Morgan State head coach Damon Wilson said his team is focused on playing “better football” as the Bears prepare to face rival Howard University on Saturday in Washington, D.C., for the Bison’s homecoming game.
The Bears (3-4) entered their bye week after narrowly missing a fourth straight win – a last-second “Hail Mary” loss standing between them and a winning record. Despite the setback, Wilson said the team used the week off to regroup and recover.
“Momentum has a place for sure,” Wilson said during his weekly media availability. “But at the end of the day, we just want to play better football. Hopefully, we get some guys healthy and ready to go against a good Howard football team.”
Among those players is preseason MEAC Player of the Year candidate Jason Collins Jr., who has been sidelined since suffering an injury in the first quarter against Miles College. Collins has recorded five touchdowns in five games, averaging 65 yards per contest.
“He’s looking a lot better,” Wilson said. “It’s not 100 percent yet, but hopefully we’ll get him up and running for this weekend.”
Saturday’s matchup carries extra significance – a long-standing rivalry between the two HBCU programs that dates back decades.
“It’s going to be a tough environment to play in,” Wilson said. “It’s one of the best homecomings out there, but at the end of the day, it’s all about being prepared to play football.”
Howard (3-4) enters the game on a three-game losing streak, but Wilson said the Bison’s record doesn’t tell the full story.
“They’ve been in every game they’ve played,” Wilson said. “They have a good running attack, and defensively they’re flying around making plays. We have to be hitting on all cylinders.”
Asked about the Bears’ defensive approach, Wilson acknowledged Howard’s struggles to stretch the field vertically but said his team won’t underestimate the Bison’s playmakers.
“They’ve had some difficulties stretching the field, but they don’t lack the guys to do it,” he said. “The quarterback can throw the ball, and they have receivers that can run.”
Wilson said controlling the line of scrimmage will be key for Morgan State’s offense.
“The defensive line at Howard really gets after it,” Wilson said. “We have to be able to run the ball, even against an eight-man box, and take advantage of the passing game when it’s there for us.”
Takeaways will also be a focus for Morgan State’s defense, which Wilson said needs to create more turnovers to give the Bears shorter fields and scoring chances.
“It’s definitely important to take the ball away,” Wilson said. “We haven’t done a great job of that this year, but that’s been a big point of emphasis this week.”
For Wilson, a Washington, D.C., native, Saturday’s matchup at William H. Greene Stadium will also be a homecoming of sorts.
“I haven’t been to Howard’s homecoming since I was a kid,” he said. “To be on the sideline coaching there – it’s going to be a great experience.”
