North Carolina Central University

FOOTBALL

     GREENSBORO, N.C. - For the third straight time in the historic gridiron rivalry between North Carolina Central University and North Carolina A&T State University, the outcome was decided in the closing seconds of the game. 
     This year, NCCU senior linebacker Eric Ray made a game-saving interception at the 1-yard line with 14 seconds left to play as the Eagles held off the Aggies’ final push for a 27-22 victory in front of 19,320 fans inside Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
     A&T (0-4) suffered its 20th consecutive defeat despite out-gaining NCCU (4-1) 412 total yards to 199. The Aggies amassed 248 yards through the air, but threw three costly interceptions, including two that were returned for Eagle touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
     NCCU scored on the opening possession of the game, courtesy of a Stadford Brown pass to Will Scott, who took the short slant 44 yards for a touchdown. Rookie kicker Taylor Gray made his first career extra-point kick to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead at 12:33.
     Early in the second quarter, A&T’s Nick Johnson blocked Gray’s punt into the end zone, but a host of Aggies failed to recover the bouncing ball and the 5-10, 145-pound punter snuck into the pile to recover the pigskin for a safety. That proved to be a huge play for the Eagles, and made the score 7-2 at 11:23 of the second quarter.
     A&T took the lead 9-7 after a 10-play, 58-yard drive ended with a 1-yard run by Michael Ferguson, the first Aggie touchdown rush of the season, with 6:41 left before intermission. 
     NCCU answered with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 4-yard touchdown catch by tight end Christopher Edwards, giving the Eagles a 14-9 advantage with 48 seconds on the first-half clock.
     A&T regained the lead early in the third quarter with a 1-yard plunge by Dion McNair, putting the Aggies on top 16-14 at 11:30.
     A&T increased the cushion to 19-14 at 4:13 of the third stanza when kicker Eric Houston nailed a 27-yard field goal, the first for the Aggies in 68 quarters of play, dating back to Oct. 2005.
     On A&T’s second play of the fourth quarter, Shelton Morgan’s pass to the flat was picked off by senior linebacker Derrick Ray (twin brother of Eric) and returned 23 yards for the go-ahead score. Gray’s extra-point kick gave the Eagles a 21-19 lead at 12:30.
     On the ensuing possession, Morgan threw another interception, this time to freshman safety Jeffery Henderson, who wove through traffic for 72 yards and a touchdown. Gray’s extra-point try was blocked, leaving the NCCU advantage at 27-19 with 8:30 on the clock.
     A&T junior David Robinson returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards to the Eagles’ 32-yard line, setting up a 39-yard field goal by Houston to narrow the deficit to 27-22 with 4:51 remaining.
     After holding NCCU to just one first down and forcing a punt, A&T took over at its own 20-yard line with 2:17 on the clock. Miller completed five consecutive passes to drive the Aggies to the Eagles’ 11-yard line. On a third-and-five play, Miller then used his legs to run for a first down to the 6-yard line. After spiking the ball into the turf on first down to stop the clock, Miller’s second down pass over the middle was intercepted by Eric Ray to end A&T’s hopes of dramatic come-from-behind victory.
     NCCU’s stellar defense had many heroes. Senior linebacker D.J. Fretwell amassed a game-high 15 tackles, Eric Ray finished with 11 takedowns, including three hits for a loss, and senior end Xavier Joe collected six tackles (five solo), including three hits for a loss and two sacks.
     NCCU’s Brown completed 11-of-18 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Rookie running back Tim Shankle topped the Eagles’ ground game with 66 yards on 14 carries, while junior receiver Wayne Blackwell caught four balls for 18 yards.
     A&T signal callers combined for 22-of-30 passing for 248 yards. Morgan was 13-of-17 for 121 yards with two interceptions, while Miller was 9-of-13 for 127 yards with a pick. Ferguson finished with a game-high 113 yards rushing for the Aggies, including a 74-yard blast up the middle to open the second half and set up a touchdown.
     NCCU hosts Presbyterian College on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.