Game Notes (PDF)
THE GAME
North Carolina Central University “Eagles” vs. Georgia State University “Panthers”
THE KICKOFF
Saturday, October 16, 2010 – Kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
THE SITE
Georgia Dome (28,155 capacity (lower bowl / Field Turf) - Atlanta, Georgia
2010 RECORDS
North Carolina Central (2-3 overall); Georgia State (4-2)
MEDIA COVERAGE
Audio: NCCU Sports Network - fl agship station WRJD 1410 AM (Durham), WHNC 890
AM (Henderson), WELS 1010 AM (Kinston), WYRN 1480 AM (Louisburg), WCBQ
1340 AM (Oxford), WEED 1390 AM (Rocky Mount), WXKL 1290 AM (Sanford);
WARR 1520 AM (Warrenton); NCCUEaglePride.com. Starts at 12:30 p.m.
THE EVENT
North Carolina Central University travels to Atlanta to challenge the Panthers of
Georgia State University, playing their inaugural season of football. The contest will
be played inside the Georgia Dome, home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. The visiting
Eagles have fared well in their recent trips to NFL venues, boasting a 3-0 record since
2000 (see note on page 2).
THE SERIES
This will be the fi rst football meeting between North Carolina Central University and
Georgia State University.
LAST WEEK
Hampton University rallied from a 13-point defi cit to score 27 unanswered points for
a 27-13 road victory over North Carolina Central University inside O’Kelly-Riddick
Stadium in Durham, N.C. Clinging to a one-point lead in the middle of the fourth
quarter, Hampton sealed the win by returning two interceptions for touchdowns. The
fi rst was a 55-yard scamper by lineman Matt Davis, who leaped in the air to snare
a lofted screen pass. The second pick-six was scooped off the turf by senior safety
Ricardo Silva, who raced 68 yards to the end zone and sent the home fans scattering
towards the exits with 2:10 left to play. Isiah Thomas did a little of everything for the
visiting Pirates. The junior wide receiver topped the team in rushing with 63 yards and
a touchdown on just seven carries, an average of 9.0 yards per run. Thomas also
completed both of his pass attempts for 37 yards and a touchdown, accounting for
both of Hampton’s offensive scores, while also catching three passes for 33 yards.
Hampton’s regular signal caller, David Legree, completed 11-of-23 pass attempts for
141 yards and ran for 23 yards. Javaris Brown collected four receptions for 60 yards,
including the 19-yard go-ahead touchdown on an end-around pass from Thomas at
9:14 of the fourth quarter. Hampton’s balanced offensive output resulted in 341 total
yards, an average of 6.3 yards per play, with 163 yards on the ground and 178 yards
through the air. NCCU posted 339 yards of total offense, including 144 yards passing
and 195 yards rushing, the second-best ground game of the season for the Eagles.
Senior running back Tim Shankle led the way with 107 rushing yards on 26 carries,
including a 3-yard opening score, marking the fi rst time an Eagle has reached the
100-yard rushing milestone since Shankle ran for 127 yards at Western Kentucky on
Oct. 27, 2007. NCCU starting quarterback Michael Johnson threw for 134 yards and a
touchdown on 13-of-24 passing with an interception. Redshirt freshman Jordan Reid
replaced Johnson late in the contest due to an injury and completed 2-of-7 passes
for 10 yards with an interception. Senior running back Tony McCord grabbed a teamhigh
four receptions for 10 yards, while Stanley Wright hauled in a 31-yard pass for a
touchdown at 10:56 of the second quarter to give the Eagles a 13-0 advantage. NCCU
return specialist Arthur Goforth amassed 141 all-purpose yards with 68 yards on two
punt returns and 73 yards on four kickoff returns. Sophomore place-kicker Frankie
Cardelle missed a pair of fi eld goals and had a fi eld goal and an extra-point kick
blocked. Defensively, the Eagles were paced by senior linebacker Kenneth Campbell
with nine tackles, including 1.5 hits for a loss, a pass break-up and a quarterback
hurry. Silva and senior defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis recorded 15 takedowns apiece,
while Ellis added 4.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Georgia State got four takeaways on defense and four touchdown passes from Drew
Little to pick up its second consecutive blowout win, 55-21 over Savannah State on
Saturday (Oct. 9) at the Georgia Dome.
NCCU EAGLES UNDEFEATED IN NFL VENUES
In NCCU’s last three trips to NFL venues, the Eagles are unbeaten. (see below)
Recent Trips to NFL Stadiums:
Georgia Dome – Atlanta Falcons (Oct. 16, 2010 vs. Georgia State)
Giants Stadium – New York Giants (Sept. 15, 2007 vs. Elizabeth City State – W, 18-10)
Ericsson Stadium – Carolina Panthers (Nov. 4, 2001 vs. Johnson C. Smith – W, 34-3)
Veterans Stadium – Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 30, 2000 vs. Morris Brown – W, 19-16)
JOHNSON REACHES CAREER MILESTONE OF 3,000 PASSING YARDS
NCCU red-shirt junior quarterback Michael Johnson threw for 134 yards versus
Hampton (Oct. 9) to become the 10th Eagle in school history to throw for 3,000 career
yards. The Durham, N.C., native has amassed 3,063 yards during his three-year
NCCU career, including 615 yards through the air in four games this season.
