Nov. 9, 2007

Recap |  Final Stats

THE GAME: North Carolina Central University "Eagles" at Winston-Salem State University "Rams"

THE KICKOFF: Saturday, November 10, 2007 - Kickoff at 1:30 p.m.

THE SITE: Bowman-Gray Stadium - Winston-Salem, N.C. (18,000 capacity)

2007 RECORDS: North Carolina Central (6-3 overall); Winston-Salem State (5-4 overall)

THE EVENT: The final game of the 2007 football season for NCCU and the revival of a rivalry between the Eagles and the Rams of WSSU. The two teams did not meet in the 2006 season after NCCU won the previous two match-ups by a combined five points. In the 40 previous meetings, each team has won 20 games. Both NCCU and WSSU are transitioning to Division I (Football Championship Subdivision).

THE SERIES: This will be the 41st meeting between the Eagles and Rams since the two teams first met in 1945. The series is all even with each school winning 20 games. NCCU has won the last two contests by a combined five points. NCCU snapped WSSU's six-game win streak in 2004 when the Eagles scored on the final play of the game for a 35-33 victory in Durham. In the last meeting in 2005, NCCU scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:38 remaining to defeat the Rams 20-17 in Winston-Salem. The Eagles started the series by winning the first 10 games, but the Rams have won 16 of the last 23 match-ups.

THE LAST MEETING (NCCU 20, WSSU 17 - Oct. 15, 2005 - Winston-Salem, NC): North Carolina Central University senior transfer Brad Hinton caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Adrian Warren with 1:38 remaining to provide the Eagles with a 20-17 come-from-behind victory over Winston-Salem State University in front of 11,101 fans at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. For the second straight year, NCCU rallied late in the fourth quarter to defeat to Rams. Last year, the Eagles scored on an untimed play with no time on the clock to pull out a 35-33 win in Durham, N.C. This time there was plenty of time on the clock, but the Eagles faced third down and 20 yards to go on the Rams' 22-yard line. Warren scrambled to his right and tossed the ball into the end zone, where Hinton came back for the under-thrown pass and wrestled the pigskin away from a Ram defender for the game-winning score. And while Hinton's heroic catch grabbed all of the attention, NCCU's hard-nosed second-half defense was the difference in the game. After surrendering 221 yards of total offense to WSSU in the first half, the Eagles held the Rams to just 47 total yards after intermission. WSSU finished with 268 yards of total offense, including 217 yards rushing, while the Eagles collected 252 yards of total offense. WSSU stormed out of the blocks, scoring on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead courtesy of a pair of touchdown runs by Martin Hicks. NCCU responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Greg Pruitt, Jr. to make the score 14-7 with 2:49 left in the first quarter. WSSU kicker Matt Hind blasted a season-long 44-yard field goal at 4:19 of the second quarter to push the Rams' lead to 17-7. NCCU kicker Brandon Gilbert answered with a career-long 46-yard field goal to narrow the gap to 17-10 with 2:51 left before halftime. After the break, Gilbert capped a 10-play, 62-yard drive with a 20-yard field goal to make the score 17-13 at the 10:38 mark of the third quarter. WSSU marched as close as the Eagles' 30-yard line just once in the second half. NCCU's defense was topped by junior defensive back Andre George with a game-high 10 tackles, while junior defensive lineman Greg Peterson collected eight tackles, including two hits for a loss with a sack and a forced fumble. Hinton finished with a game-high five receptions for a season-best 58 yards for the Eagles, while Warren completed 12-of-28 passes for 141 yards and an interception. Hicks rushed for 107 yards and two scores on 21 carries to lead WSSU, while Jed Bines added 105 ground yards on 17 attempts.

THE SECOND-TO-LAST MEETING (NCCU 35, WSSU 33 - Oct. 16, 2004 - Durham, NC): North Carolina Central University senior running back Donnie Pippen scored on a two-yard rush with no time remaining to lead the Eagles to a 35-33 victory over Winston-Salem State University at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, NC. WSSU appeared to score the game-winning touchdown on a 22-yard pass play from senior Josh McGee to sophomore receiver Jared Brevard as the Rams went ahead 33-29 with only 25 seconds remaining in the game. After NCCU rookie Brandon Alston returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to the Eagles' 37-yard line, the host team needed to drive 63 yards in just 20 seconds. On the first play from scrimmage, junior quarterback Adrian Warren found junior transfer Torey Ross streaking down the middle of the gridiron for a 48-yard reception to the Rams 15-yard line.After two incomplete passes, the Eagles called timeout with just two ticks on the clock. When a third straight pass attempt by Warren fell incomplete, the visiting Rams ran on to the field started to celebrate. WSSU's celebration was premature, however, as Rams sophomore cover man Nathaniel Biggs was flagged for pass interference.The ball was placed at the two-yard line and the Eagles had one un-timed play for a final chance to win. Pippen's two-yard dive into the end zone started a second celebration, but this time by the host Eagles. NCCU out-gained the Rams 391 to 386 yards of total offense. WSSU amassed 275 yards rushing against the seventh-ranked defense in NCAA Division II. The NCCU win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Rams. The Eagles last celebrated a victory against WSSU on Oct. 11, 1997, by a score of 30-29 in Winston-Salem, NC.

LAST WEEK FOR NCCU: (Western Kentucky 50, NCCU 14) Western Kentucky University scored on every possession during a 50-14 victory over North Carolina Central University inside L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky. Western Kentucky, in its first year as an NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision program (formerly I-A), improved to 5-3, while NCCU, in its first year of transition into the Division I-Footbll Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), fell to 6-3. The visiting Eagles suffered their biggest loss since a 47-0 defeat at Winston-Salem State University on Oct. 25, 2003, while the NCCU defense surrendered the most points since a 60-25 loss against Livingstone College on Oct. 28, 1995. WKU amassed 538 yards of total offense, including 373 yards rushing, for an average of 7.8 yards per play and 7.2 yards per rush. NCCU recorded 333 total yards, including a season-high 162 yards on the ground. NCCU rookie running back Tim Shankle rushed for a season-high 127 yards on 20 carries, while senior tight end Christopher Edwards collected season-highs of five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. On the game's second play from scrimmage, NCCU quarterback Stadford Brown's pass was intercepted by junior linebacker Ben Sowders, who returned the pick 10 yards to the NCCU 20-yard line. Four plays later, sophomore running back Tyrell Hayden scored from three yards out and senior kicker Chris James added the extra-point to put the Hilltoppers on top 7-0 just 1:53 into the contest. NCCU responded with a 12-play, 69-yard drive to even the score at 7-7 with 8:03 on the first quarter clock. A determined 17-yard run by Shankle put the Eagles on the WKU 1-yard line, setting up a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Brown, his first rushing score of the season. On WKU's first play, junior quarterback David Wolke tossed a 42-yard pass to Curtis Hamilton to the Eagles' 25-yard line. That set up a 14-yard touchdown on a screen pass from Wolke to freshman receiver Wenquel Graves. James missed only his second extra-point kick in 134 career attempts to keep the score at 13-7 in favor of the host Hilltoppers. NCCU's strong offensive line play led to 83 ground yards in the first 10 minutes of action, leading WKU to call a timeout. However, coming out of the timeout, Brown attempted a pump-and-go pass down the sideline that was intercepted by senior safety Bo Smith, who returned the ball to the Toppers' 20-yard line. Smith's interception led to a 12-play, 54-yard drive that was capped by a 43-yard field goal by James at 14:51 of the second quarter, giving WKU a 16-7 advantage. Once again, the Eagles offense responded. This time, NCCU engineered a 13-play, 85-yard drive that consumed 7:59 on the second quarter clock and ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Edwards on a third-down and seven yards-to-go play at 6:46. The offensive explosion continued moments later with a 50-yard touchdown run by WKU's Hayden to push the Toppers lead to 23-14 with 5:00 left before intermission. After the Hilltoppers forced the first punt of the game, WKU drove 84 yards on seven plays and James booted a 28-yard field goal to close out the first half with a 26-14 lead. The Hilltoppers caught a break on the play before the kick when NCCU sophomore defensive back Derek Harvey appeared to strip the ball from a Hilltoppers ball carrier and the fumble was recovered by the Eagles. However, the officials ruled that WKU's forward progress was stopped and the ball remained with the Toppers, allowing the last-second field goal. The teams combined for 29 first downs (15 WKU, 14 NCCU) and 499 total yards (280 WKU, 219 NCCU) in the first half. The visiting Eagles posted 122 rushing yards on 25 carries, while the Toppers amassed 148 ground yards on 17 rushes. NCCU's potent ground attack was sparked by Shankle's 93 yards on 14 first-half carries. The Hilltoppers took the opening drive of the second half 67 yards on 10 plays, ending with a 6-yard touchdown scamper by WKU quarterback Wolke to build his team's lead to 33-14 at 11:25 of the third quarter. On the ensuing drive, NCCU pushed the pigskin to the Hilltoppers' 25-yard line, but rookie kicker Taylor Gray had a 42-yard field goal attempt blocked and the home team took over at its own 44-yard line. WKU extended its cushion to 40-14 courtesy of a 14-yard run by junior running back Stephen Willis at 2:49 of the third quarter, ending an eight-play, 56-yard drive. The Hilltoppers used a 10-play, 82-yard drive to increase the advantage to 47-14 with 10:15 to go after a 1-yard touchdown dive by sophomore running back Marell Booker. WKU put the finishing touches on the victory with a 36-yard field goal by James with 1:48 left. LAST WEEK FOR WSSU: (Delaware State 23, WSSU 20) Peter Gaertner's 37-yard field goal with no time on the clock lifted the 13th-ranked Delaware State University Hornets past the Rams of Winston-Salem State University by the score of 23-20 on Saturday (Nov. 3) at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC as WSSU fell to 5-4 overall on the season. Holding an eight-point advantage (20-12) with only one quarter to play, the Rams looked to be in control of the contest, despite committing four turnovers in the game. However, the WSSU offense would falter in the fourth quarter and Delaware State, a team that has come back from three fourth-quarter deficits in 2007, used excellent special teams and an opportunistic offense to spoil the Rams' plans for a victorious Homecoming.

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.

The WSSU Rams are coached by 15th-year man Kermit Blount. Blount has posted an impressive 86-68-3 record at WSSU and has led the Rams to two CIAA titles (1999 and 2000).

THE STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH: North Carolina Central University - #2 - QB - Stadford Brown (So., 6-1, 201) - 132-of-255 passing, 1,500 yards, 13 touchdowns, 9 interceptions. #4 - LB - Derrick Ray (Sr., 6-0, 215) - Has 46 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 3 forced fumbles, 3 INTs, 6 PBUs. #11 - LB - Eric Ray (Sr., 6-0, 235) - Has 72 tackles, 8.0 hits for loss, 3 pass break-ups, forced fumble, interception. #13 - DE - Xavier Joe (Sr., 6-2, 253) - Has 32 tackles, 9.0 tackles for a loss, team-high 6.0 sacks, 3 QB hurries. #25 - RB - Tim Shankle (Fr., 5-10, 220) - Leads team in rushing with 560 yards (4.1 per carry), 3 touchdowns #26 - FS - Darren Brothers (Sr., 6-1, 183) - Leads team with 12 passes defended (4 interceptions, 8 pass break-ups). #32 - CB - Craig Amos (Sr., 5-10, 180) - 39 tackles, 4 INTs, 6 pass break-ups, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 blocked kicks. #56 - LB - D.J. Fretwell (Sr., 6-1, 243) - Team-high 83 tackles with 3.0 tackles for a loss. #83 - WR - Will Scott (Jr., 6-2, 169) - Leads team with 473 receiving yards (15.8 avg.), 4 touchdown catches. #87 - WR - Wayne Blackwell (Jr., 6-2, 204) - Tops team with 36 catches for 434 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Winston-Salem State University - #1 - RB - Jed Bines (R-Sr., 5-10, 190) - Leads team in rushing with 753 yards (5.3 per carry), 5 touchdowns. #4 - QB - Monte Purvis (Sr., 5-11, 190) - Passing: 811 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs; Rushing: 528 yards, 8 TDs. #23 - FS - Nathaniel Biggs (Sr., 6-0, 190) - Has 65 tackles (31 solo), 2 interceptions for 88 return yards. #45 - MLB - Thadeus Griffin (Sr., 6-2, 255) - Leads Rams with 93 total tackles (40 solo), 2 interceptions. #52 - DE - William Hayes (Sr., 6-3, 260) - Has 64 tackles (37 solo), including team-high 7.5 sacks. #82 - WR - Bryant Bayne (R-So., 6-1, 195) - Top receiver with 21 catches, 203 yards, 3 touchdowns.

TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON: Category NCCU WSSU Scoring Offense: 18.4 pts/gm 19.7 pts/gm Scoring Defense: 17.8 pts/gm 18.9 pts/gm Total Offense: 282.2 yds/gm 291.9 yds/gm Total Defense: 300.8 yds/gm 341.7 yds/gm Rushing Offense: 115.6 yds/gm 201.8 yds/gm Rushing Defense: 149.4 yds/gm 167.3 yds/gm Passing Offense: 166.7 yds/gm 90.1 yds/gm Passing Defense: 151.3 yds/gm 174.3 yds/gm

NCCU AMONG NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS: NCCU is not officially eligible to be included in NCAA Division I-Football Championship Subdivision statistics until the 2011 football season as part of its reclassification period, but the Eagles would figure in prominently in the FCS statistics. NCCU would currently rank tied for sixth in the Division I-FCS in interceptions (16), eighth in pass defense (151.33 yards per game), tied for eighth in turnovers gained (25), 12th in pass efficiency defense (101.6 rating), tied for 13th in turnover margin (1.22), 14th in scoring defense (17.8 points allowed per game), and 15th in total defense (300.78 yards per game).

OH BROTHERS: NCCU senior safety Darren Brothers currently leads the Eagles with 12 passes defended, including team-highs of four interceptions and eight pass break-ups. A native of Elizabeth City, N.C., Brothers would also rank among the nation's top 20 if NCCU were eligible for the NCAA Division I-FCS statistical rankings. Brothers would be tied for 14th in the nation in passes defended (1.33 per game). He also has 25 tackles (14 solo) and a forced fumble on the season.

NCCU'S AMOS STUFFING THE STATS: NCCU senior cornerback Craig Amos has been a super stat-stuffer so far this season. The Winston-Salem native had an MVP performance in the Whitney Young Classic (Sept. 15) when he scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery, intercepted a pass, collected a team-best six tackles (four solo) and deflected four other passes. On Sept. 2 against Fayetteville State, Amos collected 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. Through nine games, Amos has 39 tackles (25 solo), four interceptions for 92 yards, six pass break-ups, three fumble recoveries for 40 yards and a touchdown, and two blocked kicks. Amos now has 16 career interceptions and eight career blocked kicks.

SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown is climbing his way through the NCCU record books. Courtesy of an amazing 2006 rookie campaign, Brown ranks fifth on the school's all-time career passing list with 4,077 passing yards and is fifth on the Eagles' career total offense list with 4,096 total yards (statistics as of Nov. 6). Brown threw for 2,577 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, while starting all 12 games for the 11-1 Black College Football National Champions.

AMOS PICKING OFF THE OPPOSITION: With his fourth interception of the season on Oct. 20, NCCU senior Craig Amos jumped into a tie for sixth place on the school's all-time career interceptions list with 16 picks. Amos needs one more to equal Louis Breeden's (1973-76) and Buddy Crutchfield's (1994-97) 17 interceptions. The NCCU all-time interceptions leader is Melvin Wallace with 22 picks from 1982-85. Amos is also ranked seventh on NCCU's career passes defended list with 42 (16 interceptions, 26 pass break-ups).

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 1,107 career yards (as of Nov. 6).

PETERSON N.F.L. UPDATE: Former NCCU defensive lineman Greg Peterson, a 2007 fifth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, continues to make his mark in his rookie season in the National Football League. In his homecoming game against the Carolina Panthers (Sept. 30), Peterson recorded three solo tackles with a sack and a fumble recovery. The former Eagle now has 12 total tackles (nine solo) and 1.5 sacks.

BACK-TO-BACK BLANKINGS: On Saturday (Sept. 8), the NCCU defense recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 11 years. On Sept. 2, the Eagles posted a 17-0 win over Fayetteville State. On Sept. 8, 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).

GILBERT BREAKS SCHOOL SCORING RECORD: NCCU senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert scored five points on Sept. 2 versus Fayetteville State 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, and has made 83 consecutive extra-point kicks. Gilbert will miss the rest of the season with a torn quadriceps muscle in his left (kicking) leg.

INJURIES END SEASON FOR TWO NCCU STARTERS: (Sept. 8, 2007) Two NCCU 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. 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.

EAGLES IN NFL STADIUMS: With an 18-10 victory over Elizabeth City State on Sept. 15 inside Giants Stadium, the Eagles remain undefeated inside National Football League stadiums with a 3-0 record. NCCU edged Morris Brown, 19-16, inside Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pa. on Sept. 30, 2000. A year later (Nov. 4, 2001), the Eagles beat J.C. Smith, 34-3, inside the Carolina Panthers' home, then called Ericsson Stadium, in Charlotte, N.C.

GAME WITH WEST ALABAMA CANCELLED: On Sept. 12, the University of West Alabama Department of Athletics announced the cancellation of the Tigers' football game versus North Carolina Central University at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. on Oct. 6. The cancellation is the result of a breach in the game contract by the Varsity Sports Marketing Group, the game's promoter. "We want all of the UWA and NCCU fans to know that our great universities really wanted to play this football game and we did everything possible to salvage it, but we were unable to resolve the contract difficulties with the game's promoter," said UWA Director of Athletics E.J. Brophy. This cancellation will result in an open date for both teams on Oct. 6. "We are disappointed that our football program and our fans will not have the opportunity to travel to Alabama for this event," said NCCU Director of Athletics Bill Hayes. "We have developed a wonderful relationship with the administration of UWA and we were looking forward to the match-up on the gridiron. All possible efforts were exhausted by NCCU and UWA before having to come to this decision. This is quite unfortunate."

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. Donal Ware will handle play-by-play duties, Eric Curry will provide color commentary and Hanif Omar will call the action from the sideline. 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 WSSU: Chris Zona (336) 750-2143 / zonac@wssu.edu