Complete Game Notes (PDF)
THE GAME
Savannah State University “Tigers” vs. North Carolina Central University “Eagles”
THE KICKOFF
Saturday, September 24, 2011 – Kickoff at 6:00 p.m.
THE SITE
O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity/MondoTurf) - Durham, N.C.
2011 RECORDS
Savannah State (0-3 overall, 0-0 MEAC); N.C. Central (1-2 overall, 0-0 MEAC)
MEDIA COVERAGE
Radio: WEED 1390 AM (Rocky Mount, N.C.); WARR 1520 AM (Warrenton, N.C.); “GameCentral” at NCCUEaglePride.com. Starts at 5:30 p.m. (Chris Hooks, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst; Danielle Johnson-Webb, sideline)
Video: NCCUEaglePride.com features “GameCentral” by Stretch Internet ($8.95 per game). Starts at 5:45 p.m.
QUICK HITS
• North Carolina Central University plays its first official Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football game against fellow conference newcomer Savannah State University.
• Last season, the Tigers of Savannah State earned their first win in the series with NCCU, snapping a four-game losing streak to the Eagles.
• This year’s contest features two head coaches in their first seasons with their respective programs - Henry Frazier III at NCCU and Steve Davenport at SSU.
• In Savannah State’s last 16 games, the Tigers are 1-15 with the lone victory coming against NCCU last season.
• Michael Johnson is now the sixth NCCU quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 career passing yards.
THE SERIES
This will be the seventh football meeting between Savannah State University and North Carolina Central University. NCCU leads the series 4-1-1. In the first contest between the Tigers and Eagles, the two teams played to a 0-0 tie to open the 1974 season (Sept. 14, 1974) in Savannah, Ga. The following year in Durham, N.C., NCCU defeated the Tigers 30-0 in another season-opener on Sept. 13, 1975. Three years ago, NCCU earned a 30-14 road victory over Savannah State on Oct. 20, 2007. On Nov. 22, 2008, NCCU edged the Tigers 10-7 in Durham, N.C. On Nov. 21, 2009, the Eagles celebrated senior day with a 35-14 win over SSU in Durham, N.C. Last season on Nov. 13, 2010, the Tigers captured their first series win over NCCU with a 28-21 victory in Savannah, Ga.
Sept. 14, 1974 - NCCU 0, SSU 0 (Savannah, Ga.)
Sept. 13, 1975 - NCCU 30, SSU 0 (Durham, N.C.)
Oct. 20, 2007 - NCCU 30, SSU 14 (Savannah, Ga.)
Nov. 22, 2008 - NCCU 10, SSU 7 (Durham, N.C.)
Nov. 21, 2009 - NCCU 35, SSU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
Nov. 13, 2010 - SSU 28, NCCU 21 (Savannah, Ga.)
ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1890, Savannah State University is the oldest public HBCU in Georgia and the oldest institution of higher learning in the historic city of Savannah. SSU boasts an enrollment of 4,100. The Tigers compete on the NCAA Division I (FCS) level as new members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
THE COACHES
North Carolina Central: Henry Frazier III (Bowie State, 1993) is in his first season as head coach at NCCU. Prior to his arrival in Durham, N.C., Frazier spent seven seasons (2004-10) at the helm of the Prairie View A&M University Panthers football team. He took over a program that experienced the nation’s longest losing streak, dropping 80 straight contests from 1989-98, and transformed the Panthers into SWAC champions in 2009. Among his many coaching honors is the 2009 Eddie Robinson National FCS Coach of the Year award. Frazier also served as head coach at his alma mater, Bowie State University (1999-2003).
Savannah State: Steve Davenport (Georgia Tech, 1990) was announced as the Tigers new head football coach on Jan. 7, 2011. The Decatur, Ga., native previously served as running backs coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham since December 2006. Davenport spent two years (2005-06) as the offensive coordinator at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga. He was the head coach at Decatur High School for two seasons (2003-04) and in 2003 was named the Georgia Class AA State Coach-of-the-Year as his team finished 13-1, losing in the state semifinals. Davenport also spent four seasons (1997-2001) as the head coach at Redan High School in Lithonia, Ga., and served as the offensive coordinator at Southwest DeKalb High School in Atlanta from 1994-96, when the school won the 1995 Georgia State AAAAA state championship. Davenport was a graduate assistant coach at Georgia Tech during the1992 and 1993 seasons. He was a four-year letterwinner as a player at Georgia Tech from 1985-88. He was a member of the Yellow Jacket team that defeated Michigan State in the 1985 All-American Bowl played at Legion Field. A three-year starter at wide receiver, Davenport earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech in 1990 and his master’s degree from Tech in 1994.
LAST WEEK
NCCU 22, Elon 23: Elon University overcame five turnovers by piling up 525 yards of total offense and taking advantage of North Carolina Central University special teams miscues, as the visiting Phoenix escaped NCCU’s O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium with a 23-22 win on a cool, misty Saturday night. For NCCU, a Division I newcomer against a traditional FCS contender, this was the game that got away. With the visitors holding a one-point lead with less than two minutes left in the game, NCCU drove down the field to get into position for a potential game-winning 39-yard field goal. However, the snap from the long snapper was low and the rain-soaked ball slipped through the holder’s hands. Rookie kicker Oleg Parent, who missed an extra-point kick in the second quarter, never got a chance to redeem himself. The sensational Elon duo of junior quarterback Thomas Wilson and junior receiver Aaron Mellette proved too much for the Eagles to handle. Wilson completed 34 of 48 passes for a career-best 416 yards and three touchdowns, while Mellette had 16 receptions for a career-high 237 yards with a score. Wilson also made a shoe-string, touchdown-saving tackle when NCCU junior safety Marc Lewis appeared to be heading to the end zone after a first-quarter interception. The last line of defense, Wilson dove and barely tripped up Lewis at the Elon 15-yard line, and NCCU had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Parent. Elon senior receiver Christian Dennis caught six passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns, including what proved to be the game-winner with 4:46 remaining in the game. NCCU senior signal caller Michael Johnson connected on 13 of 40 pass attempts for 153 yards and two touchdowns, both diving catches in the first half. The first was hauled in by senior receiver Demario Lackey at 8:29 of the second quarter to tie the game at 10-10. The second scoring grab was made by junior receiver Geovonie Irvine with 3:44 remaining before the halftime intermission. Parent pushed the extra-point kick wide right as Elon entered the locker room with a 17-16 lead. Neither team scored in the third quarter or the first half of the final frame. Ironically, the first points of the second half were posted by NCCU freshman linebacker Tiron Guion, who intercepted Wilson’s overthrown pass at the Elon 25-yard line and rumbled 75 yards to the end zone with fellow rookie linebacker Prince Williams leading the way. That touchdown scamper gave the home team its first lead of the game at 22-17 with 7:17 on the fourth quarter clock. The Phoenix did not let the home crowd cheer for too long. On the ensuing drive, Elon covered 64 yards in just seven plays as Wilson found Dennis open over the middle for a 27-yard go-ahead touchdown with 4:46 remaining. NCCU tried to answer back, converting twice on fourth down to move the ball to the 22-yard line. However, Johnson threw three incomplete passes before the botched field goal attempt. While Elon racked up the most yards by an NCCU opponent since Appalachian State in 2009, the Eagles managed 219 yards of total offense. The NCCU defense was topped by senior safety James Reese with 11 tackles, including 1.5 hits for a loss, along with a forced fumble and two pas break-ups. Senior cornerback Brian Frierson tallied nine takedowns with an interception and a pair of pass deflections, while senior linebacker Brandon Outlaw added eight stops for the Eagles.
Savannah State 6, #3 Appalachian State 41: No. 3 Appalachian State University scored on five of its first seven possessions to grab a 27-0 halftime lead and never looked back en route to a 41-6 win over visiting Savannah State on Saturday evening at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Appalachian outgained Savannah State by a 283-97 margin in the first half and 420-285 for the ballgame. Sophomore quarterback Antonio Bostick came off the bench to lead Savannah State to their only touchdown of the game. Bostick entered the game early in the second quarter, after starter AJ DeFilippis went out with a head injury.
LAST SEASON
North Carolina Central: NCCU finished its fourth season of Division I-FCS competition with a 3-8 overall record. NCCU stormed out of the gates with a dominating 59-0 season-opening win over Johnson C. Smith. The Eagles also tasted sweet victory against long-time rival North Carolina A&T and celebrated a homecoming win versus Edward Waters. But the Eagles also had their share of troubles. They lost a heart-breaker to Winston-Salem State, fell victim to the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in Appalachian State and suffered an overtime setback at Georgia State. After opening the campaign with a 2-4 record, NCCU head coach Mose Rison was replaced by assistant head coach Darryl Bullock, who led the Eagles the rest of the season. Unfortunately for the maroon and gray faithful, the results were about the same. NCCU went 1-4 during that stretch, including its first-ever loss against Savannah State.
Savannah State: The Tigers finished the season with a 1-10 overall record. SSU’s lone victory was against NCCU, a 28-21 win to end a four-game losing skid in the series with the Eagles.
NCCU’s GUION NAMED MEAC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced North Carolina Central University linebacker Tiron Guion as the MEAC Football Rookie of the Week for his performance against Elon University in week three. A native of New Bern, N.C., Guion recorded six tackles (four solo) against the Phoenix and returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown to give NCCU its first lead of the game with less than eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Guion tallied his first college tackle two weeks ago against Central State (Sept. 10) inside Cleveland Browns Stadium, finishing the game with five takedowns.
JOHNSON SIXTH NCCU QUARTERBACK TO THROW FOR 4,000 YARDS
On Sept. 17 against Elon, NCCU senior quarterback Michael Johnson threw for 153 yards to become the sixth Eagles quarterback to reach 4,000 career passing yards. The Durham, N.C. native currently has 4,012 yards through the air in 26 games under center.
EAGLES EQUAL SCORING STANDARD IN SECOND QUARTER
On Sept. 10 versus Central State, NCCU tied a school record by scoring 28 points in the second quarter, the most points tallied in the second stanza by the Eagles since Nov. 13, 1971, against Howard University. The record for most points scored in a quarter is 39, posted in the first quarter against Virginia Union on Nov. 16, 1968.
IRVINE REACHES CENTURY MARK IN CAREER RECEPTIONS
NCCU redshirt junior Geovonie Irvine accumulated seven receptions versus Central State on Sept. 10 to become the 13th Eagle in school history with 100 career receptions. The Durham, N.C. native is currently tied for 12th among NCCU’s all-time receptions leaders with 107 catches. Irvine needs one reception to pass Edwin Hargrove (1987-90) for the 12th spot on the list.
FRAZIER TALLIES 70TH CAREER COLLEGE COACHING VICTORY
The Eagles’ win against Central State in the “Cleveland Classic” was the 70th victory in the college coaching career of NCCU head coach Henry Frazier III. The 43-year-old coach earned 26 victories in five seasons at his alma mater Bowie State University and 43 wins in seven campaigns at Prairie View A&M University.
LISTEN TO NCCU FOOTBALL VIA THE INTERNET
Every game of the 2011 North Carolina Central University Eagles football season will be broadcasted by the NCCU Sports Network. Play-by-play announcer Chris Hooks and NCCU Athletic Hall of Famer Joe Simmons will call all of the live action, starting with “Eagle Gameday” a half-hour prior to kickoff. To listen to the broadcast via the internet, visit the NCCU Athletics web site at www.NCCUEaglePride.com and click on “GameCentral.”
THREE EAGLES AMONG NCCU CAREER LEADERS
- NCCU senior quarterback Michael Johnson currently ranks sixth on NCCU’s all-time career passing list with 4,012 yards through the air. The Durham, N.C., native also ranks seventh with 36 career touchdown passes. Up next: Adrian Warren (2003-06) with 4,676 passing yards; and Herman Mathews (1966-69) with 41 TD passes.
- Junior receiver Geovonie Irvine ranks 11th among NCCU’s career receiving yards leaders with 1,532 yards and tied for 12th in career receptions with 107. Up next: Moses Ware (1991-94) with 1,822 receiving yards; Carl Sanders (1977-80) with 112 receptions.
- Senior cornerback David Ingram ranks 10th among NCCU’s career passes defended leaders with 34. Up next: Hassan Smith (1999-2002) with 35.
NCCU PICKED TO FINISH SEVENTH IN THE MEAC
Under the direction of new head coach Henry Frazier III, conference rookie North Carolina Central University has been picked to finish seventh during the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football season, according to a poll of league head football coaches and sports information directors. The Eagles were selected ahead of four squads with Delaware State picked eighth, North Carolina A&T ninth, Howard 10th and fellow conference newcomer Savannah State at the bottom in 11th. South Carolina State was announced as the MEAC favorite for the fourth straight year, while last season’s co-champions, Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, are slated to finish second and third, respectively. Rounding out the preseason poll are Hampton in fourth, Norfolk State in fifth and Morgan State in sixth.
EAGLES’ EQUIPMENT RIDES IN STYLE
North Carolina Central University and Tru-Pak Moving Systems, Inc., partnered to unveil a brand new truck with NCCU style on Aug. 1 in front of McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium. Tru-Pak Moving Systems, Inc., now “The Official Mover of NCCU Football,” will use the 28-foot truck to transport the Eagles’ gridiron equipment to road games and will be added to Tru-Pak’s fleet of more than 200 trucks. “I can’t think of a finer institution to give this gift to than NCCU,” stated Allyson Siegel, Executive Vice President of Tru-Pak Moving Systems, Inc. “Producing leaders in the world for years in both the classroom and on the athletic field, NCCU is leading the way for other institutions. I am very excited about the upcoming season and look forward to being part of their success in years to come.” The truck will be used primarily to aid the NCCU football program move its equipment to and from the site of competition, which will enhance the travel experience for the student-athletes and support staff; while also giving the institution visibility not only across North Carolina, but nationwide as the truck will be used as part of the normal fleet during the week and the rest of the year. “I’m so excited about our new partnership with Tru-Pak Moving Systems,” said NCCU Athletics Director Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree. “As our program grows, we are looking to form great corporate sponsorships such as this. Ms. Allyson Siegel has been wonderful in her support of our athletics program, and most importantly, our student-athletes. We will move in style this season.” Tru-Pak Moving Systems, Inc., has been a family owned and operated full-service moving and storage company for more than 50 years. This company averages 4,500 moves annually. Eagle fans are encouraged to check out their website at www.Tru-Pak.com or call 1-800-659-122 ext. 211.
