Howard University Bisons win HBCU NYC Classic.

The Howard Bison remain undefeated in the HBCU NY Classic as they overpowered the Morehouse Tigers, 35-21. The neutral site game was held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sept. 14.

The reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions controlled all three facets of the game, proving to be especially dominant on special teams and in the run game.

New Jersey native and freshman running back Anthony Reagan Jr. ran the opening kickoff back close to midfield and the Bison took advantage of the field position. Wide receiver Se’Quan Osbourne and freshman tight end Ke’Untae Mosley each scored the first touchdowns of their collegiate careers, and the Bison went into halftime with a 21-7 lead.

“The Classic is a great experience for the fans and also us as athletes to come together and celebrate Black culture and also be on a big platform where we have more exposure to showcase our talent,” said starting senior cornerback Xavier Robiou, who has played in the HBCU NY Classic all three years.

Coming out of halftime, the Bison would score another touchdown, giving the D.C. team a 28-7 lead. The Bison’s lead ballooned up to 28 points before the Tigers responded by scoring two touchdown passes late in the fourth quarter.

Redshirt senior quarterback Jaylen Tolbert started his first game of the season for the Bison and finished with four touchdown passes and one interception. Sophomore quarterback Ja’Shawn Scruggins started the first two games of the season against Rutgers University and Mercyhurst, finishing those first two games with 280 passing yards, 189 rushing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He led the Bison to a 1-1 record.

“The HBCU Classic was a great experience the first time I went and it was even better this year. The tailgate is always a great time–good food, music, and the overall vibe just from being around current students and alumni. I think it is a great tradition for these two HBCUs to play and clearly the competition gets better and better every year,” said Joshua Pemberton, who attended the game twice as a fan.

In addition to a thrilling game, attendees were treated to a scintillating Battle of the Bands during half time, which was presented by Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

And following the game, Jamaican dancehall artist Sean Paul performed some of his chart-topping hits.

“The ‘fifth quarter’ ended up being a surprise performance from Sean Paul and that ended the night perfectly,” said Pemberton. “All in all I think it’s a great event for everyone of all ages and I’ll be back again next year.”

With the newest victory, the Bison improve to 2-1 while the Tigers drop to 0-3. The Bison will travel back to the nation’s capital to face their rival Hampton Pirates in the Truth and Service Classic on Sept. 21 at Audi Field. The Maroon Tigers will fly to Chicago to play the Kentucky State Thorobreds. The Morehouse Maroon Tigers are expected to join Howard in the MEAC in the near future, according to associate athletic director for operations at Howard University, Nicholas Latham.

This story was originally published in The AFRO on Sept. 15, 2024