Box Score
Game Statistics    

DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University amassed a season-high 420 yards of total offense, but the Eagles committed three turnovers resulting in 13 second-half points for the visiting Tigers, as Savannah State University captured a 33-30 victory at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, N.C.

It was a career night for NCCU senior quarterback Michael Johnson, who established new career-highs with 28 completions on 52 pass attempts for 315 yards, while also throwing three touchdowns. However, it is not a night he would like to remember.

“I am tired of coming up short,” Johnson said in frustration following NCCU’s second straight loss by a combined four points.

And while Johnson posted the most passing yards for the Eagles since the 2007 season (372 vs. Presbyterian on Sept. 29, 2007), the Durham native reflected back to one key play in the fourth quarter when he misfired to an open receiver in the end zone on a fourth-down play. “He (Marvin Poole) was open on the slant and I missed him,” Johnson said. “As a fifth-year senior, I have to complete that pass.”

Instead, NCCU trailed 27-15 with 6:28 left in the contest.

The Eagles defense forced Savannah State to punt on the ensuing possession, allowing Johnson to engineer a seven-play, 66-yard scoring drive in just 1:35. Johnson completed his fourth pass of the drive to senior receiver Demario Lackey, who finished with nine catches for 104 yards, for a 16-yard touchdown. Oleg Parent’s extra-point kick narrowed the deficit to 27-22 with 2:42 remaining.

Needing to get the ball back, the NCCU defense rose to the occasion once again, forcing a three-and-out by the Tigers.

Trailing by five points with 1:29 on the game clock, Johnson completed back-to-back first down passes to move to the NCCU 38-yard line. But after two incompletions, Johnson’s third down pass sailed over the intended receiver and into the hands of SSU senior Byron Leggett, who returned the interception 50 yards for a touchdown.

Just when all hope seemed lost for Eagles fans, NCCU junior Geovonie Irvine returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown. Johnson tossed a fade pass to Andrew Johnson in the corner of the end zone for the two-point conversion to trim the margin to just three points with 35 seconds left.

Needing a field goal to even the score, NCCU attempted an on-side kick, but the Tigers recovered to seal their second-straight win in the series against NCCU.

Savannah State (1-3) recorded a season-high 385 yards of total offense. Sophomore quarterback Antonio Bostick ran for 33 yards and two touchdowns while throwing for 200 yards and a score.

Nearly half of Bostick’s passing yards came on one critical play in the third quarter. Taking a first-down snap while standing in his own end zone, Bostick tossed the pigskin down the sideline and found an open receiver in Brian Lackey, who raced the rest of the way for a 99-yard touchdown. That score gave SSU a 20-15 lead with 6:45 left in the third quarter.

Another game-changing play took place early in the second quarter. With the score tied at 6-6 and facing a fourth down and 15 yards to go from the NCCU 41-yard line, SSU punter Derek Williams faked the punt and threw a 26-yard strike to a diving Leggett for a first down. Two rushes later and Justin Babb was in the end zone for a 13-6 Tigers advantage.

Defensively, NCCU was topped by senior linebacker Brandon Outlaw with 12 tackles, including 2.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Senior safety James Reese contributed nine takedowns with 1.5 hits for a loss and two pass break-ups, while junior lineman John Drew chipped in seven tackles, 2.0 hits for a loss and a fumble recovery.

NCCU receiver Jonathan Nicely had eight catches for 85 yards and a touchdown, while Irvine caught three balls for 43 yards with a score.

NCCU returns to the gridiron in two weeks (Oct. 8) to face South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C.