BALTIMORE (Interstat) — Keely Watson threw four touchdown passes and visiting South Carolina State pulled away in the second half for a 51-10 victory over Morgan State in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Thursday at Hughes Stadium. Watson completed 27 of 36 passes for 279 yards for the Bulldogs, who improved to 7-2. Morgan State, the home team, fell to 5-4. The Bears’ Cameron Edge completed 17 of 28 passes for 144 yards, but Morgan State could not keep pace. South Carolina State scored through the air and on the ground while its defense consistently pressured the Bears.

South Carolina State opened the scoring on its first possession when Josh Shaw ran 1 yard up the middle for a touchdown. The Bulldogs added to the lead later in the first quarter when Watson found Martavious Collins for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Morgan State’s Alex Amaya missed a 49-yard field goal attempt, but the Bears found the end zone when Mike Hastie forced a fumble on a Kacy Fields run and R. Matthews recovered the ball at the South Carolina State 10 before returning it for a touchdown. Amaya added a 30-yard field goal to bring Morgan State closer. South Carolina State answered just before halftime when Watson connected with Troy Hillman for a 20-yard touchdown pass.

The Bulldogs took control after the break. Jett Jackson made a 35-yard field goal, and Watson later found DJ Maultsby for a 10-yard touchdown. A missed extra point followed the Maultsby score, but South Carolina State kept pressing. Watson added a 10-yard touchdown pass to Shamontae Burgess, and the running game took over from there. Ronnie Robinson scored on a 16-yard run, and Kacy Fields capped the scoring with a 28-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds remaining. Jackson made the extra point to complete the scoring.

Watson spread the ball around to a deep group of receivers. Maultsby caught five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown, Hillman had four catches for 50 yards and a score, and Burgess caught four passes for 18 yards and a touchdown. Collins added three receptions for 12 yards and a score. The Bulldogs also received production from Ricorian Brown, who ran 12 times for 59 yards and caught three passes for 47 yards. Fields finished with 11 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown, while Julian Milligan added three carries for 54 yards and Robinson had five carries for 20 yards and a score. Josh Shaw added two carries for 4 yards and a touchdown. Ronnie Robinson completed 1 of 2 passes for 17 yards. Eric Paul Jr. had one run for 8 yards and two kickoff returns for 30 yards, and Kenneth Brown Jr. returned one kickoff for 23 yards.

South Carolina State’s defense made life difficult for Morgan State. R.J. Brunson recorded four tackles. Myles Dixon had three tackles, one sack and two quarterback hurries. Kwantre’ Harry added two tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Zayveon Wells, Roderick Kelly Jr. and Caleb Williams each finished with three tackles. Tyler Jones and Dominic Reaves each had two tackles and a quarterback hurry. The Bulldogs also got a sack from Jayden Fuller and a quarterback hurry from Xavier Tates. Morgan State’s Jordan Jeudy had six tackles and 1.5 sacks. Mike Hastie and James Gamble V each recorded five tackles, while Aki Harvey and Cosmos Ennis Jr. each had four tackles. Hastie forced the fumble that led to the Bears’ touchdown.

Morgan State’s special teams had plenty of work. Shane Messenger punted six times for 221 yards, while South Carolina State’s Max’Ceon Cobb punted three times for 112 yards. Amaya made his 30-yard field goal but missed from 49 yards. Jackson made his field goals and extra points except for one failed extra-point attempt after the Maultsby touchdown. The Bears also got two receptions for 7 yards from Malique Leatherbury, but they were unable to sustain drives against the Bulldogs’ pressure. South Carolina State’s defensive front combined for multiple sacks and quarterback hurries, with Miles Wilson and Jordan Dollard each finishing with half a sack. Jaiden Kimble and Xavier Tates each recorded a quarterback hurry, and Jayden Fuller added a sack.

South Carolina State’s victory followed a 22-7 home win over Norfolk State in its previous game. The Bulldogs have also posted wins over Bethune-Cookman, Furman, Virginia State, Florida A&M and Savannah State this season, with losses to Charleston Southern and Citadel. Morgan State dropped to 5-4 after a difficult day against a defense that recorded multiple sacks and quarterback hurries. The Bears’ best moments came on the fumble recovery for a touchdown and Amaya’s field goal, but South Carolina State’s offense responded each time. The Bulldogs’ defense limited Morgan State’s passing attack while the offense produced four touchdown passes and a pair of late rushing scores.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of South Carolina State 42, Morgan State 30. Interstat’s ELO system had projected South Carolina State with a 67.5 percent probability to win.