TOWSON, Md. - Senior fullback Tyler Wharton was an unlikely hero for the Tigers in their win over Morgan State on Saturday night. In his first three seasons with the Tigers, he touched the ball only ten times. He carried the ball five times for 11 yards and caught five passes for 19 yards.
So, it was quite a surprise when Wharton was a major part of the Tiger offense in their win over Morgan State. An outstanding blocker who earned second team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors last season, Wharton caught three passes for 42 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns against the Bears.
On the opening drive of the game, he caught a swing pass on the right side and ran down the sideline for a 19-yard touchdown, the first TD of his career. On the opening drive of the third quarter, he caught another touchdown pass as he ran 12 yards to give the Tigers a 21-3 lead. A native of LaVale, Md., Wharton also had an 11-yard reception on a key third down play.
"We were really pounding the ball and it enabled me to sneak out and catch some passes," said Wharton. "Our offensive line was really pushing them around and I was needed to block. So, that left the flat wide open and Grant (Enders) found me a couple of times. It feels great to contribute like that.
"Even more than that, it feels great to get a win like this," he added. "I've been here five years and we haven't had any games like this one."
"We are so happy for Tyler Wharton," said Coach Rob Ambrose. "For the last few years, he has been a 'walk-on' who has been grinding it out behind the scenes. This was a big week for him because he was awarded with a scholarship for the first time. These are the kind of kids that you really appreciate as a coach."
