WASHINGTON (September 13, 2024) – Howard University football team clashes with Morehouse College (MC) in the annual HBCU NYC Football Classic at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., live on CNBC.
 
GAME INFO
 
GAME 3
Morehouse (Maroon Tigers) vs Howard (Bison)
Saturday, September 14, 2024
3 p.m.
MetLife Stadium (82,500)
East Rutherford, N.J.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Morehouse (0-2) comes into the game looking for its first win of the season after dropping a home decision, 37-13, to Johnson C. Smith Saturday (Sept. 7) while Howard (1-1) recorded its first win of the year, following a thrilling 32-31 come-from-behind win over Mercyhurst at Greene Stadium (Sept. 7).
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
WATCH: CNBC
LISTEN: WHBC | Trevin A. Jones (Play-by-Play), Nathaniel Henry (Color Analyst) & Sareyah Rudd (Sideline Reporter)
 
THE SERIES
 
The Bison defeated the Maroon Tigers, 65-19, last season in Greene Stadium for its fourth straight win in the matchups over the years. Howard leads the series, 27-10-2, which dates back to 1923.
 
THE COACHES
 
Morehouse is coached by Terrence Mathis (New Mexico, '90), who is in his first season at the helm, while Howard is coached by Larry Scott (South Florida, '00), who is in his fifth year.
 
KEY PLAYERS
 
SCOUTING MOREHOUSE
 
The offense is led by freshman quarterbacks Patrick Blake (12-of-26, 151 yards & 1 TD) and Miles Scott (10-of-16, 86 yards & 1 TD).
 
The ground attack is led by sophomore running back Chase DeVaughn (24 carries & 50 yards) and the receiving core is led by juniors Ajani Williams (8 receptions, 208 yards & 3 TDs) and Korta Brogan (8 receptions & 48 yards).
 
Defensively, the Morehouse is led by senior linebacker Caleb Grant (18 total tackles, 3 sacks & a blocked kick), junior defensive back Korte Brogan and sophomore defensive backs Tyrese Stanley (15 total tackles & 2 pass breakups) and Sean Johnson (10 total tackles, 2 tackles for losses, 2 sacks & an interception), junior defensive lineman Stephen Singleton (8 total tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss, a fumble & a fumble recovery) and junior LB Eric Cowling (10 total tackles & 1.5 tackles for a loss).
 
SCOUTING THE BISON
 
On offense, the Bison will rely on redshirt sophomore Ja'Shawn Scroggins (25 carries & 189 yards; 26-of-47 for 273 yards & 1 TD).
 
The run game is led by the duo of graduate MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Preseason Player of the Year Jarett Hunter (39 carries for 166 yards & 3 TDs) and his backfield mate junior Eden James (14 carries for 28 yards & TD).
 
The passing game will be bolstered by wide receivers Isiah Williams (5 catches for 83 yards) and Richie Ilarraza (5 receptions for 34 yards) and Kasey Hawthorne (3 receptions for 35 yards).
 
The offensive line is anchored by senior all conference guard Darius Fox (Washington).
 
Defensively, All-American Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) leads the team in tackles (23). The reigning 2023 and 2024 MEAC Preseason Player of the Year came up with another impressive performance in Saturday's win that included the return of a blocked kick for a two-point conversion to set up the game-winning field goal. Gallop has plenty of help in senior linebacker Terrance Hollon (15 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles & a fumble recovery), senior defensive back Xavier Robiou (11 total tackles).
 
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
 
Morehouse's Terrence Mathis

"We are excited about this game and we don't look at it as Division I versus Division II. We look at it as two historic institutions playing each other on the HBCU realm. It's almost like a reunion."
 
Howard's Larry Scott
 
"This is always a great atmosphere to play in. We will be taking over New York City for two days. The pride will be on display by student and alumni from both great institutions."
 
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE NOTES
 
Williams is one of the most dangerous receivers in the SIAC...he has scored three of his team's TDs to rank second in the conference in receptions and third in scoring...Johnson ranks fifth in the conference in sacks...Grant ranks seventh in tackles for losses...as a team, Morehouse ranks last in the SIAC in rushing (45 yards per game) and they are surrendering 175 yards per game on the ground...The Maroon Tigers have played three quarterbacks in the first two games...The trio has combined to throw eight interceptions...interestingly, Williams has proven to be a serious threat as he has caught a TD pass from each of the quarterback...Morehouse College has been penalized 24 times in the first two contests...The offense has struggled mightily, especially on third down conversions where they are 4-of-21...the Maroon Tigers are very young: only nine seniors; 26 freshmen and sophomores and 19 juniors.
 
BISON NOTES
 
Hunter, Hollon and senior placekicker Dylan West (Akron, Ohio) were named MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week and Specialist of the week, respectively...Scroggins was named the HBCU Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the win over Mercyhurst...In only his second start of his career, he led the team in rushing, threw his first TD pass and most importantly, came up with a big run that set up the game-winning field goal...James and Hunter were both named preseason first team in the backfield, another first...Hunter and Hawthorne have been two of the most productive players in recent history...Hunter has amassed over 2600 yards and 24 TDs in a Bison uniform...Hawthorne has accounted for 1,855 yards and 18 TDs with his receiving and rushing...James has put up some good numbers in his first two seasons, rushing and receiving for 1,302 yards while averaging over 5.0 yards per carry...Ilarraza has quietly made an impact with 90 receptions...The last time the two teams met in this Classic, it drew over 35,000, the third largest in the last decade...the trio of Judah McJimpsey (Spartanburg, S.C.), Ishaun Abdul-Ali (Charlotte, N.C.) and Noah Miles (Tampa, Fla.) emerged in the win over Mercyhurst...McJimpsey had a career-best seven total tackles (five solos) and a tackle for a loss...Abdul Ali also had a career game with four tackles, a half sack and a fumble recovery…Miles, who has played well in both games, had three tackles, two of them behind the line of scrimmage...an intriguing matchup is Williams of Morehouse and Robert Jones III (Fairwood, Md.) of Howard...it matches up one of the top man defenders in Jones against Williams, who has three TDs in eight receptions.
 
KENNY GALLOP JR. WATCH:
 
CAREER STATS
 
172 solo tackles, 105 assists for 277 tackles
9 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries & 3 interceptions
 
NEXT UP
 
Howard takes on rival Hampton Saturday (Sept. 21) in the Truth and Service Classic at Audi Field in D.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
Morehouse takes on Kentucky State in the Chicago Classic Saturday (Sept. 21).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.