North Carolina Central University

FOOTBALL

THE GAME: Elizabeth City State University "Vikings" at North Carolina Central University “Eagles”

THE KICKOFF: Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m. 

THE SITE: Giants Stadium – The Meadowlands – East Rutherford, N.J. (80,242 capacity) 

2007 RECORDS:  Elizabeth City State (0-2 overall, 0-0 CIAA); NCCU (2-1 overall) 

THE EVENT: The New York Urban League's 37th Annual Whitney Young Football Classic at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The contest will be a rematch of the 2006 CIAA Championship Game, which was decided by a last-second, 51-yard field goal to provide the host Eagles with a 17-14 victory. The match-up will feature two teams that are coming off of historic seasons on the football gridiron. With their victory over the Vikings in Durham, N.C. last year, the Eagles won their second consecutive CIAA Football Championship. They were then declared the 2006 Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College Football National Champions with a perfect 11-0 regular-season record, the best in school history. Likewise, the Vikings rolled through their CIAA schedule with a perfect 7-0 conference record earning their first appearance in the league's football championship game since winning the title in 1971. ECSU earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs (first appearance since 1981) and hosted their first ever playoff game at Roebuck Stadium (Delta State). They finished the season with a 9-3 mark, the best record in school history, and ECSU head coach Waverly Tillar was tapped as the 2006 CIAA Coach of the Year. [Web Site]

THE WHITNEY YOUNG CLASSIC: For more than 30 years, The Whitney Young Football Classic has benefited the New York Urban League Scholarship Fund and Education Programs. To date, this has helped 4,034 students with more than $20,165,000 in scholarships, thus providing them the opportunity to attend the college of their choice. Scholarships are awarded on the basis academic record, community service, a written essay, and personal interviews with each candidate. For more information on the 37th Annual Whitney Young Football Classic, visit the New York Urban League website at www.nyul.org. 

THE SERIES: This will be the 27th meeting between NCCU and ECSU, since they first met in 1976.  The Eagles hold an 18-8 overall advantage. NCCU has won eight of the last 10 contests. 

 LAST 10 MEETINGS:
 Nov. 11, 2006 – NCCU 17, ECSU 14 (Durham, NC – CIAA Championship Game)
 Sept. 25, 2004 – NCCU 28, ECSU 20 (Kinston, NC)
 Oct. 4, 2003 – ECSU 25, NCCU 23 (Rocky Mount, NC)
 Sept. 28, 2002 – NCCU 13, ECSU 3 (Kinston, NC)
 Sept. 22, 2001 – NCCU 31, ECSU 21 (Rocky Mount, NC)
 Sept. 23, 2000 – ECSU 13, NCCU 15 (Durham, NC)
 Oct. 2, 1999 – NCCU 35, ECSU 6 (Elizabeth City, NC)
 Oct. 3, 1998 – NCCU 51, ECSU 14 (Durham, NC)
 Sept. 27, 1997 – NCCU 37, ECSU 6 (Elizabeth City, NC)
 Sept. 28, 1996 – NCCU 34, ECSU 0 (Durham, NC)

THE LAST MEETING: (Nov. 11, 2006 - NCCU 17, ECSU 14 – Durham, NC) North Carolina Central University place-kicker Brandon Gilbert kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal as time expired to give the Eagles a 17-14 win over Elizabeth City State University in the 2006 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Football Championship Game at a capacity O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, N.C. NCCU successfully defends its conference title and has won 11 games in a season for the first time in school history. NCCU's defense, who held the Vikings to just 230 yards of total offense, forced an ECSU punt with 33 seconds remaining, giving the ball back to the NCCU offense, which amassed a CIAA Championship Game record 416 yards of total offense. On the game's final drive, NCCU freshman quarterback Stadford Brown completed an 8-yard pass to Eagles senior running back Greg Pruitt, Jr. on first down. On the next play, Brown connected over the middle with sophomore wide receiver Wayne Blackwell for 38 yards to the ECSU 34-yard line, setting up Gilbert's game-winning kick. Gilbert's field goal was the longest in CIAA championship history and marked the second consecutive year that the Eagles claimed the CIAA crown with a last-second boot by Gilbert. Pruitt, who was named the game's MVP, rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on only 13 carries. Led by junior linebacker Eric Ray, head coach Rod Broadway's defense limited an ECSU offense that averaged 27.8 points per game entering the contest to just 14 points. Ray, in only his second game back after missing six contests with ankle injury, recorded a team-best 11 tackles, a pass breakup and two tackles for loss. NCCU senior linebacker Naim Abdul-Malik amassed nine tackles (three solo), while senior defensive end Valdez Williams collected six tackles (two solo) and two tackles for loss. In addition, junior defensive tackle Courtney Coard added eight tackles (one solo) and senior defensive back Andre George had six tackles (three solo), his conference leading seventh interception of the season and a pass breakup. NCCU scored first as Pruitt received an inside hand-off and took it 54 yards for a touchdown. The run was Pruitt's second longest of the season, the longest run in CIAA Championship history and marked his sixth rushing touchdown during the Eagles' historic campaign. After Gilbert's 77th straight extra point kick, NCCU led 7-0 with 10:29 remaining in the first quarter. ECSU junior running back Brandon Fields capped a methodical 10-play, 81-yard drive, with a 2-yard touchdown run. CIAA Special Teams Player of the Year, ECSU place-kicker Kevin Dodson, converted the extra point, tying the game 7-7 with 13:08 left in the second quarter. Fields, who was voted the MVP for Elizabeth City State, ran for a team-high 116 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries. Following a George interception of ECSU junior quarterback Curtis Rich, NCCU received the ball with a first and 10 at the ECSU 40-yard line. Eagles running back Jeff Toliver finished a six-play, 40-yard drive as he ran off the left side for a three-yard touchdown. Gilbert's extra point gave NCCU a 14-7 halftime lead. Under Broadway, NCCU is 26-4 when leading at intermission. Neither team was able to score in the third quarter. However, Rich ended an eight-play, 26-yard drive that milked nearly five minutes off the clock, with a one-yard touchdown run. Rich rushed for 29 yards on eight carries and completed 8-of-21 passes for 81 yards with an interception. Dodson made the extra-point tying the game at 14-14 with 14:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. Brown, who completed 19-of-36 passes for 223 yards, set CIAA records for most attempts, completions and yards in the championship game. As a team, the Eagles' 19 first downs were the most in CIAA championship game history. Blackwell led NCCU in receptions and yards for the second time in three games, hauling in six balls for 96 yards. Toliver contributed 35 rushing yards on nine carries, while senior wide receiver Charles Futrell caught five passes for 68 yards.

LAST WEEK FOR NCCU: (Sept. 8, 2007 - NCCU 6, Saint Augustine’s 0 – Durham, NC) The North Carolina Central University defense pitched its second consecutive shutout during a 6-0 victory over Saint Augustine's College on Saturday at NCCU's O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. NCCU improves to 2-1, while St. Augustine's falls to 0-2. The Eagles' defense forced two turnovers, held the Falcons to 226 total yards and, more importantly, kept the opposition out of the end zone. St. Augustine's, however, made things interesting with a last-ditch 12-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard run by third-string quarterback Kevin Williams to the NCCU 12-yard line on the game's final play. NCCU's offense, which was held to zero yards of total offense on 24 plays in the first half, posted 148 total yards after intermission, including 123 through the air. The lone score of the contest came with 10:08 left in the third quarter when NCCU sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown connected with junior receiver Wayne Blackwell for a 21-yard touchdown strike. The extra-point conversion failed after a low snap from center and a rush attempt by the holder Craig Amos. The St. Augustine's offense, which crossed midfield only four times, pushed the pigskin into the red zone only once - on the final play of the game. Defensively, NCCU was topped by senior linebacker D.J Fretwell with nine tackles, while senior cornerback Craig Amos recorded seven takedowns and an interception, senior linebacker Derrick Ray tallied seven tackles with two hits for a loss, senior end Xavier Joe collected seven tackles with two sacks and two quarterback hurries, and senior linebacker Eric Ray added six solo takedowns with four hits behind the line of scrimmage. The SAC defense was charged by junior end Marcus Crump with a game-high 12 tackles, including 1.5 sacks. The Falcon offense was paced by running back Arnold Mullins with 77 yards rushing on 20 carries, while starting quarterback Anthony Brown completed 6-of-15 passes for 87 yards with an interception and receiver Tim Lovick caught three balls for 75 yards. NCCU signal caller Brown completed 8-of-23 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, including two receptions for 72 yards by junior Will Scott..

LAST WEEK FOR ECSU: (Sept. 8, 2007 – Charleston (WV) 17, ECSU 8 – Charleston, West Va.) The University of Charleston dropped the Elizabeth City State University Vikings to 0-2 on the season with a 17-8 win Saturday afternoon at Laidley Field. ECSU got on the board first after Rod Jones blocked a punt attempt through the back of the end zone with 13:59 to go in the first quarter. Although ECSU controlled the tempo throughout most of the first half missed opportunities (0-2 in red zone chances) to extend the lead led to a deficit of 3-2 when the Golden Eagles kicked a 22-yard field goal 5 seconds before the first half expired. In the third quarter the Golden Eagles extended their lead to 10-2 after a 1-yard touchdown run by Josh Culbertson at the 7:41 mark. Offensive continuity was an issue on Saturday for ECSU as each time the Vikings threatened to score a miscue would cost the visitors valuable filed position. The final one came in the fourth quarter the Vikings had mustered an impressive drive into Charleston territory when a bad snap turned into a 52-yard loss back to their own eight yard line. Penalties were also an Achilles heel for the Vikings with 13 flags for 104 yards. Two penalties against the Vikings on a late Golden Eagle (2-1) drive led to Charleston’s final score of the afternoon another 1-yard TD by Culbertson. On their first play from scrimmage on their next possession Rayburn Morris connected with Casey Owens for a 65-yard touchdown pass with but failed on the extra attempt for the final point span of 17-8. After surrendering 491 yards in their season opener, the Viking defense redeemed itself holding Charleston to 192 yards on 57 plays from scrimmage.

THE COACHES: Mose Rison enters his second season at NCCU, but assumes the role of head coach for the first time in his 25-year coaching career. Former NCCU Chancellor James H. Ammons announced Rison as the school’s 19th head football coach on Feb. 6, 2007. Rison served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the Eagles historic 11-1 campaign in 2006. He will continue calling plays as the offensive coordinator and working with the quarterbacks. With Rison directing NCCU’s offense, the 2006 Eagles scored 371 points (30.9 per game), the most in school history. Under Rison’s tutelage, freshman quarterback Stadford Brown was named as the “SBN Sports Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year,” the 2006 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year and CIAA Rookie of the Year. A 1978 graduate of Central Michigan University, Rison spent the 2005 season as the Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Coordinator at Davidson College, where the Wildcats averaged more than 200 yards passing per game running a West Coast offensive system. He has also held positions at Livingstone College (Offensive Coordinator, 2004), the University of Arizona (Wide Receivers/Passing Coordinator, 2003), Stanford University (Wide Receivers, 1995-2000), Rutgers University (Wide Receivers/Tight Ends, 1991-94), the U.S. Naval Academy (Wide Receivers, 1988-90), and Central Michigan University (Wide Receivers, 1981-87). During his tenure at Stanford, Rison coached in three bowl games, including the 2000 Rose Bowl. Rison, the cousin of five-time NFL All-Pro receiver Andre Rison, spent two seasons (2001-02) in the National Football League coaching ranks as the wide receivers coach with the New York Jets, helping to develop Laveranues Coles and Santana Moss. He has also held NFL summer internships with the Baltimore Ravens (2000), Chicago Bears (1999), New York Jets (1993) and Detroit Lions (1988). A standout running back for Central Michigan from 1974-77, Rison helped the Chippewas to a 13-1 record and a Division II national title as a freshman. He rushed for 1,283 yards and scored 12 touchdowns as a senior to earn all-conference and team MVP honors. Rison and his wife, Marilynn, have two children, Dominique (21) and Tara (18). Dominique lives in Charlotte, N.C. and attends Johnson & Wales University. Tara is a freshman at North Carolina Central University, majoring in business. 

Waverly Tillar is in his fifth season at the helm of the Elizabeth City State University football program with an overall record of 16-28 (as of Sept. 11). In 2006, the Vikings rolled through their CIAA schedule with a perfect 7-0 conference record earning their first appearance in the league's football championship game since winning the title in 1971. ECSU earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs (first appearance since 1981) and hosted their first ever playoff game at Roebuck Stadium (Delta State). They finished the season with a 9-3 mark, the best record in school history, and Tillar was tapped as the 2006 CIAA Coach of the Year. In his first season he guided ECSU to its first ever victory at the annual Down East Viking Football Classic. Two years ago, his enthusiasm was contagious, as ECSU downed both Virginia State and Bowie State to upend the race for the 2004 CIAA Eastern Division crown. Prior to taking over as head coach, Tillar served as the defensive coordinator for the Vikings. The "Doghouse Defense" finished 2002 ranked 5th in the nation in total defense, 14th in rushing defense and 24th in pass defense efficiency. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Tillar is a 1975 graduate of Virginia Union University. Playing linebacker for the Panthers, he helped anchor a defense that produced six shutouts in route to Virginia Union's first football championship in 50 years. Additionally, Tillar coached two years at the high school level at both Clifton Forge and Patrick Henry in Ashland, Virginia. He also coached the linebackers and defensive backs at his alma mater for 13 years and Virginia State University for 5 years. Throughout his tenure he has helped construct some of the top ranked defenses in the country. Tillar obtained his B.A. in Sociology from Virginia Union and his M.A. in Urban Affairs from Norfolk State University. Highly respected by his peers, Tillar is a member of the American Football Coaching Association (AFCA), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA).

THE STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH: 
North Carolina Central University – 
 #2 - QB - Stadford Brown (So., 6-1, 201) – 37-of-74 passing, 404 yards, 4 touchdowns, 3 interceptions.
 #4 - LB - Derrick Ray (Sr., 6-0, 215) – Has 17 tackles, 5.0 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles and 2 pass break-ups.
 #13 – DE – Xavier Joe (Sr., 6-2, 253) – Has 13 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, team-high 2.5 sacks, 3 QB hurries.
 #32 – CB – Craig Amos (Sr., 5-10, 180) – Has 14 tackles, 2 INTs, 2 pass break-ups, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 blocked kicks.
 #25 - RB – Tim Shankle (Fr., 5-10, 220) – Leads team with 107 rushing yards (3.2 yards per carry).
 #56 - LB - D.J. Fretwell (Sr., 6-1, 243) – Team-high 29 tackles with 2 tackles for a loss.
 #83 - WR - Will Scott (Jr., 6-2, 169) – Has 8 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
 #87 - WR - Wayne Blackwell (Jr., 6-2, 204) – Leads team with 9 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. 

 Elizabeth City State University – 
 #3 - QB – Curtis Rich (Jr., 6-3, 200) – 18-of-40 passing, 184 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
 #6 – WR – Billy Wiggins (So., 5-10, 180) – Leads team with 8 catches for 93 yards and 0 touchdowns.
 #21 – SS – Shawn Dickerson (Sr., 6-1, 195) – Second on the team with 19 tackles, interception, fumble recovery.
 #24 – CB – Justin Hamilton (So., 5-10, 180) – Team-high 2 interceptions, pass break-up and 5 tackles (four solo).
 #34 – RB – Brandon Fields (Sr., 5-9, 205) – Tops Vikings with 83 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
 #59 – LB – Jeremy Carthen (Sr., 6-2, 245) – Leads team with 28 tackles, 2 hits for a loss, interception, QB hurry.

TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON:
Category:                 NCCU ... ECSU
Scoring Offense: 11.0 pts/gm ... 7.5 pts/gm
Scoring Defense: 5.3 pts/gm ... 25.5 pts/gm
Total Offense: 228.0 yds/gm ... 231.0 yds/gm
Total Defense: 252.7 yds/gm ... 341.5 yds/gm
Rushing Offense: 93.3 yds/gm ... 67.5 yds/gm
Rushing Defense: 144.0 yds/gm ... 208.0 yds/gm
Passing Offense: 134.7 yds/gm ... 163.5 yds/gm
Passing Defense: 108.7 yds/gm ... 133.5 yds/gm

INJURIES END SEASON FOR TWO NCCU STARTERS:  Two North Carolina Central University football starters – senior running back Jeff Toliver and senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert – will miss the remainder of the season due to injury. The duo hope to complete their Eagle gridiron careers during the 2008 campaign after seeking medical red-shirt waivers. Toliver, a 5-9, 207-pound native of Gaithersburg, Md., has a torn ligament in his right foot, an injury he suffered during last week’s 17-0 victory over Fayetteville State University. Prior to the start of the season, he was voted by his teammates as one of four team captains. Through the first two games, he was the team’s leading rusher with 92 ground yards. Gilbert, a 5-10, 186-pound native of Graham, N.C., has a torn quadriceps muscle in his left (kicking) leg. He suffered the injury during the team’s pre-season training camp, but continued to play in hopes that the injury would heal and not hinder his performance on the field. After the Sept. 2 contest, however, Gilbert decided he could no longer push ahead. Gilbert is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 234 career points, and also holds the NCCU record for career extra-point kicks made with 126. He is four field goals shy of tying the school record for career field goals, currently held by Kevin Houston (1992-95) with 40.

TWO-GAME WIN STREAKS IN NORTH CAROLINA: Only two NCAA Division I football teams in the state of North Carolina are currently riding two-game win streaks – North Carolina Central University and Appalachian State University. Of course, the Mountaineers shocked the world with a historic upset victory over Michigan two weeks ago, then defeated Lenoir-Rhyne last week. The Eagles have posted back-to-back shutouts in wins over Fayetteville State (17-0) and St. Augustine’s (6-0).

BACK-TO-BACK BLANKINGS:  On Saturday (Sept. 8), the NCCU defense recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 11 years. Two weeks ago on Sunday, Sept. 2, the Eagles posted a 17-0 win over Fayetteville State. Last week, NCCU notched a 6-0 victory over St. Augustine’s. In the middle of the 1996 campaign, NCCU collected three consecutive shutouts. The 1996 season was also the last time NCCU had two shutouts in the same year. The Eagles finished the 1996 campaign with the No. 1 ranked pass defense in the country (NCAA Division II). 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN:  After consecutive home games, the Eagles will hit the road again this weekend to East Rutherford, N.J. During NCCU’s seven road games this season, the Eagles will travel 5,290 miles, the equivalent of 93,104 football fields. NCCU opened the season at Albany State (1,080 miles round-trip) and will fly to East Rutherford, N.J. (990 miles) this weekend, followed by trips to Greensboro, N.C. (108 miles), Birmingham, Alabama (1,070 miles), Savannah, Ga. (714 miles), Bowling Green, Ky. (1,162 miles), and Winston-Salem, N.C. (166 miles).

EAGLES SCORING IN THE AIR:  Through three games, NCCU has found the end zone four times, all through the air. The Eagles have yet to rush for a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown has thrown all four touchdown passes, with two going to junior receiver Wayne Blackwell and the other two to junior receiver Will Scott.

GILBERT BREAKS SCHOOL SCORING RECORD:  NCCU senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert scored five points on Sunday (Sept. 2, 2007) versus Fayetteville State University to become the school’s all-time career scoring leader. Gilbert currently has 234 points, passing All-American wide receiver Robert Clark, who amassed 232 career points with 38 touchdowns and two extra-point conversions from 1983-86. Gilbert is now four field goals shy of tying the school record for career field goals, currently held by Kevin Houston (1992-95) with 40. Gilbert already holds the school record for career extra-point kicks made with 126. Gilbert will miss the rest of the season with a torn quadriceps muscle in his left (kicking) leg.

BLOCK PARTY FOR NCCU’S AMOS:  NCCU senior cornerback Craig Amos enjoyed a monster game on Sunday (Sept. 2) against Fayetteville State with four tackles (three solo), two blocked field goals, two fumble recoveries for 40 yards, an interception (he had another interception in the third quarter negated by a roughing the passer penalty), and a pass break-up. Amos now has eight career blocked kicks.

ALSTON INCREASES SCHOOL’S CAREER PUNT RETURN RECORD:  NCCU senior wide receiver and return specialist Brandon Alston continues to improve upon the career punt return record he broke as a junior in 2006. Alston is the school’s all-time leading punt returner with 1,110 career punt return yards (as of Sept. 11).

AMOS PICKING OFF THE OPPOSITION: With his second interception of the season on Saturday (Sept. 8), NCCU senior Craig Amos jumped into a tie for seventh place on the school’s all-time career interceptions list with 14 picks. Amos needs two more to equal Tony Lindsey’s 16 interceptions from 1985-88. The NCCU all-time interceptions leader is Melvin Wallace with 22 picks from 1982-85.

INAUGURAL DIVISION ONE SEASON:  The 2007 gridiron campaign marks the inaugural season for North Carolina Central University in the NCAA Division I-Football Championship Subdivision. Playing as an independent for the 2007 season, the Eagles were NCAA Division II members in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association before the transition. NCCU won back-to-back CIAA football championships in 2005 and 2006, and was declared the 2006 Black College Football National Champions with an undefeated regular season and an overall record of 11-1.

INJURY REPORT: (NCCU) RB – Jeff Toliver, foot sprain (Out for season); K – Brandon Gilbert, thigh (Out for season).

LISTEN TO NCCU FOOTBALL VIA THE INTERNET:  Every game of the 2007 North Carolina Central University Eagles football season will be covered by WRJD 1410 AM. Fans may also listen to the broadcast via the internet by visiting the NCCU Athletics web site at http://ariel.acc.nccu.edu/athletics/audio.html .

SPORTS INFORMATION CONTACTS: 
 NCCU: Kyle Serba (919) 530-7054 / kserba@nccu.edu
 ECSU: April Emory (252) 335-3278 / aemory@mail.ecsu.edu