CHICAGO, IL --- Howard University spotted Morgan State 21 straight points and then posted a shutout the rest of the way only to come up just short in a 21-13 loss in the 19^th Annual Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field Saturday afternoon.

The Bison (0-4, 0-2 in the MEAC) got out of the blocks slowly and the Bears (1-2, 1-0 in the MEAC) set the tone by keeping the Howard defense off balance on the play calling of quarterback Moses Skillon and the receiving of Andrew King, who combined for 109 yards in the air. They hooked up on scoring plays of 10 and 64 yards, the latter with 10:12 remaining in the first stanza to close out the scoring for the Bears.

Then safety Craig Johnson of Howard got the Bison back in the game when he stripped a Morgan State player and returned it 27 yards for a TD and cut the deficit to 21-7 as the half ended.

Johnson and the Bison defense did its part, limiting Morgan State to only 42 yards of total offense after intermission. 

Meanwhile, in an effort to jumpstart the offense, Howard head coach Gary "Flea" Harrell made a switch at the quarterback position and brought in redshirt freshman Kalen Johnson to replace starter Jamie Cunningham. Johnson had started the first two games at Appalachian State and Boston College before giving way to Cunningham last week against Hampton.

The native of Texas responded by having a solid performance, completing 12 of 23 for 96 yards. He began to find his rhythm by going to the freshmen triumvirate of Donnel Pleasant, Jalen Avery and Guy Lemonier to move the ball smartly in the second half.

Pleasant, who started in place of team-leading rusher Aquanius Freeman, responded both as a rusher and receiver on short passes.  He rushed for a career-high 90 yards on 12 carries while catching a game- and career-high 9 passes.  Avery contributed a career-best 5 receptions for 54 yards and Lemonier chipped in with 2 more catches for 32 yards.

But in the end, the Bison were unable to capitalize on drives deep in Morgan State territory and were subsequently forced to settle for field goals by senior John Fleck of 40 and 29 yards. The last field goal had the Bison within striking distance with almost 10 minutes still left on the clock in the fourth quarter.

But a combination of untimely penalties and failure to convert on key third downs proved to be Howard's undoing as Skillon, who was named the game's Offensive MVP, played keep-away from the Bison.

Defensively, the Bison are beginning to show marked improvement each game. Johnson, a former walk-on, had the best day of his career, recording seven tackles, forcing two fumbles—including one for a TD and recovering another.  He was named the Classic's Defensive MVP for his efforts.

Fleck, who is emerging as the top punter in the conference, averaged 39 yards on seven punts, with five landing inside the Morgan State 20-yard line.  He was two for three on field goals.

NEXT UP
Howard hosts Norfolk State on Saturday, October 3 at 1 p.m. for Homecoming at Greene Stadium.