Box Score East Rutherford, NJ—Greg McGhee almost singled handedly willed Howard to a win, accounting for over 300 yards of total offense and rushing for three TDs, but it was not enough to overcome the overall team effort of Morgan State as the Bison fell, 38-35 in the 42^nd Annual New York Urban League Classic at MetLife Stadium.  It was the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

The Bears (2-2, 1-0 MEAC) set the tone early when they took the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards on 10 plays with running back Herb Walker scoring on a one-yard plunge.

Howard (1-3, 0-1 MEAC) failed to move the ball on its second possession and Morgan State wasted little time with Council mixing the pass and run for 59 yards on six plays, capping it off with a two-yard plunge with 8:33 in the first quarter.

That is when McGhee began to get his team back in it.  The senior quarterback took his team 86 yards in only seven plays, finishing it off with a three-yard run that cut the deficit to 14-7.

The Bison defense used the drive to temporarily stop the hard-charging Bears.  So the offense again turned to McGhee and he delivered, engineering a 14-play, 80-yard drive that used almost eight minutes off the clock and tying the game at 14 going into the half.

Morgan State picked up where it left off in the third quarter, stopping the Bison on their opening drive and cashing in with Walker scoring on a four-yard run.  Using the momentum, Morgan State put together its longest drive of the game, going 88 yards in 11 plays.  Council capped off the drive with a 16-yard strike to Thomas Martin, giving the Bears a 28-14 lead with 4:31 left in the third quarter.

But McGhee would not allow his team to quit.  He answered with a 10-play, 88-yard drive that took only 3:19 as the Bison got to within 28-21 late in the third.

The Bears kept the pressure on when Council connected with Walker from 17 yards to up the margin to 35-21 and digging itself into another hole.

So they again turned to McGhee.  Following a Morgan State fumble, it took McGhee three plays with him bolting in from four yards out to close the margin to 35-28 at the 8:36 mark of the fourth.

The Bison stopped the Bears and McGhee again got his team back in the game, engineering a 12-play, 73-yards drive that was culminated by a 10-yard William Parker run, his second of the day.

But Morgan State was not to be denied.   Following a good kickoff return, Council put together a short drive that put his team in position to win with a 38-yard field goal by Chris Moller that proved to be the difference.

The Bison got the ball back with less than a minute remaining, but their attempt to tie or win the game, evaporated when McGhee was sacked on back-to back plays that gave the Bears a hard-fought win.