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THE GAME    
Morgan State University "Bears" vs. North Carolina Central University "Eagles"

THE KICKOFF    
Saturday, October 24, 2015 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m. 

THE SITE    
O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity/Mondoturf) - Durham, N.C.

THE RECORDS    
Morgan State (3-3 overall, 3-1 MEAC); N.C. Central (3-3 overall, 2-1 MEAC)

MEDIA COVERAGE    
Audio: NCCU Sports Network "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (audio internet stream). Broadcast starts at 1:30 p.m. (Jonathan Duren, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst).
Video: NCCU Sports Network "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (video internet stream - $8.95).

QUICK HITS    
•    Two of the last three match-ups between the Eagles and Bears have been decided by touchdowns with less than a minute left in the game.
•    Last season, Morgan State's fourth quarter come-from-behind victory, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 32 seconds remaining, was the difference between NCCU claiming a share of the MEAC title versus the outright conference championship.   
•    Saturday will be the 40th meeting between the Eagles and the Bears since the teams first met on Nov. 15, 1930.
•    Morgan State leads the series 24-13-2 over NCCU. The Bears have won seven of the past nine meetings, including two in-a-row.
•    NCCU head coach Jerry Mack celebrates his 35th birthday on Saturday. The second-year head coach was born Oct. 24, 1980 in Memphis, Tennessee.
•    NCCU freshman kicker Nigel Macauley is the FCS national leader in field goals made with an average of 2.0 per game. He is also the conference's leading scorer at 9.6 points per contest.
•    In the last three weeks, NCCU has accumulated 829 rushing yards (276.3 yards per game), the program's best stretch since tallying 911 rushing yards (303.7 yards per game) from Sept. 8-29, 2001.
•    C.J. Moore's seven tackles at Savannah State moves the safety to seventh on the Eagles' career tackles list 250 stops. 
•    In the past 40 games (start of 2012 season), NCCU has scored 27 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including three in 2015.
•    NCCU hosts "Pepsi Youth Day" with inflatables and games for kids during pre-game starting at 12 noon. 

THE SERIES    
This will be the 40th gridiron meeting between NCCU and Morgan State since the teams first played on Nov. 15, 1930. The MSU Bears hold a 24-13-2 advantage in the series. The Bears won the first five contests, then rolled off another five-game win streak from 1964-68, out-scoring the Eagles 125-7 during that stretch, including four straight shutouts. NCCU has posted two three-game win streaks, first from 1957-59 and also from 1972-74. MSU has won seven of the past nine meetings. Two of the last three match-ups have been decided by a touchdown in the final minute of the contest.
Last 10 Meetings:
Oct. 18, 2014 - MSU 21, NCCU 20 (Baltimore, Md.)
Oct. 19, 2013 - MSU 34, NCCU 22 (Durham, N.C.)
Oct. 13, 2012 - NCCU 24, MSU 20 (Baltimore, Md.)
Oct. 15, 2011 - MSU 52, NCCU 3 (Durham, N.C.)
Sept. 13, 2008 - MSU 49, NCCU 7 (Baltimore, Md.)
Oct. 16, 1982 - NCCU 27, MSU 7 (Baltimore, Md.)
Oct. 10, 1981 - MSU 35, NCCU 27 (Durham, N.C.)
Oct. 11, 1980 - MSU 14, NCCU 7 (Baltimore, Md.)
Sept. 29, 1979 - MSU 20, NCCU 6 (Durham, N.C.)
Sept. 30, 1978 - NCCU 14, MSU 0 (Baltimore, Md.)

THE LAST MEETING    
(Oct. 18, 2014 in Baltimore, Md. - Morgan State 21, NCCU 20) NCCU held a 20-7 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in the contest, but Morgan State scored two touchdowns, including the game-winner coming with 32 seconds left, to stun the Eagles, 21-20.

LAST WEEK    
(NCCU 39, Savannah State 22 - Savannah, Ga.) Savannah State University scored the first 22 points, but North Carolina Central University responded with 39 unanswered points to rally for a 39-22 road victory to spoil the Savannah State homecoming celebration on Saturday inside Ted Wright Stadium. NCCU (3-3, 2-1 MEAC) had a safety, a punt and two interceptions in its first four possessions as the Tigers got two touchdown runs by running back Joshua Berry and another by quarterback Arshon Spaulding for a 22-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Eagles then scored on six of their next seven possessions, while also adding a safety to take a 32-22 lead through three quarters. Junior quarterback Malcolm Bell had a hand in NCCU's first three touchdowns, running into the end zone from three yards out, then throwing touchdown passes to David Miller for 35 yards and Armani Lanier for eight yards. Ramone Simpson capped the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. NCCU freshman kicker Nigel Macauley, the leading scorer in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, tallied 13 points with four extra-point kicks and field goals of 30, 35 and 30 yards. NCCU amassed 433 yards of total offense, including 291 yards on the ground, marking the third straight contest the Eagles have collected more than 200 rushing yards. The Eagles' ground attack was topped by rookie running back Dorrel McClain with 135 rushing yards, his second 100-yard performance in the last three weeks. Bell finished with 92 yards and a touchdown rushing and 116 yards and two scores passing, while throwing two picks. Lanier grabbed seven receptions for 59 yards and a visit to the end zone. The NCCU defense, which totaled nine tackles for a loss with a pair of sacks, was topped by linebacker Jordan Miles and safety C.J. Moore with seven tackles each. Cornerback Ryan Smith added six takedowns, while Jeremy Thompson and Tre Smith had four stops with a sack apiece.

(Hampton 20, Morgan State 10 - Baltimore, Md.) Hampton forced four turnovers, one leading to a touchdown to help the Pirates knock off the Morgan State Bears 20-10, ruining MSU's homecoming festivities at Hughes Stadium.

THE COACHES    
NCCU: Jerry Mack (Arkansas State, 2003) is in his second season as a college head coach. At age 34 (he turns 35 on Saturday, Oct. 24), he boasts 10 years of coaching experience, including stints with five NCAA Division I programs and two conference championship teams. A native of Memphis, Tenn., Mack has held positions as wide receivers coach at the University of South Alabama (2012-13) and the University of Memphis (2011), as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2010), as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at the University of Central Arkansas (2008-09), as wide receivers and tight ends coach at Jackson State University (2006-07), and as an offensive graduate assistant at Delta State University (2004-05). Mack began his collegiate playing career at Jackson State before transferring after one season (1999) to Arkansas State University.  He lettered three years at Arkansas State (2001-03) before earning his bachelor's degree in management information systems in 2003. Mack completed his master's degree in physical education from Delta State in 2006.

Morgan State: Lee Hull was introduced as the 19th head football coach in Morgan State history on Jan. 9, 2014. Hull came to MSU after spending the past six seasons (2008-13) with the University of Maryland as wide receivers coach. He also spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Oregon State and another five years (1998-2002) as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross. Hull was a standout wide receiver at Holy Cross from 1984-87. The Crusaders posted a 21-1 record his last two years and were ranked No. 1 in Division I-AA in 1987. Holy Cross also won the Colonial League title and the Lambert Cup that season. He went on to play professionally with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL (1990-92). He also played for Toronto in 1992. Hull earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Holy Cross in 1988 and a master's in secondary education from Worcester State in 1995.

EAGLES TIED AS NATIONAL LEADERS IN BLOCKED PUNTS    
After blocking its third punt in the last two weeks to increase the season total to four, NCCU is now tied among the national FCS leaders in blocked punts. The Eagles join Eastern Illinois atop the national leaderboard. C.J. Moore has two blocked punts, while Reggie Hunter and Alden McClellon have one each.

NCCU ROOKIE NATIONAL LEADER IN FIELD GOALS; TOP SCORER IN MEAC    
NCCU freshman kicker Nigel Macauley (Fayetteville, N.C.) is the national FCS leader in field goals made with an average of 2.0 per game. Macauley is also the top scorer in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with an average of 9.6 points per game, which ranks sixth in NCAA Division I-FCS.

THREE STRAIGHT 200-YARD GROUND GAMES    
After amassing 324 rushing yards versus Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 3, the most ground yards by NCCU since tallying 349 at Livingstone College on Oct. 23, 2004, NCCU ran for 214 yards at Florida A&M on Oct. 10 and 291 yards at Savannah State on Oct. 17, marking the first time since 1999 that the Eagles have rushed for more than 200 yards in three straight games. In the last three weeks, NCCU has accumulated 829 rushing yards (276.3 yards per game), the program's best stretch since tallying 911 rushing yards (303.7 yards per game) from Sept. 8-29, 2001.

DAVIS NAMED MEAC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK    
NCCU senior Clevonne Davis was announced as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance during the Eagles' 39-22 come-from-behind victory over Savannah State on Saturday, Oct. 17. A native of Miramar, Florida, Davis graded out at 98 percent of his blocking assignments with 11 pancake blocks and without a penalty or a sack against the Tigers. The 6-2, 305-pound tackle helped pave the way for NCCU to amass 433 yards of total offense, including 291 yards rushing. Davis also earned the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week award after NCCU's season-opening 72-0 win over Saint Augustine's.

BELL FIRST NCCU QUARTERBACK TO RUN FOR 100 YARDS SINCE 1999    
NCCU redshirt junior Malcolm Bell rushed for 101 yards at Florida A&M on Oct. 10 to become the first Eagles quarterback to amass 100 yards on the ground since 1999, when Darrell Nesbitt ran for 156 yards against Benedict College (Sept. 25, 1999).

HAVE NO FEAR, EAGLES HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE    
NCCU football fans should have no fear about the Eagles' 1-3 start this season. The Eagles also started last season with a 1-3 record before winning six of their final eight games to earn a share of the MEAC Championship.

EAGLES ACHIEVE BEST GROUND GAME IN 11 YEARS    
Facing soaking wet weather conditions on Oct. 3 versus Bethune-Cookman, NCCU posted its best ground attack in 11 years. The Eagles amassed 324 rushing yards for the program's best running effort since accumulating 349 rushing yards against Livingstone on Oct. 23, 2004. Redshirt freshman Dorrel McClain ran for 144 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt junior quarterback Malcolm Bell added 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. As a team, NCCU posted 502 yards of total offense and 30 first downs against the Wildcats. 

EAGLES TURN DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS INTO POINTS    
Since the start of the 2012 season, the Eagles have demonstrated a knack for finding the end zone when the offense is off the field. In the past 40 games, NCCU has scored 27 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including three in 2015, five in 2014, nine in 2013 and 10 in 2012. In that time, the Eagles have made trips to the end zone on 10 punt returns, six kickoff returns, three blocked field goal returns, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries. 

TWO STARTERS LOST FOR SEASON DUE TO INJURY    
Two NCCU starters suffered season-ending injuries during a 39-14 loss at FIU on Sept. 19 in Miami. NCCU junior FCS All-American cornerback and return specialist Mike Jones suffered a fractured ankle in the first quarter, while junior transfer receiver Khalil Stinson fractured his hip on a second-quarter punt return.

NCCU SCORES HISTORIC 72 POINTS IN WEEK ONE WIN    
The 72 points scored by NCCU in its season-opening shutout of Saint Augustine's University were the most tallied by any team in NCAA Division I-FCS in the first week of the season. The scoring output ranks second in school history, trailing an 85-point explosion by the 1946 Eagles against Fort Jackson (Sept. 21, 1946).

JONES BREAKS SCHOOL PUNT RETURN RECORD
During a season-opening win over Saint Augustine's (Sept. 5), NCCU junior Mike Jones (Baltimore, Md.) broke a 46-year-old single-game school record with 145 punt return yards on only five attempts. The previous record was held by Moses Bryant with 140 punt return yards against Livingstone on Sept. 27, 1969. Last season, Jones earned First Team All-MEAC and FCS All-America honors as a punt returner with a 19.1-yard average. He is currently average 20.5 yards per punt return during his NCCU career (21 punt returns, 431 yards).

NCCU PICKED TO FINISH FORTH IN MEAC    
Coming off a season with the most wins during the Division I-FCS era with a 7-5 record and a share of the MEAC Championship, NCCU was predicted to finish fourth and received four first-place votes from the league's football head coaches and sports information directors.

EIGHT EAGLES EARN PRESEASON ALL-MEAC HONORS    
Eight NCCU Eagles earned a place on the 2015 Preseason All-MEAC Football Teams. NCCU representatives on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team are junior quarterback Malcolm Bell (Richmond, Va.), senior offensive lineman Clevonne Davis (Miramar, Fla.) and junior Mike Jones (Baltimore, Md.), who claimed two spots as a defensive back and a return specialist. Garnering second-team honors for the Eagles are senior wide receiver Quentin Atkinson (Raleigh, N.C.), junior center Carl Jones (Nashville, Tenn.) and senior defensive back C.J. Moore (Raleigh, N.C.). On the third team are junior linebacker Jeremy Thompson (Durham, N.C.) and sophomore tight end Jvon Simmons (La Plata, Md.).

?FLASHBACK TO 2014    
•    NCCU won a share of the MEAC Championship with a 6-2 conference record.
•    The Eagles posted the most wins as a NCAA Division I-FCS program with a 7-5 overall record.
•    The Eagles earned the program's first win over a nationally-ranked FCS opponent by defeating No. 24 North Carolina A&T in the final game of the season on Nov. 22.
•    NCCU broke the school record for completions in a season with 227, topping the mark set by the 2011 Eagles of 210.
•    The Eagles ranked third in the nation (FCS) in turnover margin at +12.0.
•    NCCU quarterback Malcolm Bell passed for 1,982 yards with 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions, completing 177 of 286 passes as a sophomore.

?ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALL    
North Carolina Central University is in its fifth season of full NCAA Division I (FCS) athletic competition as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles have won 11 conference championships as members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1953, 1954, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1980, 2005, 2006) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (1972, 1973, 2014), and have made three appearances in the NCAA playoffs (1988, 2005, 2006).