WASHINGTON (November 18, 2023) – Senior running back Jarett Hunter (Mineral, Va.) rushed for a game-high 108 yards and a TD while graduate quarterback Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.) rushed the other to lead the Howard University football team to a 14-7 slugfest over Morgan State University in the regular season finale at Greene Stadium.
 
The victory gives HU its second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season title, but more importantly, a trip to the program's first-ever Cricket Celebration Bowl.
 
Howard (6-5, 4-1 MEAC) got on the board early when Hunter capped off a methodical 11-play, 81-yard drive with a three-yard rush. The TD drive featured some tough running by Hunter and backfield mate, sophomore Eden James (Port St. Lucie, Fla.).
 
Neither team was able to generate any offense in the second quarter as the defenses took over; thus, the Bison settled for a 7-0 halftime lead, which somehow seemed much larger.
 
The Beltway rivals took turns forcing three and outs until Howard got some good field position at the Morgan State 42-yard line. It took Williams only four plays as he finished off the short drive with a 34-yard scamper that completely fooled the Bears' vaunted defense.
 
It looked like the 14-0 lead at the 9:29 mark would hold up, but the Bears (4-6, 3-2 MEAC) refused to fold. 
 
Feeling a sense of urgency with a share of the championship on the line, Morgan State promptly went 87 yards on only five plays with Treveyon Pratt hauling in a 28-yard TD pass from Tahj Smith.
 
There was plenty of time with a little less than two minutes remaining in the third stanza.
 
From there, the Bison turned to their stout defense and the running of James (16 carries, 90 yards), Hunter and some clutch hookups between junior wide receiver Richie Ilarraza (Clearwater, Fla.) and Williams that allowed Howard to control the clock down the stretch while the defense held serve to secure the hard-fought victory.
 
Williams rushed for 38 important yards while completing 12-of-22 for 143 yards. The DMV native hit five different receivers, led by senior wide receiver/running back Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.) with four catches for 52 yards.
 
The Bison defense limited the Bears to 260 yards of total offense, including 1-for-11 on third down conversions.
 
All-America candidate senior safety Kenny Gallop, Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) led the Bison charge eight solo tackles. Junior linebacker Terrance Hollon (Cleveland) had another outstanding game with six tackles (three solos) and a pass breakup.
 
On special teams, sophomore punter/placekicker Aaron Bickerton (Stoke-on-Trent, England) came up big once again, averaging almost 44 yards on five punts, including a 60 yarder and two landing inside the 20-yard line.
 
GAME NOTES: The 6-5 finish is the first winning regular season since 2017 (7-4) … It is the first time that the program has won back-to-back titles … It is only the third time in school history that Howard has been in post-season play [1993 in the 1-AA (FCS) playoffs vs. Marshall & 1996 in the Heritage Bowl vs. Southern] with both times winning the Black National Championship.
 
NEXT UP: Howard goes to Atlanta for the Cricket Celebration Bowl where they await the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Champion.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.