Washington, DC — In a dramatic overtime finish at Greene Stadium, Anthony Reagan Jr. delivered the knockout blow for Howard, racing 25 yards for a touchdown on the first play of overtime to lift the Bison past rival Morgan State, 33–27, in a wild Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown.
Reagan, who powered Howard’s offense all afternoon, finished with 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while also adding four receptions for 36 yards. His explosive overtime run capped a clutch performance that helped the Bison erase multiple deficits in one of the most intense games of their season.
Bison Rally Late
Trailing 27–20 in the final minute, Howard turned to quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins, who calmly led a 65-yard drive in under a minute. With 43 seconds remaining, Scroggins found Breylin Smith in the back of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown to tie the game and force overtime, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
From there, Reagan didn’t waste any time in the extra period — bursting through a gap on the left side for the walk-off touchdown that sealed Howard’s fourth win of the year.
A Back-and-Forth Battle
The game was a showcase of resilience from both programs, featuring five lead changes and four ties. Morgan State appeared to seize control late in regulation when Jason Collins Jr. broke loose for an 18-yard touchdown run with 3:27 left, giving the Bears a 27–20 advantage. But the Bison answered right back behind their balanced offensive attack.
Quarterback Tyriq Starks completed 20 of 27 passes for 163 yards, adding a touchdown and two interceptions, while Scroggins came in off the bench to throw for 79 yards and a score. The Bison offense relied heavily on short, efficient passes and timely runs from Reagan to keep drives alive.
Historic Rivalry Renewed
With the win, Howard improved to 4–4 overall (1–0 MEAC) and earned early control in the conference race. Morgan State, now 4–4 (0–1 MEAC), saw its two-game win streak snapped despite another strong rushing effort.
The rivalry between these two HBCU powerhouses dates back to 1899, with Morgan State still leading the all-time series 48–39–3.
Next Up:
Howard will look to stay hot when it visits Norfolk State next weekend. Morgan State returns home to face Delaware State in another key conference matchup.
In a season full of parity across the MEAC, Reagan’s overtime heroics may have given Howard the jolt it needed to make a serious postseason push.
