Sept. 29, 2007

DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University rallied from a 21-point, fourth-quarter deficit to pull to within one score, but the Presbyterian College defense withstood the charge for a 34-27 win inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, N.C.

The victory by the Blue Hose snaps the Eagles' four-game win streak, which was the longest in the state of North Carolina. PC improves its record to 2-3 and NCCU falls to 4-2. Both teams are in their first season of NCAA Division I-FCS competition.

Trailing by 21 points midway through the final stanza, sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown led NCCU on a seven-play, 84-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Brandon Alston, his first career touchdown reception, with 4:36 left in the contest. Taylor Gray's extra-point kick narrowed the gap to 34-20.

NCCU senior Tyrone Williams recovered the ensuing on-side kick at his team's own 41-yard line. It took the Eagles just three plays to score, with the final play covering 45 yards from Brown to junior receiver Will Scott streaking down the sideline. Gray's kick made the score 34-27 with 3:22 on the clock.

NCCU jumped offside on the ensuing on-side kick, giving Presbyterian the ball at the Eagles' 30-yard line. Blue Hose running back S.J. Worrell rushed for four yards on each of the first two plays, but on third-and-two NCCU senior linebacker Derrick Ray stormed through the left tackle spot and stopped Worrell for a three-yard loss. PC threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-five, providing the Eagles with the ball at their own 25-yard line with 1:24 left and down seven points.

After opening the drive with two incomplete passes, Brown found freshman receiver Deshawn Spears for 13 yards, followed by a connection with Scott for 21 yards to the PC 41-yard line. Coming out of a timeout with 44 second remaining, Brown tossed a bomb down the Eagles' sideline into the end zone, but the ball fell just beyond Scott's outstretched arms. On the next play, Brown fumbled while scrambling, but running back Tim Shankle recovered to keep hope alive. On fourth down and 14 yards to go, Brown's pass to Spears was broken up by junior linebacker Antwan Thomas to preserve the victory for the Blue Hose.

Worrell finished with 154 of PC's 208 rushing yards, as the Blue Hose notched 360 yards of total offense. Junior quarterback Tim Webb completed 16-of-23 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. Sophomore receiver Larry Thomas caught five balls for 68 yards and two scores.

NCCU's Brown completed a career-best 26 passes in 47 attempts for a career-high 372 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, his first pick since the season-opening loss at Albany State. The sophomore signal caller was 13-of-24 with 243 yards and two touchdowns passing in the dramatic fourth quarter. Brown also rushed for 42 yards to amass a career-best 414 yards of total offense. On the receiving end, Spears caught nine passes for 103 yards and a score, while Scott had eight receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown. Shankle led the team with 48 rushing yards on 17 carries, including a two-yard burst into the end zone to begin NCCU's fourth-quarter scoring.

NCCU recorded 489 yards of total offense, the most since posting 589 total yards during a 70-12 dismantling of Edward Waters on Aug. 27, 2005. The NCCU defense was topped by senior linebacker Eric Ray with a game-high 14 tackles and a pass deflection, while fellow senior linebacker D.J. Fretwell was in on 13 stops. Seniors Tyrone Williams and Darren Brothers each had interceptions, bringing NCCU's total on the season to 12 picks.

NCCU has an open date next week courtesy of a cancellation of its contest with West Alabama. The Eagles return to O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Oct. 13 for a homecoming contest against North Greenville at 1 p.m.