Box Score
Photo Gallery Eagles Postgame Report Presented by Tru-Pak
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University took advantage of big special teams plays and Fayetteville State University turnovers to open the season with a 54-31 victory in front of 9,077 fans inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
All three phases of the football game – offense, defense and special teams – seemed to be clicking for the Eagles. Offensively, NCCU amassed 420 yards of total offense, including 223 through the air and 197 on the ground. Defensively, the Eagles forced four turnovers, including an interception for a touchdown and three fumble recoveries that set up two scores. On special teams, NCCU returned two punts for touchdowns.
NCCU junior transfer quarterback
Matt Goggans completed 15-of-26 passes for 223 yards and a 20-yard touchdown strike to senior receiver
Geovonie Irvine, who finished with six receptions for 79 yards. Irvine also returned three kickoffs for 76 yards and two punts for 36 yards with a 31-yard touchdown scamper to account for 191 all-purpose yards.
The Eagles utilized the three-headed running attack of senior
Arthur Goforth, senior
Gary Douglas and sophomore
Andre Clarke, who combined for 197 yards and four touchdowns. Goforth led the way with 85 yards and a score on 13 carries, followed by Douglas with 70 yards and a score on eight rushes, while Clarke added 42 yards and two trips to the end zone on eight runs.
As a team, the NCCU defense recorded 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage with three sacks. Sophomore linebacker
Tiron Guion and sophomore safety #C.J. Moore
topped a wealth of defensive contributors with eight tackles apiece. Senior safety Rickie Hubbard# contributed six stops, while senior lineman
Stephen Young tallied six hits with two takedowns for a loss with an assisted sack and a forced fumble. Junior linebacker
Allonte Tuppins put points on the board for the defense by returning an interception 69 yards for a touchdown.
Fayetteville State managed 259 total yards, including 199 passing, but the Broncos were held to just 60 yards rushing.
Back-up quarterback Chauncey Concepcion sparked FSU by completing 14-of-18 passes for 141 yard, while also rushing for a touchdown. Sophomore Michael Johnson topped the FSU defense with eight tackles and provided the highlight of the night for the Broncos when he returned a kickoff 94 yards to the end zone.
Up next for NCCU is a visit to Elon University on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m., the first of five straight road games.
