Complete Game Notes (PDF)
THE GAME
North Carolina A&T State University “Aggies” vs. North Carolina Central University “Eagles”
THE KICKOFF
Saturday, November 17, 2012 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m.
THE SITE
O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity/Mondoturf) - Durham, N.C.
THE RECORDS
N.C. Central (6-4 overall, 5-2 MEAC); N.C. A&T (6-4 overall, 4-3 MEAC)
MEDIA COVERAGE
Radio: WNCU 90.7 FM (Durham, N.C.); “
GameCentral” at NCCUEaglePride.com (audio/video internet stream). Starts at 1:30 p.m. (Chris Hooks, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst)
QUICK HITS
• NCCU and NC A&T renew an 88-year-old football rivalry with the 84th gridiron meeting.
• NCCU celebrates “Senior Day” by recognizing 21 seniors before the game.
• With a win, NCCU equals the best season-to-season turnaround in school history with five more wins than last year. (1979-1980 / 1967-1968 / 1942-1945)
• NCCU senior Arthur Goforth needs 68 yards to become the third Eagle to reach 4,000 career all-purpose yards. (Robert Clark, 1983-86; Anthony Cooley, 1988-91)
• NC A&T has won 16 of the last 21 meetings, but NCCU has won four of the last six contests. Those last four victories by the Eagles have all taken place in different cities (Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh).
• Former NCCU head football coach Rod Broadway makes a return trip to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium as the head coach of the Aggies. Broadway led the Eagles to back-to-back CIAA championships in 2005 and 2006. Four other A&T coaches (Sam Washington, Shawn Gibbs, Courtney Coard, Trei Oliver) have ties to NCCU, either as a former player, coach or both.
THE SERIES
This will be the 84th meeting between the Eagles and Aggies, dating back to 1924 when NC A&T tied NCCU, 13-13, in Durham, N.C. The Aggies lead the series 47-31-5. NC A&T has won 16 of the last 21 meetings, but NCCU has won four of the last six contests, including a 27-16 victory on Sept. 25, 2010 in Durham, a 28-27 win on Oct. 4, 2008 in Charlotte, a 27-22 victory on Sept. 22, 2007 in Greensboro, and a 23-22 win on Sept. 5, 2005 in Raleigh. In the last match-up on Nov. 19, 2011, A&T closed out the season with a 31-21 win over the Eagles in Greensboro.
PUNT RETURN PROWESS
NCCU is the nation’s leader among NCAA Division I-FCS programs with a punt return average of 24.5 yards. The Eagles have returned 16 punts for 392 yards and they are the only college football team (NCAA or NAIA) with five punt return touchdowns.
EAGLES SCORE NINE NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
What do the NCCU Eagles and the Chicago Bears have in common? Besides NCCU Hall of Famer and Bears’ award-winning equipment manager Tony Medlin, the Eagles and Bears each have a knack for finding the end zone when the offense is off the field. Through 10 games, NCCU has scored nine touchdowns on defense and special teams. The Eagles have made trips to the end zone on five punt returns, a kickoff return, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
NCCU SECOND IN MEAC IN TACKLES FOR A LOSS, AMONG BEST IN NATION
Through 10 games, the NCCU defense ranks 10th in the NCAA Division I-FCS and second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in tackles for loss with an average of 7.60 per contest. The Eagles have allowed 121.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks second in the MEAC and 17th among the statistical leaders of the nation (FCS). NCCU senior lineman Stephen Young tops the Eagles, ranks third in the league and is 10th in the nation (FCS) with 14.0 tackles for a loss, an average of 1.56 per game.
THE COACHES
North Carolina Central: Henry Frazier III (Bowie State, 1993) is in his second 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).
North Carolina A&T: In his second season as the head coach of the Aggies football program, Rod Broadway (North Carolina, 1977) is no stranger to NCCU. He was head coach at NCCU from 2003-06, guiding the Eagles to 33 victories with the best winning percentage in school history (.750), back-to-back CIAA championships in 2005 and 2006, and a 2006 Black College Football National Championship with an 11-0 regular-season record. Following NCCU, Broadway spent four seasons as the head coach at Grambling, where the Tigers posted a 35-12 record. His current head coaching record is 79-33.
THE LAST MEETING
(Nov. 19, 2011 - NC A&T 31, NCCU 21) The tone for North Carolina Central University’s day against rival North Carolina A&T was set on its opening drive. The Eagles moved the ball deep into Aggie territory, but lost a fumble. NCCU played catch-up the rest of the afternoon as A&T regained bragging rights in the series with a 31-21 win in front of 18,413 fans inside Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. A&T took that opening fumble down the field 77 yards on 11 plays to take an early 7-0 advantage. In the second quarter, the Aggies converted on fourth down and later on third down and 12 yards to go as quarterback Lewis Kindle threw a 37-yard touchdown to Wallace Miles to push the lead to 14-0 at 12:27. That 14-point cushion proved to be too much for the Eagles to overcome. Each time NCCU scored a touchdown, it pulled the squad close, but not even or ahead, and each time the Aggies had an answer. A&T dominated the ground game, pounding out 213 rushing yards, including 163 rushing yards by senior Mike Mayhew, while holding the Eagles to only nine rushing yards on 19 carries. The Aggies finished the contest with 414 yards of total offense compared to 224 by NCCU. Senior quarterback Michael Johnson was responsible for all three NCCU scores. He drilled a 24-yard touchdown strike to Andrew Johnson and tossed two scores of 21 and 17 yards to Marvin Poole. Johnson completed 22 of 34 passes for 215 yards on Saturday to finish the season with 2,113 passing yards, only the fourth quarterback in school history to throw for 2,000 yards in a season. The Durham, N.C., native wrapped up his career third on the NCCU passing yards list with 5,740 and tied for third with 46 touchdown passes. Poole had five receptions for 60 yards and two trips to the end zone, while Geovonie Irvine also had five catches for 66 yards. NCCU’s defensive effort was topped by senior linebacker Brandon Outlaw with 12 tackles, including an assisted sack. Outlaw finished the season with 110 total tackles, the most by an Eagle since Ken Hill piled up 133 stops in 1996. Rickie Hubbard, Stephen Young and Ty Brown contributed eight takedowns apiece for the Eagles, while Young recorded 2.0 tackles for a loss and Hubbard 1.5.
LAST WEEK
(Florida A&M 22, NCCU 21) In spite of a resilient effort by North Carolina Central University’s defense, Florida A&M scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 22-21 homecoming victory in front of 14,768 fans inside Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. FAMU sophomore kicker Chase Varnadore made a 36-yard field goal, his fifth of the game, with two minutes remaining for the game-winner. NCCU committed four turnovers, three fumbles and an interception, all resulting in field goals for 12 FAMU points. The Rattlers visited the red zone seven times on the day, but the Eagles’ defense allowed only one touchdown. Even on that score on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line, FAMU running back Jordan Stanley appeared to fall short of the goal line, but the officials huddled and signaled a touchdown. NCCU defenders were on the field for more than 41 minutes (41:23) as FAMU amassed 387 yards of total offense, including 270 yards through the air on 29-of-41 passing by sophomore quarterback Damien Fleming. Senior receiver Travis Harvey topped the receiving corps with 11 catches for 120 yards, while sophomore receiver Lenworth Lennon had nine grabs for 104 yards. Junior linebacker Tazmon Foster led the Eagles with 11 tackles (8 solo) with 1.5 hits for a loss with an assisted sack. Defensive tackle Aaron Wallace contributed 10 takedowns with 1.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and an assisted sack. Tyrone Jackson also had a sack and Ryan Smith returned an interception 19 yards to set up a seven-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Jordan Reid to give the Eagles a 14-9 lead in the third quarter. Later in the third quarter, NCCU took a 21-9 advantage when senior Jonathan Nicely, who caught a 16-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, blocked a punt and Kevin Thompson raced 45 yards for the fifth punt return touchdown of the season for the Eagles, the most in NCAA Division I. The Eagles managed just 129 total yards with 41 yards rushing and 88 yards passing.
(NC A&T 17, SC State 7) North Carolina A&T secured its first winning season since 2003 by defeating S.C. State 17-7 at Aggie Stadium. A&T has not allowed an offensive touchdown in 14 quarters. The Aggies have held their last three opponents to less than 300 yards of offense. On the offensive end, A&T rushed for 250 yards led by senior Mike Mayhew’s 141 yards.
NCCU’S ALL-PURPOSE DUO
Two of the seven Eagles to ever reach the 3,000-yard milestone in career all-purpose yards are currently on the NCCU squad. NCCU senior Arthur Goforth (5-8, 171) boasts 3,932 all-purpose yards and redshirt senior Geovonie Irvine (5-7, 161) has 3,278 all-purpose yards. The other Eagles to have accomplished that feat are Robert Clark (1983-86), Anthony Cooley (1988-91), Joe Simmons (1990-93), Monte Southerland (1993-96), and Greg Pruitt, Jr. (2004-06).
IRVINE RANKS SECOND AMONG NCCU RECEIVERS
Senior receiver Geovonie Irvine ranks as NCCU’s second all-time leading receiver with 163 career catches for 2,267 yards and 16 trips to the end zone. Robert Clark (1983-86) is NCCU’s career leader in receptions with 210 for 4,231 yards and 38 touchdowns.
IRVINE IS SIXTH EAGLE WITH 2,000 RECEIVING YARDS
After tallying 53 receiving yards at Elon, senior Geovonie Irvine became just the sixth Eagle in NCCU history to record 2,000 receiving yards. The redshirt senior now has 2,267 career receiving yards to rank fourth on the school’s all-time list. Irvine needs 43 receiving yards to pass Robert Green (1983-86; 2,309 yards) into the third spot.
ARTHUR GOING FORTH IN KICKOFF RETURN YARDAGE
NCCU senior running back and return specialist Arthur Goforth (Sr., 5-8, 171, Columbia, S.C.) has moved past Montez Patterson (1998-2001 / 1,658 kickoff return yards) into second place on the Eagles’ career kickoff return yards list with 2,118 yards. Goforth boasts two of the longest kickoff returns in NCCU history, ranking third with a 97-yard score against Winston-Salem State on Sept. 11, 2010, and eighth with a 92-yard trip to the end zone at Appalachian State on Sept. 18, 2010. During his career as an Eagle, he has amassed 3,932 all-purpose yards (907 rushing, 340 receiving, 567 punt return, 2,118 kickoff return).
EAGLES ACHIEVE RECORD-SCORING QUARTERS
The 2012 Eagles have either tied or broken an NCCU record for scoring in a quarter twice this season. Against Savannah State, NCCU scored 28 points after intermission to tie the school record for points scored in the third quarter. In the team’s next outing (after a bye week), the Eagles set a new NCCU standard by scoring a school record 30 points in the second quarter. The NCCU record for points scored in any quarter is 39, posted in the first quarter against Virginia Union on Nov. 16, 1968.
ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALL
North Carolina Central University is in its second season of full NCAA Division I (FCS) athletic competition as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles won back-to-back football conference championships and a Black College National Championship in their final two years in the Division II ranks (2005 and 2006) before starting the transition to Division I in 2007. During its storied gridiron tradition, NCCU has produced 129 all-conference selections, 63 all-Americans, 40 NFL draft picks, 10 conference championships and two Black College National Championships.
NCCU RECEIVER NICELY PULLS DOUBLE-DUTY
NCCU senior receiver Jonathan Nicely (R-Sr., 6-4, 197, Augusta, Ga.) is also a forward on the NCCU men’s basketball team. Nicely, who was also a two-sport standout at Evans High School (Ga.), came off the Eagles bench in 17 games during the 2011-12 season, averaging 1.9 minutes of action. As a sophomore in 2010-11, he appeared in 27 contests, averaging 6.8 minutes per game.
NCCU PICKED TO FINISH NINTH IN THE MEAC
NCCU was picked to finish ninth in the 11-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, according to a poll of league head football coaches and sports information directors. In its first season back in the MEAC, NCCU placed 10th during the 2011 campaign with a 1-7 conference record and an overall mark of 2-9.
NCCU’S IRVINE, PROCTOR EARN PRESEASON HONORS
NCCU seniors Geovonie Irvine and Xavier Proctor were selected to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Football Team. Irvine, a 5-7, 161-pound native of Durham, N.C., was named to the All-MEAC First Team as a return specialist. Last season Irvine garnered All-MEAC Second Team recognition in the postseason after returning 18 kickoffs for 400 yards (22.2 avg.), including an 81-yard touchdown scamper, and six punts for 54 yards (9.0 avg.). Proctor, a 6-6, 272-pound native of Ellicott City, Md., earned All-MEAC Second Team honors as a defensive lineman. In 2011, he tallied 37 tackles with 7.5 hits for a loss and 3.5 sacks, along with two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
PRESEASON INJURIES HURT NCCU
NCCU’s offense took a hit in the preseason with two season-ending injuries. The Eagles’ leading rusher Idreis Augustus and veteran redshirt senior receiver Andrew Johnson are out of action for 2012 after suffering knee injuries.
LISTEN TO NCCU FOOTBALL ON WNCU 90.7 FM
Thanks to a new partnership between WNCU 90.7 FM and the North Carolina Central University Department of Athletics, the 50,000-watt Durham radio station will air the broadcast of NCCU football games during the 2012 season. The 90.7 FM signal encompasses a coverage area of more than 100 miles, reaching listeners in Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill and beyond. WNCU, a non-commercial public radio station, last carried NCCU football games during the regular season in 1997. “I am excited about this revitalized collaboration with NCCU Athletics and the football program,” said Lackisha Freeman, WNCU General Manager. “Additionally, I am glad to have the football games back on our airwaves and hope this will demonstrate the true meaning of ‘Eagle Pride, Amplified.’ I am optimistic that this partnership will be rewarding for all parties involved, most importantly, our student-athletes.” According to Freeman, WNCU plans to have a presence at all NCCU home football games, giving fans the opportunity to listen to its programming and meet the station’s on-air personalities and staff. “I am truly excited about our new partnership with WNCU,” said Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree, NCCU Director of Athletics. “The opportunity for NCCU Athletics to be a part of the WNCU family of loyal followers will enhance our constituent-base and that of WNCU. General Manager Lackisha Freeman has been tremendous in this collaborative effort and we look forward to the marketing potential this partnership will bring to the Department of Athletics and WNCU.” Chris Hooks, entering his fifth gridiron season as the play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network, will continue to announce the live action. The broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show 30 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff time. For more details about WNCU 90.7 FM, visit www.WNCU.org.
