Washington, DC---Greg McGhee had a career day, rushing for two touchdowns and passing for two others to lead Howard to a 42-14 victory over Savannah State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Greene Stadium.
                 
A 6-3, 208-pound junior quarterback from Pittsburgh, PA, McGhee rushed for a career-high 148 yards on 14 carries and completed 26 of 37 for 326 yards.
                 
It is ironic that McGhee got off to an inauspicious start, considering he fumbled on the Bison's first possession and it led to the game's first score. Savannah State (1-10, 0-7 in the MEAC) came out energized under quarterback Leon Prunty, who was starting in place of starter Antonio Bostick, the leading passer in the conference.
                 
Prunty took advantage of the Bison miscue, leading the Tigers on an eight play, 72-yard drive on their opening possession.  He capped off the drive with a 32-yard strike to Simon Heyward.
                 
"We got off to a slow start," said Howard head coach Ray Petty. "Offensively, we turned the ball over on the second or third play of the game and their offense came on the field and did a good job of moving the ball down the field."
                 
The Savannah State defense, which has given up huge yardage all seasons, did a good job early of stopping the Bison's running game, which has been very effective of late.  And Howard (4-6, 3-4 in the MEAC) did not help its cause as it missed two short field goals from 29 and 28 yards and trailed 7-0 at the end of the first frame.
                 
That is when McGhee took over.  His beautifully thrown 39-yard pass to Matt Colin set up Anthony Philyaw's 18-yard TD run with 8:32 left in the second quarter.
                 
The Bison, who have had problems of late in the kicking game, missed a PAT and trailed 7-6. It mattered little because McGhee was just getting started.
                 
On Howard's next possession, he took advantage of a short field and capped off a 48-yard drive with 6-yard pass to Colvin in the left corner of the end zone.  McGhee then scored on the two-point conversion to give the Bison a 14-7 lead with 5:15 left in the second period.
                 
Howard took advantage of a Savannah State turnover on their next possession when Philyaw scored his 9th TD of the season, this time from three yards out.
                 
McGhee continued his sterling play in the second half when he sprinted 53 yards to the end zone with a little over 10 minutes left in the third period.
                 
With the 28-7 lead, the Bison lost some focus and aided a Savannah State drive with four drive-extending penalties that resulted in a 92-yard drive that was capped off with Sheldon Barnes 6-yard bolt up the middle.
                 
But McGhee quickly dismissed any comeback attempts when he scored his second rushing TD of the day, this time from 27 yards with 40 ticks left on the third quarter clock.
                 
And just for good measure, he added another TD, this time a 6-yard pass to Richard Aiyegoro.
                 
"Greg played an outstanding game, one of the best game he has played since he's been here," said Petty.  "He was running the ball well and passing the ball well and his decision-making was outstanding." 
                 
The Tigers came in the game leading the conference in passing, but the Bison forced the two Tiger quarterbacks, Prunty and Victorian Hardison into 10 of 43 for only 176 yards.  The pass rush registered two sacks, but they harrassed the Savannah State quarterbacks all day.
                 
"We go into every game, ready to for any quarterback to start," said Howard senior cornerback Ademola Olatunji, who had five pass breakups.  "'Even if the quarterback is the one we are going to face, we are prepared.  Our defense played well."
                 
McGhee's 474 yards of total offense was a career best and placed him third in that category, behind offensive coordinator Ted White and former Bison quarterback, Bobby Townsend.
                 
Philyaw, who left the game with an injury, rushed for 53 yards on 15 carries for two touchdowns, giving the freshman 8 rushing on the season.
                 
Sophomore wide receiver Matt Colvin, who has struggled this season, had a career-high seven receptions for 102 yards and a TD for the Bison who played without their two starting running backs and wide receivers.
                 
"Anytime you can put together a game like he played today, it was what we needed," said Petty.  "With us down on our running backs and some of our key offensive players out, he stepped up and played well.  The thing that separates him is that he knows where to go with the ball and he understands what we are trying to do offensively and he also understands what the defense is doing.".
                 
The Tigers got 36 yards rushing and 152 yards passing from Prunty.  Simon Heyward grabbed caught passes for 99 yards.