Complete Game Notes as PDF   |   VIDEO: Press Conference

THE GAME    
#18 North Carolina Central University "Eagles" vs. #14 Grambling State Univ. "Tigers"

THE KICKOFF    
Saturday, December 17, 2016 – Kickoff at 12:00 p.m. 

THE SITE    
Georgia Dome (74,228 capacity/FieldTurf) - Atlanta

THE RECORDS    
#18 N.C. Central (9-2 overall, 8-0 MEAC); #14 Grambling State (10-1, 9-0 SWAC)

MEDIA COVERAGE    
Audio: NCCU Sports Network "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (audio internet stream). Broadcast starts at 11:30 a.m. (Jonathan Duren, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst).
Television: Live on ABC. Broadcast starts at 12:00 p.m. (Mark Neely, play-by-play; Jay Walker, color analyst; Tiffany Greene, sideline reporter).

QUICK HITS    
•    NCCU punched its ticket to the second annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl by beating rival North Carolina A&T 42-21 to win the outright MEAC championship.
•    NCCU is the first outright MEAC champion since 2012. NCCU was part of a three-way tie in 2015 and a five-way tie in 2014.
•    This is the first time in NCCU history that a football team has won three consecutive conference championships.
•    NCCU has not played a team from the SWAC since beating Southern University 27-20 on Sept. 23, 2006, in Louisiana.
•    NCCU's last gridiron meeting with Grambling was on Sept. 20, 1986, at Yankee Stadium in New York as part of the Whitney Young Classic. The Tigers won 32-24.
•    Grambling leads the series with NCCU 3-0, out-scoring the Eagles 133-44 in those meetings. (56-6 in 1972; 45-14 in 1985; 32-24 in 1986)
•    NCCU has won 16 consecutive games against non-FBS opponents, including 15 in-a-row versus MEAC teams.
•    NCCU owns a 21-3 record against MEAC opponents in the last three seasons under head coach Jerry Mack, including a 3-0 mark against rival NC A&T.
•    Jerry Mack is the first NCCU coach to win 24 games in his first three seasons.
•    The American Football Coaches Association honored Jerry Mack as a AFCA Regional Coach of the Year award winner, becoming only the second coach in NCCU history to earn the AFCA award (George Quiett, 1972).
•    Quarterback Malcolm Bell tops the MEAC and ranks 26th nationally (FCS) in points responsible for with 152 (16 passing, 9 rushing touchdowns).
•    NCCU redshirt senior quarterback Malcolm Bell is just the second quarterback in school history with more than 6,000 career passing yards. Among NCCU career leaders, Bell ranks second in passing (6,100 yards), second in total offense (7,573 yards), and 13th in rushing (1,473 yards).
•    NCCU's 338 points scored this season (30.7 avg.) are the second-most in school history, behind the 2006 Eagles with 371 points (30.9 avg.).
•    The Eagles are 188 yards away from breaking the school record for team total offense in a season, which is currently 4,500 total yards in 1993.
•    Since 2000, NCCU has played in six NFL venues with a 5-1 record. The Eagles' only loss was in the Georgia Dome, an overtime defeat in 2010 versus Georgia State.
•    NCCU's defense ranks second in the conference and sixth in NCAA Division I-FCS with an average of 8.5 tackles for loss per game (93 total TFL). The Eagles are also second in the league and tied for 14th in FCS with 30 sacks (2.73 per game).

2016 HIGHLIGHTS    
•    NCCU captured the outright MEAC Championship by defeating nationally-ranked rival North Carolina A&T for a third straight season.
•    The Eagles achieved nine wins for the first time as a Division I-FCS program and for just the fifth time in NCCU history.
•    NCCU received national ranking for first time since reclassifying to NCAA Division I-FCS in 2011, entering Nov. 7 FCS Coaches Poll at No. 25.
•    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    
Grambling leads the series with NCCU 3-0. The Eagles and Tigers first clashed on the gridiron on Dec. 2, 1972, in the inaugural Pelican Bowl at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, with Grambling capturing a 56-6 victory. The two teams then squared off inside Yankee Stadium in New York in 1985 and 1986 as part of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Football Classic, with the Tigers winning 45-14 on Sept. 21, 1985, and 32-24 on Sept. 20, 1986. 

LAST GAME    
(#20 NCCU 42, #9 NC A&T 21 - Durham, N.C.) North Carolina Central University was tired of sharing. After earning conference co-championships in each of the last two seasons, NCCU captured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title outright and a bid to the second annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl with a 42-21 victory over rival North Carolina A&T State University inside an overflowing O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Nov. 19. For NCCU (9-2, 8-0 MEAC), the 20th-ranked team in the FCS Coaches Poll, it is the first time in the gridiron program's history the Eagles have won three straight conference championships. And like the previous two, this regular season ends with a triumph over its nationally-ranked rival. North Carolina A&T (9-2, 7-1 MEAC) entered the contest at No. 9 in the coaches poll and with the nation's fifth-ranked run defense, but NCCU senior quarterback Malcolm Bell and sophomore running back Dorrel McClain combined for 240 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The Aggies had not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season… until Saturday. Bell rushed for a game-high 131 yards and two touchdowns, while McClain tallied 109 rushing yards with three trips to the end zone. Bell added 184 yards and a touchdown on 10-for-18 passing to finish with 315 yards of total offense. His scoring toss traveled 24 yards to the left hand – and only the left hand – of junior receiver Khalil Stinson for a spectacular catch. Senior wide receiver LaVontis Smith had a team-best for receptions for 83 yards. And while the NCCU offense posted the most points against the Aggies since 1984 and the second-most in the 88 match-ups of the series, the Eagles also soared defensively. Tarik Cohen, the nation's third-leading rusher with 1,436 yards prior to Saturday, was held to just 82 yards and an average of on 3.6 yards per carry. Senior linebacker LeGrande Harley amassed a game-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 of NCCU's eight stops behind the line of scrimmage. Sophomore safety Alden McClellon collected eight takedowns, including a hit for a loss with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. Fellow sophomore safety Davanta Reynolds also had eight tackles with 2.5 hits for a loss. Yet another sophomore safety Jaquell Taylor and junior cornerback Mike Jones recorded interceptions for the Eagles.

(#16 Grambling State 27, Alcorn State 20 - Houston, Texas) Grambling State rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit for a 27-20 come-from-behind victory in the SWAC Championship Game. GSU quarterback DeVante Kincade threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, while Martez Carter amassed 348 all-purpose yards with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown, 66 receiving yards and 142 kickoff return yards.

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.

Grambling: Broderick Fobbs (Grambling State, 1997) is in his third season as head football coach at his alma mater. He held assistant coaching positions at Southern Mississippi, McNeese State and Northwestern State. Played football at Grambling for legendary coach Eddie Robinson.

MACK OFF TO FAST START AS NCCU HEAD COACH    
Jerry Mack is the first NCCU football head coach to win 24 games in his first three seasons, passing Rod Broadway's 22 victories from 2003-05. After the Eagles went 7-5 in Mack's first season for a share of the MEAC title, and 8-3 in 2015 for consecutive MEAC co-championships, the Eagles closed out the 2016 regular season at 9-2 overall and 8-0 in conference play to earn the outright MEAC championship. Mack was named 2016 MEAC Coach of the Year and AFCA Regional Coach of the Year.

NCCU EARNS FIRST NATIONAL RANKING, KEEPS CLIMBING IN FCS POLLS    
On Nov. 7, the NCCU football team earned a national ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll for the first time in school history, entering the list at No. 25. With a current overall record of 9-2 and an unbeaten 8-0 mark in conference play to win the MEAC Championship, NCCU has moved to No. 18 in the Nov. 21 FCS Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the STATS FCS Top 25 poll. This is the first season the Eagles football team has been nationally ranked since reclassifying to NCAA Division I-FCS in 2011. NCCU is riding a nine-game win streak after dropping season-opening games to Duke and No. 14 Western Michigan – both FBS programs.

BELL ACHIEVES PASSING, TOTAL OFFENSE MILESTONES    
Among NCCU career leaders, redshirt-senior quarterback Malcolm Bell (Richmond, Va.) ranks second in total offense yards (7,573) and second in passing yards (6,100) in his four-year career (2013-16). The dual-threat quarterback is the only Eagle in school history to amass 1,000 rushing yards (1,473) and 6,000 passing yards in a career. He is currently the school's 13th all-time leading rusher behind Junior Bulla's 1,552 career ground yards from 1997-99.

NCCU EAGLES IN NFL VENUES    
Since 2000, NCCU has played in six NFL venues. The Eagles won their first three contests before suffering an overtime loss in 2010 inside the Georgia Dome. NCCU was successful in its last venture into an NFL stadium, defeating South Carolina State 40-10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2012.
Recent Trips to NFL Stadiums:
Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis Colts (Oct. 6, 2012 vs. S.C. State - W, 40-10)
Cleveland Browns Stadium - Cleveland Browns (Sept. 10, 2011 vs. Central State - W, 42-3)
Georgia Dome - Atlanta Falcons (Oct. 16, 2010 vs. Georgia State - L, 17-20 OT)
Giants Stadium - New York Giants (Sept. 15, 2007 vs. Elizabeth City State - W, 18-10)
Ericsson Stadium - Carolina Panthers (Nov. 4, 2001 vs. Johnson C. Smith - W, 34-3)
Veterans Stadium - Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 30, 2000 vs. Morris Brown - W, 19-16)

EAGLES AGAINST NATIONALLY-RANKED OPPOSITION    
Since the start of the transition to NCAA Division I-FCS in 2007, NCCU is 3-9 against nationally-ranked FCS opponents. After dropping the first nine contests, the Eagles have won three straight against nationally-ranked rival North Carolina A&T.
11/19/2016 - #9 North Carolina A&T - 42-21 W
11/21/2015 - #13/16 North Carolina A&T - 21-16 W
11/22/2014 - #24 North Carolina A&T - 21-14 W
11/1/2014 - #20 Bethune-Cookman - 20-34 L
11/2/2013 - #13 Bethune-Cookman - 14-38 L
9/21/2013 - #4 Towson - 17-35 L
10/23/2010 - #14 Bethune-Cookman - 10-23 L
9/18/2010 - at #1 Appalachian State - 16-44 L
10/10/2009 - at #9 Appalachian State - 21-55 L
9/12/2009 - at #24 Liberty - 10-35 L
11/8/2008 - at #3 Cal Poly - 3-49 L
9/6/2008 - at #8 James Madison - 7-56 L

NCCU'S BOWL GAME HISTORY    
NCCU has made five prior appearances in post-season bowl games. NCCU's lone bowl victory was in 1954 in the "National Classic" in Greensboro, N.C., when the Eagles beat Tennessee State 19-6 to earn the title of Black College National Champions.
Gold Bowl (Richmond, VA) Dec. 6, 1980 - NC A&T 37, NCCU 0
Pelican Bowl (Durham, NC) Dec. 2, 1972 - Grambling 56, NCCU 6
National Classic (Greensboro, NC) Dec. 4, 1954 - NCCU 19, Tennessee St. 6
Orange Blossom Classic (Miami, FL) Dec. 1, 1951 - Florida A&M 67, NCCU 6
Peach Blossom Classic (Columbus, GA) Dec. 6, 1941 - Morris Brown 7, NCCU 6

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 57 games, NCCU has scored 33 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including three in 2016, six 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 14 punt returns, six kickoff returns, three blocked field goal returns, eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries. 

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME    
Since 2005, NCCU has played in four games inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium with a conference championship on the line, and the Eagles have won all four. 
Nov. 5, 2005 vs. Bowie State - 26-23 W (CIAA Champions)
Nov. 11, 2006 vs. Elizabeth City State - 17-14 W (CIAA Champions)
Nov. 22, 2014 vs. #24 North Carolina A&T - 21-14 W (MEAC co-Champions)
Nov. 19, 2016 vs. #9 North Carolina A&T - 42-21 W (MEAC Champions)
In the last three seasons under NCCU head coach Jerry Mack, the Eagles own a 14-2 record in their home stadium.

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 13 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, 2016), 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, 13 conference championships and two Black College National Championships (1954, 2006). 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. 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.