Moon Township, Pa. (September 25, 2021) - The Howard Football team came into the game focused on cutting down on mistakes and having a better showing on defense and they accomplished its goal for the most part. But in the end, a couple of big plays proved to be the difference as Robert Morris (RMU) edged the Bison, 22-16, in a nonconference game at Joe Walton Stadium. 
 
The Bison (0-4, 0-0 in the MEAC) remain winless while the Colonials (1-1, 0-0 in the Big South) registered their first victory of the season.
 
The game was tightly contested from the kickoff with neither offense being able to put points on the board. Then, the Bison committed their only turnover of the game when junior quarterback Quintin Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.) had his pass intercepted by RMU's Lorenz Euline at midfield. Robert Morris capitalized on the miscue when quarterback George Martin scampered in from five yards out to give his team a 7-0 advantage early in the second quarter.
 
Williams, who finished 25-of-40 for 254 yards, atoned for the mistake as he marched his team 65 yards in six plays, capping it off with a strike to senior wideout Tayshaun Porter (Newport News, Va.) from 12 yards to tie score, 7-7, at the 7:29 mark.
 
Then came another of big plays that impacted the outcome.
 
The Bison stymied the Colonials offense and forced a third-and-long on the next possession.  With the Colonials on the ropes and the Bison feeling some momentum, it proved to be for naught when Howard committed an offsides that gave Robert Morris new life. They wasted no time as Martin connected with D'Andre Hicks from 43 yards out. With Howard senior cornerback Jalen Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.) draped all over him, Hicks somehow came away with the ball and raced the final 20 yards to give Robert Morris a 14-7 lead that they took to the locker room.
 
"We knew coming in that it was going to be this kind of game," said Howard second-year head coach Larry Scott. "No question about it, the interception that led to a score and the play for a TD really hurt. We just can't make those kinds of mistakes and be successful in games like this.  These are things we have to address and clean up if we are going to have success."
 
The Bison came out of the locker room after intermission and took over in the third quarter, controlling the clock, holding the Colonials scoreless during the period while parlaying a nice, 14-play, 79-yard drive to get back in the game. However, the Bison had the PAT blocked to trail 14-13.
 
The defense, buoyed by the offense, held the Colonials in check and the offense finally found some rhythm, embarking on a 15-play, 83-yard that used almost eight minutes off the clock.  But the drive stymied and Howard had to settle for senior kicker Faraji Woodson's (Greensboro, N.C.) 27-yard field goal that gave the Bison the lead, 16-14, at 9:04 of the fourth quarter.
 
It played right into the hands of Robert Morris and their senior quarterback as he engineered an 11-play 77-yard drive that was capped off by his second TD toss to Martin, this time from 17 yards out.
 
There was still 3:01 on the clock and the feisty Bison and Williams refused to fold their tents.  Williams quickly drove his team down the field and with the aid of a Robert Morris face mask penalty, Howard appeared to be in good shape for a game-winning drive as they moved the ball down smartly into Robert Morris territory.
 
Then came the last of big plays and it would prove to critical. Williams appeared to connect with senior wide receiver Antoine Murray (Miramar, Fla.) on a pass over the middle that would have given the Bison excellent field position in the Colonials territory with two minutes still left on the clock.
 
But the officials reviewed the play and ruled the pass incomplete, leaving the Bison with a fourth down, which they failed to convert, giving the host the ball as it ran out the clock.
 
Williams, who passed for one TD and ran for another accounted for 273 yards despite being sacked six times and hit other time.  Still, he is quickly becoming more efficient and shows signs of coming into his own.
 
"You saw another element of his growth today," stated Scott of his junior quarterback. "He was getting throws off despite being hit. Those are the type of things that show him taking another step in the right direction for him to become a complete quarterback."
 
BISON HOOVES: Murray and sophomore wideout Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.) combined for 12 receptions and 143 yards between them...Williams connected with eight different receivers...The Bison have yet to register a takeaway through four games...after surrendering 27 points off turnovers against Hampton, the Bison had only one...Howard was 8-of-15 on third down conversions...senior defensive back Aaron Walker (Washington, D.C.) continues to play at a high level after registering eight tackles.
 
On Oct. 2, the Bison host Sacred Heart in their home opener at Greene Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.