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Highlights- NCCU vs. Delaware State Nov. 5, 2011

DOVER, Del. – Redshirt freshmen running backs Idreis Augustus and Andre Clarke led the North Carolina Central University offense and junior cornerback Malik Cromartie was the Eagles’ defensive hero as NCCU earned its first MEAC victory with a 14-7 win over Delaware State University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Dover, Del.

Augustus reached the century mark on the ground for the second time in the last three games, amassing 161 rushing yards on 24 carries for an average of 6.7 yards per attempt. His 161 rushing yards is the most by an Eagle since Greg Pruitt, Jr., rushed for 220 yards against Livingstone on Oct. 22, 2005, in Durham, N.C.

Clarke added 34 ground yards and scored both touchdowns for NCCU. Clarke bulled his way into the end zone with just 1:14 left in the first half to tie the score at 7-7, then powered in from a yard out with 4:07 remaining in the third quarter for the eventual game-winning score.

Cromartie began his heroics by blocking a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter to keep the game scoreless. Then with DSU driving late in the second quarter, the junior intercepted a pass to the end zone to prevent a go-ahead touchdown, as the Eagles and Hornets were knotted at 7-7 at halftime. Cromartie’s second interception of the afternoon was also inside the Eagles’ 5-yard line to end a DSU scoring threat. He added a pass break-up and six solo tackles on the day.

Junior safety Marc Lewis topped the NCCU defense with eight tackles and a pass deflection. Of the Eagles seven sacks of DSU quarterback Nick Elko, junior lineman Stephen Young had 2.5 sacks, while fellow junior lineman Xavier Proctor added 1.5 sacks.

NCCU senior quarterback Michael Johnson completed 18 of 29 passes for 161 yards to move past Stadford Brown (2006-08) into fourth place on the Eagles' all-time career passing yards list with 5,340 yards

When Johnson’s favorite target, Geovonie Irvine, left the game with an injury, junior Decona Roberts filled in admirably with a team-best six catches for 38 yards.

As a team, NCCU amassed 366 yards of total offense, including 205 yards rushing. Delaware State accumulated 302 total yards, but scored only once in five trips inside the NCCU 35-yard line.

DSU’s Elko threw for 244 yards on 22-for-36 passing, including an 11-yard touchdown connection with Justin Wilson at 10:04 of the second quarter. Travis Tarpley caught half of Elko’s completions for 162 yards.

NCCU (2-7) hosts Florida A&M next Saturday (Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.) for the final home game of the year.