteed win coming this Saturday with a Delaware State forfeit.

The win puts the Aggies on track for putting together the program’s first winning season in six years. Considering the program came into this season with just nine wins since winning the MEAC Championship in 2003, Lee seems to have time enough to find the right combinations that will help the game’s three phases come together harmoniously.