Box Score
(Statistics revised after review of game tape)
Photo Gallery
INDIANAPOLIS – An aggressive defensive effort by North Carolina Central University forced five turnovers that resulted in 24 points during a 40-10 victory over South Carolina State University in the 29th annual Circle City Classic inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Trailing 3-0 at the end of the first quarter, NCCU exploded for 30 points in the second quarter, a school record for second-quarter scoring, sparked by the defense.
After a career-long 43-yard field goal by sophomore
Oleg Parent tied the score at 3-3, an interception by redshirt senior
Malik Cromartie set up a 13-yard touchdown run by senior
Arthur Goforth, giving the Eagles a 10-3 lead at 10:30 of the second stanza.
On the next SCSU drive, NCCU senior safety
Rickie Hubbard stripped Caleb Davis of the football and junior linebacker
Tazmon Foster scooped up the pigskin and raced 32 yards to the end zone, extending the Eagles’ advantage to 17-3 at the 8:28 mark.
After a 29-yard touchdown run by SCSU’s Julius Pendergrass, NCCU responded with an eight-play, 66-yard scoring drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown scamper by redshirt junior quarterback
Jordan Reid with just 38 seconds remaining before the halftime show.
The Eagles were not done, though. On the Bulldogs’ first play of the ensuing drive, SCSU quarterback Richard Cue faced heavy pressure and heaved a pass downfield into the hands of NCCU’s Cromartie for his second interception of the quarter. Cromartie returned the pick 46 yards to the 9-yard line. On the Eagles’ first play, Reid threw a strike to tight end
Detwan Robinson in the end zone for the fourth touchdown of the quarter.
NCCU took a commanding 30-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Eagles’ stifling defensive play continued in the second half. NCCU blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt and then held SCSU to a turnover-on-downs. Six plays later, NCCU sophomore running back
Andre Clarke blasted through the middle for a 40-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 37-10 with 1:28 left in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, NCCU sophomore
DeMario Johnson knocked the ball away from Lennel Elmore at NCCU sophomore
Anthony McIntyre recovered the fumble and moved it to the SCSU 23-yard line. The turnover resulted in a 23-yard field goal by Parent to cap the scoring at 40-10 at 13:36 of the fourth quarter.
NCCU senior defensive back
Marc Lewis intercepted at Derrick Wiley pass in the end zone with 2:10 remaining to seal the victory.
Hubbard topped the NCCU defense with a game-high 15 tackles. Foster finished with 12 stops, including a tackle for a loss. Redshirt sophomore linebacker
Ty Brown contributed seven tackles, including 1.5 takedowns behind the line of scrimmage, along with a forced fumble.
Reid was an efficient 8-of-15 passing for 93 yards with a touchdown toss and an interception, while also rushing for a score.
Clarke finished with 73 rushing yards, while Goforth amassed 176 all-purpose yards with 59 yards rushing, 61 yards receiving on five catches and 56 kickoff return yards.
The win snaps a seven-game losing skid to the Bulldogs and is the Eagles’ first win over SCSU since 1975. NCCU also improves its record inside NFL stadiums to 5-1 since 2000.
NCCU (3-2, 2-0 MEAC) will play its fifth straight road game on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Morgan State.
