Oct. 3, 2009

Final Stats

GREENSBORO, N.C. - For the fifth consecutive meeting, the outcome of the North Carolina Central University and North Carolina A&T State University football rivalry was decided on the final drive.

In fact, each team had three chances to decide the game before A&T quarterback Carlton Fears connected with Wallace Miles for a 24-yard touchdown on the final play of the second overtime session to defeat NCCU 23-17.

The dramatic A&T victory ended a three game-losing skid to the Eagles in front of 19,534 fans inside Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.

North Carolina A&T wasted little time getting the home crowd into the contest, marching 72 yards on the first possession of the game to go up 7-0 on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Fears to Miles at 9:53.

Following an interception, the Aggies took advantage of the short field by going 37 yards on seven plays to push the lead to 14-0 on a 1-yard dive by Tony Coles with 1:58 left in the first quarter.

NCCU starting quarterback Michael Johnson threw his second interception of the night early in the second quarter to set up a 34-yard field goal by A&T's Patrick Courtney, making the score 17-0 with 10:40 remaining in the first half.

NCCU signal caller Keon Johnson entered the game on the ensuing possession and later put the Eagles in striking distance with a 62-yard pitch-and-catch to receiver Will Scott to the Aggie 5-yard line. Three plays later, Williams threw a 2-yard touchdown strike to fullback Saeed Abdul-Azeez with just 17 ticks left before intermission.

After a scoreless third quarter, NCCU pulled to within three points at 17-14 courtesy of a career-long 73-yard touchdown reception by Scott on a screen pass from Johnson at the 12:28 mark of the fourth quarter.

With the NCCU defense holding the Aggies to consecutive three-and-out possessions, the Eagles offense moved the pigskin inside the red zone and faced a first-and-goal from the 10-yard line.

NCCU running back Tim Shankle posted runs of three and six yards to set up third-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The first attempt was a dive up the middle by Abdul-Azeez that was stopped for no gain by the Aggie defense, but A&T was flagged for lining up off-side. With another shot at third-and-goal and inches away from pay-dirt, Shakle took a toss and was tackled for a 2-yard loss.

NCCU rookie kicker Frankie Cardelle booted the 20-yard field goal attempt to even the score at 17-17 with 2:36 left in regulation.

A&T responded by converting on third-and-18 and third-and-10 to push the ball to the NCCU 20-yard line, setting up a potential game-winning field goal with six seconds left. The 37-yard attempt by Patrick Courtney missed the mark and the Eagle-Aggie rivalry went into overtime for the third time since 1996, when the rule was put into effect by the NCAA.

On the first possession of overtime, A&T was unable to take advantage of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Eagles, when Courtney missed a 29-yard field goal try.

On the first play of NCCU's drive in the first extra session, A&T was flagged for a facemask penalty to put the Eagles at the 13-yard line. After a three-yard run by Shankle to the 10-yard line, NCCU head coach Mose Rison sent the kicking team on the field with an apparent chip shot to win the contest. Cardelle's 27-yard attempt, however, was blocked by Jarrell Herring to extend the game into a second overtime.

NCCU opened the second overtime at the 40-yard line because of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following the blocked field goal attempt. The Eagles managed five yards on the first three plays and faced fourth down and five yards to go from the 35-yard line.

Cardelle appeared to have kicked the longest field goal in NCCU history from 52 yards out, but just prior to the start of the play, the Eagles sideline called timeout. After the timeout, NCCU sent the offense back out on the field to try and convert on fourth down, but the Eagles were stopped short.

A&T managed just one yard on the first two plays from scrimmage, but on third-down and nine yards to go from the 24-yard line, Fears hit Miles at the 10-yard line and Miles found the end zone for the victory. The Aggies' first score since 10:40 of the second quarter touched off a wild celebration for the home team.

Miles finished with 101 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions for A&T (3-2). Fears threw for 166 yards and two scores on 8-of-20 passing, while also leading the Aggies in rushing with 58 ground yards.

NCCU (0-5) was sparked by Scott's career-high 179 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches. Shankle topped the Eagles' ground effort with 70 yards on 16 carries. Johnson ended with 130 yards on 6-of-16 passing with a touchdown, but threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Williams came off the bench to complete 5-of-7 passes for 86 yards and a score.

The NCCU defense was led by linebacker Rakeem Vick with nine tackles, while Calvin Hillie and Teryl White added eight stops each.

NCCU visits Appalachian State University, winner of three of the last four NCAA Division I-FCS national championships, next Saturday (Oct. 10) at 3:30 p.m.