Box Score
VIDEO: Subject 2 Change Highlights (NCCU vs. St. Augustine's)
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University scored a touchdown in the final minute of regulation to force overtime, then made a 19-yard field goal in double overtime to beat visiting Saint Augustine's University 23-20 inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 7).
NCCU (1-1) lit the scoreboard first with a 32-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jordan Reid to senior receiver Lamar Scruggs with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter. Reid was injured on the play and could not perform his typical holding duties for the extra-point kick, which ended up failing because of a bobbled snap.
St. Augustine's (0-1) answered on its next drive, using six plays to move 66 yards, capped by a 25-yard pass from A.J. Gilford to Herman Reaves at the 2:42 mark of the third quarter. The extra-point kick by Michael Lima put the Falcons on top 7-6.
The visitors extended their lead when Gilford found Brian Richards for a 6-yard touchdown connection with 6:18 left in the fourth quarter. After two penalties on the extra-point try, the Falcons mishandled the snap from center and could not get off a kick, keeping the score at 13-6.
After the NCCU defense forced a critical three-and-out, the Eagles took over on offense with 2:34 remaining in regulation at their own 46-yard line. After being sacked back to the 40-yard line, Reid engineered a 10-play drive, completing 6-of-8 passes (including one to himself on a deflected pass), capped by a fourth-down, rollout completion to Adrian Wilkins with just 29 seconds on the clock. Oleg Parent's extra-point kick tied the score at 13-13 to force overtime.
The Falcons struck first in overtime with a 25-yard touchdown catch by Jermaine Jones from Gilford to move ahead 20-13.
Needing a touchdown to extend the game, Reid completed a 13-yard pass to Marvin Poole, then the quarterback scrambled for 12 yards to the Falcons' 4-yard line. On the next play, Reid again found running room and the end zone to send the game into double overtime.
At the start of the second overtime, Gilford's first pass was deflected and nearly intercepted by NCCU linebacker Demontray Ryland. On the next play, Gilford's pass was intercepted by freshman corner back Michael Jones, who appeared to be heading for a game-winning touchdown, but was tackled two yards shy from the end zone.
On NCCU's possession, sophomore running back Idreis Augustus caught a 14-yard pass from Reid and ran for seven yards to the 2-yard line to set up the game-winning 19-yard field goal by Parent.
NCCU amassed 424 yards of total offense, compared to 345 by the Falcons.
Reid completed 24-of-43 passes for 253 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also rushing for 45 yards and a score for the Eagles.
Augustus topped the Eagles in rushing (66 yards) and receiving (six catches, 65 yards), finishing the contest with 131 all-purpose yards.
The NCCU defense was led by sophomore safety Ryan Smith and senior lineman Aaron Wallace with eight tackles each. Senior linebacker Tazmon Foster added seven stops.
SAU middle linebacker Chaz Robinson tallied a game-high 19 tackles, including 2.5 hits for a loss, and a pass break-up.
Gilford completed 19-of-40 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns for the Falcons. His favorite target was Jones, who caught 11 passes for 99 yards and a score.
NCCU returns to action on Sept. 14 at Charlotte, a first-year football program that has opened the season with two convincing wins.
For more information about NCCU football, visit the official website on NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network mobile app.
