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THE GAME    
Savannah State University "Tigers" vs. North Carolina Central University "Eagles"

THE KICKOFF    
Saturday, October 15, 2016 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m. 

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

THE RECORDS    
N.C. Central (4-2 overall, 3-0 MEAC); Savannah State (1-3 overall, 1-1 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 (pay-per-view video internet stream/$8.95). Broadcast starts at 1:30 p.m. (Jonathan Duren, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst).

QUICK HITS    
•    Saturday is NCCU's homecoming game.
•    NCCU leads the series with Savannah State 8-2-1, including four straight victories.
•    Savannah State's game versus Morgan State on Oct. 8 was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew.
•    NCCU owns a 16-3 record against MEAC opponents in the last three seasons under head coach Jerry Mack.
•    NCCU has won 11 consecutive games against non-FBS opponents.
•    NCCU's Jerry Mack has the chance to earn his 20th victory in his 30th game as a head coach.
•    Quarterback Malcolm Bell tops the MEAC and ranks 14th nationally (FCS) in points responsible for with 78 (9 passing, 4 rushing touchdowns).
•    With 325 yards of total offense at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 1, NCCU redshirt senior quarterback Malcolm Bell became just the third Eagle in school history to surpass 6,000 yards of total offense. The Richmond, Virginia native now has 6,184 total yards and trails only Gerald Fraylon (1981-84; 6,620 yards) and Earl Harvey (1985-88; 10,667 yards).
•    NCCU is one of only nine FCS teams that have scored in every trip to the red zone. The Eagles have 15 touchdowns and six field goals on 21 appearances inside the 20-yard line.
•    NCCU received four votes in this week's STATS FCS Top 25 poll, adding a vote from last week.
•    Savannah State head coach Erik Raeburn achieved a record of 22-3 in his last two seasons as head coach at Wabash College (12-1 in 2015). The SSU Tigers are 1-3 with a momentous 16-10 overtime victory over Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 24.

2016 HIGHLIGHTS    
•    NCCU beat Bethune-Cookman 31-14 on Oct. 1 for the Eagles' first win in the series with the Wildcats since 1994, ending a six-game losing skid.
•    NCCU broke a school record with 32 first downs versus St. Augustine's on Sept. 17. 
•    NCCU's 676 yards of total offense versus St. Augustine's ranks second only to the 684 total yards amassed by the 1982 Eagles against Bowie State. The 414 passing yards against the Falcons places fourth in the NCCU record books and are the most by the Eagles since 1988.
•    NCCU's 21 points against Western Michigan are the most scored by the Eagles in nine contests against FBS competition.
•    NCCU's five fumble recoveries versus Duke on Sept. 3 are the most by the Eagles since 2010. 

FLASHBACK TO 2015    
•    NCCU repeated as co-champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with a 7-1 conference record.
•    The Eagles posted the most wins as a NCAA Division I-FCS program with an 8-3 overall record.
•    The Eagles earned the program's second win over a nationally-ranked FCS opponent by defeating No. 13/16 North Carolina A&T in the final game of the season on Nov. 21, 2015.
•    NCCU closed out season on a seven-game winning streak.
•    NCCU ranked No. 1 in the nation (FCS) in fourth down conversion percentage defense (8.3%) - allowing only one fourth down conversion all season (12 attempts) - and fourth down conversion percentage offense (81.8%/9 of 11).

THE SERIES    
This will be the 12th football meeting between Savannah State University and North Carolina Central University. NCCU leads the series 8-2-1. The Tigers won both games in the series in 2010 and 2011, but the Eagles have won the last four match-ups. In the first contest between the Tigers and Eagles, the two teams played to a 0-0 tie to open the 1974 season (Sept. 14, 1974) in Savannah, Georgia. NCCU then won four straight match-ups with the Tigers between 1975-2009. On Nov. 13, 2010, the Tigers captured their first series win over NCCU with a 28-21 victory in Savannah, and made it two straight on Sept. 24, 2011 by edging the Eagles 33-30 in Durham.  In 2013, NCCU out-scored the Tigers 24-10 in Savannah. In 2014, the Eagles held home field with a 42-14 victory. In 2015, NCCU overcame a 22-point deficit to spoil SSU's homecoming.

Oct. 17, 2015 - NCCU 39, SSU 22 (Savannah, Ga.)
Oct. 25, 2014 - NCCU 42, SSU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
Oct. 26, 2013 - NCCU 24, SSU 10 (Savannah, Ga.)
Sept. 22, 2012 - NCCU 45, SSU 33 (Savannah, Ga.)
Sept. 24, 2011 - SSU 33, NCCU 30 (Durham, N.C.)
Nov. 13, 2010 - SSU 28, NCCU 21 (Savannah, Ga.)
Nov. 21, 2009 - NCCU 35, SSU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
Nov. 22, 2008 - NCCU 10, SSU 7 (Durham, N.C.)
Oct. 20, 2007 - NCCU 30, SSU 14 (Savannah, Ga.)
Sept. 13, 1975 - NCCU 30, SSU 0 (Durham, N.C.)
Sept. 14, 1974 - NCCU 0, SSU 0 (Savannah, Ga.)

THE LAST MEETING    
(NCCU 39, SSU 22 - Savannah, Ga. - Oct. 17, 2015) 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 inside Ted Wright Stadium. NCCU 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 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.

LAST WEEK    
(NCCU 17, Florida A&M 13 - Durham, N.C.) With heavy rain and wind gusts from Hurricane Matthew limiting the offense of both teams most of the day, North Carolina Central University rallied for two lead-changing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to claim a 17-13 victory over Florida A&M University inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Saturday. Florida A&M (1-5, 1-2 MEAC) held NCCU to just 10 yards of total offense in the first half, and used a safety by defensive end Calvin Darville and a 34-yard field goal by Colby Blanton to take a 5-3 advantage into the locker room at intermission. Brandon McLaren's 33-yard field goal in the second quarter represented the lone points by the Eagles in the first half. The second half, however was a different story. NCCU amassed 209 yards of total offense in the final 30 minutes of game action, including 118 yards in the decisive fourth quarter. NCCU's first trip to the end zone came on a 42-yard pass play from quarterback Malcolm Bell to receiver LaVontis Smith, who finished with two receptions for 57 yards, at the 11:24 mark of the fourth quarter. McLaren's extra-point kick provided the Eagles with a 10-5 advantage, their first of the day. On NCCU's next possession, a bouncing snap to the punter resulted in a loss of 15 yards and provided FAMU with excellent field position at the Eagles' 18-yard line. Two plays later, the visiting Rattlers regained the lead thanks to an 18-yard touchdown run by Devin Bowers. FAMU converted the two-point try for a 13-10 cushion with 6:11 on the clock. Following a critical 28-yard kickoff return by Mike Jones, NCCU needed just four plays - two rushes for 13 yards by Ramone Simpson, a 19-yard scamper by Bell and a 25-yard blast to the end zone by Dorrel McClain - to score the game-winning touchdown with 4:54 left in the contest. The outcome was then placed in the hands of the NCCU defense, which added two tackles for loss to its tally of 14 for the game, to dash FAMU's attempt for an upset. A stellar defensive performance by NCCU resulted in seven Eagles with six or more tackles. Antonio Brown (1.5 TFL), Alden McClellon, LeGrande Harley (2.0 TFL), and Reggie Hunter (3.5 TFL) had eight stops each, while Frederick Henry-Ajudua (2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack), Ja'Quan Smith (0.5 TFL) and Josiah Dailey (1.0 TFL) contributed six takedowns apiece. McClain finished with a game-high 86 rushing yards with a touchdown, while Bell rushed for 61 yards and threw for 87 yards and a score on 5-of-8 passing.

(Savannah State vs. Morgan State - postponed) Weather conditions in Savannah due to Hurricane Matthew forced the postponement of Savannah State's game with Morgan State.

THE COACHES    
NCCU: Jerry Mack (Arkansas State, 2003) is in his third season as a college head coach. He boasts 11 years of coaching experience, including stints with five NCAA Division I programs and three conference championship teams. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, 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.

SSU: Savannah State University selected Erik Raeburn (Mount Union, 1994) as its 25th head football coach in March of 2016. Raeburn came to SSU from Wabash College located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In his eight years at Wabash he accumulated a record of 78-13, earned five trips to the Division III playoffs and had 16 student-athletes earn All-America status. His 2015 squad posted a 12-1 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division III playoffs. Raeburn led Wabash to a 10-2 record  in 2014, including a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs and finished 13th in the final D3football.com.

BELL ACHIEVES PASSING, TOTAL OFFENSE MILESTONES    
Among NCCU career leaders, redshirt-senior quarterback Malcolm Bell (Richmond, Va.) ranks third in total offense yards (6,184) and sixth in passing yards (5,040) in his four-year career (2013-16). The dual-threat quarterback is the first Eagle in school history to amass 1,000 rushing yards (1,144) and 5,000 passing yards in a career. He is currently the school's 17th all-time leading rusher behind Rossie Barfield (1957-60) with 1,162 career ground yards.

TEN EAGLES EARN PRESEASON ALL-MEAC HONORS    
Ten NCCU Eagles were voted to the 2016 Preseason All-MEAC Football Team. Leading the way for NCCU on the All-MEAC First Team are senior quarterback Malcolm Bell (Richmond, Va.), senior center Carl Jones (Nashville, Tenn.), senior offensive lineman Desmond Cooper (Stafford, Va.) and senior linebacker Jeremy Miles (Durham, N.C.). All-MEAC Second Team distinction was awarded to sophomore running back Dorrel McClain (Cary, N.C.), senior offensive lineman Tarrance Wells (Oxon Hill,, Md.), junior defensive lineman Antonio Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.), sophomore defensive back Davanta Reynolds (Tucker, Ga.) and senior return specialist LaVontis Smith (Maben, Miss.). Junior defensive lineman Ja'Quan Smith (Miramar, Fla.) rounded out NCCU's selections on the All-MEAC Third Team.

ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALL    
North Carolina Central University is in its sixth season of full NCAA Division I (FCS) athletic competition as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles have won 12 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, 2015), and have made three appearances in the NCAA playoffs (1988, 2005, 2006). 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 136 all-conference selections, 65 all-Americans, 41 NFL draft picks, 12 conference championships and two Black College National Championships. Two Eagles have represented NCCU on the National Football League's grandest stage - the Super Bowl. The first NCCU Eagle to make a Super Bowl appearance was Richard Sligh, who was a reserve tackle with the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 14, 1968. Sligh, who holds the distinction as the tallest player in NFL history (7'0"), played at NCCU from 1962-64 and was later drafted by the Raiders in the 10th round of the 1967 NFL draft. On Jan. 24, 1982, former NCCU Eagle Louis Breeden was a starting cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI against the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier in the season (Nov. 8, 1981), Breeden intercepted a pass thrown by San Diego Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and returned it a team-record 102 yards for a touchdown. The following year, he was selected as a First-Team All-Pro. A two-time all-conference pick during his NCCU career from 1973-76, Breeden was chosen by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 1977 NFL draft. He completed his 10-year NFL career with 33 interceptions for 558 return yards and two touchdowns. The first Eagle selected in the NFL Draft was Matt Boone, who was taken by the Giants with the eighth pick in the 18th round in 1956. The latest Eagle announced during the NFL Draft was Ryan Smith, who was chosen by the Buccaneers in the fourth round in 2016. NCCU's highest draft pick was Doug Wilkerson, who was selected in the first round with the 14th overall pick of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Oilers. The Eagles have also had three second-round NFL draft picks, including Robert Massey in 1989 by the Saints, Charles Smith in 1975 by the Broncos and Chuck Hinton in 1962 by the Browns. HBCU football pioneer John Brown, who represented NCCU (then North Carolina College) on the gridiron in the 1940s, was one of the first to play professional football out of a historically black college or university. Brown shares the honor with Ezzret Anderson of Kentucky State and Elmore Harris of Morgan State, who all began their professional football careers in 1947. Brown and Anderson were teammates on the Los Angeles Dons, while Harris was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. According to NCCU records, Brown was the first of the three to sign a professional football contract. He played center and linebacker with the Dons from 1947-49, before moving to the Canadian Football League.